Editor

Permission has been granted for a new development on Holy Trinity Church land, off Hermon Hill.

Under the plans – named Project Arclight – the church’s 100-year-old Trinity Hall will be replaced by a new community hall with flexible spaces, a play area and café. A four-storey apartment block and nine townhouses will also be built on the site.

“This project will see church land developed to better support the needs of the church and the community for generations to come,” said Rev Abi Todd.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2026.

Redbridge Council has issued an update on South Woodford Library, which closed in September 2024 following the discovery of RAAC concrete.

“We’re in the final stages of negotiation and anticipate the appointed contractor will begin work this autumn. In the meantime, our structural engineers have been assessing the building and providing recommendations. As part of this preparatory phase, we’ve had to prop up the roof structure and install security hoardings… A reopening date will be announced in due course.”

Woodford Pantomime received an award for the best production of a traditional pantomime at the NODA London Awards, held in June.

The honour was in recognition of the amateur company’s January production of Sleeping Beauty, with preparations now underway for their next show. “Rehearsals have begun and excitement is building as we prepare to bring the tale of Dick Whittington to life in 2026,” said a spokesperson. The panto will take place at Sir James Hawkey Hall from 1 to 11 January.

isit swvg.co.uk/wpanto

The head chef of Namak Indian restaurant in South Woodford has been named National Curry Chef of the Year at the UK Curry Championships 2025.

“Cooking is my passion and this award encourages me even more,” said Ravindra Singh, who joined the restaurant eight months ago. Rajesh Suri, director of operations at Namak, said: “Ravindra made a lot of changes to the kitchen, focussing on locally sourced ingredients. He has green beliefs and likes zero waste.”

Namak is located at 219 High Road.

Visit swvg.co.uk/namak

Redbridge Council has approved plans for the introduction of permanent market stalls in South Woodford and Wanstead.

Applications are now open for two pitches on the High Road near Pizza Express and nine pitches along Wanstead High Street.

Wanstead residents have called a public meeting to discuss the proposals.

The new pitches are listed in the council’s recently approved Street Trading Policy 2025.

Redbridge Council is moving forward with plans to demolish and rebuild Broadmead Road bridge, which has been closed to traffic since July 2023 due to structural defects.

he decision follows a detailed options appraisal, which identified full replacement as the most effective long-term solution. The new bridge will cost £24m to construct, with a further £56m required to cover associated costs. The council plans to apply for support from the government’s recently announced £1bn infrastructure fund.

Visit swvg.co.uk/brb

A new edition of Village Vouchers has been jointly published by the South Woodford Village Gazette and Wanstead Village Directory.

“Next time you head to the high street, make sure you have Village Vouchers in your pocket. There are over £500 of savings available at local shops, salons, cafés, pubs and restaurants. Plus, every copy sold includes a donation to Tin in a Bin,” said editor Lee Marquis.

Valid until June 2026, the booklets can be ordered online (£5) and collected from George Lane.

Visit swvg.co.uk/vouchers

Nominations are invited for the Redbridge People’s Plaque Scheme, a new initiative by the council to celebrate the people, buildings, landmarks, parks, open spaces and events that have shaped the borough’s history.

Nominations – which must have a clear historical connection to Redbridge, as known since 1965 – will be reviewed by a panel, including councillors and representatives from community and youth groups.

Visit swvg.co.uk/plaque

South Woodford resident Shaheen Riaz was named southern region dog sitter of the year at the Animal Star Awards in May.

“I am deeply honoured to have won this award, a recognition that feels like a beautiful acknowledgment of the journey I’ve been on with every dog and owner who has trusted me,” said the former school PA, who launched Aunty Shan’s Dog Care part-time in August 2023. In January 2024 it became a full-time business after Shaheen lost her beloved grandmother a few months earlier. “I’d always known that life is short, but her unexpected passing solidified that truth in the most profound way.”

Shaheen went on to establish a business which offers detailed care plans for each dog sit or overnight stay, with personalised and specialised care and ongoing dog support. “Starting a dog-sitting business wasn’t just hard work – it consumed every spare moment, in the most positive way.”

“Life before this business was incredibly dark for me. Trauma had left deep scars, and there were moments I genuinely didn’t think I would make it. All of the amazing dogs and equally amazing owners have quite literally been a life saver. They’ve given me purpose, joy and a reason to wake up excited every single day… Dogs have become my heart and soul… I hope to inspire others to go and follow their dreams no matter what!”

Aunty Shan’s Dog Care has availability from August 2025 and is taking bookings for 2026.

Judged by a panel of industry experts, the Animal Star Awards celebrate individuals and organisations that go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of animals.

For more information, visit auntyshansdogcare.com

Ahead of this year’s Epping Forest Centenary Walk, West Essex Ramblers’ David Evans explains the background to the event and invites local residents to join them on all or part of the 14-mile trek

Next time you’re walking in Epping Forest – the largest open space in London – tip your hat to the shades of Thomas Willingale and a host of like-minded philanthropists, whose perseverance in the face of rapacious landowners resulted in this wonderful walking area remaining accessible to the common people – that’s you and me. Their efforts over more than a decade led to the passage of the Epping Forest Act in 1878, ending unlawful encroachment and enclosures on Forest land. Today, it has more than four million visitors each year.

Stimulated by the opening of a railway line to Chingford, the Forest rapidly became a magnet for East Londoners keen to alleviate the hardships of inner-city industrial life with the Forest’s pastoral tranquillity. Indeed, throughout the first half of the 20th century, it became almost a holiday destination, supplying (relatively) clean air, access to a natural environment and peace and quiet.

In 1978, two members of West Essex Ramblers – Harry Bitten and Fred Matthews – devised a Centenary Walk to acknowledge the debt owed to the architects of the Epping Forest Act. Since then, West Essex Ramblers have each year (excluding Covid times) organised the Centenary Walk, following the same route. It runs from Manor Park in the south, finishing at Epping in the north. The Centenary Walk follows well-established footpaths (they’re even named on the OS map) and is easily accessible by public transport. The total length is 14.5 miles, which will be within the capability of many walkers. “Our intention is to make the walk as inclusive as possible, so we’ve also built in a series of joining and dropping-off points that make the walk suitable for families and you can tailor your participation to your own walking range,” said David Keane, project leader for this year’s walk.

West Essex is a very active group within the Ramblers’ Association with over 600 members, including many living locally. We enjoy walking in a variety of locations. Epping Forest is on our doorstep, but our programme includes walks in the Essex countryside, the Lea Valley, London, along the Thames and further afield, including national trails. We are very keen to welcome new walkers of all ages.

This year is the 49th iteration of the Centenary Walk. From little beginnings, it has grown in stature and we now attract walkers from many parts of London, Essex and Hertfordshire. The passing of the Epping Forest Act was, for many Londoners, a moment as significant as the Peak District’s Kinder Scout trespass in the 1930s. Willingale and his colleagues would no doubt be delighted to see just how successful their efforts have been in opening up Epping Forest. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.

This year’s Epping Forest Centenary Walk will take place on 6 July. For full details and for more information on the West Essex Ramblers, visit swvg.co.uk/wer