Working For Walthamstow

Walking for Walthamstow's Young People: Can You Volunteer This Summer?

2010-07-15T20:31:45Z

This Summer I'm seeking volunteers to join a project developed in partnership with the local police, McDonalds and Worth Unlimited, a local youth charity, to help ensure young people in Walthamstow are given the support they need to have a summer full of activities. To support their safe participation in summer activities I'm seeking volunteers to help walk young people to and from a range of activities in the Walthamstow area during the evenings of the summer holidays. Working in partnership with trained youth workers, other volunteers and young organisers for this scheme, those who participate in this scheme will play a key role in helping our local young people access services. They will also have the opportunity to build relations with young people they may not ordinarily get to meet in your local community and help inspire them to achieve their potential through a summer of positive community outreach activities. Throughout this project training and support will be given to all volunteers.

In the first instance this "safe passage" scheme will run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Volunteers who take part in this project will be asked to commit to participating for a minimum of four evenings during the course of the six week summer holiday period. If you are interested in learning more about this project or volunteering through this scheme please contact Ebony Vincent on 020 8520 6586 or email at ebony@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk. I hope you'll be able to join me in helping our local young people stay safe this summer.

Press Release: MP Calls on Gove to Visit Walthamstow to hear firsthand local case for schools investment

2010-07-12T18:20:11Z

At education questions today in the House of Commons local Labour MP Stella Creasy championed the need to invest in school buildings in Walthamstow and urged Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, to agree to visit the area to meet those affected by his decision to cut funding for new school buildings. Speaking after the session Stella said:

"We have three schools - William Morris, Holy Family and Willowfield - which I know from personal experience all deserve refurbishment and for which money had been agreed before last week's decision. We also need more school places here in Walthamstow to meet the demands of our growing population which these plans would also have created. I'm therefore pleased the Secretary of State recognised these challenges in his response; now I'm determined ensure his department hears firsthand the views of local parents, pupils, teachers and governors on their plans to stop these projects and the consequences this could have for the future of Walthamstow's children."

Stella is now liaising with the local authority and local schools as well as the ministerial private office to seek the earliest possible date for such a discussion.

Notes

The full text of Stella's question to the Secretary of State at Education Questions on 13 July 2010 is below:

Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op): I recognise that there are many pressing issues in Ministers' diaries, but may I beg the Secretary of State to take seriously the request by Willowfield school in Walthamstow to host a meeting for him, for parents from the Walthamstow area, and for parents affected by the decision to stop all the wave 1 school projects in Walthamstow, including those involving William Morris school and Holy Family college? There could then be a discussion about how we can meet our urgent need for school places in the locality, given that all those buildings have been condemned as not fit for purpose--a bit like the present Government.

Michael Gove: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for asking a very good question with a nice scorpion sting in the tail. I appreciate that in some parts of the country, because of the way in which Building Schools for the Future was run, the decision that we had to make bites more sharply. Waltham Forest is one of them, Somerset another, and Liverpool a third. For that reason, I will ensure that one of my Ministers or officials contacts the hon. Lady very quickly to see what we can do to alleviate this necessary blow.

Press Release: Local MPs condemn Government Decision to Cut investment in Waltham Forest Schools

2010-07-05T19:41:47Z

Waltham Forest Labour MPs John Cryer and Stella Creasy today expressed their anger at the Tory and Liberal Democrat Coalition Government plans to stop investment into the programme to rebuild the borough's schools. Following an announcement by the secretary of State for Education Michael Gove on the future of the BSF schemes in Waltham Forest they issued the following joint statement:

"We are outraged at the Government's decision to cut this much needed investment in our borough's schools without any consultation with parents, pupils, governors, teachers or councillors. We've seen the difference new school facilities such as those at Frederick Bremer and Kelmscott make - and as the local MPs we want those resources for every child in our borough. Time, money and energy has gone into putting together plans to rebuild schools like Leytonstone, William Morris or Willowfield. Now with the swing of Michael Gove's axe that's all wasted and we have no idea how they plan to meet the urgent need for school places we have here either. Today's announcement also raises other questions about fairness in education as this Government channels funding into proposals for academies and free schools. We are determined to fight against the two tier system they seem to want to create which could leave thousands of young people in our borough without the schools and quality learning opportunities they need and deserve."

