Ferry Lane and Blackhorse Lane Developments

Yesterday I attended the consultation about the new Ferry Lane development being carried out by Legal & General. They expect to submit an Outline Planning Application shortly for 311 new homes. This site is between the Blackhorse Road Car Park and the flood relief channel.

Ferry Lane

Legal and General

Beside the old Standard pub opposite Blackhorse Road station, a planning application 2013/0554 has been submitted by BPTW Partnership for 483 dwellings and 519 rooms for student accommodation.

In this comparatively small area close to the proposed Walthamstow Wetlands over 1,000 new homes will be created over the next few years. The developers don't expect to sell everything immediately so the projects will be staggered and the speed with which they will be completed will depend on demand. Getting mortgages is still difficult.

The Bells!

17 Reasons to live in Walthamstow - support St Mary's bells

Currently the ten bells of St Mary’s in Walthamstow Village ring out every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning. Six of the bells are from 1778, and all are old and desperately in need of restoration. £60,000 needs to be raised for their repair or they will be forced to fall silent.

 

The sound of the bells is mentioned in ‘17 reasons to live in Walthamstow’ created by local artist, Paul Lindt, originally for Estates 17. The artwork is now available as a print and also as a signed limited edition version of 50 from the E17 Art House.
 

All available from the E17 Art House, 6-10 Church Hill, Stainforth Rd entrance, Walthamstow E17 3RY. www.e17arthouse.com

 

2 versions:

• A4+ print – £12 of which minimum of £6 goes to the Bell Restoration Fund
• Limited edition of 50, signed giclée – £40 of which minimum of £20 goes to the Bell Restoration Fund

 

GP access under threat?

Dear Adrian,

This could be very serious. The Conservatives are floating plans to cap the number of times we are allowed to visit our GP. [1] If we run out of visits – because we've got a sickly child or long-term health condition, for example – we could be forced to pay to go elsewhere.

At the moment it's just a proposal. [2] But if the Conservatives don't see a big public backlash, it could soon be a grim reality. So let's raise an outcry as quickly as possible and push them to drop the idea immediately.

Please sign the urgent petition now: tell health minister Jeremy Hunt to rule out limiting our access to NHS GPs:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/dont-cap-GP-visits

Jeremy Hunt will be watching the public's reaction carefully. He is an ambitious politician with an eye on his own popularity. If he sees a huge petition growing fast, he'll realise this is damaging his ratings. So if enough of us sign, we could play a key role in getting this idea dropped.

Being able to visit the family doctor when we need it is a bedrock of a decent health system. GPs are often our first port of call when we're ill. [3] Limiting access to GPs could mean a dangerous illness is left undetected until it's too late – unless of course you've got private medical insurance…

But this isn't just about GPs. This is about a principle at the heart of our battle to protect the NHS.Since the NHS was created, everyone in Britain has been able to rely on visiting a doctor as often as we need to. Limiting access would undermine the NHS at its very foundations. So let's send the Conservatives a strong message: drop this terrible idea.

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/dont-cap-GP-visits


Thanks for being involved,

David, Rebecca, Travis, Blanche and the 38 Degrees Team


PS: Here’s what the chair of the Royal College of GPs said about these proposals: “This was obviously written by someone who has never been unwell, or has never met people who work in the health service." Let’s not let the idea get any further – please sign the petition now: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/dont-cap-GP-visits

NOTES
[1] Daily Mail: Fury as Tories look to limit the number of times you can see your GP each year:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2331068/Fury-Tories-look-limit-number-times-GP-year.html
Independent: Cap on number of GP visits being considered by Tories:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/cap-on-number-of-gp-visits-being-considered-by-tories-8632396.html
[2] The proposal is contained in a "Conservative Policy Forum" paper on NHS policy, you can see the whole thing here:
http://www.conservativepolicyforum.com/policy/local-health
[3] See for example this campaign on the importance of going to see your GP early if you could have symptoms of bowel cancer:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Colonandrectum/Symptomsdiagnosis/Symptoms.aspx
 

Hackney Marshes saved

Hackney Council News Release
PR and Communications
Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street , London E8 1EA
www.hackney.gov.uk

For Immediate Release

24 May 2013

PR 3149

Hackney Council responds to consultation about events on Hackney Marshes

Following a public consultation to hear views on the possibility of holding entertainment events on Hackney Marshes, Hackney Council has listened to the concerns raised and decided not to apply for permission to hold major public events on this occasion.

The Council feels that some events on the Marshes could be appropriate in future, but would approach this in a different way. The Council will consider interest from events promoters on specific future proposals, but they would be assessed on an individual basis and accompanied by consultation at the time, giving Marshes users and local people specific information on which to base their feedback.

The Council consulted from 26 February to 23 April to help it decide whether to apply to the Planning Inspectorate for what is known as PINS consent. This would have allowed the Council to hold several major or large public entertainment events over five years, between 1 May and 31 August, on a specific area of the Marshes.

Cllr Jonathan McShane, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, said: “We have listened very carefully to people’s concerns and as a result we will not be submitting the PINS application on this occasion. We realise that by proposing blanket permission for a number of events across the summer, we caused great concern as the nature of any event would be unknown. We also appreciate that the proposed number of major events was too high for many people.

“We still feel that some events on the Marshes could be appropriate in the future but we would approach this in a different way. The Council will consider interest from events promoters on specific future proposals, but they would be assessed on an individual basis and accompanied by consultation at the time, giving Marshes users and local people specific information on which to base their feedback.

“We are committed to continuing to support and develop sport on Hackney Marshes which is why over the last five years, along with our funding partners, we’ve invested over £18m on improving pitches and facilities.”

Separate to the multi-million pound programme of improvements, the day to day running of Hackney Marshes costs the local Council Tax payer more than £500,000 per year in subsidy, as pitch fees do not cover the upkeep.

In the current economic climate, the Council needs to look at how best to fund the maintenance of the Marshes to ensure that residents can continue to enjoy the area.

