Another late post from me — this time about last month’s walkabout in West Ham ward, starting outside the Vicarage Lane Community Centre and focusing on anti‑social behaviour concerns on both sides of the lane.
The walkabout was organised and led by my ward colleague Cllr Adjoa Kwarteng, and my thanks go to everyone who joined us:
West Ham Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team,
Council Highways and Housing officers,
Local residents, who brought detailed knowledge of the area and its challenges.
Residents highlighted a number of persistent ASB issues affecting the locality. Several environmental improvements were identified that could help reduce — or even “design out” — opportunities for crime and nuisance behaviour. These ranged from small practical fixes to more structural changes that will require coordinated action.
The key theme throughout was simple: residents, council and police working together. When all three come together on the ground, solutions become clearer and progress becomes possible.
An action plan is now being pulled together, and another walkabout is planned later this month to check progress and continue the joint work.
Being a history buff, I was delighted to spot that the local post box has been standing there since the reign of Edward VII — meaning it’s well over a century old. I asked local resident Bill whether he remembered it being installed… he assured me he did not!
Today I returned to Canning Town Library to cover the Councillor surgery of my colleague Cllr Shaban Mohammed, who had kindly covered my West Ham Ward surgery recently.
The session was scheduled for 10–11am but continued well past midday due to the number of residents seeking help.
Issues raised included:
Housing disrepair
Overcrowding
Allocation bids
Crime and ASB
Litter
Highway and parking concerns
Immigration matters (referred to James Asser MP)
Some residents had hoped to follow up on cases previously raised with Cllr Mohammed, but were very happy to discuss them with me. I was struck by how many households were dealing with multiple housing problems while also caring for children with disabilities, making already difficult situations significantly harder.
I will pass existing cases back to Cllr Mohammed and raise new Member Enquiries on his behalf for the fresh issues brought today.
After the surgery I joined (very late!) my West Ham ward colleague Cllr Adjoa Kwarteng to meet residents for an estate walkabout focused on serious ASB and parking issues.
Along the route I also identified:
Overflowing bins in green spaces
Abandoned vehicles
Dangerous parking blocking emergency access routes
We will both be raising further Member Enquiries to ensure these matters are followed up.
On my way I also passed the plaque honouring Jack Leslie, the Canning Town‑born footballer who became the first Black player selected for England — a reminder of the borough’s proud history.
This is a factual round‑up of my recent activities as one of your West Ham Ward Councillors. Please feel free to share with neighbours, community groups, and WhatsApp chats.
On Monday evening, Cllr Kwarteng and I attended an in‑person induction session on Adults’ and Children’s Safeguarding delivered by Newham Social Services. The training covered our responsibilities as councillors and corporate parents, and what steps we must take when we encounter safeguarding concerns in the community.
Residents can find more information here:
Safeguarding Children: https://www.newham.gov.uk/children-families/safeguarding-children
Safeguarding Adults: https://www.newham.gov.uk/health-adult-social-care/sg-raising-alert/2
On Wednesday evening, I joined a mandatory online training session for members of the Council’s Pension Committee. Although I’ve served on various pension bodies over the years, it was helpful to revisit the fundamentals and ensure full compliance with current governance requirements.
On Thursday lunchtime, I cycled to Maud Gardens to meet residents, Council officers, and Cllr Kwarteng for a walkabout focused on anti‑social behaviour, cleaning issues, and estate improvements. A number of concerns were raised, and several practical actions were agreed. We will be circulating an action plan to residents and arranging a follow‑up meeting. Further walkabouts will take place across West Ham ward and elsewhere in Newham.
We had planned a mobile street surgery on Saturday morning, but due to the extreme heat we decided not to knock on doors unless responding to specific issues.
Instead, I joined local ward activist Pravin to carry out checks in St Stephens and Abby Road, reporting communal issues using the Love Clean Streets app: https://lovecleanstreets.info We logged:
Litter in play areas
Overflowing communal bins
Overgrown shared garden areas
Defective entry doors
After completing her 2½‑hour surgery at Vicarage Lane Community Centre, Cllr Kwarteng joined us and we door‑knocked a road affected by recent missed domestic bin collections, likely linked to British Gas works. Residents confirmed collections had resumed, but we will follow up to ensure service failures do not recur.
