Arcade speech now online

Cllr James O’Rourke last night led the Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats successful attempt to get councillors to express their concern at the ongoing delays in the Arcade development in his ward with a speech which highlighted the realities of the current condition of the site.

You can now read Cllr O’Rourke’s speech in our new ‘Speeches’ page, either by following the link or by clicking on Speeches in the left-hand toolbar.

Scroll down to read Cllr O’Rourke’s Arcade speech, or take your time and have a look at what else we have contributed to other Council debates over the past year.

Local Lib Dems want London transport fare freeze

Local councillors in Waltham Forest are supporting the launch of a new Liberal Democrat campaign for a tube and bus fares freeze.

Boris Johnson, London’s Mayor, is jacking up fare prices by an average of 6% in the New Year and in the case of some bus fares is increasing prices by a massive 11%.

Local Lib Dems are concerned that Waltham Forest residents will find it too expensive to travel in future because of Boris’s above inflation guaranteed price increases for years to come.

“London’s transport system has become one of the most expensive in the world yet fares continue to rise” said local Lib Dem councillor James O’Rourke.

Cllr O’Rourke represents High St ward, which contains three overground rail stations, two tube stations and the third busiest bus terminus in London.

Lib Dem London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon added:

“It is not too late for the Mayor to do a u-turn. He can still bring some festive cheer to London’s struggling transport users and poorest families, by halting his outrageous fare increases.”

A new website http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/merrychristmasboris has been launched, giving Londoners the opportunity to sign a petition.

London Lib Dems are asking the Mayor to abandon the planned increases to help struggling families and commuters during the economic crisis.

The freeze would be funded by making savings in Transport for London’s budget and by extending charges for the most polluting cars.

Boris hits local Freedom Pass holders with double whammy

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline PidgeonPensioners and eligible disabled people in Waltham Forest were today hit by a double whammy as the Mayor of London Boris Johnson revealed that not only would their 24 hour Freedom Pass not be able to be used on Network Rail trains before 9.30am, despite this being a key election promise, but that the London Boroughs face paying out millions of pounds to fund
Mayor Boris Johnson’s’ 24 hour commitment.

At present people aged over 60 and eligible disabled people in possession of a Freedom Pass can travel after 9.30am for free on the transport network.  Boris Johnson has repeatedly promised pass holders that as from January 2nd they could use all of London’s transport network – including the overground rail network at any time.

However at Mayor’s Question Time held in the London Assembly today, under
questioning from Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, the Boris Johnson admitted that the cost of extending the Freedom Pass to 24 hour use would have to be paid for by Council Tax payers in London boroughs.
The Mayor also said that it was not yet possible to confirm whether people could use their passes on the overground rail network before 09.30.

Caroline Pidgeon AM said:

“This is a double whammy for Freedom Pass holders in London.  Not only will they not be able to use their passes on the rail network before 9.30am, but they face the prospect of higher council tax bills because Boris expects the Boroughs to bear all the costs of a 24 hour freedom pass.”

“This is effectively a duff Christmas present from the Mayor, one with the parts missing and no batteries in it! 

“The Mayor must live up to his promise to fully fund the 24 hour Freedom Pass”

NEWS FROM CITY HALL – Does the Mayor’s Budget add up?

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has published his draft consolidated budget and put it out for consultation.

Mike Tuffrey Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly said:

“A zero rise in the GLA’s precept from next April will be welcomed by many Londoners, but let us not forget that from January all of us who use public transport in the capital will be paying fares that rise by twice the rate of inflation.

“The budget Boris Johnson is proposing makes several large assumptions, including that the Met Police will be able to make large savings in their budget, a number of which have yet to be revealed, when they haven’t been able to meet all the savings targets for this financial year yet.

 “On the transport network passenger numbers are expected to rise when all the indications are that in previous times of economic difficulty passenger levels have decreased rapidly.

“The actions of Boris Johnson’s and his advisors over the last six months haven’t exactly installed confidence that he has produced a budget that adds up, is sustainable and is not storing up major problems for our public services in London in future years.

“We will be watching closely to see if the Mayor can actually produce what he promises.”

Playground cash arrives after pressure from Lib Dems

Cllr James O'Rourke with ward colleague Johar Khan (left) and Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Farid Ahmed (centre)The Waltham Forest Guardian is reporting that playgounds in Waltham Forest are to benefit from extra funding – just weeks after local Lib Dem councillors slammed the state of play areas throughout the borough.

