Independents' Day

On 4th July across the country, the public will be encouraged to buy at least one item from their local, independent shop to keep the high street alive.

Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail have teamed up with independent retail and trade associations around the country to encourage the public to celebrate diversity on the high street and support their local, independent retailer - on 4th July.

I found out about this by chance when I spoke to one of my ‘informants’ at the Town Hall last Friday. But since the council support for Business Partnerships has been withdrawn it has been a bit difficult to find any more local information. Nothing on Redbridge-i that I could find and whilst the “council backs local business” on the front page of the latest edition of Redbridge Life, no mention in there either.

Thank heavens for the internet and Google.

That wraps up the current series on transport, walking and the High Street. The next post will be on something completely different – possibly….

The Shopping Experience

Over the past few weeks and months the natives of Redbridge have been restless because of the new car parking regime proposed by the Council. First we had the extended hours and increased charges around Barkingside High Street. Then the introduction of pay and display in Wanstead High Street and various other small shopping parades as well as complaints about Green Lane.

But sometimes we have to challenge accepted conventional wisdom and the paradigm of business as usual. Sometimes we have to think outside the box to find out what is really going on. The proposition I am about to work you through is that it is not supermarkets that have ruined our High Streets – it is the car. And that we can revive our High Streets by removing the cars from them.

The big question is, if the shops are local why do we need to go by car. The argument that you need a car to get heavy shopping home is countered rather graphically by the use of a personal shopping trolley, the sort of thing you use in a supermarket to get the shopping to your boot. The booze run foot passengers on the cross-channel ferries seem to manage quite well.

Most, if not all, supermarkets and Trading Estates offer free parking except when they are located in Town Centres like Ilford or Romford. There was, I am told, a furore when Bluewater started charging for parking and people started parking for free at Lakeside and getting the bus. And do you think there will be free parking at Westfield Stratford when it opens? I think not. The point is that we pay for parking in places like Ilford and Romford, they have shopping Malls and in Romford a street market.

Now consider. When we go to one of these places we don’t park directly outside the shop we want to visit or in the relevant supermarket isle when we just want a newspaper. So, why do we expect to do it in the High Street? We park some distance away and there is a WALK to where we want to go. And it’s not the amount of walking either. Some of these places are huge. Have you considered just how far you walk when you visit a supermarket or shopping mall? They are actually ‘health centres’ that encourage exercise.

Now think about the High Street as it used to be. In the era when cars were a luxury and owned only by a few. The High Streets I remember as a boy were bustling with people on foot and there were very few cars around.

So what is it exactly that makes these places a pleasant place to shop? What is the common denominator? Could it be that the environment where the shopping actually takes place is free of cars? Where you can zig-zag between shops [or isles] without crossing a road, don’t have to worry about the kids running off or getting squashed by a 4X4 trying to park in a space the size of a mini. And no fumes.

Where would you rather be? In a typical pedestrianised area as pictured above, or on Ilford Lane, Green Lane, Barkingside High Street or Wanstead High Street?

There is plenty of academic reaserarch to back this up (but unfortunately it is behind a pay wall) and it’s been around for years. But the same old barriers are preventing our High Streets from the kind of action that is really needed. And ironically it comes from the very people who have most to gain.

Here are some factets:

• Whenever there is a proposal to pedestrianise a High Street the traders go ape-sh1t. But after it is introduced they love it.
• People who arrive at the High Street on foot or by public transport spend more.
• A car free environment increases footfall by between 20% and 40%.

Further reading:
Bicycle infrastructure is good for business
Pedestrian Zone
Making the case for investment in the walking environment
economic benefits of pedestrianising a street
Economic growth in a historic city-the transport challenge (2005) - Paywall
Regulating Cars and Buses in Cities - the case of Pedetrianisation in Oxford - Paywall
The effect of urban quality improvements on economic activity (2006) - Paywall

No Lift and Dead Trees

And here’s Mr Grumpy of Aldborough Hatch writing to the Managing Director of Transport for London. You may recall the saga of the Lift to enable disabled access to Newbury Park Tube Station that was not to be. This is the follow up.

Dear Mr Parry,

Your ref: 577982 – Newbury Park Station

You may recall that we corresponded in December 2009 and January 2010 (your letters 21st December 2009 and 3rd February 2010) regarding the indefinite deferral of plans to install lifts at Newbury Park station on the Central Line to enable disabled access.

Having spent £6.4M on the initial work at Newbury Park over the period from April to October 2009 (part of an overall spend of £64M on similar projects over the network), Tfl then invested even more money in putting things back as they were.