John and Stella have already co-authored a parliamentary Early Day Motion condemning these cuts and will be seeking clarification about what these will mean for investment in education in Waltham Forest in the current financial year.

Notes

1. The following early day motion has been tabled by John and Stella today:

"that this house condemns the government's decision to cancel the Building Schools for Future programme for a number of schools in the London Borough of Waltham Forest; notes that parents, pupils, governors, teachers and other staff have often worked hard and valiantly under difficult conditions and over many years; that the BSF programme promised new buildings and vastly improved conditions for staff and students and that this announcement will be a serious setback for education in Waltham Forest."

2. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) was the biggest-ever school buildings investment programme. Some 180 schools have been rebuilt or revamped since the programme was introduced in 2004. And building is about to start in a further 231 schools.

3. Originally under Labour's Building Schools for the Future Programme all of England's 3,500 schools were to be revamped by 2023. The plan was to replace out-dated buildings with facilities that suit modern education.

4. The Secretary of State Michael Gove announced today plans to stop the proposed rebuilding of 715 schools across the country. For further details please visit www.education.gov.uk.

5. The following Schools in Waltham Forest have now had their plans for investment cut:

· Belmont Park

· Brookfield House School

· Chingford Foundation

· Connaught Girls

· George Mitchell

· Heathcote

· Highams High

· Holy Family (RC) (QW deducted)

· Joseph Clarke

· Lammas

· Leytonstone

· New Provision

· Norlington Boys

· Rush Croft Sports College

· Tom Hood

· William Morris Special

· Willowfield

Press Release: Help Me Protect Walthamstow From Reckless Government Budget Urges Local MP

2010-06-22T18:56:31Z

Speaking following the Government's budget, Walthamstow's MP Stella Creasy said:

"This budget is bad news for thousands of families in Walthamstow who will see their paypackets shrink or even disappear as jobs are lost, and the costs of everyday items like electricity and gas rocket up as VAT rises. Nothing about these proposals is fair- from cutting child tax credit and support for families with babies and toddlers, to axing the support for families at risk of losing their homes through mortgage support. Londoners will be particularly hit by these proposals as the cost of housing and living here is already more expensive than in other parts of the country. Don't forget round here many people also work in the public sector too. David Cameron and Nick Clegg both spoke out against the VAT increase before the election but now we see their true colours in Government as they risk economic recovery and growth for their own ideological obsession with cuts."

Stella also committed herself to leading local action to help families manage the impact of this budget on their finances and urged other concerned residents to join her:

"I can't sit by and watch this Government make families, small businesses and pensioners in Walthamstow struggle to get by- the risk that this budget will push many locals into debt is too great. I will join others objecting to these cuts in parliament as we debate the budget. I also intend to lead local action to try to help those who find themselves at risk of debt as a result of these changes too. I'm asking other local residents who want to work with me to help our community withstand the impact of this Government's reckless budget and get in touch - our first community conference on this will be on the 14^th July."

Residents and organisations interested in participating in this work should get in touch with Stella either on email at stella@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk or by calling 020 8520 6586.

Ends.

Notes to Editors

1. R3, the insolvency trade body, estimate that there are nearly a million people in the UK struggling with debts who have not sought advice and 500,000 people with formal debt repayment plans in place. In the last year alone 26,000 people were declared bankrupt. The predominant cause of insolvency for both men and women is unplanned changes to personal circumstances including illness or job losses.
2. According to credit action.org.uk, total UK personal debt at the end of December 2008 stood at £1,457bn and the average household debt in the UK was £9,550 (excluding mortgages).
3. On the evening of the 14 July, Stella Creasy will be holding a discussion on personal debt in Walthamstow along with representatives of local community and voluntary groups in Westminster. This forms part of her ongoing work in addressing poverty within the Waltham Forest area.
4. The Budget today announced that VAT will rise from 17.5% to 20% in January 2011. Labour rejected a VAT increase as part of a deficit reduction plan, and chose to increase National Insurance Contributions instead, because VAT hits everyone, especially the poorest and pensioners.
5. Before the election, the Liberal Democrats warned that the Conservatives would raise VAT.

"Our plans do not require a rise in VAT. The Tory plans do. Their tax promises on marriage and jobs may sound appealing. But they come with a secret VAT bombshell close behind."

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat press release, 8 April 2010

Liberal Democrat election poster, 8 April 2010

During the election campaign, the Conservatives repeatedly denied that they had plans to raise VAT.

"We have no plans to increase VAT."

George Osborne, The Times, 10 April 2010

Press Release: MP Calls on Government to Help Get Answers in Fight for Future of Walthamstow Dog Track

2010-06-11T14:54:54Z

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy today stepped up the campaign to save Walthamstow Dog Track by calling on the Government to meet with her and Save our Stow to discuss the fate of the site whilst speaking in the House of Commons.

Speaking after raising the matter in parliament Stella said:

"L&Q have now said they won't even start to look at options for our dog track until 2012 - meaning the site could be left derelict for years. Meanwhile we know investors want to work with them to try to restore the site and include housing in their plans. Talks must start immediately to see if a deal can be done to benefit all concerned. I asked L&Q to name their price for the site in my maiden speech and now I'm asking Ministers to intervene because its time the people of Walthamstow got some answers about the future of our Dog Track. "

As part of this campaign, this week Stella also worked with other MPs to table an Early Day Motion calling for talks to take place and has tabled questions to the Department of Local Communities and Government to identify if London and Quadrant will secure public subsidy for their plans for Walthamstow Dog Track. The written answer given by the Ministers to question suggest that public funding for London and Quadrant for the site is not guaranteed given the delays the project has experienced.

Stella pledged to pursue this issue with the Ministers from the DCLG when she meets with them and continue to work with other MPs, Save our Stow, potential investors in the site and London and Quadrant to seek to secure the restoration of the Dog Track.

Ends.

1. Walthamstow Dog Track was initially sold to L&Q in the summer of 2008 and has since been empty.

2. During Business Questions on Thursday 10 June 2010 in the House of Commons Stella Creasy put the following question to the Leader of the House:

"Will the right hon. Gentleman agree to a debate on the consequences of the moratorium on and eventual cuts in social housing, which were discussed earlier, on urban regeneration, and the practice that that encourages in registered social landlords to engage in property speculation by sitting on land that they are not developing, thus leaving it empty? Will the Leader of the House also ensure that his ministerial colleagues agree, as a matter of urgency, to a meeting with me and the Save our Stow campaign to ascertain what can be done to prevent the iconic Walthamstow dog track from being left derelict, given the persistent commercial interest in restoring it and the 500 local jobs that represents?"

3. The following Early Day Motion 187 The Walthamstow Stadium was also co-sponsored by Stella Creasy and published this week:

"That this House welcomes efforts to reopen historic Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium in East London; urges site owners London and Quadrant to not leave the site derelict and instead to enter meaningful discussions with the S.O.S. organisation and commercial operators who have vigorously campaigned to restore this, the UK's most prestigious track; salutes also the hard work so far undertaken by the myriad of representative groups in the sport to make this a reality; and calls on the Mayor of London to fully support their hard work and commitment."

4. The following question was also tabled by Stella Creasy and answered received on Thrusday 10 June 2010 by the Department of Communities and Local Government

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues to registered social landlords on the time period within which they must begin development of assets after acquisition in order to qualify for public subsidy for such development.

Andrew Stunell: This Department does not issue guidance to registered social landlords on the time period within which they must begin to develop assets after acquisition to qualify for public subsidy. This Department provides funding to registered social landlords (RSLs)/registered providers (RPs) of affordable housing through the Homes and Communities (HCA) who administer the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP). The HCA sets out in their Prospectus and the Affordable Housing Capital Funding Guide (AHCFG) requirements for obtaining funding from the NAHP. When seeking grant through the NAHP RSLs/RPs must set milestones including start on site and practical completion dates as part of their bid. HCA monitors the RSLs/RPs performance against these milestones. Grant is paid to RSLs/RPs on start on site and practical completion (i.e. when those milestones have been achieved). Where projects are delayed, the RSL/RP must re-forecast the milestone and the HCA will decide whether to accept the revised forecast. If delays are significant, and might impact on delivery of the HCA's programme and achievement of targets, it will consider withdrawing funding for the scheme.

