"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."

Corporation Street, West Ham doorstep Surgery: Boris, Planning, Cats & Parrot

Interesting morning carrying out a doorstep surgery in Corporation Street, West Ham, E15. This is reputed to be the longest residential street in Newham. The four of us managed to cover around half of the properties. 

I had a conversation with a lifelong Tory supporter, who was so disgusted with Boris Johnson over Downing Street Covid parties that he will be voting Labour for the first time ever. It is rare that residents mention national politics but it would appear that Boris is currently haemorrhaging traditional support for the Tories. 

We had picked Corporation Street in part because there is a planning committee meeting later this month to consider an application to build a new 6th form school and housing at the next door site of the old Ford car showrooms https://pa.newham.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=R5I67TJY5NA00 alongside. Residents can make comments by 26 February. We wanted to ask residents what they thought of the development. This is by far the biggest redevelopment plan in the ward. 

Most residents we spoke to about the proposal were in favour of something being done with the site after many years of remaining empty but had concerns about the proposed height of development and noise during construction. I mentioned my concerns about the proposed lack of social housing at the site and residents shared this concern. 

There were two delightful friendly kittens to be fussed over (but seemed far too young to be out in the street but their owner assured us they were well looked after) while another, more elderly black and white cat, simply turned his or her head away from me when I said "hello". 

The parrot in the collage was not real but a garden ornament. 

For a change, I had no Councillor case work, I made 20 contacts, with no-one declaring themselves against and only a few "undecided" but all of us found it was overwhelmingly a pro Labour surgery and people seemed  pretty content with the Council. 

"Backlash over bid to install 'eyesore' 5G mast near Grade I-listed church in West Ham"

In last weeks local newspaper "Newham Recorder" there was an article featuring concern by West Ham Ward Residents about proposals to place an "eyesore" 5G mast in the ward.

There are actually 2 such planning applications (one possibly located just outside the ward but overlooked by constituents).

Local Councillors have arranged a site visit for tomorrow (Wednesday 8 September - Meet Devenay Road E15 6:30pm and Church Parade E15 7pm). Please come if you can or send your comments direct to Planning.

 

Back to physical (but blended) Council meetings

 

The Government has let the emergency Covid legislation allowing Councils to hold legal virtual only meetings to end. There was an unsuccessful judicial review against this decision, so I had to attend the Newham Council Local Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday in person, so that I can speak and vote on the applications.

The meeting was held in the "former" ground floor canteen of Newham Dockside building. 7 Councillors attended and while there was a few Council officers present to help run the meeting, planning officers and applicants joined "virtually" (there was no objectors to any of the planning applications present. This is a shame since there had been some online objections). 

There was some detailed advice on Covid safe precautions. I had to fill out a rather personal risk assessment on my health and any possible medical risks. Also, I was advised to take a Covid lateral flow test on the day (I ordered online Friday and the kit arrived Monday to my home address). The test was not as complicated as I thought it would be (check out the government video) and reminded me of the Chemistry Kits we had as kids. My test was negative. 

There was strict social distancing at the physical meeting and we all had to wear masks unless we were speaking.  It was concerning that some Councillors had been told that they did not have to have a Covid test beforehand since all staff had one. I think this was unwise. 

I fully admit in one way it was very nice to see Councillor and staff colleagues in person after so long.

While I felt comfortable at attending the meeting, I am sure that for many other Councillors/officers who may be elderly, shielding or have underlying health conditions, may not think it is safe to attend such meetings at this moment despite having jabs. While younger Councillors who have not had vaccine jabs may be concerned about the vulnerable adults they live with. 

If Councillors cannot attend these physical meetings they cannot vote on applications and risk being kicked off the Council if they do not attend such meetings in a six month period. 

Why on earth the Covid legislation could not have been extended to allow virtual only Council meetings for a few months longer is beyond me. Ask Boris. 

You can check out a recording of the meeting on YouTube here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqNoCDN-mkk

Planning issues usually make my head hurt.....

Planning issues usually make my head hurt but thanks to @NewhamLondon officers for today helping Cllrs and local residents understand better the #LocalPlan #localcentre #towncentre #contiguous #ribboneffect. 

