St Martin-in-the-Fields: Confirmation, Ascension, Chinese Art, Pentecost, Climate Change, Architecture

There are lots of significant events and services happening in the coming weeks either at St Martin-in-the-Fields or where we are playing a part. These include:

Confirmation
Wednesday 29 May, 6.30pm

We are delighted that the Bishop of London, Rt Revd and Rt Hon Sarah Mullally, will be with us to confirm members of our English-speaking and Chinese-speaking congregations.


BBC Radio 4 Ascension Day Eucharist
Thursday 30 May, 8pm, BBC Radio 4

We are delighted to welcome as our preacher the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford. The music includes the premiere of Bob Chilcott's Samba Mass, and is sung by the BBC Radio 4 Daily Service Singers and St Martin's Voices, directed by Bob Chilcott. The service will be led by Revd Dr Sam Wells. Congregational admission is by ticket available from the vergers after services or from the Box Office. Please arrive in plenty of time for the service (doors open 7.00pm) and be seated in church by 7.40pm or tune into BBC Radio 4 at 8pm.


Pots and thrones: ritual bronze vessels of the Shang and Zhou dynasties
Thursday 6 June 2019 6.30pm
St Martin’s Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JH

Talk (in English) followed by drinks reception. Yi Chen will speak on ‘Pots and thrones: ritual bronze vessels of the Shang and Zhou dynasties’. Free tickets here or phone Jonathan Evens on 020-7766-1127 and leave your name and phone number.

This is the fourth lecture in our occasional series of art talks focusing on aspects of Chinese Art. Yi Chen is Curator: Early Chinese Collections at the British Museum.

Thy Kingdom Come
Sunday 9 June, Trafalgar Square

After the very first Ascension Day the disciples gathered with Mary, constantly devoting themselves to prayer while they waited for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come.Through events including 24-7 prayer rooms, prayer days, prayer walks and half nights of prayer it is hoped that everyone who takes part will deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ, pray for God’s spirit to work in the lives of those they know and come to realise that every aspect of their life is the stuff of prayer. Thy Kingdom Come will culminate in a special Beacon Event in Trafalgar Square on Pentecost Sunday. This free, fun, family festival and Service is an event for Christians of all denominations. Be sure to register your interest now.

• 12noon to 3.30pm: At the top of the square there will be marquees in which different groups will be offering a rolling programme of prayer. In the main square there will be a gospel choir, an escapologist, a dance troop, steel band, Salvation Army band and other activities to join in with from jugglers, face painters, magicians and artists. Can I encourage you to come along to celebrate the gift of prayer in the joy of the Holy Spirit.
• 3.30pm to 4.00pm: The Kingdom Choir will take to the stage.
• 4.00pm to 6.00pm: The Pentecost Service will be hosted by Dan Walker and Lady T. Matt Redman is leading worship and there will be contributors including Pastor Agu, Archbishop Angaelos, Cardinal Nichols, Jonathan Bryan, Bishop Sarah Mullally and Archbishop Justin will be preaching.

Then, at St Martin’s, we will hold a service at 6.30pm with the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields reflecting on Pentecost through traditional choral, and gospel, music.


The Time Is Now
26th June, Westminster

In Westminster on 26th June, as part of TCC (The Climate Coalition), Christian Aid is organising The Time Is Now, a huge event where we can celebrate our faith in action, lobby our political representatives, pray together and energise one another for the challenges to come. It’s an opportunity to tell MPs that it’s time to act on climate change and to put a net zero greenhouse gases target by 2045 into law, now.

To take part you need to sign up at www.thetimeisnowfaithevents.eventbrite.com for workshops held at St Martin’s and a speaker event at Church House, plus sign up for the lobby at https://www.thetimeisnowmap.co.uk. There is a lobby guide available which includes FAQs. When you sign up your MP will be e-mailed directly inviting her/him to meet you on the day. The MP may give a specific time but expect to be waiting around as the lobby is between 1-4pm.


London Festival of Architecture panel and building tour
St Martin’s Hall on 26th June, 6.30- 8.00pm

Today the more transient nature of cities and how we are now occupying public space and buildings, is allowing places to be inhabited more fluidly, creatively and imaginatively – the boundary between spaces and places is being released. How are public places evolving and responding to the changing nature of how people are inhabiting them?

A talk and panel discussion in St Martin’s Hall on 26th June, 6.30- 8.00pm, around the important of releasing these boundaries through considered, creative and imaginative design will be presented with the following participants:

• Revd Jonathan Evens (SMITF)
• Christopher Burton and Robert Kennett (EPA)
• Kathryn Harris (PCC)
• Vicky Wagner (Publica)
• Ruchi Chakravarty (Westminster)
• Chair – Andrew Caspari

A building and walking tour after the panel discussion, will focus on St Martin-in-the Fields and could expand to include the Strand, Aldywch and St Mary le Strand (the two James Gibbs churches within one parish). Free tickets/booking: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/st-martin-in-the-fields-10-years-on-releasing-of-boundaries-tickets-62046989215?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. 

