Spitfire

When the Chairman of the Fairlop Heritage Group told me he had arranged for a Spitfire over at Fairlop Waters I thought he meant that the bar had got a new beer on tap and he was offering me a drink. Sadly not! But he did buy me a pint of Abbotts in the Fairlop Oak, which is where we were at the time.

What he was referring to was a full sized model [sic] of a WWII Spitfire fighter plane. James May of Top Gear fame put one together for his Television Programme 'Toy Stories' last year. That is some Airfix kit. They needed an aircraft hanger just to lay out the bits. They are made by Gateguards of Cornwall and it is they who will be bringing a Spitfire and exhibition to Fairlop waters on Saturday 8th May, the 65th Anniversary of VE Day. There will be food on sale and hopefully militaria stalls.

David is also hoping to arrange for a Veteran’s Tea Party but needs to raise some funds for this to go ahead. Contact David Martin on 07910 768560 for info and donations for the tea party.

Fairlop Fly-Tipper

Last week our very own Aldborough Detective, Ron Jeffries, donned his deerstalker hat, made sure he had a camera and magnifying glass in his pocket and set off on the mysterious case of the Phantom Fairlop Flytipper, having been tipped off himself by a neighbour.

He set out about 10:00am to walk as far as Barkingside Station. Having found the evidence on the Bridleway by Aldborough Hatch Farm it was duly photographed and examined for clues as to who this mysterious person or persons might be. Obviously someone who likes to write and sleep, there being a desk and a bed. Or maybe they no longer have any use for those items. I shall leave the analysis to the Master himself. The back up team [Redbridge Council] were called into action to have the offending items removed.

It being a nice day our sleuth continued his walk across Fairlop Waters to Fairlop Station. On his journey he encountered more evidence of strange activity over there. Some rustic gateways have been erected along the Bridleway from Aldborough Hatch to Barkingside - on the Station Road stretch. This means that walkers can now access Fairlop Waters from the South with ease. Also he noted that the metal gate and padlock were in place on Station Road - stopping folk driving onto Aldborough Hatch Farm and fly-tipping there. Onwards across Fairlop Waters taking great care to avoid flying golf balls, clubs and irons.

At the western entrance on Forest Road there was more mysterious activity including building a new pedestrian pathway running inside the hedge on Forest Road up to the Nursery. Not quite as far as Fairlop Station but there are plans to put some form of zebra crossing where the path ends. This to be discussed at Area 3 and 4 Committees next week. Chapter 2 later, when Dr Watson enters the story.

Fairlop Fly Tipping, neatly arranged as if an Art form.

Rustic Gateway to the south

Rustic Padlock
Rustic Gate
Another rustic gate
The same rustic gate viewed from other direction

Man on golf course

Dog taking man for walk

Canada Geese

Looking towards Claybury

The new pathway to Fairlop Station

The Independent Review

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Last week on Wednesday 24th March the Minister of State for Health Services, Mike O’Brien, visited Redbridge. He announced that there will be an Independent Review of the North East London Healthcare proposals to relocate Accident & Emergency and Maternity facilities from King George Hospital to Queens in Romford.

This has come about due to the concerted pressure from local residents, Councillors and MPs of all parties. In particular I would like to mention Bill Howe, Andy Walker, Wilson Chowdhry, Cllr Mrs Loraine Sladden and MP Lee Scott. But "vfmctax" is not impressed. He/she writes on the Council run forum [now closed]:

so was this independant panel elected at the general election? "no" is the answer. so once again, the government which was elected to run the country and make the decisions is abdicating it's responsibilities so that it can say "don't blame us, we acted on advice."

I dare say that the residents over in Islington who have the same problem with Whittington Hospital would be delighted with similar treatment.

That said, I do have some sympathy with vfmctax. This was supposed to be, and was marketed as, a Clinician led exercise. So, to now have the proposals “pored over by a panel of clinicians and health experts” does seem rather bizarre. I have been here myself. It seemed to start, for me, around the mid to late 80s. Prior to that I had progressed up the greasy pole with some ease being regarded as an "expert" in my own field and being listened to. But then it all changed. I would tell the boss what needed to be done. She/he [for there were some females] would then bring in a bunch of Consultants. The Consultants would ask me what needed to be done. I would tell them. They would then tell my boss with a glossy brochure. She/he would then act upon “their” advice. I would change jobs. When I got fed up with changing jobs I retired at the grand old age of 47. Je ne regrette rien.

At the end of the day it comes down to who you trust. There are times when you need a second opinion or specific expert advice. This is a matter of judgement, an indefinable attribute that can be recognised but not easily quantified. On the other hand there is also political expediency in the face of an election in a marginal constituency.

Forgot to mention: We have to keep up the pressure, this is not over yet. The next Rally is on Saturday 17th April and starts at 1:15pm from Little Heath Green, outside Redbridge College, and will march to the Town Hall.

Interview – Keith Prince

This is the fifth of a series of interviews with the Leaders/Spokesmen of five local political parties published in the order that they were received. UKIP did not respond to the invitation.

Keith Prince is the Leader of Redbridge Conservative Party and Leader of the Council.

What are the main priorities for Redbridge over the next 4 years?

Safer cleaner Borough; Preserving and improving green space; Improving and supporting our Town Centres; and delivering value for money.

What do you see as the most difficult challenges facing the new administration?

Continued uncertainty around Government funding, we simply do not know how much grant will be given to local authorities in the future. Ever increasing demands on services.

How important is co-operation and consensus between all parties in running a council?

Whilst there is much to be said for consensus and we have achieved more in this way this year than probably in any other year, there is also an argument for strong leadership.

Assuming you are in opposition, on what single issue would you most like to influence the council, and why?

Making people feel safe.

What do you consider to be realistically achievable over the next 4 years?

Very difficult to predict due to the uncertainty around Government funding; the ever increasing demand for school places and Adult Social Services.
That having been said we are committed to providing a new pool in the South of the Borough; more schools; the regeneration of Barkingside High Road; and a Blueprint for the future of Ilford Town Centre.

Which environmental/community issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

The protection of our Green Spaces; ensuring we invest in our green spaces and use our planning powers to protect them.
Working with the community on cohesion by producing and following a strategy.
Encourage people to follow a healthier life style by providing more and investing in green gyms and promoting cycling in the Borough.

Which business/economic issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

Defending and promoting our local shopping centres through the extension of the Redbridge Card and continuing with initiatives to keep the centres clean and safe such as CCTV. Encouraging employment and training initiatives, helping residents with money advice.

