To: saveleytonmarsh@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: SLM WEEKLY DIGEST 4 OCTOBER 2013
Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 16:12:02 +0100
This is the weekly digest of the Save Lea Marshes group -" working for a hardworking environment".. .Hardworking? Yes, our vital green spaces and the various species and plants that inhabit them have a hard time fighting off the ravages of human beings. This week in the news was the verification of global warming. This affects all of us and what we do in our everyday lives locally and nationally. Discussions and information and news of actions this week include:
AN UNHAPPY LOT - Manor Garden's allotment holders representatives were summoned to Waltham Forest Town Hall this week to be told that the London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF), want the allotments off the borough's section of the Olympic Park (Lee Valley Regional Park Authority owned Eton Manor), and are submitting an application to the LLDC on behalf of the residents to alter the current approved plans and remove the allotments. As it turns out, the LBWF do not actually own or lease the land - the LVRPA do. So why LBWF are submitting is a mystery. As they proposed last year, they are attempting to offer guaranteed retention of the plots at Marsh Lane in "mitigation" for loss of Eton Manor - which forms around 50 per cent of the 2.1 hectares of legacy allotments to be reprovided with the Olympic Park as part of the CPO agreement and secured by planning application.
So why is LBWF pitching forks at these hardworking allotment holders? It seems that the Council and the LVRPA are keen on asking "anyone for tennis - or hockey?" Oh, and let's throw in a bit of bio-diversity. Leader of LBWF Chris Robbins has said: "It's an absolute scandal that allotments are set to take pride of place in the Country's flagship sporting facility. That is why we are preparing a better future for the Olympic Park. It will not only make the park more accessible to Waltham Forest Residents and Londoners as a whole but it will build on its green credentials for more open space in the Capital". Well, pardon me, this is a bit rich coming from a place where so many battles for green space have been fought recently. What is so unsightly about garden plots? Isn't gardening a more popular activity than either tennis or hockey?
PARKLIFE - also on the subject of the Olympic Park it seems that parents and others are being invited to put views about what should go on in the park - suggestions can be made at assemblyupdate@London.gov.uk Judging by the article in this week's "Hackney Gazette" p.8, a vintage Christmas market with a roller-disco twist and hip-hop maypole dancing will be attracting large crowds.
Mabley Green - our friends have launched a petition at http://www.change.org/en-GB/
EATING UP OUR VILLAGE GREENS - the Council for Protection of Rural England (CPRE) have launched a campaign to try and head off the Government's proposals to put village greens in greater risk of development by changing the rules of who can apply for land to be given protected village green space. Good coverage of the full story in "The Times" on Wednesday p.15.
A RIGHT OLD DUST-UP - sadly news of a "brooming good action" against the plans of creating a fashion super-hub off Morning Lane in Hackney, came too late but people were invited to take a broom and clean the streets as an action against visiting developers and investors accompanied by Mayor Pipe, who plan to sweep away the character of the area in a bid to cash in on fashion.
OTHER EVENTS, COURSES AND ACTIONS:
Friends of the Earth are offering a 2 year certificated course in campaigning and organisation skills - those interested should see
http://www.foe.co.uk/news/
London Friends Network are organising an event in Burgess Park at 6 p.m. on 9 October, with Dan Foster the DCLG minister who is responsible for parks and green spaces speaking and also news of the Green Flag environmental awards. Those interested need to register with the London Friends Network.
Hedgelife and The Mill are organising some help yourself with herbal health sessions at the Lea Bridge Library on Fridays - 3-25 October from 10.30-11.30. Cost £2.50 per class. Contact The Mill in Walthamstow for details. The Mill is also looking for ideas for use of its upstairs community space.
Voluntary Action Waltham Forest - have some very good training on offer for October/November e.g. writing successful funding bids. There are also some interesting funding opportunities and news of the VAWF's AGM. contactSarah.Kinson@voluntaryaction-
AND FINALLY ... as we Lea Valley locals despair of our councils obsessions with building more car parks on our green spaces, comes this story in today's "Guardian" "Bees losing sense of smell because of traffic fumes" - affecting the honeybee's ability to find food. Scientists have found that the effect of diesel fumes really do make a difference. p.6 This is bad news for our hardworking bees...
