Give and Take Day a huge success despite rain!

A slow start caused by abysmal spells of rain.

The local community gathered together to enjoy food and fellowship with one another!

Hot burgers and hot dogs Halal and Non-Halal made a lovely treat.

The Swap Shop had its largest attendance of any previous event.

Punjabi music got the crowd dancing.

Stirling above engaged young children in football activities.

Music of all varieties catered for everyone.

Eastern European Communities the new migrants to Redbridge enjoyed opportunity for better integration.

The sun came out!

It was hard work but the caterers really enjoyed themselves.

All food was consumed by the end of the day.

Clementswood Ward celebrated Redbridge Recycling Week in style 24th June 2012.  A fun packed day on the Car Park of the Prince of Wales pub from 11:30 - 17:30.  A Give and Take Swap Shop was the busiest of the week, with over 200 visitors and numerous exchanges.  This was recycling in a manner never before seen in our area and local residents were pleased to be part of an event that could help them through the current economy whilst preserving local resources.  

At least 600 people came to the fun day that involved a free barbecue, Football penalty competition and face painting.  Music was played throughout the duration of the event and revellers could be seen dancing till the end of the event.  

Sania Satwat Chair of the East Ilford Betterment Partnership (EIBP) said;

"It was good to see so many people of different cultures coming together and enjoying fellowship with one another. In particular groups of the newest migrants of Eastern European backround joined us and helped with the set-up and de-construct - a real sense of community in partnership was fostered."

Wilson Chowdhry secretary of the EIBP said;

"We have held several street barbecues before and attendance seems to be growing. When Habiba from Enterprise Group - contracted to Redbridge Council, contacted us to assist with their swap shop at our community centre, I suggested an outdoor event instead hoping to benefit form the recent good weather.  When rain was predicted I thought the worst, however the level of attendance despite the rain proves people are becoming more interested in getting to know their local neighbours.  I simply cannot wait till the next event."

Give and Take Day - Community Swap Shop!

Take Something home for free!

The East Ilford Betterment Partnership and the Prince of Wales Pub have collaborated with Redbridge Recycling to bring a Give and Take day to Clementswood Ward.   

A Give and Take event facilitates an opportunity to exchange old unwanted goods in good condition for something more needed.  Moreover their is no charge for the exchange.  Events such as these have become very popular and in a society with diminishing resources permits local people to held preserve our way of living by reducing waste.

Please bring along in safe working order:

CDs, DVDs, books, sports gear, bric-a-brac, clean clothes, kitchenware, homeware, toys and games.   We cannot accept any electrical items.

Date:             Sunday 24th June 2012

Time:            11:30 - 18:00

Venue:          Prince of Wales Car Park

Location:      63 Green Lane, Ilford, IG1 1XJ

We will be playing live music, holding a community barbecue and face painting Henna Stall.  A free Basketball workshop for children will be provided by Spartans Basketball.

Gordon Road Queens Jubilee Street Party

The East Ilford Business Partnership have applied for a traffic management order to close Gordon Road from numbers 1-23 and 2-54 (the first block from Green Lane to Winchester Road).

Date:  2nd June 2012
Time:  12:00 - 18:00
Venue:  Gordon Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1SP
Activities:  Street disco, bouncy castle, face painting, barbecue, resident food stalls, Live Punjabi singing, traditional British games e.g. sack race, hoops, egg and spoon race, short runs, and much more...
Attendance:  All welcome - Free entry!

Planning meetings have been held for the last two weeks at 19:30 on Tuesdays at Clementswood Community Centre, 14a Connaught Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1RN.  Please feel free to join future
meetings.

Real live Pumas in Ilford!

Hundreds attend Ilford Territorial Army Centre open day to admire the Puma Helicopters.  The helicopters will provide air support during the Olympics and the site was being used for a trial run.

Wing Commander Anderson with Hannah and Sophia Chowdhry

Staff at the Territorial Army Centre made visitors feel very welcome.

Puma Helicopters can carry 16 airmen we were told.

Airmen allowed visitors to try on their specialised safety helmets.

Over 90 extra military personnel will be deployed at Ilford TAC during the Olympics.

Local Squadrons joined the Airman in making the day a special one for visitors.

Ilford is only 7 miles away form Stratford, making it the most important strategic site and nearest response base.

The helicopters make a large noise on lift-off, but rise quickly to avoid excessive noise pollution.

Airmen described the use of the helicopter whilst sharing time with local residents.

Children and adults experienced the reality of the cramped space in war helicopters.

Few luxuries are provided within the Puma's.

Many families from neighbour SS Peter's and Paul's School visited the base.

Children struggled with the steps to the helicopter but enjoyed the adventure nevertheless.

Around 90 Airstaff will be deployed at the base during the Olympics.  Parents dropping or picking children to/from school are advised to park further away to avoid congestion on the road.

