SLM WEEKLY DIGEST 20-11-14

There's joy and discontent this winter on the marsh... View this email in your browser

Let's start with this beauitful image of a heron taking flight after eating a fish. Captured and shared with us this week by one of our favourite photographers - Emma Cameron - who took one of the winning images in this year's calendar. SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes, an open group of local people who live in the Lea Valley area, wanting to keep the marshes and green spaces alive and thriving for wildlife and people now and in the future.  Find out more about our work via our website www.saveleamarshes.org.uk and help finance our work through our merchandising page, particularly the 2015 “What I Love About the Marshes” calendar. After a lull of not so much going on, there has been a sudden flurry of activity this week.  Here’s a selection of the happenings, developments and gleanings from email and other conversations this week... LVRPA VARIOUS - finally, we hear news of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) “having a scarf” – the long awaited scarifying of Leyton Marsh should be happening next week.  For those, not in the know, this is preparing the land for re-seeding, following the disastrous so called “re-instatement” after the Olympic Basketball fiasco. We have also heard from a local resident affected by the awful noise of the Ice Rink, that the noise prevention work should be completed by Xmas – just in time for some Silent Nights (sorry!). Over at the Waterworks it seems the empty extra paddock that has nary seen an ‘orse for a year is likely to stay – according to the LVRPA. The next ‘workshop’ meeting for locals to participate in and ask questions of the LVRPA is scheduled for some time in the New Year. AT CROSS RAILS – (1) We hear that Crossrail 2 after two consultation rounds is set to go to Dalston Junction via Angel, Seven Sisters and Tottenham – although some provision is also being made to possible incorporate Hackney Central into the system too.  To find out more about the consultation go to www.crossrail2@tfl.gov.uk or for further informationwww.crossrail2.co.uk  You may want to see how you might be affected as a resident or business person. (2) Meanwhile there were justifiably angry exchanges going on at the Waltham Forest Transport Liaison Meeting this week.  Firstly, regarding the length of time and the lack of proper research it has taken to get to where we are now and secondly about the access routes to the station.  There will be a Waltham Forest Lea Bridge Ward meeting at the Lea Bridge Library on Wednesday 3 December at Lea Bridge Library 6pm for 6.30pm – so another opportunity to put views across. FOUL AIR ABOUT CAR PARK PLANS – A new group in Hackney fighting air pollution, called ‘I Like Clean Air’, have just released results of their research into air quality in the borough; out of 55 locations in South Hackney, 26 breach EU limits on Nitrogen Dioxide. There have been 66 deaths in Hackney from air pollution this year alone:http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2014/10/calls-to-tackle-hackney-air-pollution-after-66-deaths/ LETTER OF THE WEEK – Johnny Walker, Chairman of the Hackney & Leyton Football League, has put another one at the back of the net this week (Hackney Gazette p.14).  This week his ire is aimed at the Edible Park of Mabley Green.  Not a man of few words, Johnny says:  “I did hope at one time that we [user groups] could all work together but sadly its seems they want a war...”  Sadly, Johnny we think this is an own goal, we don’t want war and do want to work together, especially on getting all those pitches that were displaced to Mabley Green back on the (still) mysteriously fenced off East Marsh! BORIS’ GARDEN AIN’T NO PLACE FOR US COMMONERS – Boris’ plan for a Garden Bridge sound rather quaint and lovely. Until you look at the finer details – like the uprooting of 30 trees, the private nature of the space and the banning of cycles and protest (expect a Critical Mass if we’re paying for this folly, Boris). Read more here:http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/nov/19/londons-garden-bridge-the-public-park-where-groups-and-cyclists-arent-welcome EVENTS: Firstly, if you haven’t caught up on coverage (in today’s Guardian or the Hackney Gazette), the plight of the local New Era estate residents caught up in huge rent hikes and possible evictions before Christmas – do read.  It is a parable for our times.  If you want to take action in support of the residents there is a rally on the 24 November outside Parliament  at 3pm organised by GMB and a coalition of other groups. WINTER WALKS – (1) A winter walk to learn about natural remedies to fight of winter ailments will be happening on 13 December – meet either outside The Mill on Coppermill Lane at 10am or twenty minutes later at Coppermill Lane Car Park.  FREE. (2) Our friends at Hackney Tours have also got some interesting walks planned – this weekend at Hackney Wick and coming up in the weekend of 12/13 December a look at the “other side” of Queen Elizabeth Park.  Do go to the Tours page ofwww.hackneytours.com  and find out what delights await or go to Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/hackney.tours ABNEY PARK FUNDAY – Sunday 13 December from 11am - 3pm for fundraising frolics and see the SLM stall with sales of our calendar and other merchandise on sale, plus an opportunity to talk to SLM folk. I (Celia) will also be selling SLM calendars at the Mossbourne School Xmas Fair, near Hackney Downs, on Saturday from 12pm - 3pm as part of my business stall – Trashalamode. There’s a free Day School for activist groups on navigating the web to promote campaigning at beginning of New Year which you can register for now:http://peacenews.info/node/7821/weaving-our-own-web Next SLM meeting – 1st December at the Princess of Wales pub, Lea Bridge Road, E5 at 7.30.  All welcome.