Some choice sights around Wanstead on Halloween, including the traditional hearse/coffin combo staged as a public service on Elmcroft Ave and attracting big crowds.
Wanstead ghoulish sights
Some great things about living in Wanstead
Well for a start, there’s obviously the Nando’s in South Woodford. And then of course there’s Leytonstone’s Yard Sale Pizza. And Leytonstone’s Singburi. Three great things highlighted by Time Out in their feature on the joys of… er… Wanstead??
Actually, we should probably be grateful that the magazine even has a page about Wanstead. Don’t forget it has form – repeatedly smushing Wanstead together with Leytonstone and/or Forest Gate in its Love London awards.
But on the plus side, it’s great to see Elsa Arnold’s kindness campaign getting a nod, as well as the Wanstead Fringe, not to mention lots of our favourite local businesses AND the middle-aged creatives.
What’s not to like?
The Duke stays
Fears for the future of the Duke pub in Nightingale Lane following a review of its licence have passed.
A report published in the Wanstead and Woodford Recorder led to worries that the pub might be closed following complaints about noise, but it is to keep its licence after an order was made for it to install new soundproofing.
Budgie smuggled
This bright young fella spirited himself out of his normal abode and flew in through a random Wanstead window on Sunday. Wansteadium reader Veronica Over, who is now budgie-sitting, says the bird is very tame and well looked-after. Anyone who is missing him is asked to get in touch with Veronica on 07973 827772.
Wanstead’s first frost, 2019
Each autumn we note the first time we see a frost. That was today – and you’ll notice it was a week later than last year but still earlier than the norm since records began (in 2010).
2018 – 25 September
2017 – 30 October
2016 – 2 November
2015 – 23 November
2014 – 6 November
2013 – 13 November
2012 – 6 November
2011 – 25 November
2010 – 21 October
Wanstead pigeon-feeding woman ‘could end up in prison’
Redbridge Council issued the following statement today, 24 September 2019.
Woman who refused to stop leaving food on the borough’s streets could end up in prison warns judge
A Wanstead woman who spent years leaving food and scraps of raw meat outdoors triggering a rodent infestation and blighting her local area, has been warned she could end up behind bars.
Jennifer Bagram, 71, found herself in court again after persistently flouting court orders banning her from putting out food anywhere in the borough, and was warned by the judge she could end up in prison unless she changed her behaviour.
For over 20 years Bagram, of Grosvenor Road, had placed meat, bird food and nuts in open spaces, alleyways and under trees near her home and in the gardens of her neighbours to feed pigeons and other wildlife.
Despairing residents plagued by foxes digging up their gardens, rat infestations and property damage from flocks of pigeons resulting from Bagram’s actions, thought their misery was over when she was taken to court in 2018.
It wasn’t long before Bagram was back to her old habits and despite repeated council warnings she continued to break the Community Protection Notice and Criminal Behaviour Order served on her earlier.
Council enforcement officers took Bagram to court again this year after building up a dossier documenting numerous breaches of her banning orders since 2018.
She appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 10, 2019, after pleading guilty to four counts of breaching her court order in relation to dropping food in and around Wanstead.
Bagram was sentenced to a six-month community order, told to abide by the terms and conditions of her existing court order and ordered to be electronically GPS tagged for three months in conjunction with being excluded from entering certain parts of the borough including High Street Wanstead.
Cabinet Member for Civic Pride Cllr John Howard said:
“We have tried to work with Miss Bagram over the years but unfortunately our repeated warnings have fallen on deaf ears.
“We were left with no choice but to take her to court as she refuses to change her behaviour and her actions are having an adverse effect on the local community.
“It’s not fair for local people to be suffering because of her persistent anti-social behaviour.”