Children and young people got to hear first hand what life in the military was like.

There is always time for fun and frolics!

This driver seems a little young...

The fuel carrier bonnet is higher that the rather tall Airman before it, illustrating how large the vehicle is.  The tyres were over 1m high.

In a war zone a gunner would be standing in the ceiling cavity.

Again the internal furniture is sparse, military vehicles are made with practical design philosophy.

Looks like I ma taking the picture form a small hill ay...

Ilford Territorial Army Centre - provide Olympic assistance

2 Puma Helicopters to be present at Ilford Territorial Army Centre

During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Ilford's Territorial Army Centre on Gordon Road is to be used as a base for 2 Royal Air Force Puma helicopters.

An additional 90 personnel will live at the site from mid-July until shortly after the Paralympics.  Consisting of crew members from the 33 Squadron, RAF Benson and support staff.

Ilford was picked for its secure communications infrastructure at the defence owned site and compliance with planning nand Civil Aviation Regulations.

A number of familiarisation flights during late April and a major national exercise will take place form 2nd - 10th May 2012, to test the Armed Forces support for the Police. The Aircraft will arrive for their stationing on 12th July 2012.

Every 3 - 5 days planes will need to go back to their RAF base for testing and will be replaced by one that has been tested.  Changeover will occur between the hours 09:00 - 17:00 to minimise local disturbance.

Flight paths will involve quick climbs to a height that reduces noise level.  However residents are warned that take-off and landing will involve considerable noise.

The Officer commanding 33 Squadron invites residents of Ilford to meet him and his crews and to see the helicopters at Ilford Territorial Army Centre on 4th May from 15:00 - 19:00 and on 7th May from 15:00 - 17:00.  

No Drinking Zone signs to be installed on Green Lane

Wilson with PC Janek Stabrawa

The East Ilford Business Partnership has been successful in obtaining No drinking signs for Green Lane.  This was part of a campaign to end the antisocial behaviour attributed to excessive drinking in our area. Under Redbridge's “Designated Public Place Drinking Zone” (DPPDZ) which has now been extended to include Green Lane and other areas of Clementswood and  Mayfield ward, it is now illegal to drink on designated public streets.

With two off licences and a pub in the vicinity we have always been a high risk area for this type of crime.  In recent years however due to a difficult economy, forced relocations from Olympic zones and other factors, the number of homeless people in the borough has increased.

Our thanks to Clementswood Safer Neighbourhood Police team who attended 2 Police meetings at our community centre and endorsed our request for the local signs.  The team have used the new signs as an opportunity to challenge this type of behaviour ad have quite successfully reduced the local problem.

Simon James from Redbridge ASBO Team said in a recent email:

"I am waiting for a date from the Street Lighting Team to place the signs you have requested as well as others in the new DPPO.  I have requested the date be 25^th – 27^th April as I am not in on the Mon or Tues.  Once I have received confirmation of the date these will be placed I will advise you accordingly."


The three locations for which we had requested No Drinking signs are:


1. Junction of Stanley road with Green Lane
2. Junction of Connaught Road and Green Lane
3. Junction of Gordon Road and Green Lane


Learn more about the Cumulative Impact Zone here:


https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1uhi1txZxlhMnUteTh1WXN1RTQ/edit

View map of protected areas:


https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1uhi1txZxlheHdQMGt4LTZRUFk/edit

Read about the night spent in Ilford Police cells by a local pub landlord trying to fight the local antisocial drinking:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1uhi1txZxlhNWVvWXBSYTREOTQ/edit

Here is what the Ilford Recorder said:

http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/news/alcohol_free_zone_signs_and_no_super_strength_beer_policy_challenges_street_drinking_in_redbridge_1_1366585

Free Zumba for women and Bollywood Dancing for children at Clementswood Community Centre!

The East Ilford Betterment Partnership and British Pakistani Christian Association has secured funding via the Redbridge CVS   “Fit for Fun” programme. The scheme  encourages  groups in Redbridge to improve their fitness levels and self worth by giving groups a chance to have 20 weeks of FREE exercise training.

The sessions will be held at Clementswood Community Centre located  at 14a Connaught Road, Ilford, Essex  IG1 1RN at the following times:

If you would like to take part in this unique opportunity please contact the group for the start date

Zumba for women every Friday  evening from 19:00  - 20:00

Bollywood for Children every Tuesday afternoon from 17:00 – 18:00

The classes are open to all members of the public however due to a shortage of space, we ask local people to contact us early to book your place. Bookings will be reserved on a first come first served basis.  A start date will be fixed once we have completed ourt list of potential participants. 

Please contact  Wilson Chowdhry the centre co-ordianter for more information.  Tel: 020 8514 0861 Fax: 020 8514 2438 email:wilson@aasecurity.co.uk