Happy Christmas! I am collecting warm men's clothing for the shelter in St Paul's. If anyone has any clean winter items that they don't need any more let me know and can collect and take them along there when they open again in the New Year.
Deborah (Bayston Road)
Saturday 26 December 2009
Thursday 17 December 2009
LARA Meeting Review
Well, despite the cold, wet weather, we had a reasonable turn out last night at the Old Fire Station. Thanks to everyone for coming along. Minutes to follow soon.....
Tuesday 15 December 2009
Visit to santa's grotto...
Carole Lucas who has the Cobbled Yard at the top of Bouverie Rd has opened a pop-up shop in the mews opposite. We went in there on Sunday afternoon and were invited into the fantastic Santa's grotto. 3.50 for kids to visit with Santa and his chief-of-staff elf. Also mulled wine and pies for adults and some great Jazz from Martha Lewis and Diane McLoughlin. Coming weekend is a different act but definitely worth a trip - beats queueing at Selfridges or wherever the commercial santys are hanging out these days.....
Tuesday 8 December 2009
Reporting of Anti Social Behaviour
A response from Amalia Rodriguez:
The Home Office has delivered a leaflet to every home in Hackney with a telephone number to report Anti Social Behaviour which is 0208 356 3030. This number has been made available for everyone to use if they wish to; however, if residents have been contacting the Police SNT directly, this does not have to change if they are happy with the response obtained from them.
Just bear in mind that the 0208 356 3030 is there if they have any doubt about who to report to, or the SNT or other bodies are not coming back to them.
Amalia Rodriguez
Amended 17/06/10: Currently Amalia is on maternity leave so Rachel Fairbairn is acting in her absence (same number and address)
Amended 17/06/10: Currently Amalia is on maternity leave so Rachel Fairbairn is acting in her absence (same number and address)
Anti Social Behaviour Officer
London Borough of Hackney
Community Safety Team
Maurice Bishop House
17 Reading Lane
London E8 1HH
Tel: 0208 356 4464
Sunday 6 December 2009
Just a Little Update....
Stoke Newington International Airport, Leswin Place
In response to a recent article in Stereo Stokey.....
I run STK and I just wanted to clear a few things up. We have been working to reduce late night noise and I think we now have a better relationship with our neighbours. In planning our christmas party we took care not to put live music on past 10.30 and to close at 1am which has been our policy of late. I must stress that we received no threats or complaints from neighbours, and the reason for canceling the party was down to a licensing issue. We have to tread very carefully in that respect if we want to continue in a legitimate fashion.There are no more parties this year, but the theatre remains active with shows from the Factory, who will perform Checkov's The Seagull on Sunday, and Shakespeare's Hamlet on Monday. Then Washing Line Productions perform their new physical show Lisa Appleby from 15th -17th. So there you go. Updated.
Greg.
If you have any comments to make please leave them here!
I run STK and I just wanted to clear a few things up. We have been working to reduce late night noise and I think we now have a better relationship with our neighbours. In planning our christmas party we took care not to put live music on past 10.30 and to close at 1am which has been our policy of late. I must stress that we received no threats or complaints from neighbours, and the reason for canceling the party was down to a licensing issue. We have to tread very carefully in that respect if we want to continue in a legitimate fashion.There are no more parties this year, but the theatre remains active with shows from the Factory, who will perform Checkov's The Seagull on Sunday, and Shakespeare's Hamlet on Monday. Then Washing Line Productions perform their new physical show Lisa Appleby from 15th -17th. So there you go. Updated.
Greg.
If you have any comments to make please leave them here!
Update on the Leswin Place Development
Also posted in our December Newsletter....
The Planning Department at Hackney Council agreed to meet a delegation from LARA to discuss the issues troubling residents about the Leswin Place development. Below is a summary of the meeting. A fuller report will be available at our next meeting.
The Planning Department at Hackney Council agreed to meet a delegation from LARA to discuss the issues troubling residents about the Leswin Place development. Below is a summary of the meeting. A fuller report will be available at our next meeting.
