including Woodford High Road from Chelmsford Road up to Empress Avenue and Working in conjunction with local businesses

Campaigns which the Neighbourood Watch have been involved in are listed below:

1) SAVE DERBY ROAD CAR PARK

Picture taken in June 2007 and courtesy of the Wanstead & Woodford Guardian

In June 2007 the Neighbourhood Watch got involved to try to Save Derby Road Car Park and we had great success with over 200 local residents and businesses turning up to a Grand Press Photo Shoot and supported by the Wanstead & Woodford Guardian. 

We also had support from our local Church End Ward Councillors and our MP - The Rt Hon Iain Duncan-Smith. 

After our Petitions to Redbridge Council and the Redbridge Conversation in 2008 it was agreed that Redbridge Council would not sell any Redbridge Car Parks or Allotments.  So for the time being the Car Park is safe.

2) This sign means that there is

"NO ACCESS" for motor vehicles other than residents and visitors. 

A Survey of traffic using Chelmsford Road revealed that over 7,000 vehicles used the road as a cut through contravening the sign on the left.

The Neighbourhood Watch has Campaigned for Redbridge Council to take some action.  A survey of traffic in Chelmsford Road shows that there are over 7,000 vehicles using our road as a cut through contravening the sign. 

The sign is also situated in Derby Road, Fullers Road and Avenue and Empress Avenue. 

Contravention of this sign is an offence and there is currently a £30 Fixed Penalty Notice and tickets have been issued by the Metropolitan Police. 

However we were made aware in early February 2009 that the Police are not allowed to enforce these type of traffic matters and it is up to the local Council now.  We will be in touch with our Councillors over this and will raise this matter at the next Redbrige Area 2 Committee meeting to be held in April 2009. 

UPDATE SEPT 2009 -The Watch is still involved in the issue of traffic using Chelmsford & Derby Roads as a rat run and that the signs are no longer being enforced, and this was discussed at great length at our last meeting held on 14th September 2009 and we will update you again soon.

UPDATE MARCH 2010 - We have been working hard to try to find a solution to the problem of traffic not only using Chelmsford Road but also Derby Road from Stanley Road down to Woodford High Road.    Any solution must also include Fullers Road & Avenue and Empress Avenue.

We have a meeting shortly with Councillor Hugh Cleaver who agrees that something needs to be done and we will update you when we have any further information.

3) Street Lighting in

Chelmsford & Derby Roads. 

There has a lack of new street lights that were installed in our streets, so we and the Council have looked at this to bring additional lighting to our Neighbourhood Watch.

We have now arranged for additional light to be installed outside no 82 Chelmsford Road and another outside The Rectory (which is still not working at present).  

Since our last update the light outside "The Rectory" is now working and we would like to thank the Council for arranging this after a wait of over 9 months.

There was a problem in Derby Road and it was agreed that the light outside no 19 be moved 3 metres to the right as it was covered by a tree. 

On the even side there is a light outside the Woodford Methodist Church and then no light until number 34 and we are asking the Council to look at this.

We are waiting to have a meeting with a Street Lighting Engineer to discuss the lack of street lighting between Woodford Methodist Church and number 34.  We will update you as soon as we have any further information. 

UPDATE SEPT 2009 - After the Watch being involved on behalf of local residents and your Co-ordinator attended the last Redbridge Area 2 Committee meeting on 8th September 2009, and since then an additional light in Derby Road was installed between nos 12 and 14 which was in the incorrect place.  After a meeting with a Street Lighting Engineer it was agreed that the light should be between nos 18 and 20 which was moved the following day.  We are now awaiting for EDF Energy to put the power to the new light and we will update you when this has been done.

With regard to the light outside no 19 Derby Road it was not working but is now, but the problem is that it is covered by a tree on private property at no 21 which the Council is going to deal with and again we will update you when we have further information. 

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2010 - At the last Area 2 Committee meeting we raised the problem of the private tree on the property at number 21 and we understand that an enforcement notice will be sent to these residents to cut back the tree otherwise the Council will do the job and then bill the owners.

4) Neighbourhood Watch Signs

In December 2007 when the Council erected new lamp posts our Neighbourhood Watch lost 11 signs which we have been trying to get Redbridge Council to put right snce then.

Frank Cruder your Co-ordinator & Chairman has been asking Redbridge Council since March 2008 to replace the Neighbourhood Watch signs that the contractors destroyed while removing our old street lights and putting up the new ones. 

We even received an assurance from the Chairman - Councillor Jim O'Shea of the Redbridge Area 2 Committee meeting in May 2008 that the signs would be replaced within 7 days days and here we are in February 2009 and they have still not been replaced. 

Frank raised the question at the Redbridge Area 2 Committee meeting held in February 2009 and was told that the matter will be dealt with.  Watch this space for updates when the Neighbourhood Watch signs will be replaced.

The Neighbourhood Watch signes since the last Redbridge Area 2 Committee Meeting held in April 2009 have now been replaced after just over one year of waiting.

5) SAVE OUR POST OFFICE IN SOUTH WOODFORD HIGH ROAD FROM CLOSURE.