A grass area was planted near the booking hall with a patio. In the early summer of 2010, some twenty or so young saplings were planted in the grassed area and a number of pots and troughs on the patio were filled with flowering bedding plants. Doors leading from the booking hall to the grass and patio were closed, so that members of the public could only stand and stare in wonderment, amazement and disbelief.

You may wish to make some enquiries as to who made the decision to plant trees at that time of the year for within a matter of weeks they were all dead. The trees remain there to this day – some with a few withered leaves, and all waving in the wind. Today there are no flowering bedding plants in the pots and troughs on the patio, indeed the pots and troughs have disappeared, whilst the grass is unkempt and often litter strewn.

Had your staff taken the advice of a gardener, they would have learned that saplings need to be planted at specific times of the year. Furthermore, grass is hardly suitable in an area such as this – far better to have planted a few shrubs and covered the area with forest bark to mulch down. As for the patio pots and troughs, did your staff believe that those employed at the station would tend the plants, de-heading and watering? Having made a complete dog's breakfast of the attempt to install lifts, your staff have now compounded the problem, leaving residents and commuters with dead saplings wafting in the breeze. You could have the decency to remove the saplings to give them a decent recycled burial. And where, dare I ask, have the pots and troughs gone? Were they flogged off or did they just disappear one dark night?

To save you and your staff having to leave your desks in your well-appointed and sumptuous offices to see the dead trees and bare patio, I will enclose photographs taken today. I assume that the highly paid member of staff who decided to plant the trees and those whose decision wasted £64M of taxpayers' money were disciplined and summarily dismissed for incompetence? Your confirmation of this would be reassuring.

One further matter. When work started in the spring of 2009, your contractors boarded off part of the bus station and moved the bus stop some 15 or so yards (I do not do metres) north. It now stands a few feet inside the bus station so that those who bother to queue for a bus receive the full blast of any northerly winds and rain. The enclosed photograph makes the situation plain. You will see four dark circles in the paving – the bus stop originally occupied the dark circle nearest to the camera. Perhaps the bus stop could be moved back so that some measure of protection from the weather is offered to those who wait for three buses to turn up at the same time.

I look forward to hearing from you further.

Yours sincerely,

Ron Jeffries
Chairman, Aldborough Hatch Defence Association

The Road to the Cemetery

That would be Forest Road Barkingside. The one that starts at Fullwell Cross roundabout, passes King Solomon High School, Redbridge Sports Centre and Fairlop Tube Station. Goes on past a Nursery, Forest Farm shop, Fairlop Waters and assorted industrial units. Proceeds past Power League and various playing fields before reaching the skate park. On to Elmbridge Social Club, the Hainault Industrial Estate, the Redbridge Cycling Centre and finally on the left hand side the Forest Park Cemetery.

And still Transport for London refuse to provide a bus service along Forest Road. They were quite happy to provide single decker bendy buses elsewhere but not here. Here, below, is Margaret recounting her adventures trying to cross Romford Road at Hog Hill and then finding no pavement on one side of Forest Road. For those who don’t know Margaret she is a fiercely independent 80 something.

Dear Editor,

On a recent Friday, I went to the Forest Road crematorium for a funeral. I decided to go by 247 bus from Tanner’s Lane and expected that although there is no bus along Forest Road, I would be able to reach the site easily by walking from the stop at the top of Hog Hill that is opposite the turning to Forest Road. On the near side, I could see down the road to the Hainault country park bus stop. There was no official crossing, but I was able to step over to the grassed central reservation. I had to walk on cautiously to avoid tripping for about 50 yards along the lumpy reservation before I could see over the brow of the hill to the traffic coming up from the Romford direction at considerable speed. Eventually, I managed to cross and then passed the bus stop on the opposite side. I walked to the corner of Forest Road. I needed to cross to the far side of Forest Road to reach the entrance of the cemetery. The corner is blind and quite busy as cars swing round. There is no foot path that I could follow until I reached a safer place to cross over, so I had to walk with great caution on the road. I eventually crossed with life in hand. On my return, it was too dangerous to cross back to the Hog Hill bus stop, so I walked down to the Fowler Road traffic lights where there is an official crossing. The red light seemed to stay on permanently and I wonder whether it is working properly, but at last I reached the bus stop close to the Fowler Road junction.

From the point of view of safety, I needed to leave the bus near the traffic lights at the Fowler Road junction where there is a pedestrian crossing. This would mean that I would have to toil up Hog Hill, something that I would find very challenging now and annoying in view of the fact that I expected an important site such as the cemetery to be better served. Of course, we need a bus along Forest Road. Fortunately for me, my own funeral will not be the result of death on Hog Hill. I am leaving instructions for the family to get my cremation over first and then return for a service and thank-you party at my church in Ashurst Drive that more people can reach, preferably by public transport rather than car.