Cllr McShane added: “In the current economic climate, with local government funding continuing to be significantly reduced, it is vital we find new ways of funding the £500,000 subsidy we currently provide to run the Marshes, maintain their high quality, and keep costs to users at a reasonable level. We feel strongly that this could include events on the Marshes in future – and we believe the fact 30,000 local people attended the BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend shows there is demand - but we will do our best to come to an agreement that takes into account the needs of all Marshes users and residents.”

 

For more information, visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/hackneymarshes 

ENDS

 

ENDS

Issued By:
Emma Bri tton, Media Officer, Hackney Council
Tel: 020 8356 2869
Mob: 07772 227 320
Email: emma.britton@hackney.gov.uk 

 

Planning Committee 4th June

At the Planning Committee meeting on the 4th June at 7.30pm in the Town Hall the councillors will be deciding on two applications we have objected to. Please come along and give your support. The officers report is in favour so it will not be an easy battle to win.

2011/1229      Leytonstone Police Station - conversion to a Free School. The site is far too small for what is proposed.

2013/0039      Vallentin Road, E17 3JH  A five storey block of flats adjacent to the railway and squeezed in to a triangular site with an "amenity" space at the point of the triangle. This is totally out of keeping with the area, an awful place to have to live next to the railway embankment and removes useful industrial land before the Wood Street Area Action Plan has been decided.

God's Own Junk Yard

Oasis Academy Walthamstow to open in 2014

Walthamstow Free School

It is going to be interesting to see where they have found a suitable site for a school of similar size to Kelmscott School.

From Stella Creasy MP's newsletter:

Education in Walthamstow: Free School Announcement  

This week I have been sent confirmation that the Government has decided to approve four proposals for free schools in Walthamstow. The applications are by Oasis, United Learning Trust, The Waltham Forest Leadership for Girls and the DV8 Academy. They will now proceed to the next stage of the Free Schools process - ultimately leading to the Secretary of State deciding whether to enter into a funding agreement with the schools with the view to opening in September 2014. Please note this is all the information I have at present on these projects- as and when I receive more I will share this via this e-newsletter. 

We know that schools in Walthamstow are under real pressures at present- from our need for additional places to meet the demands of a growing local community to the impact of London Weighting, and the Government's plans to fragment relationships between schools and councils. In this difficult context ensuring we support our young people to the high levels of educational attainment to which they are all capable becomes harder, not easier. You can read my full statement about these challenges here. 

Ferry Lane Development Consultation

Dear Adrian,

Further to my recent emails regarding proposals for development at the Ferry Lane Industrial Estate, I am getting in touch with an invitation to a public consultation taking place next week.

Local residents closer to the site will receive letters with a similar invitation but we wanted to invite you direct and would be happy for you to pass on news of the event.

If you or any members of the Civic Society would like to discuss this further, please contact me on 020 7025 2317 or this email.

Regards,

Francis

New homes at the Ferry Lane Industrial Estate

Invitation to a public exhibition of plans, Thursday 30^th May: 2.30 pm to 7.30 pm

Legal & General, on behalf of the Industrial Property Investment Fund, would like to invite you to a public exhibition to discuss proposals for up to 311 homes in a new development on the Ferry Lane Industrial Estate on Forest Road, next to the Blackhorse Road Station car park.

Legal & General is the third largest institutional property investor in the UK.  My company, Lexington Communications, is working with Legal & General to ensure the local community is aware of the proposals and residents are able to comment on the plans through a period of public consultation. We would like to hear your views and hope you can join us at our exhibition, which will take place at:

Blackhorse Road Baptist Church, 63 Blackhorse Road, London, E17 7AS

(corner of Southcote Road)

Plans will also include a café, small business studios for local companies or new investors which could create 150 jobs.  A proportion of the homes will be made available for sale or rent at below market rates through a housing association.

Our team will be available to answer your questions and provide more information on the day.  If you have any questions, please contact me on ferrylane@lexcomm.co.uk or 020 7025 2317. Alternatively, details of the proposals can be viewed, from Thursday 30^th May, atwww.ferrylaneconsultation.co.uk.

Francis Mallinson

Walk over Marsh Lane Fields

PLEASE PASS THIS ON!!

 

On Bank Holiday Monday evening, the 27th May, a group of local residents and activists are intending to meet at the Antelope pub in Church Road, Leyton E10 - opposite Marsh Lane - for a summer evening stroll across Marsh Lane Fields. this will include a site visit to the Dagenham Brook crossing by the Eton Manor Cottage, where work is due to begin on the following Tuesday to rip up all the paths that were laid and a lot of the plants and shrubs that were planted last year, using Olympics compensation money for the loss of Drapers' Field, and then remove the two existing bridges to be replaced with a bridge capable of taking wide, heavy loads (the present bridge was strengthened about four years ago and recently refurbished).

If you would like to join us for the walk, please aim to be at the Antelope by 6.45pm at the latest, so we are all assembled and ready to set off at 7.00pm sharp.

We are going to walk on from Marsh Lane Fields through Seymour fields to the Hare & Hounds pub on Lea Bridge Road, where members of the Save the Lea Marshes campaign group (formerly Save Leyton Marsh) will hold a regular meeting of the group.

The meeting at the H&H will go on to discuss other areas of Leyton Marsh - the botched reinstatement of Porter's Field Meadow, the Application by LVRPA to turn the Golf Course into a campsite covered in "pixie-hut" holiday chalets, the Application for yet more stables, thirteen all for livery horses, in the paddock north of the Riding Centre buildings on Porter's Field which since 2003 has been more than 50% covered with stables as it is (including some unpermitted developments for which the LVRPA was much later granted a retrospective certificate of lawfulness of use) - and also deal with some internal organisational matters to do with the running and funding of the group and its email communications. 

You might be interested in some of it! and would be very welcome to attend. But you are very welcome just to come for a stroll and site visit to marsh Lane Fields (and return to Church Road rather than going on to the Hare & Hounds) if you prefer.

Katy.

 

Civic Society Social evening

Waltham Forest Civic Society Social Evening on Thursday 6th June

Members and friends of the Civic Society are invited to our summer social evening on Thursday 6^th June at the Birkbeck Tavern, 45 Langthorne Road, Leyton, E11 4HL, starting at 7.30pm.

