September 2020

Woodford Town FC are confident the dream of a return to their home town will be realised by October, in time for the Essex Senior League season, says the club’s Technical Director Neil Day

Although coronavirus has delayed a large proportion of the building works required to turn the Ashton Playing Field arena into a venue suitable for senior football, the club has received assurances works will be completed in time for the delayed start to the season.

Club Chairman Tony Scott said: “There have been some really positive meetings with the council and contractors in recent weeks and the wheels are beginning to move to get us back home… This promises to be a ‘different’ type of season for various reasons, and we are very hopeful common sense and maybe a little flexibility can be shown to enable our return to become a reality.”

We have been gearing up to the beginning of building work for a couple of seasons and are very pleased with the platform our long-term strategies have already given us before the first digger went in. Our forward-thinking club has recruited a top-class media and marketing team to boost the Woodford Town FC brand, and have already built up numerous supporter-driven initiatives whilst playing at Harlow FC, including our ‘Fans Band’ and designing and producing a very popular heritage shirt celebrating Woodford history, with a nod to former local resident Sylvia Pankhurst’s invaluable role in the suffragette movement.

The groundwork already done could cause an explosion of interest in the former giants of the non-league game, founded in 1937. We’ve done so much in the past couple of seasons that relied upon our return home to really take off: banners, posters and flyers have all been designed, produced and put into storage just for this moment. We have a considerable number of volunteers who can’t wait to get started and we want all the community to be involved. ‘Woodford for Everyone’ is a strapline that was used on social media and sums up our ethos.

On the pitch, Woodford has also had a make-over, underpinning our much-vaunted policy of pitching young, home-grown talent into senior non-league football. A smattering of 16-year-olds has been a standout feature in Dee Safer’s sides for several seasons now, attempting to play an attacking, possession-based game not always associated with getting results in a notoriously physically dominated league. The Woods will be running an under-18 team, competing in the FA Youth Cup, and an under-23 ‘development team’ managed by ex-Bethnal Green United and Enfield FC defender Shane Baptiste, alongside experienced coach Glen Reeves.

It’s fair to say there’s something for everyone if you want to get involved. Announcements will be coming soon on the club’s revamped website – or just follow the noise on a Friday evening!

In the fifth of a series of articles looking at the redevelopment of Whipps Cross Hospital, Charlotte Monro reflects on a recent public meeting and expresses concern over plans for 51 fewer beds

Work towards the new Whipps Cross Hospital is advancing apace with the architect team in the process of being appointed. A public meeting hosted by Waltham Forest Save Our NHS (WFSONHS) at the end of July demonstrated our communities’ determination that the new hospital must be designed to meet our needs in the future. Alarm that the latest plans are for 51 fewer beds than now – despite the area having the fastest-growing population in London – has led to the launch of a community-wide campaign.

People found the meeting informative and inspiring. Enthusiastic discussion followed the three speakers. Residents spoke of the reality on the ground: 8,000 more people moving into new developments in Leabridge ward, which is already 10 GPs short and has no health centre. And housing for staff on the Whipps site; public transport – sufficient and green – and genuine consultation were all raised. People are eager to act.

John Cryer MP spoke first: “We can’t be in a position where we have got a nice new hospital but it cannot cope with the demand.” He has witnessed the “absolutely desperate” pressure on Whipps. “The hospital has been at 100% bed occupancy for the last two winters. Once you get to 90%, you start to compromise safety, you should not even go near 100%.” Sufficient beds is a critical issue, of which he has long experience, from the new Queen’s Hospital in Romford to the closure of Wanstead Hospital’s Heronwood and Galleon unit “which provided excellent rehab… Now, I am getting cases of people who cannot get the services in their homes that were promised when the wards closed. So, people go back needing more intense hospital care.”

The idea the new hospital needs fewer beds relies on assumptions that fewer people will need hospital treatment because of proposed new models of care in the community and improved organisation of hospital care. A close look at the strategy documents, said the next speaker Mary Burnette of WFSONHS, shows major flaws in the modelling used. For one, Waltham Forest has less to spend on both hospital and community health care than most of the boroughs to which it is compared. Decisions resting on untested assumptions could give us the same pressures and ambulance queues stretching into our future.

The final presentation from Green at Barts Health staff group called for the new Whipps to be the first UK net zero-carbon hospital, designed for the wellbeing of all who use it. With danger from climate change, anything less would be unforgivable. Natural light, views and ventilation, green spaces and nature, renewable clean energy from solar panels on roofs of both hospital and houses, all this is doable. But our guarantee will be the involvement throughout of community, staff and patients. And funding!

A new grow zone has been established in a private communal garden in Snaresbrook as an extension of the Wild Wanstead project.

“Our zone is on the Rivenhall Estate opposite Eagle Pond. It was inspired by seeing other grow zones and through setting up a neighbourly WhatsApp chat during lockdown. It didn’t take much for the residents of Brooksglade to agree to leave an unmowed area on the communal lawn and we look forward to planting some wild flowers in the spring,” said resident Tina Nieman Da Costa.

South Woodford resident and pianist Yuki Negishi will be joining musicians from across the country for a virtual concert on 19 September and 9 October (8pm; tickets: £11.99).

“My monthly Beethoven 250 series at St Mary’s Church in South Woodford has been cancelled since March 2020 due to the pandemic, so I was honoured to be invited to perform these recitals online. I will be performing the Appassionata and Pathetique sonatas by Beethoven, alongside other composers,” said Yuki.

Visit swvg.co.uk/yuki

A psychotherapist and parent coach from South Woodford has launched a campaign to help prevent children’s mental health suffering from the long-term effects of COVID-19.

“Research tells us there is a 10-year delay between young people experiencing their first symptoms and accessing help. Prevention is better than cure, and building resilience is at the heart of my campaign #LegacyNow, which is about passing on your values to your children rather than an inheritance,” explained Usha Chudasama.

Visit swvg.co.uk/legacy

The state of Wanstead Park’s lakes has prompted an increasing clamour on social media in recent weeks.

“Local people have watched in dismay as the Ornamental Water is drying up,” said Richard Arnopp of the Friends of Wanstead Parklands.

Water is currently being pumped into the lake system from the park’s borehole for 16 hours a day, alternating between Heronry Pond and Perch Pond.

“Despite this pumping, levels remain low in the Heronry Pond, and not enough water is reaching the Ornamental Water via Perch Pond even to stabilise it. Sadly, there are no easy fixes. A few years ago, the City of London commissioned a survey of the lakes, and an assessment of dams is due soon. This will form the core of a proposed project to restore the park, but this is not expected to start until 2024. Massive leakage and inadequate water inputs mean keeping the lakes filled is simply impossible at present.”

Redbridge Council is giving away over 40,000 spring-flowering bulbs to help improve local neighbourhoods.

“The bulbs are being given out in time for Redbridge’s Big Planting Weekend, taking place between 16 and 18 October. The borough-wide planting movement encourages people to plant their bulbs in spaces that benefit the local community,” said a spokesperson. Community groups, residents and schools can request the bulbs by completing an online form by 20 September.

Visit swvg.co.uk/bulbs20

Wanstead House Community Association reopened from 1 September.

“Most of our clubs and groups are ready and willing to return, although restrictions and regulations will be in place. Social distancing has to be maintained throughout and face masks must be worn in all communal areas,” said manager Ann Brockway. The centre – located at 21 The Green, Wanstead – has announced a new programme of classes for adults and children, which includes languages, dance, art, keep-fit, fashion and floristry.

Call 020 8989 3693

Redbridge Council is calling on residents to become Street Watch volunteers.

“Street Watch is a community partnership led by members of the public who kindly volunteer their time to patrol their neighbourhoods in high-visibility jackets to create safer, more cohesive neighbourhoods,” said a spokesperson. Volunteers will receive training from local police before patrolling on foot or by bike in pairs.

Visit swvg.co.uk/watch