Taking action on your comments

Thanks to our residents for making so many suggestions of improvements in their neighbourhoods.

We have received several issues reported that are outside of the scope of the Let’s Talk programme. These have included reports of:

• Drug dealing and gangs
• ASB and other community safety issues
• Litter, rubbish and flytipping
• Environmental and parks

If you have made a comment or suggestion on one of the issues above, our services have been made aware of your concern and are taking action.

The information below shows the comments, location, and action taken.

Drug dealing and gangs

Through our Community Safety Partnership, we work closely with a wide range of partners – including the Metropolitan Police to tackle crime and make the borough safer. Tackling serious violent crime and drug-dealing are a top priority across the borough. This involves tough enforcement against drug dealing gangs and early intervention and prevention work with young people at risk of being drawn into this criminality.

Additionally, we have implemented two Safe Streets pilots in Chingford Mount and South Leytonstone to target our efforts to make our communities safer.

Since 1 July, we have responded to 42 reports of drug dealing and gangs across Waltham Forest which have come directly from the Let’s Talk engagement.

We have informed the relevant teams about the drug dealing and gang issues reported as part of Let’s Talk and we are working to tackle these issues in a variety of ways including:

• Increased covert and overt patrols
• Making the best use of our CCTV cameras
• Vegetation cuts to alleyways where views are blocked and addressing lighting

You can read more about our work in this area and report issues in this area, by visiting: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/neighbourhoods/crime-and-community-safety

ASB and other community safety issues

We are working in partnership with the local MET Police to tackle crime and safety across Waltham Forest. This includes work to reduce anti-social behaviour and other community safety issues.

Since 1 July, we have responded to 11 reports of ASB across Waltham Forest which have come directly from the Let’s Talk engagement.

We have informed the relevant teams about the ASB and community safety issues reported as part of Let’s Talk and we are working to tackle these issues in a variety of ways including:

• Increased patrols by Park Guards visits to discourage public drinking
• Working with Transport Police, ensuring they issue community protection warnings around car meets
• Conducting Police-led Environmental Visual Audits (EVAs), making recommendations including increased CCTV, PSPO signs, cutting back vegetation and increased patrols
• Removing graffiti
• Installing additional bins to limit litter
• Community Payback Scheme is ongoing, cleaning walkways of litter and debris

You can read more about our work in this area and how to report these issues directly to our community safety team, by visiting: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/neighbourhoods/crime-and-community-safety

Litter, rubbish and fly tipping

We are working hard to respond to litter, rubbish and fly tipping as quickly as we can. We have several programmes of work that are aiming to decrease these issues that detract from the enjoyment of local neighbourhoods.

We have responded to 42 fly-tipping reports that have been highlighted via the Let’s Talk platform since 1 July and continue to address these issues as soon as we’re aware.

This work includes:

• Installation of two additional night-vision cameras to deter fly-tipping
• Live fly-tipping campaign to deter fly-tipping across Waltham Forest
• Working with City of London to ensure Whipps Cross Road is maintained
• Additional litter bins where there is a higher proportion of litter being left
• Ongoing 'Community Payback Scheme' cleaning walkways of litter and debris
• Neighbourhood Officer patrols to talk to the community and understand the issues

To report any issues in this area, please visit: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/neighbourhoods/report-neighbourhood-problems/fly-tipping-and-keeping-streets-clean/report-fly-tipping

Environmental and parks

We are working hard to make sure our local environments and green spaces are enjoyable for everyone across the borough. We have several programmes of work that are aiming to improve our resident’s environments.

We have responded to 25 environmental reports that have been highlighted via the Let’s Talk platform since 1 July and continue to address these issues as soon as we’re aware.

This work includes:

• Repairs to items such as drinking fountains, and playground equipment
• Resurfacing Langthorne Park playground
• Plans to install new basketball backboards in Lloyd Park
• Additional bin placed near Epping Forest in North Chingford

To learn more about our work to improve green areas, please visit: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/libraries-arts-parks-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces