Why Beth is an inspiration and Jenson isn't

Why Beth Tweddle is an inspiration for young people in Hackney and Jenson Button isn't

Two British World Champion in a week. Both considered possibilities for the coveted Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Beth Tweddle is a truly World Class gymnast who has performed at the top level for many years now. She is an inspiration to thousands of young gymnasts around the country and kick started a new era in the sport in Britain that has seen the emergence of Olympic medallist Lewis Smith, World All Round silver medallist Daniel Keatings and a clutch of youngsters who could make Britain a real force in the event in 2012.

So Beth has been competing at the top level since 2001 and last year earned around £30,000. She is unlikely to earn much in endorsements so when she retires she will pursue her ambition of becoming a physiotherapist. So she'll continue to earn modest wages and pay her taxes that pay for schools and hospitals.

Jenson Button on the other hand, like Lewis Hamilton, is a tax exile. He earns millions a year and pays no tax in the UK. Happy to drape a union jack around his shoulders after a race. Happy to talk about being proud to be British. Totally unwilling to pay his fair share towards vital public services. What sort of signal does it send to children when we heap praise upon people like this without even mentioning that they decide to live somehwere else just to avoid paying their dues?

Oh and gymnastics is also a real sport.

Flying Scud Demolished

In a previous post, I mentioned the new Hackney Road Conservation Area document and the fascinating background it gave on buildings in the area. As visitors to the blog have pointed out, shortly before the Conservation Area came into force, the owners undertook what planners call a "pre-emptive demolition" and what anyone else would call cultural vandalism.

As good an argument as any for the need to develop conservation areas if we want to protect the historic fabric of Shoreditch.

I am here

Public art projects, especially those funded by public bodies, are often a bit lame and feel like they are just there as decoration. The 'I am here' project on the Haggerston West & Kinglsand Estates is very different.

When consulted about estate improvements, residents made it clear they wanted the buildings to look more attractive while they wait for the new homes. The new social landlord L&Q has now removed ugly orange boards over the windows of empty flats as they felt they contributed to making the area look derelict.

As a response to this, artists living on the estate have come up with an innovative art project called ‘I am here’. It aims to create a more positive image for the area and interest in the regeneration project as well as masking the empty properties. Sixty-seven high resolution portraits of local residents have been installed to give Samuel House in Haggerston a complete facelift.

A ceremony on 13 October brought residents to gether to celebrate the start of demolition on some of the Kingsland Estate blocks and work on building new homes will start in the new year. The Chief Executive of L&Q and the Deputy Mayor of Hackney rightly praised tenants for their key role in keeping this project moving whilst others stalled. Their involvement will also ensure that the homes that are now being built will meet the needs of Haggerston people for years to come.

Going to see a man about a dog

The document outlining the reasons for making Hackney Road a conservation area is well worth a read as it contains some fascinating information about the history of various buildings as well as the origins of the phrase 'Going to see a man about a dog'....

Apparently it is first recorded in a melodrama from the early 1900s about a racehorse called The Flying Scud. See below.














The Flying Scud at No. 137 Hackney Road is a mid-Victorian public house with rooms above. It is highly visible, sitting on a corner site, and is a good example of a handsome, single-bar pub, typical of mid 19th-Century East end pubs. It dates from c.1860’s, and stands a very tall three storeys, making the most of this narrow site. The ground floor has a period shopfront with brick piers, a double-height timber fascia with traces of its original pub signs still surviving.

The frontage was overlaid with white tiling, probably c.1910 when the ‘beer house’ was re-modelled for Messrs. Truman, Hanbury and Buxton. The upper floors are faced in London stock brick and still retain their original 4-over-4 timber sash windows, which are set into fine, red-brick, rubbedsurrounds with ‘gauged’ arches over.

The original Flying Scud was a sailing-ship of the 1850’s. It was also the name of a successful race horse of the 1870s. In 1901, there was a major West End hit called “The Flying Scud,” a racing drama, featuring a live horse on stage. [The play coined the phrase ‘going to see a man about a dog’.]

