Members and Guests book

For those interested in efficiently running our towns energy-wise, I suggest a visit to this impressive, interactive web site that is based in part on pioneering work actually being done in some UK towns. www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/efficiency/index.html

I'm setting up a Leytonstone Arts Trail to run concurrently with the Leytonstone July festival. Are you an artist (visual) or do you know of artists in the Leytonstone area? If you do would you please let me know or pass on my email address to them. (crystaltips4choclate@yahoo.com)ThanksAnna

Other members may be interested in this development on the REMOVAL OF GRAFFITI FROM CABLE BOXES.

Waltham Forest Council and Virgin Media have agreed an arrangement whereby the Council will clean all Virgin Media cable boxes and paint them with anti- graffiti paint. It may take some time before the Virgin Media cable boxes in our area are given this treatment.The Council are trying to agree a similar arrangement with British Telecom.



If CONFLICTS WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS arise, DC MEDIATION-Community conflict resolution , may be of assistance.The service is free,independent,confidential and impartial.Telephone[020] 8556 6200 for further information.

REMOVAL OF GRAFFITI.
1.Graffiti on Post Office pouch boxes in the Leytonstone area.These are usually grey,located on the pavement,mounted on a pole and are often near Post Office letter boxes. Speak to the manager at the Leytonstone delivery office on 0208 539 7028 7am-1pm MON-FRI.
2.Graffiti on bridges over the A12 or Central Line underground or at the Green Man underpass area, contact Transport for London on 0207 222 5600. 8am-6pm. MON-FRI.
3.For removal of graffiti elsewhere contact Waltham Forest Direct, free of charge, on 0800 23 23 23 at anytime, but preferably during office hours.

Nice update on the Epping Forest Talk !

Commend Trevor Goodchild on his initiative , as also everyone who worked on this very successful event .

Thank you to those who cleared the woodland last weekend - it looks beautiful.

Has anyone got a spare room to rent for a couple of months to the new manager of our local community bank? He needs it while he searches for a permanent place and is due to start work soon!

I was concerned to read in the local paper today that our council have undertaken to relieve residents of our right to decide whether Cotrolled Parking Zones are introduced on our streets. Our council is clearly attracted to the healthy revenue such Zones provide - no matter what our views may be. On reading further I was not surprised to read that this further curtailment of our rights was being championed by the council leader, Clyde Loakes. I suggest we let our local councillors know that we expect them to speak out against this further erosion of our local democracy.

I don't know if FORA has any influence with Leytonstone School but we are consistently having to put up with noise in the evenings from children playing games on the playground area adjacent to James Lane, Clare & Forest Roads. Security is obviously not great at the moment because of the fact that the front wall has been demolished and a few bits of string across the gap in the temporary fencing is unlikely to deter too many kids! As far as I'm aware the play areas are not part of the sports hall development and therefore should be out of bounds. On the occasional nice evening that we've had in this rather dismal summer it would be good to be able to sit out in the garden and not endure the sound of bouncing balls, skateboards, screaming and shouting.

Hello to you all at FORA and congratulations on your excellent website.
We formed a residents association in Aubrey Road last year with the aim of tackling 'crime and grime' in our area. Grime, strangely enough, is the worst problem and we find the council lacking in resolve to deal with issues such as fly-tipping, graffiti, littering etc. We can't seem to get them to enforce the new Clean Neighbourhood & Environment Act for some reason, but we're not letting them off the hook and will keep up the pressure on them until they carry out their statutory duties under the Act.
Crime seems to have reduced somewhat, which may be due to the SNTs. There hasn't been a reported mugging or car break-in on our street for about a year. Fingers crossed!
The effort your members and committee are making has inspired us to greater effort and I hope that we can work together on issues of mutual concern in the future.

Mysterious and intriging, Bats are an integral part of our area. They are a protected species and 'development' cannot be permitted without first ensuring they are not disturbed. So I suggest everyone be careful when you re-do your roof or shed or udertake major works. Remember the wild birds nesting too. I suggest keep tree and bush 'corrirdors' open for all these excellent denizens of our world and lay off the pesticides. It is against the law to disturb a nest that is in current use. If in doubt, contact the Bat Conservation Trust or the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Just tap out their names on Google.