What one thing could central Government do to make the job of running a local authority easier?

Devolve more responsibility and the funding to local authorities.

If elected what would you wish to be judged on after 4 years?

Delivering on promises and having listened to the residents and businesses in the Borough.

Interview – Ashley Gunstock

This is the fourth of a series of interviews with the Leaders/Spokesmen of five local political parties published in the order that they were received. UKIP did not respond to the invitation.

Ashley Gunstock is Leading Spokesman for the Redbridge Green Party.

What are the main priorities for Redbridge over the next 4 years?

To tackle ‘waste’ and provide the high quality services that residents deserve, in order to give them good value for their Council Tax. Key to this is the enabling infrastructure that allows the borough to develop in a positive way for both residents and business. I would press for better local public transport links and a more appropriate approach to highway layout and use. I would support local traders, by lobbying government to review business rates and job taxes which stifle small businesses. Doing this would also encourage new enterprises to take up the borough’s empty shop-floor space, which would in turn stimulate the local economy. It is only a healthy local economy that can provide the local public services we all rely on.

What do you see as the most difficult challenges facing the new administration?

The budget. The Council has a massive deficit which needs to be addressed. In the short term, there is no alternative but to give priority to essential front line services and to direct cuts at extravagances. There can be no favourites within these priority services which must be funded proportionately, so that the impact is fairly and evenly distributed. The difficulty, for some, will be in identifying what is and what is not an extravagance - for example Jaguar Cars and Redbridge Life. Do you want a monthly ‘newspaper’ or a care visitor for your elderly next door neighbour? Do you care if the Mayor arrives in a Jag or on a bike?

How important is co-operation and consensus between all parties in running a council?

Vital. We are at a critical and crucial stage, locally as well as nationally, when co-operational (as opposed to confrontational) politics are essential. In the last year, here in Redbridge, we have had a glimpse of what co-operation can deliver with a minority Conservative administration consulting and listening to other parties and the public at least some of the time. This is a fundamental aspect of Green politics and does not need to be forced upon us.

Assuming you are in opposition, on what single issue would you most like to influence the council, and why?

Planning: For far too long planning proposals have nearly always favoured the powerful developer over the local community. This issue needs to be addressed, by local as well as national government, as a matter of priority. We would seek to use the Sustainable Communities Act to achieve this end.

What do you consider to be realistically achievable over the next 4 years?

As well as looking to improve planning laws, I would also introduce positive initiatives such as home insulation, and free healthy primary school meals. I would also seek to implement 20mph speed limits in residential areas, which has been shown to dramatically reduce pedestrian accidents while having a very small impact on journey times. I would work closely with other partner authorities such as the PCT to ensure high standards of cleanliness and accessibility to well maintained services, as well as the Police to minimise crime and disruption to our lives.

Which environmental/community issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

Climate change is the most pressing issue affecting us all and should be at the core of all policy, locally and nationally. We cannot do this alone but we can play our part. Locally the Greens would provide free insulation to all households to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and demand more accessible and affordable public transport. We would also seek to preserve and protect our open spaces and the bio-diversity it contains, as well as opposing inappropriate and/or over development which has no funded or planned provision to upgrade infrastructure and amenities.

Which business/economic issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

I believe that the economic collapse is the most important issue. However any plan to cut public spending at this time would be economically devastating, creating a depression rather than helping the country out of the recession. I would push to provide support for local businesses and local green initiatives, especially those which promote renewable and alternative energy. Investment in social housing would also have a high priority. Where possible renovation of existing empty properties and the building of new homes to high environmental standards should be undertaken. With adequate local infrastructure and amenities, this would also serve to stimulate the local economy and provide employment opportunities.

What one thing could central Government do to make the job of running a local authority easier?

Reduce petty central targets – so that councils could concentrate on providing the best services possible – and stop the pressure to privatise. In a time of economic hardship, the temptation is for governments and councils to take the one-off cash injection that comes with selling off public services, but there is often a much greater price to pay in the longer term, as these services are remoulded according to the needs of their new owners rather than those of the public. Public services are best kept in public hands, and managed in a way that allows, rather than inhibits, the front line to do its job.

If elected what would you wish to be judged on after 4 years?

A successful record of achieving my promised work on behalf of the community and the fact I am known as being a genuine, committed counsellor who cares about the lives of Redbridge residents. My hope would then be that people will be further encouraged to elect more Green councillors in future.

Interview – Elaine Norman

This is the third of a series of interviews with the Leaders/Spokesmen of five local political parties published in the order that they were received. UKIP did not respond to the invitation.

Elaine Norman is the Leader of Redbridge Labour Party.

What are the main priorities for Redbridge over the next 4 years?

The main priorities must be:
Providing sufficient local school places for primary aged children. It is not acceptably that infant children have to travel long distances for a school place. A local school place must be a priority.
Providing affordable Social Care for all who need it. Elderly or disabled people must not be denied care because of cost. The Council must look to more imaginative means of providing this if no nationally funded service is implemented.
Adequate and affordable housing. Redbridge is failing to meet its own assessed targets for affordable housing. There are too many families in temporary housing. This must be a priority. Also achieving the required standard in housing inspections to access the £39 million to bring Council Homes up to the Decent Homes Standards.
Cleaner and Greener Streets and Roads. This is important to residents and has a major impact on their quality of life.
The Council must consult more with its residents and look to delegate decision making as close as possible to peoples localities. It must work with residents to improve their neighbourhoods and support all measures to improve their sense of safety.

What do you see as the most difficult challenges facing the new administration?

The major challenge will be to continue to provide excellent front line services in a period of uncertain, possibly shrinking local government budgets. The Council will need to look strategically at how it delivers its services. It will need to review its Partnership arrangements and it must create a local culture of genuine public participation.

Also the Council faces a significant challenge in relation to the requirements of its Capital Budget. It must find ways of generating sufficient capital receipts to improve existing Leisure facilities and provide new ones such as a new swimming pool and leisure facility in the south of the Borough.
It also faces a backlog of highways maintenance, which it will need the Capital receipts to fund.

How important is co-operation and consensus between all parties in running a Council?

Where there are shared priorities, co-operation leads to more efficient decision-making and improved provision of services. An example would be the successful Scrutiny Working Groups. However. Local Councillors must represent the views of their residents and if that means consensus is not possible, so be it. The sale of allotment sites is a case in point where Labour kept the issue on the Political Agenda and eventually persuaded the administration that selling allotment sites was wrong.