- How did Hackney council manage to 'lose' important documents for the appeal in 2009? Officers explained that the planning department had decided that the bulk of the residents issues and the council’s own reservations about the 2005 scheme were dealt with in the 2008 application. It is unlikely that they would have made a difference at the appeal.
- What exactly is the position now? The conditions imposed at the Appeal remain to be clarified i.e. details of the design of the frontage of the B1 units need to be approved by the planners and also the materials to be used in the scheme.
- Where does it go from here? Before beginning work on site, approval must be given which will cover the construction details, the engineering calculations and issues such as Means of Escape in Case of Fire. The Fire Brigade will comment on the scheme at this point. Residents will be within their rights to maintain a close eye on what is happening and call in council officers if any deviation from the approved scheme is witnessed. All adjoining owners will have rights under the Party Wall Act and an Agreement will be needed with each adjoining owner if any building work is likely to affect the garden walls.
- Why has the enforcement order issued in 2005 never been enacted? The Enforcement Order against change of use to residential for the current buildings is still on the books at Hackney, because the buildings are deemed unfit for residential use. It is likely that the council will move to enact the Enforcement Order in the very near future.
Saturday 5 December 2009
Burglaries in Darville Road
There have been a spate of burglaries recently in Darville Rd. Not sure if the other streets have suffered similar. They appear to be around 4.30-5.30 in the afternoon, just before people get home from work. The Front sash windows are being jemmied open. Ours was preceded by a spurious knock on the neighbours door, checking who was in. She was in, we weren’t. Just worth making people aware of and to be extra vigilant. The police said that anyone seeing anything suspicious should call 999 rather than the local station at Stoke Newington, as the desk there had no control on dispatch, If you call 999, if there are cars/officers in the area able to attend, they will do so, particularly being so close to the Police Station on the High Street. Hope this is a helpful flag.
This message came from Darrel Rees -thanks for the info.
This message came from Darrel Rees -thanks for the info.
The Next Lara Meeting
The next full meeting of LARA will be held on:
Wed 16th Dec 7pm
at the Old Fire Station (61 Leswin Road)
All residents of the LARA area welcome
Help build your community. We want to hear your views and we need your participation to help LARA succeed
Wed 16th Dec 7pm
at the Old Fire Station (61 Leswin Road)
All residents of the LARA area welcome
Help build your community. We want to hear your views and we need your participation to help LARA succeed
Newsletter December 2009
Leswin Area Residents Association is launched
On the 21st October, a very well attended inaugural meeting took place in the Old Fire Station to set up (or re-launch) the Leswin Area Residents Association (LARA).
The idea for it began with a few locals talking to each other and asking if anyone knew about what was going on in Leswin Place. This led to a pavement conversation where it was suggested that a residents' association would create a stronger voice for the whole area to be heard - and get results.
Every door was leafleted and an amazing number of people came. Many local concerns were raised ranging from antisocial behaviour issues, traffic, cycle paths and the proposed building development. Cllr Louisa Thompson said it was the largest such meeting she'd been to in Stoke Newington. She responded instantly to some of the concerns raised, promising to feed back on others.
Building a Community
On the up side we talked about how the residents' association could be brilliant for getting to know your neighbours better and encouraging a positive sense of community. We could organise a local festival! Gardening club? Blog site? Meet the neighbours social? What about something for young people? Some are interested in cycling facilities others for publicising information on trades people and more.
Key Aims
The key aims of LARA are to foster a community spirit among the neighbours, to help make improvements to the area, to tackle planning issues and traffic problems.
. While we have some current major issues such as the Leswin Place development and the use of our roads as ‘rat runs’, many other ideas to develop the community have already come forward.
LARA Geographically
LARA covers approximately Leswin, Bayston, Darville, Batley, Tyssen and Hollar Roads, Glading Terrace, Leswin Place and the houses on Brooke and Evering Roads that back on to the ‘square’.
