Hackney Council secures funding, Pic: Rob Purdie (Flickr)
Hackney Council has secured a £5.3million fund to improve Hackney Central Town centre area, which is expected to create over 200 jobs.
The council has plans to develop a fashion retail village around Hackney’s popular Burberry Outlet Store in Chatham Place, which offers brand classics at reduced prices.
The expansion will produce employment for local residents and help place Hackney on the retail map.
Jules Pipe, the Mayor of Hackney, said: “Hackney Central has so much to offer in terms of culture, vibrancy and opportunity. This investment has the potential to create a unique attraction that can give the borough a significant economic boost, so I am pleased that our bid has been successful.”
Hackney MP Diane Abbott, previously declared that the borough requires a dramatic renovation change in the high street areas and town centre developments.
“It is absolutely appalling that so many town centre shops in Hackney are now empty. The Tory-led Government has completely failed to take action to support our high streets at a time when their economic policies are making the situation worse. Healthy and diverse high streets are the cornerstone of local communities, and people in Hackney must have their say,” she said.
Abbott was particularly in favour of reducing the number of betting shops in the poorest areas of the borough where there are high levels of poverty and unemployment.
Abbott added: “Hackney has around 90 bookies. Even the Old Town Hall has been turned into a betting shop. I do not have any moral objection to betting. Rather my concern is that these shops put little back into the community and can take advantage of areas with high levels of unemployment and poverty. They can also cause increased levels of crime including begging, drug crimes and burglaries.”
Londoners are seeing their pubs, banks and independent shops close and bookies opening up in their place without the need for any planning permission. At a time when people in Hackney are hard pressed, people most need independent financial advice, yet they find virtual roulette wheels instead of a bank manager.”
The new renovation wants to guarantee suitable replacements for fashion retail elements, restaurants and cafés, as well as establishing strong links with the wider town centre.
The revamp plan will also permit the council to set a team of architects and retail specialists to work with local businesses in the Mare Street, Narrow Way and Clarence Road areas, to construct design guidelines and business plans.
Sami Ahmed, Business Manager of Welfare to Work Centre said: “I think it is a fantastic idea of regenerating the borough of Hackney to a modern state. I hope that such a project will concern people from the most deprived areas of the borough who will now have more opportunities to reach employment status and have brighter future.”
What is Diane Abbott talking about?! She claims that bookies “take advantage of areas with high levels of unemployment and poverty. They can also cause increased levels of crime including begging, drug crimes and burglaries.” If so why does she say she does “not have any moral objection” to them?
If gambling is bad then lobby government to change the law on it. But since it is a legal activity who is Abbott to deny Hackney citizens the choice to socialise and have a flutter at a bookie? There is obviously quite a strong demand for them. This makes no sense other than as a play for the votes of middle-class snobs who want anything that is associated with the poor to be driven out of Hackney.
Does Diane realise that the “Tory-led” London Government is
paying for this. This is Boris’ grant, not Hackney’s.
If Diane thinks Hackney’s High Street only plunged into disrepair since May 2010 then i would suggest she hasn’t been paying attention. What worries me a little about the grant is that Jules Pipe will be spending it (the same man who thinks Hackney is crap and brought us such “unique attractions” as the Ocean, Clissold Pool and Dalston Square) but have today had assurances that the London Mayor’s office will be going over his plans in detail to ensure that it isn’t misused.
Dianne Abbott sees the potential for attracting the corporate mainplayers into the area.. starbucks, pret a manger… however… hackney residents do not want these in the hood.. ( my personal opinion) but local small businesses for local people. It would be great to have a local coffeehouse/restaurant in the old town hall. Prime location for local and / or snobs. That’s Hackney for you.. we can all live alongside one another. The poor won’t be driven out… lots of council housing… but the ‘rich’ will move in… It’s about balance..yin and yang (Ting & Tong)