Formerly run by Truman’s, this pub closed in 1994.

Conservation Area for Hackney Road?

Hackney Council is proposing to create a Conservation Area in Hackney Road. The proposed area runs from Waterson Street in the south, takes in the area around Haggerston Park, and then runs along Goldsmith’s Row, up to Whiston Road on the northern boundary.

Full details can be found here:

http://www.hackney.gov.uk/hackney-road.htm


What does Conservation Area staus mean?

• Conservation Area Consent is required in order to demolish a building in a conservation area. Hackney Council will seek to keep all buildings that make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of a conservation area.
• Six weeks notice must be given in writing before any work is carried out to lop, top or fell a tree in a conservation area.
• New development proposals must “preserve or enhance” the character or appearance of a conservation Area. Hackney has greater control over building work in conservation areas, including materials and detailed design.
• Planning permission may be required for alterations or extensions that would not normally need permission, such as minor roof alterations, dormer windows or a satellite dish. (Advice should be sought at an early stage.)
• Hackney also has greater control over the erection of advertisements and signs. For instance, Hackney has the power to control shop signs, posters or estate agents boards that would not normally need permission

Licensing Applications received w/e 20/3/09

Troy Café Bistro

124 Kingsland Road

London E2 8DP

Application for a premises licence to allow supply of alcohol from 07:00 to 23:30 daily.

Application for a premises licence to allow the supply of alcohol from 07:00 until 23:30 Mon to Weds, from 07:00 until 00:30 Thurs, from 07:00 to 01:30 Fri and Sat and 07:00 to 22:30 Sun and recorded music from 07:00 until 00:00 Mon to Weds, from 07:00 until 01:00 Thurs, from 07:00 to 02:00 Fri and Sat and 07:00 to 23:00 Sun.

Mr Pisiren

Closing date fro representaitons: 14/04/2009

132 Curtain Road (formerly the Gourmet Oriental Restaurant)

London EC2A 3AR

Application for to vary existing premises licence to allow supply of alcohol from 11:30 to 02:00 daily and late night refreshment from 23:00 to 02:00 daily.

Magneto in Shoreditch

Sir Ian McKellen paid a visit to Shoreditch today to examine the remains of the 16th Century theatre where historians believe Romeo and Juliet was first performed. The Tower Theatre Company who have taken over the site in New Inn Broadway intend to build a modern theatre space on the site whilst preserving the remains of the old theatre in a way that will allow people to view them.



By sheer chance the building is one of the few in this part of London where no basement was ever built so archaeologists form the Museum of London have been able to excavate sections of the theatre wall. Sadly in the neighbouring buildings basementing works hundreds of years ago will have destroyed any historic remains.
















Tower Theatre company is now preparing a planning application for the new theatre space and setting about raisng the money needed to finish the project, hopefully by 2012.

Licensing applications received w/e 6 March

Open Kitchen Restaurant and Bar
40 Hoxton Street
London N1 6LR

Hackney Community College

Application to vary existing premises licence to allow hours for the supply of alcohol from 08:00 to 23:30 Mon to Weds and allow use of outdoor patio area.

Closing date for representations: 01/04/2009

The Breakfast Club (formerly Cru)
2-4 Rufus Street
London N1 6PE

Catsteps LLP

Application to vary the premises licence to allow supply of alcohol and recorded music from 08:00 to 00:00 Mon to Weds and 08:00 to 01:00 Thurs to Sun, live music from 11:00 to 17:00 Sat and Sun and facilities for dancing during non-standard times.

Closing date for representations: 02/04/2009

Hoxton's
311 Old Street
London EC1V 9LA

Mr Manzi

Application for a premises licence to allow the provision of late night refreshment from 23:00 to 05:00 daily.

