Author: Wansteadium

 

This photograph was recently discovered in Wanstead. Any clues on where and when it was taken?

Sequels are big business, as Blake Hall Road commuters are finding out again. The restart of roadworks has led to the return of temporary traffic lights and queuing traffic even late into the evening.

The roadworks are replacing old gas mains, and were the cause of much angst last summer when drivers and residents faced congestion for three months.  There were more works just before Christmas and the current bout began last Saturday.

National Grid, which is doing the work, has said on Twitter that it should be finished before the end of the week.

Works have progressed this week and site shall be cleared by 15th January. Thank you for your patience during these works #BlakeHallRd

— National Grid UK (@nationalgriduk) January 12, 2016

Reactions…

https://twitter.com/tektoneltd/status/686884471849750529

Route 308 is experiencing 25min delays due to road works on Blake Hall Rd. 2 in 3 buses are cutting short at Wanstead Park.

— TfL Bus Alerts (@TfLBusAlerts) January 11, 2016

Blake Hall Road – home of the temporary traffic light @wfcouncil – seriously, sort it out. Never ending!

— Astrid O'Toole (@aotoole99) January 12, 2016

Concern is mounting among Wanstead shoppers about what has happened to the High Street butcher’s shop.

A G Dennis, the oldest shop in Wanstead, has not been open since New Year’s Day and even fellow shopkeepers seem non-plussed about what has happened.

One told Wansteadium: “I’m hoping it’s just delivery problems but if it’s closed it’s going to put a huge dent in the trade on the High St.”

There is no indication on the shop’s website of what has prevented it opening. Wansteadium has tried unsuccessfully to contact the shop. 

 

 

And welcome to Wanstead.

Moving.. From #kennington to #wanstead https://t.co/cIMzgFUidY pic.twitter.com/41lmkobQQQ

— Antonio Pareja (@aPareja_) January 7, 2016

Of course, it never really went away. The fenced-off field on Wanstead High Street has been sitting there, unoccupied, just as it has been doing for the past 50 years or so. But the discussion about what its future should be has returned.

Regular readers might cast their minds back more than a year when Wansteadium published a set of ideas about the future use of the field. These ideas were prepared by an informal working group of interested Wanstead residents, and brought some planning and architectural experience to the thorny issue. Many of you left comments or sent emails, and these have been reflected in a revised document. The new paper assesses the viability and practicality of different ideas. Wansteadium readers are invited once again to read the paper and leave comments. You can open the document here