EVENTS 2020

Dear All,

Welcome to the Civic Society's latest email bulletin to highlight upcoming events and news:

Civic Society Virtual Pre-Christmas Social Evening at 7.30pm on Monday 7th December

After a difficult year many of us will be happy to see the back of 2020 and as coronavirus restrictions continue we will be celebrating the end of the year with a virtual pre-Christmas social evening next Monday. There will be a short update on current news around the borough followed by a picture and local knowledge quiz and an opportunity for a social chat. We hope you will be able to join us! The link and joining instructions are below:

Topic: Civic Society Pre-Christmas Social

Time: Dec 7, 2020 07:30 PM London

To join Zoom Meeting use the following link or copy to your browser

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86555661559?pwd=QXhBVGNwNmNmZDVoQ0pGYW5JZmhjUT09

Meeting ID: 865 5566 1559

Passcode: 632302

Orient Way Footbridge Petition

A petition has been launched on Change.org to persuade Network Rail, Greater Anglia and Waltham Forest Council to redesign and replace the dilapidated pedestrian bridge over the railway at Orient Way which gives access to Leyton Marshes. The petition highlights the hazardous condition of the footbridge, its poor physical accessibility and lack of security. You can use the following link to sign the petition and help it reach its next target of 1000 signatures: http://chng.it/h6Hgcwv94P

Adrian's Simple Guides to the Planning System

Adrian has taken on the not insignificant task of creating a couple of presentations to make understanding the planning system a bit easier, covering the current LBWF Local Plan consultation (which is open until 14 December) and the National Planning Process. They can be accessed on the Civic Society website under News/More Info and also Adrian's blog: http://wfoc.blogspot.com/2020/11/local-plan-update-1.html

Civic Society Membership Renewals

We hope you have enjoyed being a member of the society during the year and have been able to take part in some of our virtual events, or in-person events earlier in the year. Current Civic Society members should all have received a letter and membership renewal form with information on how to rejoin the society and pay their subscriptions by sending a cheque or online by bank transfer. Please contact me if you haven't received a letter/form and would like to rejoin.

I am also including a link to Adrian Stannard's blog Waltham Forest - Our Community which includes latest news about planning and developments in the borough: http://wfoc.blogspot.com/

Take care and best wishes over the Christmas season,

Jane Sterland

Chair, Waltham Forest Civic Society

Dear all,

Walthamstow Town Centre Consultation ends on 15th November

If you have not already done so please send in comments/objections to Capital and Regional's plans to redevelop The Mall in Walthamstow Town Centre, including two exceptionally high tower blocks of 34 and 26 storeys and the loss of well over a third of the open space in the Town Square. See Planning Application 202491 on the Waltham Forest Council planning portal. Comments should be sent to dmconsultations@walthamforest.gov.uk

Civic Society Virtual Pre-Christmas Social Evening at 7.30pm on Monday 7th December

Face to face gatherings may still not be allowed in the lead up to Christmas so we will be organising a virtual pre-Christmas social event instead. There will be a short update on current news, a picture and local knowledge quiz and an opportunity for a social chat - we hope you will be able to join us! The link and joining instructions will be sent out nearer the time. Please note change of date for this event to avoid clash with Planning Committee.

Waltham Forest Local Plan Consultation ends on 14th December

Both parts of Waltham Forest Council's local plan - specifying 65 development sites across the borough and the policies that will underlie/permit future development - are now out for consultation until 14th December. The Local Plan will guide future developments in our borough for the next 15 years and transform many areas with intensive/high rise developments. The Civic Society will be sending overall comments but please send your comments on the developments proposed for your local area:

Site Allocations Document: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Site%20Allocations-LP2-Compressed-3009.pdf

Consultation: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/content/consultation-local-plan-part-2-site-allocations

I am also including a link to Adrian Stannard's blog Waltham Forest - Our Community which includes latest news about planning and developments in the borough:

http://www.wfoc.blogspot.com/

Best wishes,

Jane Sterland

Chair, Waltham Forest Civic Society

Civic Society Events and News 16 August 2020

Dear All,

Welcome to the Civic Society's latest email bulletin to highlight upcoming events and news:

Our Changing Street Scene Part 4 – Virtual Presentation at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25^th August

Adrian Stannard will be continuing his series of online presentations on the rapid pace of change in our borough over the last 10 years with the next one focusing on the huge amount of change around Lea Bridge. The meeting will be held on Zoom and Adrian will be sending out the link and joining instructions beforehand so look out for a further email.

Civic Society Alternative Vision for Whipps Cross Hospital Site

Thanks to Robert Gay for drafting the proposal and to all members who gave/sent their comments on the draft Civic Society ‘alternative vision’ for the Whipps Cross hospital site. A final version has now been produced and we hope we have managed to reflect/include most of the comments received. The proposal will now be publicised and shared with other groups and we hope it will stimulate discussion on how the site can be developed in a way which would preserve the historic buildings, provide high quality affordable housing, create green areas and allow space for the new hospital to expand in future. A copy of the final version of the proposal is attached.

Civic Society All Members Virtual Meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday 6^th October

Looking ahead, our next virtual all members’ meeting will be taking place via Zoom at 7.30pm on Tuesday 6^th October. We will send out the link and joining instructions beforehand.

I am also including a link to Adrian Stannard's blog Waltham Forest - Our Community which includes latest news about planning and developments in the borough: http://www.wfoc.blogspot.com/

Best wishes,

Jane Sterland

Chair, Waltham Forest Civic Society

The events below are subject to change!!

Currently (2/8/20) we are arranging Zoom meetings until the Government allows public meetings.

KEEP SAFE!

Dear All,

Welcome to the Civic Society's latest email bulletin to highlight upcoming events and news:

Civic Society All Members Virtual Meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday 4^th August

Our second virtual all members’ meeting will be taking place via Zoom at 7.30pm on Tuesday 4^th August. Please join us if you can to get an update about current planning proposals – including Whipps Cross Hospital and the Homebase site, hear about actions the Civic Society has taken and help us plan future events. We will send out the link and joining instructions beforehand so look out for a further email (please get in touch if you don’t receive the link).

Civic Society Alternative Vision for Whipps Cross Hospital Site

The Civic Society is creating an ‘alternative vision’ for the Whipps Cross site which would preserve the historic buildings, enable the development of high quality affordable housing, create green areas and allow space for the new hospital to expand in future. A copy of the draft proposal is attached and we will be discussing it at all-members’ meeting on Tuesday 4^th August where (technology permitting) we will also show site plans for the proposals.

Our Changing Street Scene Part 4 – Virtual Presentation at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25^th August

Previous Presentations available on Forest Radio:

Changing Street Scene - South Grove

Changing Street Scene - Walthamstow Town Centre

London Forum - The Future of Our High Streets

The London Forum, which represents Civic and Amenity Societies in London, held a virtual meeting last week on the future of our High Streets and the impact of the current pandemic and lockdown. London as a whole has a shop vacancy rate of 12% and Covid-19 has underlined the already-broken model of our town centres. High Streets in all areas from wealthy to poor appear to have the same problems including low community involvement by Councils, arbitrary decisions taken which affect the viability of High Streets and difficulty engaging with local businesses. The meeting agreed that to survive our town centres need to be more connected to their local communities and local needs and must adapt to the new trend for home-working.

Best wishes,

Jane Sterland

Chair, Waltham Forest Civic Society