| London Borough of Waltham Forest | |||
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| — London borough — | |||
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| Waltham Forest shown within Greater London | |||
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom | ||
| Constituent country | England | ||
| Region | London | ||
| Ceremonial county | Greater London | ||
| Status | London borough | ||
| Admin HQ | Walthamstow | ||
| Incorporated | 1 April 1965 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | London borough council | ||
| • Body | Waltham Forest London Borough Council | ||
| • Leadership | Leader & Cabinet (Labour) | ||
| • Mayor | Cllr Geoff Walker | ||
| • MPs | John Cryer Stella Creasy Iain Duncan Smith |
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| • London Assembly | Jennette Arnold AM for North East | ||
| • EU Parliament | London | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 15 sq mi (38.82 km2) | ||
| Area rank | 295th (of 326) | ||
| Population (2010 est.) | |||
| • Total | 227,100 | ||
| • Rank | 67th (of 326) | ||
| • Density | 15,151.6/sq mi (5,850.1/km2) | ||
| • Ethnicity[1] | 53.5% White British 2.1% White Irish 7.6% Other White 1.4% White & Black Caribbean 0.7% White & Black African 0.9% White & Asian 1.0% Other Mixed 3.7% Indian 7.7% Pakistani 1.2% Bangladeshi 2.3% Other Asian 7.7% Black Caribbean 6.4% Black African 1.4% Other Black 0.9% Chinese 1.5% Other |
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| Time zone | GMT (UTC0) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | BST (UTC+1) | ||
| Postcodes | E , IG | ||
| Area code(s) | 020 | ||
| Police force | Metropolitan Police | ||
| Website | www.walthamforest.gov.uk | ||
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is in northeast London, England. Officially, it forms part of Outer London as it borders Essex. However, it can be seen that the NE London boundary does not extend far compared to elsewhere in the city (e.g. due north and east). Perhaps as a consequence of this, the south of the borough contrasts markedly with the north in terms of its mixed ethnicity and socio-economic indicators, and is often regarded as part of London's "East End" (along with nearby Clapton, Stratford and Forest Gate). Taken as a whole, Waltham Forest comprises built-up urban districts in the south with inner-city characteristics, and more afluent residential development in the north with a variety of reservoirs, open space, small sections of Epping Forest, parks, and playing fields, which together cover a fifth of the borough. It is located between Epping Forest (Essex) in the north, London Borough of Redbridge in the east, London Boroughs of Newham and Hackney in the south, and London Boroughs of Haringey and Enfield in the west (where the River Lea and the surrounding parkland forms a green corridor, traditionally separating north and east London). Waltham Forest is one of the five London boroughs that are hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics.
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Many Stone Age remains are found in the area. Roman remains have also been found scattered around the borough proving it was a significant area of Roman occupation. The borough was formed in 1965, by the London Government Act 1963, from the combined areas of the former Municipal Borough of Chingford, Municipal Borough of Leyton and Municipal Borough of Walthamstow, which were all transferred to Greater London from Essex. The borough was named after Epping Forest, the southern part of which extends into the borough. The Epping Forest Act of 1878 not only assisted in preserving the forest but also helped develop the towns around it: Chingford, Walthamstow and Leyton. The borough's location between the City of London and Epping Forest encouraged the large scale urban development of much of the borough.
The main centres of population in the borough are Chingford in the north, Walthamstow in the centre (and the administrative hub including the council offices) and Leyton and Leytonstone to the South. Waltham Forest has the fifth largest Muslim population in England and the third largest in London (coming after its neighbouring boroughs, Newham and Tower Hamlets).
Historically known as the seat of the Arts and Crafts Movement under the stewardship of William Morris, Waltham Forest has continued to succour many contemporary artists & art groups. These include the North East London Independent Artists (NELIA) group, based at the Changing Room Gallery in Lloyd Park, the 491 Gallery in Leytonstone, and a number of independent artists, also mainly in the Leytonstone area. The annual E17 Art Trail, which includes open studios, exhibitions and events, is the biggest art event in the borough, and there is now a similar event in Leytonstone. Eamon Everall, founder member of the Stuckism art movement is a long-time resident in the borough where he also maintains a studio.[2]
Waltham Forest is home to a number of musicians that have found success in the UK, including East 17, Blazin' Squad, and Indie band Hefner, who formed in Walthamstow. The borough is also a centre of the grime musical genre; grime acts hailing from the borough include More Fire Crew, Lethal Bizzle, and Jammer amongst others.
The Waltham Forest Theatre is the only theatre in the borough, and is situated in Lloyds Park. However, it faces demolition as Waltham Forest Council are unable to find funds for it. A local campaign was launched to save it.[3]
Waltham Forest is one of four host boroughs in east London for the 2012 Olympics. Eton Manor in Leyton forms the northern part of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. During the Olympic Games the area will house three Olympic-size swimming pools, one sychronised swimming pool and one water polo pool. These pools will be used for athlete training.
During the Paralympic Games, Eton Manor will host the Wheelchair Tennis events, with temporary seating for 10,500 spectators.
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The Central line of the London Underground serves the south of the borough, running alongside the A12 road with stations at Leyton and Leytonstone. The Victoria Line runs roughly through the middle of the borough with stations at Walthamstow Central and Blackhorse Road. The Gospel Oak to Barking line of London Overground has stations at Walthamstow Queens Road, Blackhorse Road, Leyton Midland Road and Leytonstone High Road. National Express East Anglia services from Liverpool Street station in the City of London serve stations at St James Street, Walthamstow Central, Wood Street, Highams Park and Chingford.
London Buses routes 20, 34, 48, 55, 56, 58, 66, 69, 97, 123, 145, 158, 179, 212, 215, 230, 257, 275, 308, 313, 357, 379, 385, 397, 444, W11, W12, W13, W14, W15, W16, W19, School buses route 675, other route 505, 853 and Night route N8, N26, N38, N55 and N73.
Waltham Forest has a Magistrates' Court, located next to the Town Hall; however, it has been announced that this court will close in the near future, due to government cut backs. There are five police stations, in Chingford, Leyton, Leytonstone, Walthamstow and Walthamstow Town Centre, and a number of additional patrol centres throughout the borough.
Waltham Forest is the birthplace of William Morris, best known as one of the principal founders of the British Arts and Crafts Movement. Morris was a designer of wallpaper and patterned fabrics, a writer of poetry and fiction, and a pioneer of the socialist movement in Britain.
Other notable people, such as footballer and former England Captain David Beckham, I, Claudius star Derek Jacobi, former Essex and England cricket Captain Graham Gooch, and the film director and producer Alfred Hitchcock, were also born in the borough. The heavy metal band Iron Maiden was formed in Leyton, and Eastenders actress Rita Simons was born in Leytonstone. The poet Pascale Petit, shortlisted three times for the TS Eliot poetry prize, lives in Walthamstow.
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is twinned[4] with:–
Friendship Links have also been established with:
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