Regeneration...

Police non-emergency contact number

not Degeneration
I believe that the Council's
'botched regeneration plans'
for Walthamstow, and in
particular Walthamstow Town
Centre, has led to Waltham
Forest being overtaken by
neighbouring boroughs.
Whilst other neighboring
boroughs developed and
prospered during the recent
economic boom,
Farid Ahmed Walthamstow has
Lib Dem Parliamentary accumulated holes in the
candidate for Walthamstow ground and little more than
'aspirations' under LABOUR.
Now the boom is a distant dream, LABOUR are doing their
usual trick of borrowing their way out of trouble and leaving
the debt for future council tax payers.
Regeneration is not just about buildings. Too often
regeneration initiatives fail because they do not meet local
needs. Strong leadership and vision along with concerted
regeneration action is needed, that addresses, or at least,
mitigates the causes and symptoms of underlying problems.
Only with the LibDems will such leadership and vision be
found.
We currently have a derelict boarded up site which now
build, without any consultation, no financial appraisal and
no feasibility study to show if the plans are viable. LibDem
councillors, rightly, are refusing to sign up to this unless it
can be proved that plans are a benefit to the borough and
are financially viable. The vacant Arcade site is a reminder
of the ongoing failure of LABOUR to deliver regeneration in
Walthamstow.
THE MESSAGE FROM RESIDENTS, QUITE RIGHTLY, IS
THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Lib Dems lose colleague
Sadly we report that one of our colleagues , Mike Harkin,
recently lost his battle against Cancer.
Mike, for many years, supported Walthamstow Liberal
Democrats and without his hard work delivering Focus and
canvassing many of the Walthamstow Councillors would not
have been elected.
We will miss him greatly as a deliverer, but mostly as a
friend.
Mike Harkin - R.I.P
160
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LIBDEMS win
HIGH STREET WARD
CHAPEL
HIGH WARD
FOCUSEND WARD
TEAM 4 out of 5 local Gambling with the Arcade?
by-elections in Liberal Democrats have been proved
Cllr James O’Rourke
right to vote against the latest Labour
35, Wellington Avenue, E4 6RE 2008 proposal for the Arcade site following
Tel: 020 8559 4826
Email: cllr.james.o’rourke@walthamforest.gov.uk recent revelations that the ill conceived
Website: www.jamesorourke.mycouncillor.org.uk plan may be in breach of European
Cllr Johar Khan regulations.
17, Beaconsfield Road, E10 5RD
Tel: 07932 985155 For 8 years Labour has dithered between
Email: cllr.johar.khan@walthamforest.gov.uk
a Library, retail and residential buildings, a
Website: www.joharkhan.mycouncillor.org.uk
cinema, a cinema and hotel and now a
Mahmood Hussain
cinema, hotel and swimming pool. We currently have a derelict boarded up site which
9 Maude Terrrace, E17 7DG
Tel: 07956 400834 now needs Council taxpayers to borrow £35 to £40 million to build, without any
consultation, no financial appraisal and no feasibility study to show if the plans are
SURGERY/ADVICE CENTRES viable. Even St Modwen, the council’s developer, has pulled out from funding it.
St James Street Library, Coppermill Lane, E17 Successive Labour portfolio holders have made many statements over the years such
Second Saturday of every month - 10.00 am to 12 noon as "“If there isn’t building work happening by next year, then we will get a trowel and lay
Waltham Forest Direct First Stop Shop the bricks ourselves” (2004) and "We are keeping to the timetable...which should mean
10, Central Parade, 137 Hoe Street, E17 that the first shops open their doors for Christmas 2009" (2007) and "We must get on
Fourth Saturday of every month - 10.00 am to 12 noon with the Arcade and give our residents and the economy a much-needed boost, the
alternative is an empty site for years to come” (2009).
Lib Dem Cllrs James O'Rourke and Johar Khan said: "The last 8 years has seen
Help your local Labours regeneration plans in chaos and nothing more to show than a hole in
the ground. In a recession we need to be realistic about what can be achieved.
Liberal Democrat Team At the end of last year our Council motion to examine useful ways in which the
Arcade site land can be utilised in the short-term was unanimously agreed. This
I would like to: is what our community has asked of us. Some use is better than no use at all.”
deliver FOCUS in my street
Surgery/Advice Centre
get involved locally LIBDEMS IN
join the Liberal Democrats
HIGH STREET EMD OR END?
Name ..................................................................
Labour’s announcement of a multiplex cinema on the Arcade site, in 2006, dashed all
Storey Rd clean up hopes of the former EMD cinema ever being reopened as an entertainment facility.
Address..............................................................
Mediation between Labour’s continued dithering has left us no closer to getting a cinema, whether within a
Tel ....................................................................... Thames Water & multiplex or historic venue, in Waltham Forest.
Email.................................................................... residents
Cllrs James O'Rourke and Johar Khan says: “The UCKG recently stated they
Resolution of parking would consider moving if an offer was made. If there’s a viable option, similar to
Return to:
issues
High Street FOCUS team that of the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton and the Hackney Empire, the UCKG could
FREEPOST RLYG-BTER-ULJZ Safer school relocate to a similar building such as the one in Buxton Road. If there is a viable
92 Douglas Avenue, E17 5BW route campaign proposal we are willing to consider it. Our door is open.”
High Street FOCUS Team . . . . . . Walthamstow Town Centre Playground Money
Alcohol Ban Long Overdue
Lib Dems work for The Council recently agreed to After pressure from your local Lib
introduce an Alcohol Restriction Dem FOCUS team, Labour have
more resident power Zone (ARZ) in response to public
finally honoured a seven-year-old
manifesto commitment by
concern about anti-social providing funding to improve
Your local Liberal Democrat Focus Waltham Forest playgrounds.
behaviour associated with street
Team are delighted that the Council has
agreed to look at our plans for more drinking in Walthamstow Town
Cllr O’Rourke said: “This
resident involvement in the manage- Centre. money is very welcome but long
ment of local arts, sports and cultural
overdue. Labour claimed that
venues. Welcoming the introduction of the providing children with play
ARZ, local FOCUS team member Mahmood Hussain said: “The ARZ will facilities is a priority yet it has taken eight years for the money to
Because of the work of your local Lib
Dems, the Council will now look at benefit our local community, by giving Police new powers to tackle be forthcoming.
introducing ‘Local Management alcohol related crime and disorder
Boards’, groups of High Street ward residents who would be given areas of “I want to see all our playgrounds brought up to the same standard
responsibility in managing their local facilities. “Children and families will be more inclined to use local facilities, such and new ones developed where appropriate. We must ensure that
this is not just a one off investment and that the Council keeps a
as the Town Centre Park and open space and it will undoubtedly improve
Cllr Johar Khan said: “The future of our local cultural services, such as constant eye on the state of playgrounds to stop vandalism and
the image of one of the gateways to Waltham Forest.” graffiti etc.
museums and libraries, is obviously one of great concern to many
residents.
How do you think the money should be spent and where?
“We promised High Street ward residents we would work to get them
more resident involvement, and we are delivering on that promise”. Contact your local Lib Dem FOCUS team and we will pass your
comments onto the portfolio holder responsible for parks and
playgrounds.