Summer may not seem to have arrived yet but we should be able to keep warm with good company, hot discussion topics and even the occasional heated debate!

According to one reviewer on the Beer In the Evening website, the Birkbeck Tavern is easily the best pub in Leyton and one of Leyton’s best kept secrets. It also has a lovely beer garden and if the weather improves we may even be able to sit outside!

The pub is within 10 minutes walk of Leyton tube, or use buses 69,97, 158 , 58 to Leyton High Road or W14, W15 to Grove Green Road.

We hope you will be able to join us!

Jane Sterland

Chair, Waltham Forest Civic Society

Waltham Forest Council Diary

You may find this useful

EMD Victory

Secretary of State Report

Waltham Forest Cinema Trust

McGuffins

Cinema Trust

WF Guardian Report

EMD Cinema -
VERDICT ANNOUNCED

The government has now announced the outcome of the 2012 Public Inquiry which was held to determine the fate of Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema.

The McGuffin Film Society is pleased to report that UCKG’s proposals to convert the historic venue for their religious activities have been rejected.

We would like to thank the many hundreds of residents who have supported our campaign to revive the EMD over the last 10 years and helped us keep this issue at the forefront of the local agenda.

Further updates will be posted throughout the day on the McGuffin websitehere.

A complete history of the McGuffin Film Society and the campaign to save the EMD Cinema - with exclusive photos and film footage - can be found here.

Soup Kitchen

Soup kitchen being forced to move.

Soup Kitchen

Training for Young People

New! Training courses aimed at helping young people get into the workforce

Do you know 19-23 year olds who are looking for work? Are they claiming jobseekers allowance? If so, they could qualify for a fantastic range of free training courses.

Groundwork London and the London Community Resource Network have created a brand new partnership to help young people prepare for work with a range of free training courses, ranging from customer services and retail to business administration, sustainable resource management and waste management.

This brand new employment and skills training service is all about motivation and changing lives. It will help young people gain recognised qualifications and build confidence and job prospects. Course participants also receive additional support, encouragement and access to opportunities to help them find work. If you know of individuals that fit the above criteria and could benefit from this support, please contact LCRN at training@lcrn.org.uk.

Wood Street Area Action Plan delayed - again!

The latest from the council about the Wood Street AAP which should have started the public consultation  process last year! Meanwhile large development plans are being submitted and more public money is being squandered on fancy new fencing for Woodside school. The area will have been rebuilt before the AAP is developed!


Hi Adrian,
We intend to publish the Preferred Options document for consultation this summer. Unfortunately this work had to be delayed in order for supporting evidence informing the options for the redevelopment of the identified sites to be completed. As you are registered on our consultation database, you will be sent information about this consultation when the document is published.
Regards

Station Footpath

The footpath between Queens Road Station and Walthamstow Central is expected to open in July. Work appears to be finished at Queens Road Station.

Camp at the WaterWorks

The LVRPA has excelled itself. They are advertising for campers for the old golf course before they have even filled in the holes for the golf balls!

Waterworks

WF Guardian Report

Object to LVRPA plans

Leyton Marsh

It appears Woolwich Common is an even worse mess then Leyton Marshes!

Woolwich Common

Lea Bridge Station reopening

Lea Bridge Station

Crossrail 2

When the battle to use the Lister-Goldsmith plan to build the M11 Link Road (i.e. A12 through Leyton) the land beside the underground track to Leytonstone was safeguarded for the Chelsea - Hackney line. In other words the line would go from Chelsea to Leytonstone.  Hence the current space for an additional track. The Government now want to replace the Chelsea to Hackney line with Crossrail 2.

They are suggesting 2 options, one from Wimbledon to Alexandra Park and the other Epsom to Cheshunt. Neither would go via Leytonstone.

Cross Rail 2

Chelsea- Hackney safeguarding

Bees in Hackney

From: russell <russell@km551818.demon.co.uk>
Date: 20 May 2013 13:18
Subject: FW: Bees in Hackney - 2 talks by Russell
To: treepeople@km551818.demon.co.uk

I'm doing two talks about wild bee species in Hackney.

Follow links for more info.

 

Abney 2 June

http://sustainablehackney.org.uk/events/free-guided-bee-talk-walk

 

Butterfield Green Orchard 23 June

http://sustainablehackney.org.uk/events/free-guided-bee-talk-walk-1

 

Spring tree watering programme to follow.

 

Russell

 

Russell Miller

07758 326530

16 John Campbell Road

London

N16 8JZ

http://treemusketeers.org.uk/

ALL FOR TREES AND TREES FOR ALL

http://www.sustainablehackney.org.uk

EMD Decision delayed

McGuffins

WF Guardian Report

I know I am only a dumb mut but surely the Inspector at the EMD enquiry last November had made his mind up by the time he had received all the evidence i.e. by Christmas. He than had to pass his thoughts in the form of a report to the Secretary of State. His bureaucrats then need to read the report , which can't be that large as there is not much to say on either side, and give a summary to the Minister. The Government view would be to either agree or disagree with the Inspector and a decision announced. So allowing for Christmas and other priorities would 3 months be enough? Oh no the Government decision would take until May so May comes and nearly goes and still no decision is made. Is this because the Secretary of State is being very careful to ensure he has considered everything or has it just slipped down the back of the filing cabinet and got forgotten!!

We are Wood Street

New web site for Wood Street

We are Wood Street

Empty Houses to be identified

Empty Houses

Best Permanent Exhibition Award

Friends of the William Morris Gallery

Congratulations to Lorna Lee and her staff at the William Morris Gallery for winning the BEST PERMANENT EXHIBITION award.

PERMANENT EXHIBITION

WINNER

Pringle Richards Sharratt Architects and GUM Design, William Morris Gallery

HIGHLY COMMENDED

• The Natural History Museum, Treasures
• Event Communications, Titanic Belfast

Lea Bridge Station funded

Lea Bridge Station

Plans for a new railway £6.5 million station in Waltham Forest were unveiled today (15 May 2013) by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.