This morning I held my West Ham ward Councillor surgery at Vicarage Lane Community Centre. Arriving at 10am, I found seven residents already waiting to speak with me.
Two residents raised an urgent parking and anti-social behaviour (ASB) issue. I was able to offer practical advice on next steps and we also discussed the possibility of arranging a public meeting involving local residents, the Council, and the Police — something I am confident my ward councillor colleagues would support.
Three further residents came forward with more serious ASB concerns in the ward. I had previously spoken to one of them during the recent campaign and have already raised the matter with local Police. I will be carrying out a walkabout and inspection of the area later this week, hopefully alongside ward colleagues and relevant officers.
Another case involved a dispute over a parking ticket. While Councillors cannot normally intervene due to this being a legal process, the evidence presented suggested there may have been maladministration. I therefore agreed to raise a Members’ Enquiry requesting a review. However, I made it clear that I am not a decision-maker in this process and advised the resident not to delay any formal appeal — which they understood and agreed with.
The surgery overran, and just as I was leaving, a local resident arrived seeking help. I apologised as I had to attend another meeting in East Ham, and she was happy to follow up by email regarding her housing repair concerns.
It was a busy morning (followed by a full on afternoon meeting), but a good day. Being a Councillor can be challenging, but supporting residents as they deal with often serious issues — and doing so to the best of your ability — is both important and rewarding.
Yesterday evening myself and my Labour & Co‑op Councillor colleague Adjoa Kwarteng with Green Councillor Ibrahim Alom attended the meeting of the West Ham Ward Panel, alongside local residents and four officers from our Safer Neighbourhoods Team.
The session opened with the panel’s AGM, where residents re‑elected the Chair and confirmed all existing panel members for another year. Only residents can stand or vote, which keeps the panel firmly rooted in the community it represents.
The main discussion focused on crime and anti‑social behaviour across the ward. Residents raised a number of concerns, and councillors and the SNT were able to agree several areas of joint action — including issues on Council estate land and properties managed by local housing associations. We also received helpful guidance on what can be done to address a safety hazard at the Portway entrance to West Ham Park.
A recurring theme from residents and Councillors was the impact of a local betting shop which appears to attract ASB to the surrounding area. This will be followed up as part of the wider partnership work.
Councillors also asked for closer links with the West Ham Volunteer Police Cadets, and for details of plans for the annual PC Nina Mackay memorial event later this year, as well as the Remembrance Sunday service at All Saints Church. It would be excellent to see the cadets and local schools involved in these important community moments.
Overall, it was a constructive meeting with strong resident leadership and a clear shared commitment to improving safety and wellbeing across West Ham.
Sunday started early with a cycle over to my ward and a hearty breakfast at the Plaistow Café — the kind of place where the tea is strong, the portions generous, and the conversations even better.
From there I joined local residents for a site visit at a long‑derelict plot in West Ham where they hope to build a much‑needed community centre. I made clear that I’ll be a critical friend to the project: supportive, experienced, and honest about what specialist advice and guidance they’ll need to turn a great idea into a real, sustainable asset for local people. My ward colleague Cllr Adjoa Kwarteng could not attend but will be organising another site visit.
Next stop was West Ham Park, where I met our newly elected Executive Mayor, Forhad Hussain. We treated ourselves to a Rossi ice cream and took a walk around the park. It felt a bit like accompanying a film star — every few steps someone stopped to congratulate him, shake his hand, or ask for a selfie. The warmth and pride from residents was unmistakable.
A good Sunday: community at its best, people with ambition for their neighbourhood, and a Mayor who clearly connects with those he serves.
Vicarage Lane Community Centre
Weekly Drop‑In Surgeries
Contact Us Anytime
John.Gray@newham.gov.uk
020 3373 2615 Adjoa.Kwarteng@newham.gov.uk 020 3373 1539
Ward Newsletter