Local Lib Dem councillor James O’Rourke led the protests regarding their upkeep alongside concerned local residents.

Now Cllr O’Rourke has given a cautious welcome to the funding boost, but has warned that the money must come alongside better standards of care and upkeep for the refurbished areas.

Read what he has to say in full over at Cllr O’Rourke’s blog.

Have Your Say…

The Liberal Democrat Group on Waltham Forest Council want to hear from you!

Liberal Democrats councillors are encouraging local residents and community groups to get in contact and share any concerns or ideas they may have regarding our borough.

Cllr John Macklin, the Leader of the Lib Dem Group in Waltham Forest, said:

“I encourage any local residents or groups to get in touch and let us know what they would like to see from their local Council. 

“Liberal Democrats pride themselves on inclusive, community-based politics that reaches far beyond the confines of the Town Hall.  We led the way in the introduction of Community Councils in Waltham Forest and Lib Dem Councils across the country have worked hard to introduce groundbreaking ways in which we can engage with residents.

“Our Scrutiny chairs have also been successful in introducing new ways for residents to feed into their Committees and influence what councillors discuss”.

If there is any issue which you or your group would like to discuss with the local Liberal Democrats, please contact us in the Town Hall by phoning 020 8496 4313 or by emailing ben.wright@walthamforest.gov.uk

We will do our best to meet you at a time and venue that best suits your availability.

We look forward to hearing from you!

New Fire Station Plans Unveiled

Cann Hall councillor Keith Rayner was on hand to hear about the plansA new Fire Station is being proposed for Leytonstone.

Cann Hall councillors Liz Phillips and Keith Rayner found out about the plans recently when they visited an open evening at the Fire Station in High Road Leytonstone. The London Fire Brigade were starting their consultation and discussion process with local people and interested groups, along with local ward councillors Liz and Keith.

The basic proposals are for a whole new fire station, including a third attendance pump, better public facilities, and accommodation for personnel working out of the fire station. It would also enable improved response to providing community advice on fire safety and many other areas of helpful information, without expanding its patrol area.

Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats says:

“This is great news for both Cann Hall Ward and the Leytonstone area. As the plans progress, we will keep you informed of developments. You can also contact Richard Mills, Station Manager, on (020) 8555 1200 for more information.”

Borough Must Protect Rights of Leaseholders – Cllr Patrick Smith

Higham Hill councillor Patrick Smith has defended the rights of leaseholders in a letter to this week’s Waltham Forest Guardian:

“The legal rights and entitlements of leaseholders must be at the heart of all project works on their homes which are carried out on behalf of the Council.

Leaseholders should also be free to state when and how the project is done.

We must avoid residents being billed high amounts in one go and introduce an upper monthly limit charging structure.  This policy would respect individuals and the more vulnerable leaseholders, whom do not deserve the shock of a sudden debt in this current financial crisis.

In Higham Hill our leaseholders have told us in Carlton Road and Garnett Road that they would like their views to be fully understood in the public consultation process and to remain fully informed and updated throughout.

I advocate an explanatory booklet be issued to each leaseholder setting out their rights and entitlements and the duty of social landlords. 

The borough must aim for best practice to create a close watch on leaseholder rights in future, especially where our elderly and vulnerable families in Higham Hill are concerned”. 

Local Lib Dems Solve the Case of the Disappearing Bus Stop!

The Lib Dems Transport spokesperson in the London Assembly, Caroline PidgeonLiberal Democrat activists in Waltham Forest have been busy – solving the case of the phantom bus stop!

Investigative work by on behalf of bemused local residents has revealed that a bus stop which disappeared in Cathall Road had never been put there by Transport for London – but by an enterprising public transport user!

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman at the London Assembly, said: “I was contacted by Paul Olford, a long-term Lib Dem activist in Leytonstone, about a bus stop which had mysteriously disappeared from Cathall Road.

“I contacted TfL and after some investigating, they discovered the bus stop was never meant to be there in the first place.

“The sign had just been stuck on a lamppost and bus drivers were mistaking it for the real thing.”

And bus passengers will be disappointed to learn that there are no plans to replace the phantom with a real stop, as it’s located on the brow of a bridge and would be too dangerous.

TfL confirmed: “Someone had stuck the round London Buses sign on a lamp column so that it resembled a bus stop.

“We do not know who did this but it was not with the permission of London Buses.”