Waltham Forest’s Liberal Democrat councillors will fight to retain ticket office staff at local tube stations.

Last week Transport for London, which is controlled by the Mayor of London, announced cost cutting proposals to axe 450 ticket office staff and reduce ticket office opening hours across the networks.

Local transport campaigner, Lib Dem councillor and parliamentary candidate for Leyton and Wanstead Farooq Qureshi said:

“Waltham Forest has some of the busiest tube stations in outer London. These proposals mean more inconvenience and hassle for tube users. Passengers need to be able to talk to a real person if they have queries or problems.This is especially important for those who are not regular travellers or find it difficult to use the machines.”

Liberal Democrat members of the London Assembly believe the cuts will make many passengers feel unsafe and could have a negative impact in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in and around tube stations.

Farooq Qureshi has a strong record of campaigning on local transport issues including the need to ease rush hour congestion at Leyton and Leytonstone underground stations by opening additional exits, the need for better connections from Leyton and Leytonstone High Roads to the rest of the borough and Stratford, improved accessibility for disabled passengers at Leyton and the refurbishment of Leyton Midland and Leytonstone High Road stations.

Passenger numbers per year for Waltham Forest tube stations are:

• Walthamstow –> 14.2 million passengers per year
• Leyton -> 12.7 million
• Leytonstone –> 9.9 million
• Blackhorse Road –> 6.1 million

Source: TfL website

During his election campaign Boris Johnson promised to retain staffed ticket offices. His transport manifesto Getting Londoners Moving committed the Conservative Mayor to: “halting the proposed Tube ticket office closures, and ensuring there is always a manned ticket office at every station” (page 2) and claimed “I will also defend local ticket offices” (page 9).

A former bingo hall in Walthamstow High Street has been thrown into the spotlight in a recent Waltham Forest Guardian article.

Whilst the EMD has been the centre of attention for the last few years the 80 year old former Dominion cinema has sadly fallen into disrepair since its closure in the mid 90’s.

Residents have been leaving comments on the Guardians website suggesting the Council considers brokering a deal with the owners of the EMD to swap buildings.

Resonding to residents comments, Lib Dem Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr John Macklin, said:

“I have read with interest residents comments regarding the Buxton Hall site and possible links with the EMD. It is something I have discussed with the Chief Executive of the Council as an idea.”

“At present we are not dealing with a certain solution but one which relies on many complex stages. We need to consider IF the council can obtain Buxton Hall, then IF the church wants to do a deal. We then have to determine whether a cinema operator will help us return the EMD to a cinema. Finally, we have the additional problems of Labours plans for the Arcade site and UKCG’s planning application.”

“I can state again that the preferred option for Lib Dems, with regard to the EMD, is a cinema but we are also aware that the UKCG has the need to provide a good quality venue for its congregation.”

In 2007 Lib Dem High Street Councillor, James O’Rourke, participated in the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment public enquiry on the future of the Walthamstow Town Centre where he suggested Buxton Hall is considered as a possible Community theatre and multi-use space.

Cllr O’Rourke said: “Working with the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment not long after my election was exciting. As a new councillor I was stirred up by the prospects for the area I grew up in and now represent. Sadly. three years on the Prince’s Foundation Masterplan has become yet another mantlepiece exhibit for Labour’s Regeneration Cabinet member.”

“We need action, as demonstrated by neighbouring boroughs, not just masterplans”

High Street Focus Team have received a number of inquiries from concerned residents following the delivery of a Labour leaflet in High Street ward.

Under the banner ‘Fighting to save Walthamstow’s EMD cinema’ Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Walthamstow asks residents to “join [her] and McGuffins at the council planning hearing in January as we demonstrate against plans to close our cinema.”

In response to an inquiry from High Street ward Councillor, James O’Rourke, the Councils planning department confirmed that there is no planning committee in January and stated “There are still a number of issues for discussion with the applicants and their agents and we are still reviewing all the responses from statutory, non statutory groups and residents. Once matters progress further we will be in a better position to consider a Committee date.”

In a joint statement Cllr O’Rourke and Council Deputy Leader, Cllr John Macklin, said:

“This is yet more Labour misinformation and maneuvering to add to that which has taken place over a number of years and has fed such confusion and dismay amongst residents.”

“We have had a number of meetings with the UCKG and independent cinema operators and a cinema at the EMD is our preferred option.”

Since the closure of the iconic dog track and Walthamstow landmark Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats have supported the Save Our Stow plans to retain and update the stadium to provide a modern greyhound-racing venue whilst using part of the land around the site for development in order to provide housing.  Liberal Democrats welcome this proposal which is in line with the trend for mixed leisure and housing developments used at many modern sports venues.

Waltham Forest Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr John Macklin, said:

“Whilst we’re acutely aware that Waltham Forest needs affordable houses it must not be at the expense of what little lesuire facilities we have left. We have lost too many leisure facilities in this borough and despite promises no worthwhile developments have taken place.”

Cllr Macklin added: “I am unhappy that this development is being proposed when I have worked so hard with the Save our Stow campaigners to get London and Quadrant to talk to a group that want to develop the site so that dog racing may return.”

“I had hoped that a suitable bid from those interested in opening this site for dog racing could be bought forward and I want these proposals delayed.”

Cllr Bob Belam also raised concerns saying: “We seem to be bringing plans forward for more houses without thinking about our need for infrastructure such as schools and medical facilities. Not far from the Dog Track we are faced with the loss of another facility with plans to close the Pool and Track with plans to build more houses”

Cllr John Macklin concluded: “We must ensure Waltham Forest does not build a mass of housing with no amenities or heritage. The success of our leisure venues is an integral part of building a sustainable community in Waltham Forest and ensuring that we are attractive to both our residents and visitors. There is no long-term sustainability in forcing residents out of the borough to spend their leisure time.”

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr John Macklin has told fellow Cabinet members that money is available to pay for a proposed Walthamstow Arcade redevelopment project - and urged Labour members to scrap plans that could see the sale of the Walthamstow Pool and Track facility.

Cllr Macklin, who was presenting an update on the Council’s capital spending programme  as the cabinet member for Finance, told councillors that money to pay for redevelopment of the Arcade is already contained within Council expenditure plans.

Liberal Democrats previously voted against Labour cabinet members who forced through a report recommending the sale of “land at the Pool and Track site or alternative assets…that have not yet been identified”.  This was a climbdown from an original draft of the report that explicitly cited “the Pool and Track site” for disposal. 

In trying to defend the proposals, though, Labour Leader Chris Robbins apparently confirmed that at least part of the Pool and Track facility would eventually be closed.  Labour cabinet member responsible for Sport, Geraldine Reardon, told councillors that there was “no confusion”. 

Cllr Robbins again attempted to distance himself from the threat to the Pool and Track at the cabinet meeting, claiming that “there never was a link between the pool and the property on the Arcade. 

However, the relevant report outlining the threat has now been cited by the Waltham Forest Guardian here.

Cllr Macklin believes that the report on Council expenditure will allow Labour members to drop their threat to the Pool and Track site.

The Lib Dem Leader said:

“The report confirms that money would already be in place to pay for any redevelopment of the Walthamstow Arcade site.

“In plain financial terms, it seems to make absolutely no sense to constantly be looking to sell Council land and property at the bottom of the market.  First it was the plan to sell the former St James St library building and now the proposal to sell at least part of the Pool and Track.

“But on a practical level, we don’t believe that a leisure pool on the Arcade site will act as an appropriate replacement. 

“From the continuing discussions we are having with those who use the facility, we have enormous concerns about what splitting up the Pool and Track facility would mean for the future of the borough’s only athletics track.  We also don’t believe that the Arcade site has anywhere near enough accessibility or parking for the schools and competitors who travel to use the Pool and Track. 

