Lewisham near bottom of national recycling rates table
By Khalid Azizuddin
Pic: Joshua Thorpe
Lewisham was ranked in the bottom three of all local councils in England for recycling, coming in at number 348 out of 350 councils. The borough had a ‘household waste’ recycling rate of 18 per cent.
Newham London Borough Council had the lowest ‘household waste’ recycling rate in England in 2016/17 at 14 per cent. Conversely, East Riding of Yorkshire Council scored highest with a rate of 65 per cent.
In an earlier blog post, mayor Sir Steve Bullock complained that only recycling rates are taken into account even though the council was one of the first to send rubbish to an incinerator. This is considered a more sustainable solution as heat and power can be reclaimed through burning rubbish.
Imminent closure of Shoreditch police station due to funding cuts
By Sophia Ankel
Pic: Oxyman
The front counter at Shoreditch Police Station is shutting for good on Thursday leaving Hackney with just one front counter in Stoke Newington. Finding cuts of £400million to the Met’s budget will result in fewer neighbourhood contact points.
Five smaller local bases will also be “disposed of” in Haggerston Road and Orsman Road in Haggerston; Shacklewell Lane in Dalston; and the Urban Hive in Theydon Road, Upper Clapton; as well as the shared Hackney Service Centre. Shoreditch is one of 20 stations across London that receive one or even sometimes no crime reports each day at its front counter.
Appeal to identify man who died two years ago
By Sophia Ankel
Pic: Met Police
A fresh appeal by Scotland Yard has been issued to find the next of kin of a man who was found dead on Hackney Marshes. The man, who is described as south-east Asian in appearance was found on December 7 2015 has not been identified despite extensive investigation.
Police have now released an e-fit of the man, who was “clean shave with black, greying hair” and was aged between 40 to 45 years old, about 5ft 6 ins tall. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
Cycle pit stops set up by Hackney council to prepare for the winter
By Sophia Ankel
Pic: Hackney council
Cyclists can prepare for the harsh winter weather, as Hackney council is providing a free bike check and a free set of lights for their popular ‘cycle pit stops’.
Additionally, the council is also setting up “Hackney’s Try a Bike scheme” that offers residents the chance to try a bike for a month. With it, they receive lights, panniers, a helmet, lock and bike seat, all for just £10. After four weeks, the bike can be returned. The first pit stop occurs this week at the junction of Pitfield and Hoxton Street.
First-ever ice rink in Thornton Heath reaches donation target
By Aidila Razak
Pic: CR7 Market
Organisers of the CR7 Christmas Market have met their fundraising target of £2,100, a week ahead of the scheduled opening of Thornton Health’s first ever open ice rink. The ice rink, part of the market, will open from 10am to 4pm on December 16. It is located at the car park, opposite the Thornton Heath station on the High Street.
Tickets also be purchased at the rink for £5 each, for a 30-minute session including skate hire. The Christmas Market is part of a three-month trial of a new street market in Thornton Heath. Those interested to set up stalls for a small fee can also contact organisers at weekender@cr7market.co.uk.
Hanbury Street, an area in Tower Hamlets may be chosen as the site of “new affordable housing”.
By: Saman Javed
Hanbury Street. Pic: Tower Hamlets Council
Tower Hamlets Council plans to build 7 new homes on unused land on the estate. The homes will be a mixture of both three and five bedroom houses, with an outdoor play area.
Tower Hamlets Council said: “There is a real need for more affordable homes in the borough, and the site at Hanbury Street offers the very important opportunity to contribute 7 family houses towards the target of building 1,000 new council homes.”
