Greg IK McNeill: a little bit on the side

High Court backs local campaign and orders Hackney Council to pay up

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:45:42 GMT

"
A High Court judge yesterday found in favour of OPEN in its claim that Hackney Council, in late 2005, made an unlawful attempt to demolish the historic buildings at 4-14 Dalston Lane, without public consultation.

OPEN issued proceedings on 13 December 2005, challenging the Council’s decision to proceed with demolition of the buildings without making a full planning application. OPEN is committed to seeing some or all of the heritage buildings restored for new uses as part of regeneration of the wider area. OPEN argued that a full planning application, involving public consultation and a decision by the elected Members of Hackney Council, was required. A High Court injunction was subsequently issued preventing any demolition work until yesterday’s judicial review. The injunction has protected the site from December 2005 until now.

Finding in favour of OPEN’s claims yesterday, Mr Justice Lloyd Jones stated in his judgment that the Council had created the impression that it had taken a decision to demolish the buildings as soon as prior approval was granted by the Planning Department and that full planning permission was not required. The Judge found that OPEN was justified in issuing the proceedings for an injunction and judicial review. He ordered the Council to now pay OPEN’s legal costs.

Bill Parry-Davies, chairman of OPEN, expressed satisfaction at the outcome but cautioned that the buildings remain highly vulnerable to Council demolition. ‘The Council did not deny in Court, that at a meeting in late September 2005 its Property Manager, Head of Planning and Hackney’s Mayor agreed to demolish without further consultation with either the public or elected members‘, said Mr. Parry-Davies. ‘The Council’s contempt of legal and democratic processes is quite breathtaking. Our campaign continues.’

Since the issue of the High Court proceedings on 13 December 2005, and following representations made by OPEN to the Planning Department, the Council have accepted the need to make a full planning application for demolition. After a 21 days period in which the public could lodge objections, the Council’s application for total demolition came before a Planning Sub-Committee on 6 February 2006. Despite the overwhelming number of objections to the proposals the Planning Sub-Committee voted to demolish the buildings in their entirety. The Sub-Committee imposed a condition that, prior to demolition, there must first be a survey to record historical structural and architectural detail of the buildings and expressed hope that the more notable elements could be relocated in the redevelopment of the site or elsewhere.

Evidence has also come to light that, sometime between 18 October 2005 when the Council secured the buildings against squatters and 16 December when a planning officer inspected them, the Victorian houses at 4-6 Dalston Lane have been deliberately damaged and made uninhabitable by the removal of the staircases.

Since Sunday 19 February the buildings have been occupied by people concerned to prevent their demolition.

OPEN is now considering the legality of the Council’s Planning Sub-Committee’s resolution on 6 February, and any decision by the Council to now act on the planning permission granted to demolish the buildings.
"

(Via OPEN Dalston High Court backs local campaign and orders Hackney Council to pay up: .)

Prince of Wales blames poor town planning for rise in obesity

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 22:02:07 GMT

"Prince Charles has expressed his concern over the increase in obesity in the UK by urging people to walk and cycle more."

(Via Leisure Opportunities News Prince of Wales blames poor town planning for rise in obesity: .)

Ally Pally consultation 'insult to the public'

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 09:25:36 GMT

"The public consultation process to determine who will run Alexandra Palace for the next 125 years has come under fire from angry residents and councillors."

(Via This Is Local London :: Top Stories Ally Pally consultation 'insult to the public': .)

1924 Clothing Heads To Everest

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 22:20:05 GMT

" Test results suggest it's up to the job, but climber Graham Hoyland will find out for real when he attempts to climb Everest dressed in exact replicas of Mallory and Irvine's clothing next year."

(Via OUTDOORSmagic 1924 Clothing Heads To Everest: .)

dinosaur, dickhead, Conti fights parking fine 'abuse'

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 09:27:44 GMT

"ACTOR Tom Conti has teamed up with a Kentish Town businessman to campaign against parking fines and the congestion charge."

(Via Camden Chronicle Film star Tom fights parking fine 'abuse': .)

'Wealth' church leader practised what he preached

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 21:21:24 GMT

"One of Britain's biggest churches, which lists among its aims 'the relief of poverty', paid its pastor hundreds of thousands of pounds and provided him with free accommodation and a car while it had millions in the bank. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo preaches at a service at the Kingsway International Christian Centre, Hackney.

The Charity Commission found evidence of 'serious' financial misconduct at the Kingsway International Christian Centre, in Hackney, east London."

On one occasion, £120,000 was spent celebrating the birthday of the senior pastor, Matthew Ashimolowo, of which £80,000 was used to buy a Mercedes. He bought a timeshare apartment in Florida for £13,000.

The church, which was founded by Mr Ashimolowo 19 years ago, attracts up to 10,000 mainly Afro-Caribbean worshippers a week to services in a converted warehouse near Hackney Marshes. The centre claims to be the fastest-growing church in Europe, with a total membership of 12,000.

(Via Telegraph | News: .)

Too busy to solve crimes

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 08:52:10 GMT

"THE average police officer in Hackney solves less than one crime a month, according to new figures from Conservatives on the London Assembly..."

(Via Hackney Gazette Too busy to solve crimes: .)

Battersea chimneys fate soon decided

Mon, 26 Sep 2005 10:45:06 GMT

"The future of Battersea power station's famous four chimneys is to be decided by planning bosses at a meeting next month."

(Via This Is Local London :: Top Stories Battersea chimneys fate soon decided: .)

Scientist: Global Warming Options Exist

Sun, 18 Sep 2005 20:36:59 GMT

"Scientist: Global Warming Options Exist Alley said he was upbeat about global warming because enough clever people existed in the world to find other reliable energy sources besides fossil fuels. He said people can get rich finding marketable alternatives to fossil fuel."

(Via Village News Scientist: Global Warming Options Exist: .)

Shot at artistic history

Sun, 18 Sep 2005 20:36:29 GMT

"Shot at artistic history Team pinpoints when Ansel Adams took 'Autumn Moon' and marks it at Yosemite.They used powerful software and telescopes and topographic maps to determine that Adams shot 'Autumn Moon' on Sept. 15, 1948, at 7:03 p.m. Then they determined that there would be a celestial encore on Thursday night ? the very same moon shadows, the same moon at the same spot in the sky as Adams' photograph. That is something that will happen only once every 19 years, or in their world, every 19-year Metonic lunar cycle."

(Via Village News Shot at artistic history: .)

Google unveils blog search site

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 15:08:16 GMT

"Google has launched a dedicated search site for weblogs."

(Via BBC News | Technology | UK Edition Google unveils blog search site: .)

Women left behind by transport system designed for men

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 10:48:21 GMT

"NEARLY 40 years ago a chart-topping hit from James Brown lamented: 'Man made the cars to take us over the world, Man made the train to carry the heavy load . . . This is a man's world, but it would be nothing without a woman to care...."

(Via Times Online - UK news Women left behind by transport system designed for men: .)

Bob Denver of 'Gilligan' fame dies at 70

Wed, 07 Sep 2005 12:36:56 GMT

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Bob Denver, whose portrayal of goofy castaway Gilligan on the 1960s TV show "Gilligan's Island" made him an iconic figure to generations of TV viewers, has died. He was 70.

He died Friday at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital in North Carolina of complications from treatment he was receiving for cancer, his agent, Mike Eisenstadt, told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

His wife, Dreama, and children Patrick, Megan, Emily and Colin were with Denver, who also had undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery earlier this year."Read full story for latest details."

(Via CNN.com Bob Denver of 'Gilligan' fame dies at 70: .)

Jews sans frontieres: Three poems by Michael Rosen

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 11:56:36 GMT

"By Michael Rosen, who is not now, nor has he ever been, a member of the Socialist Workers Party.

From Iraq We have no mouths
We evaporated
You don't see the holes in the ground where we were put
We are the unfound
We are uncounted" ........

(Via Jews sans frontieres: Three poems by Michael Rosen: .)

Parking problems pave way for demise of front gardens

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 23:25:34 GMT

"The traditional front garden is disappearing as people sacrifice lawns and flower beds to make room for their cars, new research shows."

(Via Telegraph News | UK News Parking problems pave way for demise of front gardens: .)

Sad bastards probably sit watching ground force and garden make-over shows as they get heavier and islated

Buildings falling apart

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 22:15:26 GMT

"A sick list of Hackney's historic buildings has revealed many of them are falling into neglect and disrepair. A total of 48 of the borough's listed buildings appear on the latest at risk' register, compiled each year by English Heritage..."

(Via Hackney Gazette Buildings falling apart: .)

Mobiles 'increase road accident risk'

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 17:01:57 GMT

"Motorists who use a mobile telephone when driving are four times more likely to have an accident, even if they use a hands-free system, new research says."

(Via Telegraph News | UK News Mobiles 'increase road accident risk': .)

Job cuts at Sutton House

Wed, 06 Jul 2005 19:03:41 GMT

"THREATENED job cuts at Hackney's award-winning Tudor mansion, Sutton House, could ruin its success in getting those least likely to visit such historic buildings through its doors.

Plans to restructure the management of east London's oldest home in Homerton High Street, as part of cost savings, will deprive people from poorer boroughs such as Hackney of the chance to enjoy the heritage and cultural activities which more affluent areas take for granted, warn campaigners opposing the cuts."

(Via Hackney Gazette Job cuts at Sutton House: .)

British tennis - your fault, not the LTA's

Sun, 03 Jul 2005 21:10:54 GMT

"These pages recently drew attention to the LTA's Inner City Challenge that took place in Clissold Park, Hackney, last month. "

(Via The Observer | Sport | British tennis - your fault, not the LTA's: .)

Cows cited as No. 1 source of a smog-producing gas

Sun, 03 Jul 2005 11:33:53 GMT

"Cows cited as No. 1 source of a smog-producing gas The local air district Monday estimated that each dairy cow emits 20.6 pounds of so-called volatile organic compounds per year, an increase of more than 60% over the estimate previously used."

(Via Village News Cows cited as No. 1 source of a smog-producing gas: .)

Bush's Strategy

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 20:11:04 GMT

"President Bush provided a comprehensive description of the US strategy in Iraq last night (transcript). Here's my problem with the current strategy in Iraq.

This insurgency isn't like previous ones. It is fundamentally different. Anybody that compares it to Vietnam, Malaysia, or the Philippines (at anything except the most general level) is wrong-headed. This insurgency is globally connected, radically decentralized, extremely innovative, and situated in a strategically important location (not a backwater). It will not respond to classic political overtures. It will only increase in intensity when direct military power is applied to it. It has already and will continue to project itself to hit targets both regional and global (through strategic strikes like Madrid and Kuwait). It is developing and using advanced methods of warfare that can and will be used by other groups all over the world (not directly connected to the insurgency, as we saw today in Israel). It is truly modern.

We aren't winning this by gutting it out in Iraq with a conventional approach. We are stepping on the accelerator..."

(Via John Robb's Weblog Bush's Strategy: .)

Lidos Yahoo Group: a poem for Victoria Park Lido (now deceased)

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 09:42:45 GMT

The Lido

More than just a place to swim or lark This municipal Atlantis in the park, Mid-modern, Art-Deco, mismatch, Yet still pleasing to the eye, A roofless watery hole in the ground Not quite square but almost round.

Through clattering turnstile to the changing room Complete with doorless cubicle and bleachy gloom, There's no avoiding the chlorine footbath On hurried tiptoe the great divide you cross, Into the sunlit liquid wonderland, Just like a beach without the sand.

With warm hard concrete under your back A radio somewhere plays a familiar track. As you look up, and the sun beats down And the highboard leans and reaches, You realise the Lido's great work of art; Dive into the canvas of which you are part.

(Via Yahoo! Groups : lidos Messages : Message 782 of 784: .)

Police collision casualties rise

Fri, 24 Jun 2005 09:44:34 GMT

"The number of people killed or injured in collisions involving police cars is up 60% in England and Wales."

(Via BBC News | UK Police collision casualties rise: .)

Brown rejects design for VC coin as too gloomy

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 15:31:57 GMT

"Gordon Brown has vetoed a new design for the 50p piece celebrating the creation of the Victoria Cross because it shows a British soldier about to be shot in the back."

(Via Telegraph News | UK News Brown rejects design for VC coin as too gloomy: .)

How to Disappear Completely

Tue, 14 Jun 2005 09:42:10 GMT

'City Hideout,' from Dutch design studio OOOMS, is a portable temporary dwelling made to fit one seated adult. The collapsable metal box resembles the kind of streetside sheds that commonly house electrical devices such as streetlight controls, new-age parking meters, and small generators. The hideout can be easily assembled on any corner or rooftop as the ultimate urban camouflage.

The most intriguing feature of this seemingly simple structure is the stark duality inherent in the design. When viewed as a form of escape and asylum from the city, a shelter from metropolitan neurosis, the hideout exudes an OK Computer-like charm, allowing its owner an opportunity to innocuously disappear amidst the bustle he can no longer handle. At the same time, the hideout's slits create the perfect condition for a new breed of urban voyeurism, suddenly casting its inhabitant as a pathological threat to all passers-by.

See an additional image after the jump.

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Posted in: Mobility