Assuming you are in opposition, on what single issue would you most like to influence the Council, and why?

Whether in Power or Opposition, Labour’s priorities will be the same. All issues stated in the first question are where we would aim to influence the Council.

What do you consider to be realistically achievable over the next 4 years?

Noticeable improvement in front line services through greater efficiency and Partnerships. Taking a co-operative approach to the delivery of Council Services, which should enable the Council to protect jobs and services.

Which environmental/community issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

Crime and Grime are major concerns to residents. Labour would aim to protect Safer Neighbourhood Teams from any policing cuts. We would regularly liaise with these teams and ward panels and ensure the Council uses all its powers to control anti social behaviour.
Protect cleansing and street scene services and enhance provision if possible.
We support Area Committees as a means of giving communities a voice and would like to increase their decision-making powers.
Labour would use the sustainable Communities Act to address community concerns such as fast food outlets and public houses.

Which business/economic issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

The effect of the recession on people’s livelihoods. Labour would promote the regeneration of Ilford Town Centre and secondary shopping centres,
It would encourage the development of business improvement districts to help create and sustain jobs.
Labour would create employment opportunities for young people in the public sector through the creation of apprenticeships and traineeships.
It would award Council Contracts to local businesses where it is possible to do so.

What one thing could central Government do to make the job of running a local authority easier?

It could trust them to deliver for their local communities, by devolving more powers to local authorities and providing finance which is not ring fenced.
It could deliver on its promise of localism and insist that local authorities devolve power to people and communities wherever possible.

If elected what would you wish to be judged on after 4 years?

Progress on our major priorities as stated above.
Whether we have delivered a more efficient Council and managed the public finance in such a way as to make general improvements to services and keep tax at an acceptable level.
I would hope to have protected and improved people’s quality of life and delivered, Redbridge, a better place to live.

Interview – Julian Leppert

This is the second of a series of interviews with the Leaders/Spokesmen of five local political parties published in the order that they were received. UKIP did not respond to the invitation.

Julian Leppert is the lone British National Party councillor in Redbridge.

What are the main priorities for Redbridge over the next 4 years?

Our priority for Redbridge is to ensure the North, East and West of the borough do not embrace the same terrible fate as the South, and remain majority British. We must also ensure that urbanisation and overdevelopment of Redbridge is curtailed as far as is humanly possible, so that the `leaf` logo recently introduced and the `better place to live` slogans do not become mocking parodies of the truth, as the borough turns progressively into an overcrowded concrete ghetto.

What do you see as the most difficult challenges facing the new administration?

The most difficult challenge facing Redbridge in the immediate future, is repeating this years 0% council tax increase (which is not currently projected to happen according to this years budget), while maintaining council services to the same degree of quality, and doing this in the face of what I call `the California effect` ie; As levels of `diversity` increase in a geographical location and life becomes progressivley less bearable for the original residents, an ever increasing percentage of the area's most economically productive, law-abiding and tax paying section of the population decide to pack their bags and flee. This leaves the area Authority with big holes in its budget and ever decreasing tax revenues paying for more and more services, as productive `givers` are replaced with needy or anti-social `takers`. In the case of the American State of California the end result is fiscal bankrupcy compounded by endless social problems caused by having a fractured and balkanised community. The challange for Redbridge is to stop and reverse this trend in the coming years, so that the worst-case-scenario described here does not play itself out, albeit on a much smaller geographical scale.

How important is co-operation and consensus between all parties in running a council?

As somebody who loves their country, I have no desire for any kind of `consensus` with politicians from the Labour, Conservative, or Liberal-Democrat parties. However, as far as `co-operation` is concerned, the delicate political balance of the current council and the distinct possibility of `no overall control` for the next four years means that should my party find ourselves with a bit of voting power and clout in Redbridge after May 6, we would certainly hope to use it to defend the interests of the borough's long suffering residents. If I can achieve anything of benefit for local people by way of negotiation with the Lib-Lab-Con parties, then I will sit down with them or the devil himself if I have to, and smile sweetly at them while I`m doing it.

Assuming you are in opposition, on what single issue would you most like to influence the council, and why?

I would like to ensure that any big spending project proposals benefit people all over the borough - not just Ilford. If Redbridge is able to afford a new pool or Leisure center in the near future (which seems unlikely without some pretty serious outside funding), then I'd like to see such facilities located somewhere where everybody in Redbridge feels safe and comfortable using them, day or night. I met a man in Hainault recently, a keen Theatre-goer, who told me he won't visit the Kenneth Moore Theatre at night anymore (only afternoon matinae performances) because Ilford is now just too dangerous and unpleasant to visit after the sun goes down.

What do you consider to be realistically achievable over the next 4 years?

i`m afraid the immediate future for municiple governance in Redbridge will be one of crisis management and damage limitation. However, I hope my party will achieve a sufficient level of influence to inject a bit of common sense into this process, until such time as real political change happens, and we can start working to build a better future for the people of Redbridge - and Britain.

Which environmental/community issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

Again, we need to curtail excessive housing development and urbanisation to mitigate the worst effects of this process such as overpopulation, pollution, traffic grid-lock and the seemingly endless parking controversies that councillors and officers have to deal with, and robustly defend our precious green belt land. Or, as the the ironically-named `Conservative` Party said so elequently in their 1998 Redbridge Council Elections leaflet: "We oppose plans to build on the green belt, allotments, parks, and other open spaces. These are not an optional extra, but are vital to the character and quality of the area". The difference being though of course, my party means it!

Which business/economic issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

Reducing or at least not increasing business rates of council tax would go a long way towards decreasing the amount of shops and businesses going to the wall in the borough, and some extra help for shops which are not in popular `prime locations` would be desirable, although not necesarilly affordable given present pressure on the councils budget. Shops on the South side of George Lane, South Woodford for example seem to go bust at much higher rates than those on the North side, and of course the near impossibility of finding somewhere to park sometimes is killing our high streets by putting off shoppers. Barkingside being a good example of this. If my party were in national government, then the Supermarket giants would be effectively subsidising, to a much greater extent, our high street shops as well as our farming industry through the tax system instead of just being allowed to move in and squeeze out local shopkeepers. Like so many things in Britain, we might only realise the value and the unique character of our shopping parades on the High Street, after we have lost them forever... Another big issue at the moment is the Gants Hill roadworks. I`m sure it will be great when finished, but could it not have been completed by now by compressing the time it takes to complete the project with multiple shifts through the night, or two 16-hour shifts every day? Perhaps the cost of that was prohibitve, but its not in my ward so somebody else can worry about it!

