• To see if where you live is included in this scheme, or to see the documents, go to http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/transport/road-safety-home/traffic-schemes.htm.
• To raise any issues, or to ask for a pack if you haven't received one yet, email Tom Wright.
• You can also email Cllr Bob Belam, the Cabinet Member within the Council who has responsibility for parking schemes.

Jenny Walton

Director (Public Relations)

D: +44 (0) 1962 893 907

T: +44 (0) 1962 893 893

http://www.remarkablegroup.co.uk

Please note that despite earlier indications from the local authority, there is no further news as to when the UCKG application to convert the EMD into a church will be heard at a planning meeting. This is despite the deadline for objections being over three months ago in September 2009. I will continue to update this site with any further information on this issue I receive.

Like many local residents I'm increasingly frustrated at the continual roadworks we have in the Waltham Forest area so I've been trying to find out what action is being taken by Environmental Services to co-ordinate these activities. Furthermore, many of you may have seen the problems caused last week in Walthamstow when a water main burst in Tottenham causing the closure of Forest Road. I've now received the following in-depth response back from Environmental Services that I wanted to share in full:

"Thank you for your email, the problems experienced on Sunday and Monday of this week was, as you say, as the result of a burst water main resulting in the closure of Forest Road. The burst itself was outside the borough in Broad Lane, Haringay, and was notified to our call centre, Waltham Forest Direct, on Sunday evening. Once we had received this notification our highways standby officer was called out to assess the situation. He escalated the call to the LBWF Traffic Manager who liaised with the Transport for London Traffic Control Centre (LTCC) and the Police during Sunday evening until the reopening of Broad Lane late on Monday afternoon. The traffic management of the incident was controlled by the Police with the full co-operation with the borough. Information of the likely impacts and duration of the emergency was disseminated on TfL traffic control website, to the general media, and through our own call centre. Calls were made on Sunday night to the Thames Water project manager for the works sites in Blackhorse Road and Blackhorse Lane to see if the existing traffic signals could be removed or the impact minimized. Unfortunately this was not possible and the signals remained in operation during the incident. While the repairs to the water main and the damage carriageway are continuing the re-opening of Broad Lane on Monday evening has relieved the severity of the impact on borough roads.

With regards to your query concerning the general works in the High Street area, I think it is probably worth detailing the types of works that we currently have. The bulk of major works are being undertaken by the gas and water utility companies who have differing operating policies.

The gas have been directed by the HSE to replace all metallic mains within 30 metres of a property within a 30 year period. These works are prioritised on a worst first basis, with the prioritisation varying as more bursts occur on a length of main. With this process if there are more than one main in a street it maybe that only one main meets the criteria in this financial year resulting in the need to revisit site again. We have pushed strongly for this policy to be flexible and have achieved success however we are unable to dictate the long term programme of utility companies and repeat visits cannot be eliminated.

The bulk of the water main replacement works are being undertaken under the project name of Victorian Mains Renewal. Under this project a discrete zone is identified for renewal and all pipes within that zone are replaced. With this approach the presence of the utility company within an area can appear extensive but the up side being that as all pipes have been replaced future problems should be minimal.

In the High Street area we currently have both of the above work types in progress.

Not only in the High Street area but for works throughout the borough we hold a number of regular co-ordination meetings. These range from quarterly meetings attended by all the utility companies operating in the borough and other interested parties such a the Buses, Police and Railtrack where each party shares their plans for works and opportunities for joint working explored. We also hold monthly meetings with individual companies or combined meetings where companies are working in close proximity to each other.

All works applications are recorded on our computerised Streetworks management system, an extract of which we make available to the public on our website displaying current and future works. Access to the full register is be available via our Highways office.

Road closures are managed by our Traffic Team in conjunction with the Works Co-ordination team. All closures apart from emergency closures are published in Waltham Forest News prior to implementation giving details of roads effected, diversion routes and timings. Buses, Police and other emergency services are notified of closures and any recommendations made would be incorporated.

On certain roads and footways we have introduced specific working measures and restrictions. For example on the High Street we have a complete works embargo for the month of December and all routine works that can be completed within two days are scheduled for Sunday or Mondays, being the non or quite days for the market. Market management are also notified and involved on all significant works in this area. "

It may also be of interest to know that the Government is proposing to give local authorities the powers to increase the charges to make to utility companies for road works to ensure that they finish on time to try to cut the disruption planned roadworks cause. If you have views on these issues and how the council should use these powers in the future that you want to pass onto the local authority Environmental Services department please do get in touch.

Chapel End Savoy Players have been performing the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas in the Walthamstow area for 35 years. Their next production is Iolanthe, which they're performing this May at the Deaton Theatre, Forest School, Snaresbrook. The Group is currently trying to recruit new singers for this production. They rehearse on Tuesday nights at St. John's Church, on the corner of Chingford Road and Brookscroft Road, Walthamstow, E17 5AL. All voices and levels of expertise are welcome, with membership subject to a short audition. If you would like to know more please contact Jackie on 0785 2928287 or email Ian.

"We want to do everything possible to bring communities together here in Waltham Forest and the UK. We oppose those who want to divide us. I want to confirm that Lea Bridge Road Mosque committee does not have links with Mr Choudrey or Islam4UK, we don't speak for him or Islam4UK and his views are not shared by us".

Thank you to everyone who came to our community meeting with Ed Miliband last Thursday. Over 250 local residents participated in the discussion, representing many different aspects of Walthamstow. It was inspiring to hear them come together to talk with such knowledge and passion about how we can tackle climate change. A big thank you to Willowfield School, staff, parents and pupils for their help and participation as well. 

These issues affect every person on this planet. That's why I think it's vital we come together as a local community and decide how we want our government and our local council to act to stop climate change, and talk about what we can do ourselves. With the help of other local residents, I've organised a special public meeting to help us start this discussion. It's taking place between 7.30pm and 9.30pm on Thursday 26^th November at Willowfield School on Clifton Avenue. It's open to all local residents. 

I'm delighted to say that joining us at the meeting will be Ed Miliband MP, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Ed has been leading the Government's work on building a low carbon future for Britain. He'll be leading the UK's push for a deal at Copenhagen, along with the Prime Minister. Because of their work through the Climate Change Act, Britain is the first country in the world to introduce legally binding carbon budgets. These commit us to carbon savings of 34% by 2020 and at least 80% by 2050.

If you have questions or concerns about what the Government is doing to tackle climate change then this event is your chance to put them directly to Ed.

But this event isn't just about Ed. It's about us, as residents of Walthamstow. So also joining us at the meeting will be representatives from a number of organisations including development charities Oxfam and Action Aid, and our local Waltham Forest Transition Towns movement.

The event will be a deliberative forum. That means it's a chance for us all to talk together and share ideas, tips and plans for building a more environmentally sustainable future for Walthamstow. It also means you can turn up and contribute at any point during the two hours, and you can stay for as much or as little of the meeting as you like!

There will also be stalls and information about climate change and there'll be plenty of refreshments. I'm extremely grateful to the students and staff of Willowfield for hosting this community meeting. If you would like to attend, please email me or join this group on Facebook so that we can let the school know how many people to expect.