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.

COMMUNITY GARDEN PROPOSAL FOR SHACKLEWELL STREET
We have proposed to the Council that the neighbourhood’s residents manage the One O’Clock Club house and immediate surrounding garden area (Shacklewell Street) for the sole use of creating a community garden. We (local volunteers) will maintain the community garden and incorporate all necessary health and safety regulations as required by the council.

Why a garden? Who is it for?
1. The area has been neglected for the last 2 years and consequently suffers from litter build-up, graffiti, urinating, trespass and general neglect. As the gate was previously left unlocked it is of some concern that arson is a likely prospect. We believe the street and general area would greatly benefit from a community garden. It will help to make the area safer, cleaner and healthier.
2. The garden will aim to bring local people together of all ages, including the elderly, the young and parents with small children. In addition the community garden could hold educational workshops, children’s programmes and community-building events.
3. A garden is of particular importance in a very densely populated area with a majority of dwellings with no outside space of their own and which lacks well-maintained public green and open spaces.

Tower Hamlets is in the process of producing new planing documents, known as a Local Development Framework, which are set to shape the Borough's future. The LDF will provide policy direction on a range of issues important for the borough. They're undertaking a 12-week consultation period from 30th September until 23rd December to get the communities view on their new planning documents.

Anyone who wants to comment on any of the policies will need to submit his/her representation by 4pm 23rd December 2005 for formal considerations. Officers will need to respond to each representation received. The LAP 1 and 2 first consultation event has taken place and addressed the three main issues (set by the LBTH): housing, employment and open spaces.

Did you know that:

1. Bishopsgate Goodsyard Development; mixture of office, retail units and housing. Planning to build 1,917 dwellings (x 3 people average per dwelling = almost 6,000 people)

2. LDF Plan has 0.5 hec per 1,000 people which is below UK average of 2 hec per 1,000

3. There are NO new green and open spaces marked in our area (Rhoda Street Green was not marked as green space)

4. The following city fringe areas are marked as preferred site for housing developments:
- Old Nichols Street 212 dwellings
- Rochelle Centre 77 dwellings
- Bishopgsgate East 679 dwellings
- Bishopsgate Goods Yard 1917 dwellings
- Mildmay hospital 240 dwellings*

* Mildmay hospital development - Demolition of existing buildings (excluding community centre) and a redevelopment to provide a campus of six buildings comprising a part five, part six storey building along Hackney Road to provide:
- a new church and retail space (class A1 to A5) with residential units above
- a five storey building to provide offices with residential units above
- a six storey building along Austin Street to provide a Primary Care Centre and residential units
- three storey town houses along Austin Street with adjoining commercial/retail premises (Class B1/A1 to A5)
- a 23 storey residential building incorporating social services facilities and a four storey hospital facility and detox unit
- parking, servicing and cycle bay provision, landscaping and highways works

The actual document is a large document that you need to purchase from the council. Alternatively you can look into it at the Idea stores and libraries. Or you can download it from the website. See the link at the top of the page.

You may have heard of community gardens where people turning vacant rubble-strewn lots into vibrant community gardens. And where underserved neighborhoods are strengthened through community gardening. With community help, people grow food, plant flowers, educate youth, paint colorful murals and preserve their gardens as vital community centers for future generations.

Do you have green fingers? Would you like to get involved? Let us know. Do you not have the time to attend meetings or get actively involved? You can still help us by letting us know your ideas and suggestions. Simply scroll down until you see 'comments' and double click to leave your suggestions.
Read more about the New York community gardens by clicking on the link 'New York Community Gardens' (top right hand site of the blogging site).

Your say, help and support changes the area you live in. Some of the recent successes are the improved playgrounds on Shacklewell street and Tomlinson Close.

SHACKLEWELL STREET PLAYGROUND - before and after





TOMLINSON CLOSE PLAYGROUND - before and after