SHACKLEWELL STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN OPEN DAY
Below are photos taken at the Open Day that took place 3rd and 4th May.
Thank you to all of those who put in the hard work to make this happen.





All photos by Ruth.

TURN OVER THE PAGE



On Sunday March 30 the North Brick Lane Residents Association linked up Rhoda St Green, Brick Lane, with three other green sites, Friends of Arnold Circus (the bandstand) the Wonder Garden (Rochelle School, CSV, BBC) and St Hilda’s Garden (St Hilda’s East Community Centre).




A book trail took people round the corners of Shoreditch with writers, activities and surprises. They listened to writers and contributors Michael Palin, Deborah Moggach, Manju Malhi, Coral Rumble, Dan Cruickshank, Toby Huges, Linda Wilkinson & many others talking about the book they love!



There were games, puzzles, book swapping, tea and cakes and a Tea Dance organised by Johnny Vercoutre of 'It's Always Time for Tea'. Plus put together especially for the event 'The Rhoda Street Recipe Book' - how to cope with food ration. See also link to 'Turn Over the Page'.


Photos by Chris Love

What is the Block?
A series of buildings 4 to 25 storeys high on the site of Hannaford and Marshall stationery warehouse on the Bethnal Green Road. 360 residential units and 3,400 sqm of commercial floorspace. Architects Stock Woolstencroft. Developers Telford Homes and Genesis Partners (developers of the Mildmay Tower that was stopped last year) trading as Bishopsgate Apartments LLP.

This development would alter the character of the whole area at the north end of Brick Lane. It would block light from neighbouring properties and leave a stretch of the Bethnal Green Road in permanent shadow. The provision of public open space is low and of poor quality. This building is not needed for the regeneration of the area, as claimed by the developers. The scheme provides little for the local community.

It is premature until there is a publicly-approved masterplan for the whole area.

Who Is Save Shoreditch?
A growing group of people who live or work in the area, tenants' and residents' associations, small businesses and anyone with an interest or history in this neighbourhood. We say there should be immediate public involvement in the planning of the Shoreditch and Brick Lane area and that any development should respect the local environment and the real needs of the community.
Above images and text taken from Save Shoreditch website

North Brick Lane Residents Association is supporting the 'Save Shoreditch' campaign. For more information on how to get involved, the latest news and press coverage, how to download a poster and view the video, click on the link 'Save Shoreditch'.

BONFIRE NIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN
Sunday 4th November from 5PM

Things to bring;
- Food and drink for BBQ (If you are a vegetarian please bring your own BBQ to cook food on since we can not guarantee that the main BBQ will be meat free)
- Fireworks/sparklers

We are also holding a pumpkin competition, so bring along your pumpkins from Halloween (we will also use them to light up the garden) and then during the evening they will be judged on originality and creatively. We have a small eco friendly prize to give away too.

A CUP OF TEA AND A GOOD FILM - 28th OCTOBER
FREE OPEN AIR FILM SCREENING

Click on image to enlarge

SUMMER GARDEN PLAY GROUP

The Summer Garden
12th - 21st August
Outdoor play
Making masks, flags, scarecrows ... and a sand pit for children
Baby area
Ping-pong for parents



Thank you Megan for running this great baby/children play group.

BBQ July 22nd 2007







Thank you all for making this a great evening.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SENDING LETTERS AND SIGN THE PETITION. WE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED TO STOP THE CHANGE OF USE TO A LOUNGE BAR.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.


STOP BARS BEING OPENED IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

Are you concerned about bars creeping up Brick Lane? Do you want to keep the area we live in, a residential area? Then read further.

A full planning application has been submitted to the Tower Hamlets Planning Service for a change of use to a LOUNGE BAR. The proposed bar would be located on the corner of Brick Lane and Padbury Court and includes opening hours until midnight and music to be played.
To view the application go to Tower Hamlets website online planning register - application number PA/07/00948.

The residents association has drafted a letter in opposition to this proposal (see below) and is currently collecting signatures to go with this letter to be submitted to the planning department. The residents association is against the introduction of any night time entertainment or venues to the North Brick Lane residential area.

