Saturday 6th June – Movers and Shakers

The Movers and Shakers Ride at Redbridge Cycling Centre is going to be a first for sustainable transport in Redbridge - please see below our great list of Movers and Shakers coming on the ride and the programme for the day. Any one is welcome to come along and watch, bring a picnic, or join in the ride.
Gill James, MBE

GETTING TO RCC:
See directions and map on RCC website.
I) Cycle.
2) Car. Car parking is available on site.
3) Tube to Fairlop Tube Station. (Please note that bike carriage is only permitted on the above ground section from Woodford to Hainault.)

BIKE LOAN: Please arrive at 12.00pm if you are not bringing your own bike. This will allow us time to find a bike to suit you.
HELMETS: helmets are compulsory at RCC so please bring one if you can. Helmets can be hired at RCC.
SUMMER LEAGUE YOUTH RACES -10.00am - 12.00pm:
You can enjoy watching these if you come early.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS PROGRAMME
12.30pm: Welcome from Peter Lawrence, Chair of Woodford Historical Society.
12.40pm:The Movers and Shakers Ride round the Upper Track- as many circuits as you like!
1.15pm: Cold buffet lunch will be served.

Four short addresses during lunch:
Lee Scott MP: National cycle policy
Roger Evans, GLA member: The Mayor's cycle policy
Chief Inspector Paige Kimberley: Cycling safely
Cllr. Keith Prince: Encouraging cycling in Redbridge

2.20pm: Three lucky Movers and Shakers will win annual London Cycling Campaign Membership (worth ?32) in the raffle
2.30pm: Peter Lawrence closes proceedings.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS IN REDBRIDGE
CYCLE RIDE PARTICIPANTS
Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive, Turning Point
Richard Allen, Head of Business Planning, Barnardo's Children's services
Ravi Bhanot, organiser of the Sewa Week (Hindu) Ilford Charity Bike Ride
Bali Bhalla, organiser of the Sewa Week (Hindu) Ilford Charity Bike Ride -to be confirmed
Paul Canal, Chair of Wanstead & Snaresbrook Ward Conservatives
Chris Carter, Editor, 'Ilford Recorder'
James Cleverly, Mayor's Ambassador for Young People, GLA member Bexley & Bromley
Revd. Elwin Cockett, Archdeacon of West Ham
Harry Cohen, MP Leyton & Wanstead
Cllr. Michelle Dunn, Cabinet Member for Highways & Environment
Roger Evans, GLA Member Havering & Redbridge, Leader GLA Conservative Group
Revd. Jonathan Evens, Vicar of St Johns, Seven Kings
Imran Khan, Human Rights solicitor- to be confirmed
Chief Inspector Paige Kimberley, Met.Police
6 members of the Met Police
Hugh Muir, Columnist, the National 'Guardian' newspaper
Cllr. Mrs Sue Nolan, Cabinet Member for Resources
Arvinder Singh Paul, organiser of the Sikh Charity Ride
Cllr. Keith Prince, Leader of Redbridge Council
Lee Scott, MP Ilford North
Anu Sood, organiser of the St Johns Autism Charity Bike Ride
Cllr. Robin Turbefield, Cabinet Member for Housing
Cllr. Alex Wilson

4th June - Love London

Thursday 4th June sees the launch of the extravaganza Love London. There is just so much to do all over the capital. You can find out what’s on near you from this page and for Redbridge visit here.

You will see that our next coffee morning is listed. We have Councillor Bob Littlewood, deputy leader of the opposition, speaking on "Public Participation in Local Politics" on 18th June 2009, 10-12noon in the Hainault room, Fullwell Cross library.

Lots of other stuff organised by our Nature Conservation Ranger Team, the Forest Farm Peace garden, a Nappy Chatter event, a dress swop event, and the subject of the next post coming up shortly.

4th June is also the date for the European Elections – If you don’t Vote, don’t moan. There’s plenty of choice. See here.

Redbridge Garden Survey

The Redbridge Nature Conservation Rangers are all hoping that you are enjoying some of this beautiful British weather and have a chance to get out and about in some of our parks and open spaces.....and indeed your gardens!

This is a request for all the residents of the borough to please spend just 5 minutes filling in our new garden questionnaire. Please tell all your friends and family [see note below] even if they don't have "conventional" gardens - we want to know about paved or concreted spaces as well. Everybody that does the quiz will be in with a chance to win some wildlife friendly garden prizes and some advice for your open space.

The results of this are really important for us to inform decisions about various protected species and green spaces, help towards the Redbridge Biodiversity Action Plan, inform decisions about the threat of climatic change and help us learn about garden trends.

Please visit the webpage: click!

We really appreciate your help and thank you in advance.

Best regards,

Naomi Collingham
Nature Conservation Ranger

Note: If your friends or family don't have internet access they can call 020 8501 1426 and complete the survey by telephone.

Get Smart

Now listen up all you car/van drivers. Here in Redbridge it is an offence to park a vehicle on the pavement, or footway to be precise, unless it is specifically allowed in that location. Where it is allowed will be identified by one of those blue signs [pictured] and then only within the permitted boundaries of the white lines on the footway. Large sections Fullwell Avenue [a bus route] and various other residential roads, like Trinity Gardens, are marked in this way. If there are no signs, it is an offence and any vehicle parked on the footway is subject to a penalty notice.

Now, the thing is that Parking Wardens only patrol the parking hot spots - where there are parking restrictions like around Barkingside High Street and sometimes outside schools. So, the rest of the borough has been pretty much off limits. In the quiet residential roads of Barkingside, Clayhall and presumably elsewhere pavement parking is the norm. Not any more.

Redbridge Council are due to adopt legislative provisions to enforce moving traffic contraventions. This will initially use fixed CCTV cameras of which many more are due to be installed to cover those parts of the borough not currently in view. But that’s not all. They are also proposing to use mobile cameras and a “camera equipped vehicle”.

This will be the same “Smart Car” introduced by our neighbours Havering which has caused huge amounts of resentment to residents. In the first 8 months since their introduction they have issued an amazing 15,297 penalty notices. If all those people took advantage of the 50% discount (£60) for paying within 14 days the council will have amassed £917,820 in fines. This is in ADDITION to Traffic Warden issued Parking Fines.

Dopeyf, who alerted me to this, writes

“Yet another way to raise revenue from the innocent motorist, you want to drop your grandmother of at the doctors - stop for a newspaper - post a letter - stop to take a phone call - DONT, you will run the risk of a £60 Fine. I urge everyone to forcefully let their Councillors know this is not an acceptable method of raising revenue. And to Councillors themselves, this may be the last straw which breaks the back of their re-election.”

Now hold on. You can’t have your cake and eat it. You can’t complain about cars or vans speeding or driving while using a hand held mobile phone, or completely blocking the footway so that those with prams or wheelchairs have to go onto a busy highway to pass. Or those doing illegal U-turns at Claybury Broadway, or blocking Keep Clear sections at junctions or parking on the zig-zag lines outside schools and not expect the same rules to apply to you.

It is not Havering Council’s fault that they issued 15,297 penalty notices. It is the 15,297 people who broke the law!

Discuss.

Reference: Report of the Council Meeting Of the London Borough of Redbridge on Thursday, 19 March 2009, See para 8e

The “appointed day” is 1st July 2009

Round Two

Reconvened Full Council

- Thursday 28th May 2009

The headline is that we now have a minority Conservative administration led by Cllr Keith Prince, who as a result takes up the role of Council Leader and Chairman of the Cabinet.

The background:

Dominic Wiggan of the Ilford Recorder was sitting in front of me with his laptop and dongle loading up the report to their website as it happened. I still use a notebook and pencil hence the delay for this post.

There were 4 councillors absent. Richard Hoskins [LibDem], Glenn Corfield [Conservative?], Robert Whitehall and Brian Waite. However, Glenn’s mum was there as usual in the public gallery to give him a first hand report.

We were informed that Cllrs Waite and Whitehall had resigned from the Conservative party and that they along with Cllrs Hinds and Aaron had formed an “IC Group”. We think the “I” stands for Independent but we are not sure what the “C” stands for. This means that they can have a Leader – Cllr Hinds – who may claim an additional Leader allowance. It also means that there will not be any by elections as thought earlier.

So the numbers now stack up as follows:

Conservative 30 [including the Mayor who traditionally does not vote]
Labour 17
Liberal Democrat 11
IC Group 4
BNP 1

Since there is no combination of opposition parties with a prospect of working together with a clear majority, the Liberal Democrats have done the sensible thing for Redbridge residents and reached an agreement with the Conservatives to allow them to form a minority administration. The LibDems abstained on the vote which went along party lines.

For: 28 Conservatives – 1 absent
Against: 20 – 17 Labour, 2 IC Group 2 absent, 1 BNP
Abstain: 11 – 10 LibDems 1 absent, The Mayor

The Deal in brief:

The opposition parties will have a greater say in the Scrutiny committees [as discussed here]. This means that opposition Councillors will chair those committees. Cllr Staight was particularly looking forward to scrutinising Cllr Mrs Dunn’s portfolio!

On policy a commitment to keep Council Tax as low as possible and urgent attention to be given to the pressing problems of school places and the so the called Leisure Project or lack of swimming pools.

All parties to be consulted in the decision making processes.

Now can we get on with it please?

The LibDems Press Release
The Memorandum of Understanding [unsigned] but I have seen a signed one.

30 Pieces of Silver

Click image to enlarge

So, what we’ve got here is a former Redbridge Cabinet Member who alleges that there has been “sleaze” going on within the Cabinet of which he was a part, but did nothing about it for nearly FIVE years. And now that he has been dumped he wants to sell his story to the national press.

The Mark of the Man.

Notes from Area 3

Area 3 Committee meeting

– Wednesday 27th May 2009

Two councillors absent. The same two who were absent at last week’s Full Council meeting, which makes this evening’s reconvened Full Council worth a visit for entertainment value alone.

Cllr Harold Moth was elected Chairman. The 4:4 Tory split now being reduced to 4:2. Cllr Mrs Joyce Ryan was elected Deputy Chairman.

Cllr Nick Hayes is optimistic that the Claybury Park issue should be resolved within two weeks.

Area 3 matched the grant of £2,000 made earlier by Area 4, for the “Fun in the Park” event on 13th June being organised by Holy Trinity Church. It’s at the Barkingside Rec.

Consultants have commenced on Barkingside Regeneration. We expect a public consultation meeting towards the end of June or beginning of July.

The new public toilet for Fullwell Cross has hit land ownership problems. At 20 pence for entry I expect gold plated taps and 3-ply Andrex.

The expected delegation of parents from Clore Tikva school in support of their petition against the parking restrictions around that school did not materialise. The petition was noted but no action was deemed necessary. It was also noted that that a significant number of signatories on that petition had addresses not just outside the borough but some some distance away - and as far away as Cardiff.

The meeting set a record of being completed at 8:30pm, which meant a quick dash to the Fairlop Oak to watch the second half of the football.

Notable attendees in the audience were Conservative Committee members for Fairlop Ward checking on the attendance of their councillors.

Prior to the meeting B21 was rebuked for allowing the word “scum” on the comments on this site. Isn’t free speech wonderful.

Later in the pub we met with a band of rather glum looking Labour Party activists.

Our Chairman has sent in his postal vote for the Euros – apparently the ballot paper resembles a roll of wallpaper.

More, no doubt, tomorrow.

Bikes in the News

As we reported here Movers and Shakers had signed up Roger Evans as a community role model for cycling. Roger reports on his blog here and here on how his tuition in the art of bike riding is progressing. Note he is not wearing a helmet, unlike his boss at the GLA whom we will meet later.



Then the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian report [28th April] that “The new Leader of Redbridge Council has promised to get on his bike in a bid to keep fit and ease traffic congestion in the borough.” Except that he isn’t, Council Leader that is, and we expect more twists and turns than a twisty turny thing on this before he gets to be so, or doesn’t. Anyway he is certainly on a bike receiving tuition, again minus a helmet.

All this is to encourage people onto bikes. And there is a Bikethon coming up in Redbridge on Sunday 14th June for the Kids. Melbourne Field, 11am – 1pm.

Now we come to Boris Johnson, captured by CCTV on his bike and wearing a helmet nearly getting squashed by a rogue lorry driver in Limehouse. Reports that the driver was Ken Livingstone have been dismissed.



Here is the BBC report.

Now how do we make cycling safer? Here are a few ideas. Encase the cyclist in a steel body with windows. Add side impact bars, bull bars and airbags. To carry the extra weight we will need 4 wheels and we will need some help with propulsion so we will need an engine……

Supply and Demand

It would appear to me that the demand for facilities to recycle cardboard is out stripping the council’s ability to provide that service.

It also occurs to me that the people who use these public recycling points, or for that matter litter bins, do not necessarily live in the borough in which they are located. Which makes a bit of a nonsense for Essex County Council to charge Redbridge Residents for using their recycling facility in Luxborough Lane.

However, if you know someone who lives in Essex CC, whom you visit regularly, there is nothing to stop you saving up your cardboard and adding it to their sack for kerbside collection.

Claybury – High Hopes

On 12th May B21 attended the local Fire Station in Hainault for a photoshoot where we met Peter Henn, a reporter with the Yellow Advertiser. We gave him a copy of our most recent newsletter which contained a report on the potential loss of Claybury Park, see blog report here. He took up the story and reports in the Yellow Advertiser dated 21st May that ownership of the park is due to be transferred to the Council by the end of June. Hoorah!

Peter has contacted both Crest Nicholson and the Council and he reports that the relevant papers are currently going through Land Registry.

However, although Peter’s report is very welcome, we have been here before and remain prepared to be disappointed. We will believe it when it happens and until then there will be no celebrations.

I would also like to pay tribute to all those not in the picture who have campaigned with us over the years on this issue, in particular Doreen Hewitt and Ray Frensham.

Number Six

Coo, Look what I’ve found!

Cision's Top Ten UK Environment Blogs

Combining visitor, search and social metrics with in-house expertise, Cision identifies the most read, most discussed and most influential names in the UK personal finance [that’s a misprint carried over from the previous page] environmental blogosphere. Not very good on spotting mistakes on their media website though!

1. Environmental Graffiti
2. EcoStreet
3. Green Girls Global Blog
4. Guardian Environment Blog
5. Greenpeace UK Blog
6. Barkingside 21
7. Earthpal
8. Throbgoblins - Marc Roberts Cartoons
9. Green JellyBean
10. UK Energy Saving Blog

Update: August 2010. Now changed to the Top 10 Green Blogs and 7th.

Blott on the Landscape

Locals of Barkingside will be familiar with the award winning “architecture” of Redbridge Magistrates Court [pictured, note the absence of people] which merges seamlessly into the Head Office of Barnardo’s just round the corner in Tanners Lane.

So, you will all be delighted to learn that “much of Barnardo’s site is no longer used and some of the current buildings, including Barnardo House in Tanners Lane, need extensive refurbishing or replacing. Barnardo’s has developed plans for replacing the current head office and regenerating and improving the whole site whilst protecting its historic importance and conservation zone status.”

Well, they didn’t pay much attention to that when they sold off the land for the Magistrates Court or Tescos, but never mind that. Barnardo’s are inviting members of the local community to learn about their plans and there will be three chances to attend a public exhibition to be set up in the Barnardo’s Church (Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex, IG6 1QG), at the following times and dates:

Saturday 6th June – between 10am and 4pm
Wednesday 10th June – between 2pm and 9pm
Friday 19th June – between 6pm and 9pm

Barnardo’s will be inviting comments on their plans from local residents and Barnardo’s staff. After reviewing this feedback, Barnardo’s then intends to submit a development brief to Redbridge Council in July 2009.

Ruffled Feathers

RSPB Media Release: full version

With spring well underway, many garden birds like starlings, sparrows and house martins will have chosen to take advantage of sheds, roofs, gardens, eaves and even wall cavities to raise their young.
RSPB is urging anyone who believes they have nesting birds or chicks around their homes and gardens to leave them well alone. If they don't, there is a significant risk that young birds won't survive.
Wildlife Adviser Richard James said, "Many people think they are helping by placing stray chicks in a box, some greenery, or back in the nest they came from. But the truth is they could be killing them with kindness, and it's vital they remain untouched. It's a critical time for nesting birds and we must do all we can not to disturb them."
"If you come across a chick on the ground, don't be tempted to try and help them or move them in any way. Although they sit there looking vulnerable and sounding distressed you can be sure that the adult birds will be close by and will know what to do. If you discover a nest in your trees or bushes or perhaps somewhere a bit more unusual like your garden shed please don't touch it. As soon as it is disturbed you risk the mother abandoning her eggs or chicks."

The breeding season also brings another subtle change in bird behaviour. Tim Webb said: "Some birds get quite aggressive at this time of the year and for tiny creatures, can be incredibly brave and selfless. They'll puff themselves up and make an awful din if they believe their nests or babies are threatened.”

The RSPB's top tips for helping vulnerable baby birds:
* If you find a fledgling or young bird, the best thing is to leave it where it is. The parents will be nearby and they will look after them so they should not be moved.
* Don't confuse clumsiness with injury. Most young birds fledge once they are fully feathered, but before they are able to fly, they'll often spend a day or two on the ground before their feather development is complete. They can look very clumsy during this stage.
* If a fledgling is in a dangerous place it could be moved to shelter in a nearby hedge or tree. Particularly if it's found on a road or where it may be vulnerable to cats. Keep contact to a minimum.
* Any young birds that are moved must remain within hearing reach of where it was found so its parents can find it.
* If the young bird is unfeathered or covered in fluffy down and has obviously fallen out of the nest by accident, it may be possible to put it back.
* If this cannot be done, the chick is dependent on humans for survival, and it should be passed on to experts such as the RSPCA.
* If you are a cat owner, keep your cat indoors when birds are most vulnerable: at least an hour before sunset and an hour after sunrise, especially during March-July.

Climate Change

Following on from the previous post which mentions “interesting times” one can look back through history and see significant changes – tipping points. These usually don’t occur instantaneously but take time to work their way through. And so it is with social and political change. Depending upon your point of view you might think of different examples but they are all there.

So is it just me, or are we now, currently, experiencing one of those tipping points. It’s not just the damage we are doing to our environment or the credit crunch or MPs expenses. It seems to me much more significant than that, I can feel it in the air. The mood has changed.

People everywhere are really angry over MPs expenses, but that’s just the tip of the melting iceberg. People are wising up and the internet as a means of independent communication and reporting is playing a major role.

Everywhere the blogosphere is discussing the potential for a recall system, both for individual MPs and for Parliament itself. What is the point of having a Head of State if we the people cannot petition her to dissolve parliament and force a General Election?

Barkingside 21, like most other groups and clubs has a Constitution. There is a provision for the members to call a Special General Meeting and vote out the existing committee. The same is true for any board of directors with a public limited company. They are there by virtue of their shareholders and can be removed.

50 years ago my Dad said to me that “there is one rule for them and another rule for us”. A phrase recently repeated by a local conservative councillor adding “plus they have charge of the goalposts, the football and everything else.”

It is just not good enough to blame the system and change it, it is the culture and ethos that created the system that needs to be challenged, dismantled and replaced. And it’s not just the expenses system either, it’s the whole rotten thing.

There are still some MPs who remain untarnished, who publish in full their expenses, are open and transparent, [even if you disagree sometimes with the way they vote] and it is they who do not fear the “chaos” that an election may bring. Chaos? So what do you call what we’ve got now? “Out of chaos comes order” – Nietzsche.

Bring it on. Sign the petition.

Déjà Vu

In May 2004 several Conservative Councillors absented themselves from the council chamber for the annual full council meeting. As a result the administration led by the late Allan Burgess fell and was replaced by a Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition. A few months later the Conservatives elected a new leader, Laurence Davies, who then regained control and took them through to the 2006 local elections, when Mr Davies stepped down as a local councillor. These events were the result of an earlier Conservative party leadership contest that ended in a draw with the chairman tossing a coin to decide the result.

So, is it really a surprise to find that after another close Conservative party leadership contest, this time the incumbent being deposed, that at yesterday evening’s annual full council we had similar goings on.

In short two Conservative councillors, Mark Aaron and Geoffrey Hinds, have quit the party and a third, Robert Whitehall, has tendered his resignation. This coupled with two Conservative absentees, Brian Waite and Glenn Corfield, resulted in defeat for the proposed administration led by Keith Prince.

Result – Redbridge does not have a Council leader and the existing cabinet remains in place.

So what happens now?

If Cllr Whitehall’s resignation is accepted, and I can see no reason why it should not, there will be a by election in Mayfield ward and the Conservative group lose their notional majority. I use the word notional here deliberately because it is not clear if all the remaining Conservative councillors are prepared to support their current leader.

We effectively now have a hung council and it is down to the party leaders to negotiate their way round it.

“May you live in interesting times.”

Ilford Recorder

And an update from the Ilford Recorder.

Capital Clean Up

I have just been advised by our indomitable Sergeant Chandler that there is a Capital Clean Up initiative which runs from 27th April to 5th June. I didn’t know about that, did you know about that? I shall have to check my Radar system.

Anyway, McDonalds, in Barkingside High Street are joining in the fun and are drafting in extra staff to do a litter pick on Tuesday 26th May 2009, next week. You can join in too if you wish, just contact the manager.

It’s just a pity that they, KFC and the rest can’t do this every day, like they do in Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, Redbridge Environmental Services are dealing with a particular problem in Ilford Town Centre. A certain Bakery being the problem. So they went in and bought a roll for lunch. It had three layers of wrapping – plastic, a paper bag and then one of those paper carrier bags. They then tried a different branch of the same Bakery in Romford and were “asked” if they wanted it wrapped.

I think there is an “education programme” underway.

2012 and Beyond

Join Boris Johnson, Seb Coe and other speakers

Tuesday 9 June 2009 7-8.30pm • Walthamstow Assembly Hall

This public meeting will discuss the impact the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is already having and will have in future on the lives of Londoners. It will also address the issues of legacy once the Games are over. The Mayor will be joined by speakers from LOCOG, ODA, Olympic Park Legacy Company and athletes; all of whom will take questions from the audience.

Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow E17 4JD.
To plan your journey visit: www.tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner.
Doors open at 6.00pm; Meeting 7.00pm – 8.30pm

To request FREE TICKETS send your name, your address and the number of tickets you need by one of the following methods:
· Email peoplesquestions@london.gov.uk
· Online at www.london.gov.uk
· Telephone 020 7983 4762 (answerphone service)
· Text* GOLD followed by your name, house number/name and full postcode, then the number of tickets you require to 62967.*Texts cost 10p plus your standard SMS rate.

BSL signers will be present at this meeting.

The New Redbridge Mayor

As is customary on this blog we welcome the election of the new Redbridge Mayor and his chosen charities. They are Redbridge Business Education Partnership and the Redbridge branch of the Alzheimer's Society.

Introducing Tak [Thomas] Chan, councillor in Wanstead ward. A rarity in that he was one of the few recent Cabinet members who appeared to be paying attention at Council meetings. He is Chinese, not that that should make any difference, except I am told that the Chinese community here in the UK do not, by and large, engage with our political system. That is a shame because there is a long history between us and the Chinese. Hopefully his appointment will be a beacon.

He is also, according to the Wanstead & Woodford Guardian, head of the Chinese Takeaway Association.

He will be delivered free to each function in a Jaguar limousine but only within a three mile radius or for events with more than 10 people, in which case there will be free fortune cookies.

Scrutiny

Now, I can’t remember where I read this but it goes along the lines that while Tony Blair was President [why does that seem so long ago?] he instructed his cabinet to pull his ideas apart. Whether they did or not I don’t know but I suspect the present incumbent would not be so keen.

So, then I’m reading about the election of the Greater London Authority Chairman. Our mate Roger reports it here but there is also this from Tory Troll – which hints that the role of the Assembly is to scrutinise the Mayor and that having your own members doing this does not make sense.

Well, maybe. And not necessarily. But a point worth thinking about.

Which leads me to Redbridge Council. The new order, implemented in 2000 under the Local Government Act means that the controlling party, the party that makes up the Cabinet, also has the voting power to insist that ALL scrutiny committees are chaired by their own members, something that Cllr Bond has been most vociferous about and frankly he does seem to have a point.

But there are problems whichever way you look at it. Appointing sychophants reliant on the Leader’s goodwill for their position, and not inconsiderable pay-cheque, is obviously not going to lead to constructive critique, but then appointing those in opposition could lead to destructive critique for their own party purposes.

In 2000 we had a hung council but since 2002 we have had a majority Conservative council which has seen five changes in the Leadership and has not really got to grips with the critical issues facing this borough.

Maybe there is a lesson here for the new Leader elect? Let’s hope he chooses well next week.

Out and About

As reported here I have now bought myself a pocket sized compact digital camera. It took longer than expected. I went down to Jessops in Ilford, which used to be a professional photography shop, but it has now been converted into something akin to Argos staffed by YOPs with permanent PMT. But I usually know someone who knows, and was referred to T&B photographic in Chav City, Romford. They weren’t where they were supposed to be, it was a hole in the ground, but I did find them. They are now in an alleyway that leads to the old Brewery site from South Street.

So here are today’s results. Isn’t this the most ridiculous road hump you have ever seen? It’s in Highstone Avenue, Wanstead, about 25 yards from a brick wall. The Highway code tells us that at 30mph [the speed limit in this road] the stopping distance is 23 meters or six car lengths.
Some while ago I was at an Area 4 committee meeting when Cllr Weinberg went into a rant about the cost of a single road hump in Stradbroke Grove. It was £20,000. But come on Alan, at least it was on a stretch of road where it is actually possible to exceed the speed limit. What on earth were the Snaresbrook Councillors thinking of when they approved this?

And here we have two white van men parking in a "No Parking Bay" outside a café in Spratt Hall Road just a few yards down from Wanstead Police station. WTF is the point of having a marked out bay with "No Parking" written in it? Why not have yellow lines? Can anyone explain?

Fiddling while Rome Burns

And I don't just mean expenses....... It's far more serious than that.

Update: Iain Dale, Thursday

The Commons is like a funeral zone today. It's as if someone has died. I have never seen so many depressed faces, such anguish and almost total incomprehension at the state the body politic finds itself in. Particularly hard hit are those who have genuinely done nothing wrong. They feel they are being unfairly tarred with a tainted brush.

But that’s not the point is it? They knew what was going on and did nothing about it, or didn’t they? The rules are the same for all of them, they knew what was on offer.

Our own MP, Lee Scott, has been up front on expenses since day one in 2005. Why? Because he knew? Throwing mud when you know some of it is going to come back at your own party is a difficult thing to do. Much easier to point out that the other side are getting "plastered" to the tune of £3,131.37 at our expense.

The drains are up and it smells. So let’s get them cleared with a General Election and get on with the job.

Food for Thought

The very first post on this blog was “Local Food is Miles Better”. Prior to that our hardcopy newsletter carried a feature about how the ingredients for a typical Christmas dinner may have travelled 30,000 miles from producers and growers to the UK dinner table. But this is nothing new.

My early memories of food were the adverts on TV for Danish Bacon, New Zealand Lamb and Anchor Butter and you can’t get much further away from here than New Zealand. Of course this was in the days before we shacked up with our neighbours across the English Channel and old habits die hard.

So, it is with some smugness that I report this extract from the BBC Food section:

A study carried out at Lincoln University in New Zealand concluded that rearing and distributing British lamb produces more CO2 emissions than importing the meat 11,000 miles by sea. New Zealand farmers use more renewable energy and less fertiliser, so agriculture is much more energy efficient than the UK's, making up for the food miles.

They also say:

Half the vegetables and 95 per cent of the fruit eaten in the UK comes from beyond our shores

But we can’t grow Bananas here and I like Bananas – and pineapples and kiwi-fruit….

It’s all very confusing, as they say:

Working out the environmental impact of the food we buy can be confusing. It's no longer just about food miles - there's production, processing, packaging and storage to weigh up too.

I can’t summarise it all here, you’ll just have to go have a read yourself, now that I’ve given you a few tasters.

Now, the interesting bit is that I was led to that website page via an email from a Matthew Gibbons from Local Food Advisor Ltd, entitled “The Importance of Buying Local”. Those ego massagers in the side bar mean that I often get emails from people wishing to promote their site or product, most of which I ignore. But in this case I am prepared to “help in supporting local food and raising consumer awareness.”

We are doing our very best to support and promote local producers and farmers markets, regional food, regional recipes and specialities, as well as local food restaurants. We’re also working with The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST), CPRE and the British Food Trust to encourage producers to use high animal welfare and environmental methods and to support British producers.

You can search on their site by postcode.

Wasted Votes

Over the next few weeks the Redbridge Recycling figures will be getting a major boost as will every other local authority the length and breadth of this land and indeed all over Europe. You see, there are lots of political anoraks who will be plodding the streets and stuffing leaflets through your letterboxes, and yes I am one of the guilty parties. Yes, there is an election coming up on June 4th - the Euros – don’t switch off now this is important – make sure you are registered to vote even if you are not going to. Why you ask? I’ll tell you – there is no such thing as a wasted vote or failure to vote. Those political anoraks will be analysing the figures in detail and if there is any chance of getting more votes by repositioning themselves that’s what they are gonna do. Your vote or abstention is important, and an abstention cannot be counted if you are not registered. The deadline for registering is Tuesday 19 May.

To the Euros.

These are conducted on a list system using the D’Hondt formula. It is the list that is elected and the party allocates its seats by numerical order. There are no by-elections. If a member cannot or does not wish to continue, their exit means that the next candidate on that party list takes over. The D’Hondt formula is a form of proportional representation so the minor parties get a look in especially when turnout is low, which it normally is.

So just as in the Premier League where all eyes are on the Newcastle – Middlesbrough game on Monday night the interesting bit of these elections are how the minor parties fare against each other. That said there may well be a plague on all your houses as a result of the Telegraph’s exposé of MPs expenses, not that any of the minor parties have any MPs of course given it's First Past the Post.

Up in the North West there is a coalition of Green/Respect who are trying to stop the BNP Leader winning a seat. Down here in London there is also the potential for a BNP seat given that we have an Assembly member at the GLA.

But as Dizzy points out our European neighbours have been electing such people to the EU parliament for years, so why should we be any different? It’s like growing up and becoming a full member of the club, not.

Until the BNP can convince me they have abandoned their racist origins they will remain off my Christmas card list. The outbusts from Barnbrook at the GLA give testament and while Redbridge’s Cllr Leppert has for the most part been quite tame his slip has shown on more than one occasion.

I do though have to say that my own instincts about the European Union do fall by the wayside when I look at some of the work our MEPs do. They are not all goody two shoes of course, but some of them are at least trying to make the EU more democratic and accountable to us the electorate.

Here is a useful website where you can see how they voted on key issues.

As Hughie Green said: Vote Vote Vote.

The Age of Stupid

Transition Films is showing 'The Age of Stupid' at the Asian Centre on Friday, 22nd May. Communities around the country will be holding screenings of this important film at the same time to raise awareness about the effects of climate change.

Come and join us to watch this powerful film, in which Pete Postlethwaite stars as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055 and asking `Why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance?'

Screening details
Friday, 22nd May
The Asian Centre, Orford Road, Walthamstow Village, E17 9LN
Doors open at 7pm; film starts at 7.30pm; 9.15pm -10pm opportunity for informal discussion
Tickets £4, available on the door
More information: www.transitionwf.org



I am tempted to ask "Judith" out for a date at the Movies!