Margaret Evans

Editor's Note: The reason that the red light seemed to stay on permanently is probably due to the London Mayor's initiative to inject a bit of excitement into the lives of the elderly and infirm by giving them less time to cross the road.

The Magic Roundabout

Roundabouts are designed to keep traffic moving, they are not designed for pedestrians, which is why we have underpasses like at Gants Hill. But Gants Hill has now been modernised to make it easier for pedestrians to get around at surface level. It’s a big improvement but what with the economic downturn it’s a bit early to tell if it has made any positive difference to trade in the shops there. The key feature, apart from the still awaited Egg Whisk, is the signalisation.

Now, the signalisation of Charlie Brown’s roundabout was delayed in favour of the Gants Hill project. But since then Transport for London have changed their rules on providing traffic lights and the Charlie Brown scheme has now been cancelled, see below and see if you can spot the Freudian spelling mistake. There is one underpass here, between Maybank Road and Mulberry Way, which is frequently flooded. If you want to cross Chigwell Road or Southend Road you have to be a bit lively on your feet I can tell you. There are no shops here but pedestrians still need to cross the road, particularly if they are using Roding Valley Way. Oh, and I seem to recall there were plans for an equestrian crossing on Southend Road for that same route to complement the one already provided in Chigwell Road by Snakes Lane East.

image © Duncan Watts and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Dear Mr Danzelman,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the Charlie Brown’s Roundabout scheme. We appreciate you taking the time to contact us on this matter. Please accept our sincere apologies for any delay in this response.
Although Transport for London (TfL) developed a proposal to signalise Charlie Brown’s Roundabout, unfortunately this did not result into a viable scheme.
Any schemes on the 580km of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) are subject to both funding availability and being prioritised above other proposals to improve the network. Since our response to you in 2009, the funding available to TfL for improvements on the TLRN has been reduced. In addition, as part of the Mayor’s aim to smooth traffic flow in London, more carful consideration is now given to any proposal to install new traffic signals. Therefore, TfL no longer proposes to implement the signalisation scheme at Charlie Brown’s Roundabout.
However, a new scheme to renew the carriageway surfacing at the roundabout is programmed for this financial year and this will include the provision of new give way and directional road markings.
For your information, a review of the most recent 36 months (1 February 2008 – 31 January 2011) collision data shows that there have been no personal injury accidents on the Chigwell Road approach to the junction involving right turning vehicles undertaking late lane change manoeuvres.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to raise this matter. I hope that the information provided has been helpful. Should you have any future queries, please do contact me.
For more information regarding TfL’s services, please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/contact.

Yours sincerely

Annemarie Roche
Customer Service Advisor - London Streets
Transport for London
Surface Transport Customer Services

The Right to Walk

Over the next few days I will be publishing a few posts on the subject of walking and public transport issues with contributions from at least 3 others. When I say walking I mean it as people who use the pavements, including those who use wheelchairs and also…… those like me who sometimes drive cars. Once you have parked your car there will be a walk, however short, to where you are going.

The thing is that most of our infrastructure these days is designed for private motorised transport and the name of the game is to keep the traffic moving. But people on foot, or in wheelchairs, are traffic too and they are forgotten and marginalized in the process. Forced into dingy and unpleasant subways, made to clamber over footbridges or diverted for miles just to cross the road.

However, as more and more motorists cut back on car journeys for financial reasons there are likely to be more pedestrians encountering these difficulties and perhaps a wider and more appreciative audience to such issues.

Before going on to blog about some real local examples, we shall start with an article from Living Streets.

Too many people are unable to get to local shops and services such as libraries, schools, shops selling fresh food, post offices, GPs, banks and community pubs on foot. New YouGov research commissioned by Living Streets (formerly the Pedestrians’ Association) reveals that more than a quarter (28%) of GB adults feel isolated, or have a friend or loved one who feels isolated, because of a lack of access to essential shops and services within walking distance.

Walking – and being able to walk for everyday journeys – is hugely important. Yet nearly half (47%) of those aged 55+ in Britain cannot walk to their nearest GP’s surgery, while 58% cannot walk to their nearest bank. This trend is leading to isolation, lack of physical exercise and neighbourhood decline.

Where former local services have changed use, this has often caused other problems. Living Streets research suggests that over half of UK adults have seen an increase in fast food outlets on their nearest high street since moving to the area. Nearly a third reported an increase in betting shops. Yet people are not happy with loopholes such as the fact that a bank can change to a betting shop without planning permission – 81% think that communities should have a say when the use of a building is changed. If the government wants to give communities the power to shape their neighbourhoods, these concerns must be addressed. Living Streets is calling on the Government to give councils and communities a voice when essential shops and services are under threat from unwanted changes of use, and for national planning policy to ensure that new housing is located within reasonable walking distance of essential shops and services. More.

