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Pearl Arbenser-Simmonds celebrates the completion of South Woodford’s digital Design Code and looks ahead to the area becoming London’s most liveable urban village

As I write this, 2024 draws to a close, which is fitting as our exciting work on creating the South Woodford digital Design Code is also coming to an end! We are particularly proud of the work we have achieved, supported by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). 

The Design Code will ensure any development that takes place is sympathetic both to our local environment and residents’ needs by prioritising accessible green space, better public spaces, improved walking and cycling infrastructure and key amenities.

The Design Code website has been amalgamated with the South Woodford Society website. The Design Code draft has been finalised and we have created a digital version of the code; this work is now live on our new website. It is a website still in beta testing, so if you spot any errors or bugs, do please let us know!

Work continues on the Neighbourhood Plan and we envisage presenting a draft to the London Borough of Redbridge in spring 2025. This will be followed by a public consultation on the draft and an independent examination, culminating in a public referendum on adopting the plan.

Creating a digital Design Code has been exciting and we believe we have managed to strike the right balance between offering tangible information to relevant professionals and developers, whilst keeping it interesting and engaging for local residents. It includes interactive models of what the two main development sites in our area (Station Estate and Station Car Park – identified by London Borough of Redbridge in their Local Plan) could be. It is very important to note the models and plans are quite simply illustrations of what those sites could achieve, taking into account local residents’ preferences and stated needs. 

We will also be creating QR codes to be displayed at various locations across South Woodford in the spring. These will allow anyone to view information specific to that location. 

Developed in partnership with AzuKo, the interactive map documents our community’s assets – everything from green spaces and tree canopy cover to public seating and cycle parking. This will illustrate changes over time and show how close we are to our targets for South Woodford becoming ‘London’s most liveable urban village’. We are also mapping kerb uses, kindly enabled by AppyWay. This data will allow us to understand just how sustainable our kerb spaces currently are and identify those which could be re-allocated for uses such as street trees, parklets and sustainable drainage systems. Over the coming year, we will explore ways of expanding this interactive map to include local walking and cycling routes.

Thank you all for your support and engagement in 2024 and very best wishes for the year ahead.

For more information and to view the new South Woodford Society website, visit sowosoc.org

A permit parking consultation is underway for a number of roads in South Woodford.

“We have received two local petitions requesting that new permit parking controls be introduced for Maybank Road, Crescent Road, Chigwell Road and the surrounding roads. This is in response to concerns over non-residential parking taking place in the area… A decision will be made based on the responses received to this consultation,” said a Redbridge Council spokesperson.

The consultation is open until 26 January.

Visit swvg.co.uk/mbpermit

The company behind the redevelopment of Snaresbrook Station car park – which closed last March – has issued an update.

“The car park closed to allow for the building of much-needed affordable homes. We are currently undertaking enabling works to prepare for construction… We expect the development to be completed by the end of 2026. When the car park reopens, 22 spaces will be available, including four Blue Badge parking spaces,” said a spokesperson for Pocket Living, which is building two blocks of flats on the site.

The Friends of Wanstead Parklands will host a New Year stroll in the park on 5 January, with an irreverent, local interpretation on the 12 days of Christmas.

“Join us for an easy post-Christmas morning stroll. We’ll take a tour of some historical highlights of the park, highlighting 12 key moments in its history. This will be a Wanstead Park epiphany walk!” said Adrian Russell.

The walk will depart from the park’s Warren Road entrance at 10.30am, finishing at the tea hut by 12 noon.

Email info@wansteadpark.org.uk

Residents have until 5 January to apply to adopt a tree pit on their street, alongside year-round applications to remove an entire road from the chemical weed control spraying schedule.

“A tree pit is the soil area at the base of trees, perfect for planting with wildflowers. Last year, residents adopted over 650 tree pits across the borough, boosting biodiversity. If you have previously adopted a tree pit, you will have to re-apply as adoptions only last for 12 months,” said a Redbridge Council spokesperson.

Visit swvg.co.uk/treepits

Redbridge Council has launched a public consultation on its first sustainable transport strategy.

“Our ambition is to create seamless and safe connections between the bus, underground and rail networks, and an extensive network of zero-emission vehicle charging points that support the borough’s carbon-neutral ambition. We really value your input and feedback,” said a spokesperson.

The survey is open until 5 January.

Visit swvg.co.uk/sts

A PE teacher from St Aubyn’s School in Woodford Green represented England in the Women’s Masters Hockey World Cup held in New Zealand in November.