“The Liberal Democrats believe that the Pool and Track facility in Walthamstow needs investment, not demolition.”

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has condemned Labour government proposals to rob funding for London’s Freedom pass.

Commenting on the Department of Transport’s new consultation on the national bus concession in England, which proposes to remove almost £29 million of funding for London’s Freedom Pass, Caroline said:

“After Boris Johnson’s decision to hike bus fares by 20% Londoners now face a double whammy with this savage cut in funding for the Freedom Pass. 

“London is the only major city in the country to be hit by these Government proposals.   Hard up London council taxpayers, who are already facing a steep rise in fares, will now have to pay even more in their council tax to maintain London’s Freedom Pass.”

“This is an outrageous proposal by the Labour Government who are insulting London’s pensioners, disabled people, as well as council taxpayers across the capital.”

Labour Report No 1:            

Pool and Track site to be sold to fund leisure  centre at Arcade site.

Labour Report No 2  (Just days later…)

Now land at Pool and Track or  other “unidentified assets” to be sold

Labour Leader says:   

Pool will be closed but not track

Labour councillor responsible for sport says:                                  

We never suggested the track would close

…and that:  

“There is no confusion”.

* * * * *

Users of local sports facilities have been left anxious about the future of the Pool and Track in Walthamstow after Labour Leader Chris Robbins appeared to confirm that at least part of the facility will be shut down.

Liberal Democrat councillors are fighting Labour plans to rescue the Arcade site development by borrowing millions of pounds and selling off land and council assets. 

Labour’s proposals — which were published on the Council website - involved the “disposal of the Pool and Track site for a replacement facility with the Arcade development”, including a Leisure Centre “to replace the current indoor facilities at the Pool and Track”.

However after protests from Liberal Democrat councillors and residents, definitive references to the sale of the Pool and Track were quickly removed from the final Cabinet report, with mention only being made of the sale of “either land at the Pool and Track site or alternative assets to the same value that have not yet been identified”.  Labour councillors forced through the report despite Liberal Democrat opposition in the Cabinet meeting.

Hopes for the future of the Pool and Track seem, however, to have been dashed after comments from Labour Leader Chris Robbins suggested that at least part of the facility will still be closed.

In trying to quell public protests at the handling of the closure, Cllr Robbins confirmed to the local press that the pool will be closed once a “replacement” leisure facility has been built.  This would seem to leave the borough’s athletics track as a stand-alone facility.

Lib Dem Cllr Bob Carey, a member of the affected Chapel End ward, has now raised the issue with Cllr Geraldine Reardon, the Labour councillor responsible for sport in the borough, at a Full Council meeting.  He sought clarification over the future of the pool facility, investment in the track and raised resident concerns about accessibility to a pool facility at the Arcade.

Cllr Reardon told councillors that there was “no confusion” over the future of the facility, but refused to confirm the Labour leader’s comment that the pool would be closed once a replacement was built, claiming that no decision had been made.

Local Liberal Democrat councillors will continue to seek answers over Labour’s handling of our Pool and Track.

High St councillor James O’Rourke has been speaking to the local press about a ban on traffic along Walthamstow High Street.

An ‘experimental traffic order’ was introduced by the Walthamstow Town Centre Task Group — a group set up by the high St Liberal Democrats - in August which stops unauthorised vehicles using the High Street in a bid to improve safety for pedestrians.

New signage and barriers have been put up to further enforce the order, which only allows vehicles loading and unloading to market stalls and shops along the High Street.  Street cleaning vehicles are also able to use the High Street to clean the area after the market has been held.

Speaking to Martyn Dalton of the local Yellow Advertiser, Cllr James O’Rourke welcomed the latest additions to the High Street.

Cllr O’Rourke said:

“The experimental traffic order clearly demonstrates that we have listened, engaged and acted with residents, visitors and traders who have asked us to make the High Street a safer environment.

“Unfortunately it was very difficult to enforce the order as there wasn’t proper signage, but now motorists and pedestrians can see that the order is in full operation.”

Cllr O’Rourke has told local people that his long-term aim for the area is to see an enforceable pedestrian zone introduced in the High Street in order to protect residents and shoppers.

Liberal Democrat councillors were out in force at the weekend to help launch the borough’s Plastic Bag Amnesty at the Energy Fair in Walthamstow Town Square.

Cllr Patrick Smith, Farid Ahmed (parliamentary candidate for Walthamstow) Cllr Bob Belam, Cllr James O’Rourke and Cllr Bob Wheatley (all pictured right) joined residents at the launch in exchanging their plastic bags for linen bags.

The initiative is a result of a Liberal Democrat motion to Full Council in December 2007 introduced by Cllr Bob Belam and local Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin, which will see a raft of ‘green’ measures introduced by the Council, including a ‘climate change impact assessment’ in every council report.

Speaking after Labour and Conservative councillors agreed to accept the Lib Dem recommendations, Bob Belam said:

“These are simple but effective measures that will make the way the Council works cheaper and more environmentally friendly.

“Local authorities are now rightly being put under pressure to deliver practical results with regard to the environment.  Waltham Forest residents are already playing their part through their excellent uptake of waste recycling.

“A Climate Change Impact Assessment will make transparent the Council’s commitment to addressing residents environmental concerns, ensuring that the consideration of climate change issues are at the front and centre of everything the Council does.

“Liberal Democrats want to take a lead on this issue and become standard bearers for our residents, businesses and other local authorities.”

The Council’s plastic bag amnesty runs until 14 November, and during this period the Council will take ten of your environmentally unfriendly plastic carrier bags, send these to be recycled, and give you a neat new reusable cloth shopping bag in exchange.

Sound good? Well, you can make the trade at any WFD shop or, alternatively, have the amnesty brought to you when Waltham Forest staff greets shoppers this Thursday (5 November) outside Leytonstone bus station and tube entrance, or Saturday14 November at Albert Crescent (intersection of Chingford Mount Road and Old Church Road) in Chingford.

To find out more about the plastic bag amnesty call 020 8496 3000 or visit www.walthamforest.gov.uk

Labour councillors have forced through a proposal to build a swimming pool and leisure centre on the Walthamstow Arcade site by borrowing £35 million and selling off the Pool and Track site in Walthamstow.

Labour councillors ignored the recommendation from the all party Scrutiny committee which said that, before any decisions were made, the Council should obtain a financial appraisal to see if the proposal was affordable and a study as to whether the High Street was the right place for a swimming pool.

Waltham Forest councillors have recommended that a new model of governance for the borough be adopted called the ‘Strong Leader model, despite the Government proposal being described as “the least worst option” by Liberal Democrat leader Cllr John Macklin.

Councillors have been told that they have to choose between a ‘Strong Leader’ model, or a directly elected mayor, such as that seen in neighbouring Newham.  Lib Dem councillors hit out at both proposals in a heated debate at the latest Full Council meeting, claiming that neither option was good for local decision making as they both concentrated power in the hands of fewer and fewer individuals.

Cllr Macklin commented in the meeting that the Lib Dems would reluctantly support the ‘Strong Leader’ model, as it was the one that allowed a Council leader to most easily share power and give responsibility for the future of the borough to all councillors and residents.

Hale End and Highams Park councillor Jane Morgan has led Lib Dem opposition to the Government proposals, claiming that the plan represented “another example of the way in which local democracy is being centralised and local power being shrunk”.  Read her full statement on the reforms here.

Leading Liberal Democrat councillors are in discussions with Council officers over whether charges for the collection of bulky waste can be relaxed or even cut in order to fight fly-tipping in the borough.