Stella Creasy's Maiden Speech: Education and Health Debate 2 June 2010

2010-06-06T18:38:01Z

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for allowing me the opportunity to make my maiden speech. I hope to have learned from my experience in local government when making this speech, in that it does not matter what someone says as long as they are brief, because then people will like them. I congratulate everyone who has made their maiden speech this evening, because we have heard wonderful contributions demonstrating real passion for the home territories of hon. Members, and I hope that my speech can do the same.

I wish to start by paying tribute to my predecessor as the MP for Walthamstow, because I know that I have a hard act to follow. In E17, we have a fine tradition of MPs who have embodied the best of my party and the best of our politics, not only in London but nationally. Just like another previous incumbent, Clem Attlee, our MP Neil Gerrard fought tirelessly for the ideals that brought him into political life with independence and with honour. I am reliably told that he is a man who was a Whip's delight, taking up the causes that others often shied away from. He was a tireless advocate for a better and more humane approach to asylum and immigration, for the need to support action on HIV and AIDS, and for prison reform. He has also been a powerful voice for my home of Walthamstow, and I have been honoured to work with him.

Neil and I have campaigned together for many years on local issues that matter to the future of our area and to the community in which we live. We have called on London & Quadrant Housing Trust not to leave our iconic local dog track derelict for six years and instead to name its price so that we can bring it back into use. We have called on the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God not to leave the beautiful EMD cinema derelict and instead to work with the McGuffin Film and Television Society and local residents so that we can have cinema in Walthamstow. We have fought for more investment in our local Whipps Cross hospital and for local school places. We have stood up for human rights in Sri Lanka, Kashmir and Palestine. The Whips may be horrified to learn that Neil has been an inspiration to me, and I promise in this Chamber to follow his good work for the people of Walthamstow.

I know from my work with the people in Walthamstow that we are not a community short on ambition. We put our money where our mouth is, organising and mobilising for a better future for our families, wherever in the world they may be. Whether we are talking about the Senior Citizens Asian group, our local Somali, Anatolian and Tamil communities, the mum and dads in our Sure Start centres in Lloyd Park, Sybourn or Church Hill, our local toy library, or the many local youth projects with which I am proud to work, including the Active Change Foundation, Pak Cultural Society, the X7eaven Dance Group, the Woodcraft Folk or even the Scouts, Walthamstow is full of people with ideas and dreams about what they want to do and with the passion and commitment to each other to work together to achieve it.

Indeed, I contend that because Walthamstow has always been full of people like that, our area has played a key and yet too often unacknowledged part in shaping the lives of everyone in this Chamber. I want to try to change that this evening. Hon. Members may not be aware that Walthamstow and the Lea valley were the original base of British aviation and motoring. Our area also has a proud history in the creative industries, which ranges from its being part of the original British film industry and having Turner prize winners as residents, to holding on to William Morris and even the grime music scene. We lay claim to helping put a man on the moon, to England football team greats, through David Beckham, to even the kinder Conservatives, through Disraeli, and to the best of British rock, through Ian Drury and the Rolling Stones. I am proud to share with Keith Richards' grandmother the honour of having served as mayor of Waltham Forest.

Yet for all that we have contributed to this country, we in Walthamstow know that we still live in a world in which too often it is where someone lives, rather than what they are, that defines whether they have the opportunity to realise their potential. I am so proud to represent Walthamstow, and therefore so determined that that situation must change. I know that it is worth our while. If we can unlock the talent of Walthamstow's residents, Britain will benefit even more than it has done already from the creativity of previous generations. That is why I wanted to speak in today's debate and why I want to draw the Government's attention to how their education plans will hinder, not help, young people in places such as Walthamstow.

