admin

The planning application for a nine-storey office block development at 10–12 Eastwood Close in South Woodford – the site of Incey Winceys Day Nursery – has been withdrawn following strong opposition from local residents.

“Around 300 objections were submitted in a matter of days. I understand it was clear to the developers they had no realistic chance of success if the application went to the planning committee… I believe this sets important precedents for the Station Estate and surrounding area. It shows developers they cannot just put forward badly thought out plans… It also demonstrates, beyond any doubt, the strong views of local people and businesses, and therefore the importance of prior consultation by anyone who has major plans for this area,” said Councillor Beverley Brewer.

Nominations for the Mayor of Redbridge’s annual community awards are now open.

“These awards are a great way to throw light on those giving individuals to recognise and celebrate the work they do – so please get nominating!” said the Mayor of Redbridge, Councillor Zulfiqar Hussain.

A panel of councillors, officers and residents will shortlist the nominations and select winners in six different categories.

The deadline is 31 December. Click here to take part.

The producers of The Railway Children – to be performed at Forest School in Snaresbrook as part of the Wanstead Fringe festival – are searching for a local actor to play the role of Jim.

“It would suit a young person with acting and singing ability, who wants to work with a professional theatre company,” said producer Katherine Mount.

Rehearsals commence 9 September, with performances on 14 and 15 September. If the successful candidate requires time off school, the company will apply for licences and supply a registered chaperone.

“For audience members, this will be an opportunity to see a West End-style musical on your doorstep… This heart-warming tale is set to a new musical soundtrack, bringing a touch of magic to the stage.”

Email info@hordernciani.com

A monthly farmer’s market is set to become a regular addition to South Woodford, bringing a range of produce and gifts to George Lane.

Run by Essex Farmers’ Markets – which also organises a similar event in Wanstead – the market is a welcome return, having last traded here in 2012, when it was forced to close due to rising costs.

“Shoppers who ventured down to the second South Woodford Farmers’ Market in August were pleased to see some great stalls, including fabulous sausages from The Giggly Pig and a cheese stall. These added to the impressive plant stall and others selling bread, cakes, vintage prints, scents and cookware,” said Louise Burgess of the South Woodford Society.

The next market is scheduled for 15 September (10am to 3pm), with plans to return on the third Sunday of every month (subject to licence). “Please support this vibrant market that will benefit the shopping area of George Lane.”

Stall applications are invited. Call 01268 733 111

As part of Local History Month, Lynn Haseldine Jones will be leading a walk around Snaresbrook to discover the history of this commuter suburb, starting with the Georgian period and then looking at later developments in Victorian and Edwardian times. Here, the local historian describes some of the sites that will be visited. Photo of Snaresbrook Crown Court by Geoff Wilkinson

We begin at Snaresbrook Station, where the railway first came in 1856. Changing the nature of the village from a predominantly Georgian settlement to a bustling Victorian suburb, there is still evidence of the Great Eastern Railway, hardly noticed by passengers on the busy Central Line.

Along Hollybush Hill are a few Victorian houses. Mornington Lodge has changed its name to Kingsley Grange, but Staffa and Iona are still there, though no longer Barnardo’s homes. The great feature of the Hill, though, is Snaresbrook Crown Court.

This fine building began as the Royal Infant Orphan Asylum, the foundation stone of which was laid by Prince Albert on 24 June 1841. The official opening was by the king of the Belgians on 27 June 1843. The building later became the Royal Wanstead School until 1971, before becoming the court building it is today in 1974.

Along Snaresbrook Road we can admire the court from the edge of the much-loved Eagle Pond, as pictured here. This appears on a map of 1735 but may be older.

Across from the pond is Willowholme, a Georgian house dating from the 1750s, with its own well. People living in less grand houses would have got their water from the Birch Well, which is still there, tucked into the forest by the court’s railings. Elegant White Lodge is further down the road. Also on Snaresbrook Road is the memorial garden, containing a lovely sundial, the scene of a service on 11 November every year.