Those residents who have been in the area for some time will remember that there was a residents association of the same name that did some excellent work some years ago. Working together we can be just as successful as they were.
Next LARA Meeting
The next full meeting of LARA will be held on:
Wed 16th Dec 7pm
at the Old Fire Station (61 Leswin Road)
All residents of the LARA area welcome
Help build your community. We want to hear your views and we need your participation to help LARA succeed
LARA Social Evening
LARA will be having a social gathering in the New Year. A chance for neighbours and friends to gather, chat, eat, drink and generally have a good time. Watch this space for details.
Community Advisory Panel (CAP)
Helen Ford from our Committee reported back from the local CAP meeting. The Community Action Panel (CAP) is a group that meets bi-monthly to discuss policing issues affecting your ward. Chaired by residents the group works together with police and Hackney Council to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. There is also room to discuss environmental issues which may be contributing to the level of crime in an area.
The good news is that the police reported decreasing levels of crime in and around the estate and a large drop in the anti-social behaviour being caused by a group of youths earlier this year.
Update on the Leswin Place Development
The Planning Department at Hackney Council agreed to meet a delegation from LARA to discuss the issues troubling residents about the Leswin Place development. Below is a summary of the meeting. A fuller report will be available at our next meeting.
Cycling Issues
LARA approached Councillor Louisa Thomson regarding cycling issues in the area. Louisa has advised that 11 additional cycle stands will be installed on Church Street overall, by the time the works are finished. She also notes that a lot of the issues raised with regard to road safety (both for cyclists and pedestrians) are linked to the one way system, and as any changes to the gyratory is a longer term project, focussing on more immediate improvements to roads the Council actually control is a productive way forward in the meantime.
With regard to the specific suggestions about contra flow cycle lanes on Brooke Road, Evering Road and Stoke Newington High Street – in the first instance, Louisa will contact Streetscene at the Council to ask for their views on this. Transport for London control the High Street and Evering Road which means it may take a while for them to respond. Louisa also promised to get in touch with Hackney Cycling Campaign who are working to improve cycling in the area, particularly the one way system. She suggested it may be an idea to invite them to a future LARA meeting.
More news to follow.....
On the 21st October, a very well attended inaugural meeting took place in the Old Fire Station to set up (or re-launch) the Leswin Area Residents Association (LARA).
The idea for it began with a few locals talking to each other and asking if anyone knew about what was going on in Leswin Place. This led to a pavement conversation where it was suggested that a residents' association would create a stronger voice for the whole area to be heard - and get results.
Every door was leafleted and an amazing number of people came. Many local concerns were raised ranging from antisocial behaviour issues, traffic, cycle paths and the proposed building development. Cllr Louisa Thompson said it was the largest such meeting she'd been to in Stoke Newington. She responded instantly to some of the concerns raised, promising to feed back on others.
Building a Community
On the up side we talked about how the residents' association could be brilliant for getting to know your neighbours better and encouraging a positive sense of community. We could organise a local festival! Gardening club? Blog site? Meet the neighbours social? What about something for young people? Some are interested in cycling facilities others for publicising information on trades people and more.
Key Aims
The key aims of LARA are to foster a community spirit among the neighbours, to help make improvements to the area, to tackle planning issues and traffic problems.
. While we have some current major issues such as the Leswin Place development and the use of our roads as ‘rat runs’, many other ideas to develop the community have already come forward.
LARA Geographically
LARA covers approximately Leswin, Bayston, Darville, Batley, Tyssen and Hollar Roads, Glading Terrace, Leswin Place and the houses on Brooke and Evering Roads that back on to the ‘square’.
Those residents who have been in the area for some time will remember that there was a residents association of the same name that did some excellent work some years ago. Working together we can be just as successful as they were.