The new station at Lea Bridge was given the green light alongside 3 other stations in the UK after successfully applying for funding under the New Station Fund.

The fund is part of £37 billion worth of investment spent from 2014 to 2019, which will modernise the railways and provide massive benefits to both passengers and the UK economy.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

        Funding this new station illustrates our commitment to working with community and national partners to meet local transport needs that not only deliver real benefits to passengers but also improves the network.

        This is another example of the government's determination to transform the railways as we continue to push forward with the biggest programme of rail investment ever.

The fund, managed by Network Rail, was announced at the end of January when local authorities, train operating companies and developers were invited to bid for funding towards the construction costs of brand new stations.

The successful bids announced today are:

*       Lea Bridge, London Borough of Waltham Forest, which will receive over £1 million towards a scheme worth in excess of £6.5 million
*       Ilkeston, Derbyshire, which will receive over £4.5 million of DfT funding towards a scheme worth over £6.5 million
*       Newcourt, Devon, where the DfT will pay for around half of the scheme expected to cost in the region of £1.5 million
*       Pye Corner, Newport, which will receive over £2.5 million towards a scheme worth over £3.5 million

Scheme sponsor London Borough of Waltham Forest will now work with Network Rail to finalise the Lea Bridge station plans with the new station planned to open before the end of 2014.


Notes to editors:


Details on each of the stations are as follows:


Lea Bridge


Lea Bridge located on the Lea Valley line between Tottenham Hale and Stratford. The station will consist of 2 platforms, a new footbridge and lifts, station canopy, ticket vending machines, Oyster readers, waiting shelters, help points and cycle storage.

Epping Forest Guided Walk

Epping Forest Walks

Localism ignores local opinion

Civic Voice President, Griff Rhys Jones says localism ignores local opinion

Griff Rhys Jones speaks out on behalf of communities

The importance of community involvement in the planning system was put under the spotlight on 13th May at a debate of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies when MPs and other interested parties gathered at Portcullis House.

Civic Voice President, Griff Rhys Jones said: “With the localism agenda, what the Government is essentially saying is, we want you to get involved, decide what you want locally, but, oh, for the really important decisions we are going to ignore you and do what we want. I am sorry, but that is just not good enough. “

Planning Minister, Nick Boles MP, who also addressed the meeting said “When talking about neighbourhood planning in the early days, maybe a fault of the Government was allowing people to believe they could do what they want, when in reality it has always been about how things will be delivered, not what would be delivered. However, I do genuinely believe that in twenty years’ time, people will look back and say this policy was a real game changer for getting people involved in their local area”.

Laura Sandys MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies said “I was grateful that the Planning Minister and Griff Rhys Jones were able to attend this meeting. I think as a movement we now need to feedback to the Minister our thoughts on how communities can influence the planning system further”.

Civic Voice is calling on all communities to submit ideas on how you think communities can have a greater say in the planning system. Send your ideas to info@civicvoice.org.uk. 

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Civic Voice works to make the places where everyone lives more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive. We speak up for civic societies and local communities across England. We promote civic pride. We are the national charity for the civic movement and have a strong local presence. We believe everyone has the right to live somewhere they can be proud of. We know how people feel about places because we feel the same way. Civic societies are the most numerous participants in the planning system. Since its launch in April 2010 Civic Voice has been joined by 290 civic societies with more than 75,000 members. Further information is available at http://www.civicvoice.org.uk including how to join Civic Voice (£10 individuals) and contact details for local civic societies. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Steve Graham, 07921767650 or steve.graham@civicvoice.org.uk. 

Ian Harvey, 07877096968 or ian.harvey@civicvoice.org.uk

Heritage Help

Heritage Help

Libraries to get £5m

Library investment

You have to wonder how the council can continue to find all this investment for the Borough when we are supposed to be in deep recession! May be the Olympic impact has not worked off yet!

Works starts on the Marsh Lane Bridge

Marsh Lane Recreation Area


Work on the £250,000 Marsh Lane Bridge will commence on 28th May and will last 4 months. Do we really need more disruption to our precious green space?

Food Walks

Food Walks

Threats to the Lower Lea Valley

Dear all,

There is a lot going on in the lower Lea Valley and unfortunately we are facing further development and commercialisation threats to our marshes. We need your help to preserve our marshes as green and open spaces for all to enjoy.

We are currently awaiting the results of a LVRPA feasibility study for a new, larger ice centre to replace the out-dated facility on Lea Bridge Road as well as the outcome of the consultation on plans to use Hackney Marshes as the site for three mega-events every summer. 

Hackney Council originally expressed their intention to apply for commons consent from the planning inspectorate for these events regardless of the results of the online survey. However after an online (and paper) petition by our group  attracted over a thousand signatures against; strong objections from Sports Council England, Hackney Marshes User group and other organisations as well as over 600 respondents to the Council survey, the Council have now said that they will analyse the results of this survey before deciding whether or not to proceed with an application for consent. 

Thank you to all of you who signed the petition, filled in the survey and filed objections to the plans. It is important that people now pressure the Council to release the results of the survey which can be done by Tweeting @hackneyliving or writing to the mayor, Jonathan McShane or Ian Holland from the Council requesting a date for announcing the results.

The LVRPA, despite promising up until 2 weeks ago that the golf course would re-open in Spring 2013, have decided that they wish to convert this Metropolitan Open Land into a private camp site for up to 300 chalets/ tents, entailing the enclosure of this land during the best summer months. To find out more and to object to the proposals, please read thisand keep updated on our website, where we will shortly be adding details of how to object to the planning application for this development. The LVRPA also have plans to extend their commercial livery onto Walthamstow Marshes and we have very real concerns about the further enclosure, commercialisation and implications for horse welfare this may entail so will be updating the website with information on how to object to this planning application to Waltham Forest Council as well.

Please come along to our next meeting, which is open to all, at the Princess of Wales pub this Monday (13th May) at 7.30pm. 