Closing date for representations: 02/04/2009

Labour's budget for Hackney

Last Wednesday, Labour’s budget for 2009/10 was agreed by the Council. For the fourth year in the row, the Labour administration on Hackney Council was able to freeze council tax. Four years of council tax freezes means that on average local residents will have saved £256. Council tax in Hackney is now lower than the London average. The Budget set out how we are planning to invest in a number of key services. Many other councils have been cutting frontline services, but in Hackney through our better use of resources, we are in a position to:

* Invest £0.5m in keeping Hackney clean – increasing street sweeping, graffiti and fly-poster removal, and weekend litter picking
* Invest £0.576m in recycling – particularly expanding it on estates
* Increase schools spending by 3.9% per pupil
* Expand the Youth Service
* Open one new library (Dalston) with 20,000 new books and refurbish and extend another (Clapton)
* Provide free swimming for all under 18s and over 60s at local pools
* Re-open the Stoke Newington Assembly Halls and offices
* Recruit more environmental health officers – particularly specialising in noise pollution and food standards
* Invest in local cycling scheme
* Launch a Climate Change Strategy for the Borough
* Allocate over a £1m more to adult social services.

All the budget documents are publicly available here.

The annual survey of resident satisfaction with council services also showed that there has been a 12% increase in the last year – and is now at 72%.

And now the Audit Commission announced that Hackney has achieved a 3* (out of a possible 4) rating for a second year in a row. Several priority areas for the council were singled out for praise – community safety, children and young people and adult social care.

The assessment reads:

What progress has the authority made in the last year?
Hackney Council is improving strongly. Hackney is delivering significant improvement in priority areas such as community safety, children and young people and adult social care. The pace of improvement is higher than the national average with three quarters of performance indicators improving in 2007/08. Overall resident satisfaction has improved with 60 percent of residents feeling their views are taken into account. This is supported by the Service First programme. Challenges remain in the planning service and tackling childhood obesity The Council works well with partners to deliver wider community outcomes such as health inequalities, addressing worklessness and tackling crime. Infant mortality and teenage pregnancy rates have decreased. Apprenticeships are used to deliver more local job opportunities. Crime overall has decreased. The Council provides improved value for money and financial standing is good. Leadership, planning and prioritisation are strong. Consultation is used well to shape services to meet the needs of diverse communities. The Council continues to improve performance management and is making good use of joint appointments to increase capacity. The Council is well placed to sustain and deliver future improvements."

Licensing applications received w/e 27 February

Bar Music Hall
134-136 Curtain Road
London EC2A 3AR

Belgabar UK Ltd

Application to vary existing premises licence to remove conditions 4, 5, 14, 17, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30 and 32, amend conditions 7 and 29 and replace conditions 6 and 22 with revised conditions.

CONDITIONS TO BE REMOVED

Condition 4:
Each individual who is to carry out a security activity at the premises must be licensed by the Security Industry Authority.

Condition 5:
Where regulated entertainment is carried out, the premises existing arragements, as set out in the Rules of Management for Places of Public Entertainment and relevant technical regulations will be maintained.

Condition 14:
Patrons exiting the premises will be directed to leave the area quietly and suitable notices to that effect will be displayed inside and outside the premises

Condition 17:
A taxi ordering point shall be positioned at a suitable location within the premises.

Condition 23:
There will be a policy of not admitting persons under the age of 23 after 20:00.

Condition 24:
The total number of persons accomodated at any one time shall not exceed 350, and provision should be made for 50 percent of the floor area for seating.

Condition 26:
The fire alarm change over switch shall be in the "FIRE ALARM LIGHTS AND BUZZERS" position during the whole time that the premises are in use under the licence.

Condition 27:
The fire alarm installation shall be under teh supervision of a competent person who shall arrange for regular maintenance and testing to be carried out. The results of the tests shall be recorded in a logbook which shall be readily available for inspection by officers of the Council or LFEPA.

Condition 28:
Any alterations or additions to the existing electrical installation (including those which may be found necessary as a result of any Electrical inspections) shall be carried out using a system of wiring approved by the Council (eg cables enclosed in a screwed metal conduit or metal trunking, or mineral insulated metal-sheathed cables. (NOTE FP.200 or similar cables would not be acceptable for this purpose).