Here's more information about Planning Application 2007/0079 & 2007/0082/CAC-Leytonstone School- Demolition of existing boundary wall and erection of a section of replacement wall and a 1.8m high black powder coated metal heritage fence fronting Forest Road,as shown on the revised elevational drawing received on the 7th. February 2007 and the additional site drawing ,method statement and section drawing received on 20th. March 2007.



Planning permission and Conservation Area consent was granted for the proposed development,subject to conditions,on 17th. April 2007.



Residents' requests to fence off the area behind the proposed railings and sports hall and to introduce suitable planting there are included in the scheme,as is the painting black of the grey school gates facing Colworth Road.

Thank you FORA for writing two letters to the Planning Department which endorsed our requests.

PARKING PERMITS- I am informed that the increase in charges will now take place on 16th April 2007(it was 12th February 2007).If you have already paid the increased charges you should receive a refund.

In the Baker review of planning, the government is looking to reduce our rights to be consulted over planning permissions.In coalition with like minded organisations Friends of the Earth are running a campaign to protect the idea of a democratic planning process.Go to www.foe.co.uk/resource/local/planning if you wish to take action in support of the campaign.

A great big hand to all who pitched in at the FORA litter pick on Saturday, March 10.

Special Thanks must go to Team Linda and Sandra for spearheading and running with this , which I for one hope will become at least a quarterly event :))

With reference to my message of 18.2.07 [See Below] concerning planning application 2007/0079-Demolition and part replacement of existing boundary wall and erection of 1.8m high black powder coated metal Heritage fence fronting Forest Road (max.length 58m.) at Leytonstone School, the closing date for representations has been extended to 6th March 2007.

We all know the importance of BATS now, thanks to the fact that they may well be roosting and swooping in and around St Andrew's Church and near plenty of homes too, especially those that have kept their eco credentials. I wondered what these little creatues were up to at the moment and took a look at the Bat Conservation Trust website today and this is what I found:
February
Bats are hibernating to conserve energy in the colder months when insects are hard to find. They may still leave the roost on warmer nights to find food and a drink of water. For fabulous pictures, and lots of hints of how to plant up your garden to help these and the other wild life creatures who all share our world, swoop into www.bats.org.uk

Leytonstone school has made a planning application (NO.2007/OO79) to demolish the school wall facing Forest Road between 4a/b Forest Road and the school entrance almost opposite I Forest Road. This is necessary because the wall is sliding off its foundations and is unsafe.The plans,recently revised, provide for the erection of a 1.8m. high black powder coated metal heritage fence(railings,the same as those aiong the school boundary fronting James Lane) and the rebuilding of a small section of the wall between the end of the sports hall and the original school building.They also provide for the fencing off of the gap between the sports hall and the proposed railings .Rebuilding the entire wall is not a viable option because the tree trunks are still growing and would eventually force a new wall off its foundations.The case officer is Michael Chalk 8496 6138 and representations must be made in writing by the 1st. March 2007 and sent to:Development Control Group, Chingford Municipal Offices, 16 The Ridgeway, LONDON E4 6PS., where you can view the plans.The application will be decided by the Planning Committee.For further information contact me on 8539 4615.

Dear Members. Here is one amongst, I am sure many, impassioned letters sent requesting that Whipps Cross Hospital remain a full service district general hospital. This particular member, Diana Wellings, has asked if we would publish her plea on our web site. She also reminds FORA members that they can write similar ones.So here it is. Carla, Secretary FORA.







Letter sent to Primary Care Trust and NHS London

To whom it may concern


As a resident of LBWF since 1987 I and my family have lived within a short walk of Whipps Cross hospital for all of this time. One of the reasons for buying our property was its proximity to the hospital. Many many times I have been grateful for having made the decision to live so near to its services.

Here are some of the reasons why I want the hospital to remain open
* I had no car for several years (many LBWF residents are in this position) and would not have been able to get medical attention quickly if I had had to travel to Romford for this.

* My 2nd daughter was born very soon after onset of labour and was expertly delivered within 1/2 hour at WX maternity unit. This would have resulted in an unsupervised labour had I been sent out of the borough to another hospital.