As we turn the corner into Woodford Road, we pass the 18th-century Eagle pub (now beautifully refurbished); it was a stopping point for stage and mail coaches long before the railway arrived.

We will head towards The Drive to admire some of the large late-Victorian houses, and glance across the road to James Hilton House, thought to have been the home, in the 1930s, of James Hilton, the author of Lost Horizon and Goodbye, Mr Chips. Sadly, some of the big houses have long gone – Snaresbrook Hall was replaced by flats in the 1930s and Hermitage Court replaced two large mansions. Gowan Lea lasted longer, a school with a good reputation, but regrettably, now also replaced by flats.

And we end our tour at the gates of Snaresbrook House. Although the origins of the house go back much further, these are dated 1900 and marked with the initials of diamond merchant David Symons, who lived there from 1891 to 1905. After his wife died, he chose to move to South Africa, where his main business was located. But the area must have made a big impression on him as the home he had in Durban until his death in 1935 was called…Snaresbrook!

Following East London Wine School’s recent launch at Wanstead Golf Club, school director and wine expert Sam Alder explains why a trip to the Aosta Valley left a pleasant aftertaste that lingers to this day

So, how did I end up working in the wine industry and owning a wine school? Not a traditional career choice and certainly not an option on the career day at school!

My first job was in banking. I loved it and suspect it was there I discovered wine. We ‘drank’ wine, a lot of wine, but only after work, of course! My passion for ‘tasting’ was thanks to some bad weather and a great sommelier.

Halfway through our annual Italian ski trip there was an avalanche; the ski slopes were closed. We were stuck in the town, we couldn’t go up the mountain, couldn’t go down, so what to do? Obviously, a wine tasting in the local wine bar. Why not? The sommelier opened six different bottles from the local wine region, the Aosta Valley. We tasted them all with glee and listened intently to his presentation of each wine. There was one in particular that helped me understand how and why tasting wine was important, to savour it rather than just drink it. The name of the wine was translated to ‘The Blood of Judas’. It was red, chilled, sweet, some petillance (bubbles). We loved it, it wasn’t expensive, just new, different, delicious and, of course, paired beautifully with the local cuisine. Top tip: if it grows together, it goes together. Everyone in our group bought two bottles bringing them home to the UK in ski boots.

Back at work, my colleague Mark was talking about the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and how he was studying wine! What? There were qualifications in wine? I had no idea. These WSET qualifications must be the way forward to satisfy my hunger for more knowledge about wine. It was then I started my journey with WSET Level 1 Award in Wines. I progressed to Level 2, 3 and then to a Diploma in Wine.

During this time, the banking world was changing dramatically. I’d had a great career, but I needed and wanted a change, not just a career change, but a lifestyle change. It must have been fate. The opportunity to buy a wine school came up and I jumped at the chance.

Running a wine business is hard work, with lots of late nights, weekend working, keeping up with the markets and trends, but it’s also a lot of fun and very rewarding. I get to taste some amazing wines, to talk about wine, to meet other wine lovers and experts, to teach and, every now and again, I can diversify into beers and spirits. When you see someone have that light-bulb moment, when they understand why French Syrah is different to Australian Shiraz for instance, it’s so rewarding.

To mark Women’s History Month, an Eastside Community Heritage exhibition at Wanstead Library will uncover the stories of local women inventors this March. Judith Garfield reports

The world of invention and enterprise has been male-dominated throughout history and the lives and creations of female inventors have frequently been overlooked, glossed over and ignored. Women have consistently had their contributions swept under the rug and hidden in the background while their male counterparts have stood in the foreground as standalone pioneers.