Following on from what the Secretary of State said, I want to prick the Government's conscience: if they can find the money for marriage, they can find the money for the programmes that actually work for our families. Political leadership is about the ability to think long term. I urge the new Administration to rethink their proposals for child trust funds, and instead to recognise the investment in the future that this scheme represents. For the 8,000 young people in Walthamstow who have one, they offer the kind of opportunity that too many in previous generations have been denied. They are a launch pad for a leap into further and higher education; the start of funding for a down payment on a house; or money to help pay for training or start a business. Do not listen to me; listen to the 30% of poorer families topping up their child trust funds as we speak.

The same could be said of the future jobs fund. For many young people in Walthamstow this has been a lifeline, getting them into employment and on to the first steps of their career ladder. They are not the young people who have the networks and connections that mean that success is assured, but they have grabbed with both hands the start that this scheme offers. I also urge Ministers: if they say they care about social mobility, they should rethink their planned cuts for universities. I can attest that it is in places such as Walthamstow that those kinds of policies, over the past 13 years, have transformed the life chances of young people.

When the previous Government started to increase the number of places available in higher education, Walthamstow's children took the opportunity it represented. In the past 13 years, the numbers of young people from my constituency going to university have rocketed by 87%, and the evidence shows that they are the children from poorer backgrounds. Our young people in Walthamstow do not lack ability. We have the top-performing economics department in the country, at Sir George Monoux college, and we have pupils who have benefitted from the Building Schools for the Future fund, in schools such as Walthamstow School for Girls and Frederick Bremer school, and we are concerned about what will happen if we hang the axe over projects such as the one for Willowfield school in Walthamstow, because we see the difference that such investment makes.

I urge the Government to ensure that they will guarantee the Building Schools for the Future funds that have already been committed. Above all, this programme shows that these things happen not by accident, but by design. The Labour party understands that when we invest in the future of every young person in Britain, wherever they live, we all benefit. That is why I give notice to those on the Government Benches: on behalf of the people of Walthamstow and their families, I intend to fight for every place, every opportunity and every chance that my community wants and deserves; to challenge the Government's proposals that will mean a bleaker, not a brighter, future for them; to use my place in the House to be a voice for those who will be forgotten by the Government's proposals; and to argue that there is not simply opposition to the Government, but an alternative. The potential that we have in Walthamstow to contribute to the future prosperity of this country demands nothing less.

Walthamstow Dog Track Update: Save our Stow Planning Application

2010-05-20T12:26:19Z

You may have seen press reports regarding recent moves around the future of Walthamstow Dog Track and our continuing efforts to see it restored for the benefit of our local economy. There continues to be strong commercial interest in this from a number of investors and the plans have now gathered the support of the Mayor of London. To help progress matters, Save our Stow, the lobby organisation committed to bringing greyhound racing back to Walthamstow, have now signalled their intent to put forward a formal Planning Application for the site to Waltham Forest Council by the 20th June 2010. Working with a number of investors, they hope to persuade London and Quadrant, the Housing Association who currently own the site, to allow them to lease it whilst building a limited amount of housing alongside the track itself. This is a format that has been used by a number of greyhound tracks to help secure their economic viability. To progress this, I have offered to facilitate talks between London and Quadrant and investors as well as other interested parties. I will update this website as and when there are further developments.

Already Working for Walthamstow: My priorities for the weeks ahead

2010-05-07T18:19:14Z

I'm honoured to have been elected as the new MP for Walthamstow. I love this area. It's been home to me and my family for over thirteen years. I want to celebrate what happens here - all the people, activities, events that make Walthamstow special to us as residents.

I also want to tackle the many challenges we face here - from community cohesion, to gang crime and child poverty. But I'm determined that, together with public services, we can and will resolve these. As our MP I want to support this work, and to be a strong local voice for Walthamstow and the things that matter to us here. I learnt this not least from working closely with Neil Gerrard. Neil has been a fantastic MP for Walthamstow for the last eighteen years, serving the needs of people here from every background and fighting for our public services. It is a tremendous privilege to follow in his footsteps.