* In 1993 I contracted pneumonia while looking after 2 small daughters with chickenpox and a husband with a broken foot. Despite being extremely ill, I was able to cope with the support and treatment afforded by my GP and the hospital. The stress levels in my life would have been intolerable if we had all had to travel miles for our respective treatments.

* My 2nd daughter suffered severe internal haemorrhaging 2 years ago and we were able to get her to A & E ourselves (no ambulance) within 5 minutes.


These are just some of the highlights of my family's interaction with Whipps Cross. We are not unique, just an ordinary and dare I say it, healthy family for 99% of the time. To shut the hospital down because it is not balancing its books is a stupid and totally insensitive decision. The medical needs of the borough's taxpayers should come first in any plan for the future.
This letter's content has also been sent to NHS London Strategic Health Authority via their online enquiry form.

Kind Regards

Diana Wellings

Are residents within the wx. permit parking area aware that the cost of all permits is due to rise dramatically in February.

Leytonstone Sports Hall Open Weekend


Hello All,

Is the lack of notice and publicity given to locals about the Leytonstone Sport's Hall Open Day by the Management Team an indication of the lack of consideration and attention locals will be given once it has opened?

Very concerning particularly for those residents living very close by.

My feelings are exactly the same like many residents, who signed petitions wrote letters and were ignored. The building in its design I believe does not Preserve or Enhance the Leytonstone Conservation area; in fact it has "Floodlighted" it into a "commercial" area.

I sat at planning meetings hearing residents express passionately the fact that the security lights (even before floodlights) pour into their homes so they have to close their curtains. Also concern about the current noise of the generators and future team sport users on the outside pitch in the evenings disturbing their children's sleep.

The main objection by many residents was never for the schoolchildren not have a facility but the implications of the site being open late as a commercial building, and public holidays with outside team sports.

This is supposed to be a Conservation Area!!

There is clearly insufficient parking for this facility as school staff continue daily to park on local roads, which become empty again once the school closes. Residents were told at planning meetings that adequate parking was provided for the site.

The peaceful weekends where you can relax and enjoy the wonderful nature in our area "outside of school hours" are priceless and non-profit making.

Perhaps a thing of the past

As a sign of respect to local residents and nature, I like many during the "Open Days" intend to go for a walk and a cycle - it's quiet, has free membership, and is non-polluting.

I received yesterday a notification of planning application for the demolition of existing garages and erection of a two storey building comprising 4 studio flats fronting James Lane. The notification was only posted to nearby houses. This may have implications for all properties in Forest Drive East (both sides of road) as if this gets the go ahead it sets a precedent for building in back gardens. The application no. is 2007/0083. Anyone who has any ideas on how to set out objections please help me. Someone must have a lot of experience of the planning dept by now. Only 21 days from 15th January to get something in.
Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello. I wonder if members might be interested in conservation volunteering?
BCTV Volunteers are undertaking projects in your local area and would like help. Projects focus on managing conservation sites to improve wildlife. No experience necessary just come along and take part. Contact 020 8986 7173 Mark Blaxall for details.

Save the St Andrews Church Hall BATS (protected species)


Please contact the following with your concerns over how the new housing development will affect the bat population.


The Bat Conservation Trust
Unit 2, 15 Cloisters House
8 Battersea Park Road
London SW8 4BG
Tel: 020 7627 2629
Fax: 020 7627 2628



[Moderator's note: The Council's Planning Committee approved by 5 votes to 4 the application to build flats on the site of St Andrew's old church hall -- subject to a survey being conducted by the applicant as to whether the development would have an adverse impact on bats, which may roost in the church]

St Andrew's Church Hall Development.
NO, NO & NO!

Send letters protesting, this cannot go ahead, if it does we might as well pack our bags and leave.

We are under attack! Anyone who attended the Planning Committee meeting on the 7th November last could not fail to see the message writ large. Our council - or potent forces within our council - have taken it upon themselves to act in any way they wish for the benefit of whoever they wish. Clearly, they will not be swayed by evidence, public opinion, or even their own "Best Practice" guidelines.

It would be very easy to start using words like "iceberg" and "wedge" but it is too serious for such tired imagery. We have been given notice. There is a clear and present danger - the very fabric of our local democracy is under attack. We as a community must learn to speak up now - or learn to live with the consequences for evermore.