The move is one of several initiatives that Liberal Democrat members are looking to bring forward in order to combat the dumping of waste in Waltham Forest.  Other measures currently being investigated include pre-advertised local skip placements for those struggling to dispose of waste items and further work with letting agents to inform tenants of waste collection services.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr John Macklin said:

“I’ll be speaking to the Labour members who are responsible for fly tipping and enforcement, the cleanliness of our parks and Ascham Homes to see how all of these portfolio areas can better tackle the problem.

“Our street cleaning is provided on a much smaller budget than some neighbouring London boroughs so we can’t afford to waste money collecting fly tipping.

“The Council’s current rates for catching flytippers are not nearly enough to put off those determined to dump rubbish, so we think that it makes sense to actually take some action now and be a bit more imaginative in how we use our resources.

“I believe that the Council needs to divert more funds to this service.  But it makes sense for all areas of the Council to work harder to ensure that the money we do currently have can be spent efficiently”.

Current Council policy offers each household three bulky waste collections a year, where commonly dumped items such as mattresses and washing machines are collected free of charge.  However a fee is charged for the collection of other items such as dismantled baths. 

Cllr Macklin continued:

“A resident who wanted to dispose of an item not on the ‘free’ list pointed out that the charge could be seen as encouraging people to fly tip in order to avoid paying the fee - and with the Council picking up the tab to clear the item up.

“Budgets are tight in this area, and that’s why I’m asking officers to look at ways to divert more funding to keeping our streets clean. 

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrats economic guru and ace ballroom dancer(!) is in Walthamstow this Tuesday to speak at an event being organised by the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats and Unite Against Fascism.

The Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman provided a reassuring presence throughout the economic downturn which has hit Britain, and won widespread respect from all sides for his calm and reasoned approach to the crisis.

The event, at Mission Grove Primary School on Tuesday 6th October at 7pm, is to mark Black History Month.  Vince will be joined by Liberal Democrat councillor Milton Martin and Peter Ashan, who will speak about Walthamstow’s ethnic history.

There will be food provided, and tickets cost £8, or just £5 for concessions.  To book your place, e-mail philipjgarner@googlemail.com or call Andrew Morrell on 07740 433465.

The local Waltham Forest Guardian is reporting that Labour councillors tried unsuccessfully “to force the sale of the fomer St James St library building on to a Cabinet agenda”.

The Guardian reports that the attempt to push through the sale of the former St James St library building was stopped when Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr John Macklin refused the request and withdrew the report from the agenda.  The move came at the same Cabinet meeting as the controversial decision to go ahead with plans for an Arcade site development which raises doubts over the future of the Pool and Track facility.

Click here to see what the local press are reporting.

The local press are reporting resident reaction to Liberal Democrat opposition to Labour plans that cast doubt over the future of the Walthamstow Pool and athletics track.  Click here to see the full coverage!

The plans being pushed through by Labour councillors will see millions of pounds borrowed to fund a leisure pool on the Arcade site in Walthamstow.  £10 million will be raised through the sale of land at the Pool and Track site or another site that has not been named. 

Local users of sports facilities are already voicing their own opposition to the proposals.

Your local Lib Dems want to know:
· What do the plans mean for the future of our competition pool and the borough’s only athletics track in the run-up to the Olympics?
· Why do Labour refuse to allow a full financial check of the plans to borrow millions of pounds to fund their plan?
· Why haven’t local people been asked whether they want a leisure pool at the Arcade site?

Explaining the opposition to Labour’s plans, local Liberal Democrat leader John Macklin said:

“These latest plans will have a serious impact right across the area, affecting the future of our sports facilities and maybe even the planning application for the former EMD cinema.

“Creating such uncertainty for local sports users is completely unacceptable for an Olympic borough”.

Liberal Democrat Hale End and Highams Park councillors have moved to set the record straight after the defferal of Tesco’s planning application to build in the area.

And despite claims of a ‘victory’ for residents, the local Lib Dem team fear that the decision may actually lead to councillors - and residents - losing control over the outcome of the Tesco proposal.

The application was deferred after committee members voted by 5-4 to ask for more information on the proposal.  No councillor voted outright for or against the plans.

In their latest Focus leaflet, the Hale and Higham team - Jane Morgan, Sheila Smith-Pryor and Nick Bason - say:

“This deferral actually means that the decision on the planning application may be taken away from Waltham Forest Planning Committee. Tesco have the right to appeal on the grounds of ‘non-determination’, which means the council have not made a decision on the application in a timely fashion. The application could now be decided by another body unconnected with Waltham Forest.

“The Planning Committee did not get a chance to discuss resident concerns on the impact of the Tesco application on traffic congestion in Highams Park and access to education and healthcare in the area.

“We are also very concerned that the decision may now be taken out of the local council’s hands.”

See the latest issue of Focus (below) for the full story:

Liberal Democrat councillors have voted against controversial plans that local sports groups fear could spell the beginning of the end for the Pool and Track facility in Walthamstow.

And despite reccomendations from the Council’s own Scrutiny committee that the plans should be delayed whilst a financial appraisal of the proposals be carried out, Labour councillors voted to ignore the reccomendations and approve the Cabinet Report.

Local Lib Dem Leader Cllr John Macklin led the opposition at the meeting, calling the proposals “an inappropriate report brought forward at an inappropriate time”. 

The report voted through by Labour councillors last night outlines plans to fund part of a proposed leisure pool on the Arcade site through the “disposal of either land at the Pool and Track site or alternative assets to the same value that have not yet been identified”.  The sentence replaced an earlier proposal, which was removed, which clearly reccomended that the planned pool at the Arcade would replace the indoor facilities at the Pool and Track.  The lack of clarity over the future of the track is compounded by the fact that proposals for its surrounding land - behind the Town Hall - are not due to be presented until early next year.

User groups of the Pool and Track - who were present at the meeting - joined the Liberal Democrats in expressing concern about the future of the facility. 

Click here to read the Waltham Forest Guardian’s report on the controversy at the Cabinet meeting.

Councillors last night voted to delay their decision on whether to allow a major new development in the Hale End and Highams Park ward.

The planning application by Tesco includes a supermarket, housing and car parking.  With all three Liberal Democrat ward councillors in attendance at a packed Town Hall meeting, Cllr Jane Morgan (pictured left with Nick Bason) spoke on behalf of local residents, detailing the many letters and emails the local Lib Dem team had recieved on the issue and detailing resident concerns about the development.

Adressing the planning committee, Cllr Morgan said:

“We’ve had many communciations from those who do not neccesarily object to the idea of a Tesco, but who have expressed concerns about the scale of this particular application.

“Any scheme of this nature will produce costs as well as benefits.  The proposal aims to create houses and jobs, and they are needed in our area.  Investment in the Highams Park economy is also needed.

“But do these possible benefits outweight the costs of the current scheme?  many of our residents our concerned that the current scale of the development means they do not.”

The planning application will now come back before councillors at a later date. 

See the full text of Cllr Morgan’s speech to the committee below:

Local Liberal Democrats have confirmed their opposition to plans to close the Pool and Track in order to fund the long-awaited Arcade development before a consultation on the area has been completed.

A new report, which will go to Cabinet on the 15th September, asks senior councillors to agree to authorise officers to find a developer for a “mixed use scheme” on the vacant Arcade site, using £10million from the disposal of the Pool and Track, plus an option of Council borrowing, for a replacement facility on the site at the top of Walthamstow High Street.

