Hackney Marsh Update

A big thank you to everyone who has signed our petition to safeguard Hackney Marshes as a green, open space for all to enjoy throughout the year.

Thanks to you we have now exceeded 600 signatures on this petition to Hackney Council! Following this success we have a new target of 1000 signatures and need your help to reach it. Please continue to share this petition with your friends via email, Facebook and Twitter.

The Council have a drop-in session about the proposals on Wednesday 17th April at the Hackney Marshes User Centre (E9 5PF) and we are asking everyone to attend this if they possibly can. We will be attending as a united presence from 6pm to present a copy of this online petition and supplementary paper petitions to the council officials responsible. We will keep the petition open after this date as the Council will still receive notification of each signature added.

To raise awareness of the commercial threat to our marshes and to help fund our campaign to safeguard the whole Lea Marshes area, we will have exclusive T-shirts for sale on the night for £10 - you can find the design here:http://saveleytonmarsh.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/new-campaign-t-shirt/ and all proceeds go to the campaign.

Thanks again for your part in demonstrating the widespread opposition to the Council's plans to commercialise Hackney Marshes. Do keep spreading the word and we hope to see many of you on the evening of Wednesday 17th April.

Very Best Wishes,
Save Lea Marshes group.

A better Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest 2013

Parking Payment changes

I continue to wonder why councils charge more and make it harder to pay for parking while extolling the virtues of shopping locally. Meanwhile the only place to park for free is the supermarket car park who thereby gain the trade that was meant for the local shops. Complete madness!!

In Singapore you buy a card reader that is mounted on your windscreen and wherever you have to pay i.e. congestion charge, car parking or toll road it automatically debits the card making it fair for all and easy.


Redbridge Parking

Cashless parking in Waltham Forest

Making Money In Walthamstow

Making Money in Walthamstow

William Morris Gallery

Following the great news on Tuesday that the William Morris Gallery is on the shortlist of ten for the Art Fund’s prestigious Museum of the Year Awards 2013 (read more on our website at www.friendsofthewmg.org.uk), staff have asked for the help of Friends and supporters on two other fronts.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

 

In conjunction with the awards, The Art Fund has launched a photography competition. Visitors to all ten finalist destinations are being encouraged to upload photographs of the venues, and the Gallery would love you to ensure a huge response. All the details can be found at http://www.artfund.org/news/2013/04/02/museum-of-the-year-photography-competition

 

The closing date is May 15. Entry is free and there are prizes on offer, including a year’s National Art Pass.

 

NOMINATE THE GALLERY FOR ANOTHER AWARD

The Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award has been launched.

 

If you, or any of your friends and contacts, feel that the Gallery deserves to be in the running, nominations need to be submitted by May 10.

 

Visit the website at http://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/awards/

Civic Voice needs your support

	April 2013
	call to action

www.civicvoice.org.uk | 0151 708 9920 | info@civicvoice.org.uk |  @civic_voice

Call to action - write to your MP today The House of Lords has voted to introduce an amendment to the Growth and Infrastructure Bill which will allow local authorities to opt out of legislation which would increase the size of permitted development rights. The controversial plans, announced by the Government in September, would increase the size of a single storey extension that can be built without planning permission from four metres to eight metres for detached houses, and from three metres to six metres for other houses. Although the amendment will not stop the Government pressing ahead, it will allow councils, many of whom are opposed to the proposal, to opt out of the policy if they so wish. Civic Voice supports this amendment. Obtaining support from the House of Lords for this amendment is a huge achievement for the civic movement’s campaign to stop this policy proposal. Nevertheless, the Department of Communities and Local Government has already confirmed they will look to overturn this amendment when the Bill moves back to the House of Commons. TAKE ACTION NOW TO ENSURE YOUR LOCAL MP SUPPORTS THIS AMENDMENT The Lords narrowly backed this amendment by 217 votes to 211. This means it could be removed if not enough MPs support it on April 16. Civic Voice is now asking all its supporters to contact their local MP to show their backing for this amendment when it is debated in the House of Commons on April 16. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR MP AND TELL THEM TO KEEP THIS AMENDMENT If you share our concerns and the unanimous decision at the Civic Voice AGM to vote against extended permitted development rights, then please let your MP know. Last time we issued a call to action against these proposals 70% of MPs across England received a letter from the civic movement. We would love to be able to say that even more were contacted in support of this amendment. It will only take a few minutes. We have drafted a letter for you to use or adapt and it will be sent automatically to your MP by email. The Government is concerned by the response to its proposal and every voice will make a difference. Your views count. Use your voice and help give councils the opportunity to opt out of this proposal. CLICK HERE TO CONTACT YOUR MP TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT

Leytonstone Festival

Dear Friend,

Are you interested in putting on an event for the Leytonstone Festival? The festival runs from 11^th – 21^st July and  we are looking for all kinds of events – theatre, music, dance, art etc. Take a look at last year’s programme to get an idea of the wide range of events that have featured in the past. www.leytonstonefestival.org.uk/files/programme2012.pdf

We are a registered charity with a small amount of money to spend on events which can go towards artists fees, venue hire and other overheads.

The closing date for proposals for events is 26^th April. To get the event proposal form and find out more about the festival visit our website www.leytonstonefestival.org.uk  

The festival is a great opportunity to promote yourself, your group and the work you are doing in the local area.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested.

Best Wishes

Shah Ahmed

Vice Chair Leytonstone Festival Assoc.