I am no Wat Tyler, and we are certainly not peasants - though that might come as a surprise to some of our councillors! - but now IS the time for revolt! Write to your councillors - Loakes and the rest - and tell them No! No! No! If this is the best the developer can come up with - tell them "Newlon Begone!" Write to the papers too. That is a must. You don't have to be Shakespeare - you just have to mean it and you will find the words.

This is not a question of "Fighting them on the beaches". It is more serious than that. When we fight them - it is going to have to be on our doorstep.

Colin

How could the Planning Committee accept the plans for the flats on the old church hall site when they were exactly the same as the plans which were rejected earlier on?

Where is the extra parking?

Is this what the community needs? or is it just a money making exercise?

Below is comment I have posted on the planning thread on London-E11 site

"Most regrettably the application from Newlon was approved by a 5-4 vote by the planning commmittee this evening.

All the arguments set out on the FORA website were cogently and passionately put and supported by Mayor Quersihi and the 4 councillors They all underlined the inconsistency and incompatibility of the proposal with numerous policy statements in the Council's own planning policies. And they regretted that the local community had not been actively consulted at an early stage, particularly bearing in mind that a very similar application last year had raised strong concerns from so many and had been unanimously rejected by the committee.

The only arguments from Councillors, including the chair, who spoke in favour of the application seemed to be that:

it was not quite as bad as the previous application rejected by the committee last year;

the most important thing was just to get something built on the site because rubbish was being dumped there and that would not happen if it were in front of someone's house;

the view of the east window of St Andrews could not really count because it had only become apparent with the destruction of the old church hall;

whether or not it would be consistent with the Victoria/Edwardian character of the surrounding buildings [some took the view that it did], could not be a consideration because we do not live in that era (which is a bit worrying because it means it is equally impossible to comply with eg the Conservation Area guidelines); and

parking is not an issue as it is already worse elsewhere in the area.

The 130+ objections against zero expressions of support from the local community, apparently did not even merit serious discussion, before a final decison was made.

Not a shining example of community affairs or local democracy in action. And it does make you wonder about the real value of, or need for, much of the acres and acres of print and all the time spent by so many people in producing and processing all the Plans and Strategies.

How much of it is just padding: sufficient warm words to tick another box in a list of more and more good intentions that have to be covered in this plan and that plan - but have no real effect?"

Michael Massey
Forest Glade

Thank you to all those FORA members who attended the Planning Committee on Tuesday 5th. September.Your support was much appreciated.

I received a note from the Waltham Forest Civic Society passing on a request for information on a Viking Boat reputedly found in the Walthamstow area possibly in the 1950's or '60's. Transparent Television researching a possible series on 'Lost London' mysteries, landmarks that have disappeared, strange stories about people places. If you have any knowledge of this particular mystery - or any others! - please contact Richard Hughes at Transparent Television, Unit 127, The Aberdeen Centre, 22-24 Highbury Grove, London N5 2EA, t. 020 7226 2577, tel. 07970 245 899, www.transparenttelevision.com

Thank you FORA Comittee for writing to the Planning Dept. about the revised plans for floodlights at Leytonstone School.Thank you also to those FORA members who in various ways have helped to ensure the Council Planning Commitee will be aware of the opposition to this application.

Just got back from the NOTAFORAPICNIC - a very pleasant gathering of neighbours - and brilliant sunshine...

A few members there were asking me about the London E-11 website (local web forum and chat). For general information I offer up the URL:
http://www.london-e11.co.uk/index.php

Registration is free and quite painless...

I wish to comment on the revised plans for 24 floodlights at Leytonstone school, in the Conservation Area. Two columns which would have been clearly visible from the street will now be obscured by the sports hall,but it appears that of the 8 floodlights attached to these two columns,4 will probably still be visible from the Conservation Area.Light spillage in the gap between the sports hall and the original school building may be reduced.A 9pm finish Mon.-Fri. rather than 10pm is a minor improvement. These small changes are welcome but I and other residents are still very concerned about noise, light spillage,parking and the effect of the development on the Conservation Area.As the FORA committee sent a letter to the Planning Department objecting to the original application I hope they will follow this up with a letter to the Planning Department about the revised plans.
The application will be considered by the Planning Committee on Tuesday 5th. September at the Town Hall,Forest Road.Walthamstow,E17. at 7.30pm.A good attendance by residents will demonstrate to Councillors that people are seriously concerned about this application.Three residents will address the Planning Committee and look to you for support,so I ask you to make every effort to attend.

