Editor

Paul Kaufman, Chair of East London Humanists, introduces their March public event on climate change and explains what the local group is up to in the Covid era

Leo Barasi, acclaimed writer and speaker on climate change, will lead a discussion for our Zoom event this March. It takes place exactly a year after a meeting at Wanstead Library featuring Leo had to be cancelled due to Covid. A lot has changed in that year, but addressing human-created climate change remains more urgent than ever.

In his book The Climate Majority, Leo argues that the battle to convince people that climate change needs to be tackled is largely won. The battle now is against the apathy which allows those with power to avoid taking the action necessary. He will examine how this can be overcome and what lessons we can learn from the way governments and people have reacted to the pandemic.

Our group was initially reluctant to hold events on Zoom. We miss the conviviality of meeting in person. On the plus side, Zoom is now familiar to many and enables our reach to extend far beyond Wanstead and South Woodford. For example, our January event featured the editor of The Freethinker speaking from Spain, joined by human rights activist Leo Igwe speaking from Nigeria. We look forward to resuming more sociable events, but in the meantime, Zoom helps us thrive.

Our activities involve more than just staging events. Last year, we celebrated Relationships and Sex Education being made compulsory in state schools. This follows 50 years of campaigning by Humanists UK and marks a historic moment in children’s rights. Our group contributes to the working party for the new curriculum in Redbridge. All children have the right to an education that helps keep them healthy, happy and safe, and we will continue to campaign against the ‘opt outs.’

Another campaign concerns Census 2021, which takes place on 21 March. It includes the leading question ‘What is your religion?’ This falsely presumes we all have a religion. It leads many to say they have a religion when they have no religious belief. They simply name the religion in their cultural background. Underestimating how many are not religious results in unfair provision, for example, of non-religious pastoral care in hospitals, prisons and the armed services, and helps perpetuate anachronisms such as compulsory daily acts of Christian worship in schools. We urge those who are not religious to simply tick the ‘no religion’ box.

The last year has seen its fair share of conspiracy theorists, anti-vaccers, intolerance and backward thinking. It remains as important as ever to have groups like ours which promote values based on evidence, reason and kindness.

The East London Humanists’ virtual discussion on climate change featuring Leo Barasi will take place on 15 March from 7.30pm. For more information and to take part, visit swvg.co.uk/elh

A Community Sponsorship group made up of five churches in the Redbridge and Waltham Forest area – including St Mary’s Church in South Woodford – has successfully helped relocate a Syrian refugee family in the Wanstead area.

“The family have moved here, to safety, as part of an initial scheme to resettle a limited number of refugees from the Syrian conflict… We have received so many generous donations of household items, volunteers’ time and money to pay for the family’s essentials,” said a group spokesperson.

A new community group has been established to offer a free 12-week cycling and walking programme in Ray Park and Fairlop Waters, beginning this Easter.

“The project aims to bring outdoor activity to adults in the local community who are currently inactive… The project aims to not only develop friendships in the community but also to provide an insight into nature conservation and the delights to be found at both sites,” said a spokesperson for the Redbridge Active and Social Community Group.

The group is a partnership between Cycling4You and Vision RCL.

Email redbridgeascg@gmail.com

Some South Woodford scribbles from DD, our resident diarist, commentator and observer of all things local

So, lockdown continues as I write this! There are plenty of “Thou shalt nots” to be wary of: not sitting on a park bench, not breaching the two-metre gap, not entering a shop unmasked, and so forth. (Boris, Moses-like, comes down the mountain at regular intervals with a new set of commandments.) But taking exercise is OK. Indeed, recommended. But only locally. Round the familiar streets and parks and woods. My grandmother (the one who survived the 1918 flu pandemic) often used to say that “every picture tells a story”. When you’ve lived here all your life, as I have, every street tells a story, every park, every bit of woodland. Why not come along and exercise with me?

I’m climbing Grove Hill. I was born here in a small maternity home. I enjoy the wide variety of houses. I was once employed as a cleaner in one of the more imposing ones. During the school holiday. I was not amused when ‘the lady of the house’ told my mother I was “rather slow”. I bet her parquet floor never gleamed as brightly before I got my hands, and knees, on it. I’m nearing the top of the hill now. Looking rather tenderly at a small house where lived another lady who became part of my life. She gave me a hand when our children were two months and 22 months old. They loved her, and clearly their love was requited. Decades later, her own grown-up children rang me out of the blue. “Please come and sit with Mum. She is dying. She is frightened.” What a privilege. What a challenge. I couldn’t recall that any conversation their mum and I had previously shared ranged much wider than topics like potty-training and Playdough. But when someone is in distress (“I wish I’d been a better person,” she confessed), you do your best, don’t you?

