Ilford Territorial Army Centre - provide Olympic assistance

2 Puma Helicopters to be present at Ilford Territorial Army Centre

During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Ilford's Territorial Army Centre on Gordon Road is to be used as a base for 2 Royal Air Force Puma helicopters.

An additional 90 personnel will live at the site from mid-July until shortly after the Paralympics.  Consisting of crew members from the 33 Squadron, RAF Benson and support staff.

Ilford was picked for its secure communications infrastructure at the defence owned site and compliance with planning nand Civil Aviation Regulations.

A number of familiarisation flights during late April and a major national exercise will take place form 2nd - 10th May 2012, to test the Armed Forces support for the Police. The Aircraft will arrive for their stationing on 12th July 2012.

Every 3 - 5 days planes will need to go back to their RAF base for testing and will be replaced by one that has been tested.  Changeover will occur between the hours 09:00 - 17:00 to minimise local disturbance.

Flight paths will involve quick climbs to a height that reduces noise level.  However residents are warned that take-off and landing will involve considerable noise.

The Officer commanding 33 Squadron invites residents of Ilford to meet him and his crews and to see the helicopters at Ilford Territorial Army Centre on 4th May from 15:00 - 19:00 and on 7th May from 15:00 - 17:00.  

No Drinking Zone signs to be installed on Green Lane

The East Ilford Business Partnership has been successful in obtaining No drinking signs for Green Lane.  For quite a while we have led a campaign to end the antisocial behaviour attributed to excessive drinking in our area. Under Redbridge's Cumulative Impact zone which has now been extended to include Green Lane, Ilford Lane and a much larger proportion of the borough than initially, it is now illegal to drink on public streets in these areas.

With three off licences and a pub in the vicinity we have always been a high risk area for this type of crime, however in recent years the number of homeless people in the borough has increased. In particular a large community of homeless Sikhs have been visibly causing concern in our community.

Our thanks to Clementswood Safer Neighbourhood Police team who attended 2 Police meetings at our community centre and have endorsed our request for the local signs.  The team have agreed to use the new signs as an opportunity to challenge this type of behaviour in future in an attempt to reduce the local problem.

Simon James from Redbridge ASBO Team said in a recent email:

"I am waiting for a date from the Street Lighting Team to place the signs you have requested as well as others in the new DPPO.  I have requested the date be 25^th – 27^th April as I am not in on the Mon or Tues.  Once I have received confirmation of the date these will be placed I will advise you accordingly."

The three locations for which we have requested No Drinking signs are:

1. Junction of Stanley road with Green Lane
2. Junction of Connaught Road and Green Lane
3. Junction of Gordon Road and Green Lane

Learn more about the Cumulative Impact Zone here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1uhi1txZxlhMnUteTh1WXN1RTQ/edit

View map of protected areas:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1uhi1txZxlheHdQMGt4LTZRUFk/edit

Read about the night spent in Ilford Police cells by a local pub landlord trying to fight the local antisocial drinking:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1uhi1txZxlhNWVvWXBSYTREOTQ/edit

Free Zumba for women and Bollywood Dancing for children at Clementswood Community Centre!

The East Ilford Betterment Partnership and British Pakistani Christian Association has secured funding via the Redbridge CVS   “Fit for Fun” programme. The scheme  encourages  groups in Redbridge to improve their fitness levels and self worth by giving groups a chance to have 20 weeks of FREE exercise training.

The sessions will be held at Clementswood Community Centre located  at 14a Connaught Road, Ilford, Essex  IG1 1RN at the following times:

If you would like to take part in this unique opportunity please contact the group for the start date

Zumba for women every Friday  evening from 19:00  - 20:00

Bollywood for Children every Wednesday afternoon from 17:00 – 18:00

The classes are open to all members of the public however due to a shortage of space, we ask local people to contact us early to book your place. Bookings will be reserved on a first come first served basis.  A start date will be fixed once we have completed ourt list of potential participants. 

Please contact  Wilson Chowdhry the centre co-ordianter for more information.  Tel: 020 8514 0861 Fax: 020 8514 2438 email:wilson@aasecurity.co.uk

End of an era: Fauja Singh of Ilford quits running marathons at 101!

Wilson Chowdhry with Fauja Singh just before 31st March 2012 Park run in Valentines Park.

Fauja Singh at 101 became the oldest ever Marathon runner this year whilst running the London Marathon.  After the race he confirmed that this was his final London Marathon after celebrating 9 years of these charity runs.  This year he raised £1000 and ran the race in 7 hours 49 minutes smashing his target of 8 hours 25 mins.

I had the privilege to run with him at a Local Park run in Valentines Park and was astounded at his efforts to encourage others and endurance at his ripe age.   He has spoken of continuing to run shorter distances and will continue his role of being an ambassador for his sport.

The Ilford recorder described his achievement this year:

http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/london_marathon_redbridge_s_record_breaking_101_year_old_runner_defies_expectations_1_1356802

Read the full BBC report on his retirement  here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17784505