Your independent community newspaper Free WALTHAM July 2019, No. 52 Email [email protected] Facebook /WalthamForestEcho Tweet @WFEcho FOREST ECHO Visit walthamforestecho.co.uk Features News History Arts & Culture Sport Knife amnesty campaign Conservative councillor Why we should be doing How a Walthamstow Tributes pour in for helps curb youth violence suspended over more to celebrate our choir ended up on Leyton Orient 'hero' in Waltham Forest Islamophobic tweets local industrial heritage stage with Take That Justin Edinburgh P . 4 P . 6 P . 9 P . 12 P . 15 Maternity £30m ice rink plans revealed cover row althamstow MP Stella Creasy has hit out Wat parliamentary auth- orities for “forcing me to chose between being a mum and an MP”. The Labour MP announced in The Guardian that she was due to give birth in November but that the Independent Parliamentary Stand- ards Authority (Ipsa) told her it would not provide paid maternity cover. Stella wrote: “Despite warm words about maternity cover, things have gone backwards. Humiliatingly, it is making me beg for extra staff funding – or give up any chance of spending time with my child to make sure my constituents don’t miss out.” Since the revelation in June, however, Ipsa have told Stella they are in the process of agreeing a locum role that will ensure Impression of how the new Olympic-sized ice rink might look constituency work is covered. Stella said hundreds of constituents had way” according to LVRPA, acting building would move a bit further open space. It would be the only written to her in support, including by James Cracknell as a “gateway to Leyton Marsh” north but still maintain its separa- twin Olympic-sized venue in south- some who offered free babysitting. and other areas of Lee Valley tion from Leyton Marsh and will east England and would enable ong-awaited plans for a Regional Park. remain within the overall current many more people to get active new £30million ice rink in Concerns remain from residents Lee Valley Ice Centre site.” on the ice, as well as use the gym, More in work Leyton have been revealed that the new ice rink will threaten A public consultation on LVRPA's dance studios, café and community nemployment rates in – which would become the protected green space by increasing plans has now been launched and spaces. We believe these opportuni- Waltham Forest have Llargest in south-east England. the current footprint of Lee Valley will remain open until Sunday 1st ties would benefit people from the Ufallen below both the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Ice Centre. Save Lea Marshes cam- September. Chief executive Shaun local community, across the capital London and UK averages for the (LVRPA) wants to double the size paigner Abi Woodman said: “We Dawson said: “We know how vital and from the wider region. first time. of the existing 34-year-old Lee are deeply concerned LVRPA will ice sport and the opportunity for “We now want people to have their The latest data from the Office Valley Ice Centre in Lea Bridge break any promises to mitigate leisure and physical activity are in say, so we can create a centre that for National Statistics puts the Road where it says activities such the effects of the development this part of London. Lee Valley Ice everyone can be proud of.” unemployment rate in the borough as ice hockey and figure skating on the marshes. The proposed Centre is hugely popular, open up Detailed plans for the new ice rink at just 4%. This is lower than have long waiting lists because of ice rink will take a large bite out to 19 hours a day, seven days a week will go on display at Lee Valley Ice London (5%) and the UK (4.2%) the high demand. It is currently of Leyton Marsh.” – but recent operational problems Centre on Monday 15th July. for the same period, meaning this used by 279,000 people per year. LVRPA has denied this and says have shown that it’s reaching the is the first time since the dataset The new ice centre will have an that, under its plans, areas cur- end of its working life and if it’s began that unemployment in Olympic-sized twin rink and would rently devoid of ecological value not replaced, it will be lost. Have your say on the plans: Waltham Forest has been below also include a gym, dance studio, will be boosted “with significant “We’re proposing a fantastic new Email LVIC@ the national average. It marks a communitycomms.co.uk café and new community spaces. It native planting” to help wildlife. ice centre which would also act Visit icecentreredevelopment.com significant recovery since ten years would operate in an “entirely new A spokesperson said: “The [new] as a gateway to the surrounding ago, when 11.8% were out of work. Become a member of Waltham Forest Echo and get the paper delivered each month – find out more on Page 16 2 No. 52 JULY 2019 WALTHAM FOREST ECHO COMMENT Defending our independent local media Echo editor James Cracknell welcomes judge's ruling against council propaganda While we welcome this verdict, the council has since stated it FELLOWSHIP IS LIFE intends to appeal and, in the mean- time, continue publishing Waltham JULY 2019 – No. 52 Forest News. To date this legal Waltham Forest Echo is an case has cost the council £28,000. independent community Sadly the council leadership newspaper. We publish monthly remains completely blind to the and distribute 12,500 free copies harm it is causing not just to the of each issue to libraries, cafés, local press but to local democ- pubs, and other places around racy itself. Writing in Waltham Waltham Forest. Forest News immediately follow- ing the High Court ruling, council Publisher leader Clare Coghill said: “Resi- David Floyd dents love the fact that Waltham Editor Forest News promotes topics James Cracknell no other newspaper would ever do. Vital issues like foster care, Designer Jonathan Duncan community work, local charities and voluntary groups, school pro- Manager grammes and campaigns for things Penny Dampier or eight years Waltham newspaper should strive to do. and impartial information for you want: like a new hospital or Advertising Sales Manager Forest Council has been So what's the problem? Can't voters. Waltham Forest Echo was for Waltham Forest to become Klaudia Kiss fighting a battle over its the council just continue publish- launched in large part as a reac- the first ever London Borough publication Waltham ing what it wants? Surely it's fine tion to the decline in local media. of Culture.” Contributors FForest News. if newspapers like the Echo or The government itself recognised This, as any regular Echo reader Irena Barker, Alice Richardson, Courtney Barrett, Beverley This taxpayer-funded freesheet East London Guardian continue this decline when, in 2011, it pub- will know, is a lie. Worse still, Clare Harknett, Katherine Green, is delivered fortnightly to every to report balanced news stories? lished a publicity code forbidding goes on: “The absence of a well- Nick Corble, Greta Grablevska, household in the borough and The problem, as set out by the gov- local authorities from publish- read local media means there is Lindsay Collier, Helen Bigham, is used by the council to publi- ernment in its successful court case ing 'newspapers' more than four a legitimate need for Waltham Michelle Edwards, Diana cise the good things it is doing last month, is that frequent council times per year. MPs agreed that Forest News... Part of a healthy Pilkington, Luke Willmoth, to help local people. It also publications such as Waltham such publications provide unfair local democracy is understanding Mike Gerber, Youssef Taha, promotes consultation dates, Forest News undermine the competition and contribute to the operation of the democratic Jim Nichols public health campaigns and viability of independent papers the struggles of the local press. process. Local authority publici- information about council meet- such as the Echo. We can testify At the time there were dozens ty is important to transparency The member organisations ings and upcoming events. to this – potential advertisers have of such publications around the and localism, as the public need of WFWellComm CIC are: What Waltham Forest News does told us they would rather spend country, but over the next few Community Transport Waltham to know what their local authori- Forest, Social Spider CIC, HEET. not do – contrary to its misleading money with the council because years all but two councils agreed ty is doing to hold us to account.” title – is report the news. It does Waltham Forest News is read by to either reduce the frequency of It is grimly ironic for Clare to use WFWellComm CIC Board: not tell you about the nine council- more people. What's ironic here their 'newspapers' or switch instead this argument to justify a publi- David Floyd (Social Spider CIC) owned tower blocks posing a is that the Echo would likely be to producing magazines. cation that directly reduces the Tom Ruxton (HEET) 'substantial' fire risk to residents. read by more people if it weren't Helen Tredoux It does not tell you about the for Waltham Forest News. (Community Transport WF) art studios in Leytonstone the The council is also required by "The restriction on local council is set to demolish. It does law to publish public notices in a authority publications promotes not tell you tell about the tens of local newspaper, but by printing its Contact millions of pounds the council own 'newspaper' it sneakily dodges freedom of expression" Call 020 8521 7956 has invested in fossil fuels despite this obligation and avoids buying Email [email protected] declaring a 'climate emergency'.