I’m approaching the narrow footbridge over the motorway. Sometimes, I used to wait on the bridge to watch for my son getting off the 123 bus after school. If he was alone, we could walk home together. If he was with his mates, I would disappear smartish, so as not to embarrass him. On one occasion, as I stood looking down at the speeding traffic, I was approached by a stranger who asked: “Are you OK? Can I be of any assistance? Would it help to talk?”   

We can continue down towards the High Road now on a narrow track called Willow Path. Sheltered visually by trees and shrubs, but not audibly: the cars still roar along on your left. We are passing Craig Gardens, stirring up memories of my aunt and uncle who lived there for some years. Crazy but wonderful was the feather game we all played with them at Christmas. Sitting in a circle on the floor with a sheet drawn up under our chins and all blowing like mad in an attempt to keep the feather airborne. Tears of laughter. Essence of family.

We enter Hillcrest Road. Our first address after we married. What a debt I owed to those four lovable teenagers who materialised when our first child was born. “Can we take your son for a walk in his pram?” Had they arrived from just up the road, or from Heaven? It was the beginning of countless walks, park visits, even shared trips to the seaside. In fact, when I was upstairs in labour with our daughter, our son was having tea with “the pals”. They were the first to hold the newborn baby, excitedly updating her brother. “You’ve got a baby sister now!” “Yes,” he replied. “And I’ve got a new red toy car.”

We are soon crossing over the High Road to George Lane. My diary has already covered so many events and people I’ve witnessed there over recent years: the robed barrister fresh from Snaresbrook Crown Court, stooping to recover the vegetables tumbling from an elderly shopper’s inadequate plastic bag; the U3A volunteer gardeners bent double on our behalf in the flower beds; the key cutters and tattooists, the hairdressers and beauticians, the estate agents and sandwich-makers. I much regretted the closure of the Treasure Chest, with its huge stock of really useful home stuff. Next door to Fiori’s the greengrocer, also a serious loss at the time. I can still hear Peter’s resonant voice demanding everyone’s attention to the wonderfully succulent strawberries we mustn’t miss. One day, his hand was all bandaged up. And his head too! “What’s been happening?” I asked. Apparently, he had cut his hand badly and waited so long in casualty that he fainted and fell, cutting open his forehead as well. He ended up with more stitches in his head than in his hand. “Are you going to sue them?” “No, of course not. No-one’s to blame. They were just very busy.” I was sad to see Dave the butcher shut up shop too. Churchill’s, it was called. He said he’d “had an offer he couldn’t refuse”. He gave me one of his red-handled carving knives as a memento.

Round the corner now, past Barclays, into Glebelands Avenue. I don’t think I ever told you about my undignified tumble on the ice a few winters ago. That pavement is always rather unpredictable but I swear the slope gets steeper under the snow. My legs shot forwards and the rest of me shot backwards. I sat there, feeling somewhat ridiculous, not to mention rather sore. “What are you doing down there?” A voice from behind me. Two gentlemen. They took an arm each and I was back on my feet. “You’d be better off at home, I think,” the voice continued. “Come on, let’s get you into my car.” It was the boss of the Wood Oven. “D’you know where she lives?” asked his colleague. “I certainly do! We catered for her 70th!” I was chauffeured to my front door.

That’s enough exercise for today. It’s time for a cup of tea.

DD would like to hear other lockdown stories from local residents. Click here to take part.

Permitted development rights in place since 1 September 2020 allow homeowners to extend upwards without planning permission. But it’s not without obstacles, says Derek Inkpin from solicitors Wiseman Lee

As ever in life, the devil is in the detail, and specialist advice is required if you plan to extend your home upwards. One big no-no is if you have a house built before 1948 (and therefore much of the local area), this relaxation will not apply to you and planning permission will still be needed.

Under the new rules, and subject to height restrictions and pitch of roof, if your house is built after 1948 you can extend your home up to two storeys to contain new flats on top of the existing structure. Extensions on existing extensions are not possible under the new rules and your property will not qualify if you live in a conservation area.

Despite government encouragement to build flats and communal buildings in urban areas on top of existing buildings, the law nevertheless steps in to ensure certain measures are followed. Thus, if you are a freehold owner of a block of flats, you could be up against a number of issues, including:

The rights of existing tenants under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, with the right of first refusal to the proposed development.

Breach of a landlord’s obligation to provide quiet enjoyment to the existing leaseholders, who may take legal action if the development is without their consent.

Party wall matters.

Overage when selling a building which has a potential for roof space development could result in a substantial payment to the seller if the development proceeds.

Issues with collective enfranchisement (the right to collectively seek the acquisition of the freehold and the right to manage), which is protected in law.

Insurance and health and safety issues.

Service charge issues.

Dealing with existing telecom masts.

Dealing with who owns the air space. Get this wrong and the leaseholders affected could halt the development.

