Day one of the Fringe

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It’s here at last, the third Wanstead Fringe! The first big event will be the Jumble Trail which is taking place from noon until 5pm (not at the times listed in the programme) with 77 stalls confirmed. You can see where they are on the map below – or even better, for a live version of the map go to the Jumble Trail page.

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The full line-up of the Fringe week is here at wansteadfringe.org but here are some things we’re highlighting:

* The good forecast for Sunday bodes well for the lunchtime picnic and bookswap on Christchurch Green. Bring your picnic with you (or buy something from the Farmers’ Market), and don’t forget to bring a book to swap with someone. You’ll be able to listen to the East London Chorus singing, AND take part in the Trial of William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley (details to follow).

*At 4pm children’s animator Chris Drew (Mike the Knight is one of his) will be doing a workshop for children at the Oxfam Shop. Places are free but limited and need to be booked via the website (children must be accompanied by an adult).

*More to follow – but to find out exclusively (for now) what is the marvellous family film being shown on Friday night at the Kinema, download the Wanstead Fringe app or use the buttons below.

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Redbridge planners ‘have personality change’

thecubeThe handling of the planning case for the proposed ‘Cube’ mini-shopping mall on Wanstead High Street has become ‘a fiasco’ according to a Wanstead conservation activist.

Gabrielle Collard says in an article published on Medium (see link below) that over the past year, the “planning department at Redbridge has undergone a complete personality change… the experienced planners have gone, the conservation officer is no more and the new head of planning is a mystery”.

She says a succession of planning hearings, combined with poor organisation by the council, could “wear down” people who oppose the application, and she is encouraging more people to attend a hearing at Ilford town hall on Tuesday 8 September.

Wansteadium has asked Redbridge Council for a comment.

Gabrielle was a member of the Conservation Advisory Panel which, until its abolition in August by Redbridge, involved volunteers scrutinising planning applications within conservation areas such as Wanstead.

Planning matters

Wanstead Cube

73highstreetA seemingly impromptu exhibition of the proposals for the Joliffe Builders’ site is taking place on Thursday morning at the site of the potential development.

The plan – dubbed a “brave new world” in the application documents – includes spaces for small shops and offices, including a basement, and a total of 13 proposed flats. It extends on to the car park behind the high street shops.

The development, also known as The Cube, has been opposed by the Wanstead Society partly because it would be clad in green copper and aluminium and would be taller than neighbouring buildings. The developer however says the new building would add to Wanstead’s “village nature” by “providing letable units for local business, artists, entrepreneurs at an affordable starter rent”.

The plans can be seen until 12.30pm on Thursday.