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Cllr. Liaquat Ali: an update

In the last couple of days, both Private Eye (‘Haq Attack’, see below) and the Waltham Forest Guardian have published versions of the Ali-Haq story. It is notable that the latter does not mention Senator Haq’s rantings about ‘Jews and Christians’, spineless journalism at its worst. Meanwhile, a rumour going round the Town Hall is that Mayor Khan has declined to re-appoint Cllr. Ali to the London Fire Authority (LFA), despite Cllr. Robbins’ recommendation. If this is true, the LFA will have to soldier on without Cllr. Ali’s notable expertise, always so eloquently delivered. However, at least the public purse seems set to gain. For it turns out that Cl... »

Save Highams Park’s Library campaign – resident groups demolish LBWF’s business case

Oliver Shykles writes as follows: ‘I chair the Highams Park Forum which is working together with the Highams Park Planning Group and The Highams Park Society to protest against LBWF proposals which could drastically affect library provision in Highams Park. At the time of writing, 3,956 people involved with Highams Park have signed a detailed petition against the Council’s scheme, while 1,117 people involved with Highams Park have joined a Save Highams Park’s Library Facebook Group. Over 200 residents attended a spring clean and protest outside their library last Saturday (images available in the press pack, here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5ylT69jXTlUT1E5VXVWRWs2Rk... »

More on Selwyn Primary School in Highams Park

A local resident writes: ‘As your blog has previously noted, LBWF plans to demolish our impressive Edwardian Primary School and replace it with a new “modular” prefab alternative, which has been described on the BBC website as an “Austerity school”.  It is confirmed that this proposal will go to the council’s Planning Committee on 12 July. As you have reported, too, SAVE Britain’s Heritage argues persuasively for keeping the present structure. But it is also worth underlining that the Victorian Society and other local groups are equally concerned by the plans. LBWF has stonewalled the local community.  At Hale End and Highams Park Community Ward Forum on 27 June, Cllr... »

George Tomlinson Primary School, Leytonstone, again

A previous post (see link below) looked briefly at George Tomlinson primary school in Leytonstone, and the fears of some that it was surreptitiously being prepared for academisation. Since then, much has changed. The school has new governors, and a new management team, the latter led by Executive Head Lynne Harrowell. However, the sense of general unease seems if anything to have increased. Various alterations to the school’s everyday life have proved unsettling. Some teachers have left, apparently because they feared redundancy. A union representative has publicly complained of bullying. That said, it is the transformation at the top which has provoked the most comment. Ms. Harrowell has a ... »

Cllr. Liaquat Ali boobs again

The Waltham Forest Guardian today quotes Cllr. Liaquat Ali pontificating about community safety: ‘“Our sense of community and of belonging, and the need to always treat others with respect, helps to make Waltham Forest such a great place to call home. We’ve been shocked and saddened to see the various news reports that have emerged in the aftermath of the EU Referendum result, indicating a rise in incidents of hate crime in some areas.This is not a trend we’ve experienced in Waltham Forest. But, we remain vigilant and continue to actively promote community cohesion, signpost support services and work with local partners, including Waltham Forest Police, to ensure our streets are safe f... »

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