I don't want to live in a society where a child has to be lucky or privileged to succeed. The kids I work with here in Walthamstow deserve better. And we all benefit when they're given the chances they crave to achieve. I do not seek to address these challenges on my own because if my experience campaigning in this community has taught me one thing, it's this: when we work together, we can achieve more. We can challenge the injustices we see. We can secure the services we need. We can enjoy a better life here together.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has worked with me in Walthamstow over this last decade for our community - and now as your MP to ask you for your help with the work we need to do next.

Whilst the implications of the election are considered at a national level, I want to reassure you that I am focused on working on the local priorities residents have told me matter to them. That's why in the weeks ahead my focus will be on helping our local young people to ensure that they are given opportunities to achieve their potential, working with the Council and businesses to get our cinema and dog track back and bring jobs and investment to Walthamstow and continuing to support our vital local healthcare services; these are just a few of the reasons I stood to be your MP in Walthamstow and I've already started to work on these issues with groups and public services within our area. If you would like to be part of these projects please do get in touch.

There will of course be a period of practical transition over the next couple of weeks while we set up a parliamentary and constituency office as well as redesign the features of this website. During this time if you need my help as your local MP you can contact me via email stella@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk or phone on 020 8520 6586. The Working for Walthamstow e-newsletter will also continue to be distributed each week- so please do get in contact if you would like to receive this. It details where you will find me out and about in Walthamstow if you wish to speak to me - and if you have activities you would like me to include please do get in touch!

Thank you once again Walthamstow for your mandate- I'm committed to working for a better future for us all here.

What Women Want in Walthamstow: Feedback From 22 April 2010

2010-04-27T11:39:56Z

I want to thank every woman in Walthamstow who took part in our first event last week. This is a spreadsheet with all the comments from the participants - over 100 local women took part along with Harriet Harman, Tessa Jowell, Diane Abbott, Meg Hillier and Joan Ruddock. I've not censored the comments so you can see the full range of issues we discussed and ideas we shared. I'll also be sharing these with Harriet who made her own notes (also included) about the discussion.

what women in walthamstow want feedback.xlsx

This coming Saturday 1 May I and a number of the women council candidates will be holding another drop in event to continue these conversations. This will be a great opportunity to meet with other local women and also have your say on what matters for Walthamstow. If you would like to take part in this event please do get in touch for further details.

Candidate Declaration of Interests Form

2010-04-19T21:23:53Z

Declaration of Interests form
Name of candidate	Stella Creasy
Constituency:	Walthamstow
Political party:	THE LABOUR PARTY
Date of publication:	20 April 2010
CATEGORY	RELEVANT INTERESTS
(a) Other paid jobs and whether I intend to continue to hold them, if elected	None - as of April 1 2010 I resigned my position as Head of Campaigns at The Scout Association to contest the election.
(b) positions of responsibility in some types of organisation, even if unpaid, and whether I intend to continue to hold them, if elected.	Trustee, Voluntary Action Waltham Forest School Governor, Sybourn Primary School and Children's Centre I receive no payment for undertaking these roles and would intend to resign them if elected.
(c)(i) Directorships, and whether I intend to continue to hold them, if elected.
(c)(ii) Clients, and whether I intend to continue to advise them, if elected.
(c)(iii) Land and property, and whether I intend to continue to hold this, if elected.	Apart from my main family home in Walthamstow I have no other interest in land or property.
(c)(iv) Shareholdings, and whether I intend to continue to hold these, if elected.
(d) Tax matters	For the tax year 2008/2009 I have not claimed to be, or been treated as not resident, not ordinarily resident or not domiciled in the UK for tax purposes
(e) Any other interests which I consider relevant.	I am also a Co-operative Party Member and if elected will be a Labour and Co-operative Party MP.

General Election 2010: What's Walthamstow Talking About This Week?

2010-04-15T23:52:42Z

I want to share with readers the issues which local residents have been asking me about in the general election campaign. People's local concerns include the future of trees in Lloyd Park, the future of the EMD Cinema and school places. National issues that people have raised with me include the renewal of Trident, the nature of parliamentary reform, the digital economy bill and the role of lobbyists in parliament, the war in Iraq, and climate change. If you want to know more about the responses I've given please get in touch. I'd be happy to send them to you as well.

