Tuesday 28 November 2006


Olympics

There is not one of us here in Leabank Square who is not going to be affected by the London 2012 Olympics.

Whether it means that we are all going to see one of the events – or whether we are going to be covered in dust for the next 6 years.

Whether one of our children is going to be competing in an event – or our parking spaces are going to be used by construction site workers.

Whether we are going to have our centre green beautifully landscaped by REAP – or there is going to be an increase in trucks thundering down Berkshire Road.

Whether the value of our properties triple – or we are going to have a multi-story car park directly opposite our square on the canal.

Whatever is going to happen as a result of the Olympics – we should all keep as informed as possible.

Please attend as many meetings as you can – and then let all of us know what you heard. Please write to the mayor, MP’s, councillors, Olympic Delivery Authority, London Development Agency, International Olympic Committee, etc, and don’t stop until you’re satisfied with their answers.

We all know that this is going to be the most incredible party that London has ever had – so be a part of it right from the start.


http://www.london2012.org/en
http://www.london.gov.uk/
mayor@london.gov.uk
http://www.lda.gov.uk/
http://www.alastinglegacy.co.uk/
http://www.olympic.org/uk/index_uk.asp
http://www.meghillier.com/
http://www.hackney-labour.org.uk/news/?id=244
http://www.hackney-labour.org.uk/councillors/?id=181
http://www.hackney-labour.org.uk/councillors/?id=179
http://www.hackney-labour.org.uk/councillors/?id=180
http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index.htm/l-mayor-cabinet-councillors.htm

2 comments:

Leabank Square said...

Received 1 December 2006:

Dear Sóna



Some week ago you contacted me and mentioned the work being done on Arena Fields, I now realise that my response may have been misleading, although there was minor exploratory work going on at that time I have subsequently found out that there is a current planning application for the earth works on Arena Fields. I understand that residents in Leabank Square were sent letters about this by the ODA, probably at the end of October, please let me know if these were not received.



Unfortunately the person who I contacted within the council was not aware of the application at that time and ward councillors were not consulted (we will be in future). I have though found out that the council’s Traffic and Transport team have commented on this application as have Environmental Health Officers who have recommended a number of conditions to control the noise/dust/air quality issues. I have looked at the application and their responses and I am as satisfied as I can be that measures will be put in place to protect residents and Gainsborough School.



In essence the current application is primarily to remove 103,000 cubic meters of soil from Arena fields to provide a level surface. The ODA intend to use the material taken from this site as fill in other areas of the Olympic Park, in the worst case senario an extra 90 HGV movements per day would be generated by this application all entering and leaving the site via Waterden Road. The red line which denotes the extent of the site has been drawn approximately 30m from the edge of the river Lee Navigation and the towpath will remain open through out the works.



To give you some background on the process, in September 2006 the Olympic Delivery Authority became the Local Planning Authority for all applications in the Olympic Park area. This means that it is for the ODA to either grant or refuse planning applications within the Olympic zone and not Hackney Council. The decisions are still made by a planning committee but this committee is made up of members from the ODA and in addition each of the Olympic boroughs has a Councillor who is a representative and a lay member. The application for Arena Fields is due to go to the ODA planning committee on 12th December.



Hackney Council’s official role has become one of Statutory consultee and as such the council is able to comment on the applications as they come forward and can raise objection or make comments which in turn will be considered by the ODA planning committee.



I hope this makes sense, it is all rather complicated and may take a while for everyone to get used to the process, we are expecting to see an application for the whole Olympic park including the legacy come forward around January and I believe there will then be a series of detailed applications for the individual buildings. Please let me know if you need any further help or information and please circulate this freely to anyone who may be interested.



Yours sincerely



Christine











-----Original Message-----
From: Sóna Abantu-Choudhury [mailto:abantuchoudhury@btinternet.com]
Sent: 22 October 2006 12:02
To: Christine Boyd
Subject: olympics



Sóna Abantu-Choudhury

71 Leabank Square

Berkshire Road

Hackney Wick

E9 5LR





Hi



Very belated congratulations on securing the Olympics for London – and in particular for the East London area. I am absolutely convinced that it will bring an immense amount of positive change for everyone living here.



As you can tell from my address – I live right on the Lea River Navigational Canal – directly opposite the Arena Fields section of the Olympic site. I represent many of the owner/occupiers living in Leabank Square (some rent their houses/flats out & so are difficult to contact) – and whilst we are saddened by the loss of Arena Fields – we nonetheless see the grander design.



At last weeks meeting in the Old Public Baths – I found out that part of Arena Fields reverts back to the Gainsborough Schools long lost playing field with a revamped footbridge – fantastic! And the legacy of beautifully architectured buildings housing the media centre – should bring much needed employment into a very deprived Hackney Wick.



The one major concern we (and a very many parents at the school) have – is what plans are in place to minimise the noise & dust pollution for us on this side of the canal. We are after all – only a few meters away from the site – and six years worth of pollution will take its toll on all of us!



The first phase will involve many huge machines rumbling past us carrying, lifting, digging, dumping, etc massive amounts of soil right on our doorsteps. Is there any provision for minimising any discomfort for your neighbours?



I would be very grateful if you could get back to me at your earliest convenience. And loads of good luck & wishes for the next few years accompany this correspondence.



Peace



Sóna



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Leabank Square said...

The Olympic Construction is well under way now - and it affects all of us!

Please let everyone else in Leabank Square know exactly how you feel about it all by commenting here - or sending an email to leabanksquare@london.com.

It is a massive project that is set to transform all our lives one way or the other. So the more we all chat about it - the more control we will be able to have over the suits.

Please don't just let it all happen. Tell us about it!!