And despite forcing last-minute changes to the report - which had already been published for consideration by the Council’s Scrutiny panel - Local Lib Dem Leader Cllr John Macklin has again expressed his concerns that the plans for the Arcade site will have serious knock on effects for a series of redevelopment projects in the area that are not sufficiently covered in the plans.

In March this year Liberal Democrat cabinet members voted against an earlier report laying the groundwork for the plan, with Cllr Macklin telling a cabinet meeting that the Council had  “a history of knocking things down and leaving them derelict and I am worried about swapping one piece of derelict land in Walthamstow for another near the town hall”.

Outlining his concerns, Cllr Macklin claimed that the report would have serious knock-on effects both for the future of the Pool and Track facility and the planning application recently submitted for development of the former EMD cinema.  Cllr Macklin added that, despite last-ditch efforts within the Town Hall to urge Labour cabinet members to postpone the plans, the report will go forward.

Cllr Macklin said:

“I just cannot see the logic in bringing these proposals forward at this time.

“The report regarding the future of the Pool and Track site has not even been completed and an outstanding planning application for the former EMD is yet to be heard.  The approval we are being asked to give in this report will obviously have massive implications for both these developments.

“First and foremost, as a Chapel End ward councillor I am really unhappy with the lack of clear proposals for the area behind the Town hall, including the Pool and Track, the allotments and the playing fields.

“It seems obvious to me that any decision to shut any of the Pool and Track facilities as part of the Arcade development should only be taken when we know what alternatives are being proposed for the Pool and Track site.  I have already met with allotment holders and other site users who are really worried about development on the site. 

“What effects will the closure of the leisure centre have on the athletics track?  The plans for that area currently laid out in the report seem almost laughably vague”.

The report suggests that the land “could become more fully utilised and provide an important resource for residents, and provide a wide range of facilities”.  It also claims that the decision whether to agree to the funding of a leisure centre on the Arcade may be influential to the likelihood of a new cinema being built on the site, a proposal that could have an impact on the outstanding planning application to renovate the former EMD cinema.

Cllr Macklin added:

“I would love to be reassured that the pieces of these various development plans fit together, and that this report isn’t simply part of a financial gamble to get a development of any sort built on the Arcade site, but that is increasingly what this looks like.  The goalposts appear to keep shifting and the reassurances we have repeatedly asked for have not been forthcoming.

“The development of these various sites needs to be part of a clear overall plan for our area, not simply piecemeal building projects that give the impression that the Council is simply chasing its own tail.”

What do you think of the plans to close the Pool and Track?  Do you think the Arcade proposals will have an impact on the EMD planning application?

Below is the original report published on the Council website.  Let us know your views!

Hale End and Highams park councillor Jane Morgan has criticised changes in the running of the local council which she believes are being forced upon residents by the government.

Cllr Morgan has hit out at both the ‘Strong Leader’ and ‘Directly Elected Mayor’ models - one of which must be introduced locally in May next year - suggesting they are “set up to place a disproportionate share of influence in the hands of just a few members”

Below is the full statement from Cllr Morgan, extracts of which are being carried in the Waltham Forest Guardian.

“I was elected to the Hale End and Highams Park ward in December last year after the sad deaths of John Beanse and Noel Penstone.  I have been involved on the fringes of politics all my life — my father was a Liberal and then a Liberal Democrat councillor for my hometown of Sittingbourne in Kent, becoming town mayor, a county councillor and eventually Chairman of Kent County Council.  You could say I have been as prepared as is perhaps possible for what comes with the role of a local councillor.

“By the time my father retired from politics, he had become increasingly disillusioned with the local political system.  He saw the dissolution of the committee system of governance, which was then replaced by the current cabinet form of local government.  He was so worried about the possibility of diminishing input from those elected to the council that he wrote an article to his local paper voicing his concerns.

“Of course, as a councillor, it is possible to help local people with specific problems through our advice surgeries and when meeting them around the ward.  In many ways this part of the role is the most satisfying.  I am lucky that I belong to a Liberal Democrat group where all councillors’ opinions are listened to and considered when our decisions are made.  However, as far as policy decisions with the local government framework is concerned, the system thrust upon local government already seems set up to place a disproportionate share of influence in the hands of just a few members. 

“Therefore I am absolutely opposed to both the new systems that are going to be imposed on Waltham Forest from next year.  Both the ‘Elected Mayor’ model and the ‘Strong Leader’ model concentrate power in the hands of even fewer people.  Whilst the Elected Mayor model does it more explicitly, the Strong Leader model simply acts as an even more concentrated version of our current cabinet system.   As a borough, we have to decide which of these models we prefer.  We cannot simply refuse to implement them.

“I believe this is another example of the way in which local democracy is being centralised and local power being shrunk.  Politicians and commentators regularly moan about low turnouts at local elections, but is it surprising when the role of the local councillor within the Town Hall appears to keep diminishing?  Any system should provide local people with a much better idea of the link between their local ward councillor and the decisions that are made within the Town Hall. 

“I will continue, alongside many of my colleagues, to voice my objections to these imposed models of local government.”

You can learn more about the options being considered to change the way your lcoal council is run - and have your say - by speaking to the Council’s Community Engagment Team on 020 8496 3000

Local Liberal Democrats are urging the owners of the Walthamstow Stadium site to meet with campaigners who want to bring greyhound racing back to the venue.

Plans being drawn up by a group led by local ‘Save Our Stow’ campaigners set out how they believe the site could be used to accommodate the development of housing whilst retaining the dog track and leisure facilities on the site — and a resident petition is being collected backing the reopening of the site as a greyhound racing venue.

After expressing his interest in the plans last year, local Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin has met again with campaigners to hear about their alternative proposals for the future of the site, and their concern at a perceived lack of response from site owners London and Quadrant Housing (L&Q).

Cllr Macklin (pictured above with save Our Stow campaigner Rick Holloway) said:

“I’ve been very impressed with the plans suggested by the Save Our Stow group.

“They are looking at a way in which the stadium could be retained and updated to provide a modern greyhound-racing venue whilst using part of the land around the site for development in order to provide some of the housing that it is now earmarked for.  As such they are in line with the trend for mixed leisure and housing developments used at many modern sports venues.

“Obviously an awful lot of goodwill and ambition would be needed to bring such a project into fruition.  But the Lib Dems demonstrated through our assistance in bringing local post offices back into use that when we work with residents who come up with ambitious and innovative proposals for our area, we can produce results.

“What concerns me is that campaigners have the impression that they are being ignored by L&Q and that any alternative proposals which could lead to the stadium being retained are being rejected out of hand.

“I will be meeting with L&Q to discuss their plans for the site and to urge them to meet with campaigners.”

Cllr Macklin also expressed his concern that the closure of the track was symbolic of a wider trend concerning the boroughs leisure facilities and heritage sites.

He added:

“The stadium is an iconic venue and gives Waltham Forest something that distinguishes us from other London boroughs.  We should be prepared to listen to those who have viable plans to modernise and reopen the site.”

Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed their concern at major changes to the way the Council will be run, and are asking local residents to share their views.

Government legislation dictates that the Council must adopt one of two new ‘models’ of local government, both of which Liberal Democrat councillors fear could lead to an even greater centralisation of decision making on behalf of residents.

The Government have told councillors that they must opt for either a ‘directly elected mayor’ or a ’strong leader’ model.  The new set-up will then be introduced after the local elections on May 6th next year.  The directly elected mayor model, which is used in Newham and Hackney, sees the mayor hold all executive powers and control the appointment of cabinet members.  The strong leader model is more similar to the current arrangement but further strengthens the powers of the Council Leader.  The decision will be put out to public consultation but councillors have been told they must make a decision by the end of this year.

