April 30th, 2012 by Mark Rusling
The alleyway between Forest Road and The Drive was previously badly overgrown and in a very poor state. It was particularly difficult for disabled people to navigate. We have had the path replaced and the whole alleyway cleared up. See the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos – looks good!
March 24th, 2012 by Mark Rusling
Today, Hoe Street led the way in the annual Waltham Forest Spring Clean. We joined over 50 residents for the Walthamstow Village Residents Association clean up around the Village. We then joined around 20 residents in cleaning up Wingfield Park and planting the large planters which we funded through our Community Ward Forum (see the beautiful photos on our website!). Finally, we joined the Friends of The Drive and Attlee Terrace in picking up litter on The Drive.
The ward now looks spotless. Thanks to everyone who helped – it really shows what a warm, helpful and friendly community we live in. It makes you proud to be Walthamstow!
March 11th, 2012 by Mark Rusling
Yesterday, the three of us attended the opening of the new housing co-operative at 8, The Drive. We’re delighted that the co-op has got off the ground – not an easy thing to do. We were joined by Ed Mayo, the Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, in planting a new apple tree for the start of the co-op.
2012 is the International Year of Co-operatives, and this form of housing offers a real and genuine alternative to the problems experienced by many in the current housing market, especially in London. We have already helped members of the co-op with various issues, and will be working with them in the future to identify new sites.
Best of luck for the future – and thank you for inviting us yesterday!
January 11th, 2012 by Mark Rusling
Around a fifth of the borough’s Decent Homes work to raise all social housing to a decent level in 2010/11 took place in Hoe Street ward. This included kitchen or bathroom renewal, electrical upgrades, works to heating systems, external redecoration, new front doors and cavity wall insulation.
Works at the following properties are all complete: West Avenue Road, Wingfield Road, Park Court, Gower House, Maple House, Cedars House, Latham House, Grosvenor Park Road, Albert Whicher House, Batten House, Trinity House, Walton House, Powell Court, Prospect House, Nash House, St Stephens Close and Boyden House. Other remaining works are being completed now.
In 2011/12, the following improvements will take place in Hoe Street ward:
All of this should increase the comfort of the social housing residents in our ward and bring their homes to a decent standard.
November 22nd, 2011 by Mark Rusling
Yesterday we held the third Hoe Street Community Ward Forum, and agreed our ward spending for the next year. A good turnout of around 60 people discussed a number of matters concerning the ward, and agreed the organisations to benefit from funding. Notes from the meeting are below. Congratulations to all the groups that were successful!
Notes from Hoe Street Community Ward Forum – 21 November 2011
1. Welcome and introductions
Cllr Ahsan Khan introduced speakers and Cllr Saima Mahmud and Cllr Mark Rusling.
2. EMD Cinema
Neil Gerrard of the Waltham Forest Cinema Trust spoke about plans for the EMD Cinema building. He spoke about the history of the building. The council refused the UCKG’s planning application in May 2011 and the deadline for the UCKG to appeal that decision passed on 18 November. As far as the Trust knew, no appeal had been lodged.
The Trust received £15,000 from Waltham Forest Council and £15,000 from Arts Council England to bring forward architects’ and business plans for the venue. Curzon Cinemas are interested in operating the cinema, alongside a restaurant, bar and community use. The Trust believed that the proposals would work alongside a multiplex cinema in the Arcade site. Residents were positive about the proposals.
3. Walthamstow Town Centre Regeneration
Sam Neal and Steven Boyes of LBWF spoke about plans for South Grove, the Arcade site, renovating shop fronts at the top of the High Street, re-vamping Walthamstow Market, and the Travelodge to be built in the car park of Walthamstow Central Station.
Residents mentioned the need for school places to match the new accommodation on the Arcade site. Councillors agreed.
Residents were concerned about the potential height of the Arcade development. Officers confirmed that, in the current plans, the highest part of the building will be six stories.
A resident complained about the timing of consultation events on the Central Station development – these were arranged during the day. Steven Boyes agreed to investigate this and arrange for events to be held during the evening.