A good firm of urban architects will be required and a structural engineer to make sure the existing block is strong enough to support the development. And then comes all the legal work involving all the parties affected and their mortgage lenders. All achievable, but strong determination, hard work and a substantial financial outlay will obviously be required if success is to be guaranteed.

Wiseman Lee is located at 9–13 Cambridge Park, Wanstead, E11 2PU. For more information, call 020 8215 1000

Members of the South Woodford Business Forum met virtually in February to discuss local business support.

“We had a very constructive meeting attended by business owners along with councillors, the vicar at Holy Trinity Church and Redbridge Council officers. We discussed the support available to businesses, the challenges they face and the need for a strategic plan to help the high street bounce back,” said a spokesperson. The next meeting is scheduled for 13 May.

Email southwoodfordbusinessforum@gmail.com   

Redbridge Council is proposing to install new electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs) on streets across South Woodford.

“The main objective of the proposed on-street EVCPs is to support the transition to cleaner cars. As the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030, the council is working on providing sufficient infrastructure to meet demand,” said a spokesperson.

A total of 36 EVCPs are proposed for the west of the borough.

A consultation runs until 18 March.

Visit swvg.co.uk/evcp

The wheelie bin roll-out begins in South Woodford this March. The scheme will keep streets cleaner and encourage more recycling, says Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Civic Pride

Some residents may already be familiar with Redbridge Council’s new wheelie bins through a pilot of 7,000 households across the borough last year, which included some nearby streets in Wanstead.

The pilot was a success, with results showing that 75% of participants noticed less rubbish spilt around their property on collection day, helping to improve the surrounding environment. Up to 67% of respondents found it easier to use wheelie bins than rubbish sacks. There was also a 13% reduction in household rubbish and an average of 4.2% increase in recycling in some areas.

Wheelie bins are now being rolled out across the borough and South Woodford residents can expect their new bins to be delivered in March. All households that receive a kerbside rubbish and recycling collection service will be provided with one new, free, dark-grey 180-litre wheelie bin for the collection of their rubbish. This new bin will replace the current rubbish sack collection and residents should place their rubbish sacks in the new bin. Your rubbish and recycling collection days will remain the same and you can start to use the new bin straight away.

The wheelie bins should keep our streets cleaner by allowing residents to store and contain rubbish securely, helping prevent animals from ripping sacks, reducing split sacks on collection days and, ultimately, reducing littering and clean-up costs. Wheelie bins are also intended to encourage residents to recycle more to maximise space in their bin, and reduce the volume of waste thrown away. To make the service as effective as possible, we want residents to use the bin provided, but we also understand some households may need an alternative size – smaller and larger bins can be requested by completing a form on the council’s website.

Privately owned wheelie bins and dustbins cannot be emptied as part of the new service. Rubbish will only be collected from Redbridge-issued wheelie bins. We want to be fair to all residents, so we want everyone to use the same size container. Also, our collection vehicles may not work properly or safely with other bins. So, we will be providing details of a bin amnesty, giving residents the chance to have privately owned wheelie bins disposed of free of charge. Cylindrical-style dustbins cannot be collected as part of this amnesty. These can be taken to Chigwell Road Recycling and Reuse Centre.

Redbridge currently disposes of around 22m rubbish sacks each year, which costs £18m. We also collect the fifth-highest amount of rubbish in England. Wheelie bins will increase the efficiency of collections, helping to save money that could be spent on other services like schools and social care.

For more information and to request a different size bin or to take part in the bin amnesty, visit swvg.co.uk/bins

Co-chair of the South Woodford Society Pearl Arbenser-Simmonds reports on the group’s progress as they prepare the South Woodford Neighbourhood Plan. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson

We have been preparing for the South Woodford Neighbourhood Plan (SWNP) for a while now and it’s time to give you an update on what’s to come in this thrilling year ahead!

A key aim of neighbourhood planning is to allow the local community to play a vital role in guiding future development to achieve well-designed places and buildings; ensuring a positive relationship between development and quality of life.

Through the creation of the Neighbourhood Plan, the South Woodford community will be more aware of, more involved in – and therefore able to influence – the design of proposed developments. This will ensure that places and buildings reflect local community preferences.

The SWNP will be based on your vision and aims for South Woodford, drawn from evidence, consultation feedback and knowledge of our area. You may remember a survey we conducted at the very start of the process, where you gave us your views, hopes and aspirations for the neighbourhood, as well as agreeing the boundary area of the plan. These views have fed into the vision and aims outlined below.

There are three stages to the process. Stage one was completed with the approval of the boundary area and official designation of the Neighbourhood Forum, the group of people who will drive the Neighbourhood Plan forward to completion and acceptance.

