About 60 children and teachers visited the Town Hall last week to quiz Cllr Bob Belam about climate change.

They were also learning about peaceful demonstrations.

They had made banners to protest about not doing anything about climate change.

Probably the best time I have spent in politics for a long while

Pictured Lib Dem Councillor Bob Belam with Michael Hayes National Express Environmental Champion at Chingford Station. 

This is the first paper recycling facility to be opened at a transport hub in the borough.National Express and the council are looking at ways of installing these facilities at main line stations across the borough. 

The council is talking to LU with a view to having recycling at all Underground stations by the end of the year. 

If you want something done it is the LIB DEMS who get it done

Samina Safdar has become the twentieth Liberal Democrat councillor in Waltham Forest after taking the vacant Forest ward seat in last night’s by-election. The full result was: 

SAMINA SAFDAR (LIB DEM) 977

Jawade Liaqat (Labour) 927 

Edwin Northover (Conservative) 507 

Mark Dawes (Green) 184 

Makola Mayambika (Left List) 56 

Turnout 32.33 per cent, 2,661 votes cast

New Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr. Sheila Smith-Pryor has announced that she is hoping to raise lots of money during her year of office to support two local good causes:

1. Branches is a day centre and night shelter for homeless people. It is situated in Forest Rd E17. The night shelter offers a hot evening meal a bed and breakfast . The day centre provides a midday meal. There are showers clothing and laundry facilities. Branches also assists people to move back into proper homes.

2. MSAction is based in Billet Rd E17. It offers high pressure oxygen therapy to people with M.S. It does not receive any funding from the NHS and charges £10 for an hours therapy.It is not a cure but can help to keep the disease at bay and improve the quality of life.There are only 4 such units in the country and we are fortunate to have one in our borough. It is also unique in that it is the only unit that treats children with Cerebral Palsy. Again it is not a cure but can improve the quality of their lives, which has a knock-on effect on the whole family.

Anyone wishing to donate can send a cheque [payable to The Mayor’s Charity] to the Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JF.

Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly had a very successful session at the first Mayor’s Question Time with Boris Johnson this week.Leader of the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Mike Tuffrey, convinced the Mayor to make all his appointments to City Hall accountable to the Assembly. This means that all the Mayor’s staff, including his advisers, can be called before the London Assembly for scrutiny. Mike Tuffrey also extracted pledges from Boris Johnson to make sure that the supposed ‘independent’ panel appointed by the Mayor to investigate grants awarded by the London Development Agency take account of, and use, all the work that the Assembly’s committee chaired by Liberal Democrat Dee Doocey had already carried out before the recent elections.At the same meeting Boris Johnson also agreed to seek an urgent meeting with the Department for Transport over funding for Phase 2 of the East London Line following questioning from Caroline Pidgeon - a point noted in Thursday’s Guardian!

Caroline also got Boris Johnson to admit that his plans for a new Routemaster bus are only an aspiration rather than a firm commitment.After the meeting Caroline Pidgeon commented, “The Routemaster bus was a central part of the Mayor’s election manifesto. But there are no clear plans on how he will design or pay for it. The Mayor’s new transport adviser, Kulveer Ranger, seems to think the new Routemaster may not be ‘hop-on, hop-off’. But Boris Johnson said it will be and will include the iconic platform. The Mayor’s office is sending out a confused message on his flagship policy.‘Londoners voted for Boris Johnson on his pledge to reintroduce the Routemaster. This is the first real test of Boris’ campaign manifesto and like him, it is turning out to be a little blurry round the edges. Boris Johnson said that his Routemaster bus is an aspiration and not a commitment. We can only hope that the Mayor’s next proposal has more substance.”

This week the Mayor appointed Tim Parker as First Deputy Mayor and Chief Executive of the Greater London Authority.  See http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=17034.  As news of the appointment broke, Mike Tuffrey commented that, “This week Boris Johnson told the London Assembly that he would chair Transport for London. In an apparent U-turn, he has now announced that Tim Parker will chair TfL and is inventing a new role at the GLA for him.“While we should all welcome the best brains from the private sector, we will be asking searching questions about Tim Parker’s suitability for the roles being created for him.” 

Whilst welcoming the decision to rethink the closure of the three threatened post offices in Walthamstow, it was a surprise to see Labour MP Neil Gerrard and ex-councillor Stella Creasey attempting to bask in the glory of this stay of execution (‘Stay of execution for at-risk post offices’ 15/5/08). 

Labour’s apparent hand-brake turn in its support for the closures is certainly welcome, but will justifiably be seen by local people as an attempt to save face in Waltham Forest by distancing themselves from their national Labour colleagues mistakes. 

However it is difficult not to come to the conclusion that these voices of dissent against the closures would have been more effective if used where they would have been heard the loudest – in Mr Gerrard’s case, within the walls of Parliament. 

Just last year, Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard, alongside his neighbour Harry Cohen, voted AGAINST an opposition motion raised in Parliament which condemned the programme of closures and urged the Government to give our post offices greater freedom to develop their businesses. 

This mirrors the actions of local Labour councillors – including Ms Creasey - who were so quick to dismiss proposals by local Lib Dems that expressed grave concern at the Labour Government’s plans. 

Let’s make no mistake here – these are Labour closures being ‘opposed’ by Labour representatives because they know it affects their local electoral chances. 

