Chadwell Heath Life

Be the Change

2009-01-21T09:14:00.000-08:00

www.labourspace.com

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What's the big idea?

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All you need is to get the most support for your idea - it's all about people power really!

Once you've registered with the site we'll give you your very own profile page where you can upload photos, tell the world a little bit about yourself and show other people the campaigns you support (or oppose.)

And then you can get on with the fun - sharing your genius ideas with the world.

Make a difference: be the change you want to see in the world

2009-01-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

Want to help make a difference?

Worried that Chadwell is going down hill?

Want to help Chadwell Labour and improve your local area?

Contact us today!

Chadwell Branch Labour, 6 Mildmay Road, Ilford, IG1 1DT

Tel: 020 8911 0899 / Email: mailto:contact@ilfordsouthlabour.org.uk

Beating Graffiti

2009-01-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

Just in case you thought your Liberal Councillors were reporting all the graffiti in our ward and getting it removed; they haven't!! Labour dedicated a day investigating graffiti across Chadwell to fight this scourge as it is one of our main priorities that you tell us about. The following are examples of our reporting:-

-Cream wall on property next to 64a Chadwell Heath Lane (CHL)

- Green box on Tendring Way / CHL Junction

- Roxy Ave - garages both side

- Green box, Cunningham Cl / CHL

- Green box, Brian Rd / ChL

- Green Box, Bede Rd / CHL

- Green Box, Jarrow Rd / CHL

- Grove Social Club, Grove Rd

- Green box opposite 49 Hathaway Gds

- Green Box, Hathaway / Havering Rd Corner

- Green Box, Somerville Rd / 2nd Ave corner

- EDF Box 51282 next to 42 CHL

Chadwell Labour Action Team, getting real results for you.

Chadwell Centre: Closure / Future Development

2009-01-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

A consultation had been taking place on the future of the Chadwell Centre (Gresham Drive). This was organised by the 'Redbridge and Waltham Forest Learning Disability Partnership'. Our current Liberal Councillors were invited and a report was heard at a Council Cabinet meeting on 02/12/08 at the Town Hall, it was here that the Conservative leadership of Redbridge Council decided to close the facility.

Your Labour team were concerned about the closure, which will remove a valuable local community centre from Chadwell ward. The centre has been a lifeline to Redbridge people affected by learning disabilities.

We urge the Council to take service users feeling into account and will continue to campaign to ensure this happens with appropriate sensitivity.

In relation to any future development of this site. We support a continued community function. We feel there have been too many large scale developments, particularly in and around Grove Road / Chadwell Heath Lane in recent years. This is a problem as there has been no tangible gain to over-burdeoned Chadwell schools by our Conservative led Redbridge Council.

Important Area 5 Council Committee Mtg

2008-07-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

A special daytime community meeting for Chadwell, Goodmayes and Seven Kings residents has been organised.

The Area 5 committee meeting will be held at Barley Lane Primary School, Huxley Drive, Chadwell Heath, on Monday 28 July from 2 pm.

People are invited to come along and have their say on local issues and there will be three open question and answer sessions with

Cabinet member for Environment and Highways

Cabinet member for Planning and Regeneration

National Express, who will be taking questions about Seven Kings, Goodmayes and Chadwell Heath railway stations.

The aim of the daytime meeting is to make area committee events more accessible to people who may not be able to access evening meetings.

THIS IS CHADWELL’S CHANCE TO PROTEST ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR PAVING AND SURFACE OF OUR ROADS

OUR WARD GETS A WORSE DEAL THAN ANY OTHER

IT IS TIME THE COUNCILLORS DO SOMETHING

PLEASE ATTEND THE MEETING

60 years since Labour created the NHS

2008-06-12T17:12:00.001-07:00

Old Chadwell Heath

2008-06-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

A bit of history for you!!

Check out this picture of an old off licence on Station Road.

Background: there has been an off licence in Station Road, Chadwell Heath, for at least a century, as this early photograph (undated) reveals. Station road is the border between Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham.

The building to the right is Wangey House. It is where Chadwell Heath Station is now.

It was demolished in 1937 to make way for the
station building.

From the 60s. Shows the old Chadwell Heath police station which comes under Redbridge. It is now the 'Eva Hart' pub. Named 'Eva Hart' after the lady who lived in C/Heath (Japan Rd) and survived the Titanic disaster. The pub has some old photos that are well worth a loook.