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Al Green - People Get Ready.

Yamikani's prayer

Yamikani Dakalira from Malawi is visiting in October to speak to churches about her work, and has written a special prayer for us all to use over the Hungry for Justice prayer and action weekend (18-19 October).

Lord, you are our rock, our fortress and our strength;
guide us, lead us and have mercy on us.
We thank you for the precious gift of your earth, in all its beauty and fragility.
Through it we are each bound to one another in a million ways.
For the sake of those facing rising temperatures, drought and water shortages,
strengthen our movement for climate action.
For the sake of those facing unpredictable weather, disrupted seasons and failed crops,
bless our leaders to work together to find positive, lasting solutions.
For the sake of all those who feel the impact of our changing climate, the poor and the vulnerable,
bring the hope of a brighter, cleaner future.
Lord hear our prayer and fill our hearts with a hunger for justice.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will set up our banners to call for change. May the Lord fill our petitions!
Amen

Yamikani works for Christian Aid partner, CEPA, in Malawi to combat the impact of climate change, involving the poorest communities in the solutions.

We will use this prayer in the Seven Kings Fellowship of Churches One World Week service at St John's Seven Kings this evening (6.30pm).

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Thocco Katimba - Count Your Blessings.

Progress on step-free access to local stations

Seven Kings & Newbury Park Resident's Association, along with other community and lobby groups, has been campaigning for step-free access at Newbury Park and Seven Kings stations.

It is great news, then, that an announcement has been made that Seven Kings station will have step-free access as part of the Crossrail development. Click here to read the story of this announcement in the Ilford Recorder.

TfL have also, in a separate press release, said that Newbury Park station 'could be made step-free with third party contributions and the LU fund.' While this is a long way from being a firm commitment on step-free access at Newbury Park, it is a public acknowledgement of intent on TfL's part which should be publicised and on which they should be regularly questioned and asked for updates on progress.

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Show of Hands - Are We Alright?

Christian Aid Week - coming soon!

For a growing number of people across the world, the horror of war is part of daily life. War tears lives apart. You can help put them back together. Christian Aid Week 2014 is an opportunity to give people a future without fear.

Tales of people from Colombia, South Sudan and Iraq feature in this year's appeal and bring to life some of the fantastic work we are supporting through Christian Aid.

The good news is that individuals, communities and churches like St John’s can make a real difference this Christian Aid Week. Last year, a magnificent 20,000 churches across the country helped raise £12m for Christian Aid Week. Thanks to our efforts and those of the other 19,999 churches involved, many more people can look forward to a future free from poverty.

You can make a real difference. That is the message when it comes to so much of church life. God says, ‘I made you with gifts and talents and what to empower you by my Spirit to use them to make a real difference.’ The Church says, ‘We need a new flowering of lay ministry in order to be a Transforming Presence in our parishes.’ Christian Aid says we can make a real difference to the lives of those in poverty around our world. In our Sophia Hub we train people to develop ideas and skills that will make a real difference in our local community. Many of you have for many years been making a real difference locally through your work (paid and voluntary) in particular through care for the elderly or homeless.

At our APCM I highlighted the fact that people who have joined St John’s in the last seven years are getting actively involved in our mission and ministry: on the PCC; among our Sunday School and Youth Group leaders; in our Mission Weekend planning group; on our All-Age Service planning group; assisting with our finances; servers and sidespeople; and assisting in the office.

This is a real encouragement. My sabbatical provides a further opportunity to see this in practice as (in addition to those clergy who will come and lead services) many of you will play your part in continuing the mission and ministry of St John’s during the time when I am away.

Sabbaticals, like interregnums, can be an opportunity for all to see that the Church is actually the whole people of God actively working together. As Christian Aid emphasise during Christian Aid, you can make a real difference.

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The Cars - Drive.

Mitigating traffic congestion

The London Borough of Redbridge's next Area 5 and Area 7 Committee meetings will be considering reports on proposed measures to mitigate traffic congestion at the junction of Aldborough Road South/St John’s Roads/Meads Lane.

 

The proposals, which will thereafter go out to consultation to affected residents and establishments, include the introduction of a mini roundabout and closure of St John’s Road.

 

The Area 7 report is available on the Council’s website at: http://moderngov.redbridge.gov.uk/documents/g6171/Public%20reports%20pack%2029th-Oct-2013%2019.15%20Area%207%20Committee%20Cranbrook%20Newbury%20and%20Valentines.pdf?T=10.

