SLM Digest 5-2-16

To: yahoo group <saveleytonmarsh@yahoogroups.co.uk>

Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk View this email in your browser SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! This week, spring has been in the air and anyone that has fancied a walk around Hackney Marshes would soon be aware of the green open spaces being marred by tyre tracks extending from the path edges and in places across the green. SLM has been in touch with Hackney Parks Dept. concerning increasing private car access and the deep tracks left by Council vehicles.  One of our correspondents received a reply to his complaint about lack of bollards on the path at the Hackney Marshes Centre leading to the marsh.  Tyre tracks are clearly swerving around on the grass to avoid the bollard in the middle of the path.  His complaint also included seeing an assumed private car driving around the perimeter path.  This, he was told was an employee going about his job in a private car. A second email with photos on similar issues address to the Parks Department was returned by Hackney’s email system, because it was too big.  As copies were sent to others who received it, it begs the question of how does the Council’s system cope with developers sending in planned document?  We are however, pleased to report that metal folding bollards have been placed on the path near Cow Bridge. HOT TOPICS THIS WEEK ICE RINK – SLM will continue to fight against significant development and no development on MoL and will be pursuing with the Lea Valley Regional Parks Authority whether it is possible to consider land which isn’t MoL.  We are also pushing for the LVRPA to hold a proper consultation and ensure that local people are aware of what’s involved by following up with our contacts and kindred organisations. NORTHERN AREA OLYMPIC FRINGE AREA ACTION PLAN – SLM are following up on the validity of this plan versus current proposed developments. LEA BRIDGE ROAD DEVELOPMENTS – 97 Lea Bridge Road is part of the current industrial area near Arygll Way.  300 are planned including 3 x 18 storey tower blocks that will be visable from Leyton Marsh.  Height and lift pollution are key issues and there is a Facebook Group that is actively discussing it.  Plans can be viewed onwww.walthamforest.gov.uk  and the Planning Application number is 158384. The viewpoint of an active local resident is available on our blog: www.saveleytonmarsh.wordpress.com Thames Water Site – SLM is writing Freedom of Information requests to the Department of Education and the London Borough of Waltham Forest to find out how the proposed Free School was given a green light... CRICKET SCREENS – SLM representatives have been in discussion with a representative from Stoke Newington Cricket Club regarding the storage of large cricket screens.  We will support the Cricket Club in getting the screens stored by Hackney Council in their depot when not in use, because the marsh should be open and accessible to all.  This is because the design of the Cricket Pavilion has not included appropriate space in the building to house them and the ECB, who contributed funding to the project are saying that having the screens is a requirement for league matches.  It is a great pity we didn’t know this at the time of the PINS Inquiry last year.  