Women from east London who were behind four revolutionary innovations – which changed the way we eat, dress, love and find our way home – have now had their stories discovered in our new exhibition. One such story was that of Phyllis Pearsall, who invented the A-Z street map in 1936. The creation and publication of the A-Z was revolutionary in a time before GPS and satellite navigation. In the same year, Phyllis received her first large order for The A-Z Street Guide from WHSmith for over a thousand copies, but she had some difficulties along the way. With little support, she had to buy a wheelbarrow to take them to WHSmith herself and distribute them.

Many times, you find a female inventor’s name will appear, and the company is referenced by another name. This is an indication of the power women probably had behind the scenes, but not linked to the invention or the idea. Women were often very influential figures in companies and in enterprise but their names were rarely mentioned.

“If you go back in history, a lot of inventions were attributed to the man because the woman was the man’s property and if she invented something, it got patented in the man’s name. So, I think there were women inventors but we just don’t know about them,” said Mandy Haberman, inventor of the Anywayup Cup. “There is a difference, men are bullish about putting themselves out there, they have an ‘I am the great I am!’ They are the brand. Women are much more likely to hide away; a woman is much more reticent to expose herself and put herself out there in that way. It’s changing now, it’s different now. But children were brought up to be seen and not heard and wives not seen and not heard!”

Another pioneer was Joan Ball, a working-class woman from London’s East End, who established the first computer dating service in 1964. The St James Computer Dating Service stored clients’ preferences according to their dislikes on punch cards, sorting matches by a process of elimination. Ball’s service pre-dates the famous system Operation Match at Harvard University, who are often cited as the founders of the invention.

Libraries across Redbridge are being upgraded to improve online and interactive services for library users. “The new system will make it easier and quicker for residents to download eBooks and search for books and services online, as well as incorporating a brand new app so customers can access their library on the move… This is also an opportunity for budding authors and local publications to share their work online as the system change will give them access to online facilities,” said a spokesperson.

During the upgrade – which is expected to be completed by mid-March – it will not be possible to renew items and a fine amnesty will be in place until the end of the month. Joining a library, using public computers and borrowing items will be unaffected during the update.

Rising at Molehill Green in Essex, the River Roding passes through the Wanstead and Woodford area en route to the Thames, bringing with it a very real flood risk to local homes. In the first of a series of articles charting the ideas and hopes of the River Roding Project – which aims to reduce that risk – Laura Hepworth from the Environment Agency is keen to seek community support for the project. Photography by Geoff Wilkinson

The River Roding has a long history of flooding. Flood events have been recorded since 1926, occurring in 1939, 1947, 1974, 1988, 1993, 2000 and 2007.

In 2000, over 400 properties flooded in Woodford. Charlie Brown’s Roundabout was shut for over a week, impacting access to schools and supermarkets. Broadmead Baptist Church on Chigwell Road was out of use for 18 months. Do you remember the floods? We would like to hear from residents who have been impacted.

There are currently over 1,500 properties with a ‘high’ chance of flooding within the River Roding catchment between Stansted and the River Thames.

In the next few editions of the Wanstead Village Directory, we will be telling you different ways you can prepare for flooding. First up, you can check the government website to find out if your property is at risk and where it may flood in your local area. If your home is at risk, you can then register to receive free flood warnings, which come in three levels of severity:

Flood alert, which means you should be prepared by organising a bag of items you must have if you need to leave your home, such as medicines, insurance documents, warm and waterproof clothing, phone charger and torch.

Flood warning, which means you need to act: turn off gas and electricity supplies, move things upstairs and take family to safety.

Severe flood warning, which means you need to take survival steps and contact the emergency services if you are in immediate danger.

The Environment Agency are working with Redbridge Council to reduce the flooding risk to homes and businesses in the local area from the River Roding. We have identified options to achieve this but we can’t do this without additional support.

We estimate the project will cost approximately £14m. So far, we have secured nearly £10m from central government, the council and other sources. However, the project will not progress unless we can find the additional £4m.