Cllr John Macklin, Cllr Bob Belam, Cllr Bob Carey

Liberal Democrat Chapel End Councillors

PRESS STATEMENT

Agreed Sale of Company’s Land 16 May 2008
The directors of Walthamstow Stadium Limited have agreed to the sale of the Company’s freehold property at Walthamstow Stadium to a development consortium led by Yoo Capital, London, and Quadrant Housing Association and K W Linfoot plc. Formal contracts have been exchanged and completion is expected on or before 1st September 2008. Racing will continue until the middle of August 2008.

Since the abolition of General Betting Duty in 2001, with the consequent loss of the unique advantage of tax-free betting only on-course, greyhound punters have been able to bet tax-free off-course, and with betting offices and exchanges open throughout the evening to accommodate them, attendances and betting turnover on-course have declined dramatically. Walthamstow’s totalisator turnover alone has fallen by some 35% during the period.

With all of the principle income streams in sharp decline, and general running costs rising relentlessly, the company’s operations have become unsustainable.

Staff and trainers have been notified and now enter a consultation period. It is hoped that all will find alternative positions after operations cease. From an animal welfare point of view, it is anticipated that most of the greyhounds currently racing at the Stadium will be accommodated at other racecourses. If, however, certain owners choose to retire their greyhounds, every effort will be made to support them in finding suitable homes.
For further information, please call:

Charles Chandler 01707 644288 

Liberal Democrats on Waltham Forest Council have elected Chapel End councillor John Macklin as their new leader at the local party’s Annual General Meeting last night. 

Cllr Macklin, who was elected to Waltham Forest Council in 2002, currently serves as the Cabinet portfolio holder for Service Modernisation.  He previously spent 13 years as a secondary school teacher in East London schools and now works at the as a senior university lecturer in Education. 

John Macklin replaces Cllr Keith Rayner in the role.  During Cllr Rayner’s tenure as party leader, the Liberal Democrats have gained the highest number of Councillors in the local party’s history, ousting the Conservatives as the second largest political group in Waltham Forest and becoming the only party to have councillors in Chingford, Walthamstow and Leyton/Leytonstone. 

Cllr Macklin has promised that, under his leadership, the Liberal Democrats will be an “inclusive party who are ready to listen to residents and implement ambitious and forward-thinking ideas for the good of our borough”. 

Cllr John Macklin said: “I want to lead the Liberal Democrats in engaging those who believe that politics in Waltham Forest has nothing to do with them.  I will make it a priority to involve those residents who have skills to offer and imaginative ideas regarding the running of their local Council. 

“The Liberal Democrats will prove that, when working with the people they represent, local councillors can deliver meaningful change for our borough. “This is an exciting time for the Liberal Democrats.  We are in a perfect position to challenge for control of the Council and to build on the excellent work our councillors carry out for residents right across the borough. 

“I am determined that we will continue to be the party that delivers for the whole of Waltham Forest”. 

Brian Paddick, Meral Ece and the Liberal Democrats stand for

`A Better Deal for Public Transport Commuters in London’

How to improve our London Transport network is the Number One Issue in the `New Contract for London’ and GLA Manifesto commitment.Your 3 Votes on May Ist will help deliver all of the following Public Transport reforms:

1. Zero carbon emissions.

2. Higher capacity for public transport across London

3. Cross River Tram Project connecting South/North London and with spur down Oxford St.

4. Ultra light rail-link from Stratford to Deptford Bridge- replacing `bendy-buses’.

5. Hybrid engines for buses and black cabs 6. New express coaches from London to all outer Town Centres.

 Nick Clegg supports Brian Paddick

Chapel End Focus Cllr.Team fully support Brian Paddick for Mayor of London and ask residents to vote Paddick as their first preference choice on May Ist.
Meral Ece is the Liberal Democrat first choice preference for the GLA Election on May Ist.

Brian Paddick former Deputy Assistant Commissioner, is the only London Mayoral candidate, who has earned the right to governance at City Hall, by dint of his 30 years, in the Metropolitan Police.

Brian was in charge of a multi-million pound budget and unlike the other two candidates, has already delivered a high rating in public service, whilst Borough Commander in Lambeth, in the 1990`s, when in charge of 200 Met.Police staff. Boris Johnson has only run his bath and thinks that removal of `bendy-buses’ cures everything from back pain to knife crime!

Brian aims to put his policing record to the best use to reduce crime on the streets by 20% or resign after 4 years. He has said that guns and knives must be removed from the streets by more honesty and human understanding between the police and people, so that people see the police on their side and report those who carry weapons of violence. The human object in this policy, is to win back public confidence and get the police and residents all working together again.

In Brian Paddick`s new `Contract with Londoners’ he has stated,  

 `We all have a responsibility to make London a safer place’.

Brian Paddick believes in practical solutions for Londoners:  grants to prevent heat escaping in better insulation to keep pensioners warm in winter. New cheaper environmental zero carbon rated trams, to augment bus public transport, reduced traffic congestion and carbon emissions with fairer daily charges that do not penalise smaller vehicles, stop the `Third Runway’ at Heathrow and lend support for more affordable social housing for first time couples and singles, so to get a foot on the property ladder, and put an end to closure of post offices without proper local consultation consent.

Brian has said he is only prepared to serve the people in the Capital with the same integrity, human dignity and honesty that he made available on the streets of the City, for over 30 years, as an influential and caring public servant in the police.

Who do you want running your City Hall ?

The Chancer, the man who likes to tan in Venezuela or the former London Policeman?

