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‘Our Olympics’: (3) The Cann Hall – Cathall – Leytonstone – Wanstead 2012 Dispersal Order (DO)

April 14, 2015 2012 Olympics in Waltham Forest: the Dispersal Order

The final piece in this Olympics trilogy is about policing. It’s my experience that the police in Waltham Forest for the most part escape serious scrutiny, and for that reason I’ll be looking at their functioning and performance in some detail over the coming months. To start the ball rolling, here is a piece I wrote in December 2012 about the Dispersal Order that was imposed on South Leytonstone and environs during the Olympics. At the time, I was secretary of the A Better Way Partnership Board, the formal community partner in LBWF’s Gang Prevention Programme, so I had a ringside seat. Opinions about Dispersal Orders vary, but any sane person must want choices about them a... »

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‘Our Olympics’: (2) The National Construction College’s Cathall Rd. facility

April 10, 2015 National Construction College Cathall Rd.

The National Construction College’s facility in Cathall Rd., on the Leyton-Leytonstone border, was presented by LBWF as the jewel in the crown of Waltham Forest’s Olympic legacy. Looking like a super IKEA, looming over the surrounding buildings, and hyped by every Labour hack from Cathall Councillor Terry Wheeler to the Leader himself, here was something, the patter ran, that really was going to impact on local people’s lives, and in particular dramatically diminish worklessness. Today, the Construction Academy is virtually forgotten, and the rumour is that it will soon close. Locals hope that it becomes an actual IKEA, but the likelihood is that it will be replaced by boxy flats... »

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‘Our Olympics’: (1) LBWF and Leyton Market – the Council wins a ‘gold medal for ineptitude’

April 8, 2015 2012 Olympics in Waltham Forest: Leyton Market

In the immediate run-up to the start of the Olympic Games in July 2012, LBWF proudly promoted a ‘new international food market’ in Marshall Street, adjacent to Leyton underground station, and, more important, metaphorically ‘just a stone’s throw away from the Olympic stadium’. In a press release, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Corporate Resources, Cllr. Mark Rusling, enthused: ‘This is a great opportunity for Waltham Forest to celebrate the Olympics by creating trade for local businesses and offering a diverse selection of international food and drink for residents and visitors to enjoy. We have worked with the whole community – including local retailers – to get their support f... »

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‘Our Olympics’: an introduction

April 8, 2015 2012 Olympics in Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest was, of course, one of the ‘Olympic Boroughs’, and LBWF predictably milked that fact for all it was worth. From the ‘Big Six’ events (handily organised by the Manchester based Co-operative Event Management), to the outburst of civic pride that greeted the arrival of the torch, to the constant harping on ‘legacy’, no opportunity was missed to spread the message that the Town Hall brigade deserved out gratitude. Yet behind the scenes, it was a rather different story. A LBWF scrutiny committee report, published just a year before the Games opened, referred to ‘the perceived lack of local progress being made in maximising the potential and benefits that could be accrued from havin... »

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Town Hall asbestos: now John Cryer MP comments, well sort of

March 30, 2015 John Cryer MP, MPs, Town Hall asbestos

In his March 2015 E-bulletin, the somnolent MP for Leyton and Wanstead John Cryer comments as follows: ‘I was troubled by some reports which have surfaced online about how Waltham Forest Council dealt with the discovery of asbestos at the Town Hall. This had the potential to cause ordinary council workers, officers and the councillors themselves serious, chronic health problems. I met with the Chief Executive to discuss this issue and others. However, I am given to understand that the Council made a report to the Health and Safety Executive as soon as the problems were discovered, some years ago. This was the right thing to do, however I will of course continue to monitor the situation... »

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