Ferndale Area Residents Association (FARA)

The Lincolns site is in the process of being bought by CBHA, a housing association. FARA chair Flash met with Freya Johnstone from CBHA to find out more.

The site is still owned by Trust Inns at present but CBHA expect to complete the sale soon. Their current plans include:

• Demolishing the existing building
• Creating a new building, which will be level with the back and front of the neighbouring block, and the same height (4 storeys)
• This new building will contain 3 flats on each floor, and the top two floors would be shared ownership with the bottom two being social housing rentals
• There would also be two houses along the side in Davies Lane, similar in size to the existing terraced houses

FARA expressed concerns about amenity space, the lack of parking space, loss of the historic frontage of Lincolns (historically known as The Elms), and the number of people which would be accommodated. CBHA had considered each of these issues, although their plans do include loss of the historic frontage. We then had a site visit and looked at issues like the niche behind Lincolns on Pastures Path which attracts anti-social behaviour, so this could be designed out.

It was a productive initial meeting in which we could establish a dialogue and find out the early stages of CBHA’s plans. In due course, CBHA will complete the purchase of the Lincolns site and put in a formal planning application – at that point FARA will take an official view on the plans, and of course keep you posted!

The Council is consulting residents on a new Core Strategy Document. This provides the strategic vision, objectives and policies for the Borough up to 2026. It covers key topics such as housing, transport, education, climate change, job creation, health… all the things we care about in fact! You can participate in the consultation online here.

There is also a new set of planning policies covering issues such alterations and extensions, how much amenity space/garden each new home should have, etc. Participate in this consultation here.

For both consultations the deadline for responses is 5pm on 28 February. You’ll need to register and login to leave your comments.

Spotted in the local press: plans are afoot to improve Wanstead Park and notably to restore the ‘Grotto’ which has been fenced off for some years.

Read the full story in the Waltham Forest Guardian.

The Council has obtained £2 million from Transport for London to invest in making Leytonstone High Road a safer and more attractive area. They have published a plan of proposed improvements, some of which are covered by the available funding so can definitely go ahead in 2011 and 2012, others are things they would like to improve if they get further funding, so all are being consulted on at once.

View the plan on the Council website – please note it’s a big file so may take a little while to open up.

You can also see the plans at either Leytonstone Library or Harrow Green Library until 17 December.

Some local residents living near the High Road will get the consultation details automatically. The rest of us are still entitled to participate, so we encourage everyone to send in their comments by 17 December by email.

You may recall our concern about Tyreworld, a tyre and exhaust fitting centre in the parade of shops on the High Road between Davies Lane and Ferndale Road. FARA objected to their retrospective planning application, on the grounds that cars were crossing the pavement and creating a danger for pedestrians.

Although we understood they had launched an appeal, Tyreworld appears to have closed down this week; the shop is empty and their sign has been removed. Let’s hope the premises is soon occupied – but this time by a retail outlet.