M&S Plans All Systems Go for Loughton
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Rose Farm, Traps Hill drawn by Bob Stevenson Newsletter 212 LRA’s committee members and ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR LOUGHTON councillors have been active in the various panels, committees and Focus After years of campaigning by LRA and Brooklyn Parade into Brooklyn Avenue, Groups working on the High road planning by consultants, council officers with pedestrianisation of that area and a enhancement plans. They, and all the and Town Centre groups, the first stage reorganisation of the traffic lights, plus others who have been involved, are to of Loughton High Road’s enhancement rearranged parking in the remainder, be congratulated. At last we can see has been given the go-ahead. Following with a lay-by. The final stage will take the beginning of the project, which will last year’s public consultation, the the new works to the lower end of improve the appearance of the High District Council Cabinet has accepted Church Hill, bringing the whole of the Road and make it a safer and more the plans, which divide the High Road shopping area of the High Road up to pleasant environment for pedestrians, into four phases. the same design and standard in motorists, traders and shoppers. The first phase, from the Crown to St paving, lighting and street furniture. Mary’s Church will be put in hand next When the works are complete, the High year by Sainsbury’s, under a legal Road will be a shopping area of which agreement which was included in the we can be proud. Parking will be easier M&S PLANS planning approval for their new store. for shoppers, pedestrians will have Marks & Spencer has won planning The remaining phases will be carried out room to stand and chat, while traffic permission for a food store on the old as and when the District council should have an easier journey through Lambs Garage car park, after a decision identifies funds for the work. LRA the town. had been deferred to allow negotiations councillors will continue to press for the For many years LRA has been the on a number of points. It has now been completion of this scheme and for only group to fight for the enhancement agreed that the car park, which will be further funds to be made available at an of the High Road, which has not had a owned and managed by M&S, will remain early date for the enhancement of the major refurbishment for over 20 years. open in the evenings until 11.00pm, Broadway. Work on Phase 1 of the High The last refurbishment only happened which will allow Lopping Hall users to Road will probably not begin until mid- because there were materials left over park off-street. In addition, daytime use of 2005 and will be organised to avoid the from work to improve Waltham Abbey the car park will not be restricted to M&S Christmas shopping period. town centre, which is why the brick customers. M&S have also agreed to Phase 1 will mainly consist of paving paviours stop at the end of Centric contribute £100,000 towards the Town works, with some controlled parking Parade – the Waltham Abbey leftovers Centre Enhancement plans in the area of lay-bys; Phase 2 will see the ran out at that point! The High Road is the new store. Other issues regarding pedestrianisation of Centric Parade and now unattractive to shoppers and new vehicle fumes, boundaries with adjoining lay-bys off the High Road. Phase 3 will traders, and without them Loughton will properties and delivery lorry routing have involve the closure of the exit from deteriorate as a major shopping centre. also been resolved. PLEASE BE AWARE that any suggestion that LRA councillors are part of any coalition with any political party or parties, on any council, is TOTALLY UNTRUE. Loughton Residents Association Townwide Edition www.loughtonresidents.com Townwide Edition How will all of this be reflected in the other issues mentioned are linked YOU SAY …… LRA’s programme for the next year or with this, for example poor traffic so? management and parking. Happily, the In the September issue of Loughton We are enormously fortunate that the first stage of High Road enhancement is Life we asked you to let us know what Forest is protected by a specific Act of now on track, but it may be some time you most like and dislike about Parliament, but our other green spaces before the other sections are Loughton, so that this could be and the surrounding green belt are completed. In the meantime we intend reflected in LRA’s priorities. under tremendous threat from to come up with some practical Nearly 200 of you replied and the government policy on development (see solutions that, hopefully, EFDC will feel same issues came up time and time elsewhere in this issue) and LRA will be able to act upon in the short term. again. working with other interested groups to We keep in contact with Essex Police Not surprisingly, for a large try and mitigate the proposals. regarding problems in the town. proportion of respondents (73%), We shall certainly be taking on board Inspector Quinnell, who is now in proximity to Epping Forest and the your concerns about litter, and looking charge at Loughton Police Station, is countryside was Loughton’s most at practical ways in which the situation targeting the problem of gangs of important positive feature. This was can be improved. Several of you youths, and his policy seems to be followed by the town’s convenient mentioned specific problem areas and having an effect. situation and transport links (45%). our councillors are bringing these to the Many thanks to all those who Good housing, shops and schools attention of the waste management completed the questionnaire. We were were mentioned by nearly 20% and contractor. particularly encouraged by the number the friendliness of the neighbourhood The state of the High Road has long of positive and encouraging comments was appreciated by 14%. been an LRA concern and we are about LRA – thank you for your When it came to dislikes, litter and continuing to pursue this. A number of invaluable support. Carol Murray lack of cleanliness were top of the list for 38% of respondents, closely followed by poor traffic management (37%). Police issues (mainly gangs of LOUGHTONRESIDENTS.COM youths) were highlighted by 24% and the poor state of the built Is the new website packed full of information environment (High Road, roads, about Loughton and LRA. pavements) by 23%. Interestingly, a number of respondents said that Visit Loughtonresidents.com to contact us for Loughton was deteriorating and information and help. becoming like Leytonstone. Uncontrolled parking was a concern Loughtonresidents.com is updated frequently to for 19% and a poor retail mix was bring you news about our town. mentioned by 11%. CHURCHES RING THE CHANGES Two churches in the district are about to submit plans for new developments. Trinity Church held a public consultation last Autumn where they unveiled the plans for a new church, community hall and housing development. After making changes to meet some of the objections of local residents the church now plans to apply for planning permission in the spring. St. Mary’s in the High Road wishes to replace the church hall which they feel no longer meets the needs of the community and is becoming a liability to maintain. They hope to sell off land adjacent to the vicarage for a housing development in order to partially finance the new hall. A public meeting was held on the 28th January and opposition was expressed by some residents of Priory Road and Churchfields who would lose the current open aspects at the rear of their properties. The vicar and architect agreed to consider the objections in any revision of the plans prior to an application for outline planning permission, probably in April. The land will be sold to a developer under a deed of covenant that will keep strict control in the hands of the church. No plans for the new hall will be drawn up until it is known how much money is raised from the sale of the land. LRA has taken a close interest in both proposals and will formally comment when the planning applications are made. Ken Angold-Stephens Loughton Residents Association is non party political, working for the best interests of Loughton residents real life many of these new homes will LOUGHTON – THE NEW CONCRETE JUNGLE? be snapped up by commuters wanting We know that people who live in on our roads. We will need more to get out of London, adding more Loughton value the countryside around schools, libraries, hospitals and health pressure to the already overcrowded the town, but will it still be there in 20 centres – and guess who will ultimately Central Line and the roads into the City. years time? The Government has plans be paying for them! The District Council believes that to build more than 18,000 new houses The civil servants drawing up these 8,000 houses would be realistic, not in Epping Forest District in the period plans have the weird idea that the 18,000. The County Council agrees. to 2021. (For comparison, there are people in these new homes will work So do we, and LRA will be fighting to about 12,000 houses in Loughton at nearby (which would then mean even protect Loughton residents’ quality of the moment, and 52,000 in the whole more land will be lost for offices and life. District). light industrial buildings).