Once again people are dumping rubbish all over Higham Hill ward.

If you have rubbish that you need to get rid of either take it to the facility in

South Access Road or call 8496 3000 and arrange a pre-booked appointment for collection

DON’T LEAVE IT ON OUR STREETS

Councillor Bob Wheatley will soon celebrate his latest birthday on March 25th 2008.

Still only one year short of Her Majesty on 82 years who celebrates her 82nd on April 21st. Amongst Bobs wide social and political circle he has been known to claim that his three finest achievements in life are:

This superman feat amounted to walking at over 54 miles each day and resting up at B and B’s en route across the entire Country! Councillor Bob Wheatley was the most senior standing elected Councillor to defend his seat in William Morris Ward on May 4th 2006 and without doubt Bob is the best champion of local democracy and open government based on free speech in this Borough! May I propose 3 cheers for Cllr. Bob Wheatley and may all those who value free speech for all and to defend our local post offices and all issues that affect our local residents` concerns first- take note!

Cllrs Peter Woollcott and Sean Meiszner have spoken out on this `wrong- headed’ Sutherland Road new development  rated as grossly overcrowded  with 240 units.

Higham Hill Cllrs urge residents to vote for Brian Paddick in the Mayor Election May Ist to put an end to this London Plan that is responsible for gross mis -management on social housing real need, creating over-development instead, on sites like Sutherland Road. 

Waste and recycling collections will continue as normal over the Easter Bank Holidays on Friday 21 March 2008 and Monday 24 March 2008.

Around a third of the contents of an average refuse bin is organic waste which could be composted. Composting at home is a great way to prevent this waste going to landfill, where it releases methane, a major greenhouse gas.

Composting at home will give you a free source of nutrient-rich plant food for your garden.

How to purchase a home composting unit

Until 31 March 2008, you can order up to two 330 litre compost bins from the Council for £12 each. This price includes delivery. To order, please call Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000. From 1 April 2008, residents will be able to purchase compost bins that are subsidised by the Council directly from Recycle Now. More information will be available on the new scheme shortly. For further information contact Anita Starling on 020 8496 3000.

Walthamstow councillors have launched a stinging attack on Labour parliamentary candidate Stella Creasy by accusing her of “two-faced cynicism” over local post office closures. 

The Labour parliamentary candidate has attempted to position herself at the centre of efforts to save the three Walthamstow post offices threatened with closure.  However, during her time as councillor for Walthamstow’s Lea Bridge ward she attempted to vote down a Liberal Democrat motion to Full Council that called on the Council to oppose the government’s closure programme. 

The angry reaction by local Liberal Democrats comes as they prepare to present a further motion to Full Council that calls on councillors from all sides to state their opposition to post office closures.

 Cllr Bob Carey, whose Chapel End ward could see two branches axed, said: “It is galling to see Ms Creasy jump on the bandwagon with regards to these closures. “Unfortunately for her, people have longer memories than she may give them credit for.  As a councillor 5 years ago, she, along with her Labour colleagues, attempted to remove a clause from a Liberal Democrat motion that expressed concern about both the effect of proposed post office closures on the vulnerable and elderly and the distance that they would be forced to travel in order to access vital services. 

“Now resident outcry about these Government closures has reached a crescendo, we hear her become one of those rushing to repeat these concerns almost parrot-like. 

“I’m sure that residents will see this two-faced scramble to act as a champion for our most vulnerable residents as little more than a cynical act of political chicanery. 

Cllr Carey, who will move the Liberal Democrat motion before Full Council, warned that opposition to the six immediate proposed closures in Waltham Forest was only the beginning of the work that needed to be done.

 “ Post Office representatives confirmed to council scrutiny just this week that  even if we are successful in saving one of the six branches immediately under threat, this would more than likely mean another branch closed in order to meet the required quota of government closures. “We hope both Labour and the Conservative councillors will support our motion this Thursday and come out strongly against the government’s closure programme. 

Liberal Democrats on Waltham Forest Council have branded the Government’s latest budget ”a great green cop out”. 

Lib Dem councillor Bob Belam, the Council’s portfolio holder for the Environment, lashed out at Chancellor Alistair Darling’s failure to address green issues, calling on the Government to show a commitment to the environment by ending delays to increases in vehicle Excise Duty, Aviation Duty and a Plastic Bag Tax.  

Cllr Belam recently lead a Liberal Democrat motion that will seek a voluntary agreement with local businesses to end the provision of free plastic bags.  Measures also include making council facilities more energy efficient and introducing a Climate Change Impact Assessment into every Council report, putting climate change at the heart of the Council’s agenda. 

Cllr Belam said: “The Chancellor has kicked green taxes into the long grass. The Government has presented this as a budget of the environment and opportunity but in reality it is a tax grab - by 2010 the Government will be taking £1.8bn more from taxpayers to plug the budget deficit. 

“It is entirely right that the most polluting cars should pay more tax. However, the Government has once again delayed any action for 2-3 years as the announced measures will not come into full force until 2010/11. 

“On the issue of Avaition Duty, we welcome that the Government have finally seen the benefits of taxing planes and not people, but this budget simply offers yet more dithering by delaying its implementation until 2009. 

“The Liberal Democrats support measures to introduce a plastic bag tax and have been at the forefront of local schemes to end the practice of providing free plastic bags to shoppers.  

However the Government continues to be indecisive over whether it will actually introduce this, choosing instead to introduce another ‘consultation’ as a green gimmick.” 

