Drapers Field – update!

Drapers Field - lost to the community for at least 16 months

The planning application by the Olympic Development Authority (ODA) to use Drapers Fieldis is still to be submitted to Waltham Forest Council’s Planning Committee. News is that it will go to the Planning Committee in August. The information regarding how much compensation that the Council will get, through what is known as section 106 and section 111, has still to be finalised.

The money received will be used to improve Abbotts Park, Marsh Lane and of course Drapers Field.

The good news is that the money allocated to Drapers Field will be to re-instate the all-weather pitch and introduce new landscaping, access, and community sports facilities. This is good news, as previously there was no mention of the all-weather pitch, or sports facilities being replaced, only that Drapers would be turned into a ‘special park’.

Leyton Ward Councillor Bob Sullivan reports that other not so good news is that the ODA want to chop down two mature trees so that they can get access to the field by their lorries. He has followed this up and it is being challenged by council officers in the tree department who feel that access can be achieved without chopping down the trees. Councillor Sullivan will update again when he receives any further news on this.

Acacia Children Centre

Acacia Children Centre in Cecil Road

The Head of the Acacia Children Centre, in Cecil Road, has advised the FOCUS Team that she still has vacant places for 3 year olds starting in September.

Rosemary Buckland, the Head of Acacia Children Centre said: ‘If you are interested in one of these places, parents and children are invited to visit any Friday, between 9.30 and 11.30am, or between 1.30 and 3.30pm, to stay for a session and find out more about the service.

Save Harrow Green Library

Harrow Green Library to be axed by Labour Council
In order to save money our Labour run Waltham Forest Council is making changes to the library system.
  
This includes the closure of our local Harrow Green Library. 

The council admits that, ‘here in the south of the borough, where deprivation is most concentrated, health, education attainment and housing standards are lower, libraries are a focus for communities that enhance people’s quality of life.’      

Libraries alleviate the effects of deprivation.         

The Library building is home to many local groups and activities, as well as the borrowing of books, access to the internet and for study and homework. 50% of the borrowers are children.   
 
The council now has a 12 week consultation period ending on Friday 9 September.   

Please help us to Save Harrow Green Library by signing the petition at:    

 http://ourcampaign.org.uk/HarrowGreenLibrary      

You can also write to Councillor Geraldine Reardon (responsible for libraries) at The Town Hall, Walthamstow E17 6JF  
 

  

  

Church Lane Car Park

A report into car park provision across the borough is to be considered by the Cabinet.

The Church Lane car park is said to be only 43% used, but since there is no suitable on street parking in the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), the report recommends that the hours of operation and maximum stay times should be reviewed to encourage maximum usage. It is likely that charges will be reduced.

Games Area in the car park!!

Strangely, the report also recommends that a ‘multi utility’ area be included in the car park. FOCUS was shocked to discover that this is an area for basket ball, football etc. The FOCUS Team believes that such a move would not encourage more drivers to use the car park. In fact, it might have the opposite effect!

Additionally, a similar scheme has already been rejected when it was proposed at the Leytonstone Community Council.

Surely, it would be far better to locate this facility at the Pastures Youth Centre in Davies Lane.

Please let the FOCUS Team know your views.

You can also contact us via this website.

Harrow Green Library closure planned

The Cann Hall Focus Team was shocked to see that a report on the Library Service, due to be presented to the Cabinet on 14 June, includes the proposal to close both Harrow Green and South Chingford Libraries.

The report recommends that Leytonstone, Leyton, Walthamstow and North Chingford be designated Library Plus branches – open 7 days a week and offering some additional services that were previously available in the Waltham Forest Direct shops.

While Hale End, Higham Hill, Wood Street and Lea Bridge will become Library Local branches, open for 30 hours a week.

Providing that this report is agreed by the Cabinet there is expected to be a 12-week consultation period between June and September.

Whatever your views the Focus Team urges you to respond to the consultation to make sure that the Council has the fullest possible picture of the feelings of local residents.

It is understood that a further report, taking into account the consultation, will be submitted to the Cabinet in October.

Make your voice heard!

LABOUR COUNCIL’S DECEPTION!

The local Guardian newspaper has highlighted the amount of taxpayers’ money that the Labour Council is spending on campaign propaganda. Is this a smoke screen to hide their cuts to services?

In a poll by one national newspaper Waltham Forest was judged the highest spender on propaganda in the country.

The budget Councillor Bob Sullivan put forward on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group in opposition to the Labour budget showed many areas of savings including the saving of £250,000 by getting rid of the political campaigning and putting that money into respite care for children and families.

The reduction in respite care will cause much anxiety to the families who desperately need respite care for them and their children.

The Liberal Democrats were the only party to oppose the Labour budget – the Conservatives did not put forward any alternative budget, but spent time praising the Labour leader of the Council! So much for Tory opposition!

Millions Not Claiming Tube Refund

Most passengers are unaware that they are entitled to a refund for a delay of more than 15 minutes on the Tube. Figures have been uncovered which show that out of a potential 11 million Tube passengers only 330,000 claimed compensation for delays in 2010.

No one should have to wait more than 15 minutes for a tube train, yet 14 million people had to last year. Every tube traveller needs to be aware that they are entitled to compensation when such delays take place.

Lib Dems Help Lowest Paid Workers

Liberal Democrats in Government have delivered a £326 tax cut which will benefit our lowest paid workers.

No one will pay any income tax on the first £8,100 they earn, and this is to rise to £10,000 in the coming years.

 This will help hundreds of thousands of families across London, and it is a major step towards a fairer tax system.

Trumpington Road Respite Care Centre

Focus Team campaigner Adrian Trett outside the Respite Care CentreThe council has decided to upgrade this centre and remodel it to provide both residential and short breaks residential care.

In future it will provide long term accommodation for 6 people in three self-contained units, and 4 respite beds in a fourth unit.

 As MENCAP has pointed out this represents loss of nine places for overnight respite. Being as 76 families in Waltham Forest rely on this type of care, they claim it is a step too far.

 If you are one of the families affected by this decision Focus would like to hear your views on this.

Once the works are completed the service will be ‘outsourced’ to a provider who has ‘an excellent track record’ in this field.