Redbridge Alley Gaters

In front of the gates

A FOURTH Alley Gate Scheme set of gates were unveiled to Redbridge Police and local Neighbourhood Watch members on 18th April 2011 in Brantwood Gardens at the junction of Ambleside Gardens, Ilford, IG4.

The gates were installed as an initiative to help combat anti-social behaviour such as fly tipping and to prevent burglary at the rear of properties. The gates were part funded as a joint enterprise by Redbridge Police and LBR Partnership group but residents contributed the remaining balance; each household that had access to the alley contributed between £40 to £170. In total the four Neighbourhood Watches that have installed alley gates have spent £16,542.

Chief Inspector Bill Brame, Redbridge Safer Neighbourhood Teams said: “Schemes like this reduce the opportunity for burglars and the evidence shows that where gates have been introduced, the number of burglaries diminishes dramatically”.

Lisa Cherry, Neighbourhood Watch Manager for Redbridge, reinforced the message: “The introduction of the gates has brought the community together to tackle an ongoing problem and this type of positive action is the essence of Neighbourhood Watch”.

Jim Maddan, Chair of the London Neighbourhood Watch Association, and National Chair of the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network, also attended the event and said: “I welcome any initiative that reduces the opportunity for crime and at the same time brings the community together. We must all work together to make the places we live safer”.

Ann Hart the NHW Coordinator for Brantwood Gardens worked alongside the NHW office and the local SNT to ensure that everyone, not only contributed to the scheme, but was happy with the gates installation. Mrs Hart said: “This project has helped to bring our community together and now everyone knows their neighbours. We intend to roll out this scheme to other NHW groups throughout Redbridge which will, not only make the area more difficult to burgle, but will improve the general appearance of back alleyways by reducing fly-tipping”.

Protecting the Natural Environment

We know that our local MP, Lee Scott, does not sign Early Day Motions and why but we also know that he reads this blog – so here is the one in question, number 1601.

It has only been signed by 39 MPs, but that does include Andrew Rosindell.

That this House looks forward to the forthcoming publication of a Natural Environment White Paper; notes that this is the first White Paper of its kind in 20 years; recognises that biodiversity is in crisis, with 45 per cent. of important habitats and 29 per cent. of priority species declining or lost; calls on the Government to make a clear commitment through the White Paper to halt biodiversity loss, restore the UK's natural environment and connect people with nature; believes the White Paper must include key indicators to track annual progress toward measurable outcomes; further believes these indicators must cover the condition of common and threatened wildlife, the condition of important wildlife areas and levels of public engagement; and calls on other Government departments to share responsibility in committing to a strong and effective White Paper which helps the Government meet its commitment to be the greenest Government ever.

An Ilford North Consituent writes:

Dear Mr Lee Scott

Please do not allow Ministers to water down the NEWP. Many jobs, like mine, have been created through the environmental sector. There are new jobs coming up all the time in renewable energy, sustainable farming, planning and investment in nature. The environment not only needs to be good for wildlife, but it is essential that it is good for our health and wellbeing too.
Please would you sign the Early Day Motion 1601 because:

• the NEWP can only be effective with ambitious targets - if you do the job once and do it properly, you don't need to waste time in the future and strengthen it and waste more government/public money;
• we have not been successfully halting declines in biodiversity loss. I know, I work in this sector and this is due to weak government targets and policy, we need to sort this out by 2020 and see real results on the ground;
• With 45% of important habitats and 29% of priority species declining or lost, it is time for the UK Government to make a clear commitment to halt biodiversity loss, restore our natural environment and connect people with nature.

Plants and animals benefit us all. Plants provide essential medication and animals are good indicators of how our environment is doing. If we take care of them, then we take care of ourselves.

Kind regards, etc.

The RSPB say:

However, there is a fear that senior ministers and civil servants in other government departments may seek to weaken any ambitious targets set out in the white paper when it is sent to them for approval in late spring. This is despite the fact that the NEWP could benefit many of those same departments.

Given the earlier post on the Dog’s Breakfast, I am not holding my breath…..

We don’t need no Edjacashun

For some years now Redbridge Council has been desperately short of school places for its growing population of young people. Two new primary schools have been built by the Council, one on the old PLA site in the Drive and one in Winston Way. A new Academy type secondary school is planned for the Cricklefields site in central Ilford. But that is not enough, the demand keeps on outstripping supply.

