Grit crises - the enigmatic new Green Activist Chris Connelly speaks on what he terms "Closedown UK"

It's getting slippy out there!

Returning home from Seven Kings station, and sliding across an untreated Cameron Road like a first round loser on 'Dancing on Ice', I was frankly flabbergasted to see two council parking wardens ruminating on whether to place a ticket on some unfortunate's iced up vehicle.

In conditions that have completely frustrated normal everyday life- closed airports, disrupted rail services, refuse collections abandoned and with even Ilford's heated shopping Mall closed early- it appears these municipal revenue generators are quite simply unstoppable.

Given this enviable tenacity, and the treacherous state of the average footway, could not these stalwarts not have been issued with a messanger bag of grit- or cat litter, given its seems grit is now like gold dust in closedown UK- to treat the footway as they walked their rounds.

Thus bringing good cheer to citizens everywhere, and turning popular demons into- temporary- cold weather folk heroes.

Please Share your thoughts....?

Chris Connelly

Rebel without a cause!

You will recognise the name Rebel (graffiti on Alleyway wall on Millhaven Close) from some earlier graffiti posted on my blog from around Goodmayes Hospital.

This mega piece of work was found on Grove Road near the Library

These items have bene reported to the Streetscene Team and will be cleared away shortly.

National Grit stock crises again!

Wilson slips while investigating high levels of snow in Chadwell and Seven Kings!

After last years diabolical lack of grit, you would have thought our council would have geared up for the winter better this year. Unfortunately not and vulnerable children and adults travelling to, from and near Chadwell Heath Primary school, have slipped frequently.

I complained about the site last year and was promised more effort would be targeted into ensuring a safer walk for pedestrians, in what has always been an area of high footfall (hence installation of a safe crossing in its vicinity).

I will post any response from the highways team to my blog for local perusal.

New Year Graffiti Purge

Graffiti on the new fence at the NELMHT building entrance Barley Lane, Goodmayes. This needs to be nipped in the bud, before it spreads across the entire freshly installed fencing.

Graffiti on fence at corner of Barley Lane and Primrose Avenue

Graffiti On Barley Lane - outside the Stroud Close Complex

Graffiti opposite no.1 Strouds Close near main entrance next to Redbridge College.

I have reported all these items to the Streetscene team, who I am sure will remove them shortly.

Save King George Hospital

Image from protest on 21st November 2009 (BBC Report)

Dear All,

Re: NHS proposals to stop A&E Facility at King George Hospital.

The Green Party have arranged a second multi-agency protest against the proposal by Redbridge PCT to remove A&E facility from King George Hospital.

We invite people of all diversties to come and support us for what may turn out to be one of the most important dates in the Redbridge Calendar. We would like leaders from our community to cascade information amongst their groups to encourage more support for the event. We are also looking for speakers from local community groups to address their concerns about the loss of a valuable life-saving facility from our local community or other themic topics.

Event Date: 9th January
Location: Outside Ilford Town Hall
Time: 12:00 - 14:00

The event is non-party political however invites have been sent to all the leading political parties for a cross-party attendance. MP Lee Scott and MP Mike Gapes , leader of Redbridge Council Keith Prince have already agreed to talk at the event and a local pastor from Potters House Christian Fellowship too.

If you intend to join us please make some appropriate banners and placards to increase the impact of the event. There will be a petition to sign.

Please cascade this request through your networks.

Kind regards

Wilson

Sign our on-line petition here:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-king-george-hospital/

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Read what the Ilford Recorder said about our on-line petition (here)

Please protect the vulnerable

During a rather saddening conversation today, with Clive Durdle the Manager of the Redbridge Disability Association (REDA). I was rather perturbed to discover that Redbrige Council have made a decision, to terminate their annual grant of £27,000. This is almost a quarter of REDA's regular budget and will significantly impact on their Information, Advice and Advocacy service delivery, that has introduced over £500,000 in benefits to this most vulnerable of groups.

In a follow up email Clive Durdle said:

"Redbridge Disability Association is a front line disabled person led non profit organisation with 42 years experience. Disability creates massive challenges - we want to solve real issues together. The London Borough of Redbridge has decided to stop funding us and have not actually said why. We are at risk of closing but last year brought £500,000 into the Borough and have been rated as excellent by the Legal Services Commission."

Mr Durdle has set up an on-line petition and I would urge local residents to sign the petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/reda5110/petition.html

Tarnished images

The images above show the recent graffiti applied to two telecoms boxes on Barley Lane, nearby Newbridge School. I have asked the Streetscene Team to remove the unsightly effect from the two boxes and believe this will happen with the usual expedience we now expect from them.

We have also reported the graffiti on the box at Strouds Close near the junction with Barley Lane - next to Redbridge College.