No new Applications this week.

There are the following Decisions:

0012/13 Conversion of warehouse into flats & extensions, at 1a Victoria Road – withdrawn

0271/13 Detached outbuilding, at 27 Ashbourne Avenue – withdrawn

0515/13 Variation of conditions, development at garages adj Falcon Court – approved

Here is Felicity wearing her chain of office with fellow Roding Councillors Gwyneth Deakins and Ian Bond.

Tonight local councillor Felicity Banks became the Mayor of Redbridge for 2013/14 – the official photo shows her with new Deputy Mayor Cllr Solomon, after putting on their robes for the first time.  We believe Felicity is the first Redbridge Mayor to come from Roding Ward.  Congratulations Felicity!

Work on the installation of the new traffic lights at the junction of Southview Drive with Hermon Hill/Chigwell Road is due to start on 3 June.  To enable the work to be carried out, the Southview Drive junction will be closed when works on the carriageway are taking place and temporary traffic management is being provided such as temporary traffic signals at the junction.   This will enable the contractor to reduce delays through the junction and improve road safety when the traffic management is in operation.   The junction will be closed at various times between 9.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m., Monday to Friday.  Local residents will be informed by letter from the Council next week.    

Transport for London’s contractor will be on site introducing the traffic signals from 5 August.  They have a provisional date for commissioning the signals on 16 August, subject to progress on the works and any unforeseen difficulties.

New applications this week:

 - 160 Chigwell Road:  Demolish existing rear extension. Single storey and first storey rear extension  (0557/13).

 - 14 Monmouth Avenue: Demolish existing attached garage. Remove chimney. Two storey side extension with hipped roof over. Single storey rear extension. New raised terrace with steps down to garden (0692/13).

 - 69 Southview Drive: Extension of Time Limit for implementation of planning permission ref 0931/10: Demolish existing conservatory. Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension. Single storey front extension (0866/13).

 - 7 Gordon Road: Conversion of ground floor and Basement shop to two, two bedroom flats.  Bay window feature and external staircase and railing to basement (Summary) (0775/13).

One application withdrawn:

- 26 Chigwell Rd (0058/13) Conversion and extension of existing basement to form a two bedroom self-contained flat.

Due to emergency repairs by Thames Water to a burst water main in George Lane, there is currently significant disruption to local bus travel. The information we have from TfL is as follows:

Diversions and delays are expected to continue for local bus routes until approximately Thursday 2 May (STOP PRESS:  Now 8 May)

ROUTE W12 is diverted eastbound toward Wanstead station via Snaresbrook Road, Hollybush Hill, High Street Wanstead, Hermon Hill, George Lane and Mulberry Way. Bus stops missed eastbound – SK Eagle Lane, SL Beechwood Park, W Clarendon Road, X Bedford Road, K Grove Hill, G George Lane Shopping Centre.

ROUTES 179, W13 & N55 are unable to serve southbound bus stop “G George Lane Shopping Centre”, and are diverted southbound via High Road Woodford Green, Woodford Road, Hollybush Hill, High Street Wanstead, Hermon Hill, George Lane and Mulberry Way.

ROUTE W14 is diverted northbound toward Woodford Bridge via High Street Wanstead, Hermon Hill, George Lane and Mulberry Way. Bus stops missed eastbound – SJ Snaresbrook Station, SK Eagle Lane, SL Beechwood Park, W Clarendon Road, X Bedford Road, K Grove Hill, G George Lane Shopping Centre.

LATEST NEWS:  We have been told that Thames Water have been granted an extension to their permit to carry out these works, until Wednesday 8 May, and that buses are unlikely to be back to normal until then.

This week for Roding Ward we have several new Applications:

0556/13  Side and rear extensions, at 83 Crescent Road

0767/13  Demolish garage, side & rear extensions, at 65 Grenville Gardens

0603/13  Side and rear extensions, at 20 Charnwood Drive

0706/13  Roof alteration and side porch, at 9 Pulteney Gardens

0756/13  Side/rear extension, at 31 Primrose Road

You can find full details on the Redbridge Council Planning website here, searching on the planning reference above.

The Council’s planning website has recently been enhanced, so that you can now search the planning history for any address in Redbridge, and the site will show you all the planning applications made (including those refused) for the address going back over twenty years, with photos of the property, and links to the relevant documents where available.

We’ve just heard the good news that the Environment Agency Project Board has agreed to progress the flood protection scheme for the River Roding, through to the final decision point at which construction would begin.

The EA has considered the application for the River Roding Flood Risk Mitigation scheme, and approved  funding of up to £460,000 for 2013/14 (which includes part-funding from Redbridge Council)  to progress the feasibility study for the flood risk works at Woodford up to a stage where  there is certainty that the scheme can be constructed.  This will include all necessary surveys, site investigations, outline designs and estimations, land availability, on going maintenance responsibilities, consultations with residents, internal and external stakeholders.

This work is programmed to be completed by Feb 2014, when EA Board approval will be sought to go to the contract stage for the works to take place.

After a lengthy hearing, the Council’s Licensing Committee has decided to suspend the licence of South Woodford venue Funky Mojoe’s, and thereafter to restrict its opening hours.

The Committee decided to suspend the club’s licence for six weeks,and then to reduce its closing time from 1230 am to 1100 pm Sunday to Thursday, and from 2.30 am to 1130 pm Friday and Saturday. 

However it is likely that Funky Mojoe’s will appeal, meaning that the new restrictions will not take effect until the legal process is complete.

Church End ward’s Lib Dem Councillors will be pressing for the Council to stick to its guns and make sure the new restrictions are vigorously defended by the Council, and enforced if they are upheld by the Courts.

Residents of the Orchard Estate have told us they are ‘very pleased’ at the installation of the new zebra crossing on Broadmead Road.

Local people and Councillors have been campaigning for the crossing for four years.  It is heavily used by parents and children going to and from Ray Lodge primary school.  Earlier this year local Councillors on Area 2 voted £15,000 towards the cost of the crossing, with the rest of the cost being met by a central Council fund. 

The crossing was installed during the Easter holidays so that the schoolchildren would have the new facility available for the summer term.  Our photo shows Councillors Ian Bond and Gwyneth Deakins with some happy customers!