Combatting crime

There has been much concern over recent months about crime.

It is unsettling for the community, especially the victims. As the victim of a mugging some years ago, I can recall the physical and particularly the mental scars it left. A feeling of not being safe, seeing everyone as a threat.

Where things have changed over recent years is with the growth of social media. This has positives and negatives when it comes to crime. Things like street Whats App and Facebook groups help keep people informed. They know to keep their eyes open for suspicious behaviour etc. There can also be a collective feeling of not being alone.

The negative side of social media is to overhype crime, creating a state of hysteria that fosters fear . There seems to be this compulsion with social media that everyone has to say something. Maybe it is an outlet for some people to just let it all out but in the case of crime that is not always helpful as it helps create a false impression of the real situation on the streets. This can frighten people, who then may not come out.

Some of these problems became apparent at a recent ward panel meeting with the police, where it emerged that a crime that had been described in detail on social media, had not been reported. This caused much frustration to the police, who cannot act unless crime is reported to them. In a wider context the failure to report crime suggests the crime is just not there, so police resources will shift elsewhere.

At times, it can seem on social media that Wanstead is some sort of crime centre. A look at the most recent crime statistics suggests this is not true, with crime at a lower level here than in most other parts of the borough. For example, there were 90 thefts in Wanstead Park and Wanstead Village Wards (45 in each) for the three month period to 12 May 2019. This compares to 288 in Clementswood in Ilford.

Crime is a problem but much can be done to combat it in our community. Take preventative measures to secure possessions. If you do become the victim of a crime, then report it to the police.

 We all need to look out for each other also whether that be via information on social media or just being more vigilant when out and about.

The council has brought more CCTV cameras to the area, which has helped combat crime. Redbridge enforcement teams are also active.

There is also the Streetwatch scheme which is operating in some parts of Redbridge, where groups of vetted and trained residents patrol different areas.  This is an option for Wanstead, if people want it and are prepared to come forward and take part.

There are things beyond our control, such as the failure by the government to fully fund the police service. It is becoming more and more apparent across the land that this lack of investment is putting citizens at risk. The government needs to reverse this foolhardy policy.

The situation is not ideal but crime is always going to be with us. What is important though is that we all act to make crime as difficult as possible for the perpetrators to commit. Preventative measures are important, as is reporting crime, for those who become the unfortunate victims. But what is equally important is that we all look out for each other – that means in the physical (real) world as well as online.     

Combatting loneliness

Loneliness is a growing occurance in an ever more atomised world.

More people are living alone, increasingly existing in isolated furrows.

The subject of loneliness came up recently in relation to a new project being launch. There was an instant leap amongst the audience to link loneliness with being old. 

Yes, no doubt loneliness does hit older people, who may get cut off from community due to physical or familial situations. 

It is a sobering thought, getting older, as increasing numbers that we have known die off.
But lyoneliness is certainly not restricted to the elderly - all ages can get cut off.

What of the young people, who feel alone with nowhere to turn - under exam or caring pressures?

Loneliness is something that probably hits everyone at some point in their lives. A family might break up amid acrimonious circumstances. Unemployment can take away work-based companionship. Then there is the increasingly atomised forms of computer based work. The traditional workplace with the travel to and from as well as associated social interaction is becoming less prevalent.

The social media world can disguise loneliness.Quite often people post comments that make you think, haven't you got someone to discuss that with. Why put it out there for all to see?

Loneliness is not simply about an absence of people. Individuals can feel lonely in the largest of family settings, alienated and unheard. There is loneliness in marriage.

And being alone is not loneliness. Many like being alone, others crave more time on their own Loneliness is when the individual does not like being alone and feels isolated and cut off.

This can lead onto mental health issues. A growing phenonema in our society.

Thankfully, loneliness is beginning to be recognised and addressed. There are groups being established to help out. Places where people can go. But everyone can do a bit by just being a little more sensitive to others.

Be prepared to give that time to listen. Don't dismiss people easily and move on. Don't judge others.

If we all make an effort and reach out to our neighbours in the community, then things like loneliness will be less prevalent.

Yes, we need schemes to address loneliness but all can do a bit to be more friendly to those we meet on a daily basis.

Published - 23/5/2019 - Wanstead & Woodford Guardian

We need a massive switch to renewables to avert climate disaster

One of the objectives of the Wanstead Environmental Charter is for greater energy efficiency in the community.

This involves all the different groups covered by the Charter - individuals in their homes, businesses, schools and the council - stepping up to address the issue.

There seems to a remarkable lack of uptake on sustainable energy sources in this area. Visit Norfolk, Suffolk, Sussex or Kent and see houses and fields covered with solar panels.

Travel along to Rainham or out to Rye and off the coast at Broadstairs to see wind turbines turning on a daily basis – producing non-polluting energy.

In Redbridge, a roof with solar panels is a relative rarity. Indeed, I heard one story at the Environmental Charter launch about how a local church had been forced to take panels off the roof of a hall after local complaints. The methodology of Noah’s ark in reverse. This was, though, a few years ago.

If climate disaster is to be averted there has to be a huge transformation to renewable energy. Fossil fuels need to stay in the ground.

In this country, a good start was made about a decade ago, when the then Labour government brought in generous incentives in the form of feed in tariffs (fit) to encourage people to become micro energy generators by having photovoltaic and solar panels put on their roofs. This encouraged many people to take the plunge. However, this subsidy has been whittled away and finally disappeared altogether last month.

Unfortunately, the actions of the present government in no way reflect the rhetoric that they spout. Whilst pronouncing how effective the UK has been at cutting emissions, the government has turned positively hostile toward the sustainable energy industry. It stopped onshore wind turbines (one of the best and cheapest ways of generating energy), cut the (fit) subsidy to solar panels and promoted fracking. A burgeoning renewables sector that was producing more and more jobs was effectively stopped in its tracks.

This approach has to be reversed.

A green deal of the type being promoted by progressive Democrats in the US is the way forward here too. Renewable energy will be key to this approach, with a ban on fossil fuels and the retrofit of old buildings. No new buildings should be being constructed that are not zero carbon efficient. Green roofs can also make a positive contribution.

In London, the Mayor has taken some steps, setting his target of the city becoming zero carbon by 2050. There have been a number of schemes, including the London Community Energy Fund and the Solar Together scheme.

One current scheme is Cleaner Heat Cashback, which encourages Small and Medium-sized Enterprises with 30 to 40% cashback to replace old inefficient heating schemes with new energy efficient alternatives (see: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/business-and-economy/cleaner-heat-cashback). 

Energy efficiency is one of the big challenges facing us – particularly since we seem to be starting from a very low base mark in this area.

All parts of our community need to be looking at how we use energy, what better schemes can be deployed to use less and operate in a cleaner, greener way.

published - Wanstead and Woodford Guardian - 16 & 18 May 2019

 

A good start for Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham, though expectations are now raised for even better next season

^{This was a transitional season for West Ham, with new manager Manuel Pellegrini at the helm promising a bright future for the club.}

^{Pellegrini arrived last June, immediately setting about bringing in nine new signings to galvanise the club.}

^{The future looked promising, with the likes of Felipe Anderson, Andrily Yarmolenko and  Jack Wilshere coming in - a statement of intent.}

^{The start of the season, though,  seemed  to come too early, with the players at times looking like they had not been introduced to each other, let alone played together for the first four games.}

^{But it all changed with the 3-1 away win against Everton in September - Pellegrini’s show was finally on the road.}

^{After that game, the team  had a series of good  results, culminating in a run of five wins in six games in December. The fans were thrilled with the attacking football being served up on a week by week basis. A real return to the West Ham way.}

^{Flare players like Felipe Anderson thrilled the fans with audacious skills, such as with the fantastic curling shot that secured the points against Crystal Palace. Anderson showed flashes of skill reminiscent of Dimitri Payet at his best.}

^{The manager made two great signings in Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena, who formed an impenetrable barrier at the back. Then Angelo Ogbonna let no one down when he deputised, first, when Balbuena got injured and  then when Diop lost form.}

^{But the pick of the new signings was goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who performed heroics between the posts for the whole season. The many points achieved due to Fabianski can only be guessed at but his presence was immense throughout the season.}

<sup>Another huge plus was the development of Declan Rice. He began the season uncertainly, getting dropped for the second game against Arsenal. But after that he was back, growing in stature, playing in the defensive covering midfield position. By the end of the season Rice had added some goals and two England caps to his collection.

Others, like crowd favourite Michail Antonio came back to form, bringing much needed pace and goals to the team.</sup>  

^{Pellegrini’s willingness to give young players a chance was a welcome development, something sadly lacking since the distant days when Gianfranco Zola was manager. As well as Rice, the manager gave Grady Diangana his opportunity.}

^{Others given a chance included Ben Johnson, Conor Coventry and Xande Silva.}  

^{The highlights of the season were the victory at Spurs in April and the significant improvement in home form, which included victories over Arsenal and Manchester United. .}

^{The low points were the poor start, with the four losses and the humiliating FA Cup exit away at AFC Wimbledon. Many had thought it could have been West Ham’s year in the Cup..and it could have been with a little more application at Wimbledon.}

^{So overall it was an exciting season, the best so far at the London stadium, with nine home wins recorded. The team finished strongly with three wins. The final placing of 10th could have been higher, without the inconsistent form, particularly at the start of the season. However, the officials also played their part, late on, denying West Ham five points in the games away at Manchester United and home to Leicester. A bit more consistency would have secured the Hammers 7th and European football.}

^{But all in all fans will be looking forward to next season with anticipation. The club has an excellent manager, who knows what he is doing. Just so long as the board do not start interfering, the team should be able to move up to the next level, bolstered by a few astute signings in the summer.}

^{The manager will be looking at the striking department, which has proved inconsistent. He is likely to shift one or two out and bring some in. Whether Marko Arnautovic is coming or going remains to be seen. He certainly has the potential to be a 20 goal a season player but as Pellegrini has pointed out he needs to remained focused on his role. The team also needs strengthening at the full back positions.}

<sup>Another welcome development this term has seen the board taking  more of a back seat, letting the team and manager do the talking. So a good season, with  expectations high amongst fans for next term.

published - Morning Star - 15/5/2019</sup>

First year as a councillor

It's now a year since we got elected as councillors for Wanstead Village - how time flies?

The year has been busy, dealing with people's day to day problems, as well as trying to help shape the bigger council vision for Redbridge.

Car parking permits, litter bins, planning issues, trees and crime have all figured amongst the casework. Hopefully we have resolved the majority of problems that have come our way.

It was pleasing to be able to get some CCTV cameras in the area to help counter crime. Also, helping to get a bit more help for community  activists like the community gardeners and Wild Wanstead. There is still much more that can be done in the area.

Highlights of the year, included, the Wanstead Festival and Fringe held in September. Both go from strength to strength, attracting ever more participants, with each passing year.

The Remembrance Day commemorations were moving events, bringing people together to mourn and remember.
It has been an exciting time, with the vision for Wanstead including a new swimming pool. a cleaner greener environment and community hubs bringing services together in more accessible form for local residents.
These objectives are at varying levels of development. The pool is all set to begin construction later in the year, with completion hopefully sometime next year.
The environmental charter has started to happen, with litter picks, more biodiversity in the area and moves to address pollution. It is though still early days, with the charter only just launched. The success will depend on how many local people actually come forward to take up the challenge, via taking cleaner journeys. greater energy efficiency, less litter and more recycling, greater biodiversity and reducing individual carbon footprints.
The community hub is still at consultation stage, offering the chance for local residents to shape the building and service provision being provided.
On a Redbridge level, the council has done a good job in balancing the budget and finding new innovative ways of providing services. There are some exciting developments coming along.

A disappointment has been the slowness to act on environmental challenges. There is a climate emergency on us now.

There have been positive moves, like the planting of 15,000 trees in the borough and other efforts to increase biodiversity. But we are slow to bring in major change that could really transform the situation.  Something like the mini-hollands approach to transport and living seen in neighbouring Waltham Forest would really improve the health of people in Redbridge.
Redbridge should become a beacon for sustainable living – going to zero carbon as quick as possible. Hopefully, the motion that we are bringing forward next month, calling on the council to declare a climate emergency, with measurable benchmarks being set to assess progress toward addressing the situation, will help move things forward.

The shadow of Brexit still hands over us all but hopefully that cloud may soon rise.

Overall, the first year has been an interesting and fulfilling time. There has been a glimpse of what can be achieved   – the coming months will show whether those hopes can be realised.

West Ham run out comfortable winners over Southampton

West Ham 3-0 Southampton

 

West Ham ran out easy winners of this end of season encounter with Southampton.

The game had the feel of two teams with nothing to play for, with both missing some key players

West Ham opened the scoring on the 16th minute, when an inch perfect through ball from Mark Noble was finished with ease by Marko Arnautovic.

Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio then tested Southampton keeper Fraser Forster but he was equal to the challenge pushing both shots aside.

After the interval, Southampton enjoyed a period of possession, without creating much by way of chances. The best being a shot from Nathan Redmond that was acrobatically pushed over by Lukasz Fabianski.

The second West Ham goal came when an Arthur Masuaka shot was pushed up in the air by Forster, presenting an ideal opportunity for Arnautovic to nod home.

The third came five minutes later, when Ryan Fredericks ran through, receiving a back heel from Jack Wilshere, to then fire home his first Premiership goal.

Arnautovic was presented with a great chance by Lucas Perez for his hat trick but whipped the ball just wide.

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini paid tribute to captain Mark Noble as a player, "who always gives the maximum."

The manager called on his team to continue their winning run, by continuing to show "concentration and intensity."

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted the stresses and strains of recent months had caught up with his team. "We were not mentally and physically at our highest point at this moment," he said."We were a few steps too late always."

Hasenhuttl admitted that a lot needed doing in the summer to make the team better.

One small step for humankind, one giant leap for Wanstead - launch of the Environmental Charter

The combined threats to the planet have certainly loomed large in the news recently, with growing numbers joining the Extinction Rebellion protests in London and across the country. A number of people from Wanstead have been taking part in those protests.

There have been complaints from some about the inconvenience it has caused with travel, getting to work etc. But this is surely to miss the point, which is that we cannot just go on in our atomised furrows, ploughing along in isolation from everyone else. This is to a large degree what has been going on for years. It is the type of denial that has enabled the destruction of the planet to take place. It is also the attitude that has let politicians put the issue on the back burner, never really acting to address the crisis.

Many have pointed out that had politicians acted when the environmental threat first became apparent back in the 1980s, the devastation could have been stopped. But they did not, there was rhetoric and no action. Now the situation has reached an emergency level, requiring much more drastic and costly steps to be taken.

Councillor Jo Blackman and myself will be bringing forward a climate emergency motion to the Redbridge Council in June. This will help kick start the council’s approach to countering the environmental threats.

It will be important to really convey that this is an emergency with action needed - the International Panel on Climate Change warned last year that we had 12 years to save the planet - well we've already wasted one of them.

The Wanstead environmental charter, which officially launches today (2/5), will enshrine some of the practical steps that need to be taken to address the emergency. More people need to engage, from businesses, schools, and civil society to individuals and the council.

Redbridge council has made some positive moves, such as the consultation over pollution and the move to put vehicle exclusion zones around schools.

The cycling culture is being promoted, with the recent £3.3 million attained from the London Mayor to improve cycling and pedestrian routes in the borough.

The council has been supporting biodiversity projects such as the community gardeners but more can always be done. If people come forward with proposals to improve their streets, the council is willing to help.

Tree planning has taken place in a number of areas of Redbridge and we would like to see more trees in Wanstead.

On an individual level, we all need to do more – drive and fly less, create less waste, grow more and eat less meat.

There is much happening but so much more can be done, if people come forward to meet the challenge of the emergency that faces us. 

So please, support the environmental charter initiative – do something to make our area a cleaner, greener place.

*For more on the Wanstead Environmental Charter see: www.cleanergreenerwanstead.org