Category: Wansteadium

MP Calvin Bailey presented a petition to Parliament on Tuesday against the changes to bus services affecting Wanstead residents.

He said the change had had “significant negative impacts on local people, including on school children, who are struggling to get to school on time, and on my disabled and elderly constituents, all of whom are finding it hard to access care at Whipps Cross hospital due to the changes”.

The petition calls for TfL to immediately reconsider the changes to the W12 and W14 bus routes.

Liz Martins of the Save Our Local Buses campaign said: “Many of the elderly and those with health issues or reduced mobility now struggle to get to Whipps Cross hospital, shops, GP surgeries and the only tube station with escalator access to the platforms.

“This is as their local bus has been reduced to an unacceptable hourly service. School children often wait an extra 20 minutes feeling vulnerable, especially in bad weather, as buses have been re-routed along busy main roads, getting stuck in heavy traffic, resulting in many parents having to use their cars or ill- afforded taxis.

She added: “TfL’s response that no changes can be made until 6 months usage data has been analysed, is unacceptable. It is a travesty to see buses go by practically empty, or too full, or run late. “

She said TfL were failing to comply with the principles of the government’s Bus Services Bill for the rest of the country which aims “to allow every community to take back control of their buses”.

A slightly weird sign in the window of the soon-to-open replacement for the Larder. We’re not sure how a new neighbour who hasn’t even moved in yet can conceivably be the “most loyal”. Nevertheless, clearly a lot of work is going on and it promises to be interesting.

When you walk through the front door of the George and Dragon, one of the first things you’ll see is a portrait of George Orwell, a picture which used to hang at the back of the old George.

Pictures of famous lefties aren’t what Wetherspoons was known for – it was cheap booze. So the question on every drinker’s lips as they crammed into the pub for opening night on Thursday would have been: what are the new place’s prices like?

The answer is – not much like Wetherspoons. There are three real ales on sale, at £5.50 a pint. Guinness is £6.90. Others are upwards of £7.

Councillor Paul Donovan, who led a campaign attempting to keep the old George open, was one of the Wanstead residents in the pub on opening night.

“The food is not cheap but a good range,” he said. “It’s a different offer from Wetherspoons but we did know that. They’ve done the place up nicely keeping and enhancing the character. The George Orwell pic has been given a position of welcome prominence. It’s certainly rammed today.

“The main point is we still have a George pub which Wanstead people seem excited about.”

The refit does look rather magnificent – and not much trouble has been spared. A lengthy effort was taken to paint a sign on the back of the building and then ‘age it’ so that it looks truly authentic. The words “LIVE SPORT” are something of a giveaway, but at least it doesn’t also mention “FREE WIFI”.

Wansteadium always wishes new ventures good luck, and we know for sure that we won’t be alone in wishing the new George and Dragon all the best.

Reviews are welcome in the comments below.

Redbridge has released its plans for converting the former Wanstead Youth Centre on Elmcroft Avenue into an education hub.

The redevelopment includes the conversion of the large gym hall at the back of the site into classrooms, including a new second storey. The hall with stage at the front will also be turned into rooms plus dining area. The neglected tennis courts in Roding Valley Park will be refurbished and will have basketball courts installed.

Part of the plan includes making the facilities available for community hire in the evenings, at weekends, and during school holidays.

Planning permission has not yet been applied for the scheme but the council is undertaking a consultation in advance of that.

The council says the new facility will support “the growing need for a range of specialist education facilities for children and young people… through a dedicated and spacious learning environment while providing high-quality facilities and resources for families with babies and children under five”.

It adds:

The Education and Youth hub will also provide high-quality youth and community facilities for local young people, adults, community groups, voluntary agencies, and private providers in the evening, at weekends, and during school holidays.

The Early Years Play and Development Centre, a unique feature of the new facility, will be located at the front of the hub. It will host a kitchen, lounge area, community cafe, playroom, and sensory room. There will also be an infant feeding room, reception, office space, therapy space and a music recording studio. As part of the plans, the main gymnasium will be retained. The rear gymnasium will be converted into further classrooms, a dining hall and multipurpose practical space for the alternative provision.

The plans are available to view online here, with an online questionnaire available for comments and reactions..

Planning applications for two additional digital ad screens on Wanstead High Street are being considered by Redbridge Council following the installation of two last year.

Redbridge fought and lost a battle against allowing the screens to be sited on the high street, saying they would detract from the conservation area status. But it was over-ruled by the Planning Inspectorate.

The new applications are for signs outside Gail’s (though one is already outside Tesco, barely a wicket’s distance away) and outside M&S.

We told you you would find good stuff on Bluesky, the alternative to the bin fire which Twitter has become. (Wansteadium is having no part of X or Facebook/Instagram). There is a starter pack of Wanstead people you can follow here.

But in the meantime here is something from a distinguished local historian which you won’t find anywhere else: