SLM Digest 22-5-15

View this email in your browser SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes.  We are an open group of people keen to preserve the precious marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley area, with a view to maintaining and improving conditions for wildlife and as places of escape and contemplation away from the hectic life of the 21st century.  To find out more about our work, please see our webpage www.saveleamarshes.org.uk  or come along to one of our regular fortnightly meetings (see below). I have just returned from a short holiday on the Greek Island of Santorini.  Have been trying to find out exactly what is going on with the Greek economy, but the locals seemed reluctant to talk about it.  However, more impressed by the local fauna – a wide diversity of wild flowers, herbs and shrubs all thriving on rock and volcanic soil.  This is in stark contrast to the numbers of wild flowers that have disappeared from our landscape.  There was some link, in watching the Swifts swirl about overhead,  just like Hackney’s usual summer visitors, who returned in early May (currently, keeping the feline, Assistant Editor entertained looking out of the window, instead of sitting on my notes). PINS & NEEDLES – some of you regular readers of the digest may have noticed that we have been reporting less on local news recently.  This has not been through less activism, rather the contrary.  We have all been hard at work, putting a case together for the Planning Inspectorate Inquiry meeting about the Hackney Pavilion and associated car parks on Hackney Marshes, taking place in June.  After weeks of thorough research, covering every aspect of the plans, SLM’s position is that the pavilion should be built on the footprint of the old changing rooms and that the site of the East Marsh car park should be restored to playing fields, as intended post Olympics.  In order to fulfil the needs of PINS we had to do some very un- green things with paper (although we used recycled materials wherever possible).  The effort took 1 new printing drum; 4 new printing cartridges; 10k sheets of paper; 15 folders; 17 sets of dividers; one very tired punching arm and many people on the verge...  We feel we have put together excellent arguments but as we are all aware from previous types of encounters, this doesn’t necessarily mean winning! ICE RINK “FREEZABILITY” – we’ve been waiting for this to rear up again.  A feasibility report has gone to the Executive Committee of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) today, presenting initial proposals for a new, twin-pad ice rink that will replace the Lee Bridge Road’s current “ice-sore” (a so called temporary building on common land).   If approved, this could mean a new, larger, ice rink being built on the current position; it going to Pickett’s Lock in Hertfordshire or somewhere on the Olympic site.  Whatever the outcome, there will be implications for the future use of this green space.  The LVRPA have said that they will be consulting with local people.  A good opportunity to get your voice heard on this matter is to go to the next LVRPA Workshop meeting at the Waterworks 1-3 p.m. on Sunday 6 June.   OXBOW – following up on a letter from Councillor Rathbone and colleagues from Hackney’s Lea Bridge Ward to Shaun Dawson, CEO of LVRPA, who has also been in consultations with the Canals and River Trust about joint action for improvement – the future improvement of Oxbow – which should benefit from £50k agreed with the development of “The Wharf” on Essex Wharf, will also be on that agenda.  So too will be an opportunity to comment on plans for an art project to improve the underpass at Lea Bridge Road.  So note the above date and come along.  Also note that there will be an LVRPA Ranger’s Drop-In Session on Oxbow on Sunday 24 May from 12.00-6.00 p.m. E-BOOK – some of you may have seen posters along the River Lea about a new e-book on the Walthamstow Marshes campaign of 1979, it is out on Kindle now (and you can download an app for your PC if you don't have a Kindle) - find out about the battle to save what is now the SSSI.  Costs £2.50 http://amzn.to/1Hn1Opm MEADOW, NOT SO SWEET – the digest has had an update from a local supporter about a campaign we mentioned about a year ago.  This concerns the preservation of Keresley Hay Meadow  and the campaign’s temporary injunction, pending a full judicial review to secure the future of the site  (also to stop it being sprayed and cultivated by the current farm owner).  The campaign is challenging Natural England, who are the body that is supposedly there to save such sites but, we’re told has only stopped one out of 1074 applications since 2005.  To find out more and give support, go to http://www.naturalenglandFailedUs.org IN THE PRESS – page 2 of The Guardian 21 May 2015 www.guardian.com/news  a report on   Harlequin ladybirds – “the fastest invader of UK on record”.  According to this report the newcomers can prey on our more usual species but our local varieties are displaying UKIP like tendencies in trying to eat the newcomers too and the Harlequin’s might have some useful benefits on preying on smaller insects like aphids.  Am surprised the headline wasn’t something like “Newcomer’s knock spots off old ladybirds” but maybe they left that for The Sun. ON TWITTER – for those that do – see #allotments by tracymcveigh http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/may/17/allotments-threat-housing-cities-green-spaces  posted by @savefarmterrace NEWSLETTER – Friends of The Earth Walthamstow – re. Meetings, bee campaigns, wild garden open day possibilities and more information at foe.walthamforest@gmail.com EVENTS Next week 23-31 May is London Tree Week, in its third year, supported by the Mayor for London’s office, for more details go to https://www.london.gov.uk/get-involved/events/london-tree-week-23-31May2015 More local action on trees, with the latest events organised by the Tree Musketeers including: Sunday 24 May at the Tree Nursery, Hackney from 10.30 to 2.00 p.m. small tree care; A plant sale and advise on small trees session on 7 June – same time, same place, plus Abney Park Cemetery Bio Blitz on 29 June.  These and other up- coming events are free and further details from http://treemusketeers.org.uk The intriguingly titled http://eight-leggedhorse.co.uk  are organising nature trails around Walthamstow to create your own kennings on the following Sundays: 31 May, 7 June, 14th June from 10-12.30 p.m.  Our next SLM meeting will be on Monday 25th May at 7.30pm.