What one thing could central Government do to make the job of running a local authority easier?

Not sure if `easier` is the right word, but I would like to see greater decision-making powers over schools and local education authorities devolved down to local councils, and elected representatives, and by extension, to local parents and pupils.

If elected what would you wish to be judged on after 4 years?

Redbridge British National Party are not taking anything for granted in terms of who gets elected or re-elected in May, but by the time of the 2014 locals elections, I would like us (assuming there is an `us` on Redbridge Council and not just a `me`) to be judged on our success, or otherwise in:
1. Forcing the `mainstream` local politicians to confront the appalling truth over what they have helped to do to the London Borough of Redbridge, and take steps to limit some of the damage.
2. Ensuring that council tax revenues are spent wisely, extravagance and waste is reduced as far as possible, and that the other councillors fear the public exposure we will subject them to if they waste public money on anything too outrageous or politically correct. And...

3. Inspiring more local residents with the courage to speak honestly about whats wrong with Redbridge, and to be resolute, defiant and fearless when the council wants to impose something on them they don't want, or take something away from them that they do want.

Interview – Hugh Cleaver

This is the first of a series of interviews with the Leaders/Spokesmen of five local political parties published in the order that they were received. UKIP did not respond to the invitation.

Hugh Cleaver is the Leader of Redbridge Liberal Democrats.

What are the main priorities for Redbridge over the next 4 years?

Managing a growing demand for services when funds will be restricted by the general financial situation.
Giving people more involvement in the running of their services and their communities
Building a more sustainable community through better use of scarce resources and improving energy efficiency, as well as continuing to reduce waste and preserve open spaces.
Ensuring good relations between all of the communities in Redbridge so that they feel valued and have equal opportunities

What do you see as the most difficult challenges facing the new administration?

Being able to provide high quality services to meet increasing demand when resources will be limited.
Persuading people that scarce resources should be used to provide the best results for the local community.

How important is co-operation and consensus between all parties in running a council?

It helps if there is a consensus on the strategy to be followed but it is also important for the Council that Members are willing to challenge the thinking behind decisions and whether they are the right thing to do.

Assuming you are in opposition, on what single issue would you most like to influence the council, and why?

Involving people in Council decision making so that they feel their views have been heard and taken into account.

What do you consider to be realistically achievable over the next 4 years?

Increasing involvement by residents in local decisions.
Higher rates of recycling and better energy efficiency.
More school places to meet the growing demand.

Which environmental/community issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

Reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency - the Council needs to take a much more actve part in persuading people to take the issue seriously and change their use of energy.
Improving recycling rates by investment in new recycling opportunities.
Increasing tree planting and the greening of the Borough.

Which business/economic issues are of most concern and how would you deal with them?

Maintaining the local economy in the face of the general economic downturn. Encouraging local businesses to establish themselves and develop.

What one thing could central Government do to make the job of running a local authority easier?

Apart from lots of money? I think allowing Councils to organise themselves as they decide rather than imposing a favoured Central Government model. The current Cabinet model has put too much power in too few hands and has stripped Councils of a lot of the accountability they had before the government intervened.

If elected what would you wish to be judged on after 4 years?

How much more people feel involved in matters that affect their lives in their areas.

Fair Trade Redbridge

2 billion working people in the world's poorest countries earn less than £1 a day. Many of them produce the everyday goods we put in our shopping baskets. You can help make sure they get a fair price for their work and allow them to invest in healthcare, education and their local environment. When you're shopping, look out for the logo below left.

You may have already noticed it on chocolate, tea, and coffee, as well as bananas, oranges, sugar, rice and even flowers and cotton clothing - the range is growing day by day. This logo tells you that the product, or a significant ingredient, has been certified by the Fairtrade Foundation, a formal labelling scheme which sets fair standards for producer and trader relationships. Redbridge has been a Fairtrade borough since 2008 and with your help we can maintain this status. Buy Fairtrade products and ask for them where you work, shop and eat.

Mira, Retail Correspondent.

The Digital Economy

If you are reading this you will have accessed it via the Internet. You probably use the internet for many other things – research, keeping in touch, games, entertainment, etc. You may not be able to do that for much longer. At the present time the Digital Economy Bill is going through parliament and according to some “threatens to block web sites like Youtube and forcibly disconnect people from the internet without any due process. This bill hasn't been properly debated in the Commons, and has attracted 10,000 letters to MPs and Lords.” - says Tom Chance, who will be speaking at the Open Rights Group rally tonight, Wednesday 24th March 2010 opposite parliament.

I think the Internet is beginning to frighten a few people. There was Trafigura last year and more recently Nestlé.

Now, you might think this is a bunch of beardy radicals or revolutionaries. But, they are not alone. “Consumers and companies (including Google, Facebook and Internet Service Providers themselves) alike are up in arms about the Bill, which proposes that an Internet connection could be cut off if there is suspicion that it is being used for the downloading of copyrighted content. This is very disturbing:" read why and how it could affect you.

That’s not all. The British Computer Society, the Chartered Institute for Information Technology, also recognise the potential pitfalls in the bill and are calling for more time to scrutinise and debate the consequences.

Extract:

Recent argument, comment and amendments to and around the Bill have included proposals that could radically affect the internet in ways that are difficult to predict. The Institute is concerned that hasty decisions could increase digital exclusion and harm those most in need of and most positively affected by internet access and capability.
The potential onerous burdens placed on many small companies, schools and libraries may reduce access and availability to many of the vulnerable members of society who may well derive the greatest benefit. Recent comments from Peers have also highlighted the intense lobbying by interest groups around this issue. The Institute is concerned that these interest groups may be focussed on a narrow front, so wider societal issues may not be properly accounted for.
The Institute is therefore calling for wider public debate and time for this Bill, and would have grave reservations about any inclusion of this Bill in a Parliamentary ‘wash up’.

Note: as reported in March 2007, this site is banned in China. Click on the new flag gizmo in the side bar [it’s been a bit temperamental lately] and scroll through the countries where visitors to this site come from, it’s not there. The Guardian has a world map of censhorship by subject.

Newbury Gardens

[Click on graphic for the before]

Ron has sent in a photograph [above] of the newly refurbished Newbury Park Tube Station complete with grass, saplings and a patio. But no lifts, I’m afraid. Here is his full letter to the Ilford Recorder.

We are delighted to hear that three new passenger lifts are now operational at Hainault Station. Sadly, a similar project started a year ago at Newbury Park Station ground to a halt.

