March 2020

The installation of new nets at Wanstead and Snaresbrook Cricket Club has been completed.

“We are now the proud owners of a four-lane, state-of-the-art training facility at Overton Drive. We are absolutely delighted… The nets will be locked and unavailable until a suitable time in April when the ground, hopefully, is drier, but they will be available for use in time for the start of what promises to be a very exciting 2020 season,” said a club chairman Martin Pluck.

The work follows a £75k fundraising drive launched in February 2019.

Volunteers across Wanstead have been delivering leaflets to their neighbours, offering help and support during the uncertain times ahead. Charlie Renwick explains why she got involved. Pictured here is fellow volunteer Mei Moore (Charlie was self-isolating and unable to be photographed at the time of writing). Photo by Andy Nutter

By mid-March, I started to feel anxious about coronavirus; initially what it would mean for my family and me, but more importantly, what would happen to those older people who don’t have a support network in place.

I knew other people must be feeling the same way, so I turned to Facebook and within minutes found the Redbridge COVID-19 Mutual Aid group, an organisation set up by three others to connect us all at this time.

At the time of writing, the group has over 1,500 members and is growing daily. It offers clear information on Redbridge wards (areas within the borough) and recommendations on how we can all get involved in supporting our local community.

I live in Wanstead Village, where we now have a WhatsApp group with 135 members and counting. Our priority to date has been reaching out to the elderly and those considered to be at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus, to ensure everyone has someone to turn to if they need to self-isolate.

A leaflet template was created, volunteers selected their local streets and printed copies. Our aim was to post one through all letterboxes in the area so everyone has contact details for their local volunteers.

The response has been incredible, from people joining the group as volunteers to messages thanking us for reaching out to them. Another Wanstead volunteer shared a messaged she received from an elderly neighbour: “I just wanted to thank you and Tasha for your lovely offer in my letterbox today. I am 81 but fairly fit, and just now have all that I need. But it is so reassuring to know you are there. I am so grateful for your kindness.”

For me, this is what it’s all about, knowing everyone feels they have someone to turn to during these difficult times.

Our objective is to create a web of support for the village, whether that means a grocery shop, a prescription collection or a chat on the phone to brighten up a lonely day. No request is too small! I’m here, and so is our ever-growing volunteer network.

So, pick up the phone and let’s support each other.

Plans for the construction of a new public swimming pool at Wanstead High School are progressing.

“Works are currently underway at Wanstead High to deliver temporary school accommodation and on-going access to the Multi-User Games Areas during the main school works. Once these current works have been completed, the school will decant into the new accommodation, allowing access to the main works contractor to undertake the programming for the demolition works. A preferred contractor has been identified for the main work, and we are currently concluding contracts. The contractor will be obliged, among other things, to meet a set of agreed ‘social value’ targets, which should include apprenticeship opportunities and construction vacancies for local people. There will be regular contact with residents in the immediate surrounding area throughout the project,” said Councillor Sheila Bain.

Redbridge Council has published it’s waste and recycling arrangements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We are doing our best to maintain a weekly bin collection service. However, in order to do this, some other waste and recycling services have changed. Over the coming weeks our waste collections teams may have to operate a reduced service, as some key workers become ill or have to self-isolate,” said a council spokesperson.

The council have also warned they may be unable to keep household waste and recycling separate during these difficult times.

Key changes:

• Collections will begin at the earlier time of 5am
• Recycling services may change
• Garden and bulky waste collections will be on-hold with immediate effect
• Bin and blue box deliveries for recycling, including collection from car parks, will stop
• If your rubbish collection is missed, it will be taken away on your next scheduled collection day

All changes to council services because of coronavirus can be found here.

Redbridge Council has received ‘largely positive’ feedback from residents currently trialling wheelie bins for their household rubbish collection.

“There are 1,530 properties taking part in the pilot in Wanstead. There is no specified length of time for the pilot while we monitor how it’s working, and resolve any issues,” said a spokesperson. The trial began in February and has seen 7,000 households across the borough receive a new 180-litre grey bin.

“Wheelie bins will prevent animals from accessing waste and deters fly-tipping.”

London City Airport has dropped plans to end its 24-hour weekend break (currently no aircraft take off or land between 12.30pm Saturday to 12.30pm Sunday).

The airport has also abandoned plans to operate more early morning and late evening flights, as was proposed in its draft Master Plan. “I want to thank all of you who put so much time, effort and indeed money into campaigning against the expansion proposals,” said John Stewart of HACAN East.

A review into the airport’s controversial flight paths – which include the airspace over Wanstead – continues.

Residents are urged to continue supporting Redbridge Foodbank, which has seen donations decline in the wake of coronavirus.

“We are seeing much-needed donations fall dramatically as people start to stockpile. This is hitting vulnerable members of our community hard. Please do keep on giving – your support is really needed and makes a huge difference,” said Rev Dr Jack Dunn. In Wanstead, collection points are located at Christ Church, St Mary’s (Saturday mornings), Petty Son and Prestwich and the Co-op.

Visit wnstd.com/foodbank

WhatsApp groups have been established for Wanstead Village and Wanstead Park ward residents who wish to help their neighbours during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I set up the Redbridge Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook group – from which the WhatsApp groups have spawned – after hearing about other borough’s coming together to support their residents. I am not very good at sitting around and worrying and I enjoy helping people, so I thought this would be a great initiative,” said Tanya Salinder.

Visit wnstd.com/help

Like so many up and down the country, our community can be proud of how it is responding the coronavirus pandemic. These are extraordinary times, but we can all be thankful we are part of a community that cares.

People you can phone:

Redbridge Council Wellbeing Service, open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm 020 8708 5555
Redbridge CVS, an umbrella body for local charities and community groups 020 8553 1004
Talking Therapies, helping those feeling distressed 0300 300 1554
The Samaritans, for people who need someone to listen 116 123
Citizens Advice Redbridge, for free, confidential and impartial advice 0300 330 9063
Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering, for advice or information 020 8220 6000

Facebook Groups

Redbridge Joins Together 
Redbridge Covid-19 Mutual Aid
Wanstead Community Hub
Woodford, South Woodford and Wanstead Parents 
Wanstead Community Forum

WhatsApp Groups

Churchfields ward
South Woodford ward
Wanstead Village ward
Wanstead Park ward
List of groups across Redbridge

Like so many other businesses that are impacted by the increasing restrictions designed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, we must also make changes to how we operate.

For the first time since March 2006 – when the first issue of the Wanstead Village Directory was published – our magazine will cease to be delivered door to door until further notice. All 6,500 copies of our April 2020 issue will be printed as normal, but instead of delivering 5,500 of them to homes in the area as we normally do, we will be distributing them all via our display stands instead.

The reasons for doing this are twofold. Most importantly, we all have a responsibility to adhere to social distancing guidelines, so I believe it would be wrong to ask my delivery team to walk the streets of Wanstead and risk interacting with others. In addition to this, a recent study by the US National Institutes of Health (as reported by the BBC here) has found the virus can survive on cardboard for up to 24 hours. So I can’t, in all good conscience, allow our magazines to be posted through letterboxes on a mass scale when there is a potential risk that this may be contributing to the spread of the virus. Instead, we will allow those who wish to pick up a copy to do so from our stands (by virtue of our normal processes, a period of at least 24 hours will elapse between our magazines being packed at the printers and placed in our stands).

A decision on the publication of future issues will be taken in the coming weeks.

Classically trained soprano Nicola Cain is leader of the Wanstead and Woodford Rock Choir. With scientific proof singing makes you happier, is it time to open your mind – and vocal cords – to the power of music?

Rock Choir has over 30,000 members participating in approximately 400 local communities. We offer all ages an alternative experience to the traditional classical or community choir, introducing members to feel-good pop, rock and contemporary chart songs. 