“This budget simply attempts to pull the wool over the eyes of those who share our concerns about the environment.  It is time for the Government to back up their words with real action.”

Lib Dem councillors support the campaign to stop Post Office closures.

Not for the first time. In 2003 Lib Dems put a motion to council calling on the government to stop the proposed closure program.

The Labour party refused to support the motion. Current Mayor Cllr Ali proposed the Labour amendment.

Stella Creasy the current Labour Parliamentary candidate for Walthamsow is calling for residents to support the campaign against closure.

Where was she in 2003, in the council chamber voting with her Labour colleagues against the Lib Dem motion.

Once again Stella shows she knows how to jump on someone else’s bandwagon.

Yesterday Dave Hill, the Guardian writer,

said:“He’s still the most compelling candidate on crime.”

And he was joined in praising Brian by a Londoner recently returned from Japan:

“Seeing the live debate did a good job of convincing me that Ken Livingstone is a bit of a megalomaniac, Boris Johnson is a bit of a public school educated plonker and Brian Paddick is a decent bloke who genuinely seems to want to improve things for the average person in London.“

“It is thanks to the support and hard work of people across London like yourself that Brian’s campaign is continuing to gain momentum.It is a tough challenge getting our message out to all the millions of Londoners who can vote in May. But with your help Brian and our London Assembly team can do it.You can help by forwarding this email to your friends and encouraging them to sign up for news from Brian’s campaign at www.brianpaddick.orgOur next electoral test in London is this Thursday, in the Highgate by-election. We’ve had a great run of by-election results recently. If you can help out in Highgate to keep our run going that will be fabulous. Ring Fred on 07763 745 402 if you can help with delivering leaflets, last minute canvassing or on polling day itself.Your help can really make a difference.

Many thanks.Best wishes,
Chris Rennard
Chief Executive - Liberal Democrats 

The Focus Team, Cllrs Smith, Woollcott and Meiszner have reported anti-social behaviour in the ally between Calton Road and Millfield Avenue. 

We have contacted the Safer Neighbourhood team and the councils anti-social officers.

We expect to hear from them soon.

 If you have any evidence then please contact one of us.

The London Assembly Liberal Democrat group acted as the lead in compiling a response to the Government’s consultation on the possible future expansion at Heathrow.  The response made it quite clear that NO expansion should be allowed.  The response included contributions from Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick and Sarah Ludford MEP.  If you would like a copy please e-mail info@glalibdems.org.uk.

Mike Tuffrey also was engaged in scrutiny of the Olympics this week as the Assembly’s Environment Committee looked at how plans were progressing to make the 2012 Games sustainable.Energy use, the carbon footprint and a sustainable food strategy were a few of the topics explored as member’s of the Environment Committee. The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 has raised concerns over LOCOG’s ability to meet its commitment to provide 20% of electricity during the Games-time from local renewable sources. This has not been done before and the nature of the energy market is not well geared towards such short-term contracts. How would plans to work with the utility sponsor (appointed by LOCOG) and utility partner (appointed by the ODA) and has work been done on linking the energy and waste agendas, e.g. through the use of biofuels from anaerobic digestion facilities were topics explored.

The timing of the 2012 Games at the end of the Kyoto period, coupled with the global profile of the event presents a unique opportunity to set the standard for staging low carbon major events and to influence emissions beyond the scope of the Games legacy.

A report released this week by the London Assembly’s Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee, chaired by Dee Doocey, has found that diverting funding from Lottery good causes in London to shore up the budget for the 2012 Games may actually do more harm than good. Both the Cultural Olympiad, a four-year programme of events aimed at increasing participation in cultural activity due to commence this year, and the Government’s Olympic sports participation target to increase the number of people who are physically active by 2 million by 2012 are heavily dependent on smaller grassroots organizations. But the Committee found that these were the very organisations that would be hardest hit by the diversion of Lottery funding to pay for the Olympics.

The report estimates that of the £2.2 billion National Lottery good causes are having to contribute towards the £9 billion needed for the 2012 Games², London will lose around £440 million of Lottery funding³, with voluntary and local community organisations hardest hit.

Dee Doocey AM said: “We are not denying that the capital will reap huge benefits as host city of the 2012 Games.  However, our investigation shows that the on-the-ground opportunities Londoners were promised are at risk because the funding diversion effectively hamstrings the organisations needed to deliver them. At present, it’s not completely clear who will lose what, but our research suggests that smaller organisations will suffer most. With the Games only four years away this needs to be addressed immediately before the opportunity to get this right is lost.”

A number of London Liberal Democrats urged senior Network Rail executives for improved liaison with politicians on rail plans at a special Investing in London’s Railways seminar on Thursday.

Susan Kramer MP and Richmond councilors highlighted the need for Network Rail to engage with them on strategic policies for public transport systems in SW London.

Network Rail gave an informative presentation on how the Thameslink project would be rolled out in the next few years with a new Blackfriars rail station straddling the Thames and a rebuilt London Bridge Station beneath the Shard of Glass.

All agreed that pressure by MPs and Assembly members for funding for the New Cross-Peckham-Clapham Junction rail link (part of the East London Line extensions) would be the key political priority in the coming weeks.

Geoff Pope said ‘We welcome Network Rails plans for upgrading London’s railways but they need to up their game in involving and listening to politicians and local people.

The impressive plans for Thameslink and the London Overground look set to make step change improvements before the Olympics. Lets hope they don’t suffer delays or cost overruns.”