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Click on the menu items above to find out lots of information about Leytonstone and local campaigns.
Over 5000 people came along to the Family Fun Day at Leytonstone library in June.
The library has recently reopened after a £2 million makeover and the Family Fun Day was just the first of many events which will be held in this fantastic building.
The library was absolutely packed from when the fun day started at 10 a.m. until late in the afternoon.
There were loads of activities throughout the day for children and families to enjoy.
There was a spectacular show with wild animals including snakes, armadillos and skunks.
There was also a library quiz, face painting, badge making, arts and crafts a professional storyteller and of course our own Councillor Clyde Loakes doing a story reading session for a very large group of children!
The whole day was a great success and lots of people also joined the library.
Look out for details of more events and in the meantime if you haven't visited the library you are missing out...!
Councillor Jenny Gray commented "I had a great time with my grandchildren who particularly enjoyed the storytelling. The newly refurbished library really is very beautiful and light. The fantastic glass windows in the ceiling are particularly amazing."
Leytonstone has become a Business Improvement District after an overwhelming positive vote from local businesses.
Leytonstone is one of the first small town centres in London to become an Improvement District.
This means that businesses will pay a small amount more on their business rates and this will be put into a fund which they can use to help improve the town centre.
A whole range of plans have been produced by the businesses leading the Business Improvement District including waste to improve the environmental efficiency of the town centre and bring in new businesses.
Councillor Clyde Loakes said "I would like to thank the business leaders in Leytonstone for all their work getting this Business Improvement District agreed and I was very pleased to work with them on this project. I'm sure this will bring great improvements to our town centre".
Leytonstone Councillors Marie Pye and Jenny Gray are campaigning for local buses to SLOW DOWN.
Despite a new 20 mph area across much of Leytonstone local buses have been seen breaking the speed limit, and it is very obvious because of the new signs which light up if a passing vehicle goes above 20 mph. Also local residents have been expressed concern because the buses pull away very quickly from the bus stops even if elderly, disabled or pregnant passengers have not sat down. Residents are concerned that somebody will be injured.
Councillor Marie Pye has written to London Buses about these issues and they have responded and are clearly very concerned. In their recent letter they said:
" I have raised this with Arriva who operate the W15 and asked that they remind all their drivers that the speed limit is set for a reason and must be conformed to without fail. We also realise how important it is that our drivers ensure passengers have a smooth and comfortable journey. They should of course wait for passengers with mobility problems to be seated before pulling away, or at the very least pull away gently, and the low floor facility should definitely be used when it is clear that passengers need assistance boarding and alighting. Again I apologise for this not happening, and I have asked that Arriva also respond to this and take action with their drivers." Both Councillor Pye and Councillor Gray are extremely pleased that London Buses have responded to this campaign so positively but they will continue to monitor the speed of the buses inside the end 20 mph zone. Also they would wish to hear from any local residents who are still concerned about buses pulling away from the stop before vulnerable passengers have sat down.
Councillor Gray commented "Buses speeding through residential areas is very dangerous and we are pleased that London Buses are taking this seriously. It is also very important that older and disabled passengers are and feel safe when travelling on our buses and we hope that all drivers will show the appropriate consideration in future".
with some young residents who have produced
pictures to support the campaign
Work has started on the new police station in Leytonstone. The new police station, in Kirkdale Road, will not only house the local Leytonstone
police team but also the Borough Commander and his staff.
This modern and accessible facility should be open by November.
Councillor Marie Pye commented:
"It's fantastic to see work beginning on the new police station. It will be excellent for both residents and businesses to have the main police station for the Borough based in Leytonstone."
by the site of the new police station
Recently Lincoln's public house in Leytonstone once again applied for a late license. Local residents will recall
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that 18 months ago their late license was removed by the Crown Court following a long campaign by local residents.
On this occasion the request went to the councils Licensing Committee. A huge campaign was mounted by local residents,
supported by local councillors. Evidence was collected about the improvement to the local area since the late license was removed
and concerns about a return to the crime and antisocial behaviour which was present when the late license was in place.
After hearing evidence from the licensee, police, local residents and councillors the licensing committee decided not to grant a late license. Local residents and councillors were both pleased and relieved about this decision.
Councillor Clyde Loakes commented
"Once again local residents mounted a fantastic campaign and made it very clear to the licensing committee that a late license for Lincolns would have a huge impact on their quality of life. I applaud our local residents and was very pleased to actively support their campaign."
Leytonstone School Sports Centre was opened in October by ex England footballer Trevor Brooking and Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards. Your local Labour councillors Clyde Loakes and Marie Pye attended the opening and were thanked for their support by the Headteacher.
This fantastic new facility for children and local residents includes a huge multi games hall which can host badminton, basketball, trampolining and 5 aside football all at the same time. It also contains a dance studio and a state-of-the-art gym. Outside of the Sports Centre there is an all year-round floodlit 5 aside football pitch. Your local Labour councillors have been closely involved in the development of this new sports centre and have been very disappointed at the vociferous opposition by local Liberal Democrats.
The sports centre is now open to the public in the evening, weekends and school holidays. Clyde Loakes commented "This is an amazing facility and I'm so glad that we have this in our Olympic Borough. I would like to pay tribute to the staff, parents and pupils who have worked so hard to make sure this happened."
The campaign to secure a long-term future for a modern district general hospital at Whipps Cross continues. Your local Labour councillors are leading this campaign and if you would like more information please visit the dedicated Whipps Cross web site.
Once again Leytonstone hosted the Councils Car Free Day in September and it was again bigger and better than previous years. This excellent event is now part of the Councils annual events calendar.
This year saw the opening of the nature trial, funded by the Council, in St Johns Church Yard and it was excellent to see families and children using this open space in the middle of our town centre.
As well as the French market there were numerous stalls from local organisations and businesses. A wide variety of music entertained the crowds all day. There were also lots of activities for children at George Tomlinson School including an amazing climbing wall.
Attendance at the event was probably the highest ever and for locals and visitors alike it shows what a great place Leytonstone is.
Councillor Marie Pye commented "Every year this event gets better and it's great to have such a fantastic festival right in the middle of Leytonstone just a couple of minutes from where we all live. For me and my kids it is the highlight of the autumn!"
Your local Labour councillors are currently opposing a request for planning permission for a care home in Queens Road. In the past they have worked with local residents on a range of planning issues including Wallwood Road where the plans were significantly reduced. In Woodville Road the request for a house on the site of an old stable was also refused after objections from councillors and residents. If you are concerned about the impact of a planning application please contact Jenny Gray, Clyde Loakes or Marie Pye to discuss it.
In the local council elections on Thursday 4 May Jenny Gray , Clyde Loakes and Marie Pye were successfully re-elected as councillors for Leytonstone with hugely increased majorities. There was over 600 votes between Marie and the Liberal Democrat candidate who came fourth. Full details of the votes are set out below
Jenny, Clyde and Marie would like to thank the hundreds and hundreds of local residents who voted. They have now pledged to start work immediately on the key improvements to Leytonstone which residents have supported.
The election covered the entire Waltham Forest Council and the composition of the council remained broadly the same with Labour still the largest party holding 26 seats, Liberal Democrat holding 19 and the Conservative party with 15. Following on from the election Clyde was re-elected as council leader, Marie is now in the Council Cabinet with responsibility for Communities & Housing and Jenny is a junior Cabinet member responsible for library improvement.
(Labour) Marie PYE 1431
(Labour) Clyde LOAKES 1352
(Labour) Jenny GRAY 1274
(LibDem) Nazir BUTT 811
(Lib Dem) Mahmood FAIZ 802
(Lib Dem) Marie Joycie VALERY 710
(Green) Mark S DAWES 594
(Conservative)Helen JOHNSON 389
(Respect) Peter ASHAN 387
(Respect) Caroline COLEMAN 384
(Conservative)Raymond LUKER 370
(Conservative)Roderick MILROY 338