Although I am not an expert on computers, I realise that I have to keep up with modern technology and this is one way that residents can contact me.
The email address is that of one of my Lib Dem Councillor colleagues, Cllr Bob Belam, he will either answer your questions or forward your message to me to deal with.
He has done both over the last week, and I can assure you that between us we will always put you first.
Our plans for water: new consultation opens today
Today marks the launch of our draft business plan for 2010 to 2015, and the publication of a summary of our proposals: ‘Our plans for water - what will you get and how much will it cost?’
What will you get?
We plan to:·
v Continue our Victorian Mains Replacement project to greatly reduce leakage
v Introduce a programme of metering in areas where water supplies are under greatest pressure
v Provide more advice and assistance to help customers use water wisely
v Develop plans for and, if approved, start work to construct a new reservoir to safeguard water supplies
v Greatly reduce sewage overflows into the Rivers Thames and Lee
v Make sure our sewers and sewage works can serve our growing population
v Greatly reduce the number of our customers’ homes threatened by sewer flooding
v Improve 250km of rivers to meet new water quality standards
v Cut our carbon emissions by 20%, and implement projects needed to meet the requirements of legislation
v Provide more financial assistance to customers who have difficulty paying their bills to ensure our services are affordable
What will it cost?
Our £6.5bn investment programme will lead to an average annual increase in our bills for water and wastewater services of 3%. The total increase from 2010 to 2015 will be 16.2%. This is an increase in real terms from £283 to £329.*
Let us know your views
Our proposals have been informed by our biggest ever programme of consultation, and I am confident that we have put our customers at the heart of our plans. We are launching a 12-week online consultation to continue this dialogue, and I hope you will take this opportunity to let us
know your views.We will use the results of the consultation to modify our plan before we submit the final version to our regulator Ofwat in April 2009. Their review of our proposals will set price limits for 2010 to 2015.We look forward to receiving your comments.
Peter Antolik
Regulation and Strategy Director
v Bill impacts are quoted at average 2007-2008 price levels.
Please click http://www.thameswaterconsult.co.uk/ to register for our consultation or http://www.thameswater.co.uk/fiveyearplan to view our
plans.
If a copy of wfm has popped through your letterbox then you should shortly be receiving a voter registration form so that you can be included on the borough’s 2008 register of electors.
The register will be published on 1 December this year and will be used inany elections that may be held after that date.
All eligible names must be added or confirmed on this form, though only one member of the household needs to sign it.
If the details on your form are correct you must still respond in order to remain on the register.
The correct information can be confirmed in one of four ways:
If the details need to be updated, simply amend the form as necessary and return it to the Council in the prepaid envelope provided.
If you need any more help to completing your form there’s a handy guide on the Council’s website, www. walthamforest.gov.uk
Residents are advised to return your form as soon as possible.
Highly trained teams are hunting properties that are easy to break into – luckily they are police officers giving home security advice to absent minded residents.
Waltham Forest’s police Safer Neighbourhood Teams and the Council’s community safety team have worked together to produce hundreds of cards which can be used to identify how a home is vulnerable to burglars.
The Safer Neighbourhood Team officers patrol the borough until they spot a vacant home that could be easily broken into.
They fill in a card and post it through the letter box to advise the owner how to secure their property more effectively.
Although burglary is down in Waltham Forest over the last year,research shows that most homes that are broken into during the summerare targeted because doors or windows are left open.
The new scheme is a simple but effective way of tackling a very upsetting crime.
Each card has a number of tick boxes about problems like windows being left open. Police officers will tick the relevant box and post the card. Residents are likely to be a bit surprised to find these cards lying on their doorstep, but it’s better than coming home to find you’ve been robbed by burglars.
To find out more about home security ring the Council’s Community Safety Team on 020 8496 3000 or your Police Safer Neighbourhood Team on 020 8556 8855
Waltham Forest Council is declaring war on dog owners who persistently let their pets foul the borough and don’t bother cleaning up after them.
Street Wardens, Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams and enforcement officers will be patrolling the areas most affected by the issue, at the times most often visited by dog owners.
Anyone who is spotted failing to clean up after their animal will be asked to do so, and issued with a fixed penalty notice if they refuse.
Bags for dog owners will also be available at the Council’s Waltham Forest Direct shops.
Waltham Forest Council’s spokesperson for Community Safety, Enforcement and Protection, said:
“Dogowners who refuse to clean up after their pets are exhibiting disgusting, anti social and hazardous behaviour towards other residents. “If you own a pet you need to take responsibility for its welfare and for cleaning up after it. People who are unwilling to do that, will be targeted and they will be punished.
It’s as simple as that. “We are sick of some dog owners using this borough as a toilet. We want to make Waltham Forest a place where people aspire to live and we won’t do that if people can’t be bothered to clean up after their pets.”
To report dog fouling, contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 84896 3000.
Residents can collect dog bags from WFD Shops in the following locations:
Leyton, 774-776 High Road; Walthamstow, 137 Hoe Street; Leytonstone, 819 High Road.