Picture courtesy of the Wanstead & Woodford Guardian

In February 2008 the Neighbourhood Watch got involved in trying to keep our local Post Office open.  Even with the support of our local Ward Councillors and the majority of Councillors on Redbridge Council together with the support of our MP - The Rt Hon Iain Duncan-Smith we were unsucessful in our campaign, but this was not for the lack of trying. 

We got a large Petition signed by all local residents and was in 12 local businesses for signature.  But in the end the Post Office decided in their wisdom to close our local Post Office and therefore affecting the rest of the businesses in the local area.  As shoppers now go to Post Office elsewhere and do the rest of their shopping in that area. 

We would like to thank everyone who supported our Campaign, because without you, your voice would not have been heard.

6) RE-OPEN OUR LOCAL POST OFFICE IN SOUTH WOODFORD HIGH ROAD.

Picture courtesy of The Yellow Advertiser

Frank Cruder with local shopkeepers and residents signing the Petition to go to Redbridge Council, asking that they contact Essex County Council who opened a Post Office in Buckhurst Hill.  The Petition of 1,442 signatures were lodged by Councillor Richard Hoskins to the full Redbridge Council meeting on 20th November 2008. 

After all our Petitions and efforts to Save our Local Post Office we now understand from our local Councillors that Redbridge Council will not arrange to re-open our local Post Office as it is not on Council property and the cost involved.

7) BRING BACK POST OFFICE SERVICES TO SOUTH WOODFORD HIGH ROAD.

Picture coutesy of Frank's Pictures.

Website: www.frankspictures.webs.com

The Neighbourhood Watch together with our local Church End Ward Councillors are backing Mr Tajinder Sagoo of South Woodford News to get a Post Office counter service in order to provide certain services to the local businesses and residents.

A Press Release was issued to the local papers on 1st February 2009 and which appeared in the Wanstead & Woodford Guardian who are supporting our Campaign.  The story has also appeared in The Yellow Advertiser. 

Frank Cruder your Co-ordinator attended the Redbridge Area 2 Committee meeting on Tuesday 3rd February 2009 and read the statement to the Committee and asked them to support our Campaign. 

Councillors  at the meeting gave their unanimous support to Mr Sagoo's plan and promised to write to the Post Office on his behalf.  The Council have also written to the Post Office in support of Mr Sagoo's plan and we are waiting to hear if he has been successful

We will update you as soon as we have any further information.

8) BUS STOP AT 179 HIGH ROAD, WOODFORD GREEN RELOCATION AND INFILL OF BUS STOP LAY-BY.

Picture courtesy of Frank's Pictures

Website: www.frankspictures.webs.com

You will have read in the local press that Redbridge Council  and Transport for London had proposals to infill the existing lay by at 179 High Road, Woodford Green, relocate the Bus Stop onto the infill, and turn the frontages from 186 to 194 into a loading bay.

Frank Cruder your Co-ordinator made a statement at the Redbridge Area 2 Committee meeting and it was decided the proposals would be scrapped. 

Councillor Jim O'Shea, Chairman of the Committee said "I woudl like to put a recommendation forward that we forget about it". 

The Committee duly agreed.

This means that the Bus Lay-By and Bus Stop will stop where they are, so the Neighbourhood Watch have won another Campaign for our area.

9) Crossing at Queen Mary Gate Site

On a number of occasions we have raised the problem of people crossing this road which has no pedestrian lights showing if it is safe to cross or not.

This has been mentioned on a few occasions at the Area 2 Committee meetings and our local Councillors are also in favour of something being done because many people beleive it is a dangerous crossing.  We will update you when we have any further information.

10) "NO COLD CALLING ZONE" 

Trying to stop door sellers to knock on your door.

We have asked our Safer Neighbourhoods Team to possibly arrange to set up a "No Cold Calling Zone" for both Chelmsford & Derby Roads as most residents are fed up with companies knocking at their doors trying to selling them items or asking them to sign Direct Debits for some charities. 

UPDATE MAY 2010  -  As most of you know we have been trying to get both Chelmsford & Derby Roads made a "No Cold Calling Zone" and we are pleased to announce that with effect from 13th May 2010 both Chelmsford & Derby Roads are now a "No Cold Calling Zone" and an information pack will be delivered to every house in these two streets by no later than Friday 28th May.  The Pack will be delivered with our latest Newsletter Edition no 18 May to August 2010 and our latest Recommended Traders list. 

It is up to you the residents to police it, by not opening the front door or by calling Consumer Direct on:  08454- 04 05 06 OR you can go to their website: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

11) PAY & DISPLAY MACHINE

IN DERBY ROAD CAR PARK

At the Pay & Display machine in Derby Road Car Park there are now signs saying "Should the Pay & Display machine be out of order, you must use the Cashless Parking (Ring Go) facility. 

Failure to do so will result in your being issued with a Penalty Notice. We have received calls from residents in Derby Road about this and since then we have spoken to Councillor Nicola Sinclair regarding this, because we believe that many elderly residents who visit businesses like Elaine Atkins Physiotherapy, Woodford Dental Practice, Victoria & Albert Hair Parlour and Scott's Hairdressers do not have mobile phones and would not want to use a credit card or debit card to pay for their parking.  We will update you when we have any further information.