Bacon Sarnies

I do like me toasted bacon sarnies. Especially when the other half is not here and I’ve got free rein in the kitchen. No George Formby grill for me, its fat in a frying pan time and real butter on the toast. So it is with some consternation that I have been following this Swine Flu thingy in the news.

The thing is that when we humans live in condensed conditions without adequate sanitation the potential for disease increases. The story of John Snow and the Soho water pump springs to mind. So why should it be any different for farm animals? They are made of flesh and blood just the same as you and me.

Mark sums it up quite well.

It is increasingly looking as if it is the factory farming of pigs in Mexico that has caused the current Swine Flu pandemic that is sweeping the world. This follows Bird Flu that originated in the factory farms of South East Asia. It is often thought these countries have small scale farms but there are also massive factory farms there as multi-national companies attempt to supply the cheapest meat possible. But the meat comes at a price as the treating of animals, pigs in this case, as resources for profit rather than the living creatures they are is not only extremely cruel to the animals but is producing diseases that endanger us all. Animals in factory farms are ideal breeding grounds for viruses as they are kept in over crowded conditions, enclosed indoors with weakened immune systems and an unnatural diet. The healthiest option for us all is to avoid meat altogether but if we are to eat meat, it should not come from factory farms, not just for the animals sake but ours too.

The loss of old skills like animal husbandry is just one more example of how we have lost touch with the very Nature that sustains us.

Pig Business

The Timms Report

Last Friday, Stephen Timms, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, gave a talk on "The Budget and the Economic Recovery" over at the Redbridge Sports centre.

To cut a long story short it can be summed up as follows: We are trying to get back to the position we were in before, the very position that led us to the current troubles, i.e. business as usual. What nobody is addressing, as far as I can see, is that our economic system itself needs a major re-think. It has served us well [or not, depending on your point of view] through the Industrial Revolution but it is no longer fit for purpose in a post industrial age. What we need is a system that delivers prosperity without growth, as it is currently defined.

The whole notion of GDP [Gross Domestic Product] growth is a misnomer because it includes a whole bunch of Cost of Failure. The system itself encourages failure because failure produces more economic activity, and its not just failure – it encourages planned obsolescence, and the making of items that cannot be repaired - a throw away and buy a new one society.

This is OK when it is driven by innovation and technological progress. How many of us still have a typewriter up in the loft? But most of it isn’t.

We need to ask what is an Economy for? At its basic level it is a means to distribute the wealth of a nation amongst its inhabitants. It may or may not do it equitably of fairly but that’s what it does. It enables individuals to provide goods and services that others need and in turn allows those individuals to service their own needs. It allows people to participate in society.

We need to focus more on whether our economy is healthy and doing its job, rather than on some fatuous notion that all growth is good. Like cholesterol we need to strip it down and identify good growth and bad growth and we need to accommodate fallow years.

The Peasants are Revolting
Revaluing the Wasteland
Making the Good Things Last

Disclaimer: I am not an economist so all that may well be a load of tosh. But I look forward to some interesting comments.

Redbridge Green Fair

Sunday 24th May 2009
11:00am – 7:00pm
Melbourne Field in Valentines Park, Ilford, Essex IG1 4SD
(how to get there)
More details: www.rgf.org.uk
One very special day, once every two years!
ADMISSION FREE

The Redbridge Green Fair is a community festival organised by local volunteers. It’s called “green” because it is all about planet Earth – the environment and the people. Find out practical ways to change your lifestyle and to reduce your carbon footprint. Learn how to make a wildlife garden or balcony, grow your own vegetables, mend a puncture, repair and revamp your clothes and still be fashionable, shop ethically and loads more.

Capturing Redbridge photo collection.
Give or Take area

Shuttle buses will operate regularly from 11.30am – 7.00pm from Ilford and Gants Hill Stations (every 10 minutes). Please note that there is no parking at the green fair except for cyclists and people with blue disabled badges.

Click on graphic to enlarge.

The Bridge

From Chris Kapnisis

The Bridge Official Opening Weekend 16-17 May 2009

We are very pleased to invite you to our grand opening of The Bridge Centre at 29 Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5EE on Saturday 16th May 2009 from 11.00am – 2.00pm. This will be a great opportunity to meet new people and find out what the Bridge is all about. It will include free BBQ and entertainment including activities for children and young people.

We are expecting the 16th to be an exciting open community event that will be attended by local dignitaries, funders and will receive press coverage.

The Bridge is a community group working with local people and volunteers to provide positive community activities for all ages. It is a part of the Bridge Church, a local church and registered charity of more than 25 years experience in neighbouring Woodford, committed to making a difference in its communities.

We really hope that you will be able to join us and look forward to meeting you there. You are also very welcome to join us for the opening of the Bridge Café Church which opens on Sunday 17th.

Click on graphics to enlarge.

Breakdown Services

Well, we are honoured here in Barkingside. For the second time in a couple of months a government minister is to pay us a visit. Do you get the feeling that there is a general election due?

This time it is Stephen Timms, MP for East ‘Am and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. He will be speaking on "The Budget and the Economic Recovery". I’m not sure what he has to say on the latter part of the subject as it hasn’t happened yet. Perhaps he means the plan for the “Economic Recovery”. That should be interesting.

