Petition

Please sign the petition to call on the London Borough of Waltham Forest to scrap plans to rezone part of Leyton marshes for development:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/leytonmarshes

We are calling for a full council debate of this issue. The Council has received the petition but it will remain open until the Council has finalised its plans for the area.

Abigail Woodman handing over petition to Waltham Forest Mayor

Why is this important?

 We love the Lower Lea Valley marshes (Leyton marshes, Walthamstow marshes and Hackney marshes). We love having such an amazing, unique, open green space on our doorstep, a place to reconnect with nature and let our imaginations run wild right in the heart of one of the most densely populated cities in the world. And we want to make sure the marshes are there for future generations to enjoy.

This is why we are devastated to learn that the London Borough of Waltham Forest has launched a consultation on their vision for the Lea Valley Eastside (http://walthamforest-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/leabridge/leyton), which involves rezoning the large swathe of green open space around The Waterworks Centre – part of Leyton marshes – for housing. This land is Metropolitan Open Land, which means it should be protected from all inappropriate development, just like Green Belt land. If these plans are approved, then the spectre of our marshes disappearing under high-rise tower blocks comes one step closer.

 We have until the end of January to tell the Council – loud and clear – that we will not tolerate building on our marshes. If we can stop these plans in their tracks, then we have a chance to save our marshes for the future.