Fall in Crime

There has been an overall fall in crime across Hackney. The s of the light increase in robberies and theft in Hoxton is thougth to be as a result of events taking place in the night time economy area.

Deatailed figures for Hoxton can be found on the Met website.

How to Avoid a Fridge Mountain in Hoxton

Have you ever wondered how to get dispose of those things you have hanging around but don't know what to do with them? So did I until a colleague sent me a link to a website called Fridge Mountain. It's a UK-wide website set up to swop all kinds of unwanted stuff including old furniture, books, wheelbarrows and almost anything else.

For those whose childhood viewing was anything like mine, it's a bit like Swop Shop on the internet for adults.

I’m told that it started in Cambridge its popularity across London is growing. It would be good to see its use growing in London and across Hackney.

Roving Surgery

Hoxton Councillors took the opportunity to hold another Roving Sugery with Meg Hillier, Member of Parliament for Hackney South and Shoreditch.

We spent three hours visiting residents in Burtt House, Fairchild House, Aske House and Royal Oak Court to chat about everything from Decent Homes Programme, immigration issues, mould and planning issues.

We hope to be doing more of these over across the ward so look out for a notice telling you the time and location.

Otherwise you can always visit ward Carole, Clayeon or Phil at one of our regular surgeries.

Hackney Home Repair Hit Sqaud Visits Hoxton

The Hackney Homes Responsive Repair Team comprising of plumber, electrician, bricklayer, carpenter and glazier will be at St Leonards Court, and St John’s Estate on Thursday 12 April.

The team have already visit Arden, Pitfield and Provost Estates.

I hope the team will be a permanent feature around the ward.

Redeveloping Jack Beard Pub, Hoxton?

The keen interest in developing Hoxton continues to grow. Tonight residents were asked to comment on more plans. This time site for development is the Jack Beard Pub on Murray Grove.

Telford Homes want to use the site to build a nine story block on the site. They are hoping that their proposal for 10 family sized affordable homes on the first 3½ floors will be acceptable to local residents and that objections won’t be raised when they submit them to Planning.

They want to make four of the affordable until into 1 bedroom flats; 3 of the units into 3 bedroom flats and 3 of the properties will have four bedrooms.

Their plans included 19 properties which will be for private sale.

The usual legal obligations will have to be fulfilled which means that plans will eventually be submitted for viewing on the Planning Authority Website.

The consultant working for Telford Homes will, I’m sure, welcome further comments on the plans. Martin Hughes can be contacted on 07831 869878 and faxed on 020 8181 6234. He can also be emailed at martin@lucis-communications.co.uk

Regenerating Hoxton Estates

Resident representatives from St Johns and Crantson Estate in Hoxton met with consultants this week to tell them their visions for the developement of their estates over the next few years.

Levitt Bernstein Associates and Strategic Urban Futures have been appointed by the council to work on consultation with local residents on regenerating their estates so they have both the look and layout suitable for local needs.

Over the next 10 weeks, there will be extensive consultation Wenlock Barn, St. John’s & Cranston estates and Haberdasher Estate.

The next meeting will be held on 18 April. More details will be posted soon.

London Marathon

Its that time of year when people start sending emails letting you know that they will be running the marathon and aksing for support.

My latest message was from Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. Mr Phillips will be running in aid of the abolition of the slave trade legacy fund.

Best of luck!

Caught on Camera

I take my mobile phone with me everywhere and as it has a camera on it, I take more pictures now than I have ever taken before.

It is particularly useful when walking around the ward as I can take pictures of dumped rubbish as well graffiti and send it straight to officers. These generally get dealt with very quickly so I was please to hear that Hackney Homes now have a new repairs textline on 0773 854 4872.

To report repairs all you now need to do is take a picture of the problem and with the name of the estate along with the problem.

Any reports made throughout April will be entered into a draw to win a camera phone.