Walthamstow councillors have launched a stinging attack on Labour parliamentary candidate Stella Creasy by accusing her of “two-faced cynicism” over local post office closures. 

The Labour parliamentary candidate has attempted to position herself at the centre of efforts to save the three Walthamstow post offices threatened with closure.  However, during her time as councillor for Walthamstow’s Lea Bridge ward she attempted to vote down a Liberal Democrat motion to Full Council that called on the Council to oppose the government’s closure programme. 

The angry reaction by local Liberal Democrats comes as they prepare to present a further motion to Full Council that calls on councillors from all sides to state their opposition to post office closures.

 Cllr Bob Carey, whose Chapel End ward could see two branches axed, said: “It is galling to see Ms Creasy jump on the bandwagon with regards to these closures. “Unfortunately for her, people have longer memories than she may give them credit for.  As a councillor 5 years ago, she, along with her Labour colleagues, attempted to remove a clause from a Liberal Democrat motion that expressed concern about both the effect of proposed post office closures on the vulnerable and elderly and the distance that they would be forced to travel in order to access vital services. 

“Now resident outcry about these Government closures has reached a crescendo, we hear her become one of those rushing to repeat these concerns almost parrot-like. 

“I’m sure that residents will see this two-faced scramble to act as a champion for our most vulnerable residents as little more than a cynical act of political chicanery. 

Cllr Carey, who will move the Liberal Democrat motion before Full Council, warned that opposition to the six immediate proposed closures in Waltham Forest was only the beginning of the work that needed to be done.

 “ Post Office representatives confirmed to council scrutiny just this week that  even if we are successful in saving one of the six branches immediately under threat, this would more than likely mean another branch closed in order to meet the required quota of government closures. “We hope both Labour and the Conservative councillors will support our motion this Thursday and come out strongly against the government’s closure programme. 

Liberal Democrats on Waltham Forest Council have branded the Government’s latest budget ”a great green cop out”. 

Lib Dem councillor Bob Belam, the Council’s portfolio holder for the Environment, lashed out at Chancellor Alistair Darling’s failure to address green issues, calling on the Government to show a commitment to the environment by ending delays to increases in vehicle Excise Duty, Aviation Duty and a Plastic Bag Tax.  

Cllr Belam recently lead a Liberal Democrat motion that will seek a voluntary agreement with local businesses to end the provision of free plastic bags.  Measures also include making council facilities more energy efficient and introducing a Climate Change Impact Assessment into every Council report, putting climate change at the heart of the Council’s agenda. 

Cllr Belam said: “The Chancellor has kicked green taxes into the long grass. The Government has presented this as a budget of the environment and opportunity but in reality it is a tax grab - by 2010 the Government will be taking £1.8bn more from taxpayers to plug the budget deficit. 

“It is entirely right that the most polluting cars should pay more tax. However, the Government has once again delayed any action for 2-3 years as the announced measures will not come into full force until 2010/11. 

“On the issue of Avaition Duty, we welcome that the Government have finally seen the benefits of taxing planes and not people, but this budget simply offers yet more dithering by delaying its implementation until 2009. 

“The Liberal Democrats support measures to introduce a plastic bag tax and have been at the forefront of local schemes to end the practice of providing free plastic bags to shoppers.  

However the Government continues to be indecisive over whether it will actually introduce this, choosing instead to introduce another ‘consultation’ as a green gimmick.” 

“This budget simply attempts to pull the wool over the eyes of those who share our concerns about the environment.  It is time for the Government to back up their words with real action.”

Yesterday Dave Hill, the Guardian writer,

said:“He’s still the most compelling candidate on crime.”

And he was joined in praising Brian by a Londoner recently returned from Japan:

“Seeing the live debate did a good job of convincing me that Ken Livingstone is a bit of a megalomaniac, Boris Johnson is a bit of a public school educated plonker and Brian Paddick is a decent bloke who genuinely seems to want to improve things for the average person in London.“

The London Assembly Liberal Democrat group acted as the lead in compiling a response to the Government’s consultation on the possible future expansion at Heathrow.  The response made it quite clear that NO expansion should be allowed.  The response included contributions from Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick and Sarah Ludford MEP.  If you would like a copy please e-mail info@glalibdems.org.uk.

Mike Tuffrey also was engaged in scrutiny of the Olympics this week as the Assembly’s Environment Committee looked at how plans were progressing to make the 2012 Games sustainable.Energy use, the carbon footprint and a sustainable food strategy were a few of the topics explored as member’s of the Environment Committee. The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 has raised concerns over LOCOG’s ability to meet its commitment to provide 20% of electricity during the Games-time from local renewable sources. This has not been done before and the nature of the energy market is not well geared towards such short-term contracts. How would plans to work with the utility sponsor (appointed by LOCOG) and utility partner (appointed by the ODA) and has work been done on linking the energy and waste agendas, e.g. through the use of biofuels from anaerobic digestion facilities were topics explored.

The timing of the 2012 Games at the end of the Kyoto period, coupled with the global profile of the event presents a unique opportunity to set the standard for staging low carbon major events and to influence emissions beyond the scope of the Games legacy.

A report released this week by the London Assembly’s Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee, chaired by Dee Doocey, has found that diverting funding from Lottery good causes in London to shore up the budget for the 2012 Games may actually do more harm than good. Both the Cultural Olympiad, a four-year programme of events aimed at increasing participation in cultural activity due to commence this year, and the Government’s Olympic sports participation target to increase the number of people who are physically active by 2 million by 2012 are heavily dependent on smaller grassroots organizations. But the Committee found that these were the very organisations that would be hardest hit by the diversion of Lottery funding to pay for the Olympics.

