Hello again, another fortnight has passed and welcome to our latest bumper edition of the TASK newsletter updating you on what is happening in our neighbourhood. We hope you enjoy reading it and politely ask that once you have finished with it, rather than bin it, you might pass it on to a neighbour, friend or family member so we can keep spreading the word.
TASK open meeting
Friday March 7th saw almost 30 TASK supporters come together for ourfirst ever open meeting at St. John's Church. This was intended to helpus to get to know each other, to share our specific concerns and hear about some of our early campaign successes from Chris, Ali and Doug. Supporters came from all over the area, and were as diverse as our neighbourhood. We are especially pleased that we had a wide age spread, from our youngest supporter at 13 years old through to an 84 year old resident who has lived here all of his long life! Let us also note that we managed to attract more of a presence than the Council's area committee five, held on the same week, which had barely half the numbers whilst covering a much wider geographical area.
Issues people raised at the meeting as of concern to them included the curse of too many takeaway outlets, a new library, cleansing, speeding, policing, drug abuse, anti-social conduct, the threat to the Meads Lane post office, the opportunities for the lorry park, untidy front gardens, parking restrictions, a lack of road signs, congestion arising from the controversial closure of Downshall Avenue, the need for festive lights, the lack of youth and community facilities, the rundown state of the station and the state of our local parks.
We are delighted to say that many of the areas identified are already the subject of TASK activity, although we have always said our two key priorities are ensuring the lorry park is properly developed with an outstanding build that allows for community use; and securing a new Library. As we grow bigger and stronger, we hope to set up specific work groups on all of the various topics, allowing supporters to get most involved with those issues that matter to them most. Watch this space!
Thanks to everyone who came out in the dark, and especially to those who offered to do some leafleting, and the Reverend Jonathan Evens, for kindly hosting us at St. John's Church. We are planning to hold another open meeting in April, focusing on the lorry park itself, when we hope to be joined by Steve Eccles from Swan Housing, the new land owners. Dates and times will follow in our next TASK newsletter.
Meads Lane Post Office
We were joined at the meeting by David Shah, our outstanding local postmaster, who spoke passionately about how much his service means to so many. He advised that a whopping 1,600 local people had already signed his petition and also urged supporters to write in to the Post Office consultation exercise to further explain the need to keep this business going. The contact addresses to use are as follows: online at http://www.postoffice.co.uk/ - click on public consultations under the network change programme or by email at consultation@postoffice.co.uk or by snail mail at Anita Turner, Network Development manager, c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM or by phone at 08457 22 33 44.
Some TASK supporters have also suggested we do something more direct, like a pavement protest outside the Post Office or a march to the nearest alternative provision, to highlight the distance and difficulty for many older/disabled users, and we will be taking these options up with David, but will be led by his preference on best approaches to campaigning.
Seven Kings station
TASK met with railway operator National Express - formerly 'one' - on Friday 7th March to monitor their action plan for the deeply rundown station buildings. We have already secured a special security presence at the railway station from 1400 until 0200 daily until September 2007, a service which will now be better signposted to ensure all commuters know where to find the guards if they are not immediately visible. Work will also begin over the next few weeks on installing new windows over the upper walkway, whilst the spring/early summer will see derelict WCs pulled down and flower beds planted for the first time in a generation. By July, we are promised a station we can be truly proud of. Bring it on!
Streetscape
Our latest walkabout on February 29 involved TASK supporters, residents, councillors and officials, and saw a marked improvement in general conditions along the High Road. That said, we witnessed major dumping on the alley behind the old Joker pub, some truly squalid dumping behind shops and lots of clean up notices served for dumping outside mainly multi-let properties on Aldborough Road South. This last activity highlighted a number of letting agencies who are apparently most neglectful, and TASK will be looking to convene a meeting with these agencies to encourage better practice, from advising landlords of the likelihood of stern action if properties are neglected through to the proper delivery of maintenance contracts for which charges are made. The message to them is clear. You may think running rentals in Seven Kings is a soft touch. It may have been once, but the times are now a changing. Smarten up.
The next street scene walkabout is scheduled for April 25. We welcome volunteers to walk the route and suggestions for particularly needy locations. Please contact Ali at ahai@deloitte.co.uk with both names and ideas.
Getting a new Library
Redbridge Council Head of Libraries Martin Timms made a short presentation on options for a new local Library at the area 5 committee. The talk acknowledged that we are now the only area in the borough without a static library, and began the talk of options, which include a new build, conversion of an existing property or use of an existing public building like the Downshall Centre. We have just received new information using freedom of information legislation highlighting user numbers at Downshall and will be following up on this to see what is possible. More next time. Meanwhile, keep signing the petition as it will help us show the huge public demand and will strengthen our case.
The Joker withdraws
The new owners of the Joker pub have withdrawn their application for a license in its entirety, having initially scaled down their planned opening hours. This will please residents concerned at possible anti-social behaviour issues arising out of its re/opening, large numbers of whom signed a petition against giving it a new lease of life.
Traders for TASK
Doug has done great work talking to traders, many of whom have made valuable donations to TASK. This has allowed us to run off much needed leaflets, post out newsletters for those without email, cater our meeting and help fund our campaign work. Huge thanks to A.I.N.T, Creeds, FOBA Communications, Eye Gee, TAQWA Carpets, Somex Pharmacy, Cliff Owen Music, O'Grady's Bar and Kitchen, Asha Jewellers, UK salon group, Sheek Dry cleaners and Nickel Press. Money continues to come in and we will credit new donors in future editions.
Useful local contact numbers
At the open meeting, a number of people expressed confusion about where to turn to resolve some of the everyday problems we all face, and we promised to list out some key contact numbers. Thanks to Ali for compiling this helpful listing of Council and police services:
- Cleansing Services - 02087085515
- Cleansing Services Enforcement - 02087085255
- Fly tipping 24hr hotline - 0208 708 5512 / 0208 554 5000
- Street Scene Hotline - 02087085050
- Graffiti hotline - 02087083582 / 02087085050
- Highways - 02087085845
- Planning - 02087082057/2058/2059/2016
- Seven Kings Safer Neighbourhood team - 02083452925
That's all for now folks. We are back w/b March 24 with more news and local stories. Keep spreading the news, and if people want to know more, please refer them to our helpful website at http://www.task7.co.uk/, which has full contact details.
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Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler).
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