SLM Weekly Digest

This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes campaigning to keep our local marshes and green spaces, clean, green and "bullshit" free.
 
Plenty going on this week ...
 
HORSE EMPIRE - somewhere in a not too distant field near you, the first sighting of a permanent building in the Waterworks trekking universe has been spotted.  Question is - is it mobile?  If not, this could be a breach of planning agreement.  Whilst nearby, in another part of the empire, a Horse Ball event took place over the weekend.  This seemed to be aimed at people outside of the local area and involved an influx of horses beyond the original carrying capacity of 24.  Their is concern at the number of horses in the paddocks and the amount of grass they have to eat.  If you have concerns, then a recent radio broadcast featuring the World Horse Society might be the place to make any complaints.
 
CAMPSITE - meanwhile at the adjacent campsite - a few campers try to make this camping site a money spinner for the LVRPA.  This was a big Olympic weekend but the number of people camping did not reflect this. Also, it seems that you have to be a "responsible citizen of 21" to be considered for a booking at the site.  This seems to discriminate against young people who can't afford B&B, who might be the prime market for the campsite anyway.  Ho, hum! 
 
DEAD FISH V. ART -  follow up on the fishy story from last week.  There was a lukewarm response from the Canals and River Trust and the Environment Agency.  They claimed it was due to the heat, but if it was, why weren't there more fish deaths across the country.  There was a twitter storm pushing them to admit that it was caused by run-off.  Diane Abbot, MP for Hackney North, got involved.  We want Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and we want Thames Water to stop dumping sewage from Deephams into the River Lea.  Please contact your MP, especially if you live in Waltham Forest and also write to the Mayor of London.  It could also be lined to a plug of pollution which caused havoc near Ponders End. 
Further down river, fluorescent dye was dumped into the River Lee to celebrate the environmental credentials of the Olympic legacy.  Despite opposition made to the artists, the Barbican, et al, the event went ahead on Saturday and Sunday.  Whilst apologies for upsetting people were forthcoming, no-one has apologised to the wildlife...  The stuff used Fluroscein  - said to be safe by the Environment Agency (EA), and used by the water industries to track leaks - does have stern critics.  The U.S. City of Chicago has withdrawn its use due to concerns about its safety.  There is further information in a couple of articles in Games Monitor.  Follow up will be done with the London Waterways Commission.
 
SSSI - On-line discussions this week have included further debate about the mowing regime on Walthamstow SSSI - chiefly around the right time to mow.  LVRPA spokesperson says - "following EA guidelines"  SLM folk disputing (a) the mowing done in June and not July is in contravention (b) whether the EA guidelines being used are for ordinary farmland or an SSSI.  Also, discussion on how "invasive species" are tackled.  Whilst the LVRPA defend their use of pesticides and exploring better ways of tackling dealing with the most serious invasive species (Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed), they are still using methods that SLM are seriously concerned about.  There is a disagreement about whether any Hogweed has been seen on the SSSI.  Whilst it certainly has in other parts of the marshes.  Additionally, there is evidence of Hemlock being treated on Oxbow island (which also seems to be being over-run by illegal and invasive humans at the moment).
 
EVENTS & FUNDRAISING - date for your diaries is SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER.  We are planning a walk and rally against development on the marshes.  Start time will be 1.30 moving off to walk at 2.00.  Further details will follow but there will be a fancy-dress as wildlife competition for children.  The new leaflet will also be promoting details.  On the fund-raising front - a Herbalist has offered to do a fund-raising herb walk in the Autumn and - abseiling up a church tower is in the wind ...
 
ANOTHER BLOW FOR WILDLIFE - those pesky developers have finally been given the go-ahead by Hackney Planning Committee to develop the controversial and much opposed Sainsbury's development overshadowing Abney Park in Stoke Newington.  We say "Shame on You!"  Personally, I'm now adding Sainsbury's to Tesco's in my personal "I will never set foot in list" and others might like to do the same. 
 
This weeks "Eric Pickles Stupidity Award" - goes to yes, Eric Pickles for his two ideas this week.  (a) freeing up planning permission to allow residents to charge people for parking on their properties (cue more people paving over their front yards and an increased risk to wildlife, caused by ever decreasing habitat) (b) the suggestion of a 15 minute wait outside shops on double yellow lines - er, does he ever use a bus or ride a bike during busy periods?