Since the announcement last November by Transport for London that they were unable to continue the work at Newbury Park because funding was not available, I have written three letters to Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and Chairman of Tfl, one of which I handed to him personally during his visit to the Borough on 2nd December. To date I have had no reply, not even an acknowledgement, which I am old-fashioned enough to believe is discourteous.

Richard Parry, Managing Director of London Underground, has had the courtesy to reply. In his first letter he claimed that the financial impact of Metronet's collapse meant that they had to defer a number of step-free schemes, including the one at Newbury Park. I pointed out that Metronet went into administration in 2007 and this was known when work commenced at Newbury Park some two years later in early 2009. In a second letter he has acknowledged that the collapse of Metronet did not alone lead to the stopping of work at Newbury Park.

The partially completed work at Newbury Park has been scrapped and replaced near the ticket office by saplings, grass and a patio. This leaves passengers to wonder who will cut the grass and pick up the litter that has already started to accumulate? Will deck chairs be provided for those who wish to sit on the grass and the patio, or is this area reserved for the enjoyment of the 160 or so members of Tfl staff who are each paid over six figure salaries to start expensive projects that they must surely know there is no money in the kitty to complete?

Let's hope that the cash does not run out before the revamp at Gants Hill is completed.

Ron Jeffries

Up In Smoke

I have chosen the graphic [left] because it is very similar to the smoking shelters I’ve seen and used outside other hospitals. I don’t know how much they cost, see below, but it is a guide for you to make a judgement on whether those who spend other people’s money have any sense of value. Here’s Lorraine from the Cranbrook Residents Association

Dear Mr Goulston,

I have just seen on ITV that BHRUT is spending £80,000 on 4 smoking shelters; 2 at Queens and 2 at King George. I would have thought that in these dire financial times, spending this amount of money on smoking shelters when front line services are suffering is unacceptable. This is public money and I for one consider that you are not using funds in the correct manner.

Perhaps you should have posters on the walls saying that as the Trust is having to spend £80,000 on smoking shelters, it will mean the loss of, for example, 4 nurses. Smokers need to be made aware of the consequences of their actions and BHRUT should take a harder line with them.

BHRUT should be promoting zero tolerance and maybe smokers should be fined if they are stubbing out their cigarettes on hospital premises. Perhaps your legal department should check this out. Smoking is a filthy habit and can be deadly. When I worked as a medical secretary at Barts Hospital, Thoracic Department, I often had black lungs sitting in a jar in my office; a healthy lung is of course pink. Perhaps if cancerous lungs were on display in the reception areas, it may make smokers think again; shock tactics.

The Trust should be encouraging smokers to kick the habit not help them to sustain it.

Mrs Lorraine Silver

I’ve had a dig around the internet for Smoking Shelters and Bus Stop Shelters to see if I could find some comparative prices. I couldn’t find any. Plenty of graphics displaying various types of shelters but no prices. Quotes upon application. I’m not surprised at those prices. So I’m thinking, what else could you buy for £20,000? A pretty decent brand new car which is a lot more complex than a simple structure like a shelter. What are the alternatives? How about a garden shed? You can pick a pretty decent sized one of them up for less than £1,000 but they are made of wood so perhaps not really appropriate for smoking in. So how about this cute metal baby? Yours for £179 – larger versions available.

Boris Consults on Climate Change

From Boris:

Climate change is happening.
What will London do to adapt?

Whether you believe in climate change or not, the evidence tells us that London is going to get hotter, drier and be at greater risk of flooding.

I've published a draft of my Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, detailing my plans to ensure that London adapts to the challenges and takes advantage of the opportunities that it will create for our great city.But adapting to climate change isn't just about what government will do, it's also about what Londoners are prepared to do. So this is a call to all Londoners - have your say and tell me what you think Londoners should be doing. Want to know more? Watch the video.



Here's the link.

Assembly Consults on City Airport

From the Greater London Assembly website:

Are extra flights at London City Airport affecting you? The Assembly's Environment Committee is looking at the environmental impacts of the expansion and wants your views.

The investigation will look at environmental impacts like noise, emissions and air quality, and whether the current environmental safeguards and controls are adequate. The Committee is keen to hear how the extra flights are impacting on local people.

A public meeting will be held at City Hall on 10th June 2010 when the Committee hopes to hear people’s views on the expansion of the airport and the environmental controls currently in place. In the meantime, please complete our survey.

More…..

Timed Out

Yesterday [Saturday] at 16:47, whilst keeping an eye on the football scores, I sent the following email on behalf of the group and copied in our MP Lee Scott.

Dear MPs Harman and Denham,

Barkingside 21 is a local community and environment group based in the London Borough of Redbridge. Mr Denham will have met some of our members on his visit to this borough last month and indeed there were several of our members at the hustings a few years ago when Ms Harman visited along with John McDonnell. Our membership is drawn from across the political spectrum, we have members who are also known members of the Labour Party, the Conservative party, the Liberal Democrats and Greens and I expect that some of them will be standing for Council this coming May as they did in 2006. If they get elected they cease to be members - we like to keep our independence.

We have supported the Local Works campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill since the beginning so it is with much disappointment that we note that the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill did not go through its final Commons stage successfully having been timed out. This bill is vital to ensure that local people and groups such as ourselves have the mechanisms to engage in the process of government and make government responsive to the very people it is there to serve.

We therefore ask you to do all you can to ensure the Bill receives the Parliamentary time it needs in order to become law before the General Election.

yours sincerely
etc

At 16:49 I received an automated confirmation that my email had been received by Harriet Harman QC, Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham. At 17:24 I received the following reply from Lee Scott.

Dear Alan
As you know this is not in my gift and I hope they will bring it forward. It is not in the business they have announced for next week and then we have the Budget and then a week on the finance bill from the Budget. It is then my guess they will dissolve parliament for election so it may not get back before election, if I am re elected I will push for it early in next parliament
Warmest Regards Lee

Somewhat better than the previous post innit!

DocBlaster

This morning [Sunday] I received the following email from DocBlaster: docblaster@london.gov.uk

Your message

To: Mayor
Subject: Invitation
Sent: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 14:40:19

was deleted without being read on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:32:21

I checked my archive and it was an invitation to the London Mayor, then Ken Livingstone, using the public email address mayor@london.gov.uk as advertised on the GLA website, to our Climate Change event on Saturday 28th October 2006.

