Marching with William Morris for the Alternative - 26th March

Walthamstow CLP is justly proud of its marching banner, which we paraded for the full march last Saturday, with more than 30 local members. 


The banner was created  in 1984, at the height of the Miners strike (depicted in the left hand panel), and the centenary of  William Morris founding the Socialist League in 1884 (the right hand panel), by artist Dave Bangs [who conveniently included his phone number on it if anyone wants to catch up with him!] Amongst the thousands of machine made banners displayed on the March there was nothing to match its hand-painted individuality, and it drew constant interest and admiration. 


You can see my facebook pictures here.

You can see Martin's pictures here

CLP the fundraiser dinner with Caroline Flint last Thursday

The CLP fundraiser dinner with Caroline Flint was last Thursday the 24th, and you can see my facebook pictures here.  The event was planned to be in the Mallinson Suite restaurant at Waltham Forest College, but as many people will know, the venue had to be changed at the very last minute, because of a picket line of the UCU in support of their dispute with the College. In a message on the event facebook page [full text here] CLP Chair Simon Redfern wrote:
" . . . I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who was able to join us at the Star of India to make a pretty difficult evening into a success. Particularly Caroline Flint who very gamely soldiered on throughout and gave a great speech too. . . . Our brilliant Labour colleague Shah Ahmed managed to fit us in at very very short notice.

. . . . . thank you to all that attended and apologies to those who turned back.  If I wasn't bald already I would probably have lost all my hair over that one!  Here's to the next event running a little more smoothly.

All the best, Simon Redfern [Chair, Walthamstow Labour Party]"

and Stella Creasy MP issued the following statement: 

Three months ago Walthamstow Labour Party decided to hold a fundraising dinner at Waltham Forest College to raise money for campaigning and to highlight that it is a college where two thirds of students receive the education maintenance allowance which is being cut by the Government. When it was confirmed yesterday afternoon on the day of the dinner itself that the UCU strike was taking place at the college and would continue into the evening, and that we could not arrange a meeting with those on strike, we organised an alternative venue for our dinner and so did not enter the college. I urge both the college and the union members to enter into meaningful negotiations as all seek to protect the future of further education. Furthermore I will continue to work with other MPs to press the Government to reinstate EMA or set out an alternative scheme to help ensure our young people in Walthamstow can go onto further and higher education without fear that poverty will make this a choice beyond their means.

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Saturday 26 March joining the TUC 'March for The Alternative' in Westminster to demonstrate against the government’s cuts (see below) rally in Walthamstow Town Square at 9.30am. I will then be attending the Senior Asian Citizens Group social, the Pak Cultural Society Evening and the Tamil Sangam Celebration Evening at Waltham Forest Town Hall. 
• Monday 28 March attending a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee where we will be hearing evidence  about the points-based immigration system
• Tuesday 29 March attending two meetings of the Education Bill Commitee to put the case for amendments I have tabled in support of special educational needs and youth services. 
• Wednesday 30 March participating in a Public Accounts Committee meeting as well as hosting a roundtable event with MPs, academics and industry experts to discuss what action can be taken on capping the costs of credit as part of my campaign to end legal loan sharking (see below)
• Thursday 31 March participating in two more sessions of the Education Bill Committee 
• Friday 1 April holding a meeting to discuss the future of sheltered housing in Walthamstow - to help us with catering please email if you wish to attend. 
• Saturday  2 April attending a community conversation event in Chapel End Ward at Chapel End Junior School between 2pm and 4pm. All ward residents welcome. 

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Saturday 19 March attending the Lea Bridge Library Community Fun Day
• Monday 21 March participating in Education Question time and the Public Accounts Committee’s hearing on the Olympics
• Tuesday 22 March attending the Education Bill Committee to continue scrutinising the Government’s plans for education including tabling amendments on how best to safeguard children within schools. 
• Wednesday 23 March participating in the debate in Parliament on the Government's Budget to highlight the impact it will have on family incomes and the need for action to tackle legal loan sharking. 
• Thursday 24 March attending another full day’s session on the Education Bill Committee, and attending the Walthamstow Labour Party Dinner and Debate with Caroline Flint MP at Waltham Forest College in the evening
• Friday 25 March visiting Willowfield School and holding an appointment only surgery. To book a place at this surgery please call 020 8521 1223. 
• Saturday 26 March attending the TUC March in support of jobs and growth for the UK economy, then attending the Walthamstow Asian Senior Citizens Social, the Pak Cultural Society Evening and the Waltham Forest Tamil Sangam Celebration.  

