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'
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
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..)
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
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.
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