The idea of calling the left hand local centre the "#FatChaps centre" was all mine. 

I had local knowledge #bestkebabs

Planning Battle Won for More Social Housing (War continues)

I was really proud tonight of West Ham Ward residents who objected, organised and worked hard to oppose a planning application that would have robbed local people and the homeless of chance of homes at an "affordable" or social rent.

We managed to persuade the Newham Strategic planning Committee to unanimously defer the application due to failures in consultation and uncertainty around the provision of social housing. Many thanks for taking this decision and to the members of  West Hammers Team 4 Social Housing - Tina, Ian, John, Joe & Seyi (sorry if I have missed anyone out).

Tina was very good at the meeting, quoting that the Newham Mayor, Robin Wales, had very  recently told Clive Betts MP and his House of Commons Select Committee that at least 35-50% homes are always affordable in Newham development. So she asked why in this scheme are we only be offered 25%?

We all had 2 minutes to speak.

I said "My name is John Gray and I have been a Cllr since 2010 for West Ham ward where this site is located, speaking in support of residents objections against this application. I would like to start by saying ward Cllrs and Residents want to work with the developers to resolve our differences but the percentage of social housing offered is utterly and absolutely unacceptable

I also speak as someone who has spent most of his professional career working in housing in east London, I am genuinely amazed that this application is only proposing that 25% of these homes to be so called “affordable”.

This is a prime site, right next to a tube station with excellent other transport, retail & leisure facilities. There is limited decontamination works to be done to prepare the site.

Therefore, if Cllrs were minded to pass this application, I would like them to suspend the process and order that the financial viability plan put forward by the developers, claiming that they can only only afford 25% is published and put out to public scrutiny like other local authorities do.

Let me be clear, I have never met nor no knowledge of these particular property developers however it is in the public arena that other developers have padded out their plans with costs that they have no intention of spending.

For example, claiming they will use expensive building materials, when in practise they use much cheaper materials, in the knowledge that the local authority will not have the ability or resource to check.

So please, pause this application and let elected representatives and residents make sure that no one is cooking the books".

Result was application deferred and developers have (sort of) agreed to disclose viability plan and agreed to meet us in person (and I will want team West Hammers)

(see pictures of some members of West Hammers outside the dreadful hoarding outside the Stratford Town Hall which I have already complained about further to the Newham Chief Executive Officer) 

25% so-called "Affordable" Housing is not enough! West Ham Branch Labour Canvass & Petition about former Ford Car showrooms development.

Picture collage from last Sunday when I was with Cllr John Whitworth and a West Ham CLP Labour team campaigning in my ward, West Ham. We were again asking for signatures for a branch petition calling for more social housing on the proposed development of the former Ford Car showrooms in 259 Plaistow Road, E15. Every resident I spoke to signed the petition.

There is a meeting of the Newham Council Strategic Planning Committee this Tuesday 20 February 2018 at 6pm at the Old Town Hall in Stratford to decide on the application.  Councillor Whitworth and I have asked for speaking rights on opposing the application. Other local Party activists are also attending.

I am really disappointed that Council officers have decided to recommend that the committee accepts the developers offer of only 25% of the development being for so-called "affordable" homes and not the 35-50% required according to the Newham Plan and the 50% requirement according to the GLA London wide (draft) plan.

This is a significant development with 323 homes proposed.

Below is copy of an email that we sent to Council officers about the development last year

“Dear Deirdra, In response to your letter to residents, inviting them to comment on the application to develop the 259 Plaistow Road site, we as ward councillors would like to state that we will only support this application if the Assessed in Section 8 of the report. London Borough of Newham,259 Plaistow Road, E15 3EU proportion of agreed affordable housing is in the 35-50% range and that 60% of this is social housing. This is, of course, a requirement of Newham’s housing policy. We believe that we reflect a strong feeling in the ward and beyond that this site should yield a large number of much needed social housing units. 

Thank you for your attention. 
Regards, 

Cllr Freda Bourne, Cllr John Gray, Cllr John Whitworth West Ham Ward”

While I understand that that there are legal restrictions on what Council officers and planning committees can consider in such applications, I think it should be rejected and the developers told to go away and come back with a fresh proposal with far more social housing to be included. I believe that the developers will face very significant local opposition including lawful direct action if this does not happen.

