More road money needed from government pot, say councillors

Councillors Peter Woollcott and Bob Belam, as featured in this week's Yellow AdvertiserThe 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

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criticised the government for their hike in council tenant rent costs, suggesting that this move typified a “completely outdated” central approach to local government.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!

Higham Park Lib Dems in action!

Cllr Patrick Smith, Cllr Sean Meiszner and Cllr Peter WoollcottThe Lib Dems Higham Hill Focus Team are campaigning to have a new bus route for local residents.

Councillors Peter Woollcott, Patrick Smith and Sean Meiszner want a new route to run from Tottenham Hale to Highams Park via Billet Road.  The bus route is required to forge a west/link public transport link in response to community expansion, with the new Banbury Park and Sutherland Road Estates, three schools – including Walthamstow Academy.  Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon has agreed to chair a meeting with TfL at Waltham Forest Town Hall to support the campaign.

Cllr Smith and Cllr Meiszner also attended a recent event at the Houses of Parliament to see Julia Goldsworthy MP and join the `Unlock Democracy’ national campaign to open up new income streams to local councils as part of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.

Cllr Patrick Smith said:
“Liberal Democrats want Waltham Forest residents to gain the maximum financial help from Government. “This legislation is designed to ask local people to prioritise their community projects and give back power to the people on issues such as unpopular post office closures, affordable housing or a lack of local doctors and dentists”

The Focus file

As well as recieving your latest Lib Dem FOCUS leaflet direct to your door, you will now be able to keep up to date with all the latest news from your ward in The FOCUS file.All the latest issues of the popular Lib Dem newsletter will now be available to view here online, so you never have to miss hearing about the latest work being carried out on your behalf by the Lib Dem team in your corner of Waltham Forest.

So head over now to The FOCUS file to check out the latest news from your local Lib Dem team.

Future of 80 year old building outlined

Cllr James O'Rourke (centre) campaigns with London Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes and Hale End and Highams Park councillor Sheila Smith-PryorLocal LIb Dem councillor James O’Rourkes blog carries news of the High St FOCUS team’s recent briefing on the future of the former EMD site in Hoe St.

The historic building, owned by the UK Church of God, has been earmarked for a redevelopment that will see a theatre, cafe and gallery placed on the site complex.

Cllr O’Rourke has been the first to bring you news of the plans after he discovered that talks over the future of the former cinema were taking place between owners and cabinet members.  The High St LIb Dem team have given a cautious welcome to the plans.

Read more of what Cllr O’Rourke has to say on the issue at his excellent blogsite.

Higham Hill team want better buses for residents

This week's local Yellow AdvertiserThe Liberal Democrat councillor team in Higham Hill are busy lobbying transport bosses for a new bus route through their ward

This week’s local Yellow Advertiser (pictured) features news of the attempts of councillors Patrick Smith, Sean Meiszner and Peter Woollcott to secure a new bus service along Billet Road in Walthamstow to cope with increased demand amongst residents.

Cllr Patrick Smith told the paper:

“We want to ensure that residents and visitors have proper access to and from the area.  Local services are not always reliable or convenient and we want something that will connect the area with the borough’s main transport hubs”.

EMD building – update

News emerges from High St councillor James O’Rourke that councillors are to be given the opportunity to view proposals for the regeneration of the former EMD cinema in Hoe Street at a presentation by the owners of the building , the UK Church of God.

We reported earlier this month that Cllr O’Rourke had been gioven access to the building after press reports that squatters were occupying the site emrged over Christmas.  Cllr O’Rourke managed to take some pictures of the inside of the historic building during his visit.

Cllr O’Rourke, who has consistently fought for greater transparency from the Council with regards to the future of the site, has more on the development at his blog.

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.

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 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.”