Local Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr John Macklin said:

“Obviously we have our concerns that the only two options being presented both leave the potential for much greater centralisation of decision making.

“My experiences of being part of the Council have reaffirmed my belief that better decisions are made with a greater scope for input from councillors and residents alike.  Putting a large amount of power in the hands of one person may well make it easier for them to make decisions, but I believe it also means there is an increased chance that poor decisions will be made that don’t reflect all relevant sides of a debate.

“Lib Dems pride themselves on being community councillors, and the link between ward councillors and residents is hugely important.  But if the potential for input from ward councillors continues to decrease, what faith can residents have that their local representative can have any impact upon the actual decision making process? 

“Waltham Forest isn’t like many of the boroughs who have centralised their decision making processes.  We are an enormously diverse area and the political makeup of the Council reflects that.  Unlike some boroughs with directly elected mayors such as Newham, no political party has had a majority of councillors in our area for quite some time now. 

“The strong leader model is closer to our current position, which in itself is one that has understandably drawn criticism, and our hands are tied to an large extent by what the government wants.  However a Council Leader could work within this new model to give away an enormous amount of that power to ensure that properly representative decision-making could be made.  This would be one of a Liberal Democrat-led council’s first priorities.”

In response to residents’ concerns Labour Cabinet members have suggested that proceeds from selling the former St James Street Library will be used to house the Drugs Action Team in another building.

Cllrs Ali and Robbins told High Street residents that they do not wish to raise expectations by meeting them as it is still their intention to sell the former library because they need to raise funds to find an appropriate property for the drug centre.

Lib Dem High St councillor James O’Rourke said:

“Cllrs Ali and Robbins seem to be suggesting that the proceeds from the sale of this building, which has had no previous link to a drug service, will be ringfenced to provide a drugs service. What has happened to the £350,000 PCT monies?”

“My understanding of selling council owned property is that the proceeds from a sale go into the corporate pot. The capital bidding process then allocates funds to projects from the known available receipts. I am not aware of such a capital bid. Cllrs Ali and Robbins’ assertions that proceeds will be ringfenced shows their total ignoranance of the Councils policies and a total disregard for High Street residents.”

High Street Lib Dems have called on the Councils Chief Executive to do all in his power to protect the 107 listed buildings in Waltham Forest and in particular the Grade II listed former Granada cinema after reports, over the weekend, of yet more of the structure falling off.High St councillor James O’Rourke said:

“I have asked the Chief Executive to seriously consider invoking his powers under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 to issue either an Urgent Works or Repair Notice to protect this historic building and passer-bys from being seriously injured.”

“Clearly, this buildings integrity is a major concern after a Health and Safety Prohibition Notice was issued, a couple of weeks ago, preventing anyone from entering the premises unless they are wearing full Personal Protective Equipment to protect them from exposure to asbestos. Whatever the future of this building may be its heritage needs to be protected.”

Last summer officials in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport drew up a Heritage Protection Bill to change how we list historic buildings and how we protect our heritage.

However, despite there being a very thin legislative programme last year, the Bill did not make it into the Queen’s Speech. Now Gordon Brown has listed his proposed bills for this year’s address by Her Majesty, and guess what? It is still not there.

“It seems Labour both nationally and locally are not particularly interested in the heritage of this country” added Cllr O’Rourke.

Hale End councillor Nick Bason has updated residents on the latest news regarding the proposed Tesco development in Highams Park.

Nick notes a number of conflicting reports about the proposals.

Nick continues:

“The issue was raised again at the South Chingford Community Council meeting on Monday 13 July.

“Your Lib Dem councillors have been in frequent contact with planning officers on the proposals. The situation as of Wednesday 15 July is this:

• The planning application will NOT go to Planning Committee in July, as reported in the press. It is tentatively scheduled in to go to Planning Committee in September.
• A number of different aspects of the plan are still being discussed. Images of the associated housing development on the site circulated in late June are out of date. The design is still being finalised.
• Issues about local traffic are also still being discussed with officers.

“Your Lib Dem Focus Team will keep you updated on the proposals. Views at the South Chingford Community Council among residents remains mixed - some in favour, some not. The decision of Planning Committee will be solely on the application submitted, not on previous applications.”

Nick Bason, Sheila Smith-Pryor and Jane Morgan - the Hale and Higham councillor team -  would be happy to hear your views on the development - you can submit them via Cllr Bason’s website.

As  local residents hit the streets of Waltham Forest to deliver a new batch of Liberal Democrat Focus newsletters to your doorstep, we have updated the Focus File page - meaning you can view all the latest news from your area online.

Highlights from the latest batch of deliveries include:

* The end of the line for Leyton and Wanstead’s Labour MP Harry Cohen.

* An update on parking provision in Cann Hall ward.

* A visit by the Lib Dem shadow Home Secretary to Leyton.

* Lib Dem action to clean up Hale End and Highams Park.

* A special Focus leaflet focusing on Beaumont estate in Leyton.

So head over to our FOCUS FILE page to check out what we have been up to in your ward.

Liberal Democrat councillors recently attended a rally in support of efforts to reopen the former Walthamstow Stadium as a greyhound racing venue.

Liberal Democrat councillors have previously spoken out in support of efforts by resident groups to purchase the site and restore it to its former use.  Cllr John Macklin, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Waltham Forest Council issued a statement of support in November last year after meeting with campaigners in which he told residents he was “fully in support of their efforts to keep the Stadium as both a greyhound racing track and a sport and leisure venue” adding that the stadium was an “iconic London venue and, perhaps more importantly, an enormously valuable part of Waltham Forest’s evening economy.”

He added:

“The success of our leisure venues is an integral part of building a sustainable community in Waltham Forest and ensuring that we are attractive to both our residents and visitors.

“There is no long-term sustainability in forcing residents out of the borough to spend their leisure time.”

Cllr Macklin was one of the lead speakers at the rally, and expressed his concerns that the closure of ‘The Stow’ was representative of a greater decline in leisure and clute activites within the borough, and arranged to work with local MP Neil Gerrard to further efforts to reopen the facility.

READ MORE ON THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS WORK WITH SAVE OUR STOW CAMPAIGNERS HERE.

As reported in the local Waltham Forest Guardian, a Walthamstow Post Office is set to be saved after Liberal Democrat councillors secured funding to support local residents and businessmen committed to running and reopening the service.

The Orford Road branch was closed last year as part of Labour’s devastating national closure programme, but will be resurrected after enterprising local residents approached the Liberal Democrats for Council support.

Local residents have now highlighted the contribution of Liberal Democrat leader John Macklin in securing the funding and leading the pressure on other senior councillors to back the residents’ plans.

The reopening of the branch is the result of pressure from residents and comes  alongside a long-running local Lib Dem campai9gn against the closure of local Post Offices.

Cllr Macklin said:

“I was pleased to be approached by local residents asking for the Liberal Democrats help with these proposals for our local Post Office services.

“For many years the Lib Dems led the campaign against the Labour government’s closure programme.  After the local closures were forced through against residents wishes we have used scrutiny meetings and council motions to raise awareness of ways in which we as a Council could assist enterprising resident groups who were prepared to take on the running of these important local services.

“Therefore I’m obviously delighted that we have managed to secure funding for the residents’ post office plans.

“I have consistently said that my party is always to prepared to work with local people who approach us with practical ideas for greater community involvement in our local services and I hope this action sends a signal to residents that the Liberal Democrats intend to stick by that promise.”

