FARA committee member Flash Bristow has started blogging for the Waltham Forest Guardian. She will be writing about all kinds of topics, including local ones, so if any FARA members would like to suggest a topic please email her: flash@gorge.org Read Flash’s blog on the Waltham Forest Guardian community blogs page: http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/blogs

Users of Wanstead Flats will have noticed that preparatory work on the new Thames Water pipeline has begun. FARA committee member Flash Bristow attended a recent drop-in session for members of the public – this is what she learned about the water works: Re: road closures – Bushwood itself will be closed in short sections…

From now on, the ‘Temple’ will be opening every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-5pm. It contains displays on the history of the park from Roman times onwards, a gift shop, and knowlegeable volunteers on hand to answer any queries from visitors.

The E11 BID (Business Improvement District) has published a Spring Newsletter on its website. Apparently there is a new Town Centre Manager for Leytonstone in place, which may come as a surprise to many residents. For more on this, and progress on other plans to improve Leytonstone town centre, click the link to see the…

A 20 mph speed limit and four “traffic humps” are to be installed in Davies Lane as part of the Council’s ‘Safer Routes to School’ scheme. There will also be a new zebra crossing on the High Road, near Lincolns pub. The work is due to start on 25 March and be completed by the…

About 35 residents attended FARA’s AGM on Tuesday 29 January. We started with a “Wish Fish” exercise in which people ‘voted’ for local issues that were most important to them. A new Committee was voted in, most postholders were the same as last year with the addition of a couple of new faces. Our guest…

The Council has decided that residents will no longer have the final say on whether a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) is introduced. Up till now, if a majority of residents voted against, this acted as a veto. The Council appears to think that residents don’t value the right to be consulted (see the Waltham Forest…

An 18-year-old youth responsible for the proliferation of ‘Check’ tags in Waltham Forest has received an ASBO and 200 hours’ community service and a £5,000 fine. Read the full story in the Waltham Forest Gazette.

Local traders have voted to introduce a Business Improvement District (BID) in Leytonstone town centre. It could mean cleaner streets with more trees and flowers, crime prevention measures, graffiti and chewing gum removal, more attractive shopfronts… let’s hope it all comes to fruition! More information at www.e11bid.co.uk.