 

In speaking on this issue at today's Area 7 Committee meeting I said part of the following:

 

St John's Seven Kings is a significant church and community centre. Between 300 and 400 people from the church and community use St John's in the course of most weeks. Many live locally but a proportion travel from outside the area (and often need to drive in order to come) while others (particularly users of the Council-run lunch club which meets on a daily basis) require Dial-A-Ride or Council transport in order to attend. In addition, the church and centre also needs to be accessed by hearses for funerals and limousines for weddings. Additionally, the Blood Doning service brings several large vehicles and the mobile library parks outside St Johns on Friday mornings.

 

If this proposal were to be agreed, parking in the area would be significantly reduced, most traffic (including all larger vehicles such as hearses, limousines, mini buses, Blood Doning lorries and the mobile library) coming to St John's would have to use side roads to do so and would have to do U-turns in St Johns Road in order to leave.

The long-term effect of this change is likely to be reductions in the number of users generally and in the number of weddings and funerals held. The proposal could therefore have a significant impact on our ability to function as community centre in future. The Council has already closed one community centre - the Downshall Centre - in order to open an additional school. I ask this committee whether it really wants the expansion of Downshall School to have the effect of threatening the future of another community centre in the same locality, as could well be the case were this proposal to be implemented.

The proposal to install a mini roundabout and close off St Johns Road is, in my view, not the traffic management option that most people locally wish to see. I have spoken to many people locally about this issue and all those I have spoken to think that traffic lights are the best traffic management solution.

The mini roundabout as envisaged is likely to enable traffic to exit Meads Lane more easily but by doing so could cause tailbacks in Aldborough Road South. This would simply move the problem from one road to another, whereas traffic lights would regulate the traffic flow more consistently. Using the original proposal for traffic lights on this junction would also mean that part of St Johns Road could remain open providing better access to St Johns than is possible through the roundabout proposal.    

I am told that the Council has funding which could be used for traffic lights and that the Council could install lights independently of TfL. I therefore encourage Councillors to argue for traffic lights as the solution to the traffic management issues in this area as opposed to this less effective and more problematic mini roundabout proposal.

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Athlete - Vehicles And Animals.

Bye Buy Childhood

Yesterday, along with other clergy in the Diocese of Chelmsford, whose parishes have Mothers' Union branches, I enjoyed the hospitality of the Diocesan MU team as they served a 'thank you' lunch for us in the Cathedral Chapter House.

After lunch we heard from Reg Bailey CBE, MU Chief Executive, about the work of the MU nationally and internationally including, in particular, the Bye Buy Childhood campaign.

MU believes that children should be valued as children, not consumers. Yet marketers target children's natural inexperience in order to reach the household purse. Giving children the message that they are what they own, rather than valuing them for who they are, can negatively affect their wellbeing.

The Bye Buy Childhood campaign was launched in August 2010 to challenge the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood. So far, MU has:

• Gained support from Parliamentarians, across the parties
• Presented a 19,000 signature petition to the Prime Minister
• Participated in Parliamentary enquiries and discussions
• Launched postcard campaigns in Ireland and Wales to enable people to send any complaints to Ofcom and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
• Published Labelled for Life, an advice booklet for families
• Highlighted the issue on television and radio, and through newspapers and the internet
• Engaged local communities and faith groups through local Mothers' Union members' activities
• Engaged with regulatory bodies, advertising and media organisations and other charities concerned about the issue.

Reg Bailey was also commissioned by the Government, in 2010, to carry out an independent review into the issue. The recommendations in his report, Letting Children be Children, were accepted and have been widely implemented. Click here for a progress report on the implementation of this report.

To get involved in the Bye Buy Childhood campaign click here.

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The Banana Splits - The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana).

Ramfel and the Home Office's offensive adverts

Sky News report that 'Users of the Refugee and Migrant Forum of East London (Ramfel) have told the Home Office it has until August 8 to ditch the "offensive" adverts.

If it refuses, they plan to apply for a judicial review.

The adverts are being displayed on billboards carried by vans in six London boroughs as part of a pilot scheme.

They tell illegal immigrants to "Go home, or you'll be picked up and deported" and could be extended nationwide.

Lawyers for Ramfel have written to the Home Office to warn it has broken its duty to cut discrimination and harassment and to foster good community relations.

"Our clients believe that although the Government says the campaign is aimed at migrants who are in the UK illegally, it will adversely affect attitudes towards people from migrant communities who are here lawfully," they said.

"We are instructed to apply for a judicial review after August 8 unless the Home Office agrees not to continue the campaign and to remove the offending literature from the communities."'

Ramfel does great work in this borough helping those who have fled persecution and terrible conditions in their native countries to seek refuge in the UK.

Rita Chadha, Ramfel's chief executive has quite rightly stated of the Home Office adverts: “It’s a travesty of justice, it incites racial hatred and it inflames community tension. It’s just going to scare people to think that immigration is a huge problem when it’s not ... The vans are reminiscent of the 1960s when public leaflets were telling those who were foreign that they were not welcome or to go back home.”

