Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats have approved a plan to reduce key parking charges following their review of the Councils parking strategy .

For residents living in controlled parking zones (CPZ’s) visitor permits have been reduced by up to 14.5%, business permits reduced by 5% and for the fourth year in a row car park charges and on-street parking vouchers have been frozen. Refund and administration fees have also been slashed by up to 61%.

Referring to Labour’s Council motion in December last year Cabinet Member for Environment Cllr Bob Belam said:

“While others produce reports Liberal Democrats have again led the way by reducing key parking charges for the next financial year.”

“In the current economic climate it is right that we listen to our residents and businesses and help them where we can.”

• A 12 month business permit is reduced from £410 to £390

• CPZ visitors permits will reduce from

• • £21 to £18 for 5 hrs tickets
  • £18 to £16 for 2 hr tickets
  • £15 to £14 for 1 hr tickets

• 15 Minute School permits stay at £15 for low emission vehicles

Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Bob Belam, announced a new scheme telling drivers exactly where CCTV enforcement vehicles will be deployed.

The initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in the Country, aims to promote safer driving, reduce road accidents and lower the number of penalty charge notices issued to motorists for transgressions such as stopping in a box junction.

Details of where the boroughs five CCTV enforcement vehicles will be are available for viewing on the Waltham Forest Council website at www.walthamforest.gov.uk.

CCTV vehicles are deployed in the identified areas because residents have complained about congestion, accidents and other issues in their vicinity,

Cllr Bob Belam, said: “The main aim of our traffic enforcement team is to improve safety for all of Waltham Forest’s roads users. It is not about making money at the expense of motorists.

“We hope this scheme will encourage people to drive more carefully, especially at the locations where we issue most of our penalty charge notices, and help us to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents.

Waltham Forest Council’s CCTV vehicles are responsible for recording moving traffic violations, such as stopping in box junctions, driving in bus lanes and making banned turns. They are also used for parking enforcement purposes.

The statutory penalty charge for a moving traffic violation is £120, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

Traffic in High Street ward was severely affected today due to a large burst water main in the neighbouring borough of Haringey.

Forest Road E17 had to be closed west bound at the junction with Blackhorse Road early this morning resulting in traffic backing up to The Bell junction.

High Street Focus Team were alerted late last night of the road closure and advised High Street residents on their e-Focus mailing list.

Severe delays are expected on Blackhorse Road, Markhouse Road, Lea Bridge Road and surrounding area with diversions in place. Initial reports indicate that the burst has caused significant carriageway damage and the problems are expected to continue for up to a week.

Cllr O’Rourke said: “I hope our email notice helped those who received it. High Street Focus Team will provide updates when received.”

If you would like to be on the email list for e-Focus or alerts such as above please contact High Street Focus Team with your details.

Residents over 60 and those with disabilities are being urged to take advantage of the Freedom Pass at a road show next month.

Transport for London (TfL) will be visiting Walthamstow in a drive to make sure people eligible for free travel take advantage of the scheme by March 31st. The road show will be at Selbourne Walk, Walthamstow, on Wednesday, February 3rd.

For added security the new pass will carry a passport photo rather than the separate photocard. This means that they will no longer be available over the counter, and they will be sent to you by post usually in 10 working days.

If you are over 60 forms are now available from Post Offices, or online by clicking here. If you have a disability click here to download your form and take or send it to the Councils Mobility Team to process.

Don’t leave renewing your pass until the last minute.

Liberal Democrats throughout London are launching their campaign, Better Stations, to tackle London’s neglected rail stations.

The campaign includes a five-point plan to improve our rail stations:

1. Ensure stations are staffed throughout the hours trains are running;
2. Keep all available station entrances open during these hours;
3. Deep-clean all stations and remove “grot-spots”;
4. Launch a website where you can easily report any problem with your station;
5. Invest in making stations fully accessible. 

Cllr James O’Rourke said: “We simply shouldn’t tolerate reduced staffing hours or entrances being closed at our rail stations. Our stations need to be cleaner and better cared for as many stations, railway bridges and embankments are often littered with graffiti and rubbish and are an eyesore for commuters and local residents. Reporting these problems should also be quick and simple.”

