Save Our Cheques Campaign

Liberal Democrat Ward Councillor Liz Phillips would like to thank everyone who signed the Cheque Campaign petition in the last Focus, and signed the online petition – there was an overwhelming response.

Liz will be sending the signed petitions to David Ward, Liberal Democrat MP for Bradford East, who is leading the national campaign on this issue in the House of Commons.

Liz is also presenting a motion to Waltham Forest Council – more news follows:

COUNCIL BACKS LIB DEM CALL TO SAVE THE CHEQUE

Waltham Forest Council has backed a Liberal Democrat campaign to ‘Save the Cheque’.

At Thursday’s (12 May) council meeting councillors voted for a motion which called on the banking industry’s Payments Council to halt its plans to abolish cheques.

Liberal Democrat Cann Hall councillor Liz Phillips, who proposed the motion said:

“Hundreds of thousands of people write cheques every day. Over a billion cheques are chased every year. Small businesses, charities and many residents – especially older people – rely on cheques to conduct their day-to-day transactions. It is wrong that the banks plan to abolish cheques when it is clear that people want to use them for years to come. I have had a massive response from Leytonstone residents who will be affected if cheques are abolished.”

The Liberal Democrats are particularly concerned about the effect on older people and the housebound. One local resident wrote to Liz Phillips:

“I write as a full time carer. My husband is very disabled and I can only get out four hours a week for shopping and all other things. How can I pay the bills without cheques?”

Internet payments are not an alternative for the nine million people in Britain who have never used the internet or for those who are concerned about internet fraud. The abolition of the cheque will lead to more people carrying and storing large quantities of cash, rendering them more vulnerable to theft.

Charities will also suffer. Lib Dem High Street councillor Mahmood Hussain, who seconded the motion, told councillors:

“As a trustee of a small local charity, 80% of the donations we receive during our fundraising come in by cheque. If cheques are abolished many small charities like mine will struggle.”

Waltham Forest Direct Shops To Close

Leytonstone WFD - to be axed by the end of August

Liberal Democrat councillorsproposed an alternative budget which would have allowed all the  Waltham Forest Direct Shops (WFD) to remain open. Regrettably it was not approved.

Now we learn that the Labour Cabinet has confirmed the closure of WFD shops in Leyton, Leytonstone and Chinfgord by the end of August.

It is understood that some services may be offered in local libraries – as yet no details are available.

The Walthamstow branch will remain open, as the Cabinet report says it is well-used, and is in the centre of the borough.

Improvements to High Road Leytonstone

Our High Road was omitted from the original raft of area improvements in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games.
 
 
Your Cann Hall FOCUS Team was pleased to learn that Transport for London has allocated £2 million for this area.

The following links give access to the Council’s plans:

Northern End, including Shopping Centre

www.walthamforest.gov.uk/high_rd_leytonstone_plana.pdf

Southern End

www.walthamforest.gov.uk/high_rd_leytonstone_planb.pdf

Church Lane and The Plaza

www.walthamforest.gov.uk/high_rd_leytonstone_planc/pdf

Objections received from the Liberal Democrats and London Buses have resulted in amendments to Church Lane and the Plaza, as follows:

THE PLAZA – The road layout has reverted the existing design. It was agreed that the proposals did not allow sufficient space, and access to the public car park and the LT vehicle entrance has been reinstated.

CHURCH LANE – Church Lane now divides into two spurs. One terminates at the emergency barrier while the other leads directly into the car park.

Revised layout Church Lane and The Plaza