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The cost of living crisis isn’t over: don’t axe our lifeline
Happy birthday Enjoy Waltham Forest!
This year we’re celebrating the tenth anniversary of Enjoy Waltham Forest, our pioneering road improvement programme that has made the borough safer for all road users and at the same time improved the quality of the air we breathe. Research by King's College London predicts that children born in the borough can now expect on average an extra six weeks' life expectancy because of the improvements.
It feels like only yesterday that we launched Enjoy Waltham Forest with the aim of making it safer and easier to walk and cycle around the borough. At the time, there were objections by some residents and businesses to the proposals - but today most of them would not want things to return to how they were. We have the highest levels of people using sustainable transport of all outer London boroughs – that’s people getting around via public transport, walking and cycling. We've also seen a 25 per cent reduction in nitrogen dioxide, which can cause an exacerbate lung and heart conditions, from transport-based emissions.
Over the last decade, we’ve created 55km of dedicated cycle lanes and implemented 22 School Streets, where traffic is restricted on certain roads around schools during drop-off and pick-up times to make the roads safer and the air cleaner. That's as well as 180 new or improved pedestrian crossings to make crossing the road safer. Our school survey data shows that up to 36 per cent more pupils are walking, cycling – or maybe even scooting! – as a result of the improvements. We've also installed Cycle Hubs at train stations across the borough.
We’ll have a great range of events and opportunities in 2024 for you to join in the celebrations, including the return of our hugely popular Tour de Waltham Forest event in the summer. Find out more about a decade of Enjoy and what's coming up on our website.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Click the postcode nearest you to find events coming up around the borough.
still from : GREY MATTER (Arabella Burfitt-Dons, 2023, Cert 12A)
Join us in the Fellowship Square foyer for two film screenings next week as part of Stow Film Lounge’s residency. On Friday 9 February you can watch Grey Matter, which has made waves on the international film circuit, receiving critical acclaim and rave reviews. The evening showing features a Director’s Q&A afterwards. On Saturday 10 February they are showing the classic Disney film Dumbo with a special craft activity for children. Refreshments and popcorn will be available at each and alcoholic drinks will be sold on Friday night, tickets are £4-£8.
 There’s no excuse for fly-tipping or littering in Waltham Forest. With free large item collections, multiple waste and recycling centres and thousands of litter bins to use in the borough, there’s plenty of ways to responsibly get rid of your rubbish.
Despite this, there is still a minority of litter louts who do not care for our neighbourhoods and town centres. We’re hitting them where it hurts – right in the wallet! From today, Thursday 1 February, we’re enacting new Government powers to increase fines for fly-tipping and littering to help keep our streets clean and safe for all to enjoy, as well as reducing our impact on our local environment and the precious biodiversity that it supports. However, there is a discount for payments received within two weeks.
Each year the council spends £7m on clearing up fly-tips and keeping our streets clean. Over the last three months alone, we have issued nearly 2,000 FPNs related to littering or fly-tipping. Report fly-tips or problem areas to our clean-crews so that we can resolve issues in your neighbourhood ASAP.
 Our annual free tree giveaway is getting underway next month (12-17 Feb) in a local park near you. You can pick from an array of different species to plant in your garden, and with thousands up for grabs to local people, it's a great way to support nature and add to the greenery across the borough.
Regular testing for HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) helps keep yourself and others safe by reducing the numbers of undiagnosed people and ensuring that treatment can start as soon as possible. Testing is quick, free and confidential.
Next week is HIV Testing Week and our lovely Sexual Health Team have teamed up with our partners at Barts Health to bring you three pop-up up clinics, in various locations across the borough. They all offer a range of FREE sexual health services including free HIV testing, free sexual health screening and confidential support to anyone who needs it. Everyone who tests will get a free gift too.
Look out for the Barts Health testing bus and come say hi!
We’re currently running a consultation about our two property licensing schemes. We believe licensing is an effective way to improve housing conditions in the private rental market – but we want to hear your views as well.
We’re holding a public meeting on Wednesday 28 February between 6pm and 7.30pm Waltham Forest Town Hall for everyone – private tenants, landlords, and residents – to find out more about the consultation. We’d really like to see you there and answer any questions you may have. Spaces are limited – use the link below to reserve your ticket today.