What you can do if you want to object?
- To sign the petition contact 0777 573 3236
- Post your objections online. Go to the Tower Hamlets website online planning register - application number PA/07/00948, scroll to the bottom of the site and click on 'make a general comment'
- Send your objection letter to Allie Moore, Tower Hamlets Planning, Mulberry Place (AH), PO Box 55739, 5 Clove Crescent, London E14 1BY

Please note that the deadline for objections is MAY 01 - so if you do want to object it is really important that your respond before this date.


LETTER NBLRA
12 April 2007

Re: Planning application PA/07/00948
240 Brick Lane, London, E2 7EB
Change of use from Sun Tan parlour
(Sui generis) to a Cocktail Lounge (Class A4)

Dear Allie Moore,
As the North Brick Lane Residents Association we would like to lodge our objection to the proposed change of use of business premises at 240 Brick Lane. Our primary reason for objection to the proposal is because the immediate and surrounding area is predominately residential, with no local precedent for night time entertainment. In addition to the inappropriate situation in a residential quarter we have strong concerns about the following;-

1. The potential anti-social behaviour associated with such businesses and the fact that the local police do not have enough resources to manage such an extension of the Brick Lane pub/bar culture.
2. The bar is so small, with the arrival of the non-smoking law, people will (whatever the applicant promises) be drinking and smoking outside in the street all hours and all year round. We also foresee a strong likelihood of drinking /smoking overspill on the Rhoda Street Green space opposite during the summer months.
3. People coming and going into the early hours, in these quiet residential streets.
4. Unnecessary and invasive noise - boisterous drinkers and loud music generated by the bar. (The applicant promises soft music but who will police this?)
5. Delivery vehicles, creating extra noise and traffic in a road that has double-yellow lines on both sides of the narrow lane.
6. Waste collection in this area is poor and irregular. We only foresee an increase in waste and in particular smelly food and drinks waste. Noisy bottle/glass collection.

Above all we are concerned that the change of use category would make it make it much easier for 240 Brick Lane to quickly become a full blown restaurant or other such establishment - setting a new and unwelcome precedent for this isolated group of shop fronts. The change of use offers no distinction between the (proposed) cocktail bar or any other kind of pub or bar. We are also concerned that plans for the basement floor are included in the change of use application. If no clarification on the basements usage is made it would mean that what is currently proposed as a small bar for 30 people, would easily and quickly become a much bigger bar in the basement of the building.

Furthermore this business is not in keeping with the others that currently exist in this part of Brick Lane, these are predominately craft based shops and offices. We feel that the bars and restaurants should be kept to the designated tourism-leisure area of Brick Lane (south of Bethnal Green Road) which is a less residential area. In the recent Tower Hamlets local development framework( 2006) this area of Weavers (Northern Brick Lane), is designated as predominately residential, and the development framework covers the area for the next 10-15 years.

We would also like to draw your attention to the fact that the proposed pub/bar will be adjacent to residential homes for elderly and retired people.

Please find attached a petition signed by residents in the area around the proposed bar, expressing their wishes to have the change of use turned down.

To sum up, we urge you please not to allow such a change of use in a historically quiet and predominantly residential area. It will not be a welcome addition or improvement to the area. Thank you for your time and careful consideration of this matter.

Sincerely


Chair, North Brick Lane Residents Association

Pictures from the first NORTH BRICK LANE BONFIRE PARTY that took place in the community garden on Sunday 5th Nov.
Thank you all for your help.

SHACKLEWELL STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN

Following the recent agreement from the council, we have made a lively start to setting up a community garden at the former One O'clock Club in Shacklewell Street (E2). Work began last Saturday (13/5/06), with a clearing-up day that resulted in over 60 bags of garden and other rubbish being collected.

Big thank you to all who helped clearing up the community garden.

In addition to the tidying up, passers-by were asked to comment on what they would like so see happening in the garden space.

We believe that this area will really benefit from having this community garden. Whether you are young or old the chance to grow flowers, vegetables or fruit can be really exciting. This could be a really important resource in an area that is very densely populated and where very few people have gardens of their own.

To find out more about the community garden or to join the North Brick Lane Residents' Association call 0777 573 3236.

Read more about the proposal below.