Condition 30:
All windows and doors to the area(s) in which music is to be played shall be kept closed at all times.

Condition 32:
The applicant shall ensure that mechanical plant noise levels do not increase existing background levels (ie equipment noise levels should be -10dB (A) below existing LA90 background levels).

CONDITIONS TO BE AMENDED

Condition 7:
Substantial food and non-intoxicants shall be equally available in all parts of the premises at all times

Condition 29:
Signs shall be placed at all exits requesting that all patrons leave the area quietly.

CONDITIONS TO BE REPLACED WITH AMENDED CONDITIONS

Condition 6:
In the area cross hatched black on the deposited plan, intoxicating liquor shall only be sold or supplied to persons taking a table meal there as an ancillary to such a meal

Condition 22:
The courtyard area as marked on the plan will not be part of the licensed area and will not be used except by customers or staff

Closing date for representations: 24/03/2009

Shakespeare in Haggerston

When Shakespeare first came to London he worked at “The Theatre”, the capital’s earliest purpose built playhouse. It was constructed by James Burbage in 1576 and almost certainly saw the premiere of Romeo and Juliet. Until recently the exact location was unknown, but a local charity has commissioned archaeologists from the Museum of London to examine the site and they have now discovered traces of the building under a warehouse in Shoreditch.

The charity now aims to bring London theatre back to its roots by transforming the warehouse into a twenty-first century theatre within which the remains of the original will be preserved. Until then they will be covered in order to protect them.

They are not aiming to reproduce an Elizabethan theatre, but to create a 21^st century equivalent of the original; a no-frills, full-time, hardworking place of entertainment that will be a versatile and accessible resource for Hackney and provide valuable rehearsal, performance and exhibition space for the smaller scale arts in central London.

Watch this space for further developments.

Licesning applications 20 February

Nisa, 343 Old Street

Application for a premises licence to allow supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises from 06:00 to 00:00 Mon to Weds, 06:00 to 03:00 Thurs, 06:00 to 04:00 Fri and Sat and 06:00 to 01:00 Sun.

Closing date for representations: 19/3/09

Licencing Applications w/c 6 February

Cantaloupe
35-42 Charlotte Road
London EC2A 3PD


Application to review a premises licence on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance made by the Council's Pollution Team.

Deadline for representations 5th March

Hackney Community College on the Small Screen

This morning I met with Ian Ashman, Principal of Hackney Community College to talk about how the college can be an even better neighbour to Haggerston residents. The college is another jewel in Haggerston's crown. Over 10,000 learners go through its gates every year.

They have recently invested the best part of £1 million on state of the art training kitchens and a restaurant that will be run by students and open to the public.

These new facilities and the motor vehicle workshop can be seen on the government's new advert for apprenticeships fronted by Hackney old boy Sir Alan Sugar.




Jonathan McShane

Haggerston West & Kinglsand

Then Housing Minister Yvette Cooper meets Barry and Jonathan to discuss funding for the redevelopment

Residents on two estates in Hackney joined L&Q on Monday September 22 after voting overwhelmingly in favour of transferring their homes to the housing association from the council.

Some residents of the Haggerston West and Kingsland estates have been campaigning for the complete regeneration of their estates since the late 1980s.

L&Q has been working towards this transfer of homes since 2003 and now the transfer documents have been signed they can press ahead with their plans to demolish the existing 480 flats, over two phases, and build 761 new quality homes.

These will include homes for affordable rent, shared ownership and some for outright sale. There will also be plenty of community facilities and green space on the redeveloped estates and all of the current residents will be able to return to the area if they wish

L&Q have worked closely with the residents on these proposals over the last five years and as a result 71.5 per cent of secure tenants turned out to vote last October and nearly 82 per cent of these said they wanted to transfer their homes from Hackney Council to L&Q.

L&Q will now be working with local residents, LB Hackney and Taylor Wimpey to deliver this huge regeneration project.