We predict that there will be further problems.... WALKING INTO HISTORY – SLM has received a request from a Waltham Forest local resident and PhD student from the Royal Holloway University and funded by a scholarship and an Arts Grant from LBWF, who is looking for volunteers to take a walk with her across Walthamstow Marshes to share their thoughts, memories and knowledge of the Marsh.  With respondent’s permission this will form part of her research and also be placed in the Archives of Vestry House in Walthamstow.  Anyone interested should contact Siobhan.ONeill.2014@live.rhul.ac.uk  IN THE PRESS – In Waltham Forest the recently established Waltham Forest Echo has its 11th issue out on line and is also being distributed around the borough for the first time.  Articles include a update on Walthamstow Wetlands plans.   We have missed the timing for the monthly editorial meeting when members of the public can pitch ideas to the editorial staff but the next deadline for copy is 18 February.  www.walthamforestecho.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Echo-11.pdf The W.F. Guardian has a report about the proposed Labour candidate for the London Assembly requesting the Civil Aviation Authority carry out a noise impact assessment for the changed flight path from London City Airport.  The new path is over Leyton, Leytonstone and Walthamstow. www.guardian-series.co.uk/news Over in Hackney, Private Eye has a story on p.21 about the condition of St. Mary’s Lodge in Lordship Road Hackney.  It was a handsome villa built around 1843 but was withdrawn from Auction and sold at lower than the market value and has since been resold.  In 2014, a petition to Save St Mary’s Lodge attracted the second highest number of signatures, alas to no avail.. www.private-eye.co.uk/nooksandcorners The Hackney Gazette has a front page story:  “Fury over scheme for killer junction” about the proposed Transport for London revamp for a deadly junction replacing traffic lights with a roundabout.  This follows the death of an elderly woman in 2011 and other accidents at the junction in Lower Clapton Road and Urswick Road.  (This is also the area near close to a planned Free School). www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news EVENTS There is a Lea Bridge Ward Councillors meeting with the public at 6.30pm in Leyton Library on Wednesday 10 February which will include discussions on latest planning issues and the following day, 11 February at 7pm in the St. John’s Ambulance Hall in Mildenhall Road, Hackney E5, in Hackney’s Lea Bridge Ward, there will be a forum discussing housing and rental issues and an update on policing by local officers.  Under A.O.B. a local SLM member will also talk about the effects of Waltham Forest’s plans could affect Hackney residents sharing the borough boundary. Open City (formerly Open House) has news of upcoming events, including a “Walking Tour of the Olypmic Park and beyond, which includes “Olympicoplis”, plans for large cultural institutions.  11.00 a.m. Saturday 20 February.  Cost £25.50.  www.open-city.org.uk  Next SLM meeting will be at the Princess of Wales pub in Lea Bridge Road on Monday 15 February at 7.30 p.m.  New people welcome. Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2016 Save Lea Marshes, All rights reserved. You signed up for this email by contacting us directly or ticking a sign up sheet on a petition. Our mailing address is: Save Lea Marshes c/o The Hornbeam Centre 458 Hoe St Walthamstow, London E17 9AH United Kingdom

