Stow meetings cancelled over security fears
2:52pm Friday 3rd December 2010 in News
L&Q had planned to presents its latest plans for the Stow site
THE owner of Walthamstow Stadium has dramatically cancelled public consultation events on the future of the iconic venue over fears for staff safety.
The housing association says its staff felt threatened by some of those who attended the first consultation event at Christ The King Roman Catholic Church in Chingford Road yesterday.
L&Q says it has been in touch with the police and a formal complaint is in the process of being made.
Steve Yianni, L&Q regional director, said: "It is with deep regret that we are postponing these events but we cannot put our own staff's personal safety at risk from those who oppose our plans for redevelopment of the area.
“With over 15,000 people on the waiting list for homes in Waltham Forest we had planned to present our proposals for a new community on the site which, until its demise several years ago, had provided a great backdrop and focal point for the area.”
Mr Yianni added that the stadium was running at a significant loss at the time of its closure and L&Q's research showed half of residents never visited the venue.
He continued: “We have been shocked by the constant barrage of insults we have received and bitterly disappointed that MPs, who are acutely aware of the need for housing in the area, have provided no support for L&Q."
Comments(13)
Sam Hain
says...
4:13pm Fri 3 Dec 10
Silent Majority 2009
says...
5:04pm Fri 3 Dec 10
Having spent over an hour waiting for the exhibition to open this afternoon I was very annoyed to find there was no exhibition when the church was opened. Why did the church not put up a notice that the exhibition was cancelled if they knew their booking had been adandoned? Over a dozen people were left out in the cold with no idea of why the hall was not open. The purpose of these consultation exercises, as recommended by the planning process, is to encourage the developer and residents to understand each others point of view. Residents have made it clear to L&Q from the very beginning their scheme is not acceptable but L&Q have ploughed on regardless. This makes a complete mockery of the process and L&Q should be ashamed of the way they have behaved.
Housing Associations exist to spend OUR money on social housing, not to line their own pockets or to run rough shod over local feelings. By not even bothering to put up a notice to say the event was closed just shows what contempt they have for the residents of Waltham Forest.
lamorna
says...
6:18pm Fri 3 Dec 10
How does it feel to live in such an exciting period of our history?
Now there's no meeting tomorrow, I'll go a film.......if only the Borough had a cinema.
rich-e17
says...
7:04pm Fri 3 Dec 10
md-j
says...
9:39pm Fri 3 Dec 10
So half of them DID? That's an amazing level of support, when you add in people who came from outside the Borough. That's more than go to all places of worship put together, probably, and certainly more than voted for any or all parties in the last local election. It must therefore be by far the most popular recreational activity in the Borough, leaving Orient far behind. Is this really the conclusion L & Q want people to draw?
On the question of intimidation: presumably L&Q have given footage to the police of any incidents they thought came under this heading?
Seeing Sense
says...
11:40pm Fri 3 Dec 10
Anyone who thinks a housing association is going to wave a magic wand and start trying its hand at greyhound racing is several sandwiches short of a picnic.
sensibility
says...
11:48pm Fri 3 Dec 10
L&Q should not prevent local residents from viewing the plans and making their comments.
If they are not happy about doing this face to face then leaflet every and I do mean EVERY household in the area so it is actually the local people who get to comment. This would also be more inclusive as it would give anyone housebound an opportunity to comment too.
It may well be that because of their actions today they have lost the support of some locals who more willing to give them a chance bearing in mind that although residents have previously commented it doesnt appear that any have been taken into consideration.
sensibility
says...
12:20am Sat 4 Dec 10
http://www.lqgroup.o
rg.uk/_assets/files/
LQ-Walthamstow-Stadi
um-Consultation-Boar
ds-LR-Dec-2010.pdf
Judge for yourselves but having read through it and looked at the pictures it is quite obvious there are a lot of buildings that are much higher than the houses surrounding the stadium. Interesting that apart from the "apartment pavillions block" none of the others are marked thus drawing attention mainly to houses of the current height of surrounding properties.
Redfox
says...
12:34am Sat 4 Dec 10
Back at the homestead......does WF really need that many more homes? Does it need a housing association to build them?
If 500 units are built at the 'Stow where the hell are all the sprogs going to go to school....Selwyn is out-dated and unable to expand on its' current site: Chapel End is also bursting and will fill vacant space soon in their playground with "mobiles": Winns cannot even do that because of building INTO their playgrounds 8 years ago to accomodate rising intake. Waltham Forest cannot take any more people from ethnic groups who insist on 4-5 kids each without practising restraint.
People should also keep a wary eye on another nearby site too at Billet Works close to Ascham school. The proposal to build 360 units there has only been temporarily put on hold. Where will the sprogs from THAT site go to school??
This in a part of the 21st century that has,right now, no need for people of youth age with no qualifications in the 3 R's, can't read, can't spell,can't add up and can't communicate in the Queen's English. Stop having kids, there's no future for them.
lamorna
says...
11:03am Sat 4 Dec 10
Can you advise of anything that can actually be done 'in' the Borough of Waltham Forest without resorting to hour-long bus journeys at the height of the rush hour to get to Romford?
Remember this isn't just about dog racing it is also about cinemas, and football grounds, and lidos, and libraries, and museums, and dance halls.....never forget that.
leokeo
says...
2:08pm Sat 4 Dec 10
This is total fabrication from L&Q there was no violence . Funny the day they cancelled the MP's & tv cameras were due to visit at 4pm . L&Q have already made a public apology which is due to be printed so why is the paper printing a story without any foundation !!!
Walthamster
says...
12:20am Mon 6 Dec 10
The last thing this area needs is hundreds more flats. This newspaper recently reported the dire state of overcrowding, with many children who can't even get a place in a school.
We need amenities and infrastructure.
Chinwagger says...
3:30pm Fri 3 Dec 10