The report estimates that of the £2.2 billion National Lottery good causes are having to contribute towards the £9 billion needed for the 2012 Games², London will lose around £440 million of Lottery funding³, with voluntary and local community organisations hardest hit.

Dee Doocey AM said: “We are not denying that the capital will reap huge benefits as host city of the 2012 Games.  However, our investigation shows that the on-the-ground opportunities Londoners were promised are at risk because the funding diversion effectively hamstrings the organisations needed to deliver them. At present, it’s not completely clear who will lose what, but our research suggests that smaller organisations will suffer most. With the Games only four years away this needs to be addressed immediately before the opportunity to get this right is lost.”

A number of London Liberal Democrats urged senior Network Rail executives for improved liaison with politicians on rail plans at a special Investing in London’s Railways seminar on Thursday.

Susan Kramer MP and Richmond councilors highlighted the need for Network Rail to engage with them on strategic policies for public transport systems in SW London.

Network Rail gave an informative presentation on how the Thameslink project would be rolled out in the next few years with a new Blackfriars rail station straddling the Thames and a rebuilt London Bridge Station beneath the Shard of Glass.

All agreed that pressure by MPs and Assembly members for funding for the New Cross-Peckham-Clapham Junction rail link (part of the East London Line extensions) would be the key political priority in the coming weeks.

Geoff Pope said ‘We welcome Network Rails plans for upgrading London’s railways but they need to up their game in involving and listening to politicians and local people.

The impressive plans for Thameslink and the London Overground look set to make step change improvements before the Olympics. Lets hope they don’t suffer delays or cost overruns.”

The Liberal Democrats have outlined key proposals to revive London’s failing Tube network. It is hoped that these measures could restore confidence in the London Underground after taxpayers have forked out at least £2.6 billion for Gordon Brown’s disastrous Public Private Partnership.The ideas focus on improving the daily travel experience by making the Tube safer, faster and more friendly. They include initiatives to ensure an increase in the number of step-free access stations by 2012 in a bid to help reduce congestion and improve disabled access. Strong emphasis will also be placed on passenger safety on the Tube with a suggestion that every evening train should have a ‘SAFE’ carriage supervised by a security guard.

Currently under the PPP station upgrades are placed as the top of the priority list. Rather than worrying about how the station looks Geoff Pope, the Lib Dems Assembly Transport spokesperson, has argued that first work to improve the signals and tracks should take priority –  which would see a massive reduction in the delays and cancellations that currently hinder the daily journey of many Londoners.

Geoff said, “We would like to make London Underground as successful as the DLR and London Overground railway networks.  Under Labour, the waiting time for a Tube has actually increased and overcrowding has become a real danger at some stations. It is clear that the current system is being mismanaged.”

The Mayor has agreed to change the way empty home targets are set following pressure from Dee Doocey, Housing Spokesperson for the London Assembly Liberal Democrats. This week, Dee Doocey criticised the Mayor’s housing strategy for not setting challenging targets for empty homes, with only a 2.5% vacancy rate needed by 2016. She highlighted the fact that this target could be met without a single empty home being returned into use, because of the expected increase in housing stock through new builds.

As a result of Dee’s challenge, the Mayor agreed to move away from percentages to absolute figures. Commenting, Dee Doocey said, “The Mayor must also work closely with boroughs to bring these homes back into use. Too many homeowners find it difficult to obtain good, consistent advice about the help that is available. We need a targeted, London-wide approach to this very serious problem.”

The Mayor this week refused to commit to a target figure for reducing crime in future years while being questioned by Graham Tope at Mayor’s Question Time.

Graham Tope commented, “In January 2004 the Mayor pledged to reduce crime by 50% by 2008. He has failed to hit this target by almost two-thirds. At the Mayor’s Question Time meeting I challenged him to be held accountable for his future actions and he refused, yet again, sticking his head in the sand. The Mayor’s dismal record on crime needs to be highlighted. Actual crime has not fallen and it is misleading for him to claim it has. Ken can lie about his crime-fighting reputation, but he is no superhero.”

The Metropolitan police announced this week that they were not going to conduct a criminal inquiry in to the actions of Mayoral aide Lee Jasper, despite Ken Livingstone having asked them to do so.  The police said there been “no criminal allegations reported to us in connection with this individual.”

The Mayor at a meeting of the full London Assembly on Wednesday morning rejected Liberal Democrat Assembly leader Mike Tuffrey’s suggestion that he reinstate Lee Jasper.

“If the Mayor was certain that Lee Jasper had not acted illegally, then surely he has wasted police time with this matter” said Mike.  “The allegations made about Mr Jasper cannot be swept under the carpet by the Mayor, and I want to make sure that there exists no reason for Lee Jasper not to appear before the London Assembly on March 5^th as we conduct a detailed scrutiny into the issues.”

Senior officers from the London Development Agency and senior Mayoral advisors, Simon Fletcher, Lee Jasper and John Ross will appear before the London Assembly on March 5^th.  More details at http://tinyurl.com/2gake9

Figures obtained by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats show that the number of people charged for drink-driving in Brent, Barnet, Hounslow, Southwark, Hackney and Bexley has risen in the past three years. This is compared to London-wide figures where charges for positive breath tests have actually decreased by 10% in the same period.

