Cllr James O’Rourke

Councillors James O’Rourke and Johar Khan have welcomed the dramatic eleventh hour Labour u-turn after new Leader of the Council, Cllr Chris Robbins, announced that the former St James Street Library building will not become a drug treatment centre  following pressure from local residents and the High Street Focus Team. Only a few weeks ago, Cllr Robbins, said that the centre (DAT) would be a “wonderful addition” to the area.

In a seemingly ‘fit of spite’ Cllr Robbin’s also announced that the building is to be sold off in a matter of weeks. Upon hearing this Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan contacted the cabinet member responsible for Property & Asset management, Lib Dem Leader, Cllr John Macklin who said:

“Cllr Robbins’ announcement is news to me particularly as we are in the middle of a comprehensive review of all the properties the Council owns. No Council property I’m responsible for will be sold until the review is complete.”

Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan thanked Cllr Macklin for his continued commitment and support for the former library to be used for the benefit of the wider community in the St James Street and Coppermill Lane areas.

Dozens of High Street residents joined Cllr James O’Rourke, Cllr Johar Khan, Lib Dem Walthamstow Parliamentary Candidate, Farid Ahmed, and Focus team member, Mahmood Hussain, to demonstrate against Labour’s proposal for a drug rehabilitation centre in the former St James Street Library.

High Street councillor, Liaquat Ali, who recently became the latest Labour member of the Councils cabinet suprised everyone by turning up. Cllr Ali’s refusal to provide a straight answer to Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan’s dogged questioning asking whether he would simply vote YES or NO when his party presents the proposal again at July’s cabinet did not impress residents.

Cllr’s O’Rourke and Khan said: “The proposed location of a DAT in the former library is totally inappropriate being right in the middle of four primary schools and on the main route to the shopping area in High Street. Labour needs to think again and Cllr Ali needs to keep his promises.”  

The demonstration follows an open letter from Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan to Cllr Ali asking him to honor the commitments he made to residents by voting against the proposal now he is a member of the Councils Cabinet. Labour members continue to push through proposals to house a drug rehabilitation centre (DAT) at the former St James Street Library in Coppermill Lane. Click here to see a copy of the letter.

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have met for a second time with the UK’s largest independent cinema operators to discuss the historic former EMD building in Walthamstow - on the same day that the Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration appeared to dash resident’s hopes that the venue would ever be restored as a cinema.

Lyn Goleby, Managing Director of City Screen - the owner of Stratford’s popular Picture House cinema - met at Waltham Forest Town Hall with the borough’s Chief Executive Andrew Kilburn, Liberal Democrat group Leader John Macklin and High St councillor James O’Rourke to discuss previous Council-commissioned reports which made the business case for a 5-screen cinema on the EMD site.

The building is owned by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), but recent comments from the UCKG have seemed to suggest that the Church would consider moving if an offer was made for the building.

Cllr O’Rourke said that the meeting with City Screen had been organised in order to ensure all parties could “hear another perspective” on claims that the site was not viable as a cinema.

However, just hours later Council portfolio holder Terry Wheeler appeared to strongly rule out any future for the building as a cinema. (Click here to read the Waltham Forest Guardian’s report on Cllr Wheeler’s comments).

Local Lib Dem leader Cllr John Macklin, who was in attendance at the meeting with City Screen, said:

“I have met with UCKG representatives and very much welcome the efforts they have made to begin engaging with residents and councillors. Of course I recognise the legal restrictions which are associated with planning law and respect the UCKG’s position as owners of the site.

“Yet it is completely wrong for the Council - which is led on this issue by Cllr Wheeler - to be seen to be so completely dismissive of the apparent strength of public opinion on this matter. It is the misinformation and manoeuvring that has taken place over a number of years that has fed such confusion and dismay amongst residents.

“Conflicting reports over the viability of the site as a cinema, false promises of Council action and meetings held behind closed doors have all led to an environment of distrust and anger.

“As I have said before, it is simply not good enough to appear to just tell Walthamstow residents what they want in their area.”

Click here to see previous EMD articles.

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High Street Safer Neigbourhood Team (SNT),  in partnership with a local charity Spark2Life, are visiting the four primary schools in High Street ward promoting the message of ‘Say NO to Knives’.

In subtle, yet hard hitting presentations, children are being told of the consquences of carrying knives.

Cllr O’Rourke attended the presentation at Mission Grove Primary School and was as ingrossed as the children were with the videos, group work and enactment of a stop and search.

Cllr O’Rourke said: “It is great to have such a proactive SNT and I congratulate Sgt Steedman and PC Dan Fox for extending this vital message to children in primary schools. Initiatives like these are welcome and I hope they will continue.”

Last October Cllr O’Rourke, as Chair of the Children and Young Peoples Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee, took a report on tackling knife crime in Waltham Forest. A key recommendation has resulted in Waltham Forest getting ten new Police Officers with two for High Street ward.

Click here for more information about Spark2Life.

Stoneydown and Mission Grove Primary Schools have received the presentation. Coppermill and St Patrick’s Primary Schools will receive their presentations before the summer break.

Fifty seven school children carrying placards and banners filled the Town Hall Council Chamber to meet with Liberal Democrat Cabinet member for Environment, Cllr Bob Belam, to discuss their concerns about the environment.

The children from Hillyfield School, in Higham Hill ward, used research carried out over many weeks to ask testing questions of Cllr Belam ranging from global warming to people dropping litter and car sharing. In return Cllr Belam told them how he has been tackling the issues raised over the last three years and what his plans are for the future including the new John Beanse Centre.

Cllr O’Rourke, Chair of the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee, congratulated the children and staff for their hard work and enthusiasm saying:

“I was thrilled to hear how knowledgable the children were about their environment both locally and globally. It was great to hear the children sharing the same views with adults about littering and recycling.”