Lib Dems step up campaign against ticket office closures 

Lib Dem Farooq Qureshi has stepped up his campaign against Boris Johnson’s ticket office closures following confirmation that all four tube stations in the borough will be affected. 

In total Waltham Forest will lose nearly 60 hours of cover a week. The Mayor’s plan will hit late evening cover especially hard.

 ·         Blackhorse Road ticket office will shut at 6pm instead of 10pm on Saturdays

·         Walthamstow will close at 9.30pm instead of 11.30pm on weekdays

·         Leyton ticket office will shut at 9.30 pm instead of 10.30 pm on weekdays

·         Leytonstone will close at 8.45 pm instead of 11 pm on Sundays. 

Cllr Qureshi, who is parliamentary candidate for Leyton and Wanstead, said: “Waltham Forest has been hit hard by the Conservative Mayor’s broken promise. He said he would keep ticket offices open – but now travellers will face deserted ticket offices in the evenings just when the demand for security is greatest. That’s why I’ve launched a petition and am asking for people’s experiences. I want as many people as possible to show their concern.” 

Farooq Qureshi and the Liberal Democrat team have launched a petition against the closures. Passengers can sign online at www.ourcampaign.org.uk/xxx

If you are in the area for the consultation on residents parking the documents for a Residents Parking Scheme should have dropped through your letter box today.

Please complete the documents and encourage neighbours to do the same, and return the documents to the council in the free post envelope.

The more returns, the better the decision.

We as ward councillors have not tried to sway your opinion.

However there are those who would want you to vote according to the posters being put on street furniture. That is up to you.

If you want the scheme say yes

If you dont then say no

But please fill in the forms

Thanking you

Cllrs Bob Belam, Bob Carey and John Macklin

Chapel End Ward

Picture courtesy of Waltham Forest Guardian” 

 Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Bob Belam announced a new scheme telling drivers exactly where CCTV enforcement vehicles will be deployed.The initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in the Country, aims to promote safer driving, reduce road accidents and lower the number of penalty charge notices issued to motorists for transgressions such as stopping in a box junction.Details of where the boroughs five CCTV enforcement vehicles will be are available for viewing on the Waltham Forest Council website at www.walthamforest.gov.uk CCTV vehicles are deployed in the identified areas because residents have complained about congestion, accidents and other issues in their vicinity, Cllr Bob Belam said: The main aim of our traffic enforcement team is to improve safety for all of Waltham Forest’s roads users. It is not about making money at the expense of motorists. “We hope this scheme will encourage people to drive more carefully, especially at the locations where we issue most of our penalty charge notices, and help us to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents. Waltham Forest Council’s CCTV vehicles are responsible for recording moving traffic violations, such as stopping in box junctions, driving in bus lanes and making banned turns. They are also used for parking enforcement purposes. The statutory penalty charge for a moving traffic violation is £120, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

 WHO NICKED THE FENCE IN BERESFORD ROAD/ A406 UPDATE

Mayor Boris Johnson puts residents at risk. His Transport For London department remove safety fences to declutter our streets.

Conservatives across London are the majority party who control what London does, they are to blame for this mad decision.

Residents of Beresford Road asked why the barriers between the A406 had been removed.

Cllr Bob Belam asked council officers to investigate.

Officer’s response

“Your concern has now been passed to TFL as this is under their responsibility. However our findings this morning shows that these were removed by TFL as part of their anti-clutter programme. During the process of the consultation our Engineers objected to the removal due to safety reasons however TFL have gone ahead and removed these barriers. As part of this consultation the London Road Safety Unit was happy with these proposals”.

“We will go back to TFL and raise our concerns again on this matter”.

Cllr Bob Belam will be meeting with council officers and TfL to have this lunacy reversed

A503 BROAD LANE ONE WAY STREET Westbound, London

Traffic alert for A503 Broad Lane One Way Street (westbound) - A503 London - Broad Lane (one way street) closed westbound due to burst water main and emergency repairs between Tottenham Hale Gyratory and Seven Sisters , in Tottenham Hale. Diversion in operation - Buses 41, 230 and W4 are diverting up A1055 Watermead Way to Upper Edmonton, west on Leeside Road and south back down the A10, with no official diversion for cars

Liberal Democrats throughout London are launching their campaign, Better Stations, to tackle London’s neglected rail stations.

The campaign includes a five-point plan to improve our rail stations:

1. Ensure stations are staffed throughout the hours trains are running;
2. Keep all available station entrances open during these hours;
3. Deep-clean all stations and remove “grot-spots”;
4. Launch a website where you can easily report any problem with your station;
5. Invest in making stations fully accessible. 

Cllr Bob Carey said: “We simply shouldn’t tolerate reduced staffing hours or entrances being closed at our rail stations. Our stations need to be cleaner and better cared for as many stations; railway bridges and embankments are often littered with graffiti and rubbish and are an eyesore for commuters and local residents. Reporting these problems should also be quick and simple.”

Our railway stations must be safe, clean and accessible. Please join our campaign by signing our petition on line now at www.ourcampaign.org.uk/betterstations