Weekend line and station closures 19/20 March

On Saturday and Sunday, there is no service on the entire line

News from Jennette Arnold AM

Walthamstow Hoe Street planning application

A large number of local residents in Walthamstow have written to Jennette Arnold to share their objections and concerns about the plans for the Hoe Street approach site in the area. The planning application has now been received by the mayor and the GLA’s Planning Decision Unit (PDU) for the stage 2 decision. All objections received so far have been passed to the planning officers to be included in the advisory report to the Mayor. If you have any concerns about this project please email:jose.lapre@london.gov.uk (researcher to Jennette) before Tuesday the 15th of March.

The New Statesman - on the Old State of the EMD

Gilbey on Film: save our cinemas!

Posted by Ryan Gilbey - 08 March 2011 15:29

Unlike out-of-town multiplexes, the likes of Walthamstow's EMD bring communities together.

The campaign to save the EMD cinema in Walthamstow, east London, is nothing new (the NS reported on it back in 2004) but it is vital that anyonewishing to add their signatures to the petition does so by the end of this month.

The McGuffin Film and Television Society (so named in honour of Alfred Hitchcock, born in nearby Leytonstone) has done a hardy job of highlighting the social and cultural loss which will befall this corner of London if the cinema, which is Grade II listed, is converted into a church by its current owners UCKG (United Church of the Kingdom of God). UCKG bought the building in 2003, following their acquisition of the Rainbow Theatre, the legendary former music venue in Finsbury Park, north London. Since then, the EMD has stood dormant, and was recently occupied by squatters. Images taken by the local MP Stella Creasy have shown the interior to be in a state of significant disrepair, contrary to the claims of UCKG.

A video filmed by torchlight inside the cinema was as difficult for me to watch as any horror movie. I have a sentimental attachment to the place -- it was where I saw my first film, and countless subsequent ones. I was as happy there as a child as anywhere I have ever been, so it would not be overstating the case to say that seeing the dilapidated, water-damaged interior now is like witnessing the desecration of a childhood home.

[article continues here]

Menu choices for the dinner with Caroline Flint, 24th March

This is the menu for the Gourmet dinner at the Mallinson Suite restaurant in Waltham Forest College on march 24th. Read it and book - or regret it for a long time! Booking deadline is VERY SOON! 

Call 07957 228019 or email: campaigns@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk and you get the chance to choose

1. Menu options for yourself/ your guests:

Starter (one of the following):

London pea soup

or

Chilled cucumber and watercress soup (V)

or

Poached asparagus with warm butter sauce(V)

or

Goujons of plaice with lemon mayonnaise, served with a avocado and pink grapefruit salad

Main course (one of the following):

Steamed steak and kidney pudding with/without deep fried oysters (H)

or

Poached haddock with poached egg and spinach

or

Roast Aylesbury duck glazed with marmalade

or

Vegetables en croute with sweet pepper sauce (V)

(All main courses are served with seasonal vegetables)

Dessert (one of the following):

Baked ginger cheesecake with home-made ginger ice cream

or

Fruit Salad

(V) = Vegetarian, (H) = Halal

Free canapés served with the pre-dinner drinks from the bar, and petit fours  with the after dinner coffee.

Wine or soft drinks to accompany your meal can be purchased from the Bar

Contact us by email [campaigns@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk] or on 07957 228 019. It promises to be an excellent evening!

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Tuesday 8 March participating in two sessions of the Education Bill Committee. I have tabled amendments to this bill which will support provision for children with special educational needs. See below for details.
• Wednesday 9 March attending the Public Accounts Committee’s hearing on The Typhoon Fighter Planes and a Government seminar on preventing illegal money lending. 
• Thursday 10 March participating in two further sessions of debate regarding the Education Bill.
• Friday 11 March meeting with a range of community group representatives to discuss local public services and holding an appointment only advice surgery. To book a place please call 020 8521 1223.   

Gourmet Dinner with Caroline Flint - 24 March