New Footbridge Town Centre

Over River Lea
Residents of High St and
neighbouring Hackney are now
able to cross the River Lea over
a new bridge. The bridge is part
of the national cycle route
network.
Cllr O’Rourke said: “This
bridge has fond memories
for me. When younger my
family and I used it often at
weekends when we would
walk down Coppermill Lane
to cross to Springfield Park. I’m pleased a new, safer bridge will be
installed to enable continued access for pedestrians and cyclists.”
Residents have previously reported that the current bridge, built in 1947, was
in a poor condition.
Task Group Success Thames Water – FOCUS team
Not long ago we informed you of the Liberal Democrat initiative to set up a in Action!
task group to deal with the issues facing Walthamstow Town Centre - from
Anti Social Behaviour to Waste Management. Angry Waterside residents who live
opposite Coppermills Water
We are delighted to report the initiative continues to have a positive effect upon Treatment site contacted Cllr
the environment of Walthamstow Town Centre. O’Rourke recently after they had
heard that Thames Water was
Liberal Democrat Councillors James O’Rourke and Johar Khan have intending to erect fencing around their
successfully campaigned for a piece of land in Storey Road, opposite the properties without consultation.
Chequers Pub, to be cleared of rubbish and fly tipping and made safe.
The residents were deeply concerned
Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan have also negotiated for money to develop the land. that a huge unsightly fence would be erected only inches from their own
Residents of Storey, Eldon and Truro Roads will be asked how they would fences and spoil the view they had enjoyed for many years.
like to see this land used in the near future.
However following action from the residents and Cllr O’Rourke the
The Task Group have also agreed new experimental traffic orders to ensure Coppermills Water Treatment site manager agreed to a meeting within
the High Street is what it should be - a safe pedestrian zone. which an amicable agreement was reached.

Cllr Khan said: “Such initiatives show that only with Liberal Democrat Cllr O’Rourke said: “I’m sure Thames Water have learnt the lesson
Councillors will such action be taken in High Street ward”. to carry out meaningful and effective consultation in the future.”
High Street
Liberal Democrats . . . . working all year round