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The Woodford Historical Society will mark its 90th anniversary this autumn.

“Many societies with similar interests began in the 1920s and 1930s. The Woodford and District Antiquarian Society, as it was then known, was deemed necessary against a background of change. A meeting at the Wilfrid Lawson Temperance Hotel on 31 March 1932 resulted in the formation of the Society, and a programme of talks began later that year,” said club president Peter Lawrence.

A new season of talks begins on 8 September.

Visit swvg.co.uk/history

Eastside Community Heritage is seeking feedback as it works to make its social history archives available online.

“We are digitising our Hidden Histories archive so everyone will be able to access our amazing oral histories, photographs and memorabilia wherever they are. Please complete our two-minute survey to help us include what is important to you and your community,” said a spokesperson.

Visit wnstd.com/echqs

Pearl Arbenser-Simmonds from the South Woodford Society and Neighbourhood Forum urges residents to take part in the South Woodford Design Code survey to influence the look of our local area

The South Woodford Neighbourhood Forum has been chosen as one of only four neighbourhood forums within the country to participate in the new Design Code Pathfinders Programme, alongside 21 local authorities. This is part of the government’s plans to level up for communities across the country. The programme will support us to create our very own Design Code for South Woodford. 

A Design Code is a collection of design principles to help local areas deliver beautiful and sustainable places. It enables the community to lead the way in shaping the design of their neighbourhood. The document provides guidance for development, covering the design of streets, public spaces and buildings, as well as spaces for nature. 

We have made great progress with our Neighbourhood Plan but are mindful of the lack of available sites for new development. This means that almost all development work will comprise of the redevelopment of existing sites as well as adapting or adding to existing buildings. It is for this reason that we are delighted to have the opportunity to create a Design Code for South Woodford.

Our previous community engagement highlighted the desire to improve the provision of green outdoor spaces, infrastructure, a vibrant high street and the overall vision for our neighbourhood to be a wonderful place to live, work and visit. We are asking for your input throughout this process, to ensure the Design Code is driven by the community. We would like to hear your thoughts about the character of South Woodford. What do you like about it? What would you change? How should the area look in 10 years’ time? 

Visit the website below to complete the full survey online. You could win a luxury hamper for taking part!

Alternatively, a paper version of the full survey is available from: Crescendo (160 George Lane), Neil King (10 Electric Parade, George Lane), Café Royale (65 George Lane), Stitch In Time dry cleaners (11 Mulberry Way) or the next local councillors’ surgery. The deadline for this survey is 30 September 2022.

Alongside the South Woodford Society website, we have created the South Woodford Design Code website to act as your community portal for information and progress updates on the development of the Design Code. You will be able to access the full online survey, get involved and learn about what a Design Code is and does.

The survey, and community engagement process, is being conducted by architecture charity AzuKo. All data will remain anonymous. Feel free to speak openly. We welcome your ideas.

For more information and to access the full survey online, visit sowodesigncode.org

Local councillors are continuing discussions to bring a Post Office back to South Woodford.

“Senior council officers are working with the Post Office to secure a location. We are in regular contact, but no site has been identified as yet. We have another meeting with officers in September and will have further updates after that,” said Councillor Joe Hehir.

The George Lane Post Office closed last year, and the subsequent temporary Post Office in The Galleria closed earlier this year following a number of robberies.

Redbridge Council has trialled the use of eco-friendly road asphalt in South Woodford and Wanstead.

“Containing 15% recycled content, the new asphalt mix is produced at a lower temperature leading to reduced emissions during the manufacturing process and less virgin material used, leaving behind a lower carbon footprint,” said a spokesperson.

The road resurfacing programme – delivered in partnership with Kenson Highways – included Ashbourne Avenue, Cadogan Gardens, Charnwood Drive and Colvin Gardens.

Elmhurst Gardens in South Woodford is one of nine parks in Redbridge to receive the Green Flag Award this year.

Founded in 1997, the annual award is an internationally recognised marker of high-quality parks and green spaces.

“These flags are a huge honour and a great tribute to the hard work of our parks team at Vision, as well as the local people and volunteers who contribute so much to making our parks places we can all be very proud of,” said the Leader of Redbridge Council, Councillor Jas Athwal.

Redbridge Council has announced £180,000 of funding for the autumn 2022 round of its Community Crowdfunding programme.

Groups can receive up to £10,000 from the fund to support their community projects.

“Alongside our partners Spacehive, the council will provide you with support to develop your initial idea, right the way through to launching your project,” said a spokesperson.

Visit wnstd.com/cc22

Cattle grazing has not returned to Wanstead Park this year because of the drought conditions.

It follows an assessment by the City of London Corporation’s Grazing and Landscape Project Officer, who determined there simply wasn’t sufficient vegetation to support the cows. The situation is to be monitored in the coming months, and if sufficient moisture enables vegetation growth in the autumn, the cows will return later in the year.

English longhorn cows first returned to the park in 2020. 

A consultation on London City Airport’s expansion plans is open until 9 September.

“South Woodford is facing the prospect of more flights from City Airport at weekends and in the early mornings and late evenings. The airport argues only quieter, cleaner aircraft will be used during these hours. However, the aircraft are only significantly quieter on departure and within four miles of the airport. So for Woodford, that difference is negligible,” said a spokesperson for campaign group HACAN East.

Visit swvg.co.uk/lca22

Redbridge Council has ringfenced £830,000 of funding to support a package of flood defence measures across the borough over the next few years.

“The money will be used to introduce flood alleviation schemes in areas previously seriously affected by flooding, and ensure the borough’s risk management and surface water management plans remain up to date. A range of sustainable drainage systems are also being designed for areas affected by the flash floods in July 2021,” said a spokesperson.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, visited Elmhurst Gardens on 29 July to see a new air quality node in action.

Mums for Lungs Redbridge secured the monitor for the park earlier this year.

“Its readings have already shown that levels of air pollution by the children’s playground frequently breach legal limits. This is thought to be due to passing traffic from the North Circular, which borders Elmhurst Gardens,” said Lydia Fraser-Ward.

esidents can view the monitor’s hour-by-hour readings online.

Visit swvg.co.uk/egair