4. Attlee Terrace
Alan Bardsell of Ascham Homes spoke about plans for Attlee Terrace. Pram sheds are to be removed and video access security doors installed. Railings around the side and back of the estate will replace walls and more provision for parking will be made.
5. Ward Fund 2011/12
Cllr Khan explained the change from Community Councils to Community Ward Forums. Councillors recommended the following allocation of funding, which the meeting agreed.
Deaf Club - £1530 - Club for deaf and deafened people in the borough working out of Orford Social Club
Friends of Wingfield Park - £2080 - For play equipment in Wingfield Park
Drawing Shed - £1920 - Young women’s theatre group, based out of Walthamstow School for Girls
Ask Freda - £700 - Community notice boards by Batten House, The Drive
Senior Citizens Asian Group - £1000 - Coffee mornings, health services, trips
Asian Centre - £1900 - Youth club for local young people of all backgrounds
Hornbeam Centre - £600 - Cookery classes for local young people
6. General discussion
Residents raised the following questions:
(a) Many street signs are painted over in white and are unreadable. Action: this has been reported.
(b) Residents want the council to publicise the offer to swap large bins for smaller ones. Residents questioned whether this could be advertised in Waltham Forest News and whether the offer applied to residents living outside the conservation zone. Action: councillors will find out and feed back.
(c) CPZ signs on Fraser Road have been defaced. Action: this has been reported.
(d) Can residents clean defaced CPZ signs themselves? Action: councillors will find out and feed back.
(e) Residents asked about progress on improvement notices served on landlords of two properties in Woodbury Road. Action: councillors will find out and feed back.
(f) Gullies are being cleaned across the ward.
(g) A resident raised a question about enforcement action on Second Avenue. Notices have been served this week and Cllr Khan has fed back to the resident.
(h) Can all planning applications be reported in Waltham Forest News? Action: councillors will find out and feed back.
(i) A resident raised concerns about the property wall on the corner of Church Hill and Howard Road, which is falling down. Action: councillors will feed back.
(j) Can Hoe Street by hosed down, especially areas around rubbish bins and metal shutters belonging to shopkeepers? Action: councillors will find out and feed back.
May 12th, 2011 by Mark Rusling
Work will soon start on re-surfacing the footpaths on Copeland Road and Leamington Avenue, as well as the carriageways on Milton Road and Wingfield Road. Council officers hope to start by June this year, and to finish by March 2012.
This year, The Drive has been re-surfaced. Even though the council is going through the toughest financial times in living memory, we are still fighting for the money to renovate roads in the ward. We will let residents know when the works are to start.
February 18th, 2010 by Mark Rusling
We’re working with the residents of The Drive and Attlee Terrace to set up a new residents’ association. Setting up the association will help residents to liaise with Ascham Homes, the council and the police to solve issues such as the disused garages, service charges, anti-social behaviour and crime.
We’ve had a good response from residents and will be taking part in a walkabout on Attlee Terrace in March with the new Chief Executive of Ascham Homes and representatives of the council and police. We’ll be meeting residents and discussing the issues on the estate. We will write to everybody on Attlee Terrace to let them know when this will happen – do come along. We want to listen and we’ll be working hard to make things better in the area.
February 7th, 2010 by Mark Rusling
We spent much of this morning and afternoon on The Drive, talking to residents about crime and your concerns about Ascham Homes. Many residents were worried about gangs of youths in the area, particularly after dark. You also told us about your difficulties in contacting Ascham Homes and arranging for repair work to your properties. We heard of the problems caused by homeless people sleeping in disused garages in the area.
We are working with the police to increase patrols on The Drive and Attlee Terrace. You can contact the Hoe Street Safer Neighbourhood Team on 020 8721 2642.
Labour has also pledged an extra £200,000 to combat attack dogs in Waltham Forest – this money will directly benefit residents on The Drive.
We know that there have been a lot of problems with Ascham Homes. We are investigating ways of making them work better for residents, and we are looking to the new Chief Executive to improve Ascham Homes’ performance.
