Local Lib Dems in Meeting Over Cinema Viability

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.”

Lib Dems keep Council Tax promise but warn of “uniquely challenging times”

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”.

Read Cllr Macklin’s full speech to Council and let us know what you think!

New community centre planned on site of Thatched House public toilets

The former Thatched House public toiletsWaltham Forest Council has recently received a planning application for the former public toilets on Crownfield Road.

The plan is to demolish them and, on the site, build a three storey community centre. The Catt Hall ward Liberal Democrats have already raised the issue of parking provisions through the local FOCUS leaflets and are asking residents to make their views known.

To read more about the plans, head over to the Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats site.

Good news on EMD site?

James O'Rourke and the High St teamFollowing recent press reports of squatters using the EMD building in Walthamstow, local High St councillor James O’Rourke was given access to the site to take up the case.

But whilst James found no evidence of squatters, he did discover that the owners of the former cinema are apparently in talks to proceed with a new usage of the building, with a planning application expected possibly as early as late January or early February.

Cllr O’Rourke said:

“I will be contacting the relevant Cabinet members to ask urgently for details about these discussions and plans on behalf of High Street residents.”

For more information on the future of the EMD site – and some exclusive pictures from inside the building – head over to Cllr O’Rourkes blog.

Local Lib Dems want safe Billet Rd crossing

Cllr Sean Meiszner and Cllr Peter Woollcott of the Higham Hill FOCUS teamThe Liberal Democrat Higham Hill Focus Team has presented a petition to Waltham Forest Council calling for a new pedestrian crossing to be built within the ward.

Over 500 residents have signed the Lib Dem petition calling for a crossing to be built on the busy Billet Road opposite Sinnot Road.

Higham Hill councillor Sean Meiszner presented the petition to the Mayor on behalf of residents at Thursday’s Full Council meeting at the Town Hall.

Cllr Meiszner said:

“We would like to thank all those who have shown their support and taken the time to sign our petition”

“Like the many residents who have supported our campaign, we believe this crossing is necessary because of the high volume of pedestrians who use this area.

“Users of the doctor’s surgery, the nursery, the SureStart Centre and the Essex Hall daycare centre all need to be able to cross the Billet Rd in safety.”

Lib Dems hit out at Arcade site delays

The Walthamstow Liberal Democrats team Local Liberal Democrat councillors have used a major meeting of Waltham Forest Council to place on record their concern at the ongoing delays in the redevelopment of the Aracde site in Walthamstow.

During a debate at the latest Full Council meeting in Waltham Forest Town Hall, the Lib Dems asked fellow councillors to publically express their dissatisfaction that the project continues to take so long to complete.

Liberal Democrat members also asked opposition councillors to agree to look at ways in which the land left vacant at the Arcade site can be usefully used prior to work on the redvelopment getting underway.

The Liberal Democrat proposals were accepted unanimously after Labour councillors withdrew a planned amendment congratulating portfolio holder Terry Wheeler for the work he has led so far on the vacant site.

High Street councillors James O’Rourke and Johar Khan led for the Liberal Democrats during the debate, and both were quick to raise residents concerns regarding what Cllr O’Rourke described as the redevelopments “moving goalposts”

Cllr O’Rourke said:

“If we try to explain to residents that a possibly unprecedented economic downturn, a local collapse in property prices and a growing recession are not going to have an effect on planned large scale redevelopment projects, I think that residents would question our grip on reality.

And I can tell members about the reality in Walthamstow and in my ward, High St.

The reality is a huge, ugly expanse of fenced-in, derelict, unused scrubland at the heart of Walthamstow – bordering our High St, our main shopping precinct and the borough’s busiest transport terminus.

That is a reality that is simply not good enough for residents”.

Liberal Democrat leader John Macklin’s calls for reassurances regarding the development have recently featured in the local press.  Concerns about the viability of the development have been heightened by the news that Waltham Forest has suffered one of the worst property price crashes in London. 

Cllr Macklin said:

“The collapse in property prices is bound to have an effect on regeneration projects in the borough and I will be looking for clarification from the relevant portfolio holders regarding the timetables for work on these projects, “

“As I have said before a series of unused ‘land banks’ across the borough awaiting generation is just not acceptable.”

As always, High St councillor James O’Rourke’s excellent blog has more news and opinion on the progress of the Arcade site development.

Concerns continue over local property price crash

Cllr John Macklin at the site of the Walthamstow Arcade development, as featured in the local Yellow AdvertiserThe Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats recently revealed their concerns that the property price crash could have a major effect on redevelopment projects in the borough – and now it seems as if those concerns are being shared by others in the borough.

In the same week as the London Evening Standard bought to wider attention the severity of the problems  in Waltham Forest, the local Yellow Advertiser featured Liberal Democrat leader John Macklin in a feature on the local property crash.

The Evening Standard confirmed that Waltham Forest suffered the largest year-on-year fall in London property prices .  The local Lib Dem team recently revealed that there had been a 9.2% fall in local prices, sparking concern about building projects in the borough.

Cllr Macklin told the Yellow Advertiser:

“The collapse in property prices is bound to have an effect on regeneration in the borough, and I will be looking for clarification from the relevant portfolio holders regarding the timetables for work on these projects.

“The Government has allowed house prices and irresponsible mortgage lending to rocket almost unchecked and this completely irresponsible approach is now resulting in dire consequences for residents.”

Local Lib Dems Act to Stop Illegal Developments

In the past three or four months the Cann Hall Ward has seen a dramatic increase in the number of former family homes being extended or converted into multiple flats.

Many residents have complained to the Cann Hall FOCUS Team about properties suddenly having sometimes quite extensive works done, without any prior notice from the Planning Dept. to let local residents know what was going to happen.

In many cases the Council does not know because the owners have not sought planning permission to either extend or convert. In addition, small plots of land are being used to build new properties.

Lib Dem Cllr Keith Rayner and the Focus Team are clear this has to stop.

The Council has now designated Cann Hall Ward as an area where this kind of practice has to be controlled, and family housing maintained. Residents’ backing for this move is shown by the amount of emails and letters in support.

Cllr Rayner said: “Please contact the Focus Team if you see a property being converted or extended in your area and we will let you know if it has planning permission and is a legal development”

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”. 

Lib Dem Council Team Speak on Tesco Plans

Hale End and Highams Park councillor Sheila Smith-PryorThe Lib Dem team for Hale End and Highams Park have said that “any proposed developments should absolutely have to compliment existing buildings and services in the area”

At a recent residents meeting, Cllr Sheila Smith-Pryor and the Hale and Higham FOCUS team spoke of the need for any development in the area to meet strict requirements regarding its environmental impact and the knock-on effect of the quality of life for all residents.

A FOCUS survey conducted by former Liberal Democrat councillor John Beanse and the local team showed that, out of over 500 resident responses, there was a range of opinions expressed regarding the proposals.  Many residents said they were concerned about the size of any proposed Tesco development.

Cllr Smith-Pryor said:

“Residents will remember that the Lib Dem team worked hard to ensure their voices were heard during the previous Tesco application.

“We will do the same again to ensure that all residents views are represented on this important issue”.

“Attendees at the recent meeting wanted to hear the views of the local councillor team, and I was pleased to be able to report back on the work that we have been doing on behalf of residents.”