Your Council keeping residents informed Issue 164 4 July 2016 www.walthamforest.gov.uk @wfcouncil

510 extra school places by 2024 £100,000 investment in Highams Park shop fronts

Campaigning for a new Improvements to hospital at Whipps Cross Chingford – Liverpool Street line from 2018

Improvements to Chingford Leisure Centre SHAPING CHINGFORD and Highams Park We have ambitious In this issue we want to let you know Chingford Leisure Centre. In this edition plans to build new about all the exciting things happening find out about our progress and learn council, affordable for you in Chingford and Highams Park. about other improvements in your area. and private homes Find out about our plans to deliver It’s an incredible time of change in in Waltham Forest. more school places, health services, Waltham Forest and we want you to We know that improvements to public spaces and feel a part of it. The Council is at the affordable housing increasing public transport services. forefront of this change to make sure it is our residents’ top Along with our regeneration activities benefits you, your family and friends. concern however we we have been busily working to deliver Keep up to date with what is happening also know that you are concerned our Economic Growth Strategy that across the rest of the borough and find about how additional homes in your will guide our growth over the next out how to have your say by visiting: area may impact your local services. four years to 2020. The research that www.walthamforest.gov.uk/shaping Having spoken to 2,000 residents to underpins this strategy has shed light get their views we understand the on some exciting growth occurring in issues affecting different areas across the digital, creative and professional Cllr Clare Coghill the borough and we are making sectors. You will be able to read the Lead Member for Economic Growth sure that along with building much strategy on our website this month. and High Streets Waltham Forest Council needed new homes we’re planning for In a boost to the sport and leisure additional school places, better access offering across the borough, the to GPs, and improvements to transport. Council has invested £30million in improving leisure centres, including 510 EXTRA SCHOOL PLACES BY 2024 The Council is committed to ensuring the highest quality learning experiences for all of our children and young people be it through child care, early learning, statutory schooling, post-16 provision and into adult learning. We are currently working with Heathcote School and Science College to create an additional 60 places per year (an additional 300 aged 11–16 overall) in September 2017. Campaigning to have a new Chingford Hall Primary Academy has recently state-of-the-art hospital. expanded by one form of entry, the school has taken an additional class of reception age pupils (an additional 210 pupils will be Expanding local schools. { } accommodated aged 4–11). Work to expand {Improving health services across the borough.} the school accommodation is scheduled to be completed this summer. In addition Parkside Primary School has taken WHIPPS CROSS an additional reception class, within their existing building this year and if it is likely that HOSPITAL they will accommodate a further additional We are campaigning to have a new state-of- class this September. the-art hospital on the Whipps Cross site to NEW £100,000 510 EXTRA provide our residents with the health care HOSPITAL INVESTMENT SCHOOL services that they deserve. Whipps Cross hospital treats more than 1,600 patients AT WHIPPS IN HIGHAMS PLACES BY every day, providing a wide range of health services to people in Waltham Forest CROSS PARK SHOP 2024 and beyond. FRONTS We want our children and young However the existing buildings are old, people to have access to the with almost half the estate predating the best possible education. founding of the NHS in 1948. We are working with Barts Health NHS Trust, who runs the hospital, and Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group to bring a case for a new hospital to Whipps Cross.

£100,000 INVESTMENT IN HIGHAMS PARK SHOP FRONTS Building on the success of the shop fronts scheme at Chingford Mount, the Council has secured £100,000 funding from the GLA for improvements to shop fronts and installation of an artwork in the centre of Highams Park. We’re also working with local groups to prepare a neighbourhood plan that will guide development in the area, including improvements to the local park and proposals to reopen the Regal Cinema.

Shaping A BOROUGH For Everybody £100,000 funding from the GLA for improvements to shop fronts. www.walthamforest.gov.uk/shaping {Investing in our shop fronts and public spaces.} IMPROVEMENTS TO CHINGFORD – LIVERPOOL STREET LINE FROM 2018 The Barking to Gospel Oak line is undergoing electrification to bring faster, greener, quieter and more reliable journeys to and from London. From 2018, four-car electric trains will begin running and improvements will be made to all stations along the Chingford to Liverpool Street line. Electric trains provide more seats and improved reliability, shortened travel times, and more comfortable journeys. They produce 20–35 per cent lower carbon emissions than diesel trains, helping to improve the quality of life for people living near the railway.

Waltham Forest is investing £27million in a walking and cycling Improving transport connections. improvement programme across the borough. A key part of { } this programme involves pedestrian and cycle facilities in the town centre and making the area a great place to in which to live and work.

IMPROVEMENTS TO CHINGFORD LEISURE CENTRE Building on the success of London 2012 we refurbished all of the borough’s leisure centres with Waltham Forest Leisure Centre being totally rebuilt. In partnership with GLL, the borough’s leisure provider, we are making further improvements to Chingford Leisure Centre with a £220,000 project to deliver new changing and shower facilities in time for summer 2016. Work has started on a £500,000 upgrade to a medical centre in Highams Park to help new and existing residents to access medical care. Funded by the Council, the {Chingford Leisure Centre.} Handsworth Avenue Medical Centre will feature an additional three The Council invested £750,000 further improvements for shops, consulting rooms, extra treatment in public realm and building businesses and to public space room, training room and other new refurbishment at Albert Crescent in to increase activity in one of the facilities to benefit patients and staff. 2013 and is now working with local borough’s largest district centres. Work will be complete in summer 2016. groups to identify opportunities for

Shaping A BOROUGH For Everybody www.walthamforest.gov.uk/shaping