While local labour group are claiming to support a reduction in carbon emissions, their Government is sailing in opposite direction.

Last Wednesday, Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes MP secured a debate in the Parliament on climate change. The purpose of the debate was to call on the Government to sign up to 10-10 campaign and commit to a 10% reduction in carbon emissions by the end of 2010.

AND GUESS WHAT?                           

The Government defeated the motion by 297  to 226 votes.

Harry Cohan MP voted against the motion.

Neil Gerrard MP voted for it.

SO MUCH FOR LABOUR SUPPORTING THE CLIMATE CHANGE

Leyton and Wanstead Parliamentary candidate, Cllr Farooq Qureshi presented a motion to the full council against the increase in aircraft noise pollution over Leyton and Wanstead, which was accepted unanimously.

After the proposed amendments, the contents of the motion are:

This Council recognises residents concerns over the expansion of London City and Heathrow Airports, and believes that the increased number of flights using these airports and the associated noise nuisance and environmental impact is detrimental to Waltham Forest residents. This council welcomes steps already taken by the Leader of the council requesting:

• That the officers respond to the current BAA Heathrow consultation programme Noise Action Plan.
• The Noise Level Assessment Team investigate whether any residents are entitled to the London City Airport(LCA) sound insulation grant scheme.
• That Waltham Forest Council be able to join the LCA consultation committee which at the moment is only open to Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets.
• An all party working group be set up so that all parties can come together to tackle this issue.

 Therefore this council requests that the Chief Executive:

Carries out an immediate investigation into the consultation process undertaken in respect of the expansion of London City airport and the flight path changes by the Civil Aviation Authority, the London Borough of Newham or any other party. This investigation will include consideration of:

• Whether or not Waltham Forest council was consulted and if it was, what response was provided by Waltham Forest council and, if no response was provided, why not.

Upon the completion of this investigation, this council requests that the Chief Executive takes appropriate action which should include:

• Writing to the Mayor of Newham, condemning the decision to allow further expansion of London City airport and stressing the negative impact this decision has had on residents of Waltham forest.
• Writing to Mayor of London, condemning plans for a new four runway airport in the Thames Estuary and asking why he supported the expansion of London City airport and what consideration was given to the detrimental impact of the expansion on residents of Waltham forest.
• Writing to the Civil Aviation Authority and NATS to ask what action they took to consult residents of Waltham Faorest on the changes to flight paths and London City expansion.
• Seeking an investigation by the EU commissioner into the expansion of London City Airport and the impact it has had on residents of Waltham Forest and East London.
• Considering the merits of legal action in relation to the expansion of LCA and/or flight path changes.
• Signing up to the 10:10 campaign which aims to tackle climate change by cutting carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. 

This council requests that the Chief Executive reports his findings back to councillors at the earliest opportunity.”

Cllr F Qureshi said: We accepted the Labour amendments because we welcome the cross party consensus on this very important issue. We need to unite and fight against this attack on the environment and the quality of life of our residents.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TO ALL THOSE CELEBRATING DIWALI

We wish you a very happy festival of lights and a prosperous new year.

Your local Focus Team held a street advice surgery in Francis Road on Saturday afternoon. A large number of residents signed our pettion for more Police officers on our streets.

For future street advice surgeries, please watch this space.

Cllr Farooq Qureshi, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Leyton and wanstead is fighting to make Leyton underground station disabled friendly and ease congestion during peak hours.

Please visit:                 www.walthamstow.today.co.uk 

Leyton & Wanstead Liberal Democrats Focus Teams have started a series of street advice surgeries across the constituency.

First street advice surgery was held last Saturday, outside WFD on High Road Leyton. Residents signed our petition, calling for more Police officers on our streets.

Next advice surgery will be held out the parade of shops on Francis Road in Leyton, between 2PM to 4PM. If you have any issues you need to discuss or any problem that you need help with, then please come and visit us.

For further dates and venues, please watch this space.  

                                                                                                                                                                        The Lib Dem’s public meeting about the increase in flights over our homes was a huge success.

Cllr Farooq Qureshi, the Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidate for Leyton & Wanstead spoke to a packed meeting where it was explained that due to the change in flight paths from Heathrow and the expansion of London City Airport (LCA), there are now more planes flying over our area, causing more noise and more pollution.

Cllr Qureshi said “we’ll join the local campaign groups and other interested parties to fight against this attack on our quality of life”.

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Caroline Pigeon London Assembly Member and Representatives from FTF and HACAN also spoke at the meeting. Baroness Sarah Ludford and Caroline Pigeon pledged their support for the local groups in their campaign against the expansion of LCA.

As previously reported by the Focus teams across Leyton & Wanstead, the Waltham Forest council failed to respond to the consultation on the expansion master plan and subsequently Newham council granted permission for the expansion without consulting Waltham Forest or Redbridge.

Cllr Qureshi has written to the Cabinet Member for investment and enterprise asking for an explanation about the failure of Waltham Forest council to respond to the original consultation.

