Help Save Homeless Londoners' Lives

 

"As temperatures drop to freezing, the @mayorofldn.bsky.social and London Councils have activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), which means that London boroughs and City Hall will be opening up emergency accommodation for rough sleepers".

Hat tip @tomcopley.bsky.social

West Hammers play defence then offense on tour for Sadiq & Labour 2024

 

Today I joined my West Ham ward Labour comrades John W, Ash and Varghese on a "GTVO" (Get the Vote out") canvass of key priority routes in our ward.

John & I picked up routes and leaflets from our campaign HQ in the morning. We then fueled up with the full english cooked breakfast at the Plaistow Cafe (recommended) then joined Varghese to finish off Corporation Street and to re-knock on doors that we had no response from last night. .

In the afternoon we met up with Asheem, as well and "knocked up" our other West Ham ward priority routes. After we finished them we were sent to another route in E7.

There was a positive Labour response but I am always a little paranoid during elections and I was concerned by the number of voters previously identified as Labour saying they were now "undecided".

Which is always a little worrying but let's wait and see. Count starts on Saturday in London.

It's Polling Day!

 

West Ham Ward Christmas Campaign: Sadiq Khan for London Labour Mayor in 2024

 

This morning I went to my Councillor advice surgery for local residents, then this afternoon I joined colleagues in the ward to deliver leaflets (Labour doorstep was down) for Sadiq Khan, to be re-elected as London Mayor in May 2024. 

We were joined by the Newham Labour Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and we also delivered leaflets for West Ham ward residents, on how to contact us if they have a problem (and also our Local MP, Lyn Brown and GLA, Assembly member, Unmesh  Desai). We were joined by Cllr Shaban Mohammed, who missed the group photo. 

People appreciated having information on contacting their elected representatives and were as you can imagine for the time of year, quite relaxed and many were happy to chat with us. 

I had one women say that "we are sort of Labour but we don't like Starmer". I responded that I didn't agree with everything he has said or done (I have never agreed with everything any Labour Leader has done) but he is the only leader who can defeat the tories, and that trumps everything. She did not disagree.

We finished off at the beginning (or end) of Corporation Road and had photo outside a relatively new and unusual family business run by two twin brothers - its a mens barbers and a cycle repair shop. One brother is a barber and the other a mechanic. Why not? Will bring my bikes there for a service. Take your bike in and he will give you a price (and if you are male, you can have a hair cut by his brother at the same time). 

Across Newham we had 4 different campaign sessions today.  

"Stratford sphere proposals rejected by London mayor"

 Hat tip BBC News. Good news for local residents!

The exterior of the "Sphere" would show adverts and visual displays, which locals say will stop them sleeping

By Noah Vickers

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans for a Las Vegas-style "Sphere" entertainment venue on the edge of the Olympic park in east London have been rejected by the mayor.

Sadiq Khan decided on Monday to block the giant eyeball-shaped dome proposed by Madison Square Garden Entertainment Company (MSG) on three key grounds, including light pollution.

The company said it was "disappointed in London's decision".

The final decision will go to Communities Secretary, Michael Gove.

Mr Khan rejected the development, citing the amount of light pollution that it would cause for Stratford residents, its huge electricity bill and associated lack of "green" credentials, and the impact it would have on heritage sites in the area.

A spokesperson for the mayor said: "London is open to investment from around the world and Sadiq wants to see more world-class, ambitious, innovative entertainment venues in our city.

"But as part of looking at the planning application for the MSG Sphere, the mayor has seen independent evidence that shows the current proposals would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents."

City Hall officers said the dome at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park would be a "detriment" to health

The Sphere, designed by architect Populous, would be a copy of the Madison Square Garden Sphere in Las Vegas, a $2bn (£1.6bn) arena which played host to U2 last month.

The London Sphere would be covered in LED panels and would stand almost 100m (300ft) high and 120m (360ft) wide. It would be built immediately to the east of the Olympic park.

The Sphere's main auditorium would have a 21,500 capacity.

'Detriment to health'

The detailed decision from City Hall showed Mr Khan, who is able to intervene in large planning applications, accepted officers' concerns about "significant light intrusion resulting in significant harm" to neighbouring properties.

There had been reports of residents having to fit blackout blinds to avoid the glare.

The City Hall documents also revealed the Sphere was considered a "detriment to human health" and causing "significant harm" to "hundreds" of Stratford residents in their own homes.

Greater London Authority officers had commissioned an independent expert review of the applicant's environmental statement in order to assess the concerns about light pollution.

The experts, WSP, "identified significant errors and omissions" in the applicant's assessment, according to City Hall.

This included not undertaking the measurements correctly and in line with UK guidance.

The London Legacy Development Committee (LLDC) previously backed the plans as a popular tourist attraction

City Hall said: "WSP concluded that the Illuminated Sphere, in conjunction with other artificial lighting within the proposed development… would be likely to have significant adverse effects on occupiers of nearby residential premises."

This included at least 33 homes in the New Garden Quarter residential development; 28 homes in the Legacy Tower/Stratford Central; and 177 student rooms in the Unite student accommodation building.

The size of the Sphere would make it a "bulky, unduly dominant and incongruous form of development" and cause harm to the setting of 16 heritage buildings, including the Grade II* listed Stratford Theatre Royal and three conservation areas.

The London Legacy Development Corporation, which first determines planning applications in the Olympic park, gave its approval in March last year.

Mr Gove had already issued an "Article 31 direction", informing the LLDC that he was considering whether to call in the plans - effectively giving him the final say on whether it is granted planning permission.

A Sphere Entertainment spokesperson said: "While we are disappointed in London's decision, there are many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities. We will concentrate on those."

London Labour Party Conference 2023 - Day 1

 

From my twitter feed as a UNISON Labour Link Delegate.

At @LondonLabour annual conference. Chair of Regional board #MaggiFerncombe opens conference

Next our @labour leader @Keir_Starmer MP gives key note speech on why we will only get a #labour government by winning the trust of the #British people.

Next a panel on #CostOfLivingCrises with our own @unisontheunion @unisonglr @labourunionsuk
secretary @JoelBodmer (former chair @UnisonHAB) @kimleadbeater @RNBlake #petermandelson. Peter advises us to treat recent polls like smoking cannabis "smoke but do not inhale"

After break we now have panel on "winning the General Election - getting into power" with
@LondonLabour Pearleen Sangha @elliereeves

During lunch I attended part of fringe by @RMTunion speaker Mick Lynch, @DawnButlerBrent
#ellybaker. Good to hear of their support for @labour "New Deal for working people"

Standing ovation for barn storming speech by @lisanandy on fixing the broken housing market by building #council homes (& many other things)

After Lisa panel on "House & home - solving Britain's housing crisis" @ShamaTatler Osama Bhutta
@Shelter Anya Marton @PricedOutUK chaired by @DannyBeales @Semakaleng makes point that in #london we need at least 30k social homes pa

Motions debate: @unisonglr convenor & @LondonLabour #labourlink delegate @Yvonneg57841905 seconds #Abuse is not part of the job" @CroydonUNISON

Proposing motion on "Post-Brexit - Working in Partnership" moved by @GMB_union @newham_labour @NewhamBooker @LondonLabour

Seconding the Post-Brexit motion is @CvobUnison Branch Chair & @unisonglr #LabourLink delegate @MarcelaBenede10

"It's now cheaper to save the planet than to destroy it" @Ed_Miliband speaks on "The green sprint" debate with @Miatsf @HughGoulbourne @hennassh

Final panel "Lessons from local government" @LGA_Labour Peter Robbins @timroca85 @CllrAsma_Islam @KamRai7 @GracieMaeW Regional @LondonLabour director Pearleen Sangha making her report to Conference

And final speaker @LondonLabour London Mayor @SadiqKhan . "More council homes being built in London since 1970s" "Nothing quite like handing a key to anew home to a family" "next election is a choice between a Labour Mayor on side of Londoners & a Tory on side of this rotten Government"

All our London EU Citizens can vote Sadiq for London on May 6

All our London EU Citizens can vote Sadiq for London on May 6

Also whether you're working from home, juggling work and childcare or working shifts on the frontline, the safest and easiest way to have your say is to vote by post. Just fill in your details here https://earlyvote.labour.org.uk/tu, print, sign and post your form to register. 

In England and Wales you have until Tuesday 20 April for your council to receive your form.

Vote Safely. Vote at Home. Vote by Post.

Hat tip https://earlyvote.labour.org.uk/tu