If it goes ahead, the River Roding Project will reduce flooding to over 600 homes, local businesses, the M11 and Charlie Brown’s Roundabout. We will be engaging with communities and local groups throughout the catchment to keep them informed. In summary, we want to:

• create a better place for people and wildlife that is more resilient to the impacts of flooding and climate change.
• work with communities and our partners to help us deliver a jointly funded project.
• improve our understanding of flooding in the River Roding catchment.
• work with local communities to improve their understanding of flooding and how they can be better prepared.

How you can help us:

• champion the project locally and help identify sources of funding.
• tell us how you have been impacted by River Roding flooding and tell us your local environmental knowledge.

Margaret Pepper is one of many artists taking part in this year’s Woodford Festival. Here, the local painter explains what led her to produce what is often controversial work

The Woodford Festival 2018 will take place at a range of local venues from 6 to 14 October. For more information on Margaret’s work, visit conceptualpainting.com

Holly Whittaker and her daughter were one of 72 applicants who didn’t receive any of their preferred primary school places in Redbridge this year. Here, Holly tells their story and highlights the problems

Monday, 16 April 2018 is a day I remember all too clearly. It should have been an exciting day, finding out the primary school place my daughter would be attending, sharing the news with her and getting her all excited about the prospect of starting ‘big school’.

Instead, when the email finally came through that evening, our excitement turned to disbelief in a matter of seconds. The email told us we had not got any of our six preferred options, instead they had placed us in a school two and a half miles from where we live – over an hour’s walk from our home on a route across Charlie Brown’s Roundabout. 

We found this out in a year when the number of applications received for primary school places in Redbridge had dropped for the second year running and a record number (88%) of applicants had got their first choice. We were one of the unfortunate 72 applicants who did not get any of their choices. 

In the local papers we read that the corporate director of people for Redbridge Council had promised the 72 of us that they had a ‘team of people on hand to help with the options available’. We never received a single call or any help whatsoever from anyone at the council.

We were worried about the effect this would have on both of our children and our family life. As a two-parent working family, the options at the time were one of us leaving our job or having to move from our family home. The round journey to my son’s nursery on to my daughter’s school and then to work would be a three-hour commute, twice a day. The effect on our daughter was very upsetting to witness. She did not understand why, unlike all of her nursery friends, she did not know what school she was going to or why she was not going to the same school as them.

When looking into it, parents over the years in Woodford and South Woodford seemed to suffer the same fate we had. Some had either settled on an out-of-borough school or were forced to send their children to private school and some, as a last option, had moved out of the borough altogether.

The reasons were clear: no investment for many years in creating new school places. Even with the development of Queen Mary’s Gate some 10 years ago, creating 498 homes and housing at least 900 people, no new primary school places were created on the back of this. There are also new flats constantly going up in the local vicinity, such as the Scenix development in 2016 (58 flats), the new multi-storey development on the old Waltham Forest Fencing site and, more recently, the signed-off development for homeless families on Chigwell Road (a location chosen in part for its proximity to the local primary school, one that this year already has a waiting list of over 30). 

From our research, it appears the council chose only to invest in new primary school places in the south and central parts of the borough, but as a result, have built overcapacity in these areas, with talk of schools now closing. 

As well as this lack of investment, when we looked into the actual admissions process itself, it seemed flawed and open to abuse. No proper process is in place for dealing with the issue of ‘addresses of convenience’ (people applying from a friend or family member’s address). Neighbouring boroughs have a number of processes in place to tackle this issue, but when discussing this with the head of primary admissions in Redbridge, their method seems to count only on the goodwill of people and putting their head in the sand, denying this process could possibly be going on.

In a year where the number of applications for primary school places across London and in Redbridge had fallen, the number of applications for schools in this area had risen. When we questioned the council on this, they put it down to a localised jump in the birth rate for that school year. However, when we referenced this against children of that age, born in 2013 and 2014 and registered in local GP practices, that also showed a 5.7% drop. So, in this case, who were the children applying for these places causing this increase? Were these local children or was it the pull of schools like Churchfields – an outstanding school, which we have since found out is known in the borough for many as a ‘free Bancrofts’ – that was driving this?

