Chadwell By Election Result

The result of the Chadwell By Election is as follows.

Streeting, Wes - Labour Party 800 (31.52%) (32.93%)
Monro, Gary - Conservative 580 (22.85%) (24.78%)
Tyne, John - Liberal Democrat 576 (22.70%) (28.18%)
Chowdhry, Wilson - Green Party 413 (16.27%) (11.22%)
Leppert, Julian - BNP 115 (4.53%) (did not stand)
Wiffen, Paul – UKIP 54 (2.13%) (2.90%)
[The second percentage is the combined party percentage from the May elections.]

Congratulations to Wes Streeting who was elected.

Many thanks to all those residents who voted Green. As you can see our percentage of the poll increased from 11.22% in May to 16.27% this time around. We are making steady progress and have put down a firm marker for next time. It shows that Greens can be elected and that a Green vote is not wasted. You never know, next time we may have Alternative Voting or some other form of Proportional Representation.

See also the comment from Gary Monro, the Conservative Candidate, over on Barkingside 21.

King George Hospital Consultation - Discussion Meeting!

The results of the North East London Health Programme Consultation are out.  A meeting is proposed to discuss the outcomes.  Read more below:


The consultation

They received over 3,200 responses to the consultation, some of these responses from organisations representing hundreds of individuals. During the 16-week -consultation-period-,-they field around 300 meetings-with votuntary and community groups, MPs and representative bodies, patients and the public, and recorded the views of over a thousand people through work with traditionally under-represented groups. Over 7,000 people attended 25 local roadshows in north east London and Essex from January to March, providing an opportunity for local people to hear about and discuss the consultation proposals.

Next steps

There independent assessors (Ipsos MORI) have reviewed and analysed all the consultation responses and will present their findings at a meeting in public of the joint committees of primary care trusts on Tuesday 13 July, 5pm-9pm at West Ham United Football Club. The committees will also receive other reports and assessments. To register your attendance, please email healthfornel@thpct.nhs.uk or call 020 7092 5233. Please note, in the event of the meeting reaching full capacity, they may not be able to accommodate people who have not registered.

No decisions will be made on any proposals at this meeting.

They expect copies of all the reports that will be presented to the committees, and the organisational responses to the consultation, will be available to view on the website http://www.healthfornel.nhs.uk/
 from Wednesday 7 July.

King George Hospital Parking Meeting

We had a terrific turnout at last nights meeting focused on the issues around King George Hospital and parking burden in it's vicinity, pricing structures for Parking at King George Hospital and the parking burden around The roads near Chadwell Heath Station i.e Birchdale Gardens - was well attended!   Over 40 local people were at the meeting.  The meeting was attended by Mike Woodward and Eamon Cullinan from the Highways Team and Jackie Doyle and a colleague from the Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospital Trust Estates Department.

During the meeting Jackie highlighted that she had commissioned the existing King George Hospital and that a mass of residential builds in recent times had significantly increased parking inside the hospital area. 

New charges for parking had brought King George hospital in line with Queens Hospital and other hospitals in the Trust.  That high charges for overnight parking had been created a result of parking abuse by people using the local train station, college and School and that in part the charges were meant to ward off people not using the hospital.

Jackie also explained that a range of concessionary charges had been introduced especially for long term illness sufferers, those who are terminally ill and their families.  A list of these will be provided to us and we will upload them on this blog. 

Local residents talked of increased parking burden that had resulted from the staff charging scheme being introduced.  Many of the KGH staff that had been approached by local residents of the Heathfield Park Drive Estate, Barley Lane, Strouds Close and Roads associated with Gresham Drive had informed residents that they were not able to apply for Parking permits in the Hospital.  Jackie confirmed that parking permits were available and that although they may not cover all the staff that were parking on the local roads, there was no existing queue. Jackie agreed to reiterate to all staff that parking permits were still available.  Jackie did not feel that the introduction of parking charges were the cause for the increasing local parking burden.  She believed that they were associated with the loss of access to the visitor parking area which had now been fenced off to prevent parking abuse.  Residents expressed in no uncertain terms that burden had increased as a direct result of parking charges.

Staff permits cost £28.00 for lower level staff and £45.00 for higher level staff in accordance with the higher pay structure for senior staff.   Local residents voted in favour for free parking to be offered for all lower level staff believing this might reduce local burden and would stop penalising lower end staff that work hard for low pay.  Jackie agreed to take this to the management team.

Wilson reminded Jackie that they had previously applied for the development of a multi storey Car Park.  This had been turned down because of local planning law. Wilson asked if the Hospital would consider reapplying.  Jackie believed the Hospital would not be avers to such a scheme and agreed to apply for a multi storey Car Park on the Hospital site as much time had passed and a different set of situations might now yield a better result.

A resident believed that a multi storey Car Park might not resolve the local parking problem and wanted to hear from the Highways Team.  After a lengthy discussion the following options were agreed by those in the meeting:

Heathfield Park Drive Estate:

• Option 1 - Introduce a no weighting time restrictions from 08:00 - 10:00 and from 15:00 and 17:00.  the yellow line would be broken to the fore of residential drives allowing residents a 3rd parking space.  Moreover, on street bays would demarcate how far up the kerb cars could park outside of the weighting time restrictions, preventing inconsiderate blocking of the pavement.
• Option 2 - A double yellow line to be introduced along one side of all streets in the estate.

Gresham Drive and associated Roads:

• Option 1 - Double yellow lines on all corners.
• Option 2 - Weighting time restrictions as above.

Strouds Close:

• Option 1 - Introduce a no weighting time restrictions from 08:00 - 10:00 and from 15:00 and 17:00. the yellow line would be broken to the fore of residential drives allowing residents a 3rd parking space. Moreover, on street bays would demarcate how far up the kerb cars could park outside of the weighting time restrictions, preventing inconsiderate blocking of the pavement.
• Option 2 - A double yellow line to be introduced along one side of all streets in the estate.

After this, discussion went onto parking around the Chadwell roads near Chadwell Heath Station.  All the residents agreed that only Birchdale Road should be considered as members of other roads did not want any roads restrictions:

• Option 1 - Permit Parking bays to be introduced were possible, two pay and display bays to be introduced near dentists at High Road end of road.  Double Yellow lines to be added to all corners and that no yellow line should be applied elsewhere on the road.
• Option 2 - None.

Each Option 1 is the most favoured scheme by those in attendance.  Each Option 2 provides residents with an alternative.  The schemes will be prepared and submitted to the Area 5 Committee Meeting to be held in September.  

Weedy Chadwell

After a flurry of emails to Redbridge Council to resolve the excessive weedgrowth in the area I decided to call today.  I have noticed how our ward is overlooked every year and keep on top of it for you - not just at election time.  So much so that even the weeding section acknowledge my knowledeg of the Chadwell area.  See the response form a lead officer below:

"Wilson,


I understand that you called the Contract Consultancy Unit and spoke to Tilly this afternoon about the level of weed within the Chadwell Ward.


The Chadwell ward received its 2nd weed treatment of the year in mid-June, so the effects of the chemcial should be showing in many areas. There do seem to be some areas within the borough, some of which are within the Chadwell ward, that are more susceptible to weed growth than others. The worst of these areas are currently being identified, so that they can be targetted with an extra treatment. Some roads within the Chadwell area, such as Shepherds Close, Brian Road, Second Avenue have already been identified, but are by no means the only ones. We are likely to be adding to this list shortly. However, we are also limited as to how many roads can receive the extra treatment and still remain on the programme for treating the entire borough.


The 21 wards within the borough are treated for weed on a rota basis. The 2nd treatment of the borough should be completed by the end of this week and the 3rd treatment will commence next week. The whole treatment takes 7-8 weeks, but the hot spot areas are to be treated mid-way during the programme. As such the main problem roads should get treated about 4 weeks apart.


I must emphasise though that the roads on this additional treatment cycle have to be carefully selected as we can only put a limited number on it. However, with your knowledge of the Chadwell ward, your proposals on the roads which you think should be on the list would be greatly appreciated.


Recent changes in EU legislation has drastically reduced the number of chemicals and the strength of the herbicide that can be applied to street weeds because of impact on the water table. We are currently seeing the effect of this across the borough. Whilst the herbicide that can be used kills the growing weed, unlike in previous years we can no longer put down the herbicide that inhibits germination, as such more weeds are able to grow.


We will continue to work closely with the contractor to ensure that the service is provided in accordance with the contract and legislation"

Sometimes I wonder if my local work is appreciated.  Not all local residents recognise my efforts so I am grateful to the senior trees officer for the given recognition.  I will undertake a survey of your roads tonight and will add to the already long list I have been providing in recent weeks.