Dee Doocey, Policing Spokesperson for the London Assembly Liberal Democrats said, “The fact that there has been a rise in positive breath tests in these boroughs is deeply concerning. I cannot believe that in this day and age people still think it is acceptable to drink and drive. I urge the authorities to target this issue and soon. We need to see more drink awareness projects and sensible drinking campaigns to tackle this worrying trend.”

For a look at all London borough statistics on positive breath tests, visit http://myturl.com/0oRAc

The Mayor admitted today before the London Assembly that his pledge of 1000 extra police was not as a result of his budget.

Commenting on the Mayor’s misleading budget pledge, Policing Spokesman for the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Graham Tope said:

“The Mayor promised London 1000 extra police but they certainly won’t be as a result of his budget. The Government and London boroughs will be providing the majority of extra police.

“The Mayor would actually be responsible for a fall in the number of police in London by 525, if it were not for Government and London borough funding. The Mayor is taking credit for the hard work of others.

“If the Mayor’s headline pledge for the budget is a lie, imagine what
rot lies beneath this empty promise. This is blatant spin on the
Mayor’s part.”

 Winnie & Brian Paddick Mayoral candidate on the election trail.

WINNIE SMITH recaptured the third Leyton Ward council seat last night in a spectacular Valentine’s Day victory.

The appeal was lost, with the judge commenting that Grell’s evidence was “contrived and not honest” and that she “has let herself down and everyone in her community.” Last night’s resounding win for Winnie Smith shows what the voters think of this shameful episode.

Labour’s vote was cut to 29% and David Cameron’s Tories were left trailing in fourth place, only beating the Green by 18 votes.Congratulations to the team in Leyton, especially Bob, Jenny and Henry, and also to the many people who went to help in person or on the phones.

The most heavily polluting lorries are facing charges of £200 per day to enter Greater London as Britain’s first low emission zone (LEZ) comes into force. 

The £49m scheme uses cameras to check all lorries over 12-tonnes entering the zone against a database of vehicles certified as meeting EU exhaust limits.

Firms whose vehicles are not on the database will be told to pay up.

The rules, aimed at improving London’s air quality, will be extended to cover buses and coaches in July.

By 2010, it will also cover some vans and smaller lorries. Cars and motorcycles are exempt.

Firms are responsible for making sure their vehicles comply with the anti-pollution rules, which stipulate the amount of airborne dirt and nitrogen oxide each vehicle is permitted to emit. Unlike London’s congestion charge zone, which is lifted in the evenings and at weekends, the LEZ will be in force 24 hours a day, every day.

It also covers a larger area of 610 sq miles (1,580 sq km). Failing vehicles will be issued with a warning letter the first time they are seen in the zone.

In response to claims not enough was being done to make haulage companies aware of the new requirements, firms have been given an extra 28 days from the launch of the zone to ensure their vehicles comply before the fines kick in.

 Firms which fail to pay the £200 charge will be fined £1,000.

 Hauliers have protested about the new rules, which they say will be expensive to comply with.

But Transport for London, which is implementing the zone, says it will improve quality of life for people with asthma, cardio-vascular disease and other health conditions.

Nick Fairholme, head of the LEZ, said: “Despite significant improvements in recent years, London’s air pollution is the worst of any city in the UK and among the worst in Europe. “The LEZ aims to reduce traffic pollution by deterring the most individually polluting diesel-engine lorries, buses, coaches, minibuses and large vans from driving within our city.”

All lorries made after October 2001 automatically comply with the EU standards of particulate emissions of 0.05g per km. Older vehicles can be adapted to comply with the rules.

TfL said it had identified 120,000 lorries of over 12 tonnes inside the zone during six months of monitoring last year and estimates that about 10% do not meet EU standards.

Low emission zones are already planned or in operation in 70 towns and cities in eight European countries including Norway, the Netherlands and Germany. BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says other UK towns and cities with pollution problems will be watching the implementation of the LEZ with interest.   

London Assembly Liberal Democrats proposed an increase half that of the Mayor’s 2.4% rise in 2008/9 on Wednesday.

The Liberal Democrat  amendment to the Mayor’s Budget included proposals to look at free bus travel one Sunday a month, as well as on public holidays and Christmas Day. Other innovative measures introduced as part of the budget proposals included a new policy to tackle the causes of crime by focusing on young people who are most at risk and providing free cavity wall and loft insulation to 10,000 Londoners living in rented social housing.

Mike Tuffrey said, “Our budget amendment provides a serious alternative to the Mayor’s. We are seeking to cut unwanted and unnecessary projects, scrapping wasteful expenditure, while delivering beneficial new policy ideas. Most importantly, our budget does not call for high tax rises. Our amendments build upon our previous Liberal Democrat successes. The proposed measures will improve upon the services we can offer Londoners.”

Dee Doocey working in her role as Chair of the Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee for the Assembly, published a report urging for the protection and promotion of street markets in the capital.

Dee Doocey said, “The face of London’s markets is changing, and while the boom in specialist and farmers’ markets is welcome, action must be taken to protect our traditional street markets too. Some of the street markets have been around for centuries – they are the hearts of local communities, and provide economic, social and cultural benefits to London as a whole.  It would be a shame to see more of these traditional and accessible hubs lost forever, or completely replaced by a handful of more exclusive and expensive specialist markets.”