I would like to repeat my offer made at the public meeting on Tuesday last that I would be very happy to collect and deliver letters in OPPOSITION to the proposal to build nine flats on the site of the old St. Andrew's church hall site. Letters can be delivered to me - in an envelope marked for the Planning Offices - at 17 Forest Glade E11. I will be happy to collect if that is more convenient. I can be contacted by email at colin_gourley@hotmail.com or on 0208 530 2476. In the interests of balance, I would encourage anyone who is in favour of these plans to write to the same address. However, I would kindly suggest they nominate their own postman. Letters please by Tuesday the 22nd August.

Thank you FORA Committee for sending the Planning Committee a letter objecting to the proposal to erect six floodlighting columns supporting twenty-four floodlights at Leytonstone School. A number of residents have written letters of objection and ninety-three people signed the petition.

Leytonstone school floodlights: I cannot tell from the information given whether this is a genuine issue, or just another excuse for people to object to the sports facility at Leytonstone School. I am very much in favour of the sports hall, I think it has the potential to be a great asset to the area and cannot wait for it to open: partly because it then has the potential to be a wonderful facility available to all of us, and partly because I think the young people who go to Leytonstone School deserve better than the previous quite inadequate facilities that my own children had to put up with because of all the delays in the new development.

Happy for people to copy bits of this comment if they want to write to the council in support of the application.

Regarding the planning proposal for St Andrews Church Hall site that has appeared in the latest Council planning application list (week ending 23rd July).

I notice that the London-E11 site (http://www.london-e11.co.uk/index.php) has opened up a thread on this Local Planning, and a sub thread on the St Andrews site: http://www.london-e11.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=13

FORA members might be interested in the discussion - or even sign up to the site?

I will look into and act on both of Carla's suggestions. On the trees, I do know the Council Tree officers did have a list of approved contractors for tree work. I consulted it about two years ago in relation to pruning a protected tree at the front of my house. I did in fact use someone not on the list -- a contractor whom I had dealt with previously -- after the Council agreed he was also suitably qualified and could do the work.

I have strongly objected to the Council about the application to erect six floodlighting columns at Leytonstone School, in the Conservation Area, and want to share my concerns with other Fora members.I am somewhat amazed that this planning application has been re-submitted after the anger and dismay that was voiced by the residents earlier this year. Here are some of the things I said in my letter to the Council:



1 Loss of light or overshadowing

This will have the opposite effect - when we were taken on a presentation by the school to discuss the floodlighting there was a gentleman there who was in charge of the lighting. He said that even though the lights would be positioned towards the floor of the pitch, the lights would "bounce" back and that there would be spillage. This is light intrusion.


2 Overlooking or loss of privacy

One of the floodlights is in a direct line to the back of my house, where my two children's bedrooms are situated and our bathroom.


3 Visual appearance

I think that most people in the area would agree that the sports hall is a dreadful looking building and we are all very surprised that the very strict conservation rules that have been applied to all of the residents in the area seems to have been softened or should we say completely ignored by the school.


4 Traffic generation, highway safety or adequacy of parking

Hainault Road is one of the few roads in the area that does not have controlled parking and already with the workers who are at the school, the parking has become a nightmare. I was astounded to learn that the parking facilities for the sports hall is a car park that can accommodate 40 cars!! Where on earth are you expecting everyone to park?.


5 Noise, smells and disturbance from use

This is the main issue. I live in a residential area yet if the plans go through, there will be people playing sport until 10pm five nights a week. How much noise will be generated by a bunch of lads playing football, until 10 at night with the combined noise of the whistles and the spectators. I am so concerned about the level of noise and the language that will be heard. There is nothing between the outdoor pitch and the back of my house and I know how much sound travels. I am amazed that the school feels that allowing sports to carry on until 10 at night is acceptable for the residents - would you like all of this noise going on next door to you?