“It was quite an achievement and one which has made me and my family and friends so proud… The trip to Auckland was amazing and shows that whatever your age… with effort and determination, dreams can come true,” said Lynn Wright, who competed in the over-50s squad.

The team finished in fifth place and were undefeated in all their matches.

A fundraiser has been launched to support The Children’s Society in recovering lost revenue after its South Woodford charity shop was closed for a week in November following a burglary.

“We were moved by the concerns of people in the local community who contacted us to help, and so we set up the fundraiser page for anyone that would like to make donations so we can keep up our important work with children and young people,” said a spokesperson for the charity.

Visit swvg.co.uk/tcs

Nominations for the Mayor of Redbridge’s annual community awards are open until 6 January.

“Do you know an unsung hero within your street or local community? Or a group or organisation that has made a positive contribution to the lives of local residents?” asked a council spokesperson.

The judging panel is comprised of councillors, council officers and local residents.

Visit swvg.co.uk/mca25

Redbridge Council has confirmed Broadmead Road bridge will remain closed to cars for the foreseeable future.

The 87-year-old structure – closed to traffic since July 2023 due to structural defects – was discussed in an online meeting with the leader of Redbridge Council in November.

“The bridge is closed due to safety concerns following inspections that identified cracks and concrete corrosion. Detailed inspections revealed extensive defects, such as carbonation and chloride contamination, which have compromised the bridge’s integrity… A reopening date depends on the chosen repair option… We expect to receive the final options report in the spring,” said a spokesperson.

The cost of repair is estimated to be over £25m. The bridge is currently open to pedestrians, cyclists and motorbikes.

A recording of the meeting is available to view online.

Visit swvg.co.uk/bvid

South Woodford resident Gina Wade started creating coloured-pencil drawings of pets and wildlife – including this festive Robin – during lockdown. Here, the Dutch-born artist explains how it all began

I was born in The Netherlands to a Dutch mother and an English father. We spent the next few years in Germany. Then, we lived in Cyprus, Aden and Belgium, in between returning to Holland, where I spent nearly five years at a Dutch school. You may have gathered my father was in the Forces. His last posting was in England, in Upminster. Currently, I live in South Woodford. 

I have one son and three beautiful grandchildren, living in Sydney, Australia. So there is still lots of travelling between visiting family there and the Netherlands, and holidays, of course.

I started oil painting at school in Belgium. Here, in the UK, I did various part-time art courses. Drawing animals was never my thing and I was pretty bad at it, but lockdown started and I saw a picture of a cat which had been done in coloured pencils. After a bit of investigating, I decided to have a go.

This got me watching YouTube and Instagram, where there are lots of good coloured-pencil artists giving demonstrations and tips. A lot of them also do classes on Patreon. After honing my skills, I now specialise in drawing pets and wildlife.

I have lived in the area for more years than I can remember, but until lockdown, most of my social life was in London. I have now joined Art Group Wanstead, and was delighted when I sold one of my earlier drawings of a German Shepherd at one of the group’s exhibitions. 

My first cat and dog drawings were started with a box of 24 Faber-Castell Polychromos. The most important thing is shading, lights and darks. I then gradually added to my pencils, buying mostly loose pencils. I now also use Caran d’Ache Luminance 6901 series, Derwent Drawing, Derwent Lightfast and Derwent Studio and Caran d’Ache Pablos. The type of paper is also really important. I started with a pad of Strathmore Bristol Vellum 300 and off I went. The various types of paper I now use are Pastelmat, Derwent Lightfast, Dura-Lar 0.005, Polydraw 0.50 and Grafix 0.005. The latter and Pastelmat are my favourites.

There are different techniques you must use with the various types of paper. Pastelmat is the most forgiving. You can colour light over dark, whereas most of the other papers you can’t. With Grafix, Dura-Lar and Polydraw you have to have a really light touch. I use a mono zero 2.3 eraser and Faber-Castell kneadable eraser. I use them both to not only erase but to also create hairs, shadows and whiskers. A Helix Metal Erasing Shield and Scotch Magic Tape, again to create shadows. I do have an electric eraser but hardly use it. If you are starting out, then this is something I wouldn’t buy. 

So, with all this information, I hope there is someone out there who is going to give coloured-pencil drawing a go!

My ambition is to enter more exhibitions. One of my dreams would be to get something entered in The David Shepherd Wildlife exhibition.

Another thing I aim to do is give a drawing to an animal charity for them to auction off. In the meantime, I am doing commissions.

To view more of Gina’s artwork, follow her on Instagram @GinaWade03