SLM Digest 29-1-16

To: yahoo group <saveleytonmarsh@yahoogroups.co.uk>

 

Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk   View this email in your browser SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! A PLANE STUPID JUDGEMENT -  a national news story this week with local implications - the 'Heathrow 13' who took direct action against climate change at Heathrow airport last July in opposition to the recommended expansion of Heathrow have been found guilty of aggravated trespass. The judge, whilst recognising their 'passion' and 'good character' proceeded to recommend immediate custodial sentences, which means each of the defendants face the prospect of three months in jail.  The Plane Stupid campaign are organising support, including donations to help cover costs. The group would like as many people as possible to attend Willesden Magistrates Court on 24th February when the sentences will be announced, for more information see: http://www.planestupid.com HYPER LOCAL – where to begin?  SLM organised a meeting with the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority on Monday to discuss the four local sites that will be assessed for the possible new Ice Rink.  We pressed heavily for early and extensive public consultation and for maximum preservation of the green space.  Interestingly, the LVRPA were vague about the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s future planning proposals and had only just found out about the Free School.  More information can be found our old blog, where we will shortly be adding the maps of the 4 proposed sites, all on protected Metropolitan Open Land: www.saveleytonmarsh.wordpress.com. IT'S JUST MORE CRICKET–  on-going discussion and a meeting planned with Stoke Newington Cricket Club to talk about the escalating problems of a cricket pavilion so well designed it can’t house essential club equipment such as sight screens and pitch covers, deemed essential to club cricket yet not mentioned at the 4 day public inquiry or included in any of the planning documents. We have also heard that a petition was taken to Hackney Council last week concerning creating a “proper” football ground (e.g. with a stadium, seating and car parking), somewhere in Hackney – the marshes and Millfields were mentioned. SLM, who are still in discussion with the Council about keeping East Marsh and other green areas as vehicle free as possible, will keep abreast of developments. IN THE MEDIA Winterwatch is back on BBC2 – this is great news for our cat (Assistant Editor), who watched the whole of it on Wednesday night, even the boring human bits... The latest Hackney Today 25 January , p.3 “Have Your say on Bishopsgate Goods Yard proposals”, extended for the next 21 days email your concerns tobishopsgate@london.gov.uk/bgy  “Calls for a re-think on Crossrail 2”, p.13 on the Dalston area to view the proposals go towww.bit.ly/crossrail_vents  “Grow local and shop local”, details of the latest Growing Communities project, which is looking for trainees to learn how to grow organically.  Applications close on 8 February, for more information visit www.growingcommunities.org  “Follow the porter’s path” on p.25, pictures and archive information on a path that use to run diagonally across from Walthamstow to Shoreditch via Clapton’s Millfields. In Waltham Forest, the Waltham Forest Guardian has another update on the re-opening of the Lea Bridge Station set for early Spring. Last Saturday’s Times of 23 January features Melissa Harrison’s Nature Notebook: “Starlings go hungry as bugs are wiped out” and more positively “Return of the native” (better news about Ash dieback disease and “Daffy weather”, about this winter’s challenging temperatures). PETITION OF THE WEEK Please sign Friends of the Earth's petition to make Waltham Forest 'fossil free' https://campaigns.gofossilfree.org/petitions/divest-waltham-forest EVENTS  Sunday 31 January, 2-3pm there is an RSPB Bird Watch at the Dalston Curve Garden, 13 Dalston Lane, includes spotting, counting and, from 2-5pm, the opportunity to make a bird feeder. Saturday 13 February – an event at Potters Field Park (next to the City Hall), with activities and guests including the writer Will Self, the aim is to draw attention to the loss of public open space to private control (e.g. this land is not your land).  It's called 'Space Probe Alpha' and you can join the event on Facebook Sunday 8 May 12-4pm, Whitehall, Sustainable Hackney are organising a backward walk to demonstrate the “going backwards on climate change of Government policy”. If you a member of Sustainable Hackney, you can RSVP here.  Monday 1 February, 7.30pm at the Princess of Wales pub, Lea Bridge Road, Hackney, the next SLM meeting.  Lots to discuss concerning threats to the marshes and local green space – so leave the sofa and come and get involved!       Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2016 Save Lea Marshes, All rights reserved. You signed up for this email by contacting us directly or ticking a sign up sheet on a petition. Our mailing address is: Save Lea Marshes c/o The Hornbeam Centre 458 Hoe St Walthamstow, London E17 9AH United Kingdom

