January 18th, 2012 by johnhoward
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Residents in Waltham Forest will be put at risk if the Mayor’s plans to privatise Fire Brigade 999 call handling go ahead, warn the borough’s Liberal Democrat Councillors.
Conservatives on the London Fire Authority backed by Mayor Boris Johnson propose to contract out the Fire Brigade Control Room that handles over 200,000 emergency 999 calls a year. They intend to push their controversial plan through before voters get a say in next May’s Mayoral and London Assembly elections, when controversial Conservative LFEPA boss Cllr Brian Coleman risks being ousted.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Farooq Qureshi said:
“I was shocked to hear of this plan. It makes no sense to separate the people answering 999 calls from the rest of the Fire Brigade. There are no private companies with a decent track record in this highly specialised fire safety work. It will just end up costing more money as the Fire Brigade will need an army of staff to check the private call handlers are getting it right. This is all about Conservative dogma rather than what is best for local residents’ safety.”
The Fire Brigade’s Union is also strongly opposed to the privatisation plan.
Commenting on the sell off Liberal Democrat Candidate for Mayor of London, Brian Paddick said:
“As a former police chief I recognise that control rooms are an essential part of the emergency response. Privatising the fire brigade control room runs the risk of providing a second class service at a higher cost to the public.”
December 20th, 2011 by farooqqureshi
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A merry Christmas and very happy new year to all.
Friday, November 25th, 2011 by aldcadmin
Lib Dem Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined a £1 billion pound Youth Contract to tackle youth unemployment. The aim is to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done.
- Over three years, the Youth Contract will provide at least 410,000 new work places for 18 to 24 year olds into work. Starting April 2012
- Including 160,000 wage subsidies and 250,000 new work experience placements.
- In addition, there will be at least 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices.
- A new programme to help the most disengaged 16 and 17 year olds – getting them back to school or college, onto an apprenticeship or into a job with training.
October 30th, 2011 by farooqqureshi
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Following an announcement made by the Minister of Education Sarah Teather MP, schools in Waltham Forest and across the country are set to receive 331 Million Pounds through pupil premium, to help around 140,000 of the most disadvantaged 2 year olds with free child care.
This means that, across Waltham Forest, schools will receive an extra 4.8 million pounds through pupil premium, to help the most vulnerable. That is £488 for each child on free school meals list.
The pupil premium is a policy, the Liberal Democrats devised and campaigned for, and put at the heart of coalition negotiations. Now it is more then just a good policy, it is a reality, making a difference to the schools down our road. It goes directly in to the classrooms and will benefit all pupils.
It is also a milestone in breaking the link between poverty and achievement, tackling Labour’s shocking legacy where the richest 16-year olds are three times as likely to get five good GCSEs as the poorest.
October 21st, 2011 by farooqqureshi
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Last night, at the full council meeting, all Labour councillors voted in favour of closing down Harrow Green Library. Liberal Democrat councillors voted against the closure whilst the conservatives abstained. Labour councillors brought in the motion to the full council for the closure. There was a lengthy debate, in which Labour councillors yet once again played the blame game and kept blaming the coalition Government for the cuts.
Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Sullivan reminded the meeting that Labour have a history of closing libraries in Waltham Forest. With the closure of St James street library, and the attempted closures of Lea Bridge and Leyton libraries, to name but a few.
ANOTHER FREE PUBLIC SERVICE FALLS VICTIM OF THIS LABOUR ADMINSTRATION
October 15th, 2011 by farooqqureshi
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Waltham Forest council has sent out consultation documents for Peterborough Road area Control Parking Zone Scheme(CPZ). This consultation is based on parking demand surveys carried out by the council, which showed that there is parking congestion in the area. The aim of this consultation is to determine wheather there is adequate support for the area to be included in the 2011/12 controlled parking scheme implementation programme.
The deadline for the response of this consultation is 21st October 2011. Please do not forget to register your views.
Cllr Farooq Qureshi and the Forest Ward Focus Team are also sending out a Focus Street survey to determine the views of residents of effected roads. Please fill in the survey and return it to your Focus Team ASAP.
The roads covered by this scheme are:
Forest View Ave, Fulready Road, Eatington Road, Halford Road, West End Ave, Peterborough Road, Carnarvon Road, Liverpool Road, Matlock Road(part), Nottingham Road(part), Canterbury Road(part), Colchester Road(part)Sandringham Road, James Lane and Essex Road.
THE MAIN QUESTION IS: DO YOU WANT A CPZ IN YOUR ROAD OR NOT??
Please let us know
Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that Waltham Forest Council have failed to meet their own targets for paying local businesses within 10 days for 7 out of the last 8 months. And they have only once met their targets for paying small businesses on time since last April 2011.
The only Police station open 24 hours in Waltham Forest is Chingford. The others are closed most of the early hours.
Last Thursday the Labour Council voted to close down Harrow Green Library. Residents had raised a petition of over 5,000 signatures and local Lib Dems had also raised a petition of over 1,1000 signatures to save the library.
