Category: Wanstead news

A Wanstead woman has received a court order banning her from feeding pigeons and foxes in an action brought by Redbridge Council. The council has issued a release with the details of the action:

Wanstead woman fined for blighting area

A Wanstead woman who ignored repeated council warnings to stop feeding pigeons because it was blighting the area has been handed a banning order and must pay fines and costs totalling £1,770.

Jennifer Bagram, 65, would dump large quantities of bird feed, raw meat, nuts and other food at the base of trees, open spaces and alleyways up to four times a day.

Barking Magistrates Court heard Miss Bagram attracted flocks of pigeons which caused damage to nearby properties and forced residents to install anti-bird measures such as spikes.

Fed-up neighbours reported rat infestations in their homes and gardens in Grosvenor Road, E11, where she lived. 

Families of foxes would also descend on the area – digging up and nesting in gardens causing distress to local people. Witnesses also reported that Bagram would enter private gardens without permission to spread food and was abusive when asked to stop.

Following an increasing number of complaints, Redbridge Council stepped in to issue a Community Protection Notice in 2016 but Bagram continued to put out food near her property and on the High Road.
She repeatedly flouted the notices over the next two years and was caught on CCTV in January 2018 failing to comply.

On 14 September 2018 Bagram pleaded guilty to breaching six CPN’s with the case adjourned until 2 November 2018 for a full Criminal Behaviour Order hearing and sentencing.

Three local residents attended to give evidence.  Magistrates handed Bagram a fine of £600 for breaching the notices and ordered her to pay costs of £1,000 and a victim surcharge of £170.

An indefinite CBO was imposed banning Bagram from putting out food anywhere in the borough or abusing anyone that has reported her anti-social behaviour. A breach of the order could lead to an increased fine or imprisonment.

Cabinet Member for Civic Pride Cllr John Howard said: “We have tried to work with Miss Bagram but unfortunately our repeated warnings have been ignored.  The amount of food she was throwing in the street on daily basis was attracting large numbers of rats and pigeons, which were causing serious problems for residents for many years.  It’s not fair for local people to be suffering because of her persistent anti-social behaviour and she left us with no option but to take court action.”

Issued by Redbridge Council,  7 November 2018

Campaigners and church members who have been trying to keep Wanstead’s historic St Mary’s church open face a crunch meeting today at which the proposal will be considered.

For some reason the Church of England authorities seem intent on ending 800 years of continuous weekly worship on the site at Overton Drive – even though attendance at the church is at or near the average for Anglican churches in England. 

The members of the church who want to keep it open are hoping that other uses in addition to worship can be found for the church to increase the number of people who come into the building. 

One of the things the campaigners are trying to encourage is filming at the site – recent examples include ITV’s Vanity Fair and the BBC’s Taboo, and also most recently this:

Our Lady of Lourdes primary school could become an academy – i.e. independent of Redbridge Borough Council. 

The Diocese of Brentwood has applied for all Catholic schools in the borough to become academies, and, according to a report in the Recorder, part of the reason is that the process of schools becoming academies has reduced local authorities’ ability support schools.

The diocese also believes that the move would lead to “a new spirit of collaboration” between Catholic schools, according to the report.  The move led to a protest of parents outside the school gate last week and is being opposed by Redbridge councillors. 

In 2016 a plan by the Department of Education to turn Snaresbrook Primary School into an academy against the will of parents and staff was defeated by campaigners. 

Like rockstars coming out of retirement, a brace of Routemasters drafted on to active duty on Route 66 this morning. And not a wedding party in sight. 

Crafty thieving dilweeds have sneakily sawn through one of the bike racks at Wanstead Tube station in a way that could nastily trick an unsuspecting cyclist.

When the bar is sitting in line with the cemented part, it looks like there is nothing wrong with it – but when it is moved to one side, hey presto the bike could be easily removed.

Beware, Wanstead cyclists, and thank Wansteadium reader Michelle for spotting what had been going on. We’ve reported it to Redbridge, and anyone who knows about who might be responsible for the damage to the rack can get in contact with Crimestoppers anonymously here. 

We’re sorry we’re late to this, but we love the Reverse Advent Calendar published by the Redbridge Foodbank. It’s a great way to give yourself a prompt to collect something to give to people who need it, and instead of waiting until December to feel a pang of social conscience, better to do it now so that there’s time for donations to be really useful.

More details here from Redbridge Foodbank. 

(H/T @nicola_jarratt)