SLM Digest 16-1-16

Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk View this email in your browser SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes up and running again in 2016.  We can only wish you a personal “Happy New Year” as the news is generally pretty shit!  Christmas has not been a quiet time without incident - internationally, nationally and locally much has been troubling.  Locally – a lot going on stealthily as you’ll see below.  Some good news though – the SLM calendar for 2016 is sold out and has boosted our funds for future action.  We are working on other new products.  Do keep an eye on our website www.saveleamarshes.org.uk and also get in touch and alert us to anything about the Lea Valley that concerns you. MINI-HOLLAND  - beginning to think of this as almost a swearing oath.  Take a walk along the Lea Bridge Road from the bridge at Hackney towards the Ice Rink, the Riding stables and beyond and witness the devastation so far.  The Monty Python-style Lumberjack squad have been out felling trees (not all of them look old and diseased), and putting down hard surface in preparation for?  Well, if you want to see the full extent of what is planned go to 'enjoy Waltham Forest' http://www.enjoywalthamforest.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/LBR-A-consultation.pdf  EAST MARSH – correspondence has been flying back and forth about the design and height of the gates at East Marsh between Hackney Parks, SLM and other local groups.  We’re currently not finished 'debating the gate', so will update everyone next week. CONSULTATIONS - a word that has becoming more chilling than originally intended, for lo what happens when it is uttered?  Usually, the opposite of the outcome you envisage.  Firstly, Hackney is consulting on the future of Hackney Road Recreation Ground – should it have a new name? See https://consultations.hackney.gov.uk/parks-greenspaces/hackney-road-recreation-ground-1/consult   covered in both the Hackney Gazette and the Hackney Today (p13) in more detail and  have your say on changing the fees on local markets (including Ridley Road – of which, more later..)  https://consultations.hackney.gov.uk/parking-services/fees-and-charges  More drop in sessions on the London Fields traffic calming measures see www.hackney.gov.uk/traffic-management.htm  plus coverage on page 2 of the Hackney Today. IN THE PRESS – first up and seemingly out of the blue – the Waltham Forest Guardian carries the story that a new secondary academy has been granted permission to have first temporary and then permanent space on currently Metropolitan Open Land opposite the Lee Valley Ice Rink, from September 2017 which most people thought locally would go to housing.  It is anticipated that some 1,400 pupils from Waltham Forest and surrounding boroughs will go to this school provided by the Lion Academy Trust.  (Another example of L.B.W.F. making decisions which affect edge of Hackney?) see http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/14205538.Site_secured_for_news_secondary-school_which_will_offer_ Also in the W.F. Guardian  a story about the chair of the Epping Society being concerned about green belt land being at risk of future development http://www.guardian-series.co.uk./news/wfnews  Back in Hackney (or should we now refer to it as the edges of Waltham Forest?) we have the struggle to prevent the Grade II listed Old School House being turned into two flats by developers  p.2  www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news  and in the Hackney Citizen p.7 “Dalston’s ‘cultural quarter’ not up for sale, insists Town Hall, p.p7-8 www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/news  - two features about the impact that Crossrail 2 plans could have on Ridley Road Market, The Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, the Peace Mural and well, most things which make Dalston attractive..  The Citizen also has ‘Continuous cruiser’ wins battle against eviction from canal home, p.4 also on the same page ‘Decision on Fish Island luxury flats delayed.  Plus in the Hackney Today, p.p.8-9 a bit of light relief from Hackney after dark there is a double page spread of pictures (including of the marshes), and information about a new book by photographer David George, published by Hoxton Mini Press, price £12.95 for more info or to order the book go to www.hoxtonminipress.com/   Am surprised he found it so dark given the amount of light from surrounding buildings and streets these days .. EVENTS – Apple Yowling is back at the Ferry Boat Inn, N17 NG this Sunday 17 January from 5.00 – 7.00 p.m. plus.  Come Wassailing with torch, something to make a noise with, and your voice to help carry on the tradition and also to remember Katy Andrews who died last year but will always be with us. South Ranger for Walthamstow Marshes, Eammon, has emailed us with details of the first Community Haystacks A.G.M., which will be held on 23 January from 2.00-3.00 p.m. at the Waterworks Centre, Lammas Road E10 7NL – this will also be to prepare for the annual Community Haystacks event with provisional dates for the 30th and 31st of July. Using the old methods is much better for the environment so to be encouraged.  Contact Kathrin on 0794169655 orkathrin@myvillages.org.uk  to say you will be coming and get more information. The Council for the Protection of Rural England, London, with Planning Aid, the London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies are organising a  Hustings event – “Planning for London Control or Chaos?”, with the London Mayoral hopefuls on 22 March from 6.00-8.00 p.m. at 70 Cowcross Street, near Farringdon Station.  To book a free place seewww.cpre.org.uk and also view the latest January newsletter, well worth reading. The Tree Musketeers have details of their January programme on http://sustainablehackney.org./events  - one this Saturday 16 January at Hackney Downs – meet on the old Bowling Green with a fruit tree pruning workshop and pruning.  Also see Hackney Citizen p. 29 with an article on Hedgehogs and some comments from Russell Miller about their scarcity in Hackney. Next SLM meeting (last week’s was cancelled due to ill-health and other commitments),  Monday 18 January, at The Princess of Wales pub on Lea Bridge Road, at 7.30.  All welcome. Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2016 Save Lea Marshes, All rights reserved. You signed up for this email by contacting us directly or ticking a sign up sheet on a petition. Our mailing address is: Save Lea Marshes c/o The Hornbeam Centre 458 Hoe St Walthamstow, London E17 9AH United Kingdom