Added to this was the issue with siblings having priority. Once a child has gained entry to a school fraudulently, they cannot be removed after a term. Even if they are found out to have gained access on the back of false information, all their siblings would still have a priority place over local children, no matter where they lived.

It was frustrating to discover we would have stood a better chance of getting into our nearest school by lying about our address. The council never got round to verifying and signing off all applications in terms of proof of addresses. Indeed, at the time of writing, there have been little over 100 home visits out of the 3,698 applications made by the deadline. It is clear there is no effective process in place to ensure the children awarded places in local schools are local children.

In the end, after the trauma of school appeals, with the evidence we had uncovered, we won an appeal for Oakdale Infant School, one of our six preferences. Although double the distance of our nearest school, the relief was enormous knowing we did not have to move and we could finally tell our daughter which school she would attend. 

Throughout the whole process, we had tremendous help from our local councillor Stephen Adams, who has supported us every step of the way and is working with the council on an urgent review of their lack of investment in primary school places in the area. 

Enough is enough. It is time to stop local children being cheated out of local school places. Redbridge Council needs to be held accountable for years of maladministration and lack of investment in primary school places.

For more information on schools in Redbridge and admission processes, visit swvg.co/schools

The Wanstead Society and the South Woodford Society have joined forces to raise awareness of and take action over the litter problem at Eagle Pond in Snaresbrook. Scott Wilding reports. Photography by Geoff Wilkinson

Most of us have seen, or heard, about the BBC’s series Blue Planet. This groundbreaking programme highlighted the link between the plastics we throw away, which then enter the oceans, and the damage they do to our wildlife.

We have our own blue planet on our doorstep. Eagle Pond, off Snaresbrook Road, like all wet habitats in the area, has suffered this summer as a result of the long dry spell, low oxygen levels and litter. Just like the turtles and whales in the oceans, the local wildlife suffers just as much with the plastics and litter that enter the ponds here, or in Wanstead Park.

That’s why the Wanstead Society and the South Woodford Society are working with local people, the council and the City of London to highlight this issue and promote a three-step approach to removing this waste.

Get the public to take their litter home
Unless we all take responsibility for where we live, we can never cure the root cause of this problem. Just take your litter home with you and recycle it if you can. Most responsible people do just that. But we hope that by raising awareness of what discarded plastic does to our local wildlife, those that don’t can understand what happens. Some plastics never biodegrade, and if they get digested by fish, swans and other birds, they cause them pain and can ultimately kill them. By taking litter home, we not only make where we live a better place, but help local wildlife thrive as well.

Action days to clean up the ponds
Eagle Pond is owned by the City of London and is their responsibility to maintain. The Wanstead Society and the South Woodford Society have offered to work with local people and the council to help clean the site and our first action day took place on 1 September. Although this will help in the short term, it’s only a small sticking plaster unless we can cure the root problem.

Improved cleansing and bin facilities along Snaresbrook Road
We are working with Redbridge Council to ensure the surrounding areas are clean. With the help of Councillor Blackman of Wanstead Village ward, we aim to ensure the surrounding roads have sufficient bin provision. The council can do little to the pond, but we can ensure the surrounding areas are kept litter-free to prevent litter blowing into the water, which they have promised to do.

We are lucky to have so much green space and wetland wildlife in Wanstead and South Woodford, but we all need to take steps to ensure it thrives and has a plastic-free life. We can’t directly ensure the Pacific or Atlantic are 100% waste-free, but together we can make a real difference to our local wildlife, which is just as important.

Eagle Pond is situated in the north-west corner of Leyton Flats, bounded by Snaresbrook Road on the north and the grounds of Snaresbrook Crown Court on the south. For more information, visit swvg.co/eaglepond or email e18society@gmail.com