Next LARA Meeting
The next full meeting of LARA will be held on:
Wed 16th Dec 7pm
at the Old Fire Station (61 Leswin Road)
All residents of the LARA area welcome
Help build your community. We want to hear your views and we need your participation to help LARA succeed
LARA Social Evening
LARA will be having a social gathering in the New Year. A chance for neighbours and friends to gather, chat, eat, drink and generally have a good time. Watch this space for details.
Community Advisory Panel (CAP)
Helen Ford from our Committee reported back from the local CAP meeting. The Community Action Panel (CAP) is a group that meets bi-monthly to discuss policing issues affecting your ward. Chaired by residents the group works together with police and Hackney Council to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. There is also room to discuss environmental issues which may be contributing to the level of crime in an area.
The good news is that the police reported decreasing levels of crime in and around the estate and a large drop in the anti-social behaviour being caused by a group of youths earlier this year.
Update on the Leswin Place Development
The Planning Department at Hackney Council agreed to meet a delegation from LARA to discuss the issues troubling residents about the Leswin Place development. Below is a summary of the meeting. A fuller report will be available at our next meeting.
- How did Hackney council manage to 'lose' important documents for the appeal in 2009? Officers explained that the planning department had decided that the bulk of the residents issues and the council’s own reservations about the 2005 scheme were dealt with in the 2008 application. It is unlikely that they would have made a difference at the appeal.
- What exactly is the position now? The conditions imposed at the Appeal remain to be clarified i.e. details of the design of the frontage of the B1 units need to be approved by the planners and also the materials to be used in the scheme.
- Where does it go from here? Before beginning work on site, approval must be given which will cover the construction details, the engineering calculations and issues such as Means of Escape in Case of Fire. The Fire Brigade will comment on the scheme at this point. Residents will be within their rights to maintain a close eye on what is happening and call in council officers if any deviation from the approved scheme is witnessed. All adjoining owners will have rights under the Party Wall Act and an Agreement will be needed with each adjoining owner if any building work is likely to affect the garden walls.
- Why has the enforcement order issued in 2005 never been enacted? The Enforcement Order against change of use to residential for the current buildings is still on the books at Hackney, because the buildings are deemed unfit for residential use. It is likely that the council will move to enact the Enforcement Order in the very near future.
Cycling Issues
LARA approached Councillor Louisa Thomson regarding cycling issues in the area. Louisa has advised that 11 additional cycle stands will be installed on Church Street overall, by the time the works are finished. She also notes that a lot of the issues raised with regard to road safety (both for cyclists and pedestrians) are linked to the one way system, and as any changes to the gyratory is a longer term project, focussing on more immediate improvements to roads the Council actually control is a productive way forward in the meantime.
With regard to the specific suggestions about contra flow cycle lanes on Brooke Road, Evering Road and Stoke Newington High Street – in the first instance, Louisa will contact Streetscene at the Council to ask for their views on this. Transport for London control the High Street and Evering Road which means it may take a while for them to respond. Louisa also promised to get in touch with Hackney Cycling Campaign who are working to improve cycling in the area, particularly the one way system. She suggested it may be an idea to invite them to a future LARA meeting.
More news to follow.....
Friday 4 December 2009
Lara Social Evening
As mentioned in our first newsletter: LARA will be having a social gathering in the New Year. A chance for neighbours and friends to gather, chat, eat, drink and generally have a good time. Watch this space for details.
We'll be looking for volunteers to help with this event so please let us know if you are interested!
We'll be looking for volunteers to help with this event so please let us know if you are interested!
Cycling Issues
Want to have a moan about the inadequate access for cyclists in our area? Here's the place to start, but hopefully we can turn it into something positive and get some changes implemented. See our current newsletter post about what's going on at the moment. Send an email or comment here if you have any suggestions.
Gardening Club
Do you have plants to get rid of?
Want to do swaps?
Looking for a gardener?
Looking for advice about planting?
Email a suggestion and we can put it up for discussion. You can also comment directly after each post with your own suggestions/answers/recommendations etc.
We'd love you to submit photos too! Anything to lift the spirits and make things a bit greener round here is always good.
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