Travelling by plane to key mainland UK destinations uses four times more carbon than the equivalent journey by train, research by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats has found. These statistics back up claims that the expansion of the third runway at Heathrow is unnecessary and unwanted.

A journey from London to Manchester takes 75 minutes less by train and saves around 390 kilograms of carbon. In the second week of January, an average of five flights from Heathrow to mainland UK destinations were cancelled per day.

Commenting on these statistics, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman on the London Assembly, Geoff Pope said, “Our research shows that it is greener and often faster to travel by train in mainland UK. We should improve on transport links from London by investing in high-speed rail to the North and Scotland, and not by expanding the third runway at Heathrow. I urge Londoners to voice their objections on Heathrow expansion as there is only a month to go before the public consultation paper is due.”

Brixton Base is now subject to a police investigation along with five other LDA-funded projects. This information was made public in a letter from LDA Chief Executive Manny Lewis to Chair of the London Assembly Sally Hamwee on Thursday of this week.

Chair of the London Assembly, Sally Hamwee said, “Given the nature of the issues, the LDA should be dealing with these matters in an open and transparent manner – not quietly slipping out the fact that yet another project has been referred to the police into a letter about technical points, almost as an aside.  Assembly Members will have the opportunity to address transparency at the LDA – among many other issues - when the Mayor and senior officers from the LDA appear before us in public next Thursday.”

The London Assembly will be questioning senior representatives of the LDA and the Mayor next Thursday.

Commenting on today’s [Monday] Environmental Audit Committee report into biofuels, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:

“It is essential that the EU’s directive on biofuels sets high standards for both carbon saving and sustainability.”

Winnie with Brian and residents in Leyton Ward

Following his tour of Walthamstow Brian Paddick went on to visit Leyton to support Lib Dem by-election candidate Winnie Smith on February 14^th.

The by-election was called after Labour Cllr Miranda Grell, who took the seat for Liberal Democrats in 2006, was convicted last year on two counts of making false statements under the Representation of the People Act 1983 – the first case of its kind in Britain.

She was found guilty of telling residents during her election campaign that the incumbent Liberal Democrat Councillor, Barry Smith was a paedophile. Her appeal against the conviction which was initially funded by the Labour party, was dismissed in November, with the judge claiming the her evidence had been “ contrived and not honest”

Brian Paddick Lib Dem Mayoral candidate seen here with

Chapel End Lib Dem Cllr Bob Belam visited Walthamstow on Saturday.

Brian was here to meet with Lib Dem councillors and residents to talk about local issues.

Dealing with waste rubbish is a major issue across the country and particularly in London. Councils in Waltham Forest, Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey and Islington are developing a joint plan to deal with North London’s waste up to the year 2020. This North London Waste Plan, if and when adopted, will form part of each council’s planning policy under their Local Development Framework (the successors to their current Unitary Development Plans). The Plan will identify sites for a wide range of facilities needed in the future to manage the waste produced in North London.  The Plan is in the early stages of preparation and consultations are now beginning seeking the public’s views about the key issues and policy options that have been proposed.  As part of the consultation programme a workshop will be held in each of the boroughs during January and February 2008. The workshops are open for key stakeholders and members of the public to meet representatives of the Councils and the North London Waste Authority.

The workshop to be held in Waltham Forest will take place from 6:30-8:30pm on Monday 28 January 2008 at the EduAction Conference Centre, Queens Road, Walthamstow, E17.

 If you would like to attend, please contact the Waste Plan’s Project Manager, Archie Onslow on 020 7974 5916 or e-mail events@nlwp.net. 

The full issues and options report can be viewed at www.nlwp.net. Printed copies will be available for viewing from Friday 18 January at Sycamore House at the Town Hall complex, at the council’s libraries and at Waltham Forest Direct shops.

A Low Emission Zone (LEZ) for the Greater London Area is being introduced by Transport for London (TfL) on 4th February 2008.   Boundary signs are now being erected in Waltham Forest at all the zone entry points at or near the northern edge of the Borough.   The aim is to improve air quality in London by deterring the most polluting vehicles from driving in the area. 

More details of the affected vehicles, the emission standards and how to pay can be found on TfL’s website at: www.tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon  

This web page also includes details of consultations carried out in 2006 and 2007, and the Mayor of London’s decision to implement the scheme.  A telephone enquiry line: 0845 607 0009 is also available. 

Any vehicle can enter the zone but drivers of the affected vehicles must pay a daily charge of £200 if the vehicle does not met the LEZ emission standards. 

Vehicles exceeding 1.205 tonnes unladen weight may be affected.  The zone does not affect cars, motorcycles or small vans.

Once again unscrupulous builders have dumped rubble in Warburton Terrace. 

Cllr Bob Belam has asked the council to get it removed.

Every time this happens it costs the Council money.

If you spot fly tippers please call 020 8496 3000

Dear Cllr Belam

Under my leadership the Liberal Democrats will be ambitious. Ambitious for ourselves and ambitious for Britain.

I want to thank you for giving me the chance to lead our great party. It is a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Paddy Ashdown, Charles Kennedy and Ming Campbell, who have all contributed so much to our party.

I look forward to working with them all during my leadership.

I would also like to pay tribute to both Vince Cable and Chris Huhne. Vince has been an inspiration as stand-in leader with both his forensic questioning and his memorable put downs.

Chris and I saw a lot of each other during the leadership contest. Now we will be working together as close colleagues to ensure that our party goes on to further electoral success.