Lorna Meade, chairwoman of the Haggerston West and Kingsland Estates Development Committee, said: "The overwhelming 'yes' vote is a great result and is testament to the years of hard work put in by tenants, residents, London & Quadrant Housing Trust, the Council, and Independent Tenants and Leaseholders Adviser, to make the development's proposals work.

"I'm pleased that there are now firm plans for a brighter future for everyone who lives on the estates."

New Licence Applications

Central Food and Wine
149-150 Shoreditch High StreetLondon E1 6HU



See map



Application to vary existing premises licence to allow supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises until 04:00 daily.



Deadline for comments 17/6/08



Shish Restaurant
313-319 Old StreetLondon EC1V 9LE



See map



Application to vary existing premises licence to extend hours for supply of alcohol to 00:00 Sun to Weds and to 03:00 Thurs to Sat, allow regulated entertainment comprising of recorded music and any entertainment of a similar description from 10:00 to 03:00 Thurs to Sat and allow late night refreshment from 23:00 to 00:00 Sun to Weds and 23:00 to 03:00 Thurs to Sat.



Deadline for comments 4/7/08

For guidance on making representations about this or any application click here or contact us.

New Licence Application

On the Rocks
25 Kingsland Road
London E2 8AA

For map click here

Application to vary the premises licence to allow supply of alcohol and regulated entertainment comprising of live/recorded music, performances of dance, facilities for making music/dancing until 06:00 Fri and Sat and until 02:00 on Sun and allow late night refreshment from 23:00 to 02:30 on Thurs and Sun and from 23:30 to 05:00 Fri and Sat.

Deadline for comments: 27/06/2008

For guidance on making representations about this or any application click here or contact us.

Recent Licence Applications

Jades Pool, Health and Spa Club
141-143 Shoreditch High StreetLondon E1 6JE

Application for a premises licence to allow supply of alcohol and regulated entertainment comprising of films, and any entertainment of a similar description to live/recorded music or performances of dance from 12:00 to 02:00 daily and provision of late night refreshment from 23:00 to 02:00 daily.

Mr Qi

Deadline for representations: 28/12/07

Casita
5a Ravey StreetLondon EC2A 4QW

Application to review premises licence on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance.

Jean Reeve (Pollution Team)

Deadline for representations: 28/12/07

104-108 Curtain RoadLondon EC2A 3AH

Application to vary existing premises licence to allow alterations to layout.

Calabrese House Ltd

Deadline for representations: 28/12/07

Three Blind Mice (formerly Smersh)
5 Ravey StreetLondon EC2A 4QW

Application to vary premises licence to extend hours for supply of alcohol until 00:00 Mon to Thu and until 02:00 Fri and Sat and until 23:00 on Sun, and allow live/recorded music from 11:00 to 00:00 Mon to Thu, from 11:00 to 02:00 Fri and Sat and from 11:00 to 23:00 on Sun.

Smersh Ltd

Deadline for representations: 03/01/2008

Licencing applications w/e 9 November 2007

Power League
115 Worship StreetLondon EC2A 2BA

Power League Fives City Ltd

Application for a premises licence to allow the supply of alcohol, live/recorded music, performances of dance, facilities for dancing/making music and any entertainment of a similar description from 09:00 to 23:30 Mon to Thurs, 09:00 to 01:00 Friday and Saturday and from 10:00 23:30 on Sun.

Closing date for representations: 06/12/2007

Getting Tough on Flyposters

Flyposting across Shoreditch has been a problem for years - mainly a result of the activities of promoters vandalising our streets so they can get free advertising for their clubs.

The good news is the hard work of council staff, the police and wardens is starting to pay off. Recently it was agreed the following steps would be taken:

• Anti graffiti and fly posting signs erected on the main walls on Kingsland Road and Old Street underneath the bridge .


• Effective monitoring of the area provided through consistent patrols by the community wardens and coordinated monitoring of the area through the central CCTV networks


• Deep cleaning of the walls by the Cleaning Team at Hackney Waste Management

The results so far are really impressive:

Old Street before:

Old Street now: