Free Event this weekend

Redbridge Carnival is being held at Valentines Park (Melbourne Fields) from 12:00 - 20:00 Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September 2009. Our procession starts from Ilford Town Centre at 12:00 Sunday 6th September!

Attractions include:

• Funfair
• 2 performances stages
• Free sports activities
• Free Circus Skills workshop and performances
• Sunday procession
• Face Painting
• Bouncy Castle
• henna painting
• International Food
• Stalls

Entrance free - parking £1.00

Redbridge Women’s Design Group

Almost a year ago to the day the BBC reported that our towns and cities are not designed for women.

To address this dysfunction the Women’s Design Service have set up a Women’s Design Group in Redbridge as part of a London Councils funded project and are looking for local women to get involved.

The aim of the Group is to influence major planning applications, policies and regeneration projects in Redbridge to ensure that women’s interests are taken into account.
Women’s Design Groups perform for gender what Access Groups delivered for disability, and ‘women proof’ local plans, policies and planning applications. WDGs include both women from the community who have an interest in shaping their neighbourhoods, and women who are professionally involved in planning and the built environment. The Group will include a diverse range of women from different age, disability, ethnicity, sexuality and caring backgrounds.
A range of training will be offered to enable women to participate fully in the Group including influencing town planning issues and sustainability.

Contact Georgia Wrighton, Community Development Worker via email or 020 7490 5210 if you would be interested in joining the Group, or you are a planning professional who would like to assist with the Group.

For more information see the Women’s Design Service website: click.

Brought to you by your "in the know" Green Team.

More Road issues

The streetlighting and nameplate section have repaired the street light at no. 67 Shepherds Close. This was after a concern about the safety of travellers crossing the A12 Subway at East road and a spate of muggings was raised at one of Isla Martin's recent Neighbourhood Watch Meeting. I have also now reported the dodgy road sign on Chadwell Heath Lane, found near the junction to Grove Road (see image below):

Shepherds Close - fresher then ever!

Here is an image of the repair work being undertaken on Shepherds Close. After a recent visit with myself, Ilsa Martin and an officer form the reactive maintenance team, I can confirm that several areas have already been repaired and more yet are to be completed. This will probably very good news for residents in the are who have purportedly been overlooked and forgotten by the incumbent councillor's. Request for help have resulted in no progress it seems through Isla Martin's sterling work in the area the area has completely changed - she leads both the local NHW and is secretary on the newly formed Chadwell Heath Action Group. Our thanks of course to the praiseworthy Bernie Kavanagh of the Reactive Maintenance Team who has really proved to be worth his weight in gold - well tar at least, heh heh!

South Road success!

I know that I have been stating that South Road is due a road patching exercise for over 6 months now - well it has finally been completed. This unadopted road has led me to challenge the council at Full Council Meetings, Cabinet Meetings and Area 5 and 6 Meetings, initially changing my focus for a holistic review of all unadopted roads in the borough. My efforts were rewarded by councillors agreeing to a £5000 patching works (which took a further 6 months to complete) and the Highways department are undertaking a review of all unadopted roads in the borough for a potential adoption of private roads on a long term granular project. What more could one want...?

The New South Road!

I will be asking the Highways department why this unsightly section has been left untouched to the right side of the entrance to South Road...?!

Graffiti - the Liberal lot say they are cleaning it!

We received a comment from someone with a Liberal persuasion who claims that Jesse Boucher has been reporting all the graffiti in our ward. The strange thing is, residents of the ward will have been notified by letter every time I report these items...? Which piece exactly did Jesse report - even the General Cleansing team is not aware...?

In the meanwhile I continue to inform our Streetscene team of all incidents that come to my notice. Here are the most recent from Chadwell Heath Lane:

Fauna Close response from Highways....

I have received the following emailed response from a senior highways officer in reply to my highlighting of the poor pavement and road surface at Fauna Close:

"Fauna Close was inspected in May this year, and no major defects were identified. However, it is due for routine inspection again shortly and any repairs necessary to maintain health and safety will be undertaken without delay."

I will keep residents updated on progress and am hoping we will not get a jobsworth response...? I will keep pursuing the repairs which look rather unsafe to me. If they were missed on the routine inspection perhaps, more experienced officers are needed..?