Promoting Business in Ilford Lane

Newsletter Summer 2019

Opening Remarks

We are sorry that it has been some time since we last issued a News Letter but we would like to welcome all new businesses to the area. For those of you who are new to Ilford Lane we have been an Association for a number of years representing the local business community being involved with Redbridge Council and the Police.
We have a large membership and a website for our members with a free listing and if you would like to join please complete and return the details overleaf. You are of course welcome to telephone and discuss any issues with us.

Chairman Khalid Hussain



Prostitute punters could be banned from driving in Ilford Lane

In an innovative attempt to tackle prostitution in Ilford Lane, police are planning to disqualify punters from driving.
Speaking to the Recorder, tri-borough police commander for Redbridge, Havering and Barking and Dagenham, Jason Gwillim confirmed the Met were looking into banning kerb-crawlers after they had been found guilty in court.
“We are looking at where it has been done to see how they have gone about it,” he said,
“I haven't heard of it being done in the Met before.
“It would only be applied post-conviction and would come in the form of some sort of Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).”
The commander said that officers have seen “significant reductions” to the number of punters in Ilford Lane in recent weeks and said police are working with the local community and Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham councils to combat it.
“It has been different to past operations - it is more continuous to make sure it is sustained,” he added.
“We have high visibility patrols and we have been engaging with the sex workers and offering them - through the local authority - alternatives to get out of that way of life.
“The idea is to divert individuals away from activity as well as focusing in on offenders that go down there - it's about engaging with those people and letting them know we will be taking them to court.”
As well as disqualifying punters from the driving the Met said it has some more creative ideas in the pipeline to tackle prostitution on Ilford Lane.

Redbridge Council applies for funding to turn Ilford into a shopping 'mecca'

To combat Ilford town centre getting "eroded" by changing habits and competition from Stratford and Romford, Redbridge Council is applying for a grant to turn it back into a shopping "mecca".
The Future High Streets Fund, launched in December 2018, aims to support high streets and town centres throughout England and has £675million to give away.
The council’s expression of interest is focussed on Ilford town centre and it submitted a bid on Friday, March 22.
A Redbridge Council spokesman said: “Once east London’s town centre, providing a mecca for shopping for neighbouring boroughs and Essex, Ilford is now seeing its regional appeal eroded through changing shopping habits, the impact exacerbated by stronger retail attraction in Stratford and Romford.
“Furthermore, the anticipated arrival of Crossrail and the rapid growth of Redbridge’s population represent new opportunities for Ilford to redefine its role as a modern metropolitan town centre.”
Council leader, Councillor Jas Athwal, said additional resources from the Future High Streets Fund would represent another important step towards “realising our ambitious vision for Ilford” and transforming the town centre into a liveable and vibrant place.
“Along with our partners and local groups, we will continue to work with a strategic approach and make Ilford great again for our communities,” he added.
If successful with the first stage of the application, shortlisted places will be supported to develop specific project plans and associated business cases.