Fairlop Fair

Friday 1 July, 3pm-8pm

Fairlop Waters Country Park, Main Entrance,

Forest Road, Barkingside IG6 3HN

Join in all the fun of an old time fair. In the 1700s this was London’s biggest event with over 200,000 people attending the ‘beanfeast’. Help re-establish the fair, bring a picnic and see all the improvements that have been made to your park. If you are coming home from work on the Central Line why not get off at Fairlop Station and pop in for a couple of hours?

• Jazz from Jeff L, Ten String Fever and indie/pop music from Ryan Green
• Children’s arts activities
• Country music meets Bollywood with Ivy York
• Morris Dancers – bring your dancing feet and join in the fun!
• Popular & Folk music from Redbridge Music Lounge
• Barbeque
• Storytelling
• Players & Upstreet Irregulars – bring an instrument and/or your singing voice and join in a live music karaoke!
• Old time games

Redbridge Top 10

Over on the Londonist they have come up with the Top 10 Things To Do In The Borough Of Redbridge each with a write up.

Here’s the six I can’t argue with.

2. Best place to learn to sail: Fairlop Waters, Forest Road, Hainault.
3. Best place to borrow a book: Fullwell Cross Library, High Street, Barkingside.
5. Best stately home and park: Valentines Mansion & Gardens, Ilford
6. Best place to cycle: Redbridge Cycling Centre, Forest Road, Hainault
7. Best place to get dramatic: Vital Stages at Redbridge Drama Centre, Churchfields, South Woodford
8. Best hidden history: Ilford Hospital Chapel, Ilford Hill and Barnardo’s Village, Barkingside

And here’s the four I am quibbling about.

1. Best Curry: Well, I don’t know much about Curry but I would think that the best place to eat Curry or any other cuisine would be Barkingside High Street……

4. Best Green Space: Well, Wanstead Flats is very nice but it is well, how can I put this, flat. This honour surely has to go Claybury Woods and Park.

9. Best nightspot for celeb spotting: No comment. I think this needs a brand new category! How about spotting this sort of stuff? I've learnt how to do slide shows, cool eh? See note at end.



10. Best pub: There are so many to choose from but for me it has to be the New Fairlop Oak.

Note: Redbridge Council are very good at dealing with fly-tipping but it has been on the increase. Typically 3,500 incidents per year has risen to 5,000 incidents for 2010/11. To put that in context Newham deals with 46,000 incidents per year.

English Defence League visit Redbridge

Yesterday, Saturday 18th June, the English Defence League marched from Redbridge to Dagenham. Flesh is Grass has done an excellent round up of events, including the 10 Police Vans that were waiting in Dagenham and the one PCSO on a bike representing Redbridge Police. Apparently two Asian youths were attacked with one getting a broken jaw, but we don’t know what triggered that event. We do know, however, that even Deputy Prime Ministers can be provoked into a “right hook” at times. So, we won’t pass judgement yet.

In Unity Progess - Is the motto on the Redbridge Coat of Arms - note the headgear on the left. It doesn’t usually work that way in the Council chamber but on some issues we are united. The campaign on King George Hospital and community relations are two glaring examples.
We are a pretty diverse bunch here in Redbridge, and unless someone can provide evidence to the contrary we all get along fine for the most part.

Sure a Mosque on Eastern Avenue was attacked recently but as far as I am aware it was not racially motivated. And we did have a BNP councillor for one term but the backlash feared by REFT and UAF did not materialise.

Here’s a photo of the march from Nick Lowles' blog.

Now, I’m not one for stereotypes but they do look like the sort who drink vast amounts of foreign lager and then go for an Indian Curry……..

Fairlop Flypast

Last Friday [10th] and Sunday [12th] were, not to put too fine a point on it, rather wet. So, the fine weather on Saturday [11th] was very welcome for the two local events here in Barkingside, Fun in The Park and the Fairlop Flypast. Not being able to be in two places at the same time I was over at Fairlop Waters with around 500 others, including various local councillors and MPs

It was the day of the Trooping the Colour and these flypasts always seem to pass over my house, but being built up you only see them when they are directly overhead. Being out on the plain was much better, because you can see for miles, and sure enough you could spot the planes in the distance emerging from over Hog Hill way. The happy group of spectators were thrilled, as you would expect, as that is what they were there for. I recognised the Lancaster Bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane immediately, having done the Airfix model thing when I was a young lad, and I had the benefit of John Coombes pointing out Typhoons and other aircraft, not that I needed it for the Red Arrows. If you can't see the slide show above the photographs are here, click!