As reported earlier the Ilford Jewish Primary School in Craven Gardens is planning to move to the King Solomon site and the vacated school site is the subject of three bids to open an additional Primary School there for which we eagerly await the decision of the Schools Adjudicator. One of those bids is for a community school submitted by Redbridge Council, but it will be their last. Since last November, when the bids were submitted, the government has changed the rules. Local Authorities cannot now provide any schools at all, despite being legally required to provide schooling for all the children within its boundaries. Any new schools will now be so-called “free schools” provided by Charities or Educational Trusts supported by the private sector.

This is why the council have agreed “in principle” to sell the Downshall Centre to E-Act, headed up by Sir (£265,000 p.a.) Bruce Liddington to open a new primary school there. The Downshall Centre was closed as a school many years ago because the building and grounds did not meet government standards and a new school was built opposite. When questioned on this at the Cabinet meeting on 22nd March the Cabinet member replied that “free schools” are not subject to the same regulations. The “Big Society” voluntary groups who had used that centre are now unsure of their future.

What I didn’t mention at the time was that at that same Cabinet meeting there was also a delegation from the residents of Five Oaks Lane, Hainault, opposing the compulsory purchase of their homes. [item 8] This is to make way for a new development of 425 homes on designated green belt land and including shops and a community centre – but no school.

As reported last week the site of the former New Mossford School, now closed and demolished, on the Barnado’s site is to be redeveloped for housing - although we don’t know how many I would guess somewhere near 200.

And then we have at next week’s Cabinet meeting on May 3rd plans for even more homes on green belt land sneeking through under the disguise of a scrutiny report on Fairlop Plain. “The Working Group recommends that the site of the Barkingside Nursery and the Adolescent Resource Centre is redeveloped for possible low level housing or other uses appropriate to Green Belt and that any sale should be accompanied with agreed planning permission. All revenue for this made [sic!] should be ringfenced for the investment and development of Fairlop Waters.” – but no school.

And so we come full circle. Redbridge council is desperately short of school places already and these new homes will no doubt house even more children. Even if the council had the money, which they do not, to provide new schools, they are not allowed to do so now. Something will have to give, sooner or later.

Here’s Pink Floyd

To AV or not to AV

As May 5th is fast approaching I thought I’d better mention the Referendum.

In the interests of balance and fairness I should point out that your Chairman is a “No” voter and your Secretary is a “Yes” voter, so….

Here is the No2AV website.

Here is the Yes2AV website.

And here is the Meh2AV website.

What intrigues me though, is that the very people who embraced Thatcherism, and that includes NuLabour, and who worship the God of the free market, greater choice, diversity and individual freedom are the very people who want to restrict your choices when electing and voting for……. them!

The argument that AV would let in the BNP is vacuous in the extreme. It will not, that is why the BNP are opposing AV, and in any case the way to deal with extremism is to win the argument, not maintain a rigged voting system so they can’t get elected.

Here are a few blog posts that have caught my attention.

Rupert Read and Darrell Goodliffe debate the pros and cons @ the Daily Maybe

Molly is the Ambassador for Outrage

Flesh is Grass on how to decide.

Jim Killock on Change starts at Local Level.

And here’s Dan Snow talking about something much more interesting – which Pub to go to…..

Discuss……

The Dog’s Breakfast

Adam Ramsey over at Bright Green asks where has all the money gone?

Well, according to the Telegraph Taxpayers are being forced to pay almost £70 million under the Private Finance Initiative for schools that no longer exist. And Taxpayers are paying £5 billion a year in interest on money the Government borrowed to support the banking sector.

Meanwhile our ConDem government are passing legislation to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, but with a twist. There are some people who are exempt from the new rules, oh yes, that would be…….MPs. Well, I suppose we can rely on our MPs to come up with new and innovative ways to keep their noses in the trough now that they can’t claim for Duck Houses on expenses.

On the enviroment the EUs attempts to regulate deep sea oil drilling in European waters to prevent another deepwater horizon is being opposed by the “greenest government ever”. Of course all the money that would have to be spent on any clear up operation would look good on the balance sheet and give the illusion that the economy and GDP are doing well.

The “greenest government ever” is also planning to scrap green laws which protect our planet and help prevent climate change. Politicians claim that these important laws that reduce emissions, protect wildlife and the countryside are ‘red tape’ and that we're better off without. The joy of listening to birds singing in your garden doesn’t contribute to the economic balance sheet and the goal of having ever more stuff sold to us that we don’t need.

