Commentary

One of the great things about Wanstead is that we can get just about everything we need from our High Street. So when Woolworth's closed, some of our essential supplies disappeared overnight.

However, coming to our assistance as far as those little bits and
pieces that Woolies used to provide, are Andrews Builders' Merchant in
Woodbine Place and The Pet Shop.

Ricky Brown, who owns Andrews, has added some much needed household essentials to his stock; refuse sacks, light bulbs, cleaning materials, clothes airers and more.

The Pet Shop will be doing the same. Mas Beg and his doughty assistant Trevour are at this moment
rejigging the shelves to accommodate more such useful items. Trevour
tells us that they are open to suggestions and will always try to order
whatever is requested.

This is yet another example of how special it is to have our own small
shops. They are Wanstead’s equivalent of the U.S. cavalry galloping to
our assistance.

So before you jump into the car to Homebase, pop into these shops – you may be suprised to find everything you need is still right here in Wanstead.

A piece of planning law is being revised – to ease the way for more controversial development. PPG15, which protected all historic buildings and heritage sites, is being replaced by PPS15 which does not.

What the new legislation plans to say is that places of archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic merit should be protected – unless the value to this and future generations is outweighed by the wider social economic and environmental benefits including climate change mitigation that will be delivered by the proposed development.

Seems reasonable? Conservationists and environment experts are worried. They feel this new wording offers a ready opening for local authorities and developers to argue that – for instance – a block of flats, a wind-farm, a multi-storey car park will yield more benefit to a community than, say, a grove of trees or a beloved old building. And they will be able to call on PPS15 – and bang goes our heritage.

So what could we lose in Redbridge? Take Wanstead. The Kinema has already come under threat and how long would the Police Station and the old Fire Station in Wanstead Place survive? Conservation Areas like George Green could even be at risk from such a broad interpretation as “the wider social economic and environmental benefits including mitigating climate change.” Wanstead Park could house a wind farm for instance, Valentines Park could accommodate a sizeable estate.

Some of these examples may seem far-fetched now but a look at the list of Redbridge’s listed buildings reveals a number of familiar sites we should feel the poorer for losing – and brings home the cultural carnage which could take place under this planning amendment.