Then we had the pièce de résistance. A single Spitfire AB910 (MkVb), piloted by Lt Parkinson from Coningsby just for us at Fairlop Waters; to mark the centenary of flying on Fairlop plain, 70 years since RAF Station Fairlop became operational and the 90th birthday of Harold Bennett, the first to fly operational from Fairlop in 1941. It passed overhead 3 times and “waggled” its wings [which I think means “hello”]. The sound of the engine was, in modern parlance, awesome innit.

B21 would like to thank all those who contributed to this event, including Dominic Black, secretary of the Fairlop Heritage Group, Alan Abel, Darren Green, Ruth Pinner and Gerard Greene from Redbridge Council plus Brian Ecott and John Barfoot for their exhibits as well as Redbridge Museum for the loan of their exhibition and Fairlop Golf club for Harold Bennet’s birthday cake. Not forgetting of course David Martin who organised the event “single handedly”.

There are those who object to such events on the grounds that it “glorifies war” and others who object on environmental grounds [waste of fuel] but there are also some who fail to appreciate that amongst the things that those people fought and died for is the right to free speech, even if they don't like it.

More from the Council Leader, the WW Guardian, and the Ilford Recorder.

We will leave it to another to point out the “elementary errors” in this and those reports. This below is the profile of a Lancaster Bomber, Spitfire on the right, Hurricane of the left.

© David Martin

Editor’s Note: Apologies for the delay in this post. Sometimes bloggers get “writers block” when they don’t have an “angle” into the subject matter, or are waiting for others to supply details, and sometimes we are just extremely busy with other things.

Redbridge Torch Relay

The June 2011 edition of Redbridge Life is, apparently, out. I’ve not had one through my letter box yet, but it may have been subject to the shredder I have installed in that location. So, if you have an aversion to physical exercise and specifically the “how much fast food can you consume in 15 minutes” 2012 Olympic event then look away now.

Click on graphic to enlarge

Yes, the Olympic Torch will be paraded through Redbridge and they want the community to be involved.

They want to award the people who have done something special [like keeping our parks and open spaces safe for the past 5 years?], overcome some adversity [like being chucked out of the Downshall Centre?], have a disability [like not being able to plan a piss-up in a brewery?] or are a carer to someone [like being a Personal Assistant to a VIP?].

There will be a full entourage of vehicles [of course, this is the greenest Olympics ever, can’t expect the VIPs to actually walk] and sponsors [apparently Coca Cola is very good for cleaning toilets – Money Saving Programme on TV] and the torch bearer will be covering about 200 of those metre thingies distance so they need many torch bearers.

And in the spirit of Redbridge Communications, if you wish to nominate someone you have just two weeks left as it closes on June 29th 2011.

Rhymes from the Nursery

St. Peter’s Church in Aldborough Hatch will offer visitors a veritable feast of colour during the weekend of 25th to 27th June when the theme for the 31st Flower Festival will be 'Rhymes from the Nursery'. Details.

Among the popular rhymes to be depicted in flowers will be 'Little Miss Muffet', 'Incy Wincy Spider', 'Jack and Jill' and 'Oranges and Lemons', whilst less well-known rhymes include 'Ladybird, Ladybird' and 'Elsie Marley's grown so fair'. One flower arranger remembers her Granddad reciting the rhyme 'Happy Neddy in a Field' - which few have even heard of - and she will use this to create her display. Some seventeen individual flower arrangements, both inside the church and in the grounds, will take up the theme 'Rhymes from the Nursery' – all created by members of the church and their friends.

The Revd Clare Nicholson, Vicar of St. Peter's, said: “Over the weekend we will welcome former members of St. Peter's who have moved away, members of the local community and visitors from further afield of all faiths and cultures as we celebrate our thirty-first Flower Festival here at St. Peter's. We invite everyone to come and immerse themselves in the peace and the beauty of our church and grounds.”

The diversity of the local community will be evident in the range of music, dance and displays on Saturday and Sunday, 25th and 26th June. Entertaining visitors will be Robert Pyatt, who will play Music for a Summer Afternoon, Indian Folk Dancers RAM and the Palmerstone Dancers. Choral recitals will be given by the Choirs of St. John's Seven King and St. Peter's and friends.

A Craft Market will be held in the church halls and grounds offering a range of goods for sale, including home-made cakes and preserves, and hand-made products, whilst ploughman's lunches and strawberries and cream teas will also be available.

On Saturday and Sunday the Church will be open from 10am to 7pm. The Craft Market will be open on Saturday from 10am to 6pm and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm. On Monday the Church will be open from 10am to 7pm.

The Mayor of Redbridge, Councillor Chris Cummins, and Lee Scott, MP for Ilford North, will visit the Flower Festival mid-morning on Saturday 25th June. [Look out for the Toyota Prius: Ed]

Ron Jeffries

Cleaner and Greener

I am now going to have a moan about Redbridge council and specifically the “communications” department. Today I was over at a packed Fairlop Waters for the Fairlop Heritage Group’s event. They were “borrowing” the official flypast which runs directly over the lake and had arranged for a single Spitifre to come just for us. It circled, buzzed us quite low and did a victory roll, and then it was gone. But this [pictured below] is what caught my eye.

Yes, it’s a Hybrid fuel Toyota Prius and it belongs to Redbridge Council. Who arrived in it I wondered and more specifically why didn’t I know they had one? You’d think that after all the bad publicity they got 4 years ago when they purchased two new gas guzzling Jaguars that this would be something they would want people, and bloggers like me, to know about. So, to my utter amazement I discover they bought it 2 years ago. The Leader and the Mayors did not feel comfortable riding around in a gas guzzler. Quite right too, so why not tell me? We like to give credit where it is due but we have to know about it first. So, to round off, as pictures of cars are not complete without a couple of glamourous women to set off their stylish design here’s the Deputy Mayor, Felicity Banks, and her Companion.

Oh, and here’s that Spitfire.


© David Martin



More on that later. 

Redbridge 10k

Almost a year ago to the day I posted on the Redbridge Skyride, prompting a flurry of indignant feathers from residents and local councillors alike who had not been consulted or even informed. So, it is with great pleasure that I post on this – Redbridge 10k

It is a 10 Kilometer run starting and finishing at Fairlop Waters and in between "on the roads of Barkingside" on Sunday 24th July. So, presumably this will mean road closures but we don’t as yet know which ones and for how long. We can, I think, assume that it will not be Forest Road. This is because this event coincides with and is part of a much bigger event at Fairlop Waters on that day and visiting VIPs, Olympic Officials, Hangers-on etc will be wanting to get their 4x4s into their reserved spaces in the car park and to partake of some Olympic sponsored Fast Food. I expect the "Barkingside roads" to be down the Hatch way.

Ho hum! Anyone know? Councillors?

UPDATE:

There will be no road closures for the Redbridge 10k or Inspiration 2011. The Redbridge 10k route will essentially be two laps of Fairlop Waters and will not go onto local roads at any time. The run will take place during Inspiration 2011, the Borough’s event to mark the London 2012 Open Weekend. The organisers of the Redbridge 10k have corrected the route information on their website. We are currently looking at the impact Inspiration 2011 will have on local traffic on Sunday 24 July and would encourage residents to use public transport where possible. More information on Inspiration 2011 will be available once details for the event are confirmed.

Julie Creffield, Olympic Development Manager

The Weather and Rain

It’s what we English talk about isn’t it? So let’s chat.

We have at last had a bit of rain here in the south-east. But despite the fact that more rain fell in 24hours than in the previous 3 months the UK still faces a prolonged drought. So says the Environment Agency.

The month of April was the warmest April on record in Britain. It was also the 11th driest month, with on average just half the usual rainfall. And in parts of south-east England, there was less than 10% of normal precipitation. The BBC.

Lack of rain already causing crop failures, Defra warns – The Telegraph.
Caroline Spelman said that water companies’drought preparations are being reviewed as several areas of the country are already “water stressed”.

And if you think it’s bad here, take a look at France.

What to do?

Well, just as we shouldn’t waste energy we shouldn’t waste water.

According to Waterwise the South East of England has less water available per person than Sudan and Syria.

Waterwise doesn’t want people to stop using water, we want people to stop wasting water. The key to water efficiency is reducing waste, not restricting use. About one third of the water each person uses on a daily basis is wasted – it runs straight down the plughole or down the toilet without being used. It is this wastage we want to cut down.

Waterwise is currently carrying out cost-benefit analysis on the advantages of demand side measure rather than supply side measures. It is Waterwise’s opinion that water efficiency and water meters when combined with improving leaks from water mains is more cost effective and better for the environment than building new reservoirs to increase the supply of water.

Click for Quick Tips on How you can be water wise - Simple actions can make big differences

Redbridge residents can get discounts on a range of compost bins and water butts.

Knowsy Parkers

Parking in Redbridge seems to be a Hot Topic lately so when I picked up this leaflet I thought you locals [or visitors] could do with some advice on the somewhat confusing arrangements in this borough…….

Click on graphic to enlarge or download PDF here.

How to Park Right here.

Solar, So Good

One of the things about travelling around the borough on the top deck of a bus is that you get to see things you wouldn’t normally notice while driving or walking, like this, pictured below. There are lots of them all around, you just have to look up.