Our railway stations must be safe, clean and accessible. Please join our campaign by signing our petition on line now at www.ourcampaign.org.uk/betterstations

Disabled and family travellers’ access to the Victoria Line tube was severely hampered over the Christmas holidays due to the lifts at Walthamstow Central being out of order.

Despite promises from Transport for London, in 2005, to “…build lifts from the railway station to the Underground…” and Labour claims that the lifts had been installed especially because they ‘fought’ for them have not helped disgruntled travellers, particularly those with disabilities, because the lifts are ineffectual as they are often out of order and do not go down to the platforms.

Members of local disability groups have told High Street Focus Team that access to the Victoria Line is so poor in Waltham Forest that they use Tottenham Hale where the lifts go down to the platforms.

Cllr O’Rourke said: “It is disgraceful that disabled people from Waltham Forest are having to go to another borough to access the Victoria Line when we have two stations in High Street ward.”

“I will be writing to Transport for London demanding they improve the reliability of the lifts and lobby to have a lift facility which enables direct access to platforms as is the case at Tottenham Hale.” he concluded.

High Street Lib Dem Councillors, James O’Rourke and Johar Khan have joined London colleagues in reacting angrily to news that the concessionary fares scheme in London will be cut by £29m this coming year.

It is yet another clear sign that Gordon Brown has given up on London.

London taxpayers have always paid for the freedom pass that covers pensioner travel on all forms of transport. But when the Government introduced the national free bus scheme they agreed to contribute to the cost and cover journeys made by tourists and neighbours.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Local Government in London Cllr Sean Brennan said: “This a real cut for London. Council Tax payers will now have to dig deep and find the money to pay extra for the freedom pass. Whilst the rest of the country gets their scheme paid for by the Government London tax payers will have to pay two-thirds of the cost of giving our pensioners and visitors to London the transport they need.

“It is clear the Prime Minister has given up on London. London is the only major urban area to get a cut in the funding for elderly and disabled people and the Government is relying on London Council Tax payers to foot a bill they cover everywhere else in the country.”

At Prime Minsiter’s Question Time last Wednesday Tom Brake MP pushed the Prime Minister on the Council Tax increase that would be needed to cover the shortfall.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson branded this a double whammy for Londonders, she said:

“After Boris Johnson’s decision to hike bus fares by 20% Londoners now face a double whammy with this savage cut in funding for the Freedom Pass.

“Hard up London council taxpayers, who are already facing a steep rise in fares, will now have to pay even more in their council tax to maintain London’s Freedom Pass.”

“This is an outrageous proposal by the Labour Government who are insulting London’s pensioners, disabled people, as well as council taxpayers across the capital.”

Join the Lib Dem London wide campaign and sign the petition by clicking here or get get a campaign pack from Laura Willoughby (laura.willoughby@londoncouncils.gov.uk).

Residents of Waltham Forest and Hackney will soon be able to cross the River Lea over a new bridge. The programmed date for the new bridge to be installed is 30th January 2009.

Cllr O’Rourke said: “This bridge has fond memories for me. When younger my family and I used it often at weekends when we would walk down Coppermill Lane to cross to Springfield Park. I’m pleased a new, safer bridge will be installed to enable continued access for pedestrians and cyclists.”

Constructed in 1947 Highbridge footbridge is a pedestrian/cycle bridge over the River Lea  on the Borough boundary with Hackney. The bridge is adjacent to the Springfield Marina and is reached from a footway/cycle route that links up to Coppermill Lane. On the Hackney side of the River, the bridge leads to Spring Hill. The bridge is part of the national cycle route network.

The reason for the replacement was because the 1947 bridge was in a poor condition and in early 2006 failed an assessment.

The replacement bridge will be similar but not identical. It will have the same span, but will be wider with a clear internal width of 2 metres, as compared to 1.4 metres width on the former structure. The new bridge would also be open at the top, without the cross bracing members seen at the top of the old bridge.