#waltham-forest

#waltham-forest

Rubbish could pile up in an area of east London over Christmas in a dispute at what bin collectors say is poor pay. GMB Union members voted by 97 per cent to take the industrial action against their employer FCC Environment, which provides the services on behalf of Waltham Forest Council. The strikes have been looming since the summer when outsourced workers rejected a 2.8 per cent increase, then a follow-up offer of 3.2 per cent.

Outside his career, Robert's main passion was oral history, which he believed was a way of giving voice to ordinary people who would otherwise have left behind just birth and death certificates. In 1983 he co-founded the Waltham Forest Oral History workshop, whose members interviewed hundreds of local people; it also published books and pamphlets on subjects such as school strikes, childhood health and local pubs.

Environmental health officers have been visiting places in the last fortnight to see if they are meeting hygiene requirements based on guidelines set by the Food Standards Agency.

Waltham Forest's library services received Library of Sanctuary status for establishing safe environments for refugees, asylum seekers, and newcomers through various supportive services.

The empty premises have been described as being in a "poor state of disrepair and an eyesore in the local area," necessitating the restoration for community benefit.