Here’s some recent news clips on the subject:

Surge in solar panel installations on UK household roofs
• Government subsidies driving demand for panels
• Expert says fall in price removes need for feed-in tariff review
- The Guardian 28th April 2011

But then…..

To get a solar industry with critical mass, restricting meaningful incentives to families who put a solar panel on their roof just isn't going to cut it – The Independent 3rd May 2011

But wait….

Solar panels and other forms of small-scale energy generation may be eligible for a government-backed loan scheme to householders, according to the UK's minister of state for climate change. The potential inclusion of renewable energy in the coalition's flagship "green deal" comes as a surprise, as the development of the scheme has so far focused on energy efficiency measures such as lagging lofts. - The Guardian 2nd June 2011

And on Energy efficiency:

Up to 14 million families will be able to apply for up to £10,000 each to pay for energy-efficiency improvements on their properties, ministers will announce today. The money - which will be paid back in energy savings over 20 years - is almost double the previous figure of £6,500 outlined when the scheme was launched. – The Independent 10th May 2011.

Meanwhile across the channel: Huge solar PV farm opens in France; By the end of 2011, solar panels will cover 200 hectares and produce around 100MW. – The Guardian 26th May 2011

But there’s a snag!

Solar energy schemes could fry wildlife - action required to save bugs from light pollution - new report

Another developing problem is polarised light pollution. For the whole history of the Earth all flat shiny surfaces that reflected polarised light were ponds or rivers. Suddenly there are thousands of similar artificial surfaces such as plastic sheeting on agricultural fields, shiny tarmac, cars, and now proliferating solar panels. Expectant aquatic insects are attracted to these surfaces and, believing them to be watery habitats, deposit their precious eggs; sadly the eggs all dry and perish in the sun.

Fortunately Bug Life have some advice for planners on cheap mitigation measures.

Lunar Power for London

This post is dedicated to Knowsie, because we know Knowsie knows.

Two companies are to install Trial Tidal Turbines in the Thames. Thames Tidal Ltd are building a £20,000 jetty to enable installation and act as a viewing platform for anyone who wants to take a closer look. It will be located alongside HQS Wellington on the Victoria Embankment.

If the trial is successful, Thames Tidal hopes to install hundreds of tidal turbines, the largest capable of generating up to 500kw, along the river from Westminster to Margate. A spokesman said that this could happen in the next four to five years depending on planning constraints.

Hales Energy Ltd, like Thames Tidal Ltd has started research into the tidal energy potential of the River Thames, but further down at Greenwich and has applied to the Environment Agency to conduct short trials. Paul Hales said "One of the most important aspects of any tidal turbine operation on the Thames will be the prevention of harm to migratory salmoniods which after all the efforts by the City of London and others to clean the river, are now known to use the river again."

More.....

Midsummer Music 2011

Saturday 25 - Sunday 26 June 2011

The Redbridge Music Fest is based on the popular Fete de la Musique which was started in France in 1982 and has now spread throughout Europe and beyond. In the spirit of the Fete de la Musique, the Redbridge Music Fest is a celebration of live music and provides a platform that allows amateur and professional musicians, playing in a wide variety of styles to perform in the community, for local people for free.

The Music Fest is organised every summer for one weekend by two Green Fair Association volunteers – Stephen Collins and Chris Wyatt (who provides a high quality PA system and his technical expertise/sound production skills entirely free!). This year's event - the ninth - will be on Saturday 25 June in Ilford Town Centre in the pedestrian shopping centre, the foyers of Kenneth More Theatre and the Library, and on Sunday 26 June in Valentines Park by the cafe and children's playground.

This is our annual celebration of live music where all performers play for nothing other than a showcase opportunity and the joy of participating with other acts from a variety of musical genres, 'for free, for fun, for everyone'.

Already confirmed for this year's Music Fest are..... Black River Heavies, Blue Hearts, Brett Housego, Chapel End Savoy Players, Dread Fury, Fuze, Gabby Niman, The Green Brothers, Ivy York, J.A.G Empire, Jay Cee, The Jones Boys, Lizzie B, Mandolele, Mick Day, Mike 'Dr Blue' McKeon, New Giants, Playing Rapunzel, The Raven, Redbridge Music Lounge, The Revolt. Richard Szerman, Robin Grey, Tantrum, Ten String Fever [top left]

Images from the past…..
 

Redbridge LINk News

We want to hear your views about:

King George Hospital

and Maternity Services

Date: Wednesday, 15th June 2011

Time: 1pm - 3pm

Venue: 5th Floor, Forest House, 16-20 Clements Road, Ilford, IG1 1BA

Refreshments provided

Places must be booked in advance. Call 020 8553 1236 or email

Preamble.

