Picture: Patrick Hoesly

The impact the 2012 Olympic Games will have on local residents’ lives will be discussed at a meeting being held in Hackney tonight.

Residents will be able to hear how they can become involved in the Games and how the events will affect their lives.

Representatives from the Olympic Park Legacy Company, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, the Olympic Delivery Authority and Hackney Council will be on hand to answer questions.

Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “The 2012 Games are fast approaching and now is the time for residents to find out about new opportunities for them to become involved with volunteering, training courses, jobs, sports and more. I would encourage as many people as possible to drop in to our community meeting”

The meeting is being held at Hackney Wick Community Centre, 80 Eastway. It will take place from 4 to 8pm, with presentations starting at around 6.30pm. There will also be an exhibition of photographs from Changing Lives.

More information is available on www.hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 3975.

Photo:wirewiping

Members of East London’s Jewish community have called for their long standing cultural involvement in the area to be recognised as part of plans for a local heritage trail.

The cultural trail has already caused controversy with the proposals to install ‘hijab gates’ on Brick Lane – which have now been temporarily withdrawn.

Now there are plans for a Jewish heritage centre  to  be housed in the last synagogue in Spitalfields, located on Sandys Row, just off Petticoat Lane. It would celebrate Jewish history and culture with archives and memorabilia. (more…)

Photo: Artist impression of proposed Hijab Gates

After sparking 158 objections and not a single letter of support, residents of the Brick Lane area now have reason to celebrate. (more…)

Residents of Brick Lane, including artist Tracey Emin, have lodged strong objections to plans to erect a set of gates designed to look like a veil or hijab at either end of the famous thoroughfare.

Dubbed the ‘hijab gates’, they have been accused of creating racial divisions and tensions by being unrepresentative and misconceived in a multi-cultural and diverse area.

As well the current Bangledeshi population, the area has been home to Huguenots from France and Jewish refugees, as well as currently being an artistic and creative centre. Apart from Emin, other artists who live there  include Gilbert and George and Jake Chapman.

Emin, who lives just off Brick Lane, has claimed that Tower Hamlets council is risking serious racial tension if they force the ‘hijab gates’ without proper consultation.

Ms Emin  said in a letter to the council: “I sincerely object to these proposals … the proposed material has no relevance to the heritage of the area or its future.”

She continued: “I am shocked to learn that the scheme is budgeted at £2m and I strongly feel that rubbish collections, vermin control, education and improved policing are more important to resolve.”

Will Palin, secretary of Save Britain’s Heritage, as well as a local resident, has also strongly objected. In a letter to the council he said: “The headscarf motif is undoubtedly faith-specific to Islam and therefore does not represent the breadth and richness of the borough’s history.”

“Brick Lane is already extremely cluttered with signage as well as with commercial refuse containers. The quality of the roadway and pavements is very poor in places…until these basic problems are sorted out expensive new street furniture such as that proposed should not be installed,” he continued.

The Spitalfields Trust said the idea of the arches was “misconceived”.

The are designed to be part a £1.85m cultural trail  to celebrate the diversity of the area, itself part of an £8.5m renovation scheme.

The level of protest has forced the council to delay a decision and give more time for objections. The closing date for objections is now next Monday and a final decision will be taken by the council planning committee early next month.

The council stressed that headscarves were worn for a variety of purposes, by many different religions and ethnic groups and were not just designed to represent Islamic dress. The council said the concept behind the arch is “loosely based on the sculptural form of a headscarf, reflecting the many cultural backgrounds that have occupied and sought refuge in and around Brick Lane over the centuries.”

It pointed out that the area was a ‘melting pot’  and that orthodox Jewish women often wore scarves, while many young men and woman wore scarves or bandanas as ‘a fashion statement.’

A mural along a building in Honor Oak. Photo: Ewan Munro

The council is harnessing the festive spirit to launch a new interactive way to deal with rubbish and graffiti.

(more…)

Kissing in Croydon can earn you a free swim. Photo: Purley Swimming Pool

Purley Swimming Pool in Croydon has abandoned the age-old swimming pool rule of “No heavy petting” in favour of (more…)

Croydon has failed to meet 2010 pregnancy reduction target. Photo: Flickr

Teenage pregnancy rates remain high in Croydon despite a national drive, the council admitted.

The Government’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy was launched 11 years ago, and was designed to cut the under-18 conception rate by half. However, Croydon, among London’s worst areas for teenage pregnancies, has failed to meet the target.

(more…)

Catherine Pestano will perform at the LGBT reception. Photo: Community Music Services

A rainbow flag will fly above Croydon Town Hall on Saturday to mark the start of this year’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month.

(more…)

Hackney Museum is currently showing "100 Years and Counting; Helping People into work since 1910". Photo: Theocharia

On 1 February 1910 Sir Winston Churchill visited three newly opened ’Labour Exchanges’ – forerunner to the modern day Jobcentre – in Hackney, Stepney and Camberwell.

(more…)

Foster carer Marrion Collins says the role has changed over the years. Photo:Adriane scott-Kemp

A  drive encouraging people to consider fostering children as a job has been launched this week.

Run by the council and Care UK, a leading independent provider of health and social care services, ‘Lewisham Fostering Week’ aimed to boost the number of foster carers in the borough by 100 over the next four years.

(more…)