I must admit that it was a bit tongue in cheek and I did not for one moment expect him to attend or even reply, but I did expect it to be read. I am now wondering how many other Londoners have received a similar email today and whether that will influence their voting intentions in 2012, or indeed imminently?

UPDATE: Received today [Monday] from GLA Service Desk

Due to an error occurring during routine system maintenance, you may have received an email yesterday from "Docblazer@london.gov.uk" wrongly saying that an email you had sent to the Greater London Authority had been deleted without being read. We apologise if you were sent this erroneous message, and want to reassure you that your email would have been read and dealt with at the time it was received and that all correspondence to the Mayor and the Greater London Authority is dealt with within 20 working days.

So, that's that then!

How does your Garden Grow?

Tajinder asks me to remind you all about the Redbridge Garden Survey that I posted on back in May 2009. It expires this coming May so if you haven’t completed it yet please do. Click!

While I’m on the subject, here are a couple of other items on gardens full of eastern promise.

Pictured is Shushila Patel. She featured in a piece in The Times back in 2007 titled East of Ilford, all about what she has done with her front garden, in a typical Ilford street. “An exotic extravaganza, it is an oasis of colour and scent in a grey-paved desert. A river of white Spanish stones winds up to a tiny statue of the elephant-headed god Ganesh; behind him tumbles a vast collection of terracotta pots filled with campanula and pink and purple geraniums.” Ganesh is a Hindu God.

Below is from the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences [IFEES]

It is he who produces both trellised and untrellised gardens, date palms, crops of diverse flavours, the olive and the pomegranate, alike yet different. So when they bear fruit, eat some of it, paying what is due on the day of harvest, but do not be wasteful: God does not like wasteful people (Qur'an 6:141)

There is a long tradition within the Islamic world of creating gardens. [Click to see]These are often designed as a reflection of the heavenly realm as described in the Qur'an. Such 'paradise gardens' incorporate elements of shade and water within an enclosed space, attesting to the desert environment from where Islam emerged and where such elements hold a particular significance. As Islam spread, Islamic garden design began to incorporate elements which reflected the cultural diversity of the Muslim world.

The Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, based at Cardiff University, has been commissioned by BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International) to undertake research on Islamic Gardens in the UK, and especially ways in which their design and ethos might amplify messages about biodiversity conservation and sustainability, drawing upon the sources of Islam. The title of the project is "Islamic Gardens in the UK: dynamics of conservation, culture and communities". This study represents the first significant academic project on Islamic Gardens in Britain and will investigate the need, value and viability of establishing Islamic Gardens in the UK, based on Islamic ecological principles.

It is vital that we access the opinions of as many Muslims as possible in order to build up an accurate picture. The survey [click] aims to assess people's knowledge of, and familiarity with, both botanic and Islamic gardens.

Junk Buster

Redbridge Council advises that we can now recycle our Yellow Pages and telephone directories in with our normal paper recycling. But do we want them in the first place?

Ever since I found the "Say No to Phone Books" site some time ago I have been meaning to follow up and find out if there is a way to stop these being delivered. But I forgot to go back and check. Now it seems there is – Junk Buster. You can opt out and this site, kindly highlighted by Redbridge Council in today’s news release, helps you do it.

There is also a petition on the Number 10 site, but it expires on 29th March 2010. I would have plugged it earlier had I known. However, the additional information is quite revealing:

75 million phonebooks are produced and delivered each year, amounting to an estimated 75,000 tonnes of annual waste, enough to cover Hyde Park twice! Add in the cost of manufacturing, delivering and recycling phone books, this equals a totally unnecessary and avoidable environmental burden. The estimated amount of resources wasted include:
• 680,000 barrels of oil (not including petrol wasted during delivery)
• 2 billion litres of water (not including water wasted in the recycling process)
• 437 million kilowatts of energy (not including the recycling process) equates to enough energy to power 112,000 three bedroom houses for a year
From production to recycling, 75,000 tonnes of phonebooks equates to 96,000 metric tonnes of wasted carbon emissions!
We're asking for a centralised opt-in system for phonebooks, giving the UK population the choice to reduce the cost of producing unwanted and un-needed phonebooks.

As we always say here: Reduce before you recycle.

NHS gets Homeopathy Treatment

I recently offered a Homeopathy user a pint of Homeopathic beer. That is, I buy them a pint of beer, drink it myself, and then wash the glass out several times with ‘vigorous shaking’, fill it up with tap water and give it to them to drink. This process of dilution and ‘potentization’ seems to be what the NHS commissars are doing with the North East London Health review of services.

Here’s Dopeyf on the subject picked up as a comment over on Redbridge Eye.

The Health for North East London document is a document full of statements some of which are simply unbelievable, some outright untruths, and many simply spin.

Here are some examples:-

The first thing is on Page 4 "North East London - a whole system approach" except in small type at the bottom it says "this review did not specifically address these [mental health] services", and now we also know dental services. What happened to a whole system approach? – FAILED.

On Page 6 "We want patients arriving at Urgent Care Services or Accident & Emergency to be assessed by a senior doctor in LESS THAN AN HOUR (My Capitals). Those who have been to Queens or Whipp’s Cross would be entitled to think that this was written by those in need of the missing Mental Health services.

On Page 14 "Six Maternity units in North East London is not a feasible option" and on Page 15 "Birth rates are some of the highest in the UK" - their arguments defy their own logic!

On to Page 16 "Some services are not good enough" - I have to congratulate the author for his/her disregard of the obvious - out of 72 categories only 4 are better than other trusts in England. Homerton, Overall Quality Mark and Use of Resources and Barts Mortality Ratio, none of which relate directly to illness.

Progressing to Page 22 "Moving King George A&E and Maternity services would for most people add less than 4 minutes to ambulance times and 11 minutes for private vehicles" - I am not even prepared to comment on this ridiculous outright flight of fancy.

Swiftly on to Page 27 "We estimate that moving Accident & Emergency Critical Care and Maternity Services from King George to Newham, Queens and Whipp’s Cross will save some £21 million that could be invested in improving other services". Whilst the Trust has a £75million deficit the likelihood of this is exactly zero, and this saving, depriving us of reasonably local services, is unlikely ever to be used for this purpose.

Now we come to the real reason:
Currently Accident & Emergency facilities typically serve an area of under 250,000 people, but NHS organisations are pressing ahead with plans to close down A&Es, saying that they have been instructed to by the Department of Health. If A&Es are forced to serve 450,000 people, (as we are being asked to do) this would mean cuts of 17 departments across London. The plans also fly in the face of recommendations by clinicians. There is no clinical reason, only that of finance.