And as if we didn’t have enough U-Turn problems here locally the government have now done a U-Turn on their earlier U-Turn. They now really are going to sell off our forests along with their sending their own children up Chimneys. 

Talking of U-Turns and PFIs the Chancellor, George Osborne, and the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, are to press ahead with 61 PFIs totalling a massive £6.9Billion. "In opposition both Osborne and Vince Cable said that PFI was poor value for the taxpayer. The Chancellor described it as 'a discredited model' whilst the Business Secretary called it "a dishonest system of accounting, designed to hide taxpayers' liabilities."

Then we learn from the local press that the government also want to abolish local councils’ duty to provide allotments. Perhaps they should take a close look at local councils’ duty to provide schooling for those children within their remit, because under Mr Gove’s plans they now are not allowed to build or provide any new schools at all. All new schools are to be so-called “free schools” provided by educational trusts or the private sector.

And to round off we understand from a reliable and trustworthy source in Downing St. that if the AV Referendum result is a “No” then Mr Cameron will resign as Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister in favour of the person who actually won that election by First-Past-The-Post – Mr David Davis.

Oh, and Christmas is cancelled…..

Bluebells

Photo © Paul Ferris @ Wanstead Wildlife

Here are a few events you might like to enjoy courtesy of the “Bluebells”, otherwise known as Redbridge Parks Police, the service that hitherto has ensured our open spaces are safe and pleasant places to visit and who are now subject to the local ConDem program of dubious accunting procedures…..

Monday 25th April New Event!
Bluebell Walk
Come and join the nature conservation rangers for a gentle stroll through Claybury Woods when the bluebells and other spring flowers are at their best.
11am - 12noon
Claybury Park, Tomswood Hill Gate opposite Wannock Gardens

Saturday 7th May
Bluebell Walk
A chance to see the spectacular bluebells of Claybury Woods, your guide will show you through the best parts of the ancient woodland, looking for other woodland spring flowers as well.
11am – 1pm
Claybury Park, Tomswood Hill gate opposite Wannock Gardens

Sunday 8th May
Dawn Chorus Walk
For the third year running, the Woodward brothers will take us through the forest to hear the songs of native and migratory birds, followed by drinks, toast and croissants.
4.45am to 7.30am
£4 per person.
Booking essential
Suitable for 11 yrs +.
Hainault Forest Country Park

Saturday 21st May
Wildflower Walk
Come and enjoy a leisurely walk around the Roding Valley Park to discover the beautiful array of wildflowers and how to identify them.
10am to 12noon
Meet at: James Leal Centre, Ray Park, Woodford Green, IG8 7JQ

Tuesday 31st May
Family Nature Walk
Come for a light stroll through the park and woodland. We’ll be visiting the mysterious art trail in search of hidden artefacts and the adventure play area.
11am to 12noon
Claybury Park. Meet at gate on Tomswood Hill, opposite Wannock Gardens

For England, St George

…and the mighty Fairlop Oak. I might be in there, or I might not…..

Happy Easter Bunnies everybody peeps. Have an eggsellent weekend.

Barnado’s Garden Village

Barnardo's Barkingside site regeneration – Phase III
– The Garden Village

You may well have already seen our advertisement in the local paper or one of our posters advising our holding of a new Public Exhibition tomorrow [now today] and Saturday to showcase our proposal for a mixed development of residential housing on the southern part of the Barnardo’s Barkingside Campus.

Following previous successful exhibitions where we have met with our neighbours and other residents within the Barkingside area to keep them apprised of our plans, this new exhibition concentrates on our plans for the part of the site where New Mossford school once stood. This building had to be demolished a bit over a year ago due to it becoming unsafe following a number of incidents of vandalism and a couple of extensive fires.

Whilst we recognise this is possibly a rather late notification for which we apologise, we would be delighted if you could find time to visit and see for yourself what we are proposing.

The exhibition is being held in our church from 5pm until 9pm tomorrow (21st April) and from 10am until 5pm on Saturday (23rd April). Our design team will be on hand to answer questions.

Regards,

Tony Cripps,
Director – Property & Facilities Management
Barnardo’s


Editor’s Note: I will be returning to this subject and other planning applications when I have the time and concentration to do the research and then write it up.