LVRPA Draft Proposals for Area 1

Park Development Framework

Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966 Section 14 Draft Area Proposals

Draft Proposals for Area 1 East India Dock Basin to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: Update on Consultation

Dear Consultee

Further to the email last month the Agenda and papers for the Lower Lee Valley Regeneration and Planning Committee on the 14 May 2015 will shortly be available on the Park Development Framework website via the following dedicated link:  www.visitleevalley.org.uk/pdfareaproposal

The draft Area 1 Proposals will be considered by Members at the Committee at 11.00am.  You are welcome to attend the committee meeting which will be held at the WaterWorks Centre, located on Lammas Road (off Lea Bridge Road), Leyton, London E10 7QB, Tel: 020 8988 7566.

As previously mentioned if you wish to speak at the meeting you will need to give notice to the Committee Office at least 2 working days before the meeting is due to take place, i.e. by 11 May.  Guidelines for public speaking at committee meetings and the relevant contact details are all available on the PDF consultation webpage.

Following consideration of the draft Proposals at the Lower Lee Valley Committee and any further revisions it is intended that the final set of proposals will be presented to full Authority on the 9^th July for adoption.

Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

Myddelton House, Bulls Cross, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 9HG 

Tel: 01992 717711      Fax: 01992 709922

www.leevalleypark.org.uk

SLM Digest 7-5-15

SAVE LEA MARSHES WEEKLY DIGEST 7 MAY

This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes.  We are an open group of people living in the Lea Valley area who strongly believe that the marshes and other local green spaces need to be saved and maintained for local people and nature.  Find out more about our work on our website

www.saveleamarshes.org.uk

This week is a “bumper” issue – as I am not able to do the digest next week.

Well it’s the big Election Day – but for some in Hackney – as many of you will have already heard – there was a mess up with potentially thousands of people left without a vote, but thanks to hard work at the last minute, this has been reduced to about 50.  See full story p1 in the current Hackney Gazette www.hackneygazette.co.uk

 Other local Hackney stories in the Hackney Gazette this week on p.9 “Frustrations over edible park delay” – more on the delay in starting the “all-weather” pitches and edible park on Mabley Green.  A council spokesperson attributes the delay to further soil testing of the former site of Blitz contamination.  This is the sort of contamination found on Leyton Marsh and North Marsh, Hackney (where Hackney Council wants to build a new sports pavilion).  More, on this topic below.  On p.15 there is a full page feature on the 175 Years of Abney Park.  Our fingers are crossed that future generations will be able to celebrate this too, without it being overshadowed by development.

