Consultation on local heritage

Waltham Forest Council is currently consulting on proposed changes to its list of locally listed buildings (the "Local List"). The Local List is separate from the nationally recognized list of buildings produced by the Government and English Heritage, which affords statutory protection to listed buildings. The Local List seeks to promote and protect those local buildings which, although not of national importance, are seen as having local heritage value.

25 new additions are suggested, including a number in Leyton and Leytonstone such as:

- Harrow Green war memorial
- cottages in Browning Road Leytonstone
- King William IV pub, Leyton High Road
- former Church of St Luke, Ruckholt Road Leyton

Leyton & Wanstead Conservatives support the proposed additions to the Local List. Our chairman, Cllr Ed Northover, who is also a councillor in Waltham Forest, has also proposed a number of other additions.

Unfortunately, a number of deletions from the Local List are also proposed by the Council. Some of these are positive since the buildings have now been elevated to the national list where they will be provided with statutory protection (e.g. St Andrew's Church, Colworth Road Leytonstone). In other cases, it is because the buildings have not been cared for and have lost their character. In our view this is a serious failing of the Local List since it provides no real protection to buildings other than being merely persuasive. A good example of this is Leytonstone fire station, which could be demolished at any time. We believe that if the Local List is to really work, consideration needs to be givento providing the Council with tangible powers to protect the buildings on the list.

The consultation period for comments is now underway and ends on Friday 25 November 2011. Should you wish to respond to the consultation, please visit the Waltham Forest Council consultation page at

http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/environment/planning/urban-conservation/llb-consultation.htm