I am delighted that both Vince and Chris are going to be part of my top team over the coming years.

 We have a golden opportunity for our party. Gordon Brown presides over an increasingly stale, incompetent, and desperate government. David Cameron and the Tories don’t know what they stand for anymore.

We know what we stand for – a more Liberal Britain. I am confident that with hard work and dedication we can turn our beliefs into reality and change our country for the better.

 Under my leadership our party will be a self-confident, radical, and energetic party. Together we can break the stifling two-party system and change Britain for good. That is my aim.

I hope you will join me in making it a reality.

Best Wishes,Nick Clegg MP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats 

On Sunday 9^th December a domestic incident resulted in a young man being stabbed. He sustained a chest wound.

The latest information is that he is in hospital and his condition is stable.

Two reports from the Institute for Public Policy Research have come to the same conclusion: the current target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 is not enough and the higher figure of 80 per cent is not only necessary, it is also feasible.

The first report, 2050 Vision: How can the UK play its part in avoiding dangerous climate change?, said that since the 60 per cent target was drawn up in 2000, “climate science has moved on substantially”. The report claimed that the 80 per cent target was essential “if we are to avoid a 2°C global warming above pre-industrial levels – a threshold beyond which there is a sharp increase in the expected impacts of climate change.”

But, the report asked, is an 80 per cent reduction in UK emissions even remotely possible? How would we generate electricity? How would industry manage? Would we need nuclear power? Would we all have to stop flying and give up our game consoles and gadgets? How would we heat our homes? What would fuel our cars and lorries? And above all, what would it all cost and can we afford it?

Many of the answers were contained in the second report, 80% Challenge: Delivering a low-carbon UK, credited to the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds as well as the ippr. The organisations followed the same assumptions and approaches used by government when looking at cutting carbon emissions but added some constraints they considered to be environmentally essential.

The report said: “Unlike the government, we included emissions from international aviation, with a multiplier to allow for non-carbon dioxide effects, in our targets and models. This clearly made our approach much more challenging – however, we believe it is indefensible to exclude this large and rapidly growing source of emissions from UK targets.We examined the implications of excluding new nuclear electricity generation and placed limits both on the use of biofuels and wind.”

It added: “The key conclusion is that it is feasible to reduce the UK’s emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, and at costs that are not prohibitive.”

An informal group of MPs has called for local authorities to be more independent and manage their own monies.

A cross-party group of MPs and peers, the Chamberlain Group (not to be confused with a finance management company of the same name), said that councils should be free to generate their own revenue and spend it how they see fit.

Also, the government should work more closely with local authorities when drawing up national policy and there should be yearly meetings of a joint committee to monitor the progress of devolution.

Former Labour local government minister Nick Raynsford said: “To counter public cynicism about political institutions and low levels of turnout in elections, we have to find new ways to engage citizens in the political process. More devolution of power and the active involvement of local communities in decision-making are essential if we are to rebuild confidence in our democracy locally and nationally.”

And former Conservative local government minister David Curry said the government and opposition parties should look to turning their rhetoric about devolution of power “into firm measures to deliver it”.

Two years in the making, the group’s report said that the current state of affairs, where councils generate around 25 per cent of their revenue themselves, needs to change and the government needs to realise that different regions need to provide different services at different levels and centralisation cannot cater for this. Central government should only get involved as a last resort, the report said.

It went on to suggest that councils could get a percentage of income tax or car tax to fund their services. Or they could issue bonds like London has done to finance its transport network.

Housing minister Yvette Cooper has said she wants to encourage more affordable housing by making councils give their “surplus” public sector land to newly established local housing companies (LHCs).

Claiming that this move marked a return to local authorities being “centre stage in providing homes for communities”, Cooper said that councils will be able to offer their own deals for key workers and first time buyers through new homes built on their land. Thousands more young families could get a step on to the housing ladder if councils took this option, she said.

“We urgently need to build more homes for first time buyers and families. That’s why we are investing £10.2bn to increase affordable and social housing. But government cannot deliver this alone. This is a new way to help councils to do their bit to support new homes for key workers and families in their areas.”

Councils tend to have little influence on how land they sell is used but LHCs would “put the destiny of that land back into the hands of councils”, Cooper claimed, “enabling them to double affordable housing levels to at least 50 per cent”. Under the scheme, the local authority would have a role in agreeing the development plan for land, including being able to offer ‘low cost’ housing deals to meet local needs. In return, private sector partners such as housing builders would put in the same level of investment and be responsible for building the homes.

Each LHC could have the potential to deliver up to 1000 new homes, Cooper said.

Transport for London was the only bidder for the failed tube maintenance company Metronet so the organisation should come out of administration in early 2008 and come under control of TfL.

Under TfL’s plans, the people and the assets of the two Metronet companies, BCV and SSL, will be transferred into two TfL nominee companies while the long-term structure is agreed with the Mayor of London and the government.

London Underground managing director Tim O’Toole said: “I am pleased to be able to confirm that TfL is the only bidder for Metronet and that we do not anticipate any other bids. We are now working with the administrator to transfer the Metronet companies to Transport for London’s control in early 2008.”

He added that the deal would mean “the continued safe and reliable operation of the Tube network for passengers” and would enable TfL to establish “a stable, economic and efficient structure that is better able to deliver our investment priorities that will lead to increased capacity on the Tube in future.”