Anyway the meeting is open to all and “particularly Barkingside 21 members” and is to be held in the Redbridge Leisure Centre, Forest Road, Barkingside IG6 3HD on Friday 8th May, 7.30pm-9.30pm.

For those unfamiliar with the location it is almost next door to Fairlop Tube Station and a short walk from the New Fairlop Oak where an unbiased post meeting analysis will take place on how to recover a clapped out old banger and convert it into a modern energy efficient model.

Rugby Greens

After the earlier post entitled The Heron I had a walk round the corner to the Wanstead Rugby Club to have a closer look and discovered that there are in fact 4 Herons, one perched on each of the four posts of the main pitch.

Il Presidente of the Club informs me that they were bought last year as a job lot by the club secretary at a garden centre in Wales. One of the members decided that they were needed for the final promotion clinching game of the season, so up they went. Method of erection shown below, taken from the club’s picture gallery.

On to matters Green:

They, as we, are all very pleased with the new car park, fence and surrounds, although it will take some time for the trees to mature. One of the mini players mums is a horticulturalist and has planted some more trees and they are looking at planting a wild flower meadow.

Martin also reports that he took up the offer, published here, of trialling an energy meter from Redbridge council. Very easy to use he says, interesting results and has made him more conscious of which appliances use the most energy! He also used it at the Club which suggested that their cellar upgrade 18 months ago wasn't good from an energy perspective. It’s those “Ice Cold in Alex” Lagers. Stick to Greene King IPA, mate.

He is also yet another victim of the teething troubles of the new green waste collection scheme. There does seem to be a high demand for this service and I’m sure they will get it right given the incentives – it gives a major boost to the borough’s recycling percentage and there is a market for the end product. All that is required is somewhere quiet for nature to do its job.

At a Stroke

The new kid on the blog was at the official opening of the new Polyclinic down in Loxford ward last Wednesday. Whilst there he took the opportunity to ask about the potential for a stroke trauma centre at King George Hospital or the Polyclinic and was informed residents can affect the decision by contacting IPSOS MORI who are undertaking a survey for this as well as other Health matters.

Below is their preferred option, [click on the graphic to enlarge] the other two aren’t all that different, taken from the consultation document here. The closing date for comments is 8th May 2009, sorry for the short notice. More details on the Health Care for London Website.
If you miss the opportunity to comment you can always write to your MP. Back on 17th April the Ilford Recorder reported that all 3 MPs representing the north and west of the borough have vowed to fight for a third site in this region.

Vertical Allotments

Far be it for me to give the prospective cabinet member responsible for allotments any ideas but this caught my imagination.

Click

Hat-tip - Tajinder

A Collar Felt

As reported back in December 2008, we had a conman claiming to be a Fireman and going round our area selling raffle tickets in aid of a daughter suffering from leukaemia. Needless to say it was all a load of hooey.

Said Chummy [that’s a 1940s Police term, at least in Black and White Movies] pictured left, was arrested, twice, appeared before Redbridge Magistrates and was bailed pending sentence, for which he failed to turn up. He was then arrested again while committing another offence, but this time remanded in custody until last Wednesday, 29th April, when he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for the original offences and a further 2 months, consecutive, for failing to surrender to bail.

In addition the Judge granted a post sentence Anti-social Behaviour Order (ASBO) that he ordered was to run for a period of ten years. The ASBO restricts Jones from:

1) Calling at any address in England and Wales at which he is not personally known to the occupants without prior appointment with them unless in the course of legitimate paid employment by a third party.

2) Approaching anyone anywhere in England and Wales and offering for sale any raffle tickets, or similar fund raising tickets or cards, or seeking any donation for any charitable organisation or good causes.

3) Being in possession of any raffle tickets, or similar fund raising tickets or cards anywhere in England and Wales.

4) Wearing clothing with any Police, Fire or Ambulance Service badge, lettering, crest, or insignia, or claiming to represent the Police, Fire or Ambulance Service anywhere in England and Wales.

5) Making any false claim to any person in England and Wales that he or any friend or family member is suffering from a serious or terminal illness.

Sgt Chandler commented: “Kelly Paul Jones is a serial offender. He preys on the goodwill of decent people making false claims that his daughter has a terminal illness and then uses the proceeds for his own selfish ends. This conviction sends a clear message that this is not acceptable in a decent society and the imposition of the ASBO will help police curtail his activities after release.

I would like to thank the victims who came forward to give us statements and particularly the members Heathcote and Cheriton Neighbourhood watch who’s help and support is a model example of police and community working together to successfully prosecute people like Jones.”

Garden Waste Teething Troubles

The first thing to report is that the new Garden Waste collection service IS working. They have already collected 509 tonnes at kerbside from this April's scheduled collection scheme as opposed to 31 tonnes at kerbside from the phone-in collection scheme last April. They have just been overwhelmed by the take up of the service and are running late. They will be working this Saturday and on Bank Holiday Monday trying to catch up. So please bear with them while they sort themselves out.

I also noticed on Thursday that some bags were collected and others not in the road where I live. This is because the operating system is not quite the same as normal household waste and recycling collection which visit every house and walk the street. These chaps only stop if they see bags for collection so the bags should be on Full View to a passing lorry cab. There are two other pairs of eyes in the cab apart from the driver before anyone asks. Then there is the added problem if someone parks a car or a van outside your house and obscures the view while they are passing by. Tut!

Please be patient. All new systems have bugs. This is an excellent initiative and should be supported.