Editor

The Rotary Club of Leytonstone and Woodford is inviting residents to join an online bingo night on 30 October to raise money for charity.

“Our club is part of Rotary International and supports the global challenges facing us all. However, we are particularly focused on the local community and other deserving causes closer to home,” said club member John Bracken. The event, which starts at 7.15pm (£10 per person), will include four games, with prizes for one line, two lines and a full house.

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The temporary mortuary erected on Wanstead Flats at the height of the coronavirus pandemic has been removed and will become a new wild flower habitat.

“While coronavirus is likely to be with us for a long time and we mustn’t be complacent, the removal of the mortuary is a welcome sign of normal life beginning to return to our open spaces… The site will be sown in autumn and again next spring with a wild flower seed mix, including seeds collected from nearby areas of the forest,” said a City of London spokesperson.

Healthwatch Redbridge is seeking feedback from local residents about their experiences of NHS health and social care services during the pandemic.

“We are in regular contact with hospitals and adult social care services across Redbridge, receiving updates on how they are working during this time and what systems and changes they are making to services. We will use the responses to ensure local concerns are identified early and passed on to the appropriate services. Let your voice be heard,” said a spokesperson.

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South Woodford is set to receive the borough’s first mobility hub as part of Redbridge Council’s efforts to reduce emissions from vehicles.

“Mobility hubs are small-scale transport hubs that make it easy to change from one mode of transport to another. The aim is to support the transition to cleaner cars, and provide access to electric car club vehicles for those who do not want to own a car but want to use a zero-emission vehicle when they choose to drive,” said a spokesperson.

The hub – which will be installed outside Tipi Coffee Co, 117 George Lane, South Woodford – will include a bay for an electric car club vehicle, an electric vehicle charging point and a parklet containing a water fountain, seating facilities, cycle parking and planters.

Installation of the hub is scheduled for this autumn.

The Leader of Redbridge Council, Councillor Jas Athwal, added: “As a council, we are continually looking at ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint and create a better, healthier environment for future generations. This is yet another excellent example of how we are embracing new and exciting green initiatives, paving the way for the era of electric vehicles that we will all soon experience. This is a great project for South Woodford and one that I’m sure residents will warmly welcome. I look forward to seeing it once it is up and running later this year.”

The vicar of Holy Trinity church in South Woodford has quelled rumours that the church is somehow benefitting from the proposed 5G phone mast outside the building.

“The proposed 5G mast on Southview Drive is outside the church site. The church has not been consulted directly about the mast, and we are certainly not in line to benefit financially from its installation. I have contacted the council to note that we, as a near neighbour of the proposed site, were not consulted, and also to remind the council that a preschool meets in our church hall five days a week, and that the scout hut on site provides sessions for children and young people several times a week too. This is in addition to children’s work provided directly by the church,” Rev Abi Todd.

As the father of two young children, I know only too well the value of having two of everything. One red ball and one blue ball? Arguments will follow. One teddy and one doll? A recipe for chaos. One bag of sweets to share? You get the picture. Sharing may be caring, but kids simply don’t care about that! Sharing is a vital life skill and, like most skills, takes time to master, so continue we must with duplicate toys and treats.

Last month, I asked Wanstead and South Woodford to share this magazine, and I do so again this month. Our way of overcoming the commercial and logistical obstacles imposed by the current crisis. Our way of maintaining our contribution to a united community. Our way of caring.

Of course, I can’t pursue this analogy without juxtaposing my squabbling offspring with the mental image of crowds of Wanstead and Woodford residents tearing this publication in two as they each claim it belongs to them. And I certainly wouldn’t attempt such a crass comparison, not least because there’s only room on the naughty step for two.

But on a (slightly) more serious note, as much as I enjoy the somewhat poetic nature of combining two community publications during these difficult times, I enjoy more the unique identity of our postcode divides. The need for some deadheading of marigolds in E18 and the establishing of a wild flower meadow in E11 are very similar stories, but of very different interest levels depending on where you live. So, as we all continue to adapt to a new normal, please continue to share your sweets for now.

Like so many other businesses impacted by the restrictions designed to reduce the spread of coronavirus, this publication has had to adapt.

The Wanstead Village Directory and the South Woodford Village Gazette have joined forces to continue publishing during these difficult times.

Copies will not be delivered to homes for the time being (click here for an explanation), but every effort has been made to provide as many residents with a copy as possible, via our network of distribution stands. In Wanstead, the stands are located in Tesco, Co-op and the Post Office. In South Woodford, the stands are located in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, M&S and Co-op.

Our ethos of supporting the community and the local economy is more important now than ever before. You can help us do that by picking up a copy when you can.

Like so many up and down the country, our community can be proud of how it is responding the coronavirus pandemic. These are extraordinary times, but we can all be thankful we are part of a community that cares.

People you can phone:

Redbridge Council Wellbeing Service, open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm 020 8708 5555
Redbridge CVS, an umbrella body for local charities and community groups 020 8553 1004
Talking Therapies, helping those feeling distressed 0300 300 1554
The Samaritans, for people who need someone to listen 116 123
Citizens Advice Redbridge, for free, confidential and impartial advice 0300 330 9063
Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering, for advice or information 020 8220 6000

Facebook Groups

Redbridge Joins Together 
Redbridge Covid-19 Mutual Aid
Wanstead Community Hub
Woodford, South Woodford and Wanstead Parents 
Wanstead Community Forum

WhatsApp Groups

Churchfields ward
South Woodford ward
Wanstead Village ward
Wanstead Park ward
List of groups across Redbridge