News

Arrangements are now being finalised for the Chamber "Question and Answer" event to be held at the Kenneth More Theatre, Oakfield Road, Ilford on Tuesday 19th October 2010 from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m.

The panel for the event will include:-

Chris Carter (Chair) - Editor of the Ilford Recorder
Cllr. Keith Prince - Leader of Redbridge Council
Ch. Supt. Peter Terry - Borough Commander
Mr. Dave Renvoize - Chief Highways & Engineering Services Officer
Mr. Chris Berry - Chief Planning & Regeneration Officer

This is your opportunity to highlight issues that may be affecting Redbridge business. For instance, we already know that our members' concerns include parking and policing.

During early September all Chamber members will receive an invitation to the event by email. There will be only a limited number of places available so if you would like to attend, please reply to the email as soon as possible. An early response will guarantee you an opportunity to participate in this important event.

If you have any queries, please email chamber@redbridgechamber.co.uk.

Jimmy Shah, a member of the Executive Committee, hosted a free breakfast for Chamber members and guests at his McDonald's restaurant in High Road, Ilford on the 18th of August.

Guests who attended included Mike Gapes, MP for Ilford South, Sir Neil Thorne, Cllr Keith Prince, Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Thomas Chan, former Mayor of Redbridge and Cllr Helen Coomb.

The Executive Committee is looking forward to organising similar events to give members the opportunity to speak informally to local policy-makers.

The Chamber encourages all members to offer special discounts to other members.

When considering using the services of a member organisation, please check the Discounts page on the Members area of this website or contact members direct to ascertain what discounts are currently available.

A new recruitment support service is available to small businesses, developed by Jobcentre Plus working in conjunction with the British Chambers of Commerce.

When small businesses notify their jobs, the local Jobcentre Plus teams contact the employer to discuss how they can best fill their job. This could include help with the wording of the vacancy specification, screening applications and matching suitable candidates against the criteria set out in the vacancy.

A telephone advice line is also available, offering recruitment advice and support as well as signposting to other help available, such as to HRMC for PAYE, or Business Link for their "Solutions for Business" suite of services. When using the advice line, employers can place their vacancies if appropriate and receive further support and aftercare.

For further information on Jobcentre Plus services for employers, please visit www.businesslink.gov.uk.

Following concerns raised by members that Sunday parking restrictions were adversely affecting their trading in Ilford town centre, the Chamber has been in communication with Cllr Keith Prince, Leader of the Council.

We are told that the restrictions were first introduced in June 2003, largely as a consequence of growing problems of congestion and obstructed access, including for the emergency services. The extension of the restrictions to Sundays addressed these problems and also provided improved access for visitors.

The most popular parking facilities in the town centre appear to be those in the Exchange Mall car park, where parking charges are levied on Sundays. However, the Council does not make charges in its Ley Street multi-storey car park, this providing 730 free parking spaces for shoppers.

The Chamber has received an assurance from Cllr Prince that the Council will keep matters under review and will look to work with the Chamber and the BID Company to improve trading conditions for all local businesses.

A member has reported receiving a phone call from someone purporting to be from the Microsoft Service Centre for the Windows operating system, based in Oxfordshire. Please be aware that this is a scam. The caller says they have detected viruses in the user's PC and asks them to follow certain instructions so they can deal with the viruses. If the instructions are followed, the caller may be able to remotely access the user's PC. They may also say that the user's licence has expired and they require £169 to renew it.

In our member's case, they asked the caller for information in order to verify that the caller was from Microsoft. The scammer gave the name Sam Rogers and phone number 020 331 80510. When asked for a website, "Sam Rogers" terminated the call. He had failed to withhold his phone number and was actually calling from 012127 773022.

Similar incidents relating to both phone numbers have been reported on Internet sites.

SCAMNESTY

A nationwide “Scamnesty” campaign has been launched by the Office of Fair Trading, aiming to end mass marketing scam mailings. Redbridge residents are asked to collect any scam mailings they receive and drop them into “Scamnesty” bins located at: -

Central Library
Redbridge Council – Community Safety
The Mall

WORK SO FAR

Work is continuing on the Gants Hill improvement scheme, which will deliver new signalised pedestrian crossings, improved lighting and signage around the tube
station, plus new trees and grassed areas.

Finishing touches are being added to the re-paving works around the roundabout. Work has also begun on the central reservations of Woodford Avenue and the A12 to prepare for new tree and shrub planting.

TFL are continuing to work on the subways and new tiled pavement surfaces. New direction signs and coloured banding on the walls will also help to direct people. Traffic signals are being installed at the new pedestrian crossing points across all arms of the roundabout.

The works remain on course to be completed by September 2010.

NEXT STEPS

TFL's resurfacing of the roundabout and its approach is scheduled to take eight weeks commencing 9th July. During the work the A12 will remain open to try to minimise disruption, although sections of Woodford Avenue, Cranbrook Road North and Cranbrook Road South will have to be closed in phases.

