June 2023

More than 350 people took part in Haven House’s annual Sparkle Walk last month, raising £57,000 for the Woodford Green hospice.

Starting on Christ Church Green, walkers completed a 10km route through parts of Epping Forest and Woodford, finishing back in Wanstead at The Cuckfield pub.

“Seeing a purple takeover of our local streets was something quite spectacular. It was a fantastic event which has captured the hearts of our community. What a way to celebrate our 20th birthday year,” said a hospice spokesperson.

In the first of a series of articles by those who have benefitted from the existence of Wanstead Youth Centre – which is under threat of closure – Kate Sloan reports on the situation so far

The future of Wanstead Youth Centre was debated at a Redbridge Council meeting on 23 March, thanks to the work of campaigners who gathered over 5,000 petition signatures to secure the important debate. 

The campaign group put forward their request for a 12-month moratorium to enable the council to meaningfully engage with centre users and to explore different funding options to secure the venue’s future. (The reason for considering the closure is £2.4m of maintenance and repairs which the council claim is required.)

Campaigners, young people and the wider community were left feeling incredibly let down and disempowered when this request was not acknowledged at the meeting. Instead, the councillors who attended voted in favour of a motion put forward by Jas Athwal, the leader of the council, to develop a ‘comprehensive directory’ that would give residents easy access to organisations, clubs and activities. This motion and debate failed to address the key concern of residents, namely that there is no other centre like this in the borough, and if Wanstead Youth Centre does close, many of the activities that happen there will have to end, as there aren’t other viable alternatives in the local area. 

Those attending the meeting were also shocked that the importance of the centre was diminished repeatedly during the debate, including by statements the centre isn’t actually a youth centre (as local authority youth workers no longer work there), but just a space booked by private individuals. At no point did the council acknowledge that those individuals are members of the community who have stepped in to provide activities for young people, such as gymnastics, cricket and police cadets. The young people who use the centre told councillors at a recent public meeting how vital these activities are to their physical and mental health.

I, too, have experienced the importance of this centre first-hand. I moved to Wanstead last summer with my young baby and attending baby classes at the centre was a vital lifeline. It allowed me to meet other mums at a time when I could have been very lonely, especially as the council has closed Wanstead Children’s Centre and other privately run baby classes in the area are booked up months in advance with demand far outstripping supply.

At another meeting on 18 April, Jas Athwal told campaigners: “We will make sure we consult with you, and we will make that decision with our eyes wide open.” We hope he stays true to his word and starts a meaningful dialogue on how to secure the future of this essential community facility.

Wanstead Youth Centre is located at 144 Elmcroft Avenue, Wanstead, E11 2DB.

For more information on the Save Wanstead Youth Centre campaign, email SaveWansteadYouthCentre@gmail.com or call 07403 649 306

Follow the campaign on Twitter and Facebook

Wanstead resident Geoff Horsnell writes in response to an article published in the Evening Standard entitled ‘Three pools planned in East London to capitalise on demand for open-air swimming’ 

In the Evening Standard article (published on 26 April 2023), one of the three new pools or lidos discussed is to be constructed in Valentines Park. The Leader of Redbridge Council, Councillor Jas Athwal’s comments in this article raise a number of important questions with regard to finance and timing.

The lido and associated gym are described as costing “no more than £4m” and is part of a total council investment of some £11m in leisure facilities. Councillor Athwal goes on to say he aims to have this facility, together with four other swimming pools, including the long-overdue pool at Wanstead Leisure Centre, up and running by late 2024. Given the record of the council so far, this is an extremely ambitious time frame and budget.

The Wanstead pool alone has been ongoing for several years now, missing several deadlines in the process. In addition, where is this money to come from? There has been no consultation for this project and £11m is an awful lot of money. Compare this spend to the proposed cost of just £2.4m to “refurbish” Wanstead Youth Centre. There was a consultation for this work; however, it was both difficult to find on the council’s website and was a somewhat biased document. The public was asked such questions as: “What other facilities should be dropped or cancelled in order to fund this refurbishment?” And this is for just £2.4m! Shouldn’t the same question be asked about the lido? Perhaps it is a pet project of the leader, to be funded by him?

