Note of a Meeting
Hoe Street Community Ward Forum
Tuesday, 17th July 2012, at 7pm – 8:30pm
Meeting Venue: Vestry House Museum,
Community Hall, Vestry Road, Walthamstow, E17 9DB
1. Welcome and Introductions
The Chair, Cllr. Saima Mahmud (SM) welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced
Cllrs. Ahsan Khan (AK) and Mark Rusling (MR). SM introduced the Chair of the Hoe Street
Safer Neighbourhood Panel and Hoe Street First (HFS) – Roger Dennison (RD)
2. SNT & CDF Update
RD updated the meeting on the ward Safer Neighbourhood Panel priorities. The ward
priorities are currently the same as they have been for a number of months – Anti-social
Behaviour, Car crime and Burglary. RD mentioned the Safer Neighbourhood Panel meetings
are open to all Hoe Street residents and the next meeting is due to be held in late October or
early November. Residents raised concerns regarding the possible reduction in officers
during Olympics. RD commented the SNT would need to flexible during the Olympics.
RD updated the meeting on the work of the HFS panel, HFS priorities and highlighted the
opportunity for residents to join the panel. RD mentioned the panel had recommended six
groups for funding approval and advised the funding available for 2013 is £8,489 – the
deadline for submissions to the Hoe Street First is 31 March 2013. RD mentioned further
information could be found on Hoe Street CWF website
(http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/pages/servicechild/hoe-street-community-wardforum.aspx), Hoe Street First website (www.hoestreetfirst.wordpress.com), by contacting
HFS panel or via Voluntary Action Waltham Forest.
3. Ward Funds 2012/13
Dawn Polis (DP), community engagement officer spoke about Community Ward Forum
funding. DP reminded the meeting to fill in CWF funding suggestion forms. DP listed the
groups funded last year and set out how to apply for 2012/13 funding. Councillors informed
the meeting of the deadline for CWF funding applications would be Monday 5th November
2012 at 5pm. DP advised applications could be downloaded via the Hoe Street CWF website,
by contacting DP (dawn.polis@walthamforest.gov.uk) or ward councillors.
DP gave an update on street parties and informed residents, approximately £1300 was still
available for residents who wanted to organise a street party. DP advised the funding has to
be allocated before 31st December 2013 - anyone interested in organising a street party can
download application via Community Ward Forum website, contact DP or ward councillors.
4. EMD Cinema
Gordon Glenday (GG), Head of Planning Policy & Regeneration and Ian Butcher (IB) gave an
update on the EMD site - the UKCG have submitted an alternative planning application, this
is due to go to planning committee. MR informed the meeting Hoe Street Ward councillors
had objected to first application and have also objected to the new application. Neil Gerrard
on behalf of Walthamstow Cinema Trust informed meeting that the EMD site, as an
entertainment venue was a viable option alongside a multiplex cinema on the arcade site.
5. Hoe Street Neighbourhood Planning
GG and IB gave a presentation Hoe Street Neighbourhood planning focussing on key sites in
Hoe Street ward and Walthamstow. This was followed by discussions between, residents,
Councillors, GG and IB. Residents requested further information on:
1. Is Grove Road registry office a listed building? The Grove Road Registry Office is a
Locally Listed building.
2. What are plans for Chestnuts House building? The latest on the Chestnuts House
site is that it has been identified for a primary school. It is likely that the main
house (Grade 2* listed) will not be required as part of these plans as a school. It is
proposed that the house should be used to provide space for start-up businesses in
the borough. A building on the site is currently being used by the Drug Action team
and will need to relocated. No timescale has yet been set on the school use.
3. Are there any plans for the BT exchange building? There are no current plans to
redevelop this site. As far as we are aware it is still a fully operational telephone
exchange.
4. When will residents be consulted on the Area Action Plan? The Council will consult
local residents on the Submission draft Walthamstow Town Centre Area Action
Plan (AAP) around October/November 2012. We will provide Members with
precise dates once they have been confirmed.
5. Are there any plans to improve gyratory at junction of Hoe Street and Selborne
Road? There are proposals within the AAP to improve the gyratory at junction of
Hoe Street and Selborne Road. The Council state that its improvement is key to the
regeneration to this area of the town centre. We are discussions with TFL (Hoe
Street is part of the Strategic Road Network and therefore under TFL control) to
establish a long term solution.
6. Community Discussion
(a) Concerns raised regarding vehicles mounting pavement on Aubrey Road
Actioned: AK met on site with traffic engineer and resident to discuss concerns. It
was agreed that additional bollards needed to be installed to stop vehicles
mounting the kerb.
(b) The alleyway at the junction of Shernall Street and Church Hill Road needs to
cleaned more frequently
(c) Is 2011 census data available for Hoe Street Ward?
Actioned: Data at ward level is not yet available from the 2011 census. Ward level
data will be released in phase 2 of the second release which will be between
November 2012 and February 2013.
(d) Any update on St Marys school site on Rectory Road
Actioned: MR advised there has been interest from a free school – the land is
owned by the Diocese, not the Council, so it is for the Diocese to make a decision
regarding the school.
(e) Concerns regarding the state of the planters on the Arcade site
Actioned: Kier have been asked to water the site more often, particularly during
hot weather.
(f) Kids are sleeping overnight at Church at 50 Church Hill – are they breaching
planning laws?
(g) Church at 50 Church Hill has many signs erected at front of building – are these
breaching planning laws?
(h) Do trees at rear of 93 and 97 Church Hill have preservation orders?
Actioned: councillors have put the concerned residents in touch with the Council's
tree preservation officers.
(i)
How is the performance of Kier in Hoe Street?
Actioned: MR advised there are a still a few problems around Milton Road
and Aubrey Road. MR and SM met on site with monitoring officer and requested
ward councillors are emailed each week once collections have been made from
these streets.
(j) What happens with the Big screen at the town square once Olympics have
finished?
Actioned: The Big screen has planning permission until the end of the year. Council
officers are currently considering its future use beyond that date.
Meeting ended at 8:45