- TRIAL BY JEORY -
	Reflections on a stint in London’s East End TWO Saturdays ago, the Tories, with an eye to the 2010 council and possible Parliamentary elections, leafleted my street in Bow. “Roman Road Fiasco!” thundered the headline on the ‘In Touch Bow Conservatives’ flyer... “Labour forced through Morrisons-Safeway planning application” Now, the people of Bow are not thick. Bow Conservatives on this one are certainly not “in touch.” Do they think we’re muppets? Yes, it was Labour who eventually “forced” that application through, but only because the Tories by boycotting the committee had been unable to cast their decisive vote... » MORE

Gun site is out of protest range

IT’S ALWAYS amusing to listen to the sound of council officers squealing when they accidentally let the cat out of the bag. Not so funny for the people whose homes they’re messing with though... » MORE

Hiding our proud Olympic flag from East Enders

JUST a few hundred metres from where I live in Bow, there’s a large building site. Take a stroll down the ‘Greenway’ and you get a detailed view of one of the most awe-inspiring construction projects anywhere in Europe: the Olympic Stadium site—So what are Tower Hamlets councillors doing now we’re an official ‘host’ borough? Well. They’re flying a London Olympic flag... » MORE

Does Vicky Park really need a spruce-up?

TOWER Hamlets council is about to embark on another of those schemes it describes as “consultation”—this time about how to “improve” Victoria Park. Some are cynical about these things, believing they’re merely tick-box exercises to dress up pre-determined choices... » MORE

Town Hall can learn—from our Hackney neighbours

FOR a fair while now, members of the Tower Hamlets 'development' and 'strategic development' committees have been urged to undertake more site visits before actually determining any planning application. Having watched Hackney councillors conduct their committee debate last week, I think our lot at Tower Hamlets should visit Hackney Town Hall too... » MORE

So what’s happened to that promise about Bonner School playground?

TWO years ago, in the face of local and national opposition, the council maintained its course and ploughed its PFI-funded bulldozers straight into heart of Old Bonner School in Bethnal Green. In place of the cherished Victorian building, they built a tarmac playground. And to soften the blow to the public, the council promised the new playground would be open to the local community out of school hours... » MORE

Seeking to join the ranks of ‘Heroes’

A GLANCE at the Letters Page in the East London Advertiser (July 10) shows I seem to have ruffled the feathers of Council Leader Lutfur Rahman’s peacock-in-chief, Marc Francis. Bless him. The stress of his new job must be taking its toll. Either that, or the early praise dished out to him from this and other quarters has gone to his ever-so-modest head—like a character from ‘Heroes,’ he’s apparently been sending emails to practically everyone in Tower Hamlets promising the earth)... » MORE

Town Hall, unlike Parliament, has prayer breaks

A LOT of people skit at councillor types. Quite rightly, many think these low level politicians are in it for themselves, their ego and a pathetic desire for an inflated community status. But there are some who genuinely care. Take events at the Town Hall on July 2. I left to go to the pub two hours into the meeting, when Mayor Abdus Salique called a 15-minute prayer break, a development which many are uncomfortable with since they are actually meant to be secular sessions. After all, Parliament doesn’t break for these things... » MORE

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