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

SLM Weekly Digest

Keep Our Marshes Open and Green!

This week, with the exception of housing development meeting organised to discuss the Lea Bridge Road developments (as reported previously), which we don’t know the outcome of yet, discussion has been mainly Hackney based...

Hackney Council have shared with us draft plans for the replacement of the car park on East Marsh with a brownfield habitat (discussions have not been concluded yet – we’ll keep you updated).
New plans being submitted for conversion of the existing 'Old School Nook' building at 146a Lea Bridge Road (reference number 2013/2118), to 2 x 2 bed flats (this is the historic building near the Prince of Wales public House, which used to be used for schooling children of canal families). There is a community plan to use the place for an historical project seeking Heritage Funding. Anyone who wants to object to the flat conversion should write to the Planning Officer Gareth Barnett by 27 November or use the online service viawww.hackney.gov.uk/planning-applications
Horseshoe Island – there have been boats moored near the Island with people lighting fires and using the space again. This bit of land near the Ice Rink is the responsibility of the Canals and Rivers Trust (CaRT), but the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority try to keep an eye on it (because it is a bird habitat, with swans nesting etc). They would like to negotiate with CaRT to take over its management. SLM will be discussing this matter at its next meeting (see below).

IN THE PRESS – a bit of promising news from the Waltham Forest Guardian is that a 45-house development plan on green belt land is likely to be refused as planning officers are not backing it at the Epping Forest District Council. Other great news from that area is that a petition to keep the forest free of charge has smashed the 12,000 signatures mark! See http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/14023041.Organiser__astounded__as_forest_petition_smashes_12_000_signature_barrier/

The Hackney Gazette features a front page story about Hackney Council reassessing a planning decision to grant permission for a block of luxury flats which would block out the light to an adjoining school playground due to a covenant written into the deeds in 2001. On page 4 more news on a plan for allotment gardens at Hackney stations (further information from
Reclaimed London ) and on page 8 “Edible Park planting to begin” – the long-cherished idea to start an edible park thought up by the Mabley Green Users Group is finally getting underway in the New Year. www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news

PETITION OF THE WEEK – the Government is considering making changes to the Freedom of Information Act by clamping down on how the public can use it. FOIs are a hard-won right which came to prominence over the issue of members of Parliament spending from the public purse (duck houses et al). To sign the petition go tohttps://www.cfoi.org.uk/campaigns/stop-foi-restrictions/

CONGRATULATIONS – to our friends at The Mill – whose art postcard fundraising event raised enough money to pay their rent for a year as well as support 55 homeless people for a safe bed and breakfast for a night. The Mill are currently recruiting for volunteers to help with their publicity further details from TheMill@coppermill.org.uk

EVENTS
Join Sustainable Hackney and others at a demonstration against the planned mega-storey flats at the Bishopsgate Goodsyard, being organised by Defend Council Housing. Sunday, November 15 from 11-3.00 p.m. meet at Shoreditch Overground.

Vision Redbridge are asking green-fingered volunteers are asked to help for a day of woodland coppicing at Hainault Country Park on Thursday 26 November – meet at 10.00 a.m. in the Car Park on Romford Road. Finish 2.30 p.m. Dress appropriately.

Friends of the Earth and Biofuelswatch are putting on a free film screening of “Threatened Forests” – about the impacts of the UK biofuels industry on U.K. energy policy, Tuesday 17 November from 6.30 p.m. at the FoE office, 139 Clapham Road, SW9 8HP

The Waltham Forest FoE are having their regular third Tuesday of the month meeting on 17 November at the back of the Rose & Crown, 55 Hoe Street, Walthamstow and the main topic will be on Divest – persuading Waltham Forest Council to change its pensions policy and favour more sustainable choices of investment.

The People’s March for Climate, Justice and Jobs (a family-friendly demonstration), takes place on Sunday 29 November from 12.00 noon at Hyde Park towards Parliament. Sustainable Hackney will be represented as will SLM and its new banner!

Next SLM meeting will be on Monday 16 November at 7.30 at the Princess of Wales Pub, Lea Bridge Road. New people always welcome to attend.