MOST people in London’s East End don’t say Tower Hamlets’ when asked where they live or work, the Town Hall has admitted. They think of districts such as Whitechapel and Poplar, rather than the municipal name of the borough, one leading council cabinet member has found

By Mike Brooke

MOST folk in London’s East End don’t answer Tower Hamlets’ when asked where they live or work, the Town Hall has admitted.

They think of districts such as Whitechapel and Poplar, rather than the municipal name of the borough, one leading council cabinet member has found.

So the local authority has divided up its latest Local Development Framework looking at the East End’s future into 24 identifiable’ districts and parishes with its six-week public consultation running until March 19.

“Ask an East Ender where they live and many will say Whitechapel, Bow or Poplar—not Tower Hamlets’,” admits council cabinet member Marc Francis.

“So our Local Development Framework takes into account these sentiments and suggests a distinct character for each of the Tower’ hamlets that make up the borough.”

Among ideas being thrashed out in the blueprint’ for the East End’s future are major improvements to Whitechapel, resulted from the 2012 Olympics preparations, the Royal London Hospital expansion, the new Crossrail station and the East London Line extension.

Whitechapel originally lost its parish’ identity in 1900 when it was absorbed into the new Metropolitan Borough of Stepney, which in turn lost its municipal’ status along with Poplar and Bethnal Green in 1965 when the London Borough of Tower Hamlets was created.

Other ideas in the blueprint’ are the expansion of Canary Wharf and a new town centre at Bromley-by-Bow.

Public consultation drop in’ sessions are being held at the four Idea Store library centres, Whitechapel on Monday (Feb 9), 12noon to 4pm, Canary Wharf on Tuesday, 11am-3pm, Poplar’s Chrisp Street on Wednesday, 10am-2pm, and Bow on Thursday, 10am-2pm.

A Local Development’ help-line has also been set up on 020-7364 5367, or email.