Welcome, Snaresbrook Dan


We’re pleased to welcome Dan who runs Cafe Voyage on the westbound platform at Snaresbrook station to active Wanstead twittering. Along with our live departure boards and Dan’s on-the-spot updates, what more could Snaresbrook commuters need of a morning?

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Letter to Wansteadium: Pity the renters

Following George C Parker’s thoughts about Olympic rentals in Wanstead, Wansteadium reader Suzi writes:

Dear Wanstead property owners.
Please don’t evict your loyal tenants for the prospect of easy Olympic money. I am a loyal tenant and my agreement is up for renewal before the Olympics. I am getting really worried. Don’t penalise us because banks won’t give us a mortgage without an impossible deposit in these dark days. We already pay your mortgage for you, please let us stay here in 2012! Thanks.

Announcing the Wanstead hedgehog hunt

Some wildlife there is no shortage of, especially in Wanstead. As this tweet has it:

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But what, Wansteadium asks, about the humble hedgehog? Wanstead is full of gardens, with plenty of room to roam, and lots of countryside within easy reach even of short legs. The Wanstead Wildlife website reported that the prickly mammals were “very rarely seen” as far back as 2006, though did hear of a couple of sightings in 2009 – one in garden near Manor Park Cemetery, and one in Wanstead Park.

So a challenge for Wansteadium readers is to report any sightings – dead or alive – of hedgehogs. It surely can’t be that there are none living here?  Please put the message around with your neighbours, encourage schoolchildren to take an interest, and let’s find some evidence that there are still the snuffling beasties living here.

We have set a up a Google map to record and share any sightings – either plot it on the map directly or e-mail us with details – hedgehogs@wansteadium.com


View Hedgehogs in Wanstead in a larger map

Wanstead property roundup, 15.6.11; Olympic gold and makeover time

Wansteadium’s new property blogger George C Parker’s regular update on the property scene in Wanstead. If you spot intriguing For Sales or Solds in Wanstead, Snaresbrook or Aldersbrook, let George know, via georgecparker@wansteadium.com.

It seems Olympic gold is within reach of all of us – not just the Lycra-clad fitties who will descend on Stratford in July 2012.

Beautician Virginia Williams (@VWSkinCare) tweeted this week ‘£28k offered to a client in Wanstead for renting her house out during the Olympics. Might reconsider closing my studio for two weeks!’.

Reading this, I nearly fell off my exercise bike. This indeed was food for thought. Time I got myself booked in for an eyebrow-sculpt, I thought, and at the same time I began to consider Olympic lets in Wanstead.

The Daily Telegraph was out of the blocks before me. Declutter and check with your mortgage company is the sound advice for those looking to let.

The next step was a Google search to assess the competition only to find that some enterprising Wanstead residents have already lapped me. Indeed, I found an array of properties to suit all budgets – even those on a thick VIP expense account. For a mere £750 pounds a night, I could stay in a double bedroom here (bathroom shared). The single is only £500/night, but does come with TV and hopefully a breakfast of champions.

Anyhow, with cash like this sloshing around, I admit I considered renting out a wing of Parker Towers, or two. However, I thought to myself, Mrs Parker would probably object and anyway, I’d be limiting my potential income. Maybe I should get hold of a former church building and set up Wanstead’s first pod hotel?

Another SOLD sign stands proud in graceful St Mary’s Avenue, and I suspect that the small bungalow occupying the current plot will soon be given short shrift. Both neighbouring properties are beautiful red-brick mansions, and there is ample room to bring another house of similar size to bear in keeping with its peers. Marketers Churchill Estates waxed lyrical… “considered to be Wanstead’s premier turning, St Mary’s Avenue… The plot size is approximately 44ft in width by 164ft in length and offers tremendous scope for extension or even the possibility of demolition of the existing property and the erection of a brand new property on the site (subject to planning permission). Plenty of interest is expected as properties like this are extremely rare in this location.”

This would follow an established trend as developers continue to upgrade the housing stock on this elegant, chestnut-lined avenue. (Presumably they know about the decline of the chestnuts though…)

• Talking about bungalows, I’m curious about one at the other end of our sphere of interest, in Sylvan Road near Snaresbrook station. It seems this bungalow has been almost (if not completely) rebuilt into what now looks like a massive property now (see before pic – thanks to Google Streetview – and after, below). And yet the whole thing doesn’t appear to be very much higher than it was in its original state. It all looks very smart. If it’s your property or you know anything about it, I’d be delighted to hear from you (georgecparker@wansteadium.com)


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Crushing time for a Wanstead Mini

The scene in Wanstead on Monday as a poor unfortunate Mini Cooper was crushed by a falling tree. No one was hurt as the tree – for unknown reasons – fell outside the Goddard Veterinary hospital. Pictures courtesy of Wansteadium reader Ann Kaye.

UPDATE And here is video of the event, from the fledgling WansteadTV service.

UPDATE 2: The Wanstead Guardian reports that the tree was reported to the council two weeks before it fell. The council told the paper that it had told the landowner it was unsafe but that it fell before it was made safe.

Letter to Wansteadium: The Big Lunch

Lisa Scott, organiser of last week’s Big Lunch picnic writes:

The Big Lunch Wanstead was held on Sunday 5th June on Christchurch Green. Possibly the first Big Lunch in Wanstead, certainly the only one in Wanstead this year. And what an afternoon.

Myself and 5 volunteers began to set up from 10am, hanging bunting, blowing up balloons, laying out tables and crossing our fingers that people would arrive but that the rain didn’t. By 1pm the clouds would hold out no longer and a gentle rain fell. Those dedicated to the idea of meeting new people and being part of a community event arrived, regardless of the weather and the limited notice. We even had a surprise visit from Redbridge Mayor, Mr Chris Cummins. He was visiting several Big Lunch’s in Redbridge and even though we saw the car and the crest, it was only when he was a couple of metres away that we actually believed that he might be there to visit us, say hello and congratulate us for the hard work we had put in setting up the event. Unfortunately it was fairly early and numbers were low. Thankfully Mike from Wanstead Transition Initiative had arrived early (with his Chapeldown ‘champagne’, made in Kent in – yum) and was able to enjoy the moment (alongside letting everyone know what WTI do – thanks Mike). Had the Mayor arrived nearer to 3pm he would have seen all 30 of us, chatting away, sharing food and getting to know each other. But it was fantastic to have him visit and show his support regardless.

Following the picnic (which saw us huddled under the big oak tree to shelter from the rain) I had some games planned. Now, just motivating the troops. Thankfully several high street retailers had generously donated prizes, so a huge thank you to The Queens British Steakhouse, The Larder, Wanstead Beauty Clinic, The Cuckfield, the Co-op, Bike Trax, Zoology for Men and the Olive Branch. They really proved that serving the community is at the heart of what they do. Games included the classics ‘egg and spoon’ and ‘three legged’ races, alongside a mini petonque competition and a best dish award. I think that everyine enjoyed taking part despite their initial reservations. Eventually both the weather and time got the better of us all, our new friends wandered home and we packed away as quickly as we could in the now heavy rain!

So was it worth it – yes, it was great to meet new people. Might it have been more successful – yes, with more time to organise it and better weather. Would we do it again – lets see…..

I only hope that it was the rain that put people off and not the lack of sense of community which is what this event is all about. Next year the Big Lunch is partnering with the Diamond Jubilee so lets hope that we see more people attend next year – regardless of the weather!