BARKING – GOSPEL OAK LINE: ELECTRIFICATION UPDATE

Caroline Pigeon, the Liberal Democrat Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, is continuing to lead the campaign for electrification of the Barking – Gospel Oak Line which has seen passenger numbers increase dramatically since the introduction of the new diesel units.

Caroline Pigeon says:

“We were disappointed when confirmation of funding for the Gospel Oak-Barking line electrification failed to materialise in the Budget, but are hopeful that the Government will choose to sanction these line improvements as a priority when it reviews the plans in June.  Electrification will deliver huge benefits to both the local area and London as a whole, including improvements to the rail network connectivity, and a reduced environmental impact.

“Full funding must be confirmed this year or, due to the impact of Crossrail’s construction, costs will rise far beyond the current estimates. Confirmation this year will mean this significant milestone for Britain’s rail infrastructure can go ahead without further delay or spiralling costs.”

PRESS RELEASE: LOCAL LIB DEMS RENEW CALLS FOR OLYMPIC TRADERS’ COMPENSATION

LOCAL LIB DEMS RENEW CALLS FOR OLYMPIC TRADERS’ COMPENSATION

Local Lib Dems have renewed calls for council action over the Leyton Olympic traders mess last year. The council has so far failed to take any responsibility for the mess despite heavily promoting the market before the Olympics, whilst it was clear the planned routes for Olympic visitors were outside the area.

Local Lib Dems believe this is an issue of trust and the council should be clear about its responsibility. If compensation is due from North London Business and not the council then Waltham Forest councillors should refuse to sit on their board if no action is forthcoming.

Leyton Councillor Bob Sullivan said:

“The Chief Executive of North London Business resigned over this debacle last year, so traders are right to expect some compensation.”

 “I’ve repeatedly asked the council whether they will be giving out compensation to the traders and they have so far refused, putting the blame squarely with North London Business and Skateco UK Ltd.”

 “Yet councillors and Cabinet members have consistently failed to put pressure on North London Business and Skateco UK Ltd to reimburse the traders, who were sold promises of customers that never arrived.

“No action has been forthcoming from North London Business since last year so it is long since time for Waltham Forest councillors at the very least to refuse to sit on their board or, better yet, take some responsibility themselves.”

Cann Hall FOCUS Newsletter No. 259

The latest issue of the popular Cann Hall FOCUS has just gone to press.

It will be delivered to every home in Cann Hall free of charge by our team of volunteers.

If you would like to help deliver the FOCUS near where you live (a round usually takes about 45 minutes every 6 weeks)  or would like to help the Lib Dems, please contact Clyde Kitson on 8534 2947

You can access an advance copy here: Cann Hall 259

Post Boxes – the worse for wear!

Focus Team member Rupert Alexander, while out and about has noticed that there are post boxes which look in need of a lick of paint. He contacted about repainting them, and The Royal Mail replied “Our post boxes are on a rolling programme and are only painted every 2 – 3 years. The only exception to this is if a Post Box has graffiti on it then it will be repainted”.
The post box on Odessa Rd E7 and the green Royal Mail cabinets in Ramsay Rd E7 and Pevensey Rd E7 have recently been daubed with graffiti. Rupert contacted the Royal Mail; the post box has now been repainted; the green cabinets are outstanding.
Focus says : “Residents can e mail the Royal Mail about graffiti on post boxes and cabinets: customerservice@your.royalmail.com

Crime figures in Cann Hall Ward

At a recent ward panel meeting the police gave the following information.

In Cann Hall and Cobden Roads there have been problems of antisocial behaviour, drug dealing and gang related activity. Police patrols have resulted in arrests being made.

Regarding burglaries there have been 22 between March and June. This is a big decrease on last year and much less than neighbouring areas.

During the same period there have been 57 motor vehicle crimes, again down on last year, but still higher than neighbouring areas.

Police priorities remain – antisocial behaviour by youths – burglaries and theft from, and of, motor vehicles.

Road/Street Nameplates

Focus Team member Rupert Alexander has been working together with our neighbouring borough – Newham to replace worn, old and battered street/road name plates. New name/road plates have been installed recently in areas which border Waltham Forest which significantly enhance the look and feel of an area.

