September 2008 Archives
This past week I attended the Labour Party Conference in Manchester to participate in the policy debates regarding the future direction of Government. I'm proud Labour will put into law the pledge to end child poverty in our country to make it a legal obligation for all future governments whatever their political persuasion. I'm also proud that it is Labour proposing ending prescription charges by introducing free drugs for a quarter of a million cancer patients from next year. The plan is for this eventually to be extended to all those with long term medical conditions- meaning that in the future no one should need to worry about their ability to pay for vital medication if Labour is in power. The commitment to offer free nursery places for all two year olds within the next ten years will also make a real difference to local families, as will plans to make sure that a million children from low income backgrounds get access to computers and the internet. These were my highlights - I would be interested in your views on these ideas and how they will change life here in Walthamstow.
My personal highlight of the week was meeting Ed Clancy, a member of the British gold medal winning men's cycling team from the 2008 Olympics. The velodrome for the 2012 Olympics in London will be at the Lee Valley Park so I look forward to welcoming Ed and other members of the British cycling team to our part of the world to build on their successes in 2012.
This weekend there are a series of engineering
works that are likely to make travel into town complicated for local people.
These include the complete closure of the Victoria line on Saturday 20 and
Sunday 21 September as part of the Victoria line upgrade and no service
throughout September on the Gospel Barking Oak line, which serves Blackhorse
Road and Queens Road station. In addition to this, this weekend will see
closures on the Jubilee Line and Northern Line as well as on some overground
services.See the Transport for London Website for further details.
I recognise that many local people are annoyed by the extra travelling time these engineering works have added to their journeys and the road congestion caused by the provision of several replacement bus services seeking to travel around areas such as St James Street. I share this frustration and I look forward to the improved service we will hopefully experience as a result of these disruptions.
However, there are some areas of managing these engineering works that can be improved. For that reason I have written to Transport for London to express my concerns about the use of bendy buses in providing replacement services from Finsbury Park as these vehicles are not suitable for Tottenham Hale Station so preventing the services going further than Seven Sisters. I will circulate their response via this newsletter and would welcome evidence from local residents as to any further use of these vehicles to serve this purpose and the waiting time experienced at Finsbury Park, Manor House or Seven Sisters for a service to Walthamstow as a result.
I recognise that many local people are annoyed by the extra travelling time these engineering works have added to their journeys and the road congestion caused by the provision of several replacement bus services seeking to travel around areas such as St James Street. I share this frustration and I look forward to the improved service we will hopefully experience as a result of these disruptions.
However, there are some areas of managing these engineering works that can be improved. For that reason I have written to Transport for London to express my concerns about the use of bendy buses in providing replacement services from Finsbury Park as these vehicles are not suitable for Tottenham Hale Station so preventing the services going further than Seven Sisters. I will circulate their response via this newsletter and would welcome evidence from local residents as to any further use of these vehicles to serve this purpose and the waiting time experienced at Finsbury Park, Manor House or Seven Sisters for a service to Walthamstow as a result.
Waltham Forest is one of 67 areas across the country that will be part
of a £75 million programme allowing low-income families to get free
childcare so they can access training and return to work. This
programme will support 50,000 low-income families where one parent is
working and the second parent wants to improve their skills.
As well as free childcare, families will receive help to identify and attend training so they can get the most out of this scheme. The programme will be managed by the Learning and Skills Council and will start in our area in January 2009 before being extended to the rest of the country in September 2009. Childcare costs of up to £205 per week per child in London will be paid directly to the childcare provider. It's part of a package of support Labour is bringing in to help parents now so that they can support their families in the future. If you want to know more about this scheme or the other forms of financial support available to help parents please do get in touch.
As well as free childcare, families will receive help to identify and attend training so they can get the most out of this scheme. The programme will be managed by the Learning and Skills Council and will start in our area in January 2009 before being extended to the rest of the country in September 2009. Childcare costs of up to £205 per week per child in London will be paid directly to the childcare provider. It's part of a package of support Labour is bringing in to help parents now so that they can support their families in the future. If you want to know more about this scheme or the other forms of financial support available to help parents please do get in touch.
The Barking to Gospel Oak line, which serves Queens Road and Blackhorse
Road stations, is now closed for major upgrade works. The upgrade will
enable more frequent services to be run carrying more passengers and
freight. The line is completely closed from 1st to 28th September, with
buses replacing the trains. For updates on this service please check
the Barking Gospel Oak Users Group Website for details.
Please note too, that the Victoria Line is suspended this weekend (6th and 7th September) between Walthamstow Central and Highbury and Islington as part of on-going upgrade engineering works. A replacement bus service will also operate, stopping outside all stations between Walthamstow Central and Finsbury Park.
Please note too, that the Victoria Line is suspended this weekend (6th and 7th September) between Walthamstow Central and Highbury and Islington as part of on-going upgrade engineering works. A replacement bus service will also operate, stopping outside all stations between Walthamstow Central and Finsbury Park.
