Wansteadium

A new riverside walking path joining Wanstead and Ilford is to be constructed following a grant from the Greater London Authority to Redbridge.

In a statement announcing the plan, Redbridge said:

Redbridge Council has been awarded £3m as part of the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) Civic Partnership Programme to transform the walking route between Wanstead Park, Roding Valley, and Ilford town centre.

The project will deliver new green space and a stunning riverside path. As one of five boroughs selected for the award, the funding will be used to: 

• Improve access from Ilford into Roding Valley by creating a new bridge crossing and pocket park.
• Create a riverside path to connect into existing footpaths into Roding Valley and open up access to green space, including rewilding opportunities.
• Progress plans for the cycle route running from Newham into Ilford, along with the Ilford Western Gyratory
• Shape transformation plans with the local community.

Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of Redbridge Council, said: “There’s so much to see and do across Redbridge, and by improving pedestrian routes, we’re connecting Wanstead, Woodford and Ilford, making sure people from all parts of the borough, can access all we have to offer.”

Refuse and recycling collections look likely to be hit again later this month after plans were announced for a second strike by staff.

Collectors belonging to the Unite union will strike between 22 August and 5 September, following action earlier in the summer.

Collections in Redbridge are done by Redbridge Civic Services Ltd, which is owed by the council. The strike is over working conditions.

The strike is the first major test of the new council leader, Councillor Kam Rai, who was elected by councillors to the position following previous leader Jas Athwal’s election as MP.

It’s that day in Wanstead’s calendar when by tradition we all celebrate with a Cherry Pey (Pie) in honour of the 1752 sign on the side of the George pub.

Of course the future of the George is still uncertain. Councillor Paul Donovan reports that he has been told the Wetherspoons board has considered a petition of 3,200 fans of the George, but that the company remains committed to selling the pub.

The updates came to a letter sent to Wetherspoons chair Sir Tim Martin in which Cllr Donovan highlighted the “dismay” and “concern” of the local population.

“Wetherspoons are known to be sensitive to the concerns of their customers and the well-being of local communities. I know that you have reconsidered closure decisions before, when there has been local support for pubs staying open. Hopefully you may think again with regard to the George,” Cllr Donovan said in the letter.

In response, a Wetherspoons spokesperson said: “We can confirm that The George is currently on the market however it will continue operating as a Wetherspoon pub until is sold and we very much hope that you will still enjoy the pub until then. We understand that you, the pub’s other loyal customers and our dedicated members of staff will be disappointed with this decision, however JD Wetherspoon has made the decision on a commercial basis which we believe is in the best interest of the company as a whole. We hope customers will choose to visit our other pubs in the area.

“We can confirm that staff will be given the opportunity for re-
employment at other Wetherspoon pubs in the event that their pub is sold. Nonetheless your comments and observations have been noted, and thank you for the petition which has been discussed with the board.”

No honeymoon for Leyton and Wanstead’s new MP Calvin Bailey as a high-profile mini-crimewave for Wanstead shops has given him something significant to address.

A raid on Tesco which was filmed and posted to social media where it has been very widely viewed was just one of the attacks – a florist and two cafes have also been broken into in the past couple of weeks. In one case a stolen till was discovered abandoned in the street.

Worth remembering though that crime in Redbridge is below the average for the Metropolitan Police area. Met stats for recorded robberies give a mixed picture for Wanstead Village – a fall month-on-month but a rise in the 12 months to end of June.

The people of our constituency deserve better. This horrific attack has become too normal. Accepted and routine.

I have spoken to the leader of the council today and will engage with the Police. Leyton and Wanstead deserves better. https://t.co/PhAQdeiYOS

— Calvin Bailey MP (@CalvinBailey) July 9, 2024

The annual disability festival on Christchurch Green, taking place on Wednesday, has stepped up gear for its tenth anniversary with acts including Alison Limerick, Rozalla and Baby D.

Redbridge Council organises the inclusive free festival, accessible for all, and includes British Sign Language interpreters, and partners such as One Place East, Redbridge Forum and Uniting Friends. It’s also the pinnacle of Disability Pride Month UK 2024.

Redbridge Councillor Mark Santos, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “We are immensely proud of this unique festival and our work to provide a genuinely accessible festival for London’s disabled community. It is one of the most important events in our event calendar.  The festival is incredible to experience, and with the stellar lineup of musical artists set to perform, it will be one to remember.”

Labour has held Leyton and Wanstead in its landslide victory, although with a reduced majority. The Green party leapfrogged the Lib Dems and Conservatives to take second place.

Calvin Bailey is the new MP, with a majority of 13,964 – a reduction on John Cryer’s 2019 majority of more than 20,000. Green Charlotte Lafferty came second, and independent candidate Shanell Johnson nearly made it into third place.

Meanwhile Mr Cryer will become a Lord, having been included in the dissolution honours for Labour. Mr Cryer’s wife, Ellie Reeves, who held her Lewisham seat with a 19,000 majority, is tipped to be appointed to the cabinet.

In Ilford North Wes Streeting, despite his high profile in the campaign, won with a very slender majority of just over 500 votes over former Wanstead High School student Leanne Mohamad. In Ilford South, Redbridge council leader Jas Athwal won comfortably, presumably meaning there will be change in the town hall.

And Wanstead Park councillor Bayo Alaba won a significant victory for Labour in Southend, taking the seat from the Conservatives with a majority of more than 4,000.

The full Leyton and Wanstead results are:

Labour	Calvin Bailey	20,755
Green	Charlotte Lafferty	6,791
Conservative	Gloria Croxall	4,846
Independent	Shanell Johnson	4,173
Liberal Democrat	Tara Copeland	2,815
Reform UK	David Sandground	2,475
Workers Party of Britain	Mahtab Aziz	1,633
Rejoin EU	Simon Bezer	244

Here is Mr Bailey’s victory speech at the count at Waltham Forest town hall.

Breaking: Calvin Bailey is elected the Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead. He says we cannot allow people to turn to the far right, in an apparent reference to Reform UK. pic.twitter.com/SmLv8TZN6v

— Ralph Blackburn (@RalphBlackburn) July 5, 2024

Story corrected re Ilford North and South. Thanks Sue.