LIB DEMS SAVE OUR POST OFFICE CAMPAIGN - OUR RECORD OF ACTION

Lib dems hit out after local MP ignores calls to support resident campaign to save our local post offices http://walthamforestlibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk/2008/11/17/local-lib-dems-hit-out-at-gerard-over-post-office-snub/

Lib Dems highlight Labour hypocrisy over post office closures http://walthamforestlibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk/2008/11/17/labour-mp-gerrard-accused-of-hypocrisy-over-post-offices/

Local Lib Dems celebrate government u-turn over post office card accounts http://walthamforestlibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk/2008/11/18/local-lib-dems-celebrate-government-u-turn-over-post-office-card-accounts/

Lib Dems ask council to pledge support to resident proposals for Orford Road reopening http://walthamforestlibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk/2009/05/06/lib-dems-want-council-support-for-post-office-plan/

Lib Dem success as Council agrees to help axed post offices http://walthamforestlibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk/2009/05/11/lib-dem-success-as-council-agrees-to-help-axed-post-offices/

Councillors James O’Rourke and Johar Khan have welcomed the dramatic eleventh hour Labour u-turn after new Leader of the Council, Cllr Chris Robbins, announced that the former St James Street Library building will not become a drug treatment centre  following pressure from local residents and the High Street Focus Team.

Only a few weeks ago, Cllr Robbins, said that the centre (DAT) would be a “wonderful addition” to the area.

But in an apparent ‘fit of spite’ Cllr Robbin’s also announced that the building is to be sold off in a matter of weeks. Upon hearing this Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan contacted the cabinet member responsible for Property & Asset management, Lib Dem Leader, Cllr John Macklin who said:

“Cllr Robbins’ announcement is news to me particularly as we are in the middle of a comprehensive review of all the properties the Council owns. No Council property I’m responsible for will be sold until the review is complete.”

Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan thanked Cllr Macklin for his continued commitment and support for the former library to be used for the benefit of the wider community in the St James Street and Coppermill Lane areas.

The Liberal Democrat Chapel End council team have published an open letter to residents in response to concern at proposals for development of the green spacee area behind the Town Hall.

In the letter, local councillors Bob Belam, Bob Carey and John Macklin express their concern at any development of the Chestnut Fields site, before setting out their firm opposition to any development of the allotment sites.

Noting their meetings with residents and local groups, the letter highlights concerns about the increased traffic development would bring to the area before suggesting that much better resident consultation and information is needed from the responsible portfolio holder.

The full text of the letter follows:

* * * * *

As the Liberal Democrat councillors for Chapel End, we want to respond to those residents who have expressed their concern regarding proposed development plans for the area behind the Town Hall in our ward. There has been a lot of activity recently regarding proposals for large-scale redevelopment of the area, with the inclusion of housing and a new school being mooted.  The site is also earmarked for a ‘Healthy Living Hub’ - a very worthy proposal, no doubt, but one so vague in its title that it is always likely to arouse huge concern.

We want residents to know that we share their enormous concern regarding any loss of green space in our local area.  We have already made sure senior Council officers are aware of our feelings on this and have also met with allotment holders, both to try to keep them informed and to assure them that we are completely opposed to any development of the allotment site.

We also believe that current transport infrastructure, including the Billet roundabout, would be unable to cope with the obvious increase in traffic that such proposed development would bring to the area. This issue needs much greater consideration.

What fuels our concern is the lack of clarity in these wide-ranging plans.  Part of the Lib Dems opposition to the most recent Arcade site plans is rooted in the fact that the report seems to be approving development in our ward by stealth, with a particularly big impact on the future of the Pool and Track.

Chapel End residents quite rightly want much clearer information on any redevelopment plans in order to ensure that these important decisions are not simply made behind closed doors as part of a larger development plan for Walthamstow.

Cllr Bob Belam, Cllr Bob Carey and Cllr John Macklin
Liberal Democrat councillors for Chapel End ward

* * * * *

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have met for a second time with the UK’s largest independent cinema operators to discuss the historic former EMD building in Walthamstow  – on the same day that the Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration appeared to dash resident’s hopes that the venue would ever be restored as a cinema.

Lyn Goleby, Managing Director of City Screen – the owner of Stratford’s popular Picture House cinema - met at Waltham Forest Town Hall with the borough’s Chief Executive Andrew Kilburn, Liberal Democrat group Leader John Macklin and High St councillor James O’Rourke to discuss previous Council-commissioned reports which made the business case for a 5-screen cinema on the EMD site.

The building is owned by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), but recent comments from the UCKG have seemed to suggest that the Church would consider moving if an offer was made for the building. 

Cllr O’Rourke said that the meeting with City Screen had been organised in order to ensure all parties could “hear another perspective” on claims that the site was not viable as a cinema.

However, just hours later Council portfolio holder Terry Wheeler appeared to strongly rule out any future for the building as a cinema.  (Click here to read the Waltham Forest Guardian’s report on Cllr Wheeler’s comments)

Local Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin, who was in attendance at the meeting with City Screen, said:

“I have met with UCKG representatives and very much welcome the efforts they have made to begin engaging with residents and councillors. Of course I recognise the legal restrictions which are associated with planning law and respect the UCKG’s position as owners of the site.

“Yet it is completely wrong for the Council – which is led on this issue by Cllr Wheeler - to be seen to be so completely dismissive of the apparent strength of public opinion on this matter. It is the misinformation and manoeuvring that has taken place over a number of years that has fed such confusion and dismay amongst residents.

“Conflicting reports over the viability of the site as a cinema, false promises of Council action and meetings held behind closed doors have all led to an environment of distrust and anger.

“As I have said before, it is simply not good enough to appear to just tell Walthamstow residents what they want in their area.”

London Liberal Democrats have spoken out after reports of cuts in spending on upgrading local tube lines.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport spokesperson (pictured), believes that the announcement serves as further evidence that it is time to “bite the bullet and seriously look at new ways of upgrading the tube.”

She added:

“We need to ensure tube upgrades are completed rapidly, but at far less cost. The continual closure of small sections of a tube line could deliver change in weeks as opposed to months.

“This new approach would also allow for far more work to be completed, including step free access at tube stations, which are now being dropped by the Mayor.

Waltham Forest residents have been hit by long term servce reductions on the Victoria Line from Walthamstow and weekend closures on Central line services from Leyton and Leytonstone into central London.

Caroline Pidgeon continued:

“At present Londoners face months and months of disruption while at great cost little work is actually completed during each weekend and evening closure of a line. There must be a better way forward to deliver the much needed upgrades to the tube.”

You can read more about the Liberal Democrats plans for London transport by heading over tp the London Assembly Lib Dem website.

Our stats this month show that more and more visitors are heading to walthamforestlibdems.org.uk to hear about what their local Liberal Democrats are up to in our borough.

If you are one of our new readers, then welcome!

Amongst other things, you can look at your most recent local Focus leaflet in our Focus file, find contact details for your local ward Liberal Democrat team, or get in touch using the contact details on the right to pass on your thoughts or let us know how we can help.

Many of our local councillors use ‘blogs’ and online videos to keep you up to date with local developments, so check out the links in the left hand bar to head over and see what they are up to…

Tell your friends and neighbours!

Following on from their recent online video Focus update, Cllr Nick Bason of the Hale End and Highams Park Lib Dem council team is now asking residents to get him touch and let him know what they want to see in the way of cultural provision in our borough.

Cllr Bason and Cllr Jane Morgan, who were both elected in Hale and Higham in December’s by-election victory for the Lib Dems, are members of the Council Cultural Strategy panel, and they want to make sure they can best represent to Council what it is you want to see in the way of activities such as music and theatre for your borough.

So head over to www.youtube.com/nickbason to see their latest video update and to find out how to get in touch. 

Pressure from local Liberal Democrat councillors has forced a delay to controversial proposals to convert the former St James St library building in High St into a drug treatment centre.