This is not the end of the financial concerns. There is not a single open-air lido in the country that is self-sufficient. Open-air swimming pools must be kept clean to maintain public health. Any passing flock of birds can foul the water. Then there is the matter of staff and maintaining the pumps and heaters – all of which adds up to an annual drain on public finances. Has any attention been given to these substantial ongoing costs? It may be that some costs can be offset by charging the public to access the lido. However, it is an open-air pool. It is unlikely to be used in adverse weather – which in this country would probably rule out at least six months in every year!

Back in March, there was a public meeting over the proposed closure of Wanstead Youth Centre. This was at the forefront of a lot of people’s thoughts. Those organisations that regularly use the youth centre had already been told not to book further ahead than this summer – leading to speculation that the decision to close the centre had already been made.

There are surely a number of questions here that can and should be raised by our local ward councillors. We need to know our money is being spent both carefully and wisely – not recklessly on pipe dreams.

To read the Evening Standard article, visit wnstd.com/eslido

The Leader of Redbridge Council, Councillor Jas Athwal, responds to residents’ concerns over the future of Wanstead Youth Centre and addresses the council’s budgeting for leisure facilities in the borough 

Redbridge is our home; it’s where many of us chose to live, raise our families and put down roots. I’ve lived in Redbridge for over 50 years now with my family, and as Leader of our Council, my motivation has always been to make our borough better for people to enjoy now and for generations to come. That’s why, despite punishing government cuts, a decade of austerity and the rising cost of living, our council is still investing in Redbridge. Over the coming years, we are investing £ 14 million in brand-new community facilities for local people.

I understand there is concern about Wanstead Youth Centre’s future, and I want to stress that no final decision has been taken; as a council, we are exploring all options to keep providing the very best services while setting a balanced budget in the face of over 60% government budget cuts.

The Wanstead Youth Centre building, unfortunately, in its current condition, is no longer suitable for long-term community use due to the extensive repairs needed to make it fit for purpose.

Since January this year, our council has undertaken an online consultation survey, arranged meetings with hirers and answered questions raised at various Council committees. In addition, our councillors attended a public meeting organised at the centre and met with users. In order to allow further time to explore options for the future use of the building, the council has now scheduled the full report on Wanstead Youth Centre to come forward for decision at the Cabinet meeting in September 2023. Business as usual will continue until that decision is taken, which means that groups wanting to hire the building for leisure, sports, or community activities should contact Vision RCL in the usual way to make a booking.

As a council, it is essential we ensure taxpayers’ money provides value-for-money services and benefits to the wider community. We are one of the lowest-funded boroughs in London and have been forced to make huge savings of £236million because of government cuts over the past decade. Despite this, we always rise to the challenge of keeping vital services running and investing in what matters most to our neighbours.

We have invested significantly in Wanstead. We are building an improved Leisure Centre which will house a brand new 25m swimming pool and dance facility. The eagerly awaited new swimming pool will sit alongside the existing gym, badminton and squash courts at Wanstead Leisure Centre.

Like all councils suffering from government budget cuts, we must be more creative and innovative – making the best use of our existing community facilities and spending public money wisely.

Take South Woodford Library and Woodford Green Library, where we have delivered new gyms. By using existing space, we have saved money and created services that pay for themselves right in the heart of local communities.

We are investing in leisure facilities across the borough, but we have to ensure these can fund themselves and don’t drain council resources. A great example is the Valentine’s Park lido which we are rebuilding 30 years after the old lido was shut. The new lido will be built sustainably and cover its own costs.

Wanstead is a wonderful place to live, work and visit. As a council, we are committed to investing in services that matter most to the local people who live all across our borough, but we do need to spend the limited funding our council has wisely.

