ASSEMBLY BACKS FIGHT TO SAVE POST OFFICES... 'CHILD BRIDES' SCHOOLGIRL TRUENCY SHOCK ... MELA FESTIVAL SCRAPPED WITH 2 MONTHS TO GO... TOWN HALL GOES TO LORDS OVER CROSSRAIL...

ASSEMBLY BACKS FIGHT TO SAVE POST OFFICES

PLANS to close a fifth of London's post offices have been unanimously condemned by the London Assembly. A motion describing the proposed closures as "misguided and disastrous" has been passed by Assembly members at City Hall today (Weds). It also slams Postwatch for accepting the rationale for the closures.

THE Advertiser is joining its readers to fight to save five East End sub post offices under threat, at 75 Whitechapel Rd, Watney St, Devons Rd, Heylyn Sq and The Quarterdeck.

Join the Advertiser's online campaign:

petition

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'CHILD BRIDES' SCHOOLGIRL TRUENCY SHOCK ...

FEARS have been raised that children as young as 14 are being taken out of schools in East London to become 'child brides' in forced marriages abroad. Tower Hamlets was named in a Government report as having some of the highest numbers of forced marriages in Britain.

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MELA FESTIVAL SCRAPPED WITH 2 MONTHS TO GO

THE main cultural festival for Britain's Bangladeshi community, the Baishakhi Mela, which attracts 100,000 spectators to London's East End each year, has been cancelled just two months to go. Tower Hamlets council has refused to allow any public park to be used "on safety grounds."

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TOWN HALL GOES TO LORDS OVER CROSSRAIL

TOWN Hall bosses have addressed the House of Lords Select Committee examining the unresolved issues surrounding the massive excavations planned for London's proposed Crossrail project. Tower Hamlets council has submitted a petition setting out objections to several issues which have not yet been settled.

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OLYMPICS RADIOACTIVE SOIL BEING REMOVED

RADIOACTIVE soil discovered at the 2012 Olympics site is being taken away in the next few weeks, the Olympics Delivery authority has confirmed. Contaminated soil from years of industrial pollution has been stockpiled on the site before it can be disposed of safely.

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MAYOR UNWRAPS NEW 3-CAR DLR TRAIN FOR 2012

THE new three-carriage DLR train is being unveiled for the first time tomorrow (Thurs) by the Mayor of London at West India Quay station. Longer trains are bring brought in to meet growing passenger numbers in time for the 2012 Olympics at Stratford.

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BY-ELECTION LOOMS AS COUNCILLOR STEPS DOWN

TOWER Hamlets councillor Louise Alexander has resigned. The Lib Dem member for Weavers ward in Bethnal Green stood down on Monday for 'personal reasons.' A by-election is expected to be held on May 1.

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CURRY TOUTS 'NAMED & SHAMED' BY TOWN HALL

TOWN Hall bosses have issued a list 'name and shame' list of restaurants they say have flouted the law banning street touting along Brick Lane's 'Curry Mile' who have breached the byelaw. They have so far prosecuted 16 eateries since the ban came in 18 months ago.

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