As in previous general elections we’ll share any candidate literature we receive. If you receive some before us, please feel free to photograph it (scanning in Apple Notes on an iPhone is particularly effective) and send it to info@wansteadium.com.
Like an elephant graveyard, a dustbag of half-dead vacuum cleaners assembled on Nutter Lane on Wednesday morning. By the afternoon they had gone their separate ways.
There are eight candidates standing in Leyton and Wanstead at the General Election on 4 July. John Cryer, MP since 2010, is not seeking re-election. In 2019 he had a majority of 20,808.
The candidates are (in alphabetical order as they will appear on the ballot paper):
 | Workers Party of Britain | Mahtab Aziz |
 | Labour | Calvin Bailey |
 | Rejoin EU | Simon Bezer |
 | Liberal Democrat | Tara Copeland |
 | Conservative | Gloria Croxall |
 | Independent | Shanell Johnson |
 | Green | Charlotte Lafferty |
 | Reform UK | David Sandground |
The candidates have been invited to a hustings at the Churchill Room at Wanstead Library on 24 June, organised by East London Humanists. More details of that event are here:
As expected the major development on the Evergreen Field on Wanstead High Street was approved by Redbridge councillors on Wednesday.
It will mean a block of 24 flats and a children’s day nursery being built on the site, along with a landscaped park and lake to adjoin Christchurch Green. It could also mean an end to the uncertainty which has surrounded the site for decades.
Though the news was welcomed by some, the Wanstead Society was among those regretting it.
Chair Scott Wilding said: “Our view is this is a sad loss of an opportunity to save a piece of land that is classed as Metropolitan Open Land, gives the high street a view of the historic Christ Church Spire – which will now be lost – and could have been saved by the Council for public use as part of the park.
“Of course, there are those who will – rightly – say we need more homes. But the design of the building doesn’t lend itself to a conservation area. It’s a missed opportunity and a decision that can’t be reversed once taken.”
Redbridge Council is expected give the go ahead today for a major development on the Evergreen Field which would mean a block of 24 flats being built on the site.
The development will be three and four-storey blocks with a children’s day nursery on the ground floor, and with part of the site being turned into a new public open space.
All the flats would be classed as “intermediate affordable housing in Shared Ownership”. Redbridge is under an obligation to deliver 1,409 new homes this year – these 24 would count towards that total.
The plan inludes a new landscaped area to the back of the block with a small lake, ownership of which will be transferred to the council. The developers will make a one-off payment of £360,000 to fund Vision maintaining the park for 30 years.
Councillors at the Planning Committee are expected to accept the recommendation of planners that the scheme be approved.
The decision is expected to be a conclusion to a saga which has been running for at least 60 years since two houses which were previously on the site were demolished. The land has stood unused and fenced off since then, though the lack of buildings on one side of the high street has definitely been seen as one of the factors making Wanstead attractive.
John Wagstaff of Petty Son & Prestwich writes:
As a proud member of our vibrant community here in Wanstead, I believe in the power of sharing experiences to raise awareness and support one another. Recently, I embarked on a journey I never anticipated – a journey through prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.
In November 2022, I received the diagnosis which would change my life. The revelation came as a surprise – I had no symptoms to indicate any health concerns. It was a routine blood test, part of a general medical check-up, that revealed the presence of cancer. Despite leading a healthy lifestyle and being in good shape, cancer does not discriminate based on fitness levels or age.
Following the diagnosis, I underwent a prostatectomy operation in February 2023. It was a challenging time, filled with uncertainty and worry. However, I am grateful to report that the margins were clear, and subsequent pathology showed that the tumour had not spread beyond the prostate. Since then, my quarterly blood tests have shown encouraging results, with all indicators pointing towards recovery.
Throughout this journey, I have experienced firsthand the importance of early detection and proactive healthcare. That’s why I urge every man over 45 to prioritise their health and schedule regular check-ups with their GP. A simple blood test can make all the difference in catching prostate cancer early when it’s most treatable.
To further assess your risk, I encourage everyone to visit the Prostate Cancer UK website and use the Prostate Cancer UK Risk Checker tool. This valuable resource provides personalised insights and guidance based on individual risk factors.
I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prostate Cancer UK for their unwavering support throughout my journey. Their resources, guidance, and advocacy play a crucial role in raising awareness and providing assistance to those affected by prostate cancer. I encourage everyone to support them in any way they can, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness in our community.
