SLM Weekly Digest 5-6-14

This is the weekly digest of Save Lea Marshes, an open group of local people trying to keep the Lea Valley and other local green spaces as unclosed and wild as possible.  For further information about the campaign and the work we do, please see our website www.saveleamarshes.org.uk 
 
What's in the mix this week?
 
OOH LA LEA VALLEY - on the 7th July Le Tour de France is due to come to the Lea Valley area, snaking its way near Marsh Lane.  A photo an map of the route can be see in the London Borough of Waltham Forest's Council newspaper Issue 115.
 
MARSH LANE - also features in on line discussions this week.  LBWF have already installed dropped kerbs and key-only barriers.  SLM is wary that this and other possible changes to the local road system will result in more people using this route as a through way.  Also, we have recently noticed, that there are more and more vehicles making their way around the perimeter of the Hackney Marshes leading to the Rusty Box sports centre.  We will be vigilant in trying to prevent more vehicles on the marshes which adversely affect the green space and are dangerous to pedestrians, cyclists and dogs.
 
JOINED UP THINKING ON GREEN SPACES -  the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces - have a print out of their Summer Round Up - http://e-voice.org.uk/london-friends-network/assets/documents/campaign-roundup5-2014celebrating their Park Week from 25 July to 3 August.  There is also news from the NFPG of a petition against the loss of green space and a report www.stateofukparks.org.uk.  Further details from www.natfedparks.org.uk 
 
PETITION OF THE WEEK - following the Queen's Speech yesterday, one of the subjects that might wake us up is Fracking.  Green Peace have a petition to stop the Government giving away the rights to stop Fracking firms tunnelling under our homes and business premises without our permission see https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/frackinglaw2. 
 
GLYSHOPHATE - the petition of more than 3k signatures handed into Hackney Town Hall, last week is featured on page 7 of this week's "Hackney Gazette" and mentions the SLM campaign from last year on the same subject.  SLM was told that Hackney would be monitoring the situation but the impression from the article looks like LBH are not inclined to act unless they are forced to.  Katherine Hammnet is taking the campaign nationally.
 
BUS CRASH - coverage of this week's serious accident on Lea Bridge Road (see "Evening Standard" 4th June and today's "Hackney Gazette"), right by the Ice Rink and Essex Wharf.  We repeat our early warnings, that this spot is set to become prone to more accidents, once Essex Wharf residents start accessing the Lea Bridge Road.  It was sheer lunacy to have built housing on the Wharf without properly thinking of the likely impact of road use.
 
EVENTS
 
Well done to Joan and other members of SLM on the plant walk last week - with about 40 people attending.  If you missed that one, our friend Rasheeqa from Hedge Herbs is running another plant spotting walk on Sunday 15th June from 10.30 to 12.30 - meet at Coppermill Lane Car Park E17 7HA.  Cost £6.60 or £5.00 for concessions.  ContactRasheeqa@hedgeherbs.org.uk  or telephone 07784506494.  The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority are also organising an botany walk on Walthamstow/Leyton Marsh on Saturday 14th at 2.00 p.m.  Booking required.  See their website for details.
 
Amongst all the anniversaries happening this year - one that doesn't involve war is a celebration of 40 Years of Homerton Library in Hackney.  On Saturday 7 June from 10.45 - 8.00 p.m. there is a range of stalls, music, spoken word, and more going on at the library in Homerton High Street - Just around the corner from Chat's Palace, where the library used to be housed.  For further details visit www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries-whats-on 
 
Next SLM meeting - 7.30 at the Hare & Hounds, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton on Monday 16 June.  Hopefully, the weather will be nice enough to sit outside.  Newcomers welcome.