The IRP (Independent Reconfiguration Panel), the independent expert on NHS service change, is undertaking a review to look at whether the proposed changes to local health services in north east London will enable the provision of safe, sustainable and accessible services for the local population.
Earlier this year the IRP carried out an initial assessment of the Health for North East London proposed changes to local health services. The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, accepted that a full review should be undertaken into the decision to close or reduce the services provided at King Georges Hospital. Dr Peter Barrett, Chair of the IRP, said: “Our focus throughout the review will be the patient and the quality of care. During the course of the review we will gather evidence locally and listen to all interested parties to ensure that the recommendations we make are in the best interests of local people.”
If you have not yet put forward your views, or feel you have something new to share, please come to our public meeting on 15 June. The meeting is about presenting new evidence to the IRP, such as that gathered at our recent maternity services meeting, about how these proposals will affect you as a resident of Redbridge.

The IRP is the independent expert on NHS service change. It advises the Secretary of State for Health on contested proposals for health service change in England. The IRP also offers informal support and guidance to the health service and other organisations on achieving successful change. The IRP is an advisory, nondepartmental public body and is independent of politicians and the NHS. The IRP undertakes reviews of contested proposals without any preconceived ideas and listens to people on all sides of the debate. The IRP works in an open and transparent way and all reports and recommendations are published on the IRP website. http://www.irpanel.org.uk/

RedbridgeLINk is changing - Getting ready for HealthWatch
Big changes are being planned for health and social care services both locally and nationally. As part of these changes, Redbridge LINk is set to become a HealthWatch in 2012.
To prepare for these changes, we will shortly be accepting applications to join our new Management Board to help us make the transition.

What is HealthWatch?
In 2012, HealthWatch England will be established as a new independent consumer champion for health and social care. Local Involvement Networks (LINks) will evolve into local HealthWatch bodies which will have the power to report local concerns to the national body for possible investigation. The Care Quality Commission (which independently regulates health and social care) is currently working with the Department of Health to design HealthWatch. The key differences between LINks and HealthWatch will be a shift from participation to influencing the outcome of health and social care services; moving from a local voice to national influence and new functions such as taking on responsibility for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service. http://www.redbridgelink.net/

If you have an interest in joining us then we’d love to hear from you. We have various areas of work you can volunteer for such as equality and diversity, campaigning, communications or community engagement. Training can also be offered to individuals. For an application form, please contact us on 020 8553 1236, or email.

Fish Fight goes to Brussels

Well, I couldn’t be there, so I asked our local MEP, who was there anyway [pictured above], to represent Barkingside 21 on the day.

Here’s the Press release from her office.

Green MEP supports EU Fish Fight campaign

Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, is backing a Europe-wide campaign which seeks to end the wasteful and unethical practice of throwing dead fish back into the sea.

Under current EU rules, fishing fleets are forbidden from landing more than their catch quota. Often, the only option is for the unwanted fish to be thrown back into the sea. The vast majority of these discarded fish will die. The EU estimates that around half of the fish caught by fisherman in the North Sea are unnecessarily thrown back into the ocean dead.

Having secured over 700,000 supporters in the UK, the Fish Fight campaign, led by celebrity chef and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, is now coming to Brussels to call upon the European Parliament to reform its fishing policy in order to ensure sustainable fishing for future generations and to end the shameful discarding of fish.

The Brussels campaign follows last week’s announcement from EU Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki that she will seek to clamp down on overfishing by preventing fisherman from taking advantage of poor data on dwindling stocks and ban the wasteful practice of discarding dead fish into the sea when quotas have been exceeded.

Speaking at the launch of the European campaign, Jean said: “The Commons Fisheries Policy (CFP) is in urgent need of ambitious reform. Overfishing is a real danger which demands real change such as better management of fish stocks and an end to the damaging practice of discarding fish. It is also an international issue, stretching beyond the waters of the EU.”

“Failure to take immediate action will jeopardise our seas for future generations and further threaten Europe’s wonderfully varied fisheries: we need to protect this biodiversity. An effective overhaul of the CFP will allow fish stocks to recover and help deliver a sustainable livelihood for fish communities for years to come.”

http://www.fishfight.net/

Counting Kestrels

Nationally kestrels have undergone an overall decline over the long term but population trends have seen fluctuations over this period, showing an increase in numbers some years – is this happening in London? We (London Wildlife Trust) need Londoners to get kestrel counting and tell us where they’ve seen these magnificent birds of prey in order to help establish the numbers and whereabouts of the city’s current population. More….

And to celebrate 30 years of the London Wildlife Trust here’s a video. There is a familiar local voice at about 9:30 in followed shortly afterwards by the face…….

London Wildlife Trust 30 years from adamrowley on Vimeo.