P.S. Anyone else notice at the Hardworking Tory Conference, the new logo - the green of the tree has gone and the shape of the Union Jack looks like its been ravaged by UKIP...
AN UNHAPPY LOT - Manor Garden's allotment holders representatives were summoned to Waltham Forest Town Hall this week to be told that the London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF), want the allotments off the borough's section of the Olympic Park (Lee Valley Regional Park Authority owned Eton Manor), and are submitting an application to the LLDC on behalf of the residents to alter the current approved plans and remove the allotments. As it turns out, the LBWF do not actually own or lease the land - the LVRPA do. So why LBWF are submitting is a mystery. As they proposed last year, they are attempting to offer guaranteed retention of the plots at Marsh Lane in "mitigation" for loss of Eton Manor - which forms around 50 per cent of the 2.1 hectares of legacy allotments to be reprovided with the Olympic Park as part of the CPO agreement and secured by planning application.
So why is LBWF pitching forks at these hardworking allotment holders? It seems that the Council and the LVRPA are keen on asking "anyone for tennis - or hockey?" Oh, and let's throw in a bit of bio-diversity. Leader of LBWF Chris Robbins has said: "It's an absolute scandal that allotments are set to take pride of place in the Country's flagship sporting facility. That is why we are preparing a better future for the Olympic Park. It will not only make the park more accessible to Waltham Forest Residents and Londoners as a whole but it will build on its green credentials for more open space in the Capital". Well, pardon me, this is a bit rich coming from a place where so many battles for green space have been fought recently. What is so unsightly about garden plots? Isn't gardening a more popular activity than either tennis or hockey?
PARKLIFE - also on the subject of the Olympic Park it seems that parents and others are being invited to put views about what should go on in the park - suggestions can be made at assemblyupdate@London.gov.uk Judging by the article in this week's "Hackney Gazette" p.8, a vintage Christmas market with a roller-disco twist and hip-hop maypole dancing will be attracting large crowds.
Mabley Green - our friends have launched a petition at http://www.change.org/en-GB/
EATING UP OUR VILLAGE GREENS - the Council for Protection of Rural England (CPRE) have launched a campaign to try and head off the Government's proposals to put village greens in greater risk of development by changing the rules of who can apply for land to be given protected village green space. Good coverage of the full story in "The Times" on Wednesday p.15.
A RIGHT OLD DUST-UP - sadly news of a "brooming good action" against the plans of creating a fashion super-hub off Morning Lane in Hackney, came too late but people were invited to take a broom and clean the streets as an action against visiting developers and investors accompanied by Mayor Pipe, who plan to sweep away the character of the area in a bid to cash in on fashion.
OTHER EVENTS, COURSES AND ACTIONS:
Friends of the Earth are offering a 2 year certificated course in campaigning and organisation skills - those interested should see
http://www.foe.co.uk/news/
London Friends Network are organising an event in Burgess Park at 6 p.m. on 9 October, with Dan Foster the DCLG minister who is responsible for parks and green spaces speaking and also news of the Green Flag environmental awards. Those interested need to register with the London Friends Network.
Hedgelife and The Mill are organising some help yourself with herbal health sessions at the Lea Bridge Library on Fridays - 3-25 October from 10.30-11.30. Cost £2.50 per class. Contact The Mill in Walthamstow for details. The Mill is also looking for ideas for use of its upstairs community space.
Voluntary Action Waltham Forest - have some very good training on offer for October/November e.g. writing successful funding bids. There are also some interesting funding opportunities and news of the VAWF's AGM. contactSarah.Kinson@voluntaryaction-
AND FINALLY ... as we Lea Valley locals despair of our councils obsessions with building more car parks on our green spaces, comes this story in today's "Guardian" "Bees losing sense of smell because of traffic fumes" - affecting the honeybee's ability to find food. Scientists have found that the effect of diesel fumes really do make a difference. p.6 This is bad news for our hardworking bees...
P.S. Anyone else notice at the Hardworking Tory Conference, the new logo - the green of the tree has gone and the shape of the Union Jack looks like its been ravaged by UKIP...
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