To contact Councillor Jas Athwal, email jas.athwal@redbridge.gov.uk

The first-ever Wanstead Beer Festival will take place later this year.

“After a great response to an article in the Wanstead Village Directory in February pitching the idea, a core group of enthusiasts have been busy pulling plans together. We can now announce the inaugural Wanstead Beer Festival will take place on 14 October in the halls of Christ Church,” said Paul Donovan, one of the organisers, who are now looking for support and festival sponsors.

Any money raised above event costs will go to local charities.

Email beer@wnstd.com

Sarah Thornley from Thames21 invites you to help clean up a stretch of the River Roding adjacent to Wanstead Park as part of Plasticblitz 2023, an annual mass cleanup of UK water bodies

Plasticblitz is an annual, simultaneous mass cleanup of waste from water bodies and citizen science data collection. Participating groups are asked to collect data on the types of plastic pollution they find during their events, building evidence to evaluate the extent to which plastic and other materials are threatening our rivers. This data feeds into the EU-wide Preventing Plastic Pollution project and can be used to educate, create publicity and lobby for change.

Plastic pollution is a serious and growing problem within our rivers. Plastic waste threatens wildlife through ingestion and entanglement, and slowly breaks down into tiny plastic fragments (microplastics) which can work their way into the food chain. Once plastic enters our rivers, there is no statutory obligation for any organisation or public body to remove it. This has resulted in plastic waste being allowed to accumulate in our rivers where it can then be carried out to sea. Shockingly, 80% of plastic pollution found in the sea has passed through rivers and streams on its way there. Many of our rivers are therefore acting as plastic ‘taps’, allowing a constant stream of plastic from inland areas to flow into the sea.

This is the first time the Plasticblitz is going UK-wide. Previously, Thames21 worked with Environment Agency teams, community groups and river action groups to remove plastic waste from just the River Thames and its tributaries. Now, groups across the UK are invited to survey and improve their rivers using this initiative. Last year, nearly 500 volunteers collected 437 bags of rubbish across the Thames and its tributaries. A total of 14,581 items were individually categorised, with 85% of this being plastic. The worst plastic offenders were wet wipes, bottle tops, sweet wrappers and cigarette stubs.

Vision RCL Nature Conservation Ranger Tajinder Lachhar will be leading the cleanup along a 700m stretch of the River Roding adjacent to Wanstead Park on 11 June. “We will start at Wanstead Park Recreation Ground, working our way along the bank up north, along the River Roding. With enough volunteers, we should get up to the Wanstead Park Road Allotments,” said Tajinder. The River Roding is London’s third-longest tributary of the Thames. It rises at Molehill Green in Essex before flowing 50km south, through East London, meeting the Thames at Barking.

The Plasticblitz has gone from strength to strength since it started in 2021. This year, it will be bigger and better than ever, and if you’d like to be a part of it and improve your local river – as well as the wider environment – grab your wellies and come along.

The Plasticblitz on the River Roding will take place on 11 June from 10am to 1pm. Meet at Wanstead Park Recreation Ground, off Wanstead Park Road, Ilford, IG1 3TS. For more information, and to view the results, visit wnstd.com/plastic

Dates for this year’s Wanstead Fringe have been announced, with events spanning three weeks instead of the usual two.

“The Fringe will be taking place from 9 to 30 September. It’s the 10th anniversary this year, and we want more people than ever to be involved, with more ideas and more great cultural events for Wanstead to enjoy. So, whether you’ve got a great idea for a new event, want to join in with the organising, or simply want to help out, we want to hear from you,” said Fringe chair Giles Wilson.

Visit wnstd.com/fringe23

A statement from the Wren Wildlife Group about this year’s bluebell season in Wanstead Park:

“There was less damage to the flowers by humans than in previous years – the improved signage and clearer paths has helped. But there will always be a minority who don’t appreciate the damage they do by trampling on these delicate flowers. The colder weather meant the bluebell season lasted for longer this year, and, on the whole, the bluebell wood has been a successful collaboration between the Wren Group and the City of London.”