Lib Dem councillors have now been informed that the report containing the proposal — due to go before the Council’s Cabinet at the end of June — has now been withdrawn from the agenda.  It is unclear at this stage when, and in what form, the report will return to Cabinet.

The Liberal Democrats opposition to the location of the DAT (Drug Action Team) centre mirrors protests from local residents, who have expressed their concerns about the planned conversion of the building.  Local Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin recently reaffirmed his group’s opposition to the plans, noting that whilst a drug treatment centre was needed in the local area, the planned conversion of the former library building was “inappropriate”.

As we reported earlier, High St Liberal Democrats have called on local Labour councillor Liaquat Ali to reaffirm his opposition to the proposal after he spoke out against it in a recent Community Council meeting.  In an open letter to the Labour High St member, local Lib Dem councillors James O’Rourke and Johar Khan called on Cllr Ali to “honour his commitment to the residents of High St ward by voting against the proposal”. Cllr Ali has since been appointed by Labour as a member of the Council Cabinet, and his continued opposition — coupled with ‘no’ votes from the Liberal Democrats — would see Cabinet split 50/50 on the proposal.

Cllr James O’Rourke said:

“I hope that the delaying of this report will enable those behind the proposal to go away and reconsider plans for the location of the Drug Action Team centre.

“Local residents have made their views on these plans very clear, and I am pleased that our pressure on this issue appears to have forced a rethink.  A drug treatment centre is an important and necessary service for our area, but it must be in a location appropriate for both service users and local residents.”

“This delay will hopefully give Liaquat Ali an opportunity to confirm his opposition to his colleagues plans and encourage those behind them to find a solution that better suits local needs”.

Lib Dem High St councillors James O’Rourke and Johar Khan have written to local Labour councillor and Cabinet member Liaquat Ali to ask him to oppose plans to build a Drug Action team centre on the site of the old St James St library.

The Liberal Democrat group on the Council have consitently opposed the plans, suggesting that whilst there is a need for a treatment centre, the site is inapporpriate and the plans for the location unpopular with local residents. 

Cllr Ali stated his opposition to the plans at a recent Community Council meeting, and has since been appointed to the Cabinet by Labour leader Cllr Chris Robbins.  The letter (below) asks Cllr Ali to “honour his commitment to the residents of High St ward by voting against the proposal”.

Liaquat Ali_DAT Proposal - 09.06.09

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Magazines & Newspape high drugs

Head over now to Cllr James O’Rourke’s excellent blog to read more about the Lib Dems opposition to the plans for the site.

Part of the former Arcade site in Walthamstow is to be prepared for temporary use after pressure from local Liberal Democrat councillors and party leader Nick Clegg.

The announcement was made in an email to High Street Lib Dem councillors from the new Leader of the Council, Chris Robbins, and will add to confusion over the future of Labour portfolio holder Terry Wheeler’s controversial plans to use £35 million of taxpayers money to fund the long-awaited regeneration of the area.  The Liberal Democrats voted against the proposals in a recent Cabinet meeting.

The email from Cllr Robbins claims that an area of the disused site will be cleared and levelled in preparation for the change of usage, with work beginning on 1st June.  However the next report to Cabinet on the public funding of the Arcade regeneration is not expected until later in June.
It is not known how much involvement Cllr Terry Wheeler, who criticised Clegg’s comments on the Arcade site, has had in the Council Leader’s decision to now accept the Liberal Democrat proposals over temporary usage of the site.

Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin said:

“Although this change of heart over temporary usage of the Arcade site obviously comes a little late, it is certainly to be welcomed. It is unclear how much input the portfolio holder has had in this decision, so it remains to be seen how it will impact on Cllr Wheeler’s plans for the funding of the Arcade site regeneration project.”

The decision to commit to temporary use of the site comes after pressure from Liberal Democrat councillors. 

Last December Cllrs James O’Rourke and Johar Khan succeeded in amending a Council motion to include a commitment to examine useful ways in which the Arcade site land could be utilised in the short-term before the period of redevelopment begins.  On a recent visit to Walthamstow Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg gave his support to these proposals, telling the Waltham Forest Guardian that “the best thing would be to find some communal use for that space on a temporary basis so that a proper sustainable solution can be reached.”

Local ward councillor James O’Rourke said:

“The motion we successfully amended and the pressure we have kept up on this issue has clearly been the catalyst for this decision.

“Myself and Cllr Khan have been informed that decisions have not yet been taken on temporary usage, so this gives local residents plenty of opportunity to make sure they tell us what you think the land could be used for.”

Liberal Democrat councillors in Waltham Forest have moved to defend their decision to oppose plans by Labour members to use millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to fund the redevelopment of the Arcade site in Walthamstow.

The Lib Dems have hit back after Cllr Terry Wheeler, as Portfolio Holder for Enterprise and investment, criticised the Lib Dems position — and the comments of national Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg — in a letter to last week’s local Waltham Forest Guardian.

Nick Clegg warned that the Council should not rush into an unsuitable development of the site and backed local Lib Dems call for the derelict site to be given a temporary usage before any final development begins.

Now local Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin has backed Clegg’s comments and defended his group’s opposition to the plans:

Cllr Macklin said:

“Large scale projects cannot be simply be hurriedly imposed onto people.  They depend on openness and accountability at all stages.  Repeatedly lecturing those who have expressed their concern at the plans and claiming to act for the ’silent majority’ probably isn’t the way to go about achieving this.

“If Cllr Wheeler isn’t careful these proposals will be seen as yet another attempt to suddenly rush into regeneration commitments in Walthamstow in the run-up to a local election. 

“We won’t be bullied into making poorly thought out decisions just so he can have cranes on the Arcade site for next May.

“We have taken a fair amount of flak from Cllr Wheeler and his supporters over our opposition to his Arcade plan, and he has not been slow to dismiss the concerns of anyone who has warned that his proposals need much greater consideration, including the Council’s own Scrutiny Panel.
 
“The Lib Dems took the decision to vote against Cllr Wheeler and Labour in Cabinet for the simple reason that the plans were poorly set out, have huge knock-on effects for other areas of Walthamstow and do not as yet provide anywhere near enough justification for risking so much public money.  We continue to stand by our decision.”

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have met with one of the UK’s largest cinema regeneration operators to discuss possibilities for the historic former EMD cinema in Walthamstow.

High St councillor James O’Rourke met with representatives of City Screen at the Town Hall this week after the company expressed an ongoing interest in the building on Hoe Street.  City Screen, which was formed in 1989 to “challenge the multiplex cinema model and provide cinemas in city centre locations”, have been responsible for a series of cinema regenerations and new build facilities across the country, including the Clapham Picturehouse and The Ritzy in Brixton.

At the meeting Lyn Goleby, the Managing Director of City Screen, suggested that with the right funding package the site was still viable as a cinema, highlighting earlier reports paid for by the Council that made the business case for a 5-screen cinema on the EMD site.

Lyn Goleby said:

“Our previous work has shown clearly that the redevelopment of historic cinema buildings, such as the former EMD in Walthamstow, can act as an organic catalyst for wider generation.

“These projects attract other businesses to the area and really stimulate the night time economy.”

Noting recent conjecture over the usage of the building, Lyn Goleby highlighted City Screen’s investment in cinema regeneration projects such as the former EMD, suggesting that such private operator funding, complimented by other investment or grant opportunities, remained the best way to proceed financially in these instances.

After the meeting, Cllr James O’Rourke said:

“I welcome the fact that UCKG representatives met with ward councillors and made some effort to display their plans to local residents.  They will obviously have heard the many concerns expressed regarding the usage of the building.