We’ve recently applied for funding to set us off on stage two, which entails identifying information and policies to inform the plan. Stage three will bring the plan into force. You can find out more about the process in the Locality Neighbourhood Plans Roadmap (swvg.co.uk/np).

We will stay in touch to keep you informed and also to invite you to get involved, especially where you have particular areas of interest and expertise.

Our vision

The vision for South Woodford covers the environment, business and culture:

1. South Woodford will be a clean, green and safe environment that is well-managed and maintained for all those who live, work, learn and visit. It will be a place that people of all ages and from all walks of life can be proud of and will want to work together to protect.
2. Our town centre will be even busier and more vibrant with a great shopping experience for all.
3. Our green spaces will be enhanced and an environmentally sensitive culture will be fostered to protect and improve our amenities for everyone’s benefit.
4. The creation of well-designed and well-built structures that benefit all who depend upon South Woodford.

Our aims

We will achieve our vision through a number of strategies and actions:

1. Building a stronger community, fostering a collaborative and inclusive approach.
2. Creating a clean and safe environment.
3. Engendering a coherent and sustainable approach to development to support Redbridge’s policy of becoming net zero by 2030.
4. Ensuring a holistic approach to planning and infrastructure improvements.
5. Improving and increasing access to green spaces within the community, encouraging residents to support biodiversity and Redbridge’s Grow Zones initiative.
6. Enhancing the vibrancy of the town centre with a great variety of businesses.
7. Supporting local businesses through the established South Woodford Business Forum.
8. Preserving the heritage of South Woodford.

To achieve these aims, we’ll be exploring a range of topic areas such as social and community, economic issues, development and infrastructure and sustainability and environment. These will include arts, culture, sport and leisure, green spaces and more.

We’re now conducting a survey as our next step to confirm the vision and aims to allow the SWNP to progress. Please let us know what you think.

For more information and to take part in the South Woodford Neighbourhood Plan survey, visit swvg.co.uk/npsurvey

For more information on the South Woodford Society, visit swvg.co.uk/sws

A network of foodbank collection points is seeking more homes in the local area to participate in the initiative.

“Tin in a Bin (TinaB) is a network of homes across Wanstead, Aldersbrook and South Woodford, each with a bin where generous neighbours can drop donations. Sadly, the need for food support is growing rapidly, and we are now hoping to expand the network from its current 40-plus collection sites,” said a spokesperson for TinaB, which launched in April 2020 and supports a wide range of charities.

Visit swvg.co.uk/tinab

Residents have until 11 March to take part in the consultation over the closure of South Woodford’s Crown Post Office. Communication Workers Union rep Clive Tickner urges you to do so. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson

Firstly, let me introduce myself. My name is Clive Tickner and I am the Communication Workers Union (CWU) sector rep for South Woodford Post Office on George Lane, which on 27 January was announced for closure. I have represented the office for many years and have worked for the Post Office for over 35 years.

A bit of background behind this closure. In 2017, South Woodford Post Office announced it was going to be franchised; however, the buyer pulled out. Then, in 2018, the terms of the lease were changed and the landlord gave the Post Office notice to be out by early May of this year.

South Woodford is a Crown Post Office that transacts the full range of services and is publicly owned. The next nearest Crown Post Office would be Houndsditch, which is 10 miles away, with the nearest sub Post Office two miles away. The staff currently working in there have nearly 200 years of experience between them.

Crown Post Offices – those that are directly managed by Post Office Ltd – are a cherished institution, loved by all who use them. If the closure was to go ahead, it would have a devastating effect on George Lane’s businesses and the communities that the office currently serves.

The petition launched on the day the closure was announced has already received over 2,600 signatures at the time of writing, and responses are growing daily. The campaign has cross-party support, with Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP particularly vociferous in his support of keeping the site open. It is also my intention to set up a public meeting at a date to be advised, and I would expect Post Office management to attend such an important meeting and to be answerable to the community of South Woodford.

My biggest fear is that the local community will be left without a Post Office. It is our belief that the decision to close is based on pure financial dogma as we also believe the lease could easily be extended or an alternative premises found to house a Crown Post Office.

A consultation started on 27 January and runs until 11 March. This is why we moved quickly to set up a campaign committee to stop this destruction of a national treasure, something that is a vitally important part of our social fabric. We need as much support as possible to halt this process.

When this pandemic finally abates, the Post Office will be an integral part of the economy bouncing back, both nationally and locally, as well as retaining its position as an essential community hub to the people of South Woodford. These are some of the many reasons why we need to save South Woodford’s Crown Post Office. Please help to support this vital campaign.

To contact Clive, call 07876 344 456 or email cstickner99@yahoo.co.uk

To sign the petition, visit swvg.co.uk/po

To take part in the consultation, visit swvg.co.uk/poconsultation