Doing Our Homework: Walthamstow School Places Update

2010-04-01T19:48:51Z

There has been a lot of recent press reporting and politicking locally on school places. It's an issue I know many readers will have strong concerns about. As a local school governor, I've been keen to get clarity on what is happening here in Walthamstow. I've been investigating this issue for some time and I want to share the information I have.

There is no doubt we face a challenge in meeting the schooling needs of our local population, like a lot of other areas in London. This challenge has been driven by a number of factors. There's been a "demographic bump" reflecting an increased birthrate over the last few years. At the same time, a larger proportion of children are being schooled in the state primary sector. And, as families have moved more and more around London, it's been difficult to plan effectively.

These factors combined mean we need more places. To provide those places, we need more funding, as Ed Balls argued when he came to Walthamstow last week. That's why the Government has set aside money for Schools in London. Following this, along with Neil Gerrard, I've been seeking assurances from the local authority that no Walthamstow child who needs a reception place in September will be without one. I've also asked them to confirm that all these children will be given places in schools, rather than in buildings outside their school sites. I'm also determined to ensure these places are provided in line with the law so that this increase in the need for places doesn't lead to larger class sizes. In 1997, 33% of infant school children were in class sizes of more than 30 children. Now it is just 2.1%. For our children to continue benefiting from such smaller class sizes, local schools will have to be able to provide additional classes as well as additional places.

I've now been given those assurances. Specifically, I've been told that there are 3,300 places available within schools locally and that parents of children in this age group who have registered for a place will get letters about their children's school on 24 May 2010. That's why now I'd like to hear what parents have to say about this situation. I'm also keen to hear from other governors about the plans being made to provide additional spaces and their views on the proposals. If you're a parent, or a governor or a teacher, or you just want to let me know what you think, please get in touch.

Ed Balls Comes to Walthamstow: Our Children Our Future Event Thursday 25 March 2010

2010-03-18T13:15:33Z

All Walthamstow residents are invited to join us for an informal evening to discuss their hopes for our children's future and what we think the Government's priorities should be to help our young people achieve their potential.

This is the fourth such event I have organised in this series to make sure Walthamstow's residents have a direct opportunity to discuss children and young people's services. Our special guest will be the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and it is the fourth such event we have organised to bring Government ministers directly to Walthamstow to listen to our views on these issues.

This free event will be held on Thursday 25th March between 6.00 pm and 8.00 pm at the Queens Road Community Centre, 215 Queens Road, Walthamstow, London E17 8PJ. The evening will be very relaxed with no long speeches and you can drop in anytime during the two hours to take part. It is Walthamstow's chance to meet the man responsible for schools and for policies affecting children and families and to tell him directly what we would like the Government to do for our children. Local teachers, school governors and youth workers are also invited to attend so that they can inform the discussion.

Light refreshments and children's entertainment will be available and the event has kindly been sponsored by our local trade union Unison. The founder of a new local Origami Club, Yoko Mihara Neckles, will be on hand to teach children the Japanese art of paperfolding so do please bring them along for some fun and to give their thoughts as well.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to amy@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk or call 07530 707515 to help us ensure we are able to cater for the numbers of people who wish to participate.

Attending The Prophet's March in Walthamstow 28 February 2010

2010-03-18T13:03:32Z

Walthamstow Dog Track Newsflash: Joint Statement from Neil Gerrard MP and Stella Creasy

2010-02-25T16:57:36Z

We are deeply angered to see London and Quadrant's notice of an application for planning permission hidden in small print on this week's Waltham Forest Guardian on page 25. Despite having repeatedly attempted to talk to them and to see if it would be possible for a deal to be done with those seeking to buy the dog track back, they have not even had the courtesy to let us know of their decision to press ahead with an application directly. This notice gives little detail at present of any substantial community amenity or any consideration of the effects of this development on local transport and schools. We have therefore asked to meet them as a matter of urgency. We intend to press them to take seriously the offer being made for the site for the benefit of the local community and our local economy. We know Walthamstow needs its dog track back to help kickstart our night time economy and we are pledged as local representatives to lead the fight for this to happen.