A406 Redbridge Flyover Roadworks

Photo by Sunil_of_yoxley

Expansion Joints Replacement

Transport for London (TfL) informs us that essential work will be carried out to replace four expansion joints within the A406 Redbridge Flyover, as part of ongoing maintenance of the TfL Road Network (TLRN).

Routine safety inspections of the Redbridge flyover carried out last year established that the four expansion joints, which allow the flyover to expand or contract due to movement of the bridge, were suffering unexpected degradation. Further analysis showed that these worn-out joints must be quickly replaced to protect the safety of the travelling public.

Work to replace the expansion joints will begin on Saturday 30 April. In agreement with the London Borough of Redbridge, noisy works will be carried out Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 18:00, and on Saturdays between 08:00 and 14:00. Quieter works will also take place outside the above hours, and all works are scheduled to be completed within approximately three weeks.

TfL has scheduled the work to take place on one direction of the A406 at a time, beginning with the northbound direction, followed by the southbound. A contra-flow system for light vehicles will be operating across the flyover in the other lanes. This will allow traffic to continue using the flyover while this vital work is carried out. Traffic will also be able to use the roundabout underneath the flyover to pass through the area.

The eastbound bus routes which serve Redbridge Station will need to use a new temporary bus stop on the eastbound A12 Eastern Avenue just beyond the Station, except for route 366 which uses the Station forecourt as part of its route, and will continue to do so.

Before the works commence we will inform residents and local businesses within the agreed catchment area of the upcoming works. Clear diversion signs will also be in place on main approach roads throughout the works, and publicity for bus diversions will also be posted at local stops and on the TfL and Redbridge websites.

We will be working to complete these works as quickly as possible. I apologise in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused because of these essential works. Should you require further information or an update during the delivery of these works please contact our Streets Customer Services department on 0845 305 1234 or via our website at www.tfl.gov.uk/contact.

Yours faithfully,

Customer Services Manager - Correspondence

Save King George Hospital

Proposals to close vital services at Redbridge’s only hospital, King George, were approved at a meeting of the North East London Primary Care Trusts on 15 December 2010. Among the proposals passed, are those which will mean that there will be no Accident and Emergency [A+E] service and no maternity service provided at King George. Only around 50 beds will be left instead of the present 400.

What this means for residents of Redbridge
If these proposals are implemented, it means that most people who live in Redbridge will have to go to Queen’s Hospital in Romford.

• Much longer travel times to get to a hospital – especially important for ambulances to get to A+E. Queens Romford is 4 ½ miles from King George in Goodmayes along the A12, the worst A road in Britain.
• Queens will serve the populations of 3 London Boroughs, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham and Havering - 700,000 people. Meanwhile the inner London hospitals in Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney will each serve one borough, with an average of just over 200,000 people in the borough. Waltham Forest will be served by Whipps Cross Hospital.
• Queens is already unable to cope, frequently turning ambulances away because they are full. This happened for 2 weeks in December. When asked where they ambulances should go, the Interim Chief Executive of Redbridge Hospitals said: “I don’t know.”
• No baby will be born in a Redbridge hospital, while over 10,000 babies will be born at Queens in Romford. This means that the maternity ward there will be very large by national standards. Meanwhile, Barking has a had a new maternity unit built.
• In March 2011 Queen’s maternity unit was inspected by the independent panel which monitors whether hospitals are meeting the essential standards of quality and safety, called the Quality Care Commission [CQC]. The CQC statement states: “Inspectors found that the maternity unit was often understaffed and that some staff were carrying out tasks for which they did not feel appropriately skilled, putting women and babies at risk. ... Some equipment necessary for the safe care of women and their babies, such as machines for monitoring contractions, was found to be unavailable, poorly maintained or not working. .... CQC says the trust must fully address the first two of these issues by 30 March and address the equipment problems by 15 April. If the Trust fails to comply, our next steps may include prosecution or restriction of services.”
• 16 March the CQC issues a statement about Whipps Cross Hospital: “The CQC has told Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust that the care it provides was not meeting the essential standards of safety and quality people should be able to expect. .....it’s inspectors will follow up to ensure those improvements are made...... Staffing: Community [maternity] staff were found to be either working excessive hours or had unsustainable caseloads in their attempts to balance all demands on the service.”