NOT SO FAR PAVILION - In addition to going to the Planning Inspectorate in June (further details in the next digest), a slightly revised application for planning permission will be going to a future Hackney Planning Committee.  Plans (Application Number 2014/2582 for perusal should be displayed at the Ground Floor Reception Area, Hackney Service Centre, 1 Hillman Street E8 1DY (between 9 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays) or alternatively via Planning online www.hackney.gov.uk/planning-applications   Responses need to be received by 12 May – so hurry! SLM’s opposition is that the pavilion should be built on the existing site of the Old Changing Rooms and not right in the centre of common land as proposed.

EDGELANDS – for those of you who didn’t hear the piece on Radio 4’s “Today” programme about “edge-lands” – the kind of land that exists in the space between developed and rural land, like much of the Olympic area –  featuring Rob Cowan on a site in Yorkshire.  Rob has written a book about Edge-lands  - something to look out for.

LEE VALLEY REGIONAL PARK NEWS – three items to report this week.  Firstly, there is a meeting at

11 a.m. on 14 May at the Waterworks Centre, Lammas Road (off Lea Bridge Road), E10 7QB to discuss the Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966, Section 14 Draft Area Proposal on East India Dock and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park area.  If you would like to attend, please ring the LVRPA on

0208 898 at least two days in advance, or email via the website.  Secondly, there is the launch of the new newsletter “Musings from the Marsh” covering the Leyton and Walthamstow Marshes area it has some interesting articles on what has been spotted on the marshes, LVRPA news and events.  Thirdly, the next Workshop meeting which will be discussing (a )ideas for the art project and (b) Essex Wharf at 1-3 on 6 June at the Waterworks Centre (as above)

 www.visitleevalley-org.uk/walthamstowmarshes

GLYPHOSATE – so good, the U.S. have been spraying it over Columbia to kill off the Coca crops (and any other crop in the way), for over two decades.. Story in The Guardian, p.24 www.guardian.co.uk  about how the Colombian Government are now saying “No More”, following the findings of the World Health Organisation (as covered recently in the SLM Weekly Digest).  Following, reports of anything from skin rashes and respiratory problems, to diarrhoea and miscarriages,  the Health Minister and member of the Colombian National Narcotics Council which sets out drug policy says:  “It would be unacceptable, even from an ethical standpoint, to have this evidence on the table and not accept it”.  Of course there is the other view from the US Assistant Secretary of State for Counter-Narcotics and a former Ambassador to Colombia:  “There is not one single example of a person who has suffered damage from Glyphosate in Colombia in the past 20 or 21 years”.  Probably, because no systematic study has taken place..

EVENTS

Hedge Herbs are as active as ever – amongst on-going events are: 9 May 10-3 p.m. at the Hornbeam Cafe Veggie area, 458 Hoe Street E17 9AH there will be a plant sale; on 16 May from 10-1.00 p.m. there will be a session on Practical Pharmacy at Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park (booking is required for this).  Contact Rasheeqa at HedgeHerbs.

Forage London also has a new edition of its newsletter out with details of walks and courses, go to

http://www.foragelondon.co.uk/walks&courses 

A reminder, that the Vitality Run will be in Hackney on Sunday 10 May – if you don’t want to see it and keep out of the way, you might need to know that between 7 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. the following roads will be closed: Clapton; Homerton and Victoria Park.  Some bus services may also be affected.

PLEASE NOTE: SLM’s regular fortnightly meeting in the Princess of Wales, will not be a open event next Monday as planned.  There is some urgent work we need to do and it is likely (at time of going to press) that it will take place at a private address.  Normal service will be resumed for the following meeting.

And finally,  it has been a while since we’ve mentioned the “Assistant Editor” – my cat and desk accessory – this week she excelled herself by walking across my keyboard and coming up with a link to “50 Shades of Grey”...the  computer skills of cats are unfathomable.  

SLM Digest 16-4-15

SAVE LEA MARSHES WEEKLY DIGEST 16 APRIL 2015

This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes – an open group of people in the Lea Valley Area striving to keep the local marshes and other green spaces as places where wildlife can survive and people can have a place to relax and enjoy, now and in the future.  Find out more about our work on our website www.saveleamarshes.co.uk

We’re starting this week with a little quiz – guess the place described (in a David Attenborough voice):|  “Here, surrounded by scenic river paths, vast open grasslands and nature reserves, it’s hard to believe you are approximately 12 minutes from Liverpool Street Station”.  I’m sure that you have guessed by now that this is estate agents bollocks describing the Essex Wharf development – now known as “The Wharf”.  Lie number one is that it is approximately 12 minutes from Clapton Station (here’s a challenge?).  The description continues:  “Set in Clapton’s Lea Bridge Neighbourhood (land is owned by Waltham Forest), and bordering the fashion forward area of Hackney, The Wharf is well positioned in one of London’s most rapidly developing neighbourhoods.. A serene escape from the pulse of the city along the tranquil River Lea, with colourful houseboats, scenic towpaths and a huge open marshes feature prominently.. (does not mention the proximity to the Lea Bridge Road, with its lively flow of colourful vehicles or the beautiful view of the industrial chic style Ice Centre ), .. and the local neighbourhood of Chatsworth Road..” I clicked on this as a side-bar, accidently, whilst looking at the Waltham Forest Guardian. 

IN THE PRESS – not much this week, although there is a story in the Waltham Forest Guardian about proposals for the St. James car park site, particularly concerning one bid from a charity called Rooms of Our Own, who want to set up a women’s centre and business outlets and 47 housing units.  Waltham Forest Council, says:  “no firm offer yet – considering other options”.

www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/1284120

NEWS FROM MABLEY GREEN – our friends from Mabley Green have informed us that they organised a volunteer planting session for a mobile garden sited at Chobham Manor Academy last Wednesday.  It arrived too late to put in the digest, but this is an ongoing project.  We also hear that the Ping Pong sessions are going well (Fridays after 5.00 p.m. E9 5RN) and that volunteer helpers would be welcomed.  On the matter of the Edible Park and the Sports Turf, previously featured in the Weekly Digest, there is no news from Hackney Council.  Work was supposed to have started between November 2014 and January 2015. www.mableygreen.org.uk

EVENTS – on Saturday 18 April there is an Urban Harvest organised Wild Food ID walk and picnic, starting off at 1.00 p.m. prompt from the Lea Valley Ice Centre E10 7QL.  The organiser will be bringing her own wild salad samples with her to aid identification.  Please bring food and drink as the walk will finish in a nice spot for a picnic.

Suffering the effects of austerity?  Don’t let it get you down, seek like-minded friends at a meeting called “The People’s Alternative to Austerity”, happening on Monday 27 April from 7.00-9.00 p.m. at the Professional Development Centre, Hackney.  Speakers from The Green Party and TUSC.  R.S.V.P. and details from

http://sustainablehackney.org.uk/events

If you live in the St. James area of Walthamstow, you can find out about what’s happening with the Big Local initiative and the Heritage Lottery bid as well as other planning for the neighbourhood on Wednesday 29 April at 7.30 p.m., Harmony Hall, Truro Street E17 7BY.  Details

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/inyourarea/neighbourhood

Creating Connections – this is the title of a networking meeting for representatives of local voluntary and community groups to get together with academics from Universities of East London and the UCL.  Date:  Wednesday 29 April 6.00 to 8.00 p.m., Stratford Library, The Grove E15 1EL.

Next SLM Meeting will be on Monday 27 April at 7.30 at the Princess of Wales pub, Lea Bridge Road, new people always welcomed.

SLM Digest 9-4-14

SLM WEEKLY DIGEST 9 APRIL 2015

This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes.  We are an open group of people living in the Lea 

Valley area, who share a common concern that the marshes and other green local spaces be kept for 

wildlife to thrive and local people to appreciate and enjoy now and in future years.  Do visit our 

website to find out more about our work and campaigns www.saveleamarshes.org.uk 

Well, here’s hoping your Easter Holidays went well.  As the weather improved on Easter Monday, 

there were simply masses of people walking, cycling and running along the River Lea and relaxing in 

the local parks and marshlands.  The leisure aspect of marshes, demonstrates the deep need we all 

feel to get out and enjoy natural surroundings.  Around this time of year, it is traditional to spot the 

first thing of spring, alas, this year it is the first human homesteaders of Essex Wharf flats.   Ho 

hum...

GLYPHOSATE -  an article in the current issue of Private Eye last week  on the latest International 

Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) for the World Health Organisation, that Glyphosate  more 

commonly known as “Roundup” is “probably carcinogenic to humans”, Hackney’s Lea Bridge Ward 

Councillor, Ian Rathbone, (whilst not endorsing the comment), responded to on line conversation 

about the weed-killer by following up with Hackney Council recommendations again.  He sent a 

quote from Dr. Penny Bevan, Director of Public Health at Hackney Council which included this quote: 

“Whether a substance is meaningfully ‘carcinogenic’ often depends on the dose and circumstances.  

For instance, also classified as 2A by the IARC, are alcohol, sunlight and night shifts.  The concerns 

over Glyphosate have been raised in larger scale agricultural use on food crops and in laboratory 

tests on animals.. not on used on individual weeds.  Hackney Council will continue to follow 

government guidance and will be open to other methods that are affordable and efficient”.  As, I see 

it, the weakness in this argument is that to some extent we can choose to avoid alcohol, sunlight and 

night shifts if we wish to, it is much more difficult to avoid eating something we don’t know whether  

or not it has been sprayed .  The real danger of this substance is that once absorbed it cannot be 

removed and therefore has a cumulative effect.

IN THE PRESS – this week’s “Hackney Gazette” on page 2 has a story by Dominik Lemanski headed 

“Games legacy bosses slammed for bonuses; Chiefs criticised in the face of ‘lacklustre’ Olympic 

legacy.  The story describes how recently released accounts, show how the ODA’s leading executives 

have enjoyed pay rises whilst cutting their working hours and how the ‘legacy” of active sport has 

significantly declined instead of increased.  (Well, if they had only bothered to put a few thousand 

quid into supporting the SLM’s campaign to renew two basketball pitches for local kids instead of 

squandering £5 million on a barely used basketball facility that wrecked Leyton Marsh ....)

www.hackenygazette.co.uk   Meanwhile, over in Walthamstow, The Walthamstow Guardian is again 

warning of another bout of high pollution over the next few days and also  reports on a second 

cyclist, targeted by thieves whilst cycling through the popular Walthamstow Marshes route in the 

last two weeks. http://www.guardianseries.co.uk   

PETITIONS OF THE WEEK

For those of you that haven’t yet seen these three:

1.  You’ve heard about the Thames Garden Bridge – which sounds attractive but the newly 

formed Thames Central Open Spaces Group have come up with some strong arguments 

against  including: it will block views of St Paul’s Cathedral from the Lambeth riverside; it will 

be private with no public right of access outside of certain times and closed for corporate 

events on many occasions;  there will be no picnic space or cycling and it is doubtful whether 

many trees will survive on its narrow green strip; wildlife organisations have withdrawn their 

support and it is a vanity project costing a whopping £40m in contrast to the £6m spent on a 

park which provides all this bridge does not.  Read the article in  The Guardian

London garden bridge: the Thames is now a playground for private fantasies  and 

				London garden bridge: the Thames is now a playground fo... It’s no surprise that Boris ‘self-styled tsar of novelty infrastructure projects’ Johnson has rubber-stamped this bridge folly
				View on www.theguardian.com	Preview by Yahoo

then if you are not in support of the bridge go to 

Eric Pickles: Eric Pickles; put the Garden Bridge where it's needed without using public funds or scrap the idea

				Eric Pickles: Eric Pickles; put the Garden Bridge where ... The Thames is London's biggest piece of open space, its largest nature conservation area, and its greatest natural feature. Its openness is under threat as there ar...
				View on www.change.org	Preview by Yahoo

2. Epping Forest District Councils have granted permission on 11 February to knock down a 

horse stables and put up executive houses on green belt land. The petition link was previously sent on to 

this list.

3. The Save Dundonald  Rec Campaign are trying to save an open space in Merton, where the 

Council are trying to get away with an unsubstantiated comment that the site “is not 

needed” without providing any proof. CEO Merton Council: Investigate false claims by local Councillor over Dundonald Rec

				CEO Merton Council: Investigate false claims by local Co... Appropriation of a public park by abusing the planning system must not be allowed. Merton Council has removed public rights over public open space and has created a...
				View on www.change.org	Preview by Yahoo

EVENTS

Our friends at Hedge Herbs have a very busy programme over the summer, so do check their social 

media pages.  For example on the 12-14th June at Crabapple Housing Coop near Shrewsbury, 

Shropshire, there is a weekend event designed for people who are interested in the connections 

between plan medicine, health, equality, social justice and ecology.  They are also promoting  the 

annual Waltham Forest Green Homes event, with the opportunity for people to come and share 

their money saving and ecological tips (you need to be quick to book a place ideally by 10 April by 

telephoning 0208 558 6880 or email greenhomes@hornbeam.org.uk).  For further information on 

Hedge Herbs notices telephone Rasheeqa on 07784506494 or Hedge Herbs on Facebook or 

Twittering Hedge on Twitter.

Our friends at Sustainable Hackney have also sent us a programme of very interesting events, 

classes and enterprises go to www.sustainablehackney.org.uk for further information .

Respect Wildlife

From:"Matthew.Fletcher2@met.pnn.police.uk" <Matthew.Fletcher2@met.pnn.police.uk> Date:Fri, 24 Apr, 2015 at 20:05 Subject:Wildlife crime Dear all,       In gardens, trees and hedges near you wild birds are nesting and laying eggs, and Waltham Forest police are reminding the public to respect wild birds and their nests over spring and summer. In spring 2015 police have already received reports of birds' nests being disturbed in some parts of the borough, and over the course of the next few months the number of reports is likely to increase.   In England and Wales all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law. If you intentionally kill, injure or cage a wild bird, or damage or destroy a nest or the eggs in it, you could be sent to prison for up to six months.   The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has a useful summary of the law on its website at the following link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/forprofessionals/policy/wildbirdslaw/birdsandlaw/wca/index.aspx   For help or advice, or to report an offence against wild birds, plants or animals in Waltham Forest, contact the borough Wildlife Crime Officer:   PC David Saffery 339JC Wildlife Crime Officer - Waltham Forest PoliceTel 020 3276 0946 Email P235052@met.police.uk

LVRPA Area 1 Consultation

 

9 April 2015

Park Development Framework

Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966 Section 14 Draft Area Proposals

Draft Proposals for Area 1 East India Dock Basin to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: Update on Consultation

Dear Consultee

Following consultation on the Area 1 draft Proposals, the Authority has now considered all the comments that were submitted.   A final draft version of both the written Area 1 Proposals Schedule and accompanying maps are now available to view on the website via the following dedicated link:  www.visitleevalley.org.uk/pdfareaproposal

These draft proposals will be considered by Members at the Lower Lee Valley Regeneration and Planning Committee on the 14 May 2015 at 11.00am. You are welcome to attend the committee meeting which will be held at the WaterWorks Centre, located on Lammas Road (off Lea Bridge Road), Leyton, London E10 7QB, tel: 020 8988 7566.

The Agenda and papers for the committee will be made available at least one week before the meeting and will be placed on the PDF consultation webpage.  If you wish to speak at the meeting you will need to give notice to the Committee Office at least 2 working days before the meeting is due to take place, i.e. by 11 May.  Guidelines for public speaking at committee meetings and the relevant contact details will all be made available on the PDF consultation webpage.

Following consideration of the draft Proposals at the Lower Lee Valley Committee and any further revisions it is intended that the final set of proposals will be presented to full Authority on the 9^th July for adoption.

Best Wishes

Stephen Wilkinson

Head of Planning and Strategic Partnerships