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The Selector - Missing Words.

We've started - but we won't finish!

Here is some of the local coverage in the Ilford Recorder and Yellow Advertiser of last Saturday's photo-call at Newbury Park Station organised by Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents Association (SKNPRA). My letter to the Mayor of London based on our campaign is below: 

Dear Boris,

You have a reputation for candour and non nonsense talk. I am writing to ask you to use some of your famous candour with planners on the transport system in London who have been consistently promising step-free access to residents in Newbury Park and Seven Kings at our local stations and then failing to deliver.

Transport planners have been playing cruel tricks on local residents over step-free access at local stations. First, at Newbury Park where work started and then stopped, later at Seven Kings where Crossrail promises were made, then broken. As Chair of the local Resident's Association, I call on you to ensure London's transport planners make good on these broken promises and deliver the step-free access that has repeatedly been promised to local residents.

Extensive preparatory work for step-free access at Newbury Park Station was carried out in 2009/10 as detailed at http://daps-ltd.co.uk/portfolio_item/newbury-park-station-step-free-access-design-and-build/. This work cost £3.5m, public money which will have been utterly wasted unless TfL complete what they began and deliver step-free access at this Station. 

At the time this work was cancelled, London Underground said: "The status of the Undergrounds step-free plans is very disappointing to us - after years of planning and development work." They also stated that "the enabling works which had taken place will as far as possible ensure future SFA routes can be preserved" in order that "These projects could be restarted in the future" (http://www.transportforall.org.uk/news/-64-million-cost-of-abandoned-step-free-tube).

These have proved to be weasel words because this project has not been restarted and, although work is happening to make certain stations step-free, this does not include Newbury Park.

This is not the first occasion that TfL have agreed to action in our local area only to later change criteria in order to, in effect, renege on earlier promises. Through our Residents' Association, local people are saying that we have had enough of this practice. The reasons why Newbury Park Station warranted step-free access in 2009/10 still stand and we call on you to ensure that TfL finish what they started. 

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Luxury - When Those That Are Not Do Become Those That Are.

Newbury Park Station: Step-free access photo-call

The Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents' Association (SKNPRA) organised a photo-call to encourage Transport for London to carry on the work of installing access free lifts at Newbury Park Station, started in 2009 and abandoned due to lack of funds.  Over 60 folk arrived on Saturday 13th July including Lee Scott MP and Mike Gapes MP, Councillors, Revd Jon Evens and Revd Kate Lovesey, and GLA member Roger Evans.

Local activist, Ron Jeffries said: "What a terrific turnout at Newbury Park this morning - two MPs, two C of E priests, numerous Councillors - I counted some 62 in the photograph I took from the top of the ladder. This morning gave me hope for the future - that so many folk rose from their Saturday slumbers on possibly the hottest day of the year."

Peter Robinson, who organised the photoshoot for SKNPRA said: "I would like to thank everyone who attended this morning's photo-shoot at Newbury Park Underground station, to show their support of our campaign to get the work on the installation of lifts at the station completed, five years after it was started.

We knew at the outset that persuading London Underground that these lifts were not only necessary, but a good idea, was not going to be easy and the responses we have received from them so far only serve to strengthen our determination to keep this matter on everyone's agenda. Looking around the assembled crowd this morning, with Labour and Conservative MPs and Councillors, members of various Residents Associations and others confirms the wide support for the campaign across the whole community."

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Vashti Bunyan - Train Song.

ACCESS FOR ALL AT NEWBURY PARK UNDERGROUND STATION

Why Seven Kings and Newbury Park Resident's Association think the installation of lifts at Newbury Park Station is not only essential but desirable: -

1. The financial situation of TfL is now much improved. This being augmented by income from the
Olympic Games sale of tickets, both from the IOC directly and the general public.

2. The improved facilities at Stratford particularly the lift installations on all platforms have been of
great assistance to disabled people as well as those with prams, buggies and luggage. In many
cases enabling them to attend the Olympics and the Stratford Westfield shopping centre.

3. The installation of two lifts at Newbury Park Station, we understand would be a simple and cheap
operation (perhaps the reason it was selected in the first place) as comparable to some other
stations.

4. It is also worth noting that Newbury Park station is the first point of entry to the underground
system for people living in Romford and further along the A12.

5. It is one of the few underground stations in the area with significant car parking facilities, 456
spaces, including 6 disabled bays.

6. This district has an aging population and hence a large number of people who are
disabled. Unlike many other stations which have either lifts and/or escalators for part of movement
from platform to street Newbury Park has neither. Therefore many are prohibited from using the
station altogether for this reason.