The cost of implementing the proposals will be £36 million but Health4NEL have stated that they will not get this money from the Government. Instead they will raise it from the “local economy” saying that this may possibly be from more Public Finance Initiatives [PFIs] and selling assets. With lack of critical mass, King George Hospital will become a likely target, as well as Wanstead Hospital.

Residents of Redbridge are being asked to sign the Redbridge Campaign to Save King George petition: our councillors of all parties will act as collection points for petition forms. When all the sheets have been collected, local MPs will present the petition to the Secretary for Health, Andrew Lansley in the House of Commons.

The Independent Review Panel is asking for evidence and/or experience from all interested parties to be provided by 21 July 2011. The Panel’s contact details are: 157-159 Buckingham Palace Road, LONDON SW1W 9SP: info@irpanel.org.uk: 020 7389 8046.

For further information, please email either Helen Zammett or Geoff Horsnell. 

The Independent Review Panel

The Secretary of State for Health, Mr Andrew Lansley, has decided that the Independent Reconfiguration Panel will make an in-depth study of the Health for North East London proposals for the changes to the healthcare in Redbridge, Havering, Waltham Forest and Barking and Dagenham. This Panel will then make a recommendation to Andrew Lansley, which he will decide upon.

A team of senior experienced healthcare professionals will make a number of visits to north east London to inspect Kings and Queens hospitals and meet patients, clinicians and other staff. They will also hold meetings to hear from a range of interested parties, including local authority representatives and interest groups. The Panel will send its report to Andrew Lansley on 22 July 2011.

You can play a part in this assessment exercise. The Independent Review Panel would like to hear from anyone who is interested in the Health for North East London proposals – especially if they have evidence to offer or feel that they want to be heard.

People can contact the IRP by e mail at: info@irpanel.org.uk, by calling 0207 389 8046 or by writing to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel at 6th Floor, 157 – 197 Buckingham Palace Road, LONDON SW1W 9SP. If you wish to ensure that your input is taken into account, it is best to get the material to the Independent Review Panel by the end of June.

Save KGH Timeline

THE RECONFIGURATION PANEL

Formed in 2003, its role is to give formal advice to the Secretary of State for Health on contested proposals for reconfiguring local health services. A team of approximately 10 people will undertake a review of the 15 December 2010 decision of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts. The IRP members are senior, experienced healthcare professionals from various backgrounds. The Chair, Peter Barrett is the Chair of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, having been a GP for 31 years.

9 February 2011 Andrew Lansley refers the Health4NEL proposals to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel [IRP] for an initial review.

By 10 March the Outer NE London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee as well as the Health Overview Committees of Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge wrote to the IRP explaining why they opposed the proposals.

11 March The IRP recommend they undertake a full review, which Andrew Lansley agrees to.

4 April The IRP Chairman publishes a letter inviting all interested parties to submit new evidence for them to consider before writing their report to be sent to Andrew Lansley on 22 July.

THE CARE QUALITY COMMISSION [CQC]

4 March the CQC issues a statement about the maternity unit at Queens Hospital: “Inspectors found that the maternity unit was often understaffed and that some staff were carrying out tasks for which they did not feel appropriately skilled, putting women and babies at risk. ..... the trust must fully address ..... these issues by 30 March. ...... If the Trust fails to comply, our next steps may include prosecution or restriction of services.”

16 March the CQC issues a statement about Whipps Cross Hospital: “The CQC has told Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust that the care it provides was not meeting the essential standards of safety and quality people should be able to expect. .....it’s inspectors will follow up to ensure those improvements are made...... Staffing: Community [maternity] staff were found to be either working excessive hours or had unsustainable caseloads in their attempts to balance all demands on the service.”

THE CAMPAIGN

The Parliamentary Petition has been circulated to c30 residents’ groups in Redbridge, street collections for signatures are being held and the petition will be extended into Barking and Dagenham and Havering.

7 April presentation of a letter to 10 Downing Street

8 April march from Queen’s Hospital to Redbridge Town Hall for a rally

31 May signed petitions are collected and handed to Lee Scott’s office for the Parliamentary Petition Office to vet and provide a date on which the petition can be handed to Andrew Lansley in the House.

June Lee Scott, supported by local MPs presents the petition in Parliament – Lee Scott’s office to provide media coverage.