We also have a film and information night at Pogo Cafe on Monday 20th May at 7.30pm, when we will be screening films from the Leyton Marsh struggle and talks about our ongoing campaign. The night is completely free. It would be wonderful to see you there!

Best Wishes,
Save Lea Marshes group.

Words over Waltham Forest

Festival of words coming in the autumn

Words over Waltham Forest

Golf course to change to camp site

Waterworks


Objection to Planning Application: 2013/0550/ADV
Address: The Waterworks Nature Reserve & Golf Course Lammas Road
Leyton E10 7QT
Change of use
1. Land use change and setting a permanent precedent.
The core land use planning issue at the heart of this Application is the proposed change of use of
open recreational land in order to provide enclosed private visitor accommodation facilities.
 Whilst the use may (or may not) operate seasonally, and may alternate between the three
‘sites’, the change of use is permanent; as visitor accommodation is the principal and
predominant use proposed.
 The pony trekking route does not require planning permission and, in any case, this is not an
application to establish a bridleway, which might offer some guarantee of public access and
openness.
 The Application should be judged on the basis of the almost total loss of open recreational
land and the provision of private visitor accommodation across the entire site. Considered in
this light, the scheme is clearly excessive and unbalanced.
 Whatever the arguments in favour of visitor accommodation, they surely cannot justify the
almost total exclusion of all other park related facilities and amenities on these sites;
including open parkland.
 The Application subdivides a coherent area of open land into a series of sites with distinct
boundaries for which separate application may be brought forward in the future.
 Regarding the normal 28 day period for temporary uses: There is some confusion over this
subject, partly because, the Olympic camp exceeded twenty-eight days. The Camping and
Caravanning Clubs claim certain exemptions, but this is not crystal clear in law or guidance.
The next effect is that this Application allows the Park Authority to further exploit grey areas
in policy and guidance and to extend the period of operation and extend the area of the
camp without the need for further applications.
Environmental impacts
2. Landscape quality
The Park Development Framework calls for major improvements to landscape quality as a
whole, ‘especially to the south of Lea Bridge Road and adjacent to the industrial areas along the
eastern edge of the area’ in order to ‘better integrate these areas into the wider valley
landscape’. This policy applies specifically to the application site.
 The proposals remove the open character of the landscape, to be replaced with an
enclosed private camping facility across almost the entire site.  There are no other proposals for landscape quality improvements associated with the
application and no indication that any surplus will be invested in landscape improvements.
 The overall effect will be a material diminution in the overall quality of the landscape,
completely conflicting with the Park Framework.
 The Framework states a number of tests to be met, which the proposed development fails:
o Impact on Metropolitan Open Land;
o The openness of the Park;
o Ecological value; and
o The need to enhance landscape quality and views through to the rest of the Park.
3. Views
The Park Framework aims to: ‘Maintain and improve views to and out from and across the
Marshes’.
 The proposals will enclose the open land with fencing and views across the Waterworks,
the River and the Marshes with be blocked by fences, toilet blocks motor homes and large
tents.
4. Habitat
The Park Frameworks states the Authority will: ‘Work with the Environment Agency to protect,
enhance and manage the River Lee Navigation and River Lea and associated waterside
environment along the western boundary of this area as wildlife corridors interconnected with
the wider ecological resource on Walthamstow Marshes and Middlesex Filter Beds. Support the
naturalisation of bank habitats along the Navigation including fish refuges, the installation of
fish and eel passes and improved conditions for public access.’
 There are no proposals to do so in this Application, which relates to a key site for the
realization of this policy.
The Park Framework seeks to: ‘Establish new habitat margins along the southern and western
boundaries of the Thames Water Depot to complement the ecology of the waterways and
reinforce connections between Essex and Middlesex Filter Beds.’
 The proposals provide no such habitat margins and any improvements on adjacent sites will
be diminished by the ‘broken link’ of the Waterworks.
5. River Lea Corridor
The Park Development Framework states: ‘Landscape improvements should support and be
sensitive to the biodiversity of key sites and heritage assets and aim to strengthen the river valley
corridor and its associated waterways, maintaining and creating views out, to and from the
valley.’
 Fences, toilet blocks, camper vans and large tents will block views across open meadows and
Marshes. The proposals will weaken the river corridor by bringing development close to the edge,
enclosing the riverbank corridor in one of the very few areas where there is undeveloped
land with an open character on both sides of the Natural River Lea.
 The proposed development represent an erosion of the principles set out in the Park
Framework and, by degree, will restrain the ability of planning authorities to apply these
principles to other private riverside sites, such as the Lea Bridge Thames Water site.
Visitor accommodation planning
6. Visitor accommodation
The Framework considers a range of visitor accommodation options including ‘youth hostel style
facilities, pods and/or chalets to develop the site as a visitor base’ to encourage young people
and families to visit and complement visits to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the wider
Regional Park.
 The Park Development Framework proposes the provision of visitor accommodation ‘as part
of’ the enhanced visitor offer at the Waterworks Centre’. This certainly does not indicate
that the entire golf area should be enclosed and dedicated to a private camping facility.
The Framework also states that: ‘Proposals for visitor accommodation would need to satisfy the
requirements of the sites designation as Metropolitan Open Land, and be of a scale and design
appropriate to the open character, ecological value and landscape quality of the Park’.
 The proposals materially diminish the open character and landscape quality.
The Framework does envisage some visitor accommodation on the Waterworks site (including
the northern part of the No.2 Essex Beds). It does not:
o promote or specifically encourage campsites;
o direct that visitor accommodation facilities should be solely located on the
Waterworks, or that the use should occupy almost the entire site;
o encourage the loss of open recreation facilities in favour of private visitor
accommodation.
 The Framework does, in fact, direct that the provision of accommodation should be
provided to support the facilities at the Waterworks, not result in their loss.
7. Alternative sites
The Framework promotes visitor accommodation on a number of sites in the area and across
the Park including:
o Essex Wharf
o Eastwood Wharf
o Thames Water Depot
 These are private sites, not currently open to the public. They do not currently nor are they
planned to provide open recreation land. They are therefore more suitable for visitor
accommodation provision and should be considered first in any sequential test.Only when
these options are exhausted should the permanent loss of open recreational land be considered. The options have not been exhausted and the potential for these and other
private sites to provide visitor accommodation is significant.
 It does not make sense for the Authority to exhaust it own reserves of open recreational