Spotlight on Chadwell Police Team

2008-06-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

Chadwell Local Police Team (Safer Neighbourhood Team)

Team Members:

Sgt Colin Smith, PC Paul O'Donnell, PC Peter Williams, PCSO Gareth Harding, PCSO Nova Flintham, PCSO Audrey Adebiyi

Address: Chadwell Heath Police Station, 14 Wangey Road, Chadwell Heath, Essex, RM6 4DB

Phone: 020 8721 2562 / 07917 013288

Email: Chadwell.snt@met.police.uk

London Youth Games torch relay

2008-06-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

On Friday 13 June, the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games Relay Torch makes its way to the Redbridge Cycling Centre as part of the London wide launch of the games.

The torch was lit on 9 June by the Mayor of London and has been visiting each of the 32 London boroughs and the City of London this week.

The London Youth Games is a showcase of talent and Redbridge has many top performing young athletes to be proud of! By raising the profile of the games, it is hoped that more young people will get involved in future.

The Redbridge Cycling Centre is a brand new facility, which will be officially opened later this year and is the perfect venue to host the relay. See attached link http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/leisure__culture/sports__leisure_centres/redbridge_cycling_centre.aspx It is located in the north of Redbridge. And can be found opposite the Hainault Industiral Estate and is on Forest Road in Fairlop. To contact the centre manager, you can do so on 07988 680 011.

The Mayor of Redbridge, local dignitaries and school children will gather at the centre at 3pm to greet the torch bearer and the relay will depart the centre by 3.45pm for the next leg of its journey.

Get involved!!!!

Wilson's Address to the Conservative Council on South Road

2008-06-09T17:23:00.000-07:00

Unadopted Roads....

"It is with surprise and considerable disdain that I find myself speaking again, at a cabinet meeting, on an issue that has previously been addressed and a recommendation produced. In a Highways and scrutiny panelmeeting, the Council ratified a decision on how to progress. Yet nothing has been done.

From that meeting I quote what I believe to be the most salient point:

"agree in principle to establish an annual capital budget of £105k to be used to make up and adopt such streets on a rolling programme. This will need to be considered in the 2005/06 budgetary process;"

As we are all here again, discussing the same issue, I will assume that we all agree no progress has been made. It is with this in mind that I question the democratic decision making process. Especially when my address on behalf of South Rd residents has been refused an audience of recent full council meeting. Where I believe, we would have significant support amongst honourable Councillors of all political persuasion.

The fact remains that there are residents living in this purported "leafy borough" that actually believe the dubious claim that Redbridge is "green"! This is not because they enjoy newly planted trees, or the introduction of new plants or flowers. It is because they have trees and other weeds growing out of there pavements or roads…. if they can be called roads!

This weeks Ilford Recorder reported on the awful state of South Road, Chadwell Heath. And next week the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian will report on the shocking state of Landscape Road in Woodford Green. This road has pot holes with a diameter of at least 6 feet. It has no drainage, no regular street cleansing, no Road markings and has no street lighting?!! Now, I visit Pakistan annually. Which is supposedly a "third world" country. Yet I can recall no road that could match the dilapidated state of South or Landscape Roads. Both of these roads contain a number of residential dwellings. And a key fact of that is that there are children and elderly people who have to suffer the ensuing hazards to a safe and hygienic existence. Infact one elderly woman had to leave her long term dwelling on South road, as it became too dangerous for her to continue living there! This in tandem with the inability or unwillingness of a council to act and rectify this awful malaise, demonstrates why people have lost faith in their politicians.

Today I implore our auspicious and caring councilors to acknowledge that this situation is untenable. I further challenge them by throwing down a gauntlet on this table today. I ask that they rectify the problems on South Road.

I have gone through in some detail around 70% of the listed "unadopted Roads" in Redbridge and have set the following priorities [based on what I have seen and heard]:

- Priority 1 South Road
The residents have fought a 20 year battle for their road to be improved. A few shoddy, piecemeal attempts to bring short term relief to the residents is an awful statistic and demonstrates inept profligacy. The road is entirely made of residential dwellings, due to its small size, easy access (without affecting other roads) and width it would make an attractive and expedient milestone for success. There is grass growing within the road, huge Pot holes, no lighting or drainage and I have seen flooding that occurs as a consequence.

