Wansteadium

Confirmation at last that Wanstead Dry Cleaners, next to Boots on the High Street, will not be reopening. It had been thought the premises was being refurbished, but it’s now clear that the whole building has been sold and renovation work is taking place.

Apparently, so we are told, young people go online for their dry cleaning nowadays, insofar as they need it because so many are working from home. Sending a van to pick up and deliver clothes to be cleaned is apparently more efficient than paying rent and rate on a high street location. Hence dry times for dry cleaners.

The future for the prime retail site is not yet known, but one can hazard a few guesses. It’s unlikely to be a bookshop.

But for now, to the former staff of Wanstead Dry Cleaners, thank you for your service of more than 20 years. And good luck with your impressive collection of trainers.

A group planning to open a new school on the former St Joseph’s Convent on Cambridge Park, which received approval earlier in the year, is seeking to increase the number of potential children attending.

The scheme previously received permission to have 150 pupils at the school, but the group now wants to increase that to 260. It also wants to use the convent’s former chapel as a place of worship between 5am and 10pm. It is believed the application is for an Islamic faith school; it also says “the place of worship would be used by mainly pupils of the school (circa 60%) with some non pupils attending (circa 40%)” and that four services would take place during the day.

The site was used as a girls’ primary school from 1918 but closed in 2020, since when the site has been vacant. Comments can be made on the planning application on the Redbridge site, references 2645/25 and 2263/25.

Graffiti aside, nothing appears to have happened on the Evergreen Field for four months – work stopped in late June following an order by Redbridge inspectors specifically about tree report.

A spokesman for Redbridge council said: “The applicant is currently working to discharge the planning conditions tied to their planning permission. While we don’t yet have details of the developer’s intended start date, they appear eager to commence work once the conditions have been satisfied.

A record 950 people attended the third Wanstead Beer Festival at Christchurch halls earlier this month. More than 40 beers and ciders were on offer, as revellers packed into the marquee in the Christchurch garden.

The latest WBF was the biggest so far, raising funds for three nominated charities – the Wren Group, Wanstead Community Stables and Christchurch. 

The organisers thanked everyone who came along, as well as a supporting cast of local business sponsors and the Wanstead Fringe. “It is a difficult time for the hospitality industry – pubs and breweries are under pressure. But what the WBF shows is that there is a lot of support out there for good beer and good pubs. Now it is on to the fourth beer festival next year,” said Paul Donovan, one of the organisers.  

There are still a few tickets left for this weekend’s Wanstead Beer Festival, which looks like it is going to be another hugely successful event. More than 50 beers from around the country will be available, including local tipples. There will also be cider, gine, wine and soft drinks; happily food will also be served. All funds raised go to local good causes.

Paul Donovan, one of the organisers, said: “We hope to get even more people attending this year. The first two years certainly proved the popularity of a beer festival in Wanstead, so come along and share a beer with friends and neighbours.”

Tickets are available here.

We hoped some clarity would be coming out of Saturday’s public meeting with councillors discussing Redbridge’s decision to introduce permanent market stalls on Wanstead High Street. There was clarity, but not the kind we were hoping for.

It was hoped the Redbridge leader Cllr Kam Rai would attend, but he didn’t.

There was no indication that Redbridge has any intention to listen to Wanstead residents, and certainly not to run a proper consultation on the issue.

In our editorial last week we said we feared Redbridge would squander public trust on the issue. Equally hard to figure out is why the ruling Labour group seems prepared to throw its three faithful councillors under the bus.