THE RECONFIGURATION PANEL

4 April – 21 July The IRP takes evidence in writing, by e mail or telephone as well as meeting people when they visit the hospitals in question. All the hospitals involved in the proposals will be inspected and all data examined in detail. People will be employed to use public and private transport, to see what the travel times are like: hopefully this will include ambulance travel, as Health4NEL have never published blue light travel times.

22 July The IRP will make its recommendations to Andrew Lansley.

Going to the Tip

As of May 9th 2011 the local Reuse and Recycling Centres [formerly known as Tips or Dumps] will require proof of Residence before being allowed entry. Only Residents who reside in one of the four boroughs covered by the East London Waste Authority are allowed to use them. Click on graphic above to enlarge. Or for the full monty there is a 3.3Mbit PDF here.

This action is because some councils are closing some of their their RRCs and others have started charging their own residents, much to the annoyance of one Eric Pickles while Caroline Spelman wants to outlaw fines for not recycling. The words hymn, sheet and singing spring to mind.

As Eric says, expect to see more fly-tipping and an increase in council tax payers money being used to clear up the mess. And where exactly is most prone to fly-tipping? Yes, Parks and open spaces. And what are Redbridge Council proposing? Getting rid of our Parks Police.

The Council Leader says the debate here is “inaccurate and ill-informed”. But the Council have still not published their report and probably will not until 5 working days before May 3rd.

Meanwhile the Green Garden Waste kerbside collection in Redbridge resumed on April 4th.

And elsewhere More than 23 tonnes of kitchen food waste has been collected in the first two days of Cheltenham's waste and recycling scheme. Well done them.

UPDATE: Re comment below. We are informed that If you are disabled, elderly or do not have a car or driving license and a relative or friend takes your rubbish to the tip, special arrangements can be made by calling Shanks on 0800 389 9918.

Bouquets and Brickbats

B21 would like to thank Redbridge Council for providing us with 3 seriously Hot Topics for our blogsite over the past few weeks.

Parks Police, Clayhall Eye and the Downshall Centre.

These have had a dramatic impact on the traffic to our site and consequently our Google ranking.

Well done everybody, please keep it up – NOT!

Two for One Police Offer – A Redbridge Sham

In late February the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, announced a two-for-one offer for London Councils: for those Councils who pay for one extra Police Officer he will fund an additional one from City Hall. The scheme took effect on April 1st and I thought it was a joke, but it ain’t and Redbridge Council are apparently taking up the offer in typical hypocritical Redbridge style.

In February, Keith Prince the Council Leader is reported to have said “Crime is the number one concern of most people in the capital. Even in Redbridge where crime is relatively low, anti-social behaviour can ruin people’s lives. This scheme will make a real difference to the safety and wellbeing of our residents. The extra police presence will mean we can really target crime hot spots.”

Oh really?

In a confidential leaked report going to Cabinet on May 3rd it is proposed to pay for 1 extra Sergeant and 6 extra Police Constables meaning that with Boris’ contribution we will have 2 extra Sergeants and 12 extra PCs. At least that’s the way the Council will report it in Redbridge Life - no doubt.

In reality, the funding to pay for the “new” Sgt and 6 PCs is being regained by dispensing with the Parks Police who last year numbered…. You guessed it 2 Sgts and 12 PCs. True, with the budget cuts one of the Sgts has gone and is not being replaced and 2 PCs are due for the chop shortly with a further two after the Olympics. That would leave their number down to 1 Sgt and 8 PCs.

The plan is to have half the “new” intake allocated to Policing the Parks, but that would be 1 and 6 immediately instead of 1 and 8 after 2012. What is not clear is the remit of these new Policemen and their command and control structure. Presumably they will come under the operational command of the Borough Commander whereas the Parks Police are Council employees, with full Police powers of arrest etc, under the control of our elected Councillors and dedicated to Policing the Parks.

Discuss

See e-Petition

Fullwell SNT - Community Update

Over the next few weeks you will be receiving through your door the Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhoods corporate quarterly newsletter detailing work around issues within Fullwell Ward.

This update sheet is to bring to your attention some of our more recent successes in and around local criminal activity.

CASH TILL – ARRESTS

Over the last few months there have been numerous issues around the cash tills within the High Street Barkingside, whereby persons have been placing devices over the cash dispensers in order to steal money.

Officers from Fullwell SN Team during March arrested 2 males who were witnessed by police “tampering” with the cash tills at Barclays Bank.

These males, with the assistance of the Local Authority CCTV Team, were followed and arrested away from the High Street in possession of articles and equipment consistent with being used in the organised theft from ATM’s.

The activities of these males are now being investigated by the CID and it is anticipated several charges will follow.

CANNABIS FACTORY CLOSURES

Over the last Four months Officers from Fullwell SN Team have executed 4 search warrants at addresses within Fullwell Ward and as a result have discovered and closed down 4 active Cannabis factories.

Collectively these Cannabis factories contained over 1600 plants and a total of 5 persons were arrested during the execution of these search warrants.

Those arrested now face charges of Production of Cannabis and Possession with intent to supply Cannabis resulting in an appearance at Crown Court and eventual imprisonment.

“Thank-you for your continued support and invaluable information”

Fullwell Safer Neighbourhood Team

New community school for Barkingside - Meeting

- last chance to show your support

Recently Barkingside 21 joined together with local residents and parents to support the Council’s bid to open and run a new primary school on the site of the current Ilford Jewish Primary school, we submitted a petition with approximately 2000 signatures. For those of you who support a new community school there is a final chance to have your say.

Since the end of the consultation stage the process has been run by the Office of School Adjudicator. Now as part of their assessment they have organised a public meeting where each bidder will give a 5 minute presentation. There will then be an opportunity for members of the public to express their views to the Adjudicator.

If you support the community school it is important that you attend this meeting and do your best to express your views. We believe this could be a vital part of the decision making process and we want to make sure all views are represented.

There are two meetings which will both take place on Thursday 7th April 2011 at Ilford Town Hall in the Main Hall, the first meeting is at 5.00pm and the second is at 7.15pm. Due to space limitations it is only expected that people will attend one of the meetings. If you are unable to attend the meeting, and have not commented already during the previous consultation, you can write to the Adjudicator at the following address:

Martin Clark, OSA, Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington, DL3 9BG or email osa.team@osa.gsi.gov.uk. Written representations should be received by 14th April 2011.

------------------
In case this is the first you have heard about this issue (where have you been?) there follows a quick reminder about what is going on. The governors of Ilford Jewish Primary have decided to close their school on that site. The Council have decided to open a new school on the site and as required by the Education Act 2006 an open competition is being held to decide who should run the new primary school. Bids were submitted by 3 organisations, including the Council, on the 13th of December 2010. Two public meetings were held in Ilford Town Hall on the 6th January, whilst presentations were given by each of the bidders these mostly over ran and there was little or no opportunity for questions from the floor.

We support the opening of a new community school which would be wholly run by the Local Authority because:

• The school will need to serve all of the diverse communities in Redbridge. We believe this can be best achieved by a school which is under the control of publicly elected and accountable Politicians and Local Authority Officers.
• A very significant investment is required to buy and develop the site. If the Local Authority is to invest over £3m of tax payers' money into this project we believe that it should remain a community asset which serves the whole community equally.

Littlewood and Prince to Swap Roles

I am reliably informed by my “mole” at the Town Hall that C4 TV will be producing a new series called “Leader Swap” based on their hit series “Wife Swap” and that a filming crew will be here in Redbridge in June when the local Labour and Conservative parties will swap Leaders for a fortnight.

Bob Littlewood said “I am looking forward to working with the Conservative Party and in paticular the Cabinet, although not those ***** LibDems. I feel I have a major contribution to make on educating them about the Big Society and have written it all down on recycled paper.” Keith Prince was equally enthusiastic saying “I’m sure I can make a valuable contribution to the opposition and also be much funnier than Bob in the Chamber. I have been reviewing Ben Elton scripts from ‘Friday Night live’ to sharpen up.”

Local party members are not entirely happy though. An unnamed source was adamant that there was no way he would be giving up his Jag’s parking space for the film crew, but was reported to have made an early booking for the make-up department who have been suitably tipped-off.

Meanwhile local residents and businesses are left wondering if they will notice any difference.

Apparently C4 TV is also in negotiations with the UN for a “Dictator Swap” series in 2012.

STOP PRESS: Reports are coming in from Twitter that the Council’s website, Redbridge-i, has been subject to a cyber attack. The hostile program is inserting spelling mistakes and grammatical errors all over the site and has been changing the ‘Site Map’ to make it difficult to navigate. More when I have it.