To report damaged, missing, old and worn street/road name plates in your particular area or anywhere in Waltham Forest: Contact www.walthamforest.gov.uk or phone 0208 496 3000.

PRESS RELEASE: Lib Dems support Christian Kitchen

The Christian Kitchen based in the Mission Grove Car Park

LOCAL LIB DEMS FIGHT TO SAVE CHRISTIAN KITCHEN FROM HEARTLESS LABOUR COUNCIL

Waltham Forest Council is demanding that the Christian Kitchen cease using the Mission Grove car park in E17 as the location for their daily soup kitchen.

The soup kitchen has rejected the allegations that their service contributes to local street drinking and anti-social behaviour and local Lib Dems and residents are supporting them.

Proximity to the Town Centre is important to a soup kitchen and Waltham Forest is taking this action without proper consultation.

The local Lib Dem Focus Team has been surveying residents about the issue and so far local residents are overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the soup kitchen where it is.

Waltham Forest Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Bob Sullivan said:

“It is crazy that this Labour council appear to be scapegoating this long established soup kitchen and demonising their service users.

“The Christian Kitchen has been a part of the local area for many years and is there to help the most vulnerable in our society. The soup kitchen has even offered compromises to the council but they have been rejected.

“This is a heartless act by this Labour council that is clearly not supported by local people.

“It seems ‘One Nation Labour’ has not yet made the journey to Waltham Forest from Ed Miliband’s Westminster bubble.”

PRESS RELEASE: Local Lib Dems to criticise budgeting, waste and misleading statements by Labour

Last Thursday’s council meeting was rightly used to bring the Borough together after the awful attacks in Woolwich on Wednesday.

However, cancelling the speeches of the three party leaders also meant that the time usually devoted to scrutinising the council’s priorities for the next year and to review the last year was lost.

The speech prepared by Lib Dem Leader Councillor Bob Sullivan, before the attack took place, contained criticism of the council’s budgeting process, attacks on money wasted on unnecessary events and exposed the misleading statements being made by Labour over the £160 million they claim to be investing in the Borough in 2013-14.

Councillor Sullivan was to say:

On budgeting

“The councils’ recent finance report show that almost all council departments were reporting under spends.

“In accountancy terms an under spend is just as bad as an over spend because it means that there is something wrong with the budgeting process.  It also means that our services are not being carried out as planned and our residents are losing out.

“So what is going wrong with our processes? And how are we building this into our planning? The council can’t continue to plead poverty simply because it is over-estimating what’s needed in the budget.”

On the £160 million

“As for investment, Labour cabinet members seem to be sending confused messages about the £160 million that they’re touting around to residents through Waltham Forest News and the various announcements and videos that they’re making.

“Many residents have read the big figures plastered over their copy of WFN and have been asking me if the council could spend some of this money on local projects.

“Unfortunately the explanation is, that most of this investment is not council money and all of it is already earmarked and being spent on other things.

“The confusion isn’t helped when Cabinet members give confusing written answers at full council meetings. Such as when Cllr Rusling declared ‘We are investing £160 million in the borough…’ in a written answer in March.”

On events

“…under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal has only spent £9 million net on players over the last ten years.

“That’s less per year than this council are spending on events!

Although these events are said to be free, they are not really, as the council tax payers are funding them.

“It seems like every day this council feels more and more like a booking agent or a live music promoter, with over a million pounds planned for events this year.”

Ferndale And Malvern Roads Traffic Survey

A resident in Malvern Road has suggested to Councillor Liz Phillips that Ferndale and Malvern Roads should become part of a one-way system, due to heavy parking and the volume of through traffic.

This would mean that Ferndale Road would become one-way between Malvern Road and the junction with Montague Road, whilst Malvern Road would take one-way traffic in the opposite direction.

Before Liz approaches the Council she would like to know the views of local residents. The FOCUS Team has already carried out a doorstep survey in both roads, and has had a good response. Liz would still like to hear from you.

Please let Councillor Liz Phillips know your view by completing the Report A Problem page on this website