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We Love Stoke Newington e-newsletter: September 2011
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Dear neighbour,
This e-newsletter contains a round up of our activities and local issues in Stoke Newington – a bit later than usual but there has been a lot happening over the summer. We’ve included some information about what is happening in the aftermath of the riots in Hackney below.
This weekend is We Love Hackney weekend with lots going on across the Borough – see here for more information.
A reminder to all residents that the annual canvas is currently taking place – please remember to return your electoral registration form. These should have been delivered to your property by now. More information here.
There is also a survey currently on the Council’s website to find out your views about our Borough – this can be filled in here.
As ever – if there are any issues you want to raise with us, please do get in touch – by email, phone or in person at one of our advice surgeries.
Best wishes
Rita, Louisa, and Susan
Labour councillors for Stoke Newington Central ward
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RIOTS IN HACKNEY
Like everyone we were shocked and saddened by the unrest and violence in Hackney on 8th August. We were relieved that the riots did not spread to Stoke Newington High Street, and Church Street, but our thoughts were very much with the local businesses elsewhere in Hackney whose property was damaged and residents who were placed in frightening situations beyond their control.
In the aftermath, a lot has been happening locally, and the strength of our community in Hackney has been evident – showing the real character of Hackney.
Immediately after the riots:
- all Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Hackney were working extended shifts, alongside the massive increases in police numbers across London
- Council street cleaners worked as soon as it was safe to clear the streets and most areas were clear by 5am the next morning. Volunteers turned up at the Town Hall the day after to help – but all the work had been done by then!
- CCTV footage is being analysed and a considerable number of arrests have been made
- You can read the statement Mayor Jules Pipe made after the riots here
Support for businesses:
- 15 businesses in hackney were affected by the riots and have been offered practical support and advice from the Council.
- The High Street Support Scheme has been set up by the Government, as well as the existing Business Rates Hardship Relief Scheme and the Council is working to ensure eligible businesses can access these.
- A collection fund was started for the Clarence Road convenience store – one of the shops badly affected who did not have insurance. Many people have given generously to this fund.
HCVS organised an emergency meeting a few days after the riots to consider a community response to the disorder. This was attended by the Mayor, Chief Executive, councillors, the Borough Commander, 50 community leaders, frontline workers and residents. The agreed actions for community engagement and involvement are online here, and are currently being taken forward by the Council, local partners and the voluntary sector.
The riots will also be discussed at this month’s Full Council and we will update you next month on the outcome of this. In the meantime, please do get in touch with us if you have any questions or issues you’d like to raise about what happening in Hackney.
WILMER PLACE DEVELOPMENT
We continue to be very involved in the issues surrounding the proposed Wilmer Place development. As many of you will be aware, the owner of the private car park and live work units on Wilmer Place has drawn up plans for a new development on the site. These involve a large new Sainsbury’s store, new flats and an underground car park. At the time of writing – no planning application has been submitted.
Our position remains the same – we do not support the development as it currently stands, and feel that the developer is failing to address the concerns of residents about the impact of the development on the local area.
Over the summer, we wrote an open letter to the developer and Sainsbury’s calling on him to attend a public meeting with residents to discuss his plans in more detail. Since the drop in sessions in July there has been no engagement with the local community and we feel the consultation has been inadequate. Our letter also summarises the main planning concerns – you can read it online here.
The developer responded by saying he was not willing to attend a public meeting. We are keeping up the pressure (see our response here) as we feel that he needs to be accountable to local residents.
We have also been looking into more of the planning concerns around the development and have published a number of guides and further explanation on our blog before the summer:
- the role of councillors in the planning process here
- Land use on Wilmer Place here
- Environmental Impact Assessments here
- The Conservation Area here
Remember to check Stokey Local for updates too.
BROOKE ROAD 20MPH CONSULTATION
A new 20mph zone is being proposed for the Brooke Road area – the deadline for comments is 23rd September and the survey can be accessed online here.
KYNASTON GARDENS
We helped to organise another successful bike event in Kynaston Gardens last week. Around 30 local residents had their bikes security tagged and checked for free by Donut Kids bike club.
The Friends of Kynaston Gardens group met last week too – as we’ve reported before, the group have been successful in their bid to Community Spaces and have been awarded £50,000 to do up the Gardens. Further applications have also gone in for some additional money for the project, and the outcome of this will be known by the end of next month.
At the moment, the estimate is that the improvement works will be complete by next Spring. In the meantime there are lots of exciting plans being discussed on possible events and community activities in the Gardens. If you want to get involved, email kynastongardens@gmail.com.
GRANTS DEADLINE
The deadline for the Council's Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Grants Programme is 22nd September.
Applications are now being invited for the Council's 2012/13 programme. Organisations can bid for Small Grants (up to £7,000), Holiday Playscheme Grants (up to £10,000) and Main Grants (up to £50,000).
Organisations receiving funding under this programme have demonstrated how their projects and programmes deliver one or more of the seven objectives in Hackney's Sustainable Community Strategy.
More information about the grants and application process is online here.
BIODIVERSITY CONSULTATION
The Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan is currently being consulted on.
This sets out how the Council proposes to protect and enhance its wildlife over the next six years. You can comment on the Plan until 24th October and all the consultation documents are online here.
FAIRER CHARGING
There is currently a consultation underway on the Council’s fairer charging policy for care services for older and disabled people. The proposed changes may affect people who are currently assessed for a charge for services including; care at home, personal care or using day centres.
The Council wants to hear from people who may be directly affected by the proposals including service users and their carers, and a broad range of people with an interest in this policy including service providers, partners and residents.
The consultation is open until 10th October and the documents are online here.
More news on our blog at www.welovestokenewington.org
COUNCILLOR WALKABOUTS
Labour councillors for Stoke Newington Central hold regular street and estate walkabouts to help spot problems which need addressing.
Do you think your street or block needs special attention? Let us know, and we’ll organise a walkabout in your area.
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SEPTEMBER MEETINGS AND DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Thurs 15th September – Stoke Newington Neighbourhood Housing Panel – 7pm – Howard Road Resource Centre
Weds 21st September – Community Advisory Panel meeting to set the priorities for the local Safer Neighbourhood Team – 7.30pm – Yorkshire Grove Estate Community hall
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STOKE NEWINGTON CENTRAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS FROM AUGUST 2011
176 Stoke Newington Road London N16 7UY (2011/2116)
Use of the ground floor and basement as a restaurant with opeing hours of 8am - 11pm Monday to Saturday and 9am - 10pm on Sundays, together with the installation of a new shopfront.
37 Farleigh Road, N16 7TB (2011/2234)
Demolition of existing outbuilding, erection of a two storey rear extension, erection of a roof extension to provide an additional storey and conversion of the property to provide 3 self contained flats comprising 1 x 2 bed flat, 1 x 3 bed flat and 1 x 4 bed flat.
Remember you can check online here for applications: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/planning.htm
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STOKE NEWINGTON CENTRAL COUNCILLOR SURGERIES FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
Saturday 24th September – 11am – walkabout surgery
Saturday 8th October – 10am – advice surgery at Yorkshire Grove Community Hall
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