Rock Choir has an uplifting ethos of fun, and friendship and community spirit is a huge part of our attraction, with members enjoying a dynamic and busy new social life whilst connecting with their community. At an individual level, it helps improve people’s wellbeing by building their self-confidence, self-esteem and, in turn, improving their mental and general health.

This was scientifically proven in 2018 when the BBC programme Trust Me I’m a Doctor used members of Rock Choir for an experiment to find out if singing, cycling and dancing boosted our levels of endocannabinoids – neurotransmitters thought to be the cause of the ‘natural high’. These chemicals are similar in structure to the chemicals found in the cannabis plant. As well as giving a ‘buzz’, they are also linked to improving mood and reducing anxiety and stress. Under the direction of physiologist Dr Saoirse O’Sullivan, the group of Rock Choir members were tested in each activity over four days with interviews and blood taken to monitor their levels of endocannabinoids. The end result was extremely exciting. Whilst dancing and cycling raised their happiness levels by 20%, singing raised them by an extraordinary 40%, a discovery that could help enormously with our approach to mental health.

“Rock Choir has made a huge impact on the wellbeing of its members… I’ve seen first-hand how being part of Rock Choir has improved lives; some of our members have reported that they’ve come off anti-depressants, found new confidence in themselves and found pure happiness again. Their wellbeing has impacted their relationships around them too, their family, friends and colleagues, and they will continue to feel better and stronger the longer they sing!” said Rock Choir founder Caroline Redman Lusher.

The Rock Choir team consists of over 140 individuals, including 80 professional musicians and performers, The Leaders, who deliver weekly rehearsals in their communities.

Leading the Wanstead and Woodford Rock Choir is a privilege – the choirs become an extension of our families and I am proud of how much the members have bonded. We are always looking for new members and we hope to welcome some new faces – and voices – this year.

Conveyancing is a vital part of the process of buying or selling a property. Here, Debra Rose from Wiseman Lee Solicitors explains the steps and why it is important to choose a professional to do the job

Conveyancing refers to the legal work that is carried out when ownership of a property is transferred. Most conveyancing is carried out professionally, but sometimes, buyers and sellers ask whether it is possible to do it themselves.

Conveyancing without the use of professional help is risky because you may not be protected in the event you miss something which could have been revealed by conveyancers, meaning your property is not worth the purchase price. The other party to the transaction may demand you use a professional for the transfer of funds to ensure the appropriate money laundering checks are carried out and they have the protection afforded by the Law Society’s Completion Code. Additionally, many mortgage lenders will require you use a conveyancer to protect their investment.

Once you decide you want to buy or sell, you will need to instruct a conveyancer. The estate agent will prepare a memorandum confirming the terms of the sale, which will be sent to the person representing you. This includes the party’s details, the price and any special conditions, such as other items being included in the price. The sale is not legally binding until the contracts are formally exchanged.

The seller’s representative sends the contract pack to the buyer. This contains copies of the title to the property, questionnaires completed by the sellers about the property and the contract itself. Upon receipt of the contract pack, your conveyancer will then undertake a series of searches with the local authority and other agencies to find out if there are any issues that could affect the property. Searches such as planning, environmental and drainage and water are carried out in almost all transactions.  Depending on where your property is located, it may also be necessary to conduct other searches. If you are happy to proceed, contracts are exchanged and the completion date is fixed. At this stage, the sale is legally binding to complete on the agreed date.

Your conveyancer undertakes the post-exchange work in anticipation of completion, which involves reporting to your lender to ensure mortgage funds are available for completion. Conveyancers on both sides produce completion statements which show all payments made and received and request any further monies required for the purchase to complete. The conveyancer will undertake final searches and on the day of completion sends the purchase money to the seller.

Once the seller’s conveyancer receives the funds, they will confirm completion and the agent will release the keys to you. Your conveyancer will then deal with the registration formalities and you will be sent a copy of the Land Registry entries that confirm your ownership.