A new website is being developed to give local people the chance to write their own news stories about what's going on in the area and comment on what others have said.
The site is called Forest Gate Forum and is in the process of being tested before a full launch. However, the developer is happy for people to start using the site straight away to see how it works while new features are added.
Forest Gate Forum is a private initiative and is entirely independent of the the local authority.
Former breakfast TV presenter John Leslie caused an outbreak of media frenzy when he appeared outside Forest Gate police station last week.
The ex-Good Morning star learned while he was at the station that he was to be charged with two counts of indecent assault, allegations he strongly denies.
Press reporters jostled with photographers, TV and radio crews to get the best view as Leslie emerged after two hours of police interviews to make a statement.
Having proclaimed his innocence Mr. Leslie was driven away in a black Range Rover.
Newham Council is warning residents to be on their guard after an elderly Forest Gate resident was robbed yesterday in his home by two men posing as Newham Council workers.
The resident let the men into his home after they produced a type of identification and said they were there to tidy his garden.
Newham’s Mayor, Sir Robin Wales said: “People who prey on the elderly and vulnerable are evil. They are not welcome in Newham.”
All Newham Council employees must be asked to produce official identification with the Newham logo on it. If residents are not sure if it is genuine, they can call the council’s contact centre on 020 8430 2000, where the identification can be verified.
An 18 year-old from Godwin Road has been jailed for a year after attacking a man he mistakenly believed had robbed his father.
Bhavin Patel, aged 18, pursued his victim in a car chase before forcing him out of his car and assaulting him. Patel then also stole the man's wallet and car keys.
During the trial at Snaresbrrok Crown Court the jury heard how Patel's father had returned home from the pub and told his son he had been robbed of £4,500 worth of gold jewellery by a Bengali man in his 40s driving a grey saloon car. Patel and several accomplices took off in pursuit of a man they thought was responsible, despite the fact he was only in his twenties and driving a different model of car.
There was no evidence to connect the victim with the original robbery, the court heard.
In sentencing Patel and his associates the judge condemned them for taking the law into their own hands and attacking an innocent man.
The project to restore and refurbish the shops on Woodgrange Road is to be given an additional £200,000 boost.
The grant from English Heritage is on top of the £500,000 that has already been spent renovating the main parade of shops. Major repair works have been undertaken, including cleaning the brickwork on the building facades, replacing original architectural features and providing new signs that fit into a consistent design theme.
The new money will fund a continutaion of the project on two smaller parades.
Pensioners have been warned to be careful about letting unexpected visitors into their homes after an 82 year old woman was tricked by men posing as Water Board officials.
The victim, who lives in Katherine Road, Forest Gate, was on her way to the Post Office when she was approached by two men at the entrance to her block of flats who asked which flat she lived in. They then said there had been a complaint about a water leak from the tenant below and that they needed to check her property.
One of the men kept her occupied in the kitchen while the other went into the lounge. Fortunately the victim became suspicious and the men fled without taking anything, but local crime prevention officer Keith Melhuish said "it seems they were looking for the elderly or vulnerable coming out of their homes before approaching them."
Police are looking for two white men in their mid-thirties, one 5'6" with short black hair and the other 5'10" with short brown hair.
Forest Gate's new library and local service centre has been plagued by problems since it opened three weeks ago and the latest one is disappearing stock.
A number of CDs and DVDs have gone missing from the shelves without being properly checked out by users.
Staff have removed the remaing materials from display and borrowers must request them directly from the service desk. Replacements for the missing items have also been ordered.
The body of a 25-year old Afghan man was found lying in South Esk Road last Saturday and Police believe he was murdered.
Home Office records were used to identify the victim as Bashir Estor, who had arrived in Britain only two months ago.
Detectives at the scene uncovered the body, which had been wrapped in several layers of plastic sheeting, and found the back of the head had been smashed in and the spinal cord severed. It is likely that the body dumped after being murdered elsewhere.
Police are seeking information from anyone who knew of Mr. Estor's whereabouts and movements since coming to the UK. The head of the investigating team, Supt. Steve Hobbs, can be contaced on 020 8345 4362.
Local football team Forest Gate Connection FC are looking for players for next season
Anyone interested should contact the club via email at forestgatefc@yahoo.co.uk or visit their website at www.fgcfc.4t.com.
A local man who committed a series of frauds and thefts which netted over £22,000 has been jailed for 18 months.
34 year old Mohammed Aslam, of Katherine Road, Forest Gate, admiited using compromised bank details to obtain household goods worth over £14,000. In addition he claimed over £8,000 in housing benefits he was not entitled to, and stole equipment from his employer.
Aslam claimed that the proceeds of his crimes allowed him to remain in the UK while completing his degree course. He further claimed he was led into the offences by others and received only a share of the proceeds.
He was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Former Mayor of Newham Majorie Helps is to lead a campaign to save the Post Office in Godwin Road, Forest Gate, while the present Mayor, Robin Wales, has pledged to help save the Katherine Road branch.
The former mayor believes the closure of her local office will cause hardship to the elderly. She has written to the Post Office asking them to re-consider. If old people have to travel further to collect their pensions they will be at greater risk of being robbed.
Another concern is that small local shops will lose trade if people are collecting money from elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the current Mayor has told Monega Residents Association that he is committed to working with local councillors and residents to reverse the decision to close Katherine Road post office.
But Post Office officials insist that the closures are necessary as there are too many local branches chasing too few customers. "Sub-postmasters need to make a living," a spokesman said.
Forest Gate's new library and local service centre, The Gate, officially opened last week but was immediately plunged into controvesy as staff refused to wear a new corporate uniform.
The five staff who declined to put on the new look staff clothing were banned from front-line duties and sent to work in the back office. The following day two were sent home.
UNISON, which represent's the borough's library workers, claims that in the run-up to opening staff were pressurised to accept a new dress code in meetings without union representation. They further claim their members are being victimised.
Newham council says the staff are in breach ofd their contratcs and none of the other 120 library staff in the borough had any problem with wearing the new new uniforms.
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