Investing in the future
One of the most important roles that the council has is to plan for the future. This means not only using council resources to build the right homes and infrastructure that create jobs and improve people’s lives, but also attract investment that can grow the local economy.
Despite the massive financial challenges and the struggling market conditions, over the next ten years in Waltham Forest we will see £749 million in investment. Some of the things you will know about already, such as refurbishing Soho Theatre Walthamstow, improving Leyton Tube Station and Vestry House Museum, and the Levelling Up Funding in Chingford Mount and Walthamstow. On top of this the opening of the University of Portsmouth campus in the borough will lead not only to education and skills opportunities but investment totalling £372m over 20 years.
We all know one of the biggest issues facing London is the housing crisis and if we don’t build more homes this will only get worse. As a council we know we alone cannot solve this crisis but we can play our part. Our Local Plan sets out how 27,000 new homes will be built over the next 15 years, which includes 3,017 new homes built by the council, creating 1,116 new jobs and 638 apprenticeships in the process.
But it’s not just about building new things. We want to safeguard the things we all love about the borough. The Local Plan contains details of how local nature and green spaces, as well as the unique heritage of each of our town centres, will be protected and enhanced.
Throughout both of these pieces of work developed over years we’ve tried to ensure your voices are heard loud and clear. Please make sure you share feedback on your local area through upcoming consultations and surveys on our Let’s Talk website.
This Sunday, 3 March, will be a Day of Reflection to commemorate those who died over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.
During that awful time we lost over 800 people in Waltham Forest, but saw our amazing residents come together to support each other, along with key workers, volunteers and community groups, who all stepped up.
I will be taking a moment to stop, reflect and remember all those who are no longer with us, and I hope you can too.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
 By Leyton2021 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107887804
Click the postcode nearest you to find events coming up around the borough.
People who rely on analogue devices, such as landlines for phones, are being warned not to give out bank details and other personal information as the 2025 switch to digital nears.
If you use health care telephony devices you may be particularly at risk. One recent scam has involved residents with health care devices being called by official sounding people who tell them they need to hand over bank details as part of the switchover, or risk being disconnected.
Please be cautious if anyone calls or emails asking for personal details. And be assured that the digital switchover is free of charge and councils and home care alarm providers or their contractors will never ask for bank details.
Please share this warning with others who may not read Residents' News. Thanks!
 Do you know someone who’s thinking of going to university in September? Are you thinking of going yourself?
University of Portsmouth London is holding the very first open day at its brand new campus in Waltham Forest on Saturday 27 April.
The event runs from 10am to 12.15pm at Juniper House, Hoe Street, E17 9PH, right opposite Walthamstow Central station.
Potential students will get the chance to mingle with academics, meet others interested in applying to study in Waltham Forest, explore some of the exciting social events and activities on offer when the campus opens, and have a good old nose around the home of the borough’s new university.
The Library of Things opens today, Friday 1 March in Leytonstone, and you can pop into Leytonstone Library from tomorrow, Saturday 2 March, to pick up some tools.
As well as tools, you can borrow items such as ladders, drills and carpet cleaners, instead of having to buy them, saving money, helping to reduce waste, and minimising clutter in your home. Sign up today to pick up your first item.
Stow Film Lounge's season continues at Fellowship Square with two cracking events. Friday 8 March Watch multi-BAFTA nominated and winner of the Un Certain Regard prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, How to Have Sex. It's a vibrant and authentic depiction of young female friendship. Doors open at 7pm and the film is followed by a Q&A.
Saturday 9 March: watch 1998 classic Disney film Mulan, as she and her dragon Mushu help ward off an invasion. Doors open 10am for pre-screening crafts, with the film from 11am. Hot, soft drinks and pastries will be available, plus freshly made popcorn.
We will officially open the play space opposite Tesco in Larkshall Road, Highams Park. Come along from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Saturday 9 March for free family activities including balloon modelling, face painting and crafting, plus musical performances from local choir, Harmony E4.
The event is hosted by Waltham Forest Council, Highams Park Planning Group and Tesco, and made possible by match funding following our successful bid for Government Levelling Up funding.
Did you know we fund 18 free weekly youth sessions across the borough in a mixture of local spaces, including church halls, community centres, parks, Family Hubs and mobile youth venues as part of our Space4All programme? There are sessions for nine to 12 years, after-school spaces for 11 to 18 years, and other sessions for 18 to 25-year-olds.
We recently visited a Treasure Our Youth free after-school session for nine to 12-year-olds at Walthamstow Family Hub and heard from young people and parents about why they loved the session.
Stop smoking for Ramadan
Any smokers observing Ramadan this year will spend around 12 daytime hours abstaining from cigarettes, which makes it a perfect time to quit smoking altogether.
If you need support quitting, get free advice and support from our service QuitRight Waltham Forest at its weekly drop-in sessions in four locations across the borough. Or book an appointment on the QuitRight website. With professional support, you’re three times more likely to quit for good.
Support using digital visitor parking permits
Visitor parking permits in Waltham Forest can now only be purchased as virtual permits using the RingGo app. Any physical scratch cards that you still have in your possession will remain valid indefinitely, but no new paper permits will be issued.
To help you understand and use the new system, we’re holding visitor permit surgeries at libraries across the borough, where our team will be on hand to help you set up a RingGo account so you can buy virtual permits.
Current planned sessions:
- Walthamstow Library: Monday 4 March, 9am to 12pm
- Chingford Library: Monday 4 March, 12.30pm to 3.30pm
- Leytonstone Library: Wednesday 6 March, 9am to 12pm
- Leytonstone Library: 11 March, 9am to 12pm
- Leyton Library: Monday 11 March, 12.30pm to 3:30pm
Help us shape food waste recycling♻️
Our recycling team are holding resident focus groups in March, gaining understanding and insight from residents about how we can best communicate about food waste recycling.
We’re looking for residents who have no experience of food waste recycling, as well as those who already recycle their food waste, and those who have taken part in the recent pilot programme.
This will be a two-hour workshop, and you will be compensated with £50 Love to Shop voucher for your time.
Please note, not all that register your interest will be selected.
Become a Digital Champion volunteer
Do you enjoy helping friends or family get to grips with their computers or phones? Are you looking for an opportunity to support your local community? We are looking for new Digital Champion volunteers to support our new sessions taking place in Chingford from this Spring.
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.
Don't axe our lifeline
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