6 Effect on listed buildings or conservation areas

Well this is just a joke. Again I am amazed that the building was allowed to be built in the first place and now we are discussing 6 floodlighting columns in a conservation area. I wish someone from the council had been so understanding when we were working on our house. I would estimate that the additional costs to my husband and myself for complying with the conservation laws was about £35,000.

I am totally against the floodlighting and all that they will entail. If by some dreadful blunder they are allowed to go through, I would encourage all of the residents in the area, who have complied with any conservation issue, to ask for reimbursement from the council. If we are going to follow their rules, then so should the school.

On the subject of the Safer Neighbourhood scheme, I was very happy to fill out the questionnaire that I was given at my door. I actually contacted the phone number given on a particular isue and received a prompt and helpful reply. However, I have not heard anything else since the initial contact. I think the scheme is a desirable one but the Safer Neighbourhood team need to keep in touch with the residents. Perhaps we should encourage them to keep us informed a little better as to how they are progressing?

On Leytonstone School floodlights, I sent the letter below to the Council yesterday evening. Please feel to copy and also send to "Kevin.Herring@walthamforest.gov.uk" who appears to be the contact for this application. Alternatively you can send it to "development.control@walthamforest.gov.uk"

This has to stop - surely they cannot resubmit the same application twice in the space of 6 months.

All united against it!

lionel


Planning Department
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Chingford Municipal Offices
16 The Ridgeway
London E4 6PS

July 2006

Dear Sir or Madam,

RE : Application Number 2006/0905/LA Leytonstone School Sports Hall, 159 Colworth Road Leytonstone E11 1JD

I am writing in relation to the above application for the erection of 6 floodlighting columns with four floodlights each at Leytonstone School.

I believe the application contravenes several propositions of the Waltham Forest Unitary Development Plan 1996, namely:
- The provision of an outdoor sport pitch in this location, by virtue of its function, would contribute to a level of disturbance and noise that would be detrimental to the general amenity: this is contrary to policies ENV1, PSC1 and PSC2
- The proposed erection of the floodlights by its impact on the area and street scene would detract from the character and appearance of the surrounding Conservation Area, contrary to the provisions of Policies ENV1 and ENV16
- The proposal does not offer off-street parking facility. The use of the outdoor sport pitch during the hours of operation of the floodlights will lead to an increase in demand for on-street parking within or nearby a controlled parking zone, contrary to the Council's Parking Standards.

I trust you will consider these comments in your report on the application to the Planning Committee and will recommend that the application for the erection of the 6 floodlighting columns be refused. I note that this is the second time in the space of six months that a planning application for the same purpose is raised. THIS HAS TO STOP. IT WAS REFUSED A FIRST TIME AND THE WISHES OF LOCAL RESIDENTS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. LEAVE US ALONE, WE DON?T WANT YOUR FLOODLIGHTS.

Yours faithfully,

I am collecting signatures for a petition opposing the floodlights at Leytonstone School . I am calling at some addresses but may not include you. If you would like to add your signature you can phone me on 85394615 or put a note through my door 11 Forest road, giving your name and address and I will call on you

Hi.
a)Would it be worth at some stage adding to the website details of Leytonstone ward councillors as some members are in their ward?
b)Trees are a big part of our area, would it be worth having details of whom to contact in the Council for help and information? I know some people have had bad experiences of poor qualiy work by unskilled contractors. The Council would have details of people they trust.

Wendy's idea seems a good one. What do other people think? If you want to respond to Wendy send an email to info.fora@hotmail.com. We don't, for obvious reasons, like posting email addresses for all to see. We are hoping to set up a Swap shop/information exchange on the website -- and Wendy's idea would seem suited to that.

I was wondering whether there would be any merit in having some sort of holiday 'buddy' scheme for members? I wasn't envisaging anything too complicated or intrusive, just two or more households swapping holiday dates so that each could just check for post etc sticking out of letter boxes and push rubbish bins back into place.

Forest Safer Neighbourhoods Team is a new community team of four police officers dedicated to dealing with local issues in Forest Ward. We are currently establishing our Policing Priorities specifically to Forest Ward through questionaires to local residents, workers and regular visitors to the Ward. For further information please call us on 020 8721 2645.