Local Info

NEWS: Crowdfunded campaign to oppose proposed working wharf and 6 Tower Blocks on London City Island

A planning application has been submitted to Tower Hamlets Council which will have a massive impact on anyone living in City Island or Goodluck Hope. The RA has voted to oppose this because it will lead to dangerously high pollution from thousands of vehicles every week, which would be toxic for residents, especially anyone with asthma or other respiratory condition. Traffic levels could also block the roads and prevent emergency vehicles getting to CI and GLH causing dangerous delays if a fire engine or ambulance is needed.

A crowdfund has been set up that has raised over Â£8,000 to commission reports from traffic, planning and air quality experts. This has been submitted to the council for their consideration as part of the planning process (ref PA/20/02488/A1).

To read the report and Objection letter, please click on the link below:

Orchard Wharf Objection Letter (with attached traffic and air quality reports) from London City Island and Goodluck Hope LRA 26.03.21

More funds are needed, so if you would like to donate – or just know more about it, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/orchard-wharf-planning-consultation?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-shee

NEWS: Proposed bridge developments in the local area.

RIVER LEA TIDES

We are often asked whether the River Lea could be kept at a high level, (eg: by fitting a lock)Â so we looked into the matter in some detail. Below is a report from Tim Allen.

Thanks for getting in touch regarding a lock at the mouth of the River Lea. To give you a brief idea, this would be a huge project with a lot of long term planning approval to navigate. The most recent example is 3 Mills Lock not too far up the river costing Â£20 million & completed in 2009. It was part of the rejuvenation of the River Lea for the 2012 Olympics & on the site of a previous lock that became inoperable in the 1960s. This lock currently causes the River Lea to cease to be tidal north of 3 Mills.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mills_Lock

I’ve been at a couple meetings at Cody Dock in the past year where various companies & organisations involved in the River Lea could meet together to co-operate & seek long term improvements for the river. Stopping the tidal flow south of 3 Mills has never been mentioned. If you wanted to pursue this can see several stumbling blocks that you are likely to bump into:

There are long term plans for a bridge over the mouth of the Lea running west fromÂ Trinity Buoy Wharf to the east side where there will be a large housing development. TBW would certainly want a say on a lock at Leamouth it would need to work alongside any bridge proposal.

Cody DockÂ are starting renovations to reactivate their dock for boat moorings & maintenance. They also actively promote & encourage the return of the tidal river’s natural habitats & wildlife that had gone into decline during the river’s industrial use. They will certainly want to comment on such a proposal.

https://codydock.org.uk/ecology/

The House MillÂ at 3 Mills is the worlds largest tidal mill. This is grade 1 listed built on a mill site dating back to 1380 & featured in the Doomsday book so a significant heritage site. They are trying to match fund lottery money to reactivate the water wheel to produce electricity for the national grid. Stopping the tidal flow would clearly conflict with this.

https://housemill.org.uk/support-us/

The River Lea is the border for Tower Hamlets & Newham council. Getting both councils to communicate together is incredibly laborious & full of administrative procedures. Newham council have a reputation to be the most disorganizedÂ council in London & many organisations simply refuse to deal with them.

Even if every organisation mentioned agreed with a lock to stop the tidal flow of the River Lea, expect this to take well over a decade to be realized. If you would like to take this on I can give you a few contacts to get you started. The River Canal Trust are based nearby & can give you a more accurate idea on timescales & feasibility.

You may also be interested in the Leaway scheme which shows the intended plan for the future of the river over the next decade. It’s all subject to change but gives a rough idea on developments that are proposed (pages 30-35 are particularly relevant):

http://www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/-/media/qeop/files/public/draft-lrp-primer-nov-2016.ashx?la=enÂ Â

OUR LOCAL AREA

There are plans for 1500 flats to be built on Limmo Park (next to Canning Town Station – currently being used by CrossRail). At one time this was going to be parkland, but clearly commercial interests have held sway.

Consultations have now closed – for more informationÂ visit https://limmopeninsula.co.uk

Warning: huge shortage of local doctors surgeries, roads, transport& schools

Right now, tens of thousands of new flats are being built on our doorstep – moreÂ than anywhere else inÂ Western Europe. In just a few years this tiny area will haveÂ double the number of people – over 100,000 more residents.Â

Already tubesÂ are packed and traffic jams are common. It will only get worse, as very few enough doctor’s surgeries, tubes, DLRs, buses, parking, schools, water supply, sewers, broadband etc are being planned.

Planning forums are the way to change this. Watch the video below to find out more

Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Planning ForumÂ

The Neighbourhood Plan Â is an official organisation led by residents that works to guide development for the next 15 years. Â Its main objective is to ensure that when the thousands of new flats planned for the area are built, theÂ area is sustainable, which means making sure that sufficientÂ public infrastructure like schools, GP surgeries, transport, parks and street lights are delivