A cat has been taken from the Chillout Lounge without the owner’s permission. An “older woman with short hair” went into the Chillout Lounge, said “I’m here to collect the cat” and took it (we don’t know who she was).
The cat is fluffy, grey and white (part Persian) and is called Izzit.
Anyone seeing such a cat should contact Flash or the Chillout Lounge as they both have the owner’s details. Thanks!
We’ve heard through the grapevine that the former Tyre World shop (used to be Age Concern before) is to become a bathroom and tile shop.
Also the former ‘La Mama’ cafe is being refurbished but we’re not sure for what business yet – if anyone knows already, please drop us a line!
Following sightings of a tow truck operating in our neighbourhood very late at night, our Safer Neighbourhoods team thinks that it may be being used by car thieves. So if you see a tow truck with a car on its back at an unusually late hour, please take the registration number if you can and call 999 to report it.
Spring Clean volunteers with their haul
Today FARA participated in the borough-wide Spring Clean, and appropriately we had a beautiful spring day and warm sunshine. The Council supplied us with litter pickers/sacks/gloves and high-visibility vests, and also a council official to take part alongside us (and get her ear bent about some of our local litter and recycling issues!). Some of us went round the streets in the FARA area, de-littering the roadsides and noting various flytips and dirty front gardens to report to the Council. Others performed a thorough clean-up of ‘our’ section of Wanstead Flats. Altogether we gathered about a dozen sackloads of assorted rubbish which the Council later sent a truck to collect. Thanks to all the volunteers who took part!
A cat has gone missing from the FARA area. The cat pictured is missing from the top of Montague Road, where it borders Wanstead Flats.
The cat is black and white, and notably has an all-black nose. He answers to the name of Ben.
Please check your sheds in case he’s trapped inside!
If you find Ben, please call 07765 004602 – even if the worst has happened his owner wants to know.
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:
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.
Our local primary school has received praise from the Ofsted inspectors for rapid improvement since its last inspection. It was described as having a “warm, welcoming learning environment”.
Read the full story in the Waltham Forest Guardian.
Pictures taken by Mike Bristow
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.
