Over the last 10 years, Redbridge Council has increasingly excluded residents from the planning process, argues Paul Canal, who laments the decision to approve the Snaresbrook Station car park development We used to have up to 50 meetings a year attended by local people. The abolition of the Area Planning Committees, which met up to 33 times a year, was followed by the removal of residents’ – or indeed councillors’ – rights to call in applications for public discussion. For an astounding 10 months, we didn’t have a single public planning meeting – and that was not as a result of covid! In their place, behind closed doors, a planning chair sits with an officer and they alone decide what should and should not be discussed...

Memento mori workshops will take place at Creative Biscuit Ceramics Café this June

A former police dog is receiving treatment for a rare skin condition at Goddard Veterinary Group’s South Woodford practice

The South Woodford Society is planning a return of the expanded summer market on George Lane

The Coronation weekend will be a time for community, family and friends to come together, help each other out… and think big, say Viveca Dutt and Elaine Atkins

Community champions from South Woodford were recognised at the 2023 Redbridge Mayor’s Awards. Elaine Atkins – herself part of the award-winning South Woodford Society – reports on the achievements

A number of workshops will take place at the new community garden in Ray Park this summer

Elmhurst Gardens in South Woodford is one of 10 park tennis venues to be renovated

The RideLondon cycling event will pass through Redbridge on 28 May

The Woodford Arts Group spring exhibition drew large crowds to the Sir James Hawkey Hall in April

Pupils at Churchfields Junior School in South Woodford planted trees in March as part of Redbridge Council’s School’s Tree Planting initiative

£323,774 to fund clean air initiatives and help reduce air pollution in the borough