It is an additional blow to the local community that changes to the Crossrail plans mean that Seven Kings rail station will be one of the few on the route that will not have step-free access.

If you would like to get involved in the campaign and add your voice you can write to: -

a. Mike Brown, MVO, Managing Director of London Underground, 55 Broadway, London SW1H
0BD.

b. Mr Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, Greater London Authority, City Hall, The Queen's Walk,
More London, London, SE1 2AA. Email: mayor@london.gov.uk (please provide your full postal address in the email).

c. Mr Roger Evans, Greater London Authority, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, More London,
London SE1 2AA. Note: Roger is the elected GLA member for Havering and Redbridge.
Email: roger.evans@london.gov.uk (please provide your full postal address in the email).

Please copy in email SKNPRA committee members Peter Robinson and Mark Kennedy respectively as: Robbo.1962@yahoo.co.uk and markkennedy18@hotmail.com on all correspondence.

PHOTOSHOOT and PUBLICITY Opportunity:

If you can, please attend the photo-shoot that we are organising at the Newbury Park tube
Station on Saturday 13th July 2013 at 10:15 am. Gather outside Newbury Park station
entrance. The photo should take around 15 to 20 minutes to organise.

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Tom Waits - Downtown Train.

SKNPRA AGM: Volunteering and achievements

These are my Chairman's remarks at tonight's Seven Kings & Newbury Park Resident's Association AGM, based on http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/resources/how-to-guides/volunteer/doc/benefits-of-volunteering.html:

Getting involved in the work of SKNPRA can make a real difference to your own life and the lives of those around you. Getting involved offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around you. It also provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. Regardless of your motivation, getting involved will be challenging and rewarding.

Here are some reasons to volunteer:

Learn or develop a new skill 

Volunteering is the perfect vehicle to discover something you are really good at and develop a new skill. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever.” It is never too late to learn new skills and there is no reason why you should ever stop adding to your knowledge. Planning and implementing a campaign on a local issue can, for example, develop goal setting, planning and budgeting skills. These are examples of skills that can enhance a career but you don’t have to develop skills with the intention of facilitating your career. The possibilities for developing and using new skills are many.  

Be part of your community

No man or woman is an island. We sometimes take for granted the community that we live in. People and societies co-depend on each other for survival but growth of such things as commercialism are seeing traditional values being disregarded. Communities are suffering due to the growth of selfishness in society but we can bridge that expanding gap through volunteering. Volunteering is ultimately about helping others and having an impact on people’s wellbeing. What better way is there to connect with your community and give a little back? As a volunteer with SKNPRA, you certainly return to society some of the benefits that society gives you. 

Motivation and sense of achievement

Fundamentally, volunteering is about giving your time, energy and skills freely.  Unlike many things in life there is choice involved in volunteering. As a volunteer you have made a decision to help on your own accord, free from pressure to act from others.  Volunteers predominantly express a sense of achievement and motivation, and this is ultimately generated from your desire and enthusiasm to help. Sometimes volunteers are regarded as do-gooders and those that hold that view also assume that one person can never make a difference. It may be true that no one person can solve all the world’s problems, but what you can do is make that little corner of the world where you live just that little bit better.

Boost your career options

A survey carried out by TimeBank through Reed Executive showed that among 200 of the UK’s leading businesses:

·       73% of employers would recruit a candidate with volunteering experience over one without

·        94% of employers believe that volunteering can add to skills

·        94% of employees who volunteered to learn new skills had benefited either by getting their first job, improving their salary, or being promoted

Also, if you are thinking of a career change then volunteering is a perfect way to explore new fields.

New interests and hobbies

Sometimes we do get locked into the “rat-race” of life and volunteering can give that escape to everyday routine and create a balance in our lives. Finding new interests and hobbies through volunteering can be fun, relaxing and energizing. The energy and sense of fulfilment can carry over to a work situation and sometimes helps to relieve tensions and foster new perspectives for old situations. Sometimes a volunteer experience can lead you to something you never even thought about or help you discover a hobby or interest you were unaware of. You can strengthen your personal/professional mission and vision by exploring opportunities and expanding your horizons. 

New experiences

Volunteering is a brilliant way to get life experience. Whatever your involvement with us, you will be experiencing the real world through hands-on work.

Meeting a diverse range of people

Volunteering brings together a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. Both the recipients of your volunteer efforts and your co-workers can be a rich source of inspiration and an excellent way to develop your interpersonal skills.  Volunteering also offers an incredible networking opportunity. Not only will you develop lasting personal and professional relationships but it is also a great way to learn about people from all walks of life, different environments, and new industries. Networking is an exciting benefit of volunteering and you can never tell who you will meet or what new information you will learn and what impact this could have on your life.

