Borough of Culture launch

MEDIA CALL NOTICE – SAVE THE DATE

Welcome to the Forest, Opening Night of Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture

Friday 11 January 2019

Media arrive for 5.30PM for a 6PM start

Registration point: One Hoe Street, 1 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London E17 4SDt

Closest Station: Walthamstow Central Tube Station (approx. 12-minute walk)

Please RSVP to Abbie Jessup at The Corner Shop PR 
Abigail@thecornershoppr.com| 020 7831 7657

On Friday 11 January 2019, the Mayor’s first-ever London Borough of Culture kicks off with Welcome to the Forest - a three-day celebration of the shared past, present and future of our corner of North East London that so many people have chosen to call home.

A spectacular light projection will illuminate Waltham Forest Town Hall, created in a unique collaboration between musician and producer Talvin Singh OBE and video artists Greenaway & Greenaway, made with the involvement of over 1,000 residents and young people from across the borough. The Town Hall will also be the canvas for a new commission from world-renowned artists Addictive TV who have created a soundtrack of the borough from the recording of and video remixing of Waltham Forest’s rich and diverse musical talent.

Forest Road will be transformed into a neon-lit, celebratory winter carnival by locally based international festival curators Continental Drifts, featuring groups and individuals drawn from the borough and beyond.

A massive kinetic light sculpture will be installed in Lloyd Park. ‘Nest’, the collaboration between artists Marshmallow Laser Feast and composer Erland Cooper will transform the familiar into the fantastical, with a choreographed light display of epic proportions set to a soundtrack inspired by the woodland, featuring the voices of 1100 school children and choirs.

International in scale and ambition, but telling the local stories of this place, it's time to say to the world "welcome to the forest".

Media wishing to attend must RSVP by 2 January 2019. Further information regarding access and vantage points will be provided closer to the time.

Abigail Jessup

Press Assistant

Town Hall Campus Development

TOWN HALL CAMPUS

The Cabinet will be discussing their plans to redevelop the Town Hall Campus which includes the Magistrates, Town Hall and Assembly Hall. They expect work to start in 2020. That is at the very least optimistic as Brexit is likely exacerbate the skills shortage and put up costs. A lot of equipment will be needed for this site and the 3 in the Town Centre. To "avoid " traffic disruption all construction traffic will be routed from the North Circular via Chingford Road - don't look for a quiet drink in the Bell!!

The total cost of the scheme (if I have read the Cabinet paper correctly!) is £65m. 585 flats will be created. The Town Hall will have a makeover whose costs have already risen from £13.5m to £16.5m.

To get 50% affordable housing and additional £5.3m has to be found from somewhere!

Planning Updates 11-12-18

 TOWN CENTRE

The planning officer who has been dealing with the Town Centre development has taken up a new job at the LB of Sutton.

JUNIPER HOUSE

The ex Poll Tax offices in Hoe Street are to be demolished and 91 new flats provided in a tower block, height unspecified, but if you count the floors in the picture it is 17 storeys. WFN says a planning application has been submitted but it will be some weeks before the planners will get it registered, or else it will be fastracked and clash with Christmas so everyone forgets to put in their objections within the 21 days! Either way we don't have access to the facts!!

Access will only be via First Avenue which is a narrow residential street and on the other side of the railway access to the Central House development is also via narrow residential streets like Stainforth Road and St Marys Road. Tell your friends not to move into this area for the next few years!!

A key objection will be how they think the road network will cope with the construction traffic to the Mall, Central House, Juniper House and the Town Hall Campus all scheduled to start in 2020. Mind you commercial companies know Brexit will damage their plans and the lack of skilled builders will also play a part!

BLACKHORSE POINT 182917

The Planning Committee on the 4th December 2018  approved the closure and redevelopment of the Blackhorse Road Car Park. The development will be 5 to 21 storeys and contain 350 flats.




CRATE - St James Street E17 7PJ by Tesco  - 183259

They also approved 15 large containers 2 storey high which will comprise workshops on the redundant car park.



and

8/9/10 Church End - Welcome Centre, St Mary's Church  - 180314

To fund the refurbishment of St Mary's 11 flats will be constructed by demolishing the existing houses and redeveloping the Welcome Centre.

Festive Sing a Long this Sunday in Lloyd Park

Come and join the battle to save the Town Square trees

Dear Save Our Square supporter,  Saturday 15th December, 1pm onwards: 1) The Tree decorating event down at the trees. Please see the attached flyer and circulate amongst your friends and family. We are encouraging people to just stop by and celebrate the trees in this Christmas month. These trees are critical to the development in the square and another year they are still standing is a victory for them and us.  Can you drop off a donation of (bought or home made) mince pies to our stall on the day? If you can drop off some mince pies can you let us know asap. Can you spare half an hour on the 15th to help us on the stall? Upcoming event Saturday 26th January - PUBLIC MEETING 2) A flyer for a public meeting which will be taking place.  We have invited a Sheffield tree campaigner who will explain how they organised and what we have to consider in our campaign.  What you can do: Involve every group, everyone – please share the posts on the Facebook page and cascade all the info here to friends, family, neighbours, workmates, vague acquaintances, etc! To donate to our Fighting Fund please go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/saveoursquare Please follow us @SaveSquareE17

Save Our Square campaign resources and links

Social media links Please follow us on twitter with @SaveSquareE17 and on Facebook