PPP administrator Alan Bloom said: “Transport for London has expressed clear interest in the purchase of Metronet Rail BCV Limited and Metronet Rail SSL Limited. The PPP administrators will be working closely with Transport for London to progress their proposal towards an exit from administration, preferably early in the New Year.”

The Queen’s Speech unveiled 29 bills and draft bills, even if they’d mostly been revealed days if not weeks ago when Gordon Brown made what has been called his ‘pre-Queen’s Speech’. Subjects covered include cutting carbon emissions, using nuclear power to produce energy, making children go to school until they’re 18 and being able to hold terrorist suspects for up to 56 days.

Brown said: “On energy, housing, pensions, education, work-life balance, citizenship and anti-terrorism measures, the central purpose of this legislative programme is to make the right long-term changes to prepare and equip our country for the future and to meet the rising aspirations of the British people.”

Accusing the government of “recycling” many of the policies laid out, Tory leader David Cameron said the Queen’s Speech should have given people more opportunity and power over their lives, a “supply-side revolution” in schools, reduced stamp duty to help people on to the housing ladder and more power for local government.

“In this new age of unease we need to strengthen families and make our society more responsible,” he said. “Ending the couple penalty in the benefits system. Backing marriage in the tax system. Radical welfare reform to get people off benefits and into work. And in this new age of insecurity we need to make our country safer and greener. That means proper prison reform. It means real police reform.”

Acting leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said Brown had produced no new ideas despite delaying a general election so that he could outline his vision for government.

Cable said: “The anticipation was acute - but the anti-climax is deafening. The legislative programme is firmly rooted in the Blair era. There is very little new. No ideas, no vision. Is this what we have been waiting for? Perhaps, lurking in this Queen’s Speech is a genuinely Big Idea: a Conservative-Labour grand coalition of policies and ideas. The one time editor of the Red Paper has penned a Queen’s speech in the bluest ink. Across wide swathes of policy his approach is indistinguishable from the Tories.”

The main bills were:

Apprenticeships (draft) Bill All 16- to 18-year-olds are entitled to an apprenticeship.

Climate Change Bill Carbon dioxide emissions to be cut by at least 60 per cent by 2050 and between 26 and 32 per cent by 2020.

Constitutional Renewal (draft) Bill To “rebalance power” between Parliament and the government and give MPs a say on such subjects as going to war and ratifying treaties.

Counter-Terrorism Bill To enable post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects, more use of their DNA and bans on convicted terrorists travelling overseas.

Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill Non-dangerous criminals who breach the terms of their release will be jailed for 28 days. There will also be restrictions on violent offenders and people will be able to use “reasonable force” to defend themselves and their properties.

Education and Skills Bill By 2015 all 16- to 18-year-olds will have to stay in education or training by 2015. Parents and councils will be responsible for making this happen.

Employment Bill To resolve disputes easier.

Energy Bill To encourage more use of renewable energy generation, including nuclear power. And to encourage more “carbon capture” research.

EU Reform Treaty Bill To bring into UK law the EU Reform Treaty.

Health and Social Care Bill To create the so-called ’super-regulator’ Care Quality Commission to inspect and intervene in failing hospitals.

Housing and Regeneration Bill To merge the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships and implement the recommendations of the Cave Review of Social Housing Regulation.

Local Transport Bill To give councils more freedom to formulate their transport policies, including road-pricing schemes.

Pensions Bill To ensure eligible workers are automatically enrolled into a pension scheme and employers give a minimum contribution.

Planning Reform Bill To create a separate planning system for major infrastructure projects and simplify the planning system for minor home improvements.

Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill To cut local authority regulations on businesses.

Sale of Student Loans Bill To sell the student loan book, which should raise £6bn over three years.

Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill To replace the Child Support Agency with the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.

Children and Young Persons Bill To ensure higher standards for children in care and to ensure children do not move schools in Years 10 and 11 where possible.

Citizenship and Immigration (draft) Bill To “take forward any recommendations” from the review of citizenship by Lord Goldsmith.

Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill To enable the government to spend money unclaimed for 15 years on youth facilities.

EC Finance Bill To enable the government to pay the EC budget from the Consolidated Fund.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Culture, Media and Sport Spokesman, Don Foster MP, lends his support to the Waltham Forest Cultural Consultation

Your local Liberal Democrats have announced the launch of a consultation into the running of cultural services in the borough.

In response to complaints about the council’s actions regarding local cultural services such as Walthamstow Library, Vestry House and William Morris Gallery, Cllr John Macklin said that the Lib Dems were keen to see greater resident input into the running of such vital local facilities.

Cllr Macklin said: “The future of our local cultural services has been of great concern to residents. We want to hear their views on how the management of such facilities could be improved”.
 

During October a number of Council services will be re-locating to new and improved offices at Sycamore House in the Waltham Forest Town Hall complex on Forest Road, Walthamstow.

The moves will make these services available to all Waltham Forest residents from a central location. The newly refurbished offices will provide a more welcoming and comfortable environment for visitors and staff, and the improved facilities will mean we can offer better customer service to residents.

From Monday 15 October, Development Control, Building Control, Transport and Planning services will be located at Sycamore House, not Chingford Municipal Offices.

From Monday 22 October, Trading Standards, Food and Safety, Licensing, and Environmental Health will be located at Sycamore House, not 154 Blackhorse Road.

Residents should note that from the end of October, there will be no Council services operating from Chingford Municipal Offices, or 157 Blackhorse Road.