“I am always keen to hear people’s thoughts about the site and was pleased to meet with City Screen.  It was intriguing to see some of the plans for the building that were drawn up in 2002 at around the same time the EMD cinema originally closed.  These appear to confirm that the site could remain a viable proposition as a cinema.
 
“The use of the building is an issue people are rightly very passionate about, and I was interested to note recent comments from the UCKG which seemed to suggest that they would consider moving if an offer was made. 

“If this is the case and as City Screen suggested financial investment could see the site renovated as a 5-screen cinema, I would hope any interested
parties would be willing to sit down and talk about it.”

This week’s local Yellow Advertiser features a report on the Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats attempts to support local residents groups and businesses plans to reopen local Post Office branch closed under Labour’s national closure programme.  Local people, along with those Waltham Forest businesses hit by the knock-on effects of the closures, want to know what the Council can do to back their efforts to see the Post Offices saved.

Read more about our plans to help here.

The paper also photos and reports of Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg’s recent visit to Walthamstow Market, where he spoke to stallholders and local businesses about how they the UK’s economic crisis has affected them.

Click here to see what Nick had to say.

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have achieved the first step in assisting residents with the reopening of axed local Post Office branches, after opposition councillors agreed to a Lib Dem motion promising to look at plans to reopen those facilities recently hit by the Labour Government’s closure programme.

Hale End and Highams Park councillor Jane Morgan (pictured above with fellow Hale and Higham councillor Sheila Smith-Pryor) spoke at the Council meeting, in which the Lib Dems agreed to accept Labour amendments to the motion in order to ensure it passed. 

However Cllr John Macklin, the local Lib Dem leader warned that he would not allow the Labour amendments (which removed the responsibility of meeting with those local businesses who plan to invest in local Post Offices from the Portfolio Holder for Enterprise and Investment) to enable the Council to ‘bury’ any proposals for the reopening of local branches.

The Liberal Democrats have vowed to help after being contacted by local resident groups who presented pland for the reopening of local branches through a combination of private enterprise and outside funding.

Head to our Speeches page to see what Cllr Morgan had to say about the Lib Dems support for the plans:

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has used a visit to Waltham Forest to give his backing to Lib Dem proposals for the vacant Walthamstow Arcade site.

The national Lib Dem Leader, who was in Walthamstow to lend his support to Farid Ahmed, the parliamentary candidate for the constituency and local European Parliament candidate Jonathan Fryer, took time to speak to the local Waltham Forest Guardian about the need for greater transparency on the Arcade development and the need to find some temporary communal use for the derelict site.

Head over to the Guardian website to read all the details of Nick’s interview on the Arcade site.

After speaking to members of the local press, the Lib Dem leader headed to Walthamstow to speak to stallholders, before addressing business leaders on the effects of the recession and the need for greater support for small businesses.

Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats are to ask the Council to support resident proposals for the reopening of local Post Office branches.

Local Lib Dem councillors have been approached by residents keen to see the reopening of branches axed under the Government’s Post Office closure programme and will request at Thursday’s Full Council meeting that the Portfolio Holder for Enterprise and Investment, Labour member Terry Wheeler, meets formally with local resident groups to hear proposals to reopen local branches using private investment.

Local Lib Dem Cllr John Macklin said that he hoped councillors from all sides would take the opportunity to show local businesses and Post Office users that the Council was “on their side”.

Cllr Macklin continued:

“From an economic point of view, the closure of local Post Offices couldn’t have come at a worse time.  The presence of a Post Office brings people to an area, benefiting neighbouring businesses. 

“Residents didn’t want their Post Offices to be closed, but have had that decision forced upon them.  If we as a Council are able to give practical support to efforts to have them reopened, then surely that is something that we should be keen to support.

“The efforts of residents and local businesses to get their Post Offices back are exactly the kind of entrepreneurial proposals that we should be supporting at a time when fresh thinking by small businesses is sorely needed.”

The FOCUS file has now been updated with the latest Lib Dem news for Hale End and Highams Park, grove Green, Leyton and Cathall wards.

The FOCUS file allows you to keep up to date with you local Liberal Democrat ward team online and see how they are working for your area.  But don’t worry - you will still be recieving your regular FOCUS delivery right to your letterbox!

Head over now to the FOCUS file to read what we’ve been up to in your area.

Your local Liberal Democrats working for you all year round - not just at election time!

Local Liberal Democrats have hit out at local MPs after they failed to turn up in parliament on Friday (20th March) to support an effort to end ‘fuel poverty’ for Waltham Forest residents.

The ‘Fuel Poverty’ bill, which has the backing of organisations ranging from Help the Aged to Friends of the Earth, would promote energy efficiency and cheaper energy tariffs for the less well off.  However the Labour Government blocked the passage of the bill despite the efforts of the Liberal Democrats.

Now Waltham Forest Lib Dems have taken up the cause, calling on Harry Cohen, Neil Gerrard and lain Duncan-Smith to explain their opposition to the Bill.

Figures recently released by the group Consumer Watch revealed that Leyton and Wanstead (5th), and Walthamstow (8th) both ranked in the top ten London constituencies for the number of residents living in ‘fuel poverty’.  A household is considered to be living in ‘fuel poverty’ when it spends 10% or more of its income on energy bills.  The figures revealed that an estimated 17 out of 100 local households fell into this category.  Chingford and Woodford green ranked 30th.

The charity Age Concern have described the result of Friday’s voting as “a huge let-down for the 2.75 million older people living in fuel poverty” adding that “many will question why a Government which claims to be concerned about fuel poverty has acted in such a cynical way.”

Leyton councillor Winnie Smith, who will second the local Lib Dem motion on the issue to Waltham Forest Council at Thursday’s Full Council meeting said:

“The actions contained in this Bill would help some of the most vulnerable residents of Waltham Forest and my ward, Leyton, at a time when fuel costs are rocketing and many people are finding it tough.

“Our local MPs need to start standing up for residents by using their voices in parliament, where it really counts”.

Last year local Liberal Democrats successfully got opposition councillors to agree to a series of measures aimed at ‘greening’ the Council such as improving the energy efficiency of council buildings.

The good work of the Higham Hill Liberal Democrat Focus team has been highighted again in this week’s local press.

The Lib Dem councillor team of Peter Woollcott, Patrick Smith and Sean Meiszner are leading the campaign to get more government funding to help local councils deal with potholes and worsening road conditions.  Routes in Waltham Forest have suffered particularly badly this year due to the worst winter in decades.

Councillor Bob Belam joined Councillor Woollcott (both pictured above) to draw attention to the issue.

Councillor Woollcott told the local Yellow Advertiser:

“Some of the roads are ridden with potholes which pose a danger to drivers an cyclists especially.  Not only can they cause accidents they can also damage vehicles which can then pose a danger later on”.

Article by Martyn Dalton, Picture by Roy Tillett, both used by kind permission

Waltham Forest councillors last night approved the borough’s yearly budget, with Liberal Democrats keeping their promise to set Council Tax below 2.5%.

The level for this year is set at a below average 1.9%, with additional funds being put into street cleaning services, mental health services and enforcement powers to clamp down on rogue property developers.

Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin spoke for the Liberal Democrat group and congratulated fellow Liberal Democrat members for their work on keeping local taxes low. However he criticised the government for their hike in council tenant rent costs, suggesting that this move typified a “completely outdated” central approach to local government.

Cllr Macklin also offered opposition Tory councillors the opportunity to put their ‘alternative’ budget material budget proposals - recieved just hours before the budget meeting - through a proper scrutiny process, adding that there should be “no political restrictions on good ideas for our borough”.