Send a signal to your employer, teachers, friends and family…

People pay attention to your life outside the environment in which they have direct contact with you. For example, your employer would be interested in the activities that gives you a good work-life balance, just as academic institutions are interested in your extra-curricular activities. Volunteering reflects and supports a complete picture of you, and gives real examples of your commitment, dedication and interests. Show people what you are passionate about and maybe you will inspire them too!

Last year Peter Robinson volunteered to join the SKNPRA committee. As a result, this year we are able to tell you about the campaign for step-free access at Newbury Park Station which Peter is running. We could run that campaign without his volunteering. If you are prepared to get involved as he has done, there will be other campaigns and other issues that we can tackle which would simply not have been possible without you. So, for all these reasons when we come to elect our committee do please think seriously about volunteering.

Audrey Shorer, our Secretary, reported on our achievements in 2012/13:

Our biggest success last year was to get the public toilets in Seven Kings Park re-opened. They will be managed and maintained by Redbridge Vision and should be open 7 days a week. We are aware that some Sundays they have not been open but this has been brought to the notice of Vision and will be closely monitored. They are closed at the moment because the hot water boiler failed and is being replaced.

In September, the new park bench was installed in Seven Kings Park near the bridge  at a cost of £480.00 plus an engraved Traffolyte plate at £15.  The bench is made of very durable recycled polystyrene.  Redbridge Vision installed it free of charge. The Ilford Recorder did a photo shoot of the event.

In November we organised a protest meeting outside the park gate at Beddington Road against Redbridge Council’s decision to leave the park open at night. This has since been rescinded and the gates are now locked at seasonal closing times.

Our Chairman has attended meetings of the Seven Kings Ward Panel to report problems of drug dealing in Norfolk & Elgin Roads,  He has also spoken at Area 5 meetings to speak on a variety of issues on behalf of the residents.

I have reported to our Community Ward Police, problems of car repairs in Farnham Road which was dealt with. I also reported to the Cleansing Department, pallets and rubbish dumped in Seven Kings Water which was cleared.  Also reported on line via Redbridge i several incidents of fly tipping, litter and dog fouling all of which have been dealt with promptly by Redbridge Council.

The £100.00 which you voted to donate to Seven Kings Park Users Group was a great help with the initial setting up of the group towards the cost of postage, stationary and a Laminator.  The Chairman David Wynne-Fitzgerald thanked our Association for their generosity.

The Community Day on 18^th May in St John's garden was a great success with several new members signing up. We would certainly like to repeat this next year.

And finally I would like to thank all those people who help with delivering the Newsletter which cuts the cost of postage.

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King Crimson - Epitaph.

Lack of step-free access at Newbury Park and Seven Kings stations

The Seven Kings & Newbury Park Resident's Association (SKNPRA) has recently written to the Mayor of London about the lack of step-free access at Newbury Park and Seven Kings stations.

It is our understanding that Newbury Park Station, amongst others, were designated to have lifts installed some time ago. However, as confirmed by a poster at the station in November 2009, these plans were dropped due to financial problems which TfL were experiencing at the time. The Yellow Advertiser reported in December 2009 that “workmen at Newbury Park station have begun filling in lift shafts after cash for disabled access ran out”. The reported £4.6 million already spent on the project appears to have been wasted.

Our members believe that this would be a good time to revive the plans for Newbury Park Station and have identified numerous reasons for this:

1. The financial situation of TfL is now much improved. This being augmented by income from the Olympic Games sale of tickets, both from the IOC directly and the general public.

2. The improved facilities at Stratford particularly the lift installations on all platforms have been of great assistance to disabled people. In many cases enabling them to attend the Olympics and the Stratford Westfield shopping centre.

3. The installation of two lifts at Newbury Park Station, we understand would be a simple and cheap operation (perhaps the reason it was selected in the first place) as comparable to some other stations.

4. It is also worth noting that Newbury Park station is the first point of entry to the underground system for people living in Romford and further along the A12.

5. It is one of the few underground stations in the area with significant car parking facilities, 456 spaces, including 6 disabled bays.

6. The district has an ageing population and hence a large number of people who are disabled. Unlike many other stations which have either lifts and/or escalators for part of movement from platform to street Newbury Park has neither. Therefore many are prohibited from using the station altogether for this reason.

We believe that the cancellation of this work and the changes to the Crossrail plans for Seven Kings station mean that local residents have moved from a position where step-free access was promised for both stations to the current position of many continuing being denied access to the public transport system in the area. We believe this to be unacceptable in the 21st Century. We believe too that there is considerable support in our approach from local MPs, MEPs, Councillors and Transport Unions as well as the general public and we will be sharing our correspondence with them.

SKNPRA will hold its AGM at St John's Seven Kings on Monday 17th June at 8.00pm.

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The Dream Academy - Power To Believe.