land whilst relieving the burden of mixed-use, park related development facilities on private
sites, as the Authority clearly failed to do at Essex Wharf.
 The Park Authority claims camping generates a surplus. There is therefore no market failure
that would justify public intervention. The provision of these facilities should therefore be
left to the private sector and provided on private land.
Impact on access sport, recreation and other activities at
Lea Bridge
8. Learning and volunteering
The Park Framework states that the Waterworks is to be developed and promoted as the area’s
base for learning and volunteer related activity.
 This policy will not be realised by providing visitor accommodation for pop festivals.
 The events at the Olympic Park that Authority representatives claim are related to the
Waterworks proposals do not include learning and volunteer related activity.
9. Accommodating events at the Waterworks
The Park Framework aims is to: ‘Enhance the capacity of the existing facilities at the Waterworks
Centre, Riding Centre and Ice Centre to accommodate events, formal and informal learning and
arts related activities.’
 The proposals result in the loss of the areas on which such events can take place, reducing
and removing capacity, and conflicting with the Framework.
10. Sport and recreation facilities at the Riding Centre
The Framework proposes to enhance the range of existing sport and recreation facilities
provided at the Riding Centre. This will include at the Riding Centre – ‘increased use of outdoor
areas for schooling and exercise and an expanded activities programme’.
 The proposed private livery stables erode the land available and reduce the overall
capacity of the Riding Centre site to provide enhanced sport and recreation facilities for all.
 The private liver stable facilities at the Riding Centre are to increase whilst the public,
community and educational riding activities are displaced to a sub-optimal site south of Lea
Bridge Road with limited facilities.
11. Sport and recreation facilities at the Waterworks
The Park Framework proposes to enhance the range of existing sport and recreation facilities
provided at the Waterworks Centre to include the development of playable space and play
provision at the Waterworks Centre. No such proposals are included in the application whilst opportunities for informal play and
recreation are substantially reduced.
 The proposals result in a net loss of visitor facilities.
12.New leisure and recreation facilities within the Lea Bridge Road ‘visitor node’
The Framework proposes to develop new leisure and recreation facilities within the Lea Bridge
Road ‘visitor node’, including on land adjoining the Waterworks Centre.
The Framework also proposes other potential sites for such development include the Thames
Water Depot (see inset 2.A.6 .1), re-use of existing buildings at Connaught Close and
redevelopment of existing industrial land along the eastern edge of the Park.
 Surely these sites should be considered first before existing recreation facilities in the area
are lost to camping?
 If the Authority’s proposals for the Waterworks are approved, how can we then turn to
Thames Water and say do as we say, not as we do?
13.Waterways and recreation
The Park Framework seeks to: ‘Ensure opportunities for informal recreational activity are
available throughout the area, particularly on Leyton Marsh and alongside the waterways.’
 The proposals remove formal recreation activities (golf) and limit informal recreation, such
as walking along the open banks of the Lea.
 The provision of a pony trekking circuit, limited to the margins of only one of the three sites;
with only one shed provided; detached from the stables and facilities on the north side of
the Lea Bridge Road, is hardly a serious attempt to compensate for this loss.
Major events, the Olympic Park and Hackney Marsh
14.Olympic Park continues to benefit at local Lea Bridge costs
The proposals will result in a permanent net loss of amenities, facilities and future capacity at
Lea Bridge. This is in order to serve the Olympic Park, whose qualities and amenities are
protected at the loss of those at Lea Bridge. This is inequitable, particularly because the creation
of the park was partly dependent on the temporary and permanent loss open spaces in the Lea
Bridge area:
o Leyton Marsh (temporary closure, permanent harm)
o Marsh Lane Fields (temporary closure for allotments, now permanent)
o East Marsh (temporary loss, still to be re-opened
o Etc.
 The relegation and dismissal of local community priorities and needs in favour of the
provision of amenities intended to favour and serve a region should not be permitted
wholesale.  LBWF is the local planning authority. It is not necessarily bound to favour a strategic or
regional view, and it should ensure at least ensure that a balanced approach is taken. This
scheme strikes no such balance and Park Authority officers clearly state that it does not
consider local community interests. This does not represent the ‘good planning of the area’
and is a clear reason for refusal.
 The Park Authority defines impacts and benefits only on a regional scale. It should be
remembered that a regions is a collection of many communities and the impact of the
proposal upon this community is therefore of material concern in any process of regional
planning.
 The ultimate test should be; ‘ will refusal of this campsite application materially harm plans
to hold public events at the Olympic Park’. If it doesn’t, then the permanent loss of open
recreation land and facilities at Lea Bridge is unjustified.
 The Olympic Park is modest in scale an represents only a like for like compensation for
existing open spaces and MOL given up to facilitate the temporary Olympic events.
 Notwithstanding this, it continues to be the tail that wags the dog of the wider interests of
the Park. It has a distorting effect, with negative impacts increasingly northwards up the
Valley in order to safeguard the park for private events and the amenity of Olympic
residential and commercial neighbourhood.
 It should be remembered that the Olympic Park is subject to a Development Corporation
that is its own planning authority and regeneration powers and considerable funding. LBWF
should not act to assist in the realisation of that authority’s aims, at the expense of the good
planning of LBWF plan area.
15.Hackney Marsh Events
LVRPA officers claim their proposals are unrelated in any way to the Hackney Marsh megaevents proposals.
 This is surely disingenuous. The proposed camping will benefit hugely from any event on
Hackney Marsh which is likely to result, on police advice, to the full closure of a great swathe
of this part of east London from Lea Bridge to the Olympic Park and from Orient Way to the
Navigation. These effects should be considered as a whole and authorities should to be
permitted to progress individual pieces of a larger co-ordinated commercial plan.
Park planning
16.Ad hoc temporary development is not good planning.Nor is creeping intensification
Park Authority Officers state the campsite will only operate for two years and state they cannot
clarify future plans beyond that.
 This should firstly point to a justification only for temporary two-year permission.
 More widely, this highlights the fact that planning for the park and it facilities is ad hoc and
pro tem. Is this a sound basis for LBWF to allow the precedent of the loss of open
recreational land and what may lead to a permanent enclosure and creeping intensification? Should more be expected of a regional body and a plan making authority such as LVRPA than
this?
 Creeping net loss of open recreational land is in conflict with the founding aims of the Park,
which sought to safeguarded and extend the open character of the land, the defining quality
of any Park. If it cannot do this with its own open land, how can it succeed in its aim to guide
private land owners and developers to provide open recreation and public space?
Funding and viability