-Priority 2 Landscape Road
A larger road and mutual consent would have to be obtained, however the state of the road is now worse that South Road, due to fact that it clearly has not had the granular approach to rectification worked at South Road. The road is entirely residential and has foliage growing out of the floor as does South Road, I will assume it floods and there is no lighting which enhance the possibility of crime.

-Priority 3 Park Villas

No infrastructure at all, Residents have regularly complained and I have sprained an ankle her previously.

-Priority 4 Aston Mews
Residents have complained incessantly: No infrastructure at all, no pavement or actual uniform road surface.

-Priority 5 Pavement Mews
Residents recently attained road name plates and have been requesting lighting for a significant period. No Infrastructure barring nameplate
Priority 6 Elm Hall Road: No infrastructure, However not all residents in agreement".

South Road - potholes every where....

2008-06-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

As Seamus Moore sang..... "potholes everywhere, even though I pay me road tax, they [Redbridge] treat me [South Road] like a clown.

Residents will know of Wilson's campaign to help Chadwell residents on South Road. Residents on this road are forced to live with pot holes, flooding, uneven road, and down right mess.

Why? Because the Council say this is a "private road".

Yet residents get NO council tax rebate or money off their road taxes. In previous years the Council has promised action and funding. Yet this has yet to materialise from our Conservative administration who come from Ilford North - the wards north of the A12.

WE SAY: "Residents deserve to live on a decent road. It cannot be right that in Chadwell Heath in modern Britian that roads are worse than downtown Baghdad. Wilson will carry on the fight".

Spotlight on Parking and Security on Shepherds Close

2008-06-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

Wilson recently met with PC Williams (Met Police) and Eamonn Culinan (Highways Department) to discuss parking measures and crime on Shepherds Close.

* Parking Issues

It was decided that to help local residents on this road. Yellow lines will be applied to the bend in the middle of Shepherds road on the right hand side (as your enter from Somerville Rd).

Why the need? This will should stop anti-social residents and visitors parking fully on the pavement at this location. In the past this has prevented pedestrian use of the public footpath. It will also prevent parking on either send of the bend. As residents will also know, this has previously been known to be an obstacle to emergency vehicles.

*Discussions with PC Williams

Wilson was advised that there has been some burglaries on Shepherds road in recent months and significant theft from vehicles. PLEASE PLEASE BE VIGILENT. Your local Neighbourhood Watch Manager should be able to advise you further [see below on how to contact them or sign up]. If you aren't a member yet, YOU SHOULD BE! Intelligence sharing and community action is a powerful tool against crime and the yobs. Chadwell Heath is our area, we should reclaim our streets.

Tamperproof screws for car license plates

Bizarre as it sounds. There are criminals out there who steal licence plates for use on other cars. Wilson gave some tamperproof screws to your Neighbourhood Watch Chairman Karen as according to the Police there has been an increase in license plate theft in Redbridge. These will be distributed to Neighbourhood Watch members or other residents who ask.

Ultra violet pens

Wilson is trying to obtain ultra violet pens for people to label their property. This is helpful as it ensures any stolen belongings can quickly be identified with there owners by the Police. Wilson will forward these to Karen (your neighbourhood watch member) as soon as possible.

Shepherds Close Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator

You can obtain details of your Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator from the Met Police on 020 8721 2562 or contact Wilson (wilson@aasecurity.co.uk) and he will pass your details on.

St Patrick's Day Festival

2008-03-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

We have been asked and are proud to advertise the St Patrick's Day parade on 16th March 2008 at Trafalgar Sq, Leicester Sq and Covent Garden. A full of list of details can be found at http://www.london.gov.uk/stpatricksday/.

The event consists of a parade and a festival. The Parade will see marching bands from Ireland and the UK, community groups, sports cubs, schools and street theatre take to the streets of central London for a fun filled family spectacle. The festival will include Irish food, culture, dancing, music (a number of music stages) and much much more.

The Parade starts at 12noon from Hyde Park Corner so get to your chosen viewing spot with time to spare.

Working for you

2008-03-11T06:00:00.001-07:00

A picture of Wilson Chowdhry (with his daughter) giving up some time on his weekend to get hands on and tackle graffiti in Chadwell Heath.