Women in Need

Last Monday 8th March was International Women’s Day and to mark the occasion the London Mayor Boris Johnson made a bold announcement on one of his manifesto promises – to provide four new Rape Crisis Centres in our capital, one of which is to be located here in Redbridge. Or did he? Nice timing, but somewhat short on cash?

The promise was to fully fund these centres for three years with the funding being transferred from the Mayor’s Public Relations budget. Trouble is that has been slashed in half.

London Assembly Member, Jenny Jones commented: “It is great news that the Mayor appears to be finally delivering on his promise for the much-needed new rape crisis centres, particularly given the dramatic increase in reported rapes in London. He has announced where the centres will be, although he has not said if these boroughs will be contributing the additional £832,000 funding that the Mayor hasn't provided to ensure the centres are fully funded for three years.”

Matty Mitford, Spokesperson for the Boris Keep Your Promise campaign said. "I'm sure we join all other campaigns for Women in welcoming the new centres, it is a leap forward for vulnerable women in London. Our worry is that, since Boris cut his original funding pledge by £1.6 million, or over half, there is now no clear mention of who will pay for the centre's running costs. The Mayor's funding only lasts for two years, after which who will fund these new centres? With all councils facing huge cuts over the next few years, we could easily find ourselves in the position of having Rape Crisis Centres with no money to run them, all because Boris wouldn't award the money he promised in his manifesto."

David Babbs, Director of Campaigning Organisation 38 Degrees says, "We are glad to show that people-powered campaigning can really work. We will be keeping a close eye on Mayor Johnson to see his original promises are kept. It's the money that matters, not the press release."

According to the Wanstead & Woodford Guardian the new centre in Redbridge has £370k allocated but according to the above that is less than half of what is required.

The leader of Redbridge Council, Keith Prince, may be: "….proud to be leading a partnership of the GLA and Neighbouring East London Councils in the provision of a new Crisis Centre that will support the victims of rape and sexual abuse." But has he looked at the small print or checked his wallet?

The council tax payers of Redbridge are entitled to know if they will be picking up the tab for the Mayor's decision not to increase the GLA precept.

Here's the Official Redbridge News release.

Note: There is currently one Rape Crisis Centre for the whole of London. The GLA was formed in the year 2000. Boris was elected in 2008.

Love and Hate

On Friday evening, 5th March, we gathered at The Redbridge Institute for an Interview with Tony Benn. Whether you agree with him or not he is part of the fixtures and fittings of British politics. There are not that many major figures in this field where you know what you are getting. Margaret Thatcher is another. With people like these it’s not a lucky dip. You just know they mean it.

The room was full with some 200 people. Lots of local Labour faithfuls [some disillusioned] paying homage plus at least one Conservative councillor, 6 known Green Party members and a fair diversity by age, sex and ethnicity. Such is Tony's pulling power.

The event was not terribly well managed. Tony was seated at the same level as the audience, so I could not see him, and he had a hand held microphone, which for somebody who likes to wave his hands about, [see photo] meant I couldn’t hear him most of the time either.

As always with these events the questioners rambled on with a speech of their own and Tony didn’t seem to know what the question was, and frankly neither did I. It rather spoilt the evening and the only comment from Tony that I can remember that stood out was this: “The Labour Party is not a socialist party. It is a party that has socialists in it”. Rather more in years past than at present perhaps?
-----------
At the beginning of the event Sonia Klein [our hostess for the evening and the Labour PPC for Ilford North] told us that she had been getting “hate mail”. Allegedly because the meeting was being held on a Friday [Friday evening is the Jewish Shabbat] and because she has called for sanctions against Israel. She is also a Muslim, but her mother-in-law apparently is Jewish.

I don’t like this sort of thing, it’s not nice. Our current MP, Lee Scott, is Jewish and he has held meetings on Friday evenings. This is because he is usually being detained at Her Majesties Pleasure in the House on Monday through to Thursday evenings. He has also led protest marches on local issues on a Saturday afternoon.

To sanctions against Israel. This is a perfectly legitimate position to take. You or I may not agree with it, but I would want to know precisely what is meant, and indeed I am not happy with my own parties position on this, which is BDS – Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, including cultural and academic. However, I am free to argue that case, although it can get “heated” especially if one happens to be Jewish, which I’m not. But others are and sometimes they are not treated with due respect which upsets me even more.

I have to say here that the implication that the “hate mail” is coming from the local Jewish community is not necessarily true, presumably they are anonymous, and they could be and probably are troublemakers trying to stir up a bit of racial hatred. But whoever they are, they are not welcome.

0% Council Tax Reduction

What’s the difference between the heading above and the headline on the main Redbridge-i website – “0% Council Tax Rise”. I’ll tell you. A 0% Tax rise is meant to indicate a successful outcome, i.e. we are not putting your taxes up, whereas a 0% Tax reduction would indicate a failure to reduce it.

Over in Hammersmith and Fulham council tax has been reduced by 3% for the fourth successive year and a Band D property pays £1,121, including the London Assembly precept. Meanwhile in Wandsworth council tax is on course to remain the lowest in the UK at £687 for an average Band D property after the authority announced proposals for freezing its share of the bills for the third year running. Here in Redbridge the tax on a Band D property is £1,405, more than twice that in Wandsworth and over 28% of the basic State pension. These are all Conservative controlled London Authorities so the notion that the Government grant [the majority of a Council’s income] is biased towards the party of government doesn’t really stand up here, but it does indicate a postcode lottery when it comes to council tax and maybe should be looked at again to even out the burden. [Note: yes I know Redbridge is currently "hung" but they are the administration]

Anyway, there are some things to be pleased about. As the Full Council meeting last Thursday unfolded some of the proposed cuts were deferred. The Local Studies Library is safe for another year, the reduction in street cleaning staff has been shelved and also the removal of concessionary rates for over-60 allotment holders, as well as major cuts in the adult social services and highways budgets.

However, the money for these will have to come from elsewhere within the existing pot. That's the challenge for whoever is in charge after May 6th. Unfortunately, the prime candidate to give way, the Redbridge Life Newspaper, seems to be off limits and the Labour group even want it to be more localised, i.e. more expensive.

Here's the official version of events.

Pool Simmering

I am concerned it would appear that since the December [2009] meeting in the Town Hall with the two relevant Cabinet Members and Council Officials our pool replacement campaign has gone ‘off the boil’. The reasons for this being that there has been little to report, and we awaited [in mid-February] the feasibility study regarding the suitability of either Seven Kings trailer park or Cricklefields as the site for a replacement pool [more later].