17. Funding and viability
In light of the many conflicts with policy, it is important to consider what benefits might arise
from the proposals. Authority officers claim a £60,000 surplus from the Olympic campsite (a very
different proposition from the one now proposed with a different operator).
 Future profits, if any, will not be channelled into the Lea Bridge area and may not result in
any direct proportionate investment elsewhere.
 The Authority claims that golfing is not profitable and can give no undertaking that the
facility at Edmonton will also close soon.
 Pony trekking is also not profitable, neither is parkland, the waterworks nature reserve, the
river Lea, Hackney Marshes football pitches etc. What will be the future for these facilities
and why has golf been picked for closure?
18. Profit
 The Park Authority increasingly plans to close valued public facilities that do not return a
profit, and replace these with private profit making facilities.
 Such a plan should be published and consulted upon. The community (whether local,
London or sub regional) deserve to know what may need to be given up for what gain and
what are the limits of these closures and the extent of commercialisation and privatisation.
 There is no Park Framework or LBWF planning policy that states cross subsidy and enabling
development should be permitted at the cost of facilities, in order to limit the withdraw of
community facilities and amenities. This is a race to the bottom – allow commercialisation
and privatisation or we will withdraw and close even more community facilities and close
more open spaces.
 This can only work if there is an overall net increase in benefits and contributions to the
good planning of the area, and the benefits and costs are distributed equitably.
19. Livery stables – creeping commercialisation with no clear cross-subsidy and no clear
limit on privatisation of public facilities
 There seems to be a creeping displacement of community horse-riding facilities from the
stables to north of Lea Bridge Road in order to provide capacity (not just stabling) for private
livery. If there is a cross –subsidy argument in favour of this development, it cannot be at the
expense of the community access to riding, pushed to a peripheral site with minimal facilities and displacing other valued community recreation facilities. In any case, no direct
cross subsidy appears to be offered, just banking into the Parks funds.
Access
20. Footpaths- new routes
The Park Framework proposes ‘enhancement and maintenance of a network of all weather
shared use paths between visitor facilities, open spaces, and the strategic routes; the Lee Valley
Pathway and Lea Valley Walk along the towpath, to provide access for all abilities and users.’
 The proposals include no such enhancements.
 The proposed fence enclosures, close up to the boundaries of the few public footpaths
across the site, with materially harm the quality of these routes. They will be converted from
pleasant routes through open land to narrow corridors with high fencing on either side. This
clearly conflicts with the Park Framework.
The Framework also states the Authority will: ‘Work with the London Boroughs of Hackney and
Waltham Forest to promote connections from the Park to local open spaces, to existing route
networks and communities adjoining the Park.’
 The proposals do not provide additional routes and cut off future options for routes along
the river, to the south beside the railway, and across the River Lea to Hackney Marsh.
21.Horse trails/ bridleways
The Framework seeks: ‘Protection of routes used by horse riders and an exploration of the
options to extend these south onto Hackney Marsh and through to Olympic Park in association
with the operation of the Lee Valley Riding Centre.’
 The proposed pony trekking circuit is an incoherent proposal, which seem to be an
afterthought, or perhaps an overflow facility from the stables to the north, possibly
displaced by the growing needs of private livery stables there.
 Park Authority officers state that horses will be led across the Lea Bridge Road at peak hour
and then through to the south alongside walkers, cyclists, tents and camp site vehicles. This
seems to be a highly unsatisfactory arrangement with safety and traffic implications.
 The proposals contain no plans to extend routes southward.
On Hackney Marsh, the Framework sees to maintain strategic routes; Lea Valley Walk and the
Lee Valley Pathway and to: ‘Explore with the London Borough of Hackney and other stakeholders
the options for a horse riding route, clearly demarcated, onto Hackney Marsh and through to
Olympic Park in association with the operation of the Lee Valley Riding Centre.’
 The proposals contain no such plans.
The Framework proposes enhancing and creating new crossing points as key features of the
‘Park road’ to ensure priority is given to park visitors. New pedestrian crossings should provide
safe access directly to Park facilities and visitor nodes such as the Waterworks centre.’ No such proposals are brought forward whilst the intensification of the use of the site will
lead to more car movements and greater congestion at the junction of Lammas Road with
Lea Bridge Road.
 Crossing the road at this point, where there are no crossings, is highly dangerous with
vehicular accesses on either side and a ‘ghost island’ often driven over at speed by queue
jumping traffic traveling eastward.
22. Lea Bridge Road
 Clustering increasingly intense leisure activities and uses along the Lea Bridge Road,
combined with commercial development such as Essex Wharf, is leading to increased
pressure for more capacity along the Road which may inexorably lead to main road widening
and side-junction throat widening.
 Clustering road and parking dependent uses and activities along a constrained arterial road
is a recipe for the Lea Bridge Road to become a widening slash across the park and a greater
barrier to north south movement.
 Combined with the infilling of the sites lining the road, this is inexorably leading to a
throttling of the valley into two halves, north and south of the road.
 The Park Authority as a plan making body, should be set against contributing to or
permitting this effect, as the Park Framework requires, not the first to set this undesirable
precedent and the agent of such demonstrable harm.
Consultation and engagement
23. Engagement –Golfing Community
The Framework states engagement with a wide range of organisations, user groups and
community groups is fundamental to the successful management and development of the Park.
 There has been a failure to engage with the golfing community and the Authority has in fact
acted in way, whether intentionally or not, to mislead and divert golfers and silence their
voice.
 The temporary Olympic Camp site was promoted on the basis that the Golf centre would reopen after the games. It did not.
 Until recently, an April re-opening date was given. Authority Officers simply explain that this
was a change of mind, with no reasons why the undertaking was given in the first place and
then withdrawn, and with no apology.
 Until a week ago, signs inside the Waterworks and staff stated that the golf course was
closed ‘for the foreseeable future’. This changed a week ago to ‘will not be re-opening’.
 In the mean time, all signage on the Lea Bridge Road remains in place, so that few are aware
the centre is closed and is planned for redevelopment. Is this to damp down opposition from
golfers?
 Golfers are being redirected to Edmonton, which is ‘only six miles away’.  It is clear that a proper survey of the needs and interests of the golfing community should
be undertaken before this application is determined. No such survey has been submitted,
whilst the Authority self-interested makes claims about low demand.
24. Engagement - local community
The Framework states that engagement with a wide range of organisations, user groups and
community groups is fundamental to the successful management and development of the Park.

