Wansteadium

Fears that the closure of the Poppy Pantry cafe in the City of London Cemetery might lead to a chain coffee shop opening have been dispelled.

The new operator will be the Royal Voluntary Service charity which is to refurbish the cafe and plans to introduce a healthy eating menu. It will be staffed by volunteers.

A spokesman for the City of London said: “We are very excited to be working with the Royal Voluntary Service. It’s a new step for the café with a focus on healthy eating which is a direction we are keen to take.

“It is also great to be working with a charity who have a dedicated team of volunteers who will help run the café. We want to provide the absolute best service possible at this site and look forward to the refurbishment.”

Paul Charters who previously operated the Poppy Pantry at the site had to vacate the cafe last week after his five-year lease was not renewed. A petition calling for a renewal of the lease gathered thousands of signatures.

Stevens Motors, a mechanic’s situated behind the Cuckfield pub, is facing closure following a planning application which would see two semi-detached houses built on the site.

Redbridge Council is to consider the application which would mean a four- and a three-bedroom house being built on the site where the garage has been operating for more than 40 years.

Mr Stevens himself has many longstanding customers who have relied on his service. One told Wansteadium: “Mr Stevens is a local hero and has provided an essential service in car servicing and repairs for Wanstead residents for many decades.”

If the plan is approved it will mean the end of another garage in Wanstead – in 2015 the former I&K Brown garage on Church Path closed and was converted into very stylish residences (see below).

People wanting to object to the proposal must however do so immediately as the consultation period ends on Tuesday 21 October. Details can be found here, ref 187753. [The short notice is Wansteadium’s fault. Apologies.]

Poppy Pantry, the cafe set in the grounds of the City of London Cemetery which has hosted innumerable funeral receptions and contemplative moments, has shut after the Corporation of London ended its lease.

Paul Charters, who has run it for several years, vacated the premises on Sunday following his lengthy but unsuccessful campaign to persuade the authorities he should be allowed to stay.

He collected more than 6,000 signatures from supporters, and also hoped that his support for the Royal British Legion and other causes would help support his case.

To Paul and his staff, though, go the thanks of former customers.

Redbridge residents can now recycle additional items in their household collection, the council has informed them. It is now possible for people to include:

•  Plastic Pots, Tubs and Trays (e.g. yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, meat /ready meal trays and fruit/veg punnets – but no black plastic as it cannot be recycled).
• Empty aerosol cans
• Clean aluminium foil and foil trays

This is welcome news – it’s all good. But it comes as a bit of a shocker to Wansteadium which thought some of these items could be recycled already. Still, now we know. And in case there is any doubt, we’re including the complete list below. The council is also offering these updated tips:

Here are some tips and important things to remember when recycling:

• Always rinse out any food waste. Food contaminates – making your recyclables, unrecyclable
• Stacking or carefully packing plastic pots, tubs and trays will allow you to fit more into your recycling boxes
• Rinse and scrunch up any foil for recycling
• Black plastic can’t be recycled so please don’t put it in your recycling box.

Great times to be children growing up in Wanstead, where the streets are paved with conkers, ready to be harvested. Any reports of children actually playing conkers are welcome.

(Note to 2022 Wanstead Fringe organisers: Grand conker tournament?)