Author: Wansteadium

#1, Saturday afternoon baseball

Updated: Sainsbury’s has told Wansteadium that it has now obtained a court order which will mean eviction for the squatters in the old Barclays Bank on Wanstead High Street.

Bailiffs will be attending the property, a spokesman said. It was thought they would attend with police on Saturday afternoon but it is understood this will now happen later.

Squatters moved into the property two week ago, saying they were protesting against vacant sites. It had been empty since the bank closed in 2014. On this site, a squatter wrote: “We are a peaceful bunch, we mean no harm.” But the resident of the flat above wrote of his concerns for safety and for his family.

On Saturday a Sainsbury’s spokesperson told Wansteadium: “We have obtained a court order which means that the squatters will be committing a criminal offence if they stay in the building any longer.

“Our bailiffs are working with the police so we can evict the trespassers and secure the site.”

The circus planned for next week on George Green has been cancelled because the ground is waterlogged, the City of London Corporation has decided.  But the owner of the circus has written to Wansteadium to say the story is not over.

Matthew Wingate writes:

I own Circus Fantasia, we contacted City of London Authority last year with regards to bringing our small family circus to one of their sites. Sadly Wanstead Flats was not suitable for us for a number of reasons, the main one being, it’s not the safest place in the evenings, so we attract many young families who in our opinion would not travel to us at the flats.

We also encourage people to walk or use public transport to get to us. This is why City of London suggested George Green.  Very close proximity to transport links and houses. The site is never used for anything other than dog walking and dog fouling.

We seat a maximum of 400 people in our big top.  At Wanstead Flats circuses seat over 1500 people, so please look at the size comparison.

We have visited London Borough of Redbridge for the past four years, visiting Valentine’s Park, Ilford, Ray Park, Woodford and Goodmayes Park. We have never had any issues with these parks, nor with the local authorities. In fact Redbridge recommended us to City of London as a ‘no hassle’ organisation.

We have contributed over £40,000 over the past four years to the local coffers. We pay a large sum of money to stand on a site for a week.

We also DO NOT have any animals in our circus. all we are talking are clowns, magicians, trapeze, acrobats, a strongman etc. No live music, no fairground rides.

There are no requirements for us to notify residents, or any licences to obtain. Circuses have been part of British culture for more than 240 years.

Have you ever stopped to think how open spaces are kept up or how they are developed? Events like ours mostly fund the day to day up keep of sites like this.

We do not damage sites, we leave them exactly as we found them, litter is collected daily-(if any) a skip is in place for the rubbish to go into. There is no alcohol on sale at our events. It’s a family event for all ages and ethnicities.

We are a pucker legit company in the UK, registered for all tax, corporation tax and VAT.

Travelling circus people live in houses, but have to travel with the big top to entertain communities, we can’t open a circus in a town centre shop for obvious reasons. We are all educated people, not a bunch of drug-smoking hippies.

I suggest the residents of Wanstead and George Green, educate themselves first on circuses before making accusations. To sum up – as a circus director, I probably earn more money than most people in Wanstead, I can certainly afford to employ my solicitor to fight any problems we have with local opposition.

All I can say is get used to us, we will set up on George Green, if not this time then next time.

Please think about when you were a child, however long ago that was.

It looks like the concept of “Wanstead Village” could become a real thing. Up until now, it has existed mostly in the estate agent-speak, in the two signs at either end of the High Street, and in the ‘Wanstead Village Conservation Zone’.

But the concept could now become a reality.

The Boundary Commission has made recommendations for the redrawing of council wards within Redbridge – which would replace the existing Snaresbrook, Aldersbrook and Wanstead wards.

In their place would come, respectively, South Woodford & Snaresbrook, Wanstead Park and Wanstead Village. The old Roding ward is absorbed into Wanstead Village and South Woodford & Snaresbrook, and there will be a new Churchfields ward.

Not that people base their worldview on which council ward they live in, but it does mean that people living in Hollybush Hill, Sylvan Road and even the east side of New Wanstead will be in South Woodford & Snaresbrook rather than Wanstead.

It appears that, so far as council boundaries are concerned, Aldersbrook ceases to exist.

There is an official consultation on the changes, which can be found here, and Cllr Paul Canal, Redbridge Conservative leader is also inviting anyone with comments to get in touch with him.

The boss of the Boundary Commission, Prof Colin Mellors, said: “We are keen to hear what local people think of the recommendations. Over the next eight weeks, we are asking local people to tell us if they agree with the proposals or if not, how they can be improved.

“Our review aims to deliver electoral equality for local voters. This means that each councillor represents a similar number of people so that everyone’s vote in council elections is worth roughly the same regardless of where you live.

“We also want to ensure that our proposals reflect the interests and identities of local communities across Redbridge and that the pattern of wards can help the council deliver effective local government to local people.”

In a single bound, the Ginger Pig wins the award for coolest sign in Wanstead. Just a shame that – it’s believed – they won’t be opening until August. Something to do with getting refrigeration units in from the continent, we hear. [Memo to self: insert Brexit ref here.]

An odd one this. As seen on Camden Road. Our spotter suspects the cause is somewhat innocent – a lorry reversing, she suggests – rather than wanton vandalism. But still odd.

Wansteadium regular Saqib Khan writes: “Council took away the supporting pole for this young tree and it wilted. Supporting pole now refitted by the council.”