At a leisure scrutiny meeting [in January] I echoed the sentiments in the above paragraph and assured those present that there was no lack of resolve, and we eagerly awaited the study’s recommendations.

In this year’s Council Budget there is a proposed five-year saving projection for a new leisure and library facility in Seven Kings resulting in 2015 with a balance of £25m.

In February at an Area 4 meeting I said that although we welcomed something being done, we regretted that the earliest we could expect a replacement being opened was 2016!

We also asked how [since it was due any day now] the feasibility was progressing? You can guess my irritation when told that due to circumstances outside the council’s control the earliest date would be June [this year!]

After that I ‘phoned Keith Prince [Council Leader] who confirmed the delay, added his disappointment and assured us of his support .

A five-year haul is a long time to keep the pressure on especially when you’re getting on a bit.

John Sharrock
Chairman, Redbridge Swimmers Association

Scams of the Week

This afternoon I received an email from "PayPal" asking me to log in and confirm my account. It had managed to get through the BT spam filter. Well, I don’t have an account with PayPal and if I did I would not be using my Barkingside 21 email address, would I? So I did a bit of digging. This is the URL I was being directed to:
http://222.255.77.237/img/acc/management/financial/logon.html
Note how it is not like this one, which is genuine and has the paypal name in it. http://www.paypal.co.uk/uk
The email address from which this scam came from was this:
dprtnt@ppal.co.uk Note how it is ppal.co.uk and NOT paypal.co.uk

The IP address of the incoming email was 66.179.71.133 which is located in Saint Louise, United States [hardly .co.uk] and is registered to loki.vdhinc.com [Virtual Design House]. Googling that gives their website but Norton Security doesn’t like it, so I didn't have a look.
--------
Then I get a telephone call from “Enviro-Select”. They know my name and launch into their patter of “investing in Redbridge”. Apparently her database shows that some of my windows and doors need replacing. I ask how her database knows this and has she heard of the term GIGO [Garbage In - Garbage Out]. She hangs up. I love it when “they” hang up. I dial 1471 and it’s number withheld – surprise, surprise as Cilla would say!
---------
Then my RSS feed alerts me to Redbridge council warning residents about a scam offering “free burglar alarm systems”. The alarm may be free but the maintenance contract is not.

Isn’t it ironic that a “company” offering free burglar alarms is actually a pick pocket trying to get it’s hands into your wallet, purse or bank account.

And the really worrying thing is this. That they persist means they are making money out of it.

ON GUARD. And pass the word on to those who may not be quite as cute as you.

Leisure comes to Barkingside

This is an interesting development. Since the year 2000 Redbridge council has operated a Cabinet system of government. Each Cabinet portfolio has a Scrutiny committee made up of rank and file councillors which supposedly scrutinises the activities of their relevant Cabinet member. These meetings have, up to recently, been held at the Town Hall. But last December the Council’s Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held a meeting at Ilford County High School when a major agenda item affecting this area, the Regeneration of Barkingside Town Centre, was to be discussed.

We now learn that the Leisure Scrutiny committee is to hold its next meeting at Fullwell Cross library on Wednesday 24th March 2010. We are wondering why? The agenda has not been published yet so we don’t know what local issues may be discussed. It does say here that “Items on the agenda include an update on a new swimming pool and library in the borough” but those are Seven Kings issues. It also says that the “Public are permitted to ask questions to the Members if they register in advance”.

However, most committee Chairman do allow the public to comment if it adds to procedings as did the firm but fair Chairman of this committee, Bob Littlewood, in allowing me to speak at an earlier meeting when I had not registered.

Of course this could be an unpublicised initiative to get these scrutiny committees out into the communities they serve, and if this is the case it should be applauded. These committees do a lot of good and vital work and any move that encourages residents to attend, participate and scrutinise the scrutineers is very welcome.

Redbridge Womens Conference

Next Monday is 8th March and as we all know 8th March is International Women’s Day. But here in Redbridge it’s a day late on Tuesday 9th March. We’re rebels here and we don’t conform.

The Redbridge Faith Forum has arranged for a Women’s Conference to facilitate dialogue and promote understanding between women of different faiths and backgrounds. There will be workshops specifically for the women, but the general event is open to everyone and both men and women will be welcome.

The conference is an annual event and provides an ideal opportunity for us all to discuss topics that are highly relevant to our lives today.

The details are as follows :
Women's Conference
Tuesday 9th March 2010
The Gloucester Room
Ilford Central Library

Registration 6.45pm. Programme from 7pm - 9pm

The theme of the Conference is :
"Harmony in the Home? How do we cope with the stress?"

In an ideal world our home is a place of safety, a sanctuary where we can experience the peace, love and harmony that keeps us balanced and focussed. However, many external, and often internal factors, can lead to this harmony being disturbed. What are these factors? And how do we cope with the stress, which can so easily upset the delicate balance of family life?

There are three excellent speakers, who will each give us an insight into the topic, share their experiences and stimulate good discussion.

Rani Raju - Redbridge Carers Support Service
Pamela Wilson - Relate
Joan Findlay - Hear and Now

The audience will then be invited to participate in a question and answer session, which will be closely followed by group discussions and an open forum discussion on the topic. Light refreshments will be served during the course of the evening giving the participants a chance to network and socialise. It promises to be an informative and exciting event!

For further information please contact Saira Yakub: Email or Phone: 020 8708 2478

Allotment Space Invaders

Over the weekend of 30/31st January thieves broke into the Allotment Society trading hut at New North Road, Hainault, allotment site and despite the society having spent a considerable sum of money on improved security they made off with:

One HONDA Versamow lawnmower – colour RED – serial number HRX 537H YEA MAGA 1711505.

One STIHL FS90R Strimmer/Bushcutter – colour ORANGE (possibly with part white) – Serial Number 275722051.

One STIHL FS56R Strimmer/Bushcutter – colour ORANGE (possibly with part white) – Serial Number 277628677.

One Rotovator painted YELLOW – fitted with a new HONDA MOTOR GCV 160.

If anybody out there has purchased any or all of these machines or knows of anybody who may have purchased one or more of these items as a ‘bargain’ it may be in their best interests if they were to be returned to the Allotment Society without delay. An appropriate reward will be offered on the arrest and conviction of the culprits.

Any information please, to the North Hainault Allotment Society either at New North Road and/or Tomswood Hill.

Chairman, North Hainault Allotment Society