‘Mini-Holland’ pioneer Loakes adjusts to life in opposition

Clyde Loakes: Leadership role at Waltham Forest has `drawn to a close - for now/for good - who knows.` PIC: Anna Little

The cabinet member at a London borough who blazed a trail rolling out cycling and walking infrastructure is adjusting to life as a councillor in opposition in the wake of the local elections. 

Clyde Loakes has spent more than 20 years as Leader and Deputy of Waltham Forest Council, but his ruling Labour administration saw their huge majority disappear earlier this month, with the Greens taking power.

Loakes held on to his seat in the ward of Leytonstone, but many of his colleagues were ousted.

He said his leadership role at Waltham Forest had “drawn to a close - for now/for good - who knows.”

In 2014 Waltham Forest was one of three boroughs (with Enfield and Kingston) awarded Mini Holland funding of around £30m from the then London Mayor Boris Johnson. Loakes  went on to oversee a host of changes including segregated cycle lanes, modal filters, School Streets, Copenhagen Crossings and reconfigured junctions.

Loakes commented on social media: “What an honour and a privilege it’s been, the amazing opportunities and the fantastic people I’ve worked with, for and met.”

He listed the funding and establishing of ‘Mini Holland’ as one of his career highlights, praising the community, officers, experts and politicians, with Waltham Forest  as the ‘go to place’ for active travel infrastructure and priority in the UK and “the art of the possible”.

Loakes said other highlights included: campaigning and reopening Lea Bridge Station; securing funding for the Leyton Tube Station upgrade; and leading  a crackdown on flytipping and enviro crime.