We, the Liberal Democrats, took the lead in this campaign against the fights increase and arranged the public meeting which was widely publicised. The meeting was attended by a large number of Lib Dem councillors and activists from Waltham forest and Redbridge. Only two Conservative councillors from Waltham Forest attended but sadly there was no sign of any Labour councillor from either Waltham Forest or Redbridge.

Now it seems that the Labour councillors have also heard the aircraft noise and want to jump on the band wagon.

It would also be good to know if the Conservatives are all on board with us or not? Because, one of the Conservative councillors who attended, circulated an email prior to the meeting stating “The flight noise mostly comes from Heathrow”, whilst his colleague at the meeting seems to agree with us.

We say: “we welcome the idea of a cross party consensus on this very important issue. Lets get together and fight for the rights of the residents of Leyton & Wanstead.”

At the meeting with Transport For London (TFL) Liberal Democrats Parliamentary candidate for Leyton & Wanstead, Cllr Farooq Qureshi and Cllr Keith Rayner discussed the peak time congestion at Leyton tube station. Similar concerns were raised by the residents in Leyton & Whipps Cross community council meeting.

Our inquiries in the matter have revealed that:

In November 2008, The Transport Liaison group of London Borough of Waltham Forest visited Leyton underground station. This visit was arranged by London underground’s (LU) Liaison Manager. The visit looked at crowding issues at the station and the possibility of opening the secondary staircase on the east bound platform. It also considered the role of the station during 2012 Olympics. The London underground’s response was:

The staircase is opened only when LU anticipate large numbers exiting the station, such as during certain football games, and again only when there is supervision by additional staff (very often by British Transport Police Officers). On these occasions, the large volumes of passengers (sometimes up-to 5000 in an hour) justifies the need to open an additional entrance and extra resources to manage it.

However, the occasional need to use this staircase is not sufficient to warrant bringing it into daily operation. The staircase is open to the elements and substantial work would be required to enable it for everyday use. This would include overhead protection, CCTV, lighting, public address system and other customer safety provisions. There are also no oyster readers installed at this secondary staircase. This would mean that customers with oyster pay as you go cards would not be able to complete their journeys and could be charged an exes fare.

While LU recognise that there has been an increase in customers using Leyton over the past several years, station management is confident that there are no safety issues with the current customer flow conditions. The available capacity allows the safe movement of the current volume of customers through the platforms and station. There have been no accidents reported at Leyton, related to over crowding.

The role of Leyton station during Olympics was also discussed. As part of the ODA’s transport strategy for the Olympic park, three stations have been identified as ’Olympic Park Gateway Stations’. They are: Stratford Regional station, Stratford International station and West Ham station. Leyton station was reviewed as part of the transport plan, however these other stations were preferred because of a verity of strategic reasons.

The Liberal Democrats Parliamentary candidate for Leyton & Wanstead, Cllr Farooq Qureshi says:

I have my reservations about this response. Lu and the ODA need to re-think their strategy and consider the possibility of including Leyton tube station in their list of ‘Olympic Park Gateway Stations’. I also call upon the LU to improve the access for disabled passengers which is non existent at Leyton underground station.

Liberal Democrat councillor and Parliamentary candidate for Leyton & Wanstead Farooq Qureshi accompanied by Cllr Keith Rayner held a meeting with representatives from Transport for London (TFL) to discuss how they are working with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) to secure transport improvements for the area in the build up to the 2012 Olympic games.

A number of issues regarding transport infrastructure were discussed. The Lib Dem councillors were positive about the meeting and the awareness from TFL of customer concerns.

Historically at the top of the local transport agenda, The Hall Farm Curve rail link was discussed. Despite the confirmation that the restoration of the service was not part of the immediate plans, TFL representatives said that, as a service partner for the Olympics, it would be prepared to work with the ODA if the 2012 body wanted to investigate the Hall Farm Curve as part of the Olympic infrastructure. But, for this to materialise,the local council has to make a convincing case.

Other issues discussed included:

• Easing of “exit” congestion at Leyton and Leytonstone underground stations by opening up additional exits in peak periods.
• Improved accessibility for disabled passengers at Leyton Tube Station.
• The need for better and more frequent bus routes for both Leyton and Leytonstone High Roads, including improved connections with the rest of the borough and improved services to and from Stratford.
• The refurbishment of Leyton Midland and Leytonstone High Road Stations on the Barking and Gospel Oak lines, including better lighting and platform information systems.

After the meeting Cllr Qureshi said:  “I am very pleased that TFL were prepared to listen to residents concerns about our local transport infrastructure and what benefits 2012 could provide for local transport links. Good and easily accessible transport is vital for a sustainable economy in Leyton and Wanstead. It will play an enormous part in efforts to bring much needed economic prosperity to our area.”

Representatives of TFL promised to arrange further meetings between TFL and ODA which will include ward councillors and special interest groups so that they can have an input into priority transport improvement in the area.