No Bus here! Victory for Chadwell residents!

Residents were concerned about recent proposed extensions to the 499 Bus route which would traverse in a loop from East Road, along Havering Gardens, down Hathaway Gardens and them back to East Road via Tolworth Gardens. They were worried about the increase in anti-social behaviour that would be induced by the location of a permnaent Bus Stop near the Havering Gardens/Hathaway Gardens Corner. The increased danger to local children travelling to Grove Primary and St Bedes school and the potential for road accidents in an area with tight corners and parking on both sides of the road.

Local residents formed an action group called the "Residents Against Transport Scheme" (RATS). They asked Wilson Chowdhry of the Chadwell Labour Action Team for his assistance and he duly prepared a petition obtaining over 200 signatures. He delivered this petition to May's Area 5 Commmitte and presented residents concerns to the incumbent Councillors in attendance. Wilson highlighted a recent Bus route extension of the 362 Route that led to significant unease for local residents. The 499 route extension scheme had originally been proposed for Jarrow Road and a consultation had taken place which had resulted in the Area 5 Councillors rejecting the proposals. The Area 5 Councillors agreed to place these concerns before TFL and Wilson attended a Public Transport Liasion Committee Meeting on June 17th. At the meeting Wilson again presented the concerns of local residents and submitted an 80 signature petition provided by RATS. TFL agreed to review the information provided and confirmed that they had not undertaken the requisite pre-consultation with residents. They confirmed that prior to any progression of this project a consultation would take place. However in the wave of such vehemence to the project on September 25th at the next Public Transport Liasion Committee Meeting TFL confirmed the proposals for this extension have finally been terminated.

Wilson Chowdhry says: "I am pleased that TFL (London Buses) have finally ended their absurd extension to route 499 . Local resident concerns are based on simple health and safety implications that should have been raised up in TFLs initial design brief. How could they make such an omission not once but twice, in failing to undertake the requisite pre-consultation? This result is one I am really pleased with"

Action against homes bid for station car park and closure of Chadwell centre

The Chadwell Labour Action Group steered by Group Coordinator Wilson Chowdhry, held a demonstration at the corner of Wangey Road and Chadwell Heath High Road on Saturday 20th October 2007. The demonstration was arranged in response to recent Conservative administration proposals, to close the Chadwell Centre on Gresham Drive and sell Chadwell Heath Station Car Park. Gordon Brown and our Labour government in contrast have secured the Crossrail project, which would result in a train to London arriving at Chadwell Heath Station every 2.5 minutes. Should our conservative council not also support an effective park and ride scheme to induce better use of public transport?

It was the Chadwell Labour Team that first warned local residents of the threat to Chadwell Station Car Park in our "Chadwell Rose" newsletter of November 2006!

Our Team invited residents to sign two local petitions opposed to these audacious proposals - and collected in excess of 100 signatures on both petitions.

Many residents were extremely concerned over the proposals to build multi-storey residential accommodation at the Station Car Park. They were infuriated by the significant over abundance of similar new builds that have destroyed the fabric of the local community.

Chadwell Labour Action Group also used this event to highlight the all-party demonstration against reduction of services at King George Hospital. The demonstration to be held on Saturday the 27th October at Ilford Town Hall from 1:30 will include speeches from Mike Gapes MP, the TUC and others. Again Labour locally take the lead in a strong campaign against the threat of close our Accident and Emergency department at King George Hospital, which we feel would be the spur for additional losses resulting in the closure of King George Hospital in its entirety.

Wilson Chowdhry Team Leader said:

"All Redbridge residents are anxious by the Tory council choices of late. On one hand they choose to reduce the adult social services budget in their unreasonable attempt to fund £114k worth of new Jaguar cars for there elite. On the other hand they do not take responsibility for the loss of Redbridges only real facility for people suffering Multiple Sclerosis. Inexplicably they also intend to waste £36m on an olympic sized swimming pool. To pay for this they are trying to sell many community facilitiesthat are needed such as our allotments and car parks. The Chadwell Labour Party will continue its fight to save King George Hospital, the allotments and our car park from any further losses. We hope that the people of Chadwell Heath will work with us against the reckless Tories. Labour is the only key opposition in town, the Liberals are too soft"

Area 5 Committee (Chadwell, Goodmayes, Seven Kings)

Next Area 5 meeting is at 19.15 on Monday, 12th November 2007 at Barley Lane Primary School, Huxley Drive, Ilford. Be there and make your voice heard!

Chadwell Heath Station Car Park

“A development idea for Chadwell Heath station car parking is still being considered by Redbridge Council. The Council wants to (as per their brief) dispose of the 125 car parking spaces next to Chadwell Heath Station. This station is the busiest one between Ilford and Romford. The car park (it has two, a smaller one by Wangey Road) are always full. Indeed I thought the Council were meant to encourage this, as part of the 'park and ride [on public transport]' scheme.

At a recent Area Committee 5 meeting, local Councillors criticised the Council Officers for their planning brief report for this site and asked that another report be forthcoming. It looks like another, 'Seven Kings Lorry Park'. This is where the Tory Council "consulted" Area 5 Committee / local residents as to what they want to see on this site. But then completely ignored the views and have carried on with their initial idea to sell it for housing.”

You can sign an online petition to oppose this move, here.