VG DAY

Yes Its true!

Since the first day that Wilson started resolving the local issues in Chadwell he promised to find a solution to the problem of Graffiti in the ward. This was by far the highest priority to residents during his numerous street surgeries. Two years on Chadwell has become the cleanest ward in the borough rather than the most targeted.

Working with the General Cleansing Team, Wilson has reported over 300 incidents of graffiti, and highlighted particularly prone areas. This has resulted in a cleaning programme like no other in the borough as we have often jumped the queue because of the workable list provided increasing efficiency of visits. The General Cleansing team’s Street scene service were so impressed with Wilson’s work, they even nominated him for a Safer Communities award in November last year!

On the 7th of January 2009 Russell Ward leader of the Streetscene Service, confirmed that Wilson’s most recent list of works was complete (created via Wilson’s personal audit of the ward). Mr Ward also confirmed that his staff could find no other traces of graffiti…it is with this in mind that we would like to declare this date as Victory over Graffiti Day! Graffiti may return but with the excellent service provided by Russell’s department and Wilson’s continuous reporting – the graffiti miscreants have no chance. Their graffiti will be removed or they will be caught!

Already hotspot locations provided by Wilson resulted in a number of covert operations that culminated in the apprehension of several perpetrators. Furthermore, Wilson reported drug dealing occurring along Essex Road that led to the arrest of a dealer, moreover in his flat were examples of graffiti that were seen across the borough and he was prosecuted for this also. This felon will be re-housed outside the ward on release from prison.

In the picture below you can see that Wilson and his daughter have been painting over some of the graffiti in the ward, after obtaining cans from the Streetscene Team. Should any residents of Chadwell want to join the fight against this social malaise Wilson is willing to forward paint and brushes to you….please make contact.

The Green Party believes that graffiti reduces community morale and increases the perception of crime. To reduce incidents we intend to support community organisations such as Schools, Youth organisations and other youth services to educate young perpetrators on the consequences of their action. Harsher penalties for insubordination of this type and public shaming of repeat offenders, via local media, would provide a more effective deterrent against this antisocial crime.

If you have any small or large Graffiti concerns please inform Wilson using the contact detail in the side bar.

List of most recently removed Graffiti following Wilson Report:

Side of shop on corner of Havering and Somerville Road
Green Box at corner of 13 Manor Road/Hall Road.
Fence opposite 68 Overton Drive
Side fence on Mansted Gardens/High Road Corner and next to 1004 High Road
Both Alleyways to rear of Abercorn Gardens
NK News Agents on Chadwell Heath High Road
Cream wall next to 64a Chadwell Heath Lane and also on cream wall between shops opposite
Garage next to 115 Reynolds avenue
Garage on Reynolds avenue opposite 8 Hickman Road
Graffiti on walls next to Panda cars which is around the area of the Large Bingo Hall on the High Road
There is graffiti on the wall under stairs to flat on side of Atomic Comics accessed by walking through short walk between shops.
Alleyway to1098 Chadwell Heath graffiti and Flytipping (this is accessed via entrance next to Wangey Chapel on Wangey Road.
Pavement Mews Both sides littered with graffiti (and flytipping)
Aston Mews both sides walls littered with graffiti (and flytipping)
White door to side of Chemist on Jarrow Road/Chadwell Heath Lane Junction has red pen Graffiti.
Green Box to fore of 117 Shepherds Close (graffiti on top of box lid)
Green Box near 38 Park Lane and garage adjacent to 38 Park Lane.
Green Box to fore of 322 Chadwell Heath Lane
Green Box to fore of 48 Chadwell Heath Lane adjacent to no.1 Manor Road.
Shutter on 79 Chadwell Heath Lane
Shutter of 1191 High Road, Chadwell Heath
Shutter of 1049 High Road, Chadwell Heath and on middle white pillar of vacant Car showroom building next to this property
Shutters at no.71 Chadwell Heath Lane
The flats behind the corner shop on the Roxy Avenue/CHL Lane corner have white graffiti emblazoned on all the pillars within the wall structure it is small but noticeable.
The Phone box on Reynolds Avenue
Letter box on Grove Road.

Claustrophobia!

Ever felt like sardines in a can? Some of you are as we are inundated with calls from Chadwell Residents concerned about the overdevelopment of local land. More often than not, any land that prospectors seek permission to purchase in our ward, is sold to the highest bidder resulting in high density residential accommodation, without the appropriate infrastructure to support the new communities.

On the 14th of October East Thames presented a design for a Housing Estate project with 389 potential rooms (126 units) that includes a 7 Storey Commercial/Community building and a range of residential building up to 6 storeys. The project is proposed for the Grove Farm Area (opposite Chadwell Heath Primary School). The design included a 75% parking allocation which they deemed acceptable with a potential entrance point opposite the school car park entrance

Click here to see the brochure.

Your Green Party Activist for Chadwell… Wilson Chowdhry, queried the overall scale of the project, the height of the buildings (in a planning brief at a February 2008 Area 5 Committee Meeting Wilson coerced Councillors to support and ratify a motion for a maximum height of 3storeys?!), the potential congestion caused by traffic entering and leaving the School and Car Park at the same point on a busy road? Wilson has also asked for guarantees that Safety measures and good environmental practices are adopted for proposed roof gardens as crime such as hurling of missiles and voyeurisms have been noted on similar projects.

East Thames agreed to review their plans and on the 30th January 2009 presented a design at the Keith Axon that now indicates that the roof gardens are to remain, that a ghost right turn lane into the car park will be placed on the High Road - to enable better filtering of traffic and that the Commercial building will be reduced to 6 Storeys with residential buildings at 5 Storeys (still above the agreed 3 storey level?!). Parking allocation has been increased to 80% when compared to the 116 units now proposed, rather than the 336 rooms.

The Green Party believes that;

“Planning decisions should always be made at the most local practical level. The deemed regional, national or global importance of proposed developments should be weighed alongside the needs and expressed opinions of the local communities in the areas in which they are sited”

We do not oppose increased affordable housing, however we believe that the community is being ignored in this design. We are still dissatisfied with the overall design and scale of this project and encourage you to contact East Thames Homes directly on the email below:

lauren.gee@east-polential.org.uk


Redbridge Planning Department can also be contacted on:

Please copy Wilson Chowdhry our Green Party Activist into any communication: see contact details in the side bar.

Wilson will be attending the Planning meeting at which this design is to be discussed - Which will be held at 19:00 on the 18th March 2009 at Redbridge Town hall.

Wilson and Juliet Chowdhry Celebrating their Victory at the National Training Awards staged by the Department of Employment

Safety on Somerville Road

Race hate attacks plague subway - BBC

On the 29th of January 2009 Wilson Chowdhry (Green Party activist in Chadwell Ward), organised a public meeting regarding the growing spate of subway attacks at the East Road and Somerville Road Subways. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Redbridge ASBO Team, LBBD Police, Redbridge Police, Redbridge Equality and Community Council, Greater London Authority and Various Neighbourhood Watches.

Healthy debate from victims and witnesses to crime in the area focused on a best fit, long term resolution to curb criminal activity. Allegations were made against students of Oaks Park School and Warren School for much of the activity. Visitors suggested that Local Headmasters and community groups should be more involved alongside community groups in a collaborative approach to resolving the issue. Unanimously all those in attendance declared the subway had become a magnet for antisocial behaviour. However, it was also recognised that although crime emanated from the subway, crime also resonated along the length of the A12 surrounding the subways and that any solution would have to tackle this concern also.

From the meeting the following action plan was agreed:

• Short term plan to introduce permanent 360 degree rotating CCTV cameras along the A12 that will encompass the entrances to the subways at Somerville Road, and East Road (both sides) and the area before and after the subways. It was felt subway cameras would be tampered with and destroyed within days of implementation.

• Our medium term plan was to either introduce some of the proposed bus route extensions post-effective stakeholder engagement. The other option was for the enhancement of Dial-a-ride service with more vehicles and flexibility of service to cater for real demand. The second part of our medium term plan was to work with local schools and youth partnerships to investigate why young people are undertaking such crime, what motivates them, what they might do instead and to introduce youth engagement schemes to create avenues for rehabilitation or recreation.

• Our long term plan is for the complete closure of the subway and introduction of a safe overground pedestrian crossing (not bridge), as it is clear that the subway has become a notorious hideaway and congregational location.

Although our long term plan was the most sought after solution, we recognized funding for such a scheme would take a long time.

Since the meeting communication with TFL has resulted in them undertaking a full survey of the affected area. They have agreed to attend a private meeting with Police teams, ASBO teams, School Headmasters and other community groups chaired by Wilson on the 26th February 2009. They will be discussing what interventions can be implemented to support local residents, with a view to introduce additional CCTV, minimising antisocial behaviour and to discuss what options exist for at-grade crossings on the A12. This is to be a non-public meeting, however, Wilson will feedback to residents in a public meeting after this date.

It looks like we are getting closer to finally putting an end to the dismay and low community morale induced by our local subterranean crossings.