Come and meet a wide range of businesses and find out about the amazing career opportunities Apprenticeships can provide. Find out about becoming an apprentice and discover how you can get the skills and qualifications needed to take your career to the next level, whilst in paid work.
Date: Thursday 8 February 2024 - 10:00am - 2:00pm
Location: Waltham Forest College, 707 Forest Road, London, E17 4JB
Don't miss out on this chance to connect with potential employers, gain insights into apprenticeships and explore different career paths.
The Community Walking and Cycling Fund is now open for applications! We want to hear from groups in Waltham Forest who have projects aimed at getting more people active, promoting social connections and healthier lifestyles.
Last year, some of the recipients included:
- JoyRiders, who led a series of family cycle rides for people who weren’t confident in riding on their own
- Life After Cancer, who offered a monthly guided walk for people who had been through cancer treatment
- Age UK Waltham Forest, who held cycling courses for people aged 60+.
We’re moving our visitor’s parking permits and pay-to-park vouchers to the virtual system used for all our other parking permits after Monday 26 February. It means that visitors no longer need to visit a library to collect scratch cards or wait on a Royal Mail delivery – they can quickly and easily order and manage tickets using their smartphones 24/7. Paper tickets for permits bays will also now only be available through the RingGo app.
The decision will help ensure the parking service is coordinated and operating using the same system for all products on offer, saving taxpayers’ money and council resources. Any scratch cards or paper permits that you currently have will remain valid indefinitely, and free parking offers such as 60 hours’ free parking for over-60s and the New Born Babies offer will remain available.
Still from ‘Great Sale Wood’ Michaela Davis, 2024
William Morris Gallery is bringing back Film Night in 2024 on the 8th of February, kicking things off with an evening showcase of four short films exploring the natural world as a space for artistic inspiration, spiritual connection, a well as political and cultural exploration. Part of the Gallery's Radical Landscapes programme, see work by Maya Campbell, Michaela Davis, Fourthland and Zeynep Kaserci. Please 'pay what you can' for your ticket (suggested donation of £3 per person).
 The fund will provide grants to Voluntary Community Sector (VCS) organisations who want to move towards more innovative food practices and a better local food system for everyone. This could range from creating a community pantry, working with other organisations to create a combined service, or even developing a network of community food growers – we’re after innovative, sustainable ideas.
There will be an online Q&A session on Wednesday 7 February, from 12:30-1:30pm.
The Granada on its opening night, and the film poster. Courtesy of the McGuffin Film Society.
‘The British talkie everybody wants to hear’...
The film which played on the Walthamstow Granada's opening night 96 years ago has been rediscovered by the McGuffin Film Society. 'Splinters', a comedy musical set in World War I, played to thousands from Walthamstow and beyond in September 1930 at the much-loved venue, soon to be reopened as Soho Theatre Walthamstow after a sweeping redevelopment.
Though some references might now seem dated, the film’s pioneering drag acts, dry British humour and Man City references give Splinters a surprisingly modern feel. Read more, watch the film and imagine yourself at the Granada opening night on the McGuffin website.
Let's get digital
Our Let’s Get Digital drop-in sessions are available to support you using your device or getting online. No need to book, just turn up and receive one-to-one support from a friendly Digital Champion volunteer:
- Leytonstone Library, Tuesdays 5pm to 7pm
- Wood Street Library, Wednesdays 5pm to 7pm
- Walthamstow Library, Fridays 2pm to 4pm
Help shape our Policies and Practices
The Council is currently in the process of recruiting members for the Crime and Community Safety Citizens’ Panel, which works with us to feed into decision-making and policy.
For the Panel to be truly representative, we need to hear from people from all walks of life which is why I’d like to encourage you to apply.
What do you need to apply?
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Willingness to be on the Panel for one year (12 months)
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Access to a computer/smartphone/tablet (most tasks will be online)
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Live in the borough
You will be asked to feed into the Council’s decision-making via surveys, questionnaires and occasionally interviews. Panel members will be awarded gift vouchers for completed tasks.
Current council vacancies and other local jobs
We regularly update the vacancies and local jobs listing on our Waltham Forest Jobs website. Explore available job opportunities and apply for roles that suit you.
You can find the latest Waltham Forest Council jobs online on our website, and check out our LinkedIn.
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