Recent successes
At the Community Council meeting on 2 March 2009 a presentation on the proposed development of the former St James’s Library building into a drug treatment centre was introduced.
The centre would be for the use of the Waltham Forest residents only and would replace the location at the Alpha Business Centre, where the service run by “Turning Point” was currently held. This venue has become unfit for its purpose due to the unsatisfactory accommodation. The services provided by the centre would include health screening, counselling and group work, as well as assessment, care planning and onward referral where a different type of screening was needed.
154 residents attended the meeting and expressed their concerns and issues with the chosen location.
Due to the overwhelming level of interest in the proposals for the building in St James Street, the Council has taken the opportunity to consider the matters being raised by residents before any further decisions are made.
In March 2007, the Council received a petition to improve both the access to and facilities in Kitchener Road Park. In response to this, the Council looked into the matter both from an access and a funding perspective. The Council also conducted a survey of opinions of people who lived within walking distance of this proposed entrance - of those who responded the majority were against any changes.
Supporters of the proposal to open the Cheshire Close access also put forward a bid to the Community Council to fund a new pedestrian gate. This was considered at the West Walthamstow Community Council on 6th October 2008. However a decision was deferred so that the Council could review information that was presented on the day.
This review has been completed and the Council has found no legal or planning reason preventing the creation of a pedestrian access from Cheshire Close to Kitchener Road. If access is opened, it would attract a targeted investment in 2009/10 to create a new play area for the park.
On 5th January 2009, the WWCC agreed that present access should be improved without opening a new one and that this would be explored further through further public consultation.
£3,000 allocated to this project would be used to help reduce crime/fear of crime. in addition to £100,000 Play Plan investment at Kitchener Road Park (the original site intended).
