Author: Wansteadium

We’re delighted to announce the first meeting of the Wanstead Social Distance Club, a regular virtual gathering which will take place over the next few weeks for the entertainment of us all.

And we’re even more delighted to be able to tell you that the speaker at the first club meeting will be John Rogers, raconteur, film-maker, author and walker.

A regular at the Wanstead Fringe over the years, John is always interesting, curious and engaging. At the first meeting on Monday lunchtime at 1pm, he’s going to be talking about something suddenly close to all our hearts – walking around London.

To take part in the meeting, just click this link any time from 12.45pm on Monday. The meeting will be over by 1.30pm so that everyone can get back to work. Think of it as an interesting chat over a sandwich. (BYO)

If you miss the event, video of John’s talk will be available on Wansteadium afterwards.

We’re lining up future speakers. If you would like to volunteer or nominate someone, please drop us a line at info@wansteadium.com

Scenes from Wanstead’s part in the NHS clapathon.

#clapforNHS great to see our Wanstead Street and others supporting these wonderful people pic.twitter.com/zefr6d8bKz

— Eddie Café (@eddie_cafe) March 26, 2020

Before the singing started in lovely Wanstead ❤️❤️ #clapforourcarers pic.twitter.com/4TmoXOGmtv

— Nicola Heath (@Nicola_Heath) March 26, 2020

Thank you to all at NHS, from our little balcony in Wanstead, London. You’re the real heroes #clapforourcarers #clapforNHS pic.twitter.com/NEH8N3y0Yb

— Hammad Zamurrad (@hammadzamurrad) March 26, 2020

Today’s one outing with the family to Wanstead Flats. #NHS pic.twitter.com/v0JdOP26NP

— Huw Illingworth (@huwinslow) March 26, 2020

Door-to-door deliveries of the Wanstead Village Directory have been suspended because of Coronavirus problems – copies will instead be available solely through display stands in the Co-op, Tesco and now also at Waitrose and Sainsbury’s in South Woodford. They may also be available at M&S soon.

Editor Lee Marquis said:

The reasons for doing this are twofold. Most importantly, we all have a responsibility to adhere to social distancing guidelines, so I believe it would be wrong to ask my delivery team to walk the streets of Wanstead and risk interacting with others. In addition to this, a recent study by the US National Institutes of Health (as reported by the BBC here) has found the virus can survive on cardboard for up to 24 hours. So I can’t, in all good conscience, allow our magazines to be posted through letterboxes on a mass scale when there is a potential risk that this may be contributing to the spread of the virus. Instead, we will allow those who wish to pick up a copy to do so from our stands (by virtue of our normal processes, a period of at least 24 hours will elapse between our magazines being packed at the printers and placed in our stands).

Redbridge has suspended its recycling collection because of a shortage of staff, and is asking households to put out rubbish bags for collection by 5am on their normal collection day.

A message from council leader Councillor Jas Athwal said: “We have had to make the difficult decision to stop collecting recycling and concentrate on household rubbish because we no longer have enough drivers and staff available to carry out all the rubbish and recycling collections safely. Sadly, many of our rubbish and recycling staff are having to self-isolate due to the Government COVID-19 national guidance.”

Garden waste collections have also been suspended, and residents who are suffering from COVID-19 are being given special instructions about how to deal with their household waste.

These details from the Redbridge website:

What time do we need to have household rubbish and recycling out on the day of collection

We are asking that your household rubbish and recycling is presented together in bags or a bin if part of the wheelie bin pilot by 5am.

Why are you starting collections so early?

To comply as much as we are able with the social distancing guidance issued by the government, we are splitting crews where possible, and limiting the time that they are in close contact with each other, to keep them as safe as we can.

Do I need to do anything different with my rubbish if I have COVID-19 symptoms?

Yes, please double-bag your rubbish, especially bags containing tissues.

Will my recycling be kept separate?

If you are unable to store recycling at home until normal collections resume and you put recycling out for collection it will be put into the waste truck, along with your household rubbish. We will resume recycling collections as soon as we are able.

How do I present my Recycling?

Please put your recycling in black bags or your existing recycling boxes by 5am. If you have space, you can hold onto recycling until the service resumes, and we will collect it when recycling collections start again.

Can we put recycling in black bags

During this time, you will be able to bag up your recycling with your rubbish – when the service returns to normal you can revert to boxes. If you use your boxes to present your recycling during this period, it will be put in the waste truck along with your rubbish.

Will any of the rubbish be recycled?

During this period, recycling will be very limited. Please rest assured that your recycling will not end up in a landfill or be an environmental threat in the oceans – it will be processed through Renewi’s Mechanical Biotic Treatment Plant into refuse-derived fuel brickets to be used in specialised Energy from Waste plants.

What should I do with my Garden Waste?

Please make every effort to compost where you can. We are not in a position to be able to collect garden waste at the moment and are prioritising the collection of household rubbish.

Will my day of collection change?

No. Your day of collection should remain the same as before.

Will the refuse collectors collect all of my rubbish?

Every effort will be made to ensure all of your rubbish is collected. Please help us by doing all you can to assist, by minimising your rubbish as much as possible.

I’m part of the wheelie bin trial. What happens if we can’t fill all of your rubbish and recycling in the wheelie bin?

If you’re part of the wheelie bin, we will collect additional rubbish if you place it a black sack next to your bin, whilst the recycling service is temporarily suspended.

MP John Cryer is leaving us in no doubt of his feelings about social distancing following widespread reports of Wanstead Park and Wanstead High Street being – how to put this? – somewhat less than deserted over the weekend.

My daily social distancing moan. Please take it seriously. A constituent tells me of a walk round Wanstead Park yesterday being like Victoria Station during pre Covid-19 rush hour. You need to keep 2 metres apart.

— John Cryer (@JohnCryerMP) March 22, 2020

Several traders’ plans to continue offering service have revised their intentions – Bare Brew and Piccolo are among those who have decided to shut altogether rather than offer takeaways. Several hairdressers and barbers have also decided to close temporarily.

At the time of writing (Monday 11am), there are 45 cases of coronavirus reported in Redbridge.