Check out my previous post here  and there is still time to sign the on line petition 

Call for Action: West Ham Labour Xmas Campaigning & Events Update

Dear Member

West Ham Labour Party Xmas update

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Looking forward to an early general election and a Labour Government in 2018 with Jeremy Corbyn as our Prime Minister.

As well as the usual campaigning and political events there are also surveys and petitions that you are being asked to participate in and support.

Councillor Candidate’s selection meeting postponed until New Year. 
Firstly, apologies to members who had reserved last weekend for the chance to elect candidates to be our Labour Party candidates in the local elections in May 2018. Due to a number of appeals outstanding for applicants who did not pass the initial interview the Regional Labour Party has postponed the selections until the New Year. We will let you know the new date ASAP

“Bookmakers target people who can’t afford to lose their money on these machines” 
Our MP Lyn Brown asks you to support her call to curb the blight being caused to our community by Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBT) and take part in the government consultation. Check out further information https://westhamlabour.org/2017/12/11/west-ham-clp-member-fixed-odd-betting-terminal-fobt-consultation-call-for-action/

“In response to years of Newham’s campaigning the Government has now launched a consultation survey which might lead to these terrible FOBT machine stakes being reduced.  But we need to make sure that gambling industry lobby don’t dominate the responses, which is why we would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to respond to the survey online by clicking this link.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3XGGFP7

Newham Council: More Social Housing in Plaistow Petition
West Ham Ward ask you to support their online petition on a controversial planning application. See stall on 14 December. So please share with all your Newham friends and family: http://chn.ge/2iq4UKb

If you are interested in planning policy then Newham Council is also undergoing a review of its #LocalPlan Proposed Submission is open until the 16th January, so have your say! www.newham.gov.uk/planningconsultations” (warning this is heavy going but important)

West Ham CLP General Committee motion was passed calling on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner: To Suspend police officers under investigation for deaths of Edson da Costa & Rashan Charles. You can read more and sign the petition here: http://chn.ge/2zmfXa9

Zero Tolerance
Also please read the article on our website by our CLP Women’s officer, Seyi Akiwowo, about our zero tolerance of Sexual Harassment in our Partyhttps://westhamlabour.org/2017/11/29/west-ham-clps-zero-tolerance-approach-to-sexual-harassment/

Marked Register data inputting
If you have some time to spare before the New Year then contact our CLP secretary alangriffiths_per@yahoo.co.uk to volunteer to help us input the “Marked Register” data from the General Election into Labour Party records. He will explain if contacted.

Future Dates

Thursday 14th December – 6-7.30pm Street staff on West Ham ward petition for social housing outside Plaistow Station E13 organiser

Thursday 14th December – Newham Compass debate: “What should the Left be doing about Brexit?” at East Ham Working Men’s Club, Boleyn Road E6 1QE at 7.30 pm. Stephen Timms MP & Gordon Murray of the SNP are the speakers. Contact owenseaster@gmail.com for details.

Saturday 16th December – 1030hrs CTS Corner Tarling and Radland Road, E16 Organiser Terry Paul

Saturday 16th December, 11.00am, Stratford International DLR Station. Leafleting in E20. Contact: Clive Troubman,

Wednesday 20 December – 7.30pm to late Newham Co-operative Party Crimbo Social. Westbridge Hotel, High Street Stratford, E15. John Gray/Neil Wilson organising

Thursday 4 January 6.30pm FGN Canvass meet outside Forest Gate Tavern E7(before ward meeting) John Gray organiser

Saturday 13th January at 11am Plaistow North  canvassing session on meeting at Plaistow station E13 contact Daniel or Mehmood.

Saturday 13th January 11-1pm Custom House Canvass check CLP website for meeting point and organiser)

Sunday 14 January 11.30 FGN Canvass (check CLP website for meeting point and organiser)

Saturday January 20th – 1100 am to 1 pm. PS Meeting at Plaistow  Library  E13 9HL
Contact Neil Wilson

Thursday 25th January – West Ham CLP GC, 306 High Street, Stratford E15 – Visiting Speaker Nia Griffths, Shadow Defence Secretary

Saturday 27 January 11.30am FGN Canvass meet outside Hibiscus Community Centre E15 1SP organiser John Gray 

Sunday 28 January 11-1pm Custom House Canvass check CLP website for meeting point and organiser)

Sunday January 28th 2.00pm to 4.00 pm PS Meeting at Plaistow Library E13 9HL Contact Neil Wilson

Monday 26 February 7pm Newham Full Council Meeting, East Ham Town Hall E6

We look forward to seeing you at future events and campaigns!

Regards

John Gray
Vice Chair (Campaigns and Comms) West Ham CLP
e westhamlabour@gmail.com
t @westhamlabour
f westhamlabour
w westhamlabour.org

West Ham Councillor Report: November 2015

Councillor Report to West Ham Ward

WEST HAM WARD LABOUR PARTY tel: 07432 150 *** or email John.Gray@newham.gov.uk

 

Ward meeting 5 November 2015 

 

• Leafleting Ward for Sadiq Khan to be London Mayor & door knocking last weekend.
• There is a By-election in Boleyn ward East Ham on 3.12.1.  Veronica Oakeshott is the excellent Labour candidate.
• I attended the memorial service to murdered PC Nina Mackay on 24 October in Arthingworth Street, West Ham. Plan for next year as a wider community event?
• Car parking chaos off the Portway, E15. Need CPZ urgently. Resident Petitions to present to next full council.
• Complaints about closure of Greenway. I have cycled around division and made representations. Planning to meet Newham Cyclists to discuss further.
• Walkabout with residents in Dirleton Road, E15 about Parking, Environmental and ASB.
• Walkabout with residents and Council officers in Brasset Point Tower block about communal repairs, environmental and ASB
• The school governing bodies for Rebecca Cheetham Nursery School and Ranelagh Primary School are merging. (I am an authority governor at RCNS)
• Housing. Key surgery issue. I dread to think what will happen with “pay to stay” and “right to buy” to Housing Associations stealing properties from London Councils to fund election bribes in Tory shires, who have got rid of all their council housing.
• Section 106 money taken away to fund so called “start-up” homes that in London can only be afforded by the rich.
• Investigating complaints that West Ham homeless families kept in Bed and Breakfast hotels beyond statutory limits and impact of Council tax demands on low income families.
• I moved the UNISON motion on “The Housing Crisis” at the TUC Congress this year.
• Tax credits. Never thought I would say thanks for the House of Lords. West Ham worse hit in the country. Strivers and hard working families’ tax credits being taken away to fund tax breaks for millionaires.
• Disgusted to see that West Ham FC Vice Chairman, Baroness Brady, voted with the government to take away tax credits from working families, even though around 40% of working families rely on the credits and nearly half of all children in Newham are growing up in poverty according to the Campaign to End Child Poverty.
• Planning. “Stop notice” on Plaistow Road Muslim Education and Community Centre. I don’t think that the State should interfere in the right to worship except in exceptional circumstances.
• Voted against council accounts 2014/2015 on Investment and Accounts Committee, since I was not given the opportunity to attend joint meeting with audit and question auditors. Also not satisfied with budget governance.
• Pensions for mayoral advisers. Do not believe that at a time of savage cuts to our budget, mayor advisers (or backbench Cllrs) should be gaining a 14% increase in allowances. Attended first Council Scrutiny “call in” in possibly 10 years over issue.
• Special purpose vehicle for Council pension scheme. Spoke against at cabinet. Public money spent before any scrutiny. Also attended “call in”.
• LOBOs. ‎We are spending millions of pounds in excess interest rates on capital loans. We are being ripped off by Banks. I have contributed to a joint article on Labour list and worked with Cllr Whitworth on disclosure.
• I have complained to the Council CEO and the monitoring officer about the continued refusal of Council officers to disclose important information on financial matters to elected members for no substantive reason.
• Finally. Labour Party conference and leadership. Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson deserve a chance to develop and build the Party in order to win the General election in 2020.