Tories to cut Redbridge's Voluntary groups funding

2008-03-10T07:36:00.000-07:00

Conservative controlled Redbridge Council have agreed to cut £32,000 to voluntary services. Labour opposition Councillors fought to have this thrown out.

Labour Cllr Julia Hughes said that the increase last year in the criteria for social care meant that more people now needed help from voluntary groups, and that there was no indication where the new cut would fall. She said, "Will it be the faith groups, the elderly, children and adults with disabilities, the mentally ill? I'm concerned about how transparent that choice will be."

Conservative Cabinet member John Fairley Churchill defended his decision "Some of the groups in this borough thought it was their God-given right to be funded each year." He went on "The idea of voluntary sector organisations in splendid isolation harks back to the days of gentility when my grandmother was a girl. We want to encourage cross-borough working."

Labour believes in voluntary groups. We think they create a cohesive community. Not only do the recipients of voluntary groups benefit, but also the volunteers themselves; they become involved in a local community and feel empowered. There are many areas that the state are not involved in or are "unsexy", these are the vital areas that voluntary groups often work in.

Savings could have been found, for example:-

- NOT wasting your council tax on Redbridge-i website

- NOT wasting 110k of your council tax on 2 flash Jaguar limos

- NOT wasting your council tax on Redbridge Life

- BY cutting Cabinet Cllrs allowances / salaries

WE SAY: This story is linked to the continued Tory mis-management of this borough - from allotment sales, car parks, elderly centres, pay and display parking, internal rifts between Tory Cllrs who want to do the right thing etc.

Latest Labour Newsletter

2008-03-03T09:32:00.001-08:00

The latest Chadwell Labour newsletters are now being delivered, look out for your copy! The delivery of these newsletters would not be possible without the kind assistance of our ever growing team of local volunteers. If you would like to get involved, please email or call us. Working together we can create a better Chadwell.

PM and Ruth Kelly confirm Crossrail go-ahead

2008-02-27T11:06:00.001-08:00

Mike Gapes MP Interview

2008-02-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQtGhvaNzvg

United against Graffiti / Flytipping

2008-02-27T10:13:00.001-08:00

Your Labour team have been continuing the fight against graffiti and flytipping which has been appearing in Chadwell. Graffiti is a cancer that plagues our society. By working together and sharing intelligence we can reduce it and catch the perpertrators. Please continue to let us know about areas which are causing concern. Recently Wilson and his daughter gave up some of their weekend to paint over a telecoms box next to the Harvester that had been blighted by graffiti! He has some paint left, so please let us know if you would like to get 'hands on'. If not, the Council are rightly the main people who should be removing this. The contact is Russell Ward e: russell.ward@redbridge.gov.uk or via the Redbridge switchboard 020 8708 5000

Regional Planning Committee (South)

2008-02-27T10:08:00.000-08:00

The next RPC (South) will be held on 5th March at 7.15pm, Highburys Gardens Primary School, Highburys Gardens, Ilford. This is the road just off the Drive and is accessed by Cranbrook Road. The agenda for this meeting is available at :-http://moderngov.redbridge.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=508&MId=4132&Ver=4

'One' Railway: Station action promised

2008-02-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

With a commitment to getting action to improve Chadwell Heath Train Station, Wilson Chowdhry and Cllr Balvinder Saund organised for the Manager of 'One' Railway to inspect Chadwell Heath Station. Following on from this meeting, ‘One’ have promised the following action points: -

- The ticket office will be closed from 19:40 - 06:10; with the only access to the station being the side alleyway between these hours. This will ensure the ticket hall is kept safe and secure

- Station soft refurbishment will be implemented asap and will last two weeks (this will include brick work / paint / wood varnishing etc)

- Ash trays for the front of 'One' rail stations will be rolled out over the next two weeks

- Security agents for the stations requested - this requirement will be assessed against data around incidents [if residents have any information on incidents they are requested to let us know].

- Wire mesh under the stairs to prevent access

- Covered heated seating area to be looked at by ‘One’

Labour will continue to monitor the station and ensure that the hard working community of Chadwell get a decent train station for there money. NOTE: Cllr Balvinder Saund is the Labour candidate for Redbridge and Havering in the forthcoming GLA elections, her election will ensure that Labour can tackle the real issues that matter to you.

No Bus here! Victory for Chadwell residents!

2007-11-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

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)

2007-11-06T03:51:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-06T03:45:00.000-08:00

“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.