MANAGING THE TRAFFIC

TFL worked with Redbridge Council and the businesses affected by the works, looking at how best to carry out the resurfacing. The agreed works programme will achieve the best balance between business, resident and commuter needs. Phased closures will allow TFL to keep the A12 open and retain access to shops and businesses during the resurfacing.

Work will be carried out 24 hours a day although there will be times when this is not possible, e.g. when noisy work is being carried out, which will be completed before 23.00.

ADVICE FOR SHOPPERS AND RESIDENTS

Gants Hill station and completed subways will stay open and accessible during the works. All diversion routes will be clearly signed. Parking will be restricted with some spaces being closed or suspended. Bus services will continue to run but there will be some diversions. Works may affect some bus stops, when temporary stops will be installed in safe locations nearby. Some cycle lanes will be closed temporarily. TFL will ensure that affected diversion routes are wide enough to accommodate all traffic.

ADVICE FOR BUSINESSES

Diversion routes will be in place to ensure local businesses are still able to receive deliveries. Should any specific issues arise, the library car park can be used as a central point for delivery of goods. TFL's contractor will be available to assist with movement of goods from there.

CONTACT TFL

TFL can be contacted by phone on:
0845 305 1234

or by post:
Gants Hill Surface Transport Customer Services
14 Pier Walk
London SE10 0ES

Chingford and Woodford Green
Iain Duncan Smith MP
020 7219 1210
www.iainduncansmith.org

Ilford North
Lee Scott MP
020 7219 8326
www.leescott.co.uk

Ilford South
Mike Gapes MP
020 7219 6485
www.mikegapes.org.uk

Leyton and Wanstead
John Cryer MP
020 7219 3000

Correspondence for MPs can be addressed to:

House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA

or to their constituency offices.

If you'd like to give up smoking ask for details in your local pharmacist or call free phone 0800 988 8872 or text RED to 82010. RedQUIT can also provide smokers with prescriptions for nicotine replacement products including patches, gum, microtabs, lozenges, inhalators and nasal spray.

PLATFORM FOR CHANGE: some of the new facilities at Hainault Station.

The new-look Hainault Station is a "cracking example" of the improvements London Mayor Boris Johnson wants in the capital's transport system.

As part of Transport for London's multi-million pound investment programme, the station in New Road, Hainault, has been fitted with three new passenger lifts, a wider aisle gate in the ticket hall so mobility and visually-impaired customers will be able to make their own way in and out, an accessible toilet for wheelchair users, new strips to make steps easier for the visually-impaired, new electronic display, a new control room and CCTV cameras.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor's London transport advisor, said "the work that has taken place there will make the station more accessible, safer and easier to use for the thousands of people who rely on it every week".

Tricia Made, Central Line manager, said: "Customers will see that the station has been refurbished sensitively, respecting the history of the building".

Redbridge of one of the first local authorities across the country to adopt new powers to enforce utility companies that need to dig up roads, who will now have to apply to the council for a permit, or face a fine. Permits will only be given subject to conditions set by the council, which they say will take into account any disruption to traffic and impact on the environment.

London Mayor Boris Johnson pledged £370,000 in funding for facility, which will provide a Specialist Crisis centre to help victims of Rape, to improve support available. The location will be announced later.

Redbridge Council have decided not to increase Council Tax this year. Cabinet member for Finance Cllr Ronnie Barden said we will protect frontline services as a matter of priority.

There was an encouraging 1% cut in total crime for Redbridge last year – a reduction of about 300 crimes.

Non-residential burglary dropped 20%
Robbery and Domestic Crime down 2 %
2% reduction in Rape
Sexual crimes fell 15%
Gun crime rose by 15 offences

The East London Transit, with 16 new modern buses, has now started. The route operates between Ilford, Barking and Dagenham Dock. A second phase of work to extend the service between Barking and Dagenham Dock via the new Barking Riverside Development will commence in 2013.

The New Redbridge Card can save you money.

In the first week over 200 businesses had signed up to this local shop initiative. The Redbridge Card offers a range of cash discounts, buy-one get-one-free deals, and some free consultations.

A full directory of participating businesses and their deals are available on the Redbridge website. www.redbridge.gov.uk

The London Borough of Redbridge has issued a leaflet offering useful advice and contact information for businesses in Redbridge worried about the effects of the recession.

Check out the website and download the leaflet at:
http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/recession_help/business.aspx

If anyone would like some help or advice on Redundancy:

www.redundancy-survival.com

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For more information please contact:

CTS Sales & Service
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Tel: 0845 345 3391
Fax: 0845 345 3392
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Website: www.ctsconnect.co.uk

The Age Concern office is now located at:-

Age Concern
4th Floor
103 Cranbrook Road
Ilford
Essex
IG1 4PU

Tel. 020 8220 6000
www.aclondon.org.uk

Opening times: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.