ANTI-SOCIAL pubs, parking permits, and poor housing for the disabled were all on the agenda as councillors got a grilling from residents.

Redbridge Council leader Jas Athwal and his colleagues Cllr Kam Rai, Cllr Paul Canal, and corporate director of place Caroline Bruce tried to remedy concerns at their Local Voices Matter forum at Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford Green last night (March 22).

Cllr Athwal started the meeting with a minute’s silence to mark the “tragic events” of the Westminster terror attack.

First off residents in Woodside Road asked councillors when they could expect their resident parking permit they started campaigning for two years ago.

One neighbour said: “We were promised a parking permit scheme last year and we still haven’t got one.

“We’re being used as a car park for Hills [Toyota] garage, on top of the five schools in the area.

“We get terrible traffic jams, it’s just ridiculous.”

A highways officer assured her a parking permit scheme for Woodside Road and Knighton Drive was in the council’s budget for this financial year.

But she argued Knighton Drive handed in their petition two years later and should not get the same priority.

On the same subject, Patrick Treacher, of Wanstead Park Avenue, described parking problems in Aldersbrook as “unbelievable”.

He said Newham Council’s parking changes around Wanstead Park mean cars are now filling Redbridge-owned roads, leaving no spaces for residents.

He said: “I have lived in Aldersbrook for 38 years and I love where I live.

“But recently I’ve thought, should I move?

“We really, really need the council to do something about this – our roads are being used as parking lots.”

Mr Treacher claims Manor Park Station commuters, builders, and mini cabs leave cars there for weeks on end.

Cllr Athwal said he would happily look into a parking scheme for Aldersbrook and asked officers how long it would take them to implement.

Director Caroline Bruce replied: “We get far more parking requests than we can possibly deal with.

“But a scheme could be in place in 18 months, that’s providing there are no hold ups.”

Woodside Road residents also aired concerns about anti-social behaviour at The Horse & Well in the high road.

She said: “There’s litter, beer cans and glasses left everywhere.

“My neighbours have witnessed underage drinking, people having their merry way and drug taking in the men’s toilets.

“It’s bringing the area down.”

An enforcement officer reassured her she would organise a site visit with licensing and police officers in “the next three or four days”.

Pub manager Debbie Curtis told the Guardian: "Those things were happening before Christmas, but things have changed drastically since then.

"The individuals concerned have been barred, and we have several bouncers on the door checking IDs and the toilets for drugs."

Finally councillors faced difficult questions from a disabled Woodford Green resident.

After becoming homeless she claims she was “forced” into accepting a council home that does not meet the needs of her disability.

She claims she has had several accidents that “wouldn’t have happened” if she was given suitable accommodation.

She asked: “Why are you giving contracts to Landlords that don’t cater for the disabled?

“You should make that a condition, or else it isn’t fair.

“I didn’t ask for health problems – why don’t I have the same rights as an able-bodied person?”

Caroline Bruce said Redbridge’s housing crisis is a “very complex issue” and 2,500 families are currently waiting on homes.

Housing officers offered similar condolences but promised the council is planning on building more homes with disabled facilities.