Author: Wansteadium

The plan to convert the former British Queen into flats, and to build further flats adjoining on what was the pub/restaurant car park, has been rejected by Redbridge Council. As we reported in November, there were several objections lodged to the plan, including those on the grounds that the design did not fit the style of Wanstead.

One councillor apparently described the design for the flats as being “goggle-eyed”, the Wanstead Guardian reported, with another saying the plans are “out of keeping with the street scene and… rather overbearing”.

The revelation, highlighted by the BBC News website, that Wanstead driving test centre has the third lowest pass rate in the UK is a bit of a shocker for a number of reasons.

Clearly there’s no shortage of candidates wanting to take their test here – as is evidenced by the sheer number of L plates and by the Sun’s naming in 2009 of part of South Woodford as being the country’s worst learner driver hotspot. So apparently the Wanstead centre doesn’t have a bad reputation.

Then there’s the generally benign road layout in these parts: no Old Street roundabout round here.

And lastly there’s the trusty old bit of folklore – that people want their tests in Wanstead because it doesn’t have a car park which allegedly means candidates can avoid tricky parking tests.

Other theories are welcome, via comments below.

 
 

Wansteadium reader Sarah Wilde was in Nepal at the time of the devastating earthquake in April. Though not injured, she did, she says “feel the deep fear” they caused. On returning to Wanstead, she decided to raise money to help those hit so badly by the destruction.

She is a yoga teacher and so will be holding two classes in the Churchill Room at Wanstead Library on Tuesday evening – a beginner’s class from 1900 to 2030, and an intermediate class from 2030 to 2200. Those taking part are invited to make a donation (there’s a suggestion of £20) to the Disasters Emergency Committee. Sarah made this film with them. She can be contacted via her event page on Facebook.

Happy 150th birthday to Wanstead United Reformed Church! Geoff Wilkinson took this picture, and writes on Wanstead Daily Photo: “I have photographed Wanstead United Reformed Church several times, you can see a picture of it bathed in late afternoon sunlight here. A few days ago I had the opportunity to have a look around inside, I have to say it is beautiful. When you enter most churches they appear oblong (apologies I don’t know the architectural term) this is more of a square and appears very homely. It is very light and airy inside like another of my favourites, St Mary the Virgin in Overton Drive.

The United Reformed Church has had an interesting past. It was transported brick by brick by horse and cart from its original location in St Pancras to Wanstead in 1865. In September 1940 it was hit by three bombs during an air raid and the crypt was used as an air raid shelter. If you are passing and the doors are open do pop in and have a look around, like all of Wanstead’s churches it is wonderful.”

Another High Street power cut, on Thursday morning. Improvised measures in the Evergreen surgery, captured by fearless photographer Marcus Tylor.

  

The possibility of increased high-density housing for Wanstead and Woodford, which was one of the options in a consultation for local longterm planning, has been scrapped, the Wanstead Guardian is reporting.

The suggestion was widely opposed by residents, who argued that infrastructure such as schools, playgrounds and surgeries were already struggling. That approach appears to have been successful.

Councillor Kam Rai, who chaired the working group for the Local Development Framework, told the paper:

“This report is 18 months of work and from looking into detail at all the options, we want to have the relevant infrastructure in place. This is difficult with the Wanstead and Woodford option.

“It was a case of what we want the borough to look like in ten years, schools and doctors’ surgeries are already under pressure in Wanstead and Woodford.”