Planning Application - 2013/0410

Site Address Lee Valley Riding Centre & Grazing Land 71 Lea Bridge Road Leyton E10 

This is a formal objection to this planning application. I walk past this site on a regular basis and would like to use this land since it is part of LVRPA and MOL.

LVRPA illicitly used this public open space for business purposes (livery) for many years without the benefits of planning permission.

In August 2009 LBWF imposed strict conditions on the expansion of this commercial use, instructing LVRPA to only use about a third of the additional stables it was seeking permission to build, for commercial purposes (livery).

191.Application 2009/0244 Lea Valley Riding Centre, 71 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton E10 PDF 28 KB Minutes: Subject to the addition of the condition set out below, planning permission granted for Application 2009/0244 in line with the recommendations set out in the main report for the erection of a stable block and spectator viewing galleries at the Lea Valley Riding Centre in Lea Bridge Road E10. Additional Condition 3. No more than seven out of the nineteen stables hereby approved shall be used for livery with the remaining to be used for the stabling of horses directly related to the operation of the riding school, unless otherwise agreed by the Local Planning Authority. Reason 3. In the interests of retaining an appropriate balance and mix of stabling for the benefit of a range of users and to comply with polices ENV4, ENV5 and ENV13 of the adopted Unitary Development Plan (2006).

This application is an attempt by LVRPA to drive a coach and horses (an unusually apt metaphor) through the conditions imposed by LBWF on LVRPA in 2009.

The riding centre is increasingly becoming a gated community for the horsey community. This is not an appropriate use for MOL. It is certainly not an appropriate use for public park land.

It is also clear that LVRPA is using planning by stealth. It developed a clear plan several years ago, but realising that it could not possibly get permission for such a radical change to public open space, it has been using the strategy of incremental development, hoping that smaller developments will be given the benefit of the doubt.

It is equally clear that if this application is given the go ahead, it will not be the last, since there is a final corner of the oblong of stables to be completed.

This application should be dismissed because of the intensification, private stables imply horse moving vehicles etc. etc., apart from the sheer bulk of the development (unique in scale on Lea Marshes). It should be rejected because it is completely contrary to the spirit of MOL to run a business on public park land. 

Jonathan Brind

519 Lea Bridge Road,

London E10 7EB
+44 7914976706

Five notices have gone up on Leyton Marsh.  They are dated 12th May 2013 (which means that the final consultation date is now officially pushed back to the 2nd June) and relate to the GOLF COURSE CAMPSITE application (2103/0505) only.

The Case Officer dealing with his is Stanley Lau, and he is busy with the Walthamstow Stadium major application at the moment, so has not yet even started drafting a Report or discussing possible officer recommendations about the Golf Course.

I put five notices up myself, on Mr Lau's behalf, on Sunday afternoon and they are situated at the following locations:

1) The finger-post signpost on the Leyton Marshes side of the Friends' Bridge - the very heavily-used route over the Old River Lea across to Hackney Marshes;

2) The finger-post signpost on Sandy Lane, on the Leyton Marshes side of the King's Head Bridge - the very heavily-used route across to Clapton Riverside and Millfields;'

3) The finger-post signpost on the (very heavily used) former aqueduct Sustrans bridleway path, where it crosses the route from the diverted Black Path between the Riding Centre and the ramp down to Porter's Field;

4) On the Environment Agency railings by the gate through which the Right of Way across the Golf Course (saved by Daniel Binns's dad!) passes, near the entrance to the EFB Nature Reserve (EFB 2/3).

5) Around a tree at the bottom of the railway footbridge over the Leyton sidings, on the western (Golf Course) side, where the old and new footpaths meet.

It is nice to know that someone saw the notice so quickly!  I bet hardly any marsh users have seen the ones put up on the 1st May, though - they were all along Lea Bridge Road near Rigg Approach, on Lammas Road (that one at least I have seen!) and the road entrance from the Riding Centre. 

Concerning the Riding Centre, can I please clarify my earlier email - further site notices regarding the stables application (2013/0410) were put up, dated the 1st May, so the deadline for comments and objections to that one is now Wednesday the 22nd May.  Case Officer is John Harrison, and as he only works two days per week it is a fairly safe bet that he will be presenting the application for consideration of approval under delegated powers on the following day, Thursday 23rd, having written most of the necessary material the previous week, ie this week.  So although the official deadline is the 22nd, the actual deadline is this Wednesday, to be certain of being effective.

Incidentally, whilst doing my Community Service for LBWF, I noticed that the original Riding Centre Application site notice, one of only two put up at first (the other is at the bus-stop on Lea Bridge Road that is only used by workers at the local industrial estates), is tied to the fence on the OTHER side of the gate from the side that pedestrians walk through; so car-drivers will probably not even see it, and pedestrians and cyclists will not see it either as they will obviously be on the other side of the entrance driveway to go through the gate that avoids the cattle grid!

Duh!

Katy.