June 2026

Two Green councillors were elected for the first time in Wanstead last month. Sue Whitehead represents Wanstead Village, alongside Milli Richards Clack representing Wanstead Park

Firstly, a heartfelt thank you. Whether you voted for us or not, the voter turnout in Wanstead Village (51%) and Wanstead Park (53%) was really inspiring. Such high turnouts reflect how much Wanstead residents care about this special place we call home and we will do all we can to make Wanstead a safe, green and enjoyable place for everyone to live.

We believe collaboration is vital. We will work with residents and other council members to ensure people are involved in decisions that affect them. Once the council’s accounts are audited (at the time of writing, Redbridge Council’s accounts have not been signed off by auditors since 2022), we’ll have a clear map of what’s possible. And as the Friends of the River Roding have shown us, progress isn’t always about a price tag. It’s about motivating people to care for where they live and listening to the community’s best ideas.

Our priorities are the environment, supporting families, improving the High Street and keeping integrity and kindness central to all the work we do. We were the only elected Wanstead councillors to sign the River Roding Trust’s pledge, as we know how important nature is to local residents. We will focus on ensuring polluters are held to account. Talking to residents, we know that rubbish and fly-tipping are also huge issues to tackle.

The poor OFSTED report on Redbridge’s Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) last year highlighted a fragmented, disjointed system where parents are too often passed from pillar to post. With the council’s urgent action plan demanded by OFSTED now in place, we will track the data that was previously missing to ensure demonstrable improvements for SEND families are delivered.

So many people raised concerns about the ongoing issues at Wanstead High School and the leisure centre. We will focus on this issue first to keep people informed about why the project is not yet complete, along with getting answers about the permanent market stalls on the High Street.

We strongly believe in kindness and integrity in local politics, particularly for women councillors, who too often experience discrimination. We look forward to working with our fellow councillors to address the safety concerns discussed with us by residents during our campaign.

We will provide updates on our work through an email newsletter. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy, please get in touch. Our first newsletter will also include details for our upcoming surgeries. For now, please bear with us while we ‘learn the ropes’. We’re hitting the ground running, so please do stop and say hello when you see us in wonderful Wanstead!

To register for the Wanstead Green’s newsletter, visit wnstd.com/wgnews

For more information on local councillors, visit wnstd.com/cllrs

Three Labour councillors were re-elected in Wanstead last month. Jo Blackman and Daniel Morgan-Thomas continue to represent Wanstead Village, alongside Emma Shepherd-Mallinson representing Wanstead Park

It has been a privilege to represent Wanstead Park and Village wards and we are grateful for your faith in us to serve another term. Bucking the national trend, Labour retains a majority on Redbridge Council, providing the political stability which is critical to ensure the continued provision of council services. As Labour councillors, we will continue to work constructively with the Labour-run council and government to make a positive difference for our residents.

We spoke to hundreds of people during the campaign. Like us, people here love Wanstead. Many were grateful that, unlike other councils, Redbridge managed to keep open and invest in Wanstead and Aldersbrook libraries, invest in street cleansing, maintain weekly bin collections and free green garden waste collections. They also appreciated our active role as councillors in the community and support resolving local issues. However, we did hear concerns: anxiety about national challenges and uncertainty about the future, particularly with a growing threat from the divisive politics of Reform UK and the far right.

On local issues, speeding and dangerous driving came up, and we’re looking forward to progressing plans for 20mph limits as consulted on last year. We reported hundreds of potholes, which have been fixed, with some roads due for resurfacing. On parking, we have asked officers to increase dedicated visitor spaces to support our High Street. The updated street trading policy includes stringent criteria to ensure such trading does not undermine local businesses. We will continue to oppose any applications that conflict with this. Contrary to scaremongering by other parties, there are no plans for a daily market or permanent structures.

We share residents’ frustration about roadworks due to utility works. Whilst the council can’t refuse applications for emergency works, the council has increased its inspections and fines for any overruns. The investment in the swimming pool and classroom block at Wanstead High School is welcome and does need to be completed and we will continue to push for this.

We will continue to work proactively with other bodies to address issues beyond the council’s remit. For example, with the police to address concerns about crime, attending ward panel meetings and street briefings. With TfL, to push for improvements to bus services and the Central Line. With Thames Water and the Environment Agency to address flood risk and pollution in the River Roding. And the City of London Corporation on the management of local green spaces like Wanstead Park, Wanstead Flats and Tarzy Wood.

We will continue to represent all residents, run a monthly litter pick and advice service and do all we can to ensure our vibrant community continues to thrive.

For more information on local councillors, visit wnstd.com/cllrs