Re-opened toilets in Seven Kings Park

The Seven Kings & Newbury Park Residents’ Association is celebrating following our 18-month fight to re-open the closed toilets in Seven Kings Park.


Through ongoing lobbying of Redbridge Council, SKNPRA managed to secure funding for the reopening of Seven Kings Park toilets on a seasonal basis through contributions from both area five and seven committees, as well as Vision, which manages leisure services in the borough.

Mark Kennedy, membership secretary and press & publicity officer of the residents’ association, said: “It is a great victory to persuade the council to in effect perform a U-turn on policy.

“Many residents that signed our 1,500 petition last year said that we would never win, but we battled on regardless and our hard work has paid off.

We are pleased that the council has listened to the community and this proves that people power collectively under a residents association banner does work.”

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Relient K - Must Have Done Something Right.

Enough Food for Everyone IF

Today Tearfund and more than 100 other groups launch the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign:   "Why IF? Because we believe it's wrong that today 870 million people will go to bed hungry in a world with enough food for everyone. We believe it's time to speak out against the injustice of hunger. We believe this year David Cameron has a special opportunity to take action. And we believe God can use the church to speak to our nation. Will you click Tearfund.org/enoughfoodif and join our biggest campaign since Make Poverty History?"   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Philip Bailey - Children Of The Ghetto.

Government's proposed relaxation of planning laws

The Ilford Recorder reports that councillors from all parties in the London Borough of Redbridge have united to oppose the government’s proposed relaxation of planning laws:


'Members at Thursday’s meeting of the full council in Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford, voted unanimously to resist the proposed changes.

Cllr Shoaib Patel, cabinet member for planning, said: “Planning permission is not in place to reduce workers, it is in place to protect people from unwanted development.

“It’s a myth to think that planning laws hold back development or the economy.”

In September, the coalition government announced plans to allow people to build larger house extensions and make shop and office expansions and housing developments easier.

A consultation is now underway and several local authorities, including the Greater London Authority, have already voiced their opposition to relaxing planning regulations.'

If you share the significant concerns held by members of the Seven Kings & Newbury Park Resident’s Association at the Government’s proposal for a three-year relaxation of planning rules on extending homes and business premises, we encourage you to register your views as part of the current Government consultation. Click here to register your views before 24 December 2012.

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The Clash - I Fought The Law.
 

Government’s proposal for a three-year relaxation of planning rules on extending homes

As Chair of the Seven Kings & Newbury Park Resident's Association I have sent the following letter to our local MPs (Mike Gapes and Lee Scott) today:

I write to voice the significant concerns held by members of the Seven Kings & Newbury Park Resident’s Association at the Government’s proposal for a three-year relaxation of planning rules on extending homes and business premises.

Current planning regulations are currently circumvented on a regular basis by unscrupulous home and business owners determined to extend their properties without regard to neighbours legitimate concerns about issues such as light and noise levels, being overlooked, party walls, impact of building works on the sustainability of neighbouring properties etc. Often such extensions are then used to house additional people at the property, sometimes on an unauthorised rental basis, and generally in inadequate facilities. Current planning regulations are generally circumvented by retrospective planning applications which, from our perspective seem generally to be allowed, masking the problem as a national issue.

We think that this proposal will therefore be a disaster for local communities because it will allow such unscrupulous home and business owners to build what they like where they like without regard for the legitimate concerns of those in neighbouring properties. We view this prospect and the resulting breakdown in neighbourhood relations with real fear and trepidation. We note that the head of planning at Redbridge Council has already joined fellow Liberal Democrat councillors to condemn the proposed relaxation of planning regulations. We support their stance and that of other local Associations such as the Aldborough Hatch Defence Association in opposing this proposal which, while intending to stimulate growth, will divide communities and set neighbour against neighbour.

We ask you to convey our concerns to the Minister responsible for the consideration of this proposal and call on you to support local residents in opposing this divisive and unnecessary proposal.

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The Style Council - Come To Milton Keynes.

Tax dodging hurts us all

The Tax Justice Bus Tour launched last week at Greenbelt 2012, to inform people across Britain and Ireland why tax justice is so vital for the world's poorest people. The Tax Justice Tour sees Christian Aid join forces with UK poverty campaigners Church Action on Poverty and head out on the road across Britain and Ireland to bring people together in a bid to end the injustice of tax dodging at home and abroad.

Since the bus set off, hundreds of visitors have called on David Cameron to end financial secrecy, so that tax dodgers have nowhere to hide. Tax dodging hurts us all, especially when global companies and large sums of money are involved. It robs countries of the taxes they're owed – money that could be spent on essential services.

Christian Aid can show that in poor countries tax dodging results in a lack of clean water, sanitation, roads, schools and hospitals; and in people going hungry. Their tax justice campaign has highlighted how developing countries lose $160bn every year - one-and-a-half-times what they receive in international aid. Church Action on Poverty can show that in the UK tax dodging contributes to cuts in benefits for families, children and disabled people, reduced care for the elderly, less childcare and fewer libraries, youth services and other vital community facilities.

Financial secrecy is at the heart of these problems – especially the secrecy offered by tax havens. Thanks to loopholes in the global financial system, money that could provide vital services like schools and hospitals, is being pocketed by unscrupulous companies. The prime minister, David Cameron, has called for a fairer, better-governed world economy. Tell him that tax justice is the answer. Join us by sending an email to David Cameron today.

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Bruce Cockburn - Call It Democracy.

New Scrap Metal Bill

Richard Ottaway, MP, will introduce the second reading of his Bill to regulate the scrap metal industry on Friday 13 July. This bill will bring in:

 

• A robust and enforceable licensing scheme for scrap metal dealers

• A requirement to check and record photo ID at the point of sale

• Powers of entry to consult the records

• All trade to be cashless – including itinerant traders

• A national register of scrap yards.

 

These are necessary steps to prevent illegal trade. They will not hinder legal trade in scrap metal, which is a valuable part of the recycling industry.

 

The Government has put legislation in place to outlaw cash transactions at scrap yards and raise the cap on fines for offences by scrap traders, and improve powers of entry to scrapyards. This is a good first move, now is the time to support the introduction of new legislation for the scrap metal trade.

 

Lead theft from church buildings is a serious problem:

 

• It has cost churches over £27.5m in past six years

• Over 2500 claims were made to Ecclesiastical Insurance in 2011

• An increase of offences by a third 2010 to 2011

• A third of churches have been victims, repeat thefts are common

 

If you would be prepared to write to your MP in support of this bill, click here for more details.

 

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Moby - The Day.

 

It's time to Close the Gap

Today, Church Action on Poverty has published It's Time to Close the Gap: the Basic Case, a new free booklet. 11 prominent Christians have been asked to reflect on different aspects of the gap between rich and poor, what can be done to address them, and why the church must get involved.

With a Budget coming up, there is an opportunity to call for action to Close the Gap and Church Action on Poverty hope this publication will help to galvanise more people in the churches to speak out and take action.

Doing the following will help ensure it has a significant impact:

1. Click here to download and read the booklet for yourself.
2. Make sure other people in your church and community get to see it too - and encourage them to act.
3. Click here to make your own Pledge to spread the word - and get more free resources to help you mobilise others in your community.

Church Action on Poverty works with church and community groups across the UK to make tackling poverty a priority. Their work involves: educating churches about poverty in the UK; enabling people in poverty to speak for themselves; working for policies to eradicate poverty; promoting reflection and action for social justice.
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Flying Lizards - Money (Thats What I Want).
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Asylum rights & wrongs

In 2007 the Evangelical Alliance produced ‘alltogether for Asylum Justice’ a report seeking to address injustices in the asylum system.

The specific situation which the report seeks to address is that of asylum seekers who have genuinely chosen to follow the Christian faith once in the UK and then apply for asylum on the grounds of religious persecution. Having had their asylum application refused, they face being sent back to countries where it is not safe for them to practice their faith. Christian human rights organisations such as Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Release International know it is often unsafe to return a practising Christian to an Islamic country let alone return an apostate (a convert to Christianity) to an Islamic country where conversion is illegal. Therefore, there are grave implications for returning asylum seekers who have converted to Christianity to countries like Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The report concludes that, while recognising that the issue of faith testing is complex, there is room for improvement in the current system used to determine the genuineness of an appellant’s conversion. While recognising that objective questioning is used to determine the faith of an appellant, there are a number of problems with this system.

Firstly, many of the questions used cannot give a true representation of the appellant’s faith because they are: a) based on western Christian culture (e.g. ‘How do you cook a turkey for Christmas?’); b) insensitive to the particular type of Christianity that the appellant has been exposed to (e.g. asking a Pentecostal convert about Anglican liturgy); c) asking things which aren’t even in the Bible (e.g. such as knowing the names of the thieves crucified on the crosses alongside Jesus or the name of the forbidden fruit ).

Secondly, questions of this nature are insufficient to grasp the genuineness of an appellant’s faith. This can only be fully understood if the leader of the church which the appellant has been attending gives an account of their conversion and Christian faith. The church leader ought to be able to give evidence of a changed lifestyle and/or behaviour, an interest in the Bible and in sharing their faith with others.
 
Thirdly, country information used to determine whether it is safe for a practising Christian to be returned to countries where apostates are persecuted is often inaccurate.
 
Having had recent experience of supporting a parishioner who is in the situation addressed by this report, it seems to me that the issues identified in this report remain in the system as currently operated. I am therefore seeking ways and means by which there could be further lobbying of the Government on this issue.

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The Clash - I Fought the Law.