Murray Grove Post Office

Many local residents have received our latest news letter detailing how they can become involved in the campaign opposing the closure of Murray Grove Post Office and we would like to say thank you to the hundreds of residents who have already signed out petition.

We were out on Murray Grove last Saturday getting more signatures and passing out flyers and stickers and will be marching against the closure later this week. If you would like to take part, you can contact us via the Town Hall or by emailing one of us. Our email addresses are on the top right hand side of this blog.

Save Murray Grove Post Office

Following the announcment from the Post Office announced of the proposed closure of the Murray Grove Post Office as part of its London Area Plan, ward Councillors have started an online petition. We will continue to fight vigorously against the closure and we believe that six weeks isn't long enough to have a meaningful dialogue with the community about these changes.

The alternative post offices in Old Street and on Hoxton High Street are too far away for many elderly and vulnerable residents who value having this community resource on their door step. Post offices also play an important part in local social and economic life. In Hoxton where the levels of deprivation and poor access to financial services can be particularly high we need them more than most.

If you would like to support our campaign to keep the post office open, please sign our online petition by clicking here.

Online petition - Save Murray Grove Post Office

Youth Crime in Hackney

The Children and Young People's Scrutiny Commission of Hackney Council has been reviewing issues surrounding youth crime in Hackney and are continuing to take evidence from on what youth crime means to community groups.

There is one more evidence session scheduled for 21 February and is open for all groups to attend. More information can be obtain from the Scrutiny Commission Officer on 020 8356 3029 or by emailing clair.bantin@hackney.gov.uk

"A Host for 2012 - The London Olympic and Paralympic Games"

Useful Numbers

• 24 hr construction Hotline 080000 722 110
• Hackney 2012 Team 020 8356 3126
• Job Opportunities 020 7241 7080

Web sites

• Boost Job Opportunities
• Hackney Olympic Unit
• 2012 Olympics
• 2012 Blog
• Olympic Delivery Authority

2008 Highlights

• The Olympic Flag will be handed to London and the closing of the Beijing 2008 Games
• Five host boroughs will take centre stage with a new annual summer cultural festival
• Main venue construction will begin and run through to 2011
• Five host boroughs and the Olympic Delivery Authority will engage residents on post-2012 planning

2009 Highlights

• Procurement starts for the delivery of Games services
• New phase of opportunities for residents to work in areas such as construction, culture, tourism and transport
• Work will get underway to improve the Marshes for football and community use

2010 Highlights

• East London Line Extension Line to Dalston Opens
• North London Line Improvements
• Jobs on the Games site reaches its peak at 20,000
• Hackney Marshes improved pitches and new changing rooms will be completed
• Official volunteering programme for the 2012 Games will be launched

2011 Highlights

• East London Line to Highbury will be completed
• Football on East Marsh will transfer to the main Marshes until 2013
• Hackney Schools active in local and national volunteering programme
• Venues for the Games will be completed and test events will be staged

2012 and Beyond

• Olympic and Para Olympic Games in July, August and September
• Host boroughs will celebrate with a Cultural Olympiad open to everyone in East London
• East Marsh will be returned for football in 2013 with a new bridge connecting the Marshes to the Olympic Park and sports facilities
• The Legacy phase begins for Hackney and the Lower Lea Valley including a new Park, new neighbourhood and employment area
• 2012 and beyond - legacy benefits will provide new opportunities for Hackney

Details taken from the Mayor of Hackney's "A Host for 2012"

Fresh Start

What is Fresh Start?
Fresh Start is a scheme for residents wanting a transfer outside of London. The scheme will enable residents to move into council housing, housing associations or private properties.

Who can join the scheme?
Residents on the Council housing register or council and Housing Association tenants can join the scheme.

How do I find out more information?
Contact the Fresh Start team to arrangement and appointment by calling 020 835 5751.

Hackney Mediation Services

One of the many issues that local residents come to see councillors about is disputes with neighbours and we are pleased to announce that there will be three more training sessions on mediating neighbour disputes planned for early 2008. We would encourage TRAs and TMOs to register people to attend.

The dates are:

• 31 January
• 28 February
• 20 March

For further information and to book onto one of the courses please contact the Hackney Mediation Service on 020 8356 4794 or email mediation@hackney.gov.uk

Recent Tranport Announcements

Here is a breakdown of recent transport announcements:

• Since 11 November 2007 passengers have been able to use Oyster and Travelcards on Transport for London's new London Overground service, North London Railway.
• Door-to-door fares for older and disabled Londoners will be abolished making rides free from 1 January 2008 and will benefit around 50,000 Londoners.
• Another six environmentally friendly hybrid buses are being added to Transport for London's (TfL's) bus fleet. By 2012 every new bus entering the fleet will be a hybrid and will help to cut pollutant emissions in London and contribute to the drive to tackle climate change.
• Londoners on income support can get access to reduced bus and tram fares by sending proof of income support to TfL and enclosing a copy of a passport, drivers licence bank card or Post Office Card Account card, birth or marriage certificate, NHS Medical Card and recent utility bill. Forms are available on the TfL website (www.tfl.gov.uk/discountcard ) or from a local post office. The helpline number is 0800 731 4564
• There will be a price freeze on all single Oyster and cash fares for bus and tube Journeys next year. Single cash fares will remain at £2 ; bus journeys paid for using the cashless Oyster cared will remain at 90p; single cash fares for zone 1-4 journey’s will be £4 and Oyster pay-as-you-go passengers will pay £2.50 7am-7pm. Full details of charges are listed on the TfL website.
  
  

Decent Homes Programme Phase 2 - Marie Lloyd House

Works on roof renewal, concrete repairs and window replacement will commence on Marie Lloyd House on 26 November 2007 and will be completed by the end of May 2008.

Any residents with questions can go along to a weekly drop in session which will be held every Wednesday morning between 9.00am and 12.00pm at the Shoreditch Neighbourhood Office, Bletchley Court, 1 Cropley Street, N1.

£4m for transport improvements in Hackney

Tfl has announced a £4m of funding package for transport in Hackney.

Here is a breakdown of the funding for Hackney:

• Principal road renewals - £198,000
• Local safety schemes - £425,00020mph zones - £300,000
• Education, training and publicity - £44,000
• Walking - £160,000
• Cycling - £250,000
• London Cycle Network+ - £867,000
• Bus stop accessibility - £147,000
• Bus priority - £510,000
• School Travel Plans - £806,000
• Work travel plans - £17,000
• Travel awareness - £32,000
• Regeneration area schemes - £80,000
• Environment - £50,000
• Controlled parking zones - £50,000
• Local area accessibility - £60,000
• Total £3,996,000

Plans to Re-vamp Windsor Terrace

Windsor Terrace is in need of a facelift and the council is working with Shoreditch Trust to find a solution and local residents have been consulted on layout, lighting replacement, seating and planting. The trees on this City Road landmark will be retained but the trip hazards caused by the pertruding roots will be recitifed.


Comments can still be submitted to joost.berger@hackney.gov.uk

East London Line Extension

The East London Line Extension, running to Highbury and Islington, New Cross, Crystal Palace and West Croydon, is well underway. Stations at Dalston, Haggerston, Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street are all included in phase 1 of the project.

Phase 2 of the project is still awaiting approval for the funding that will create a direct link between East and South London.

Over the coming months, the government will make announcements which will determine which major transport projects will be delivered.

More Door Entry Systems

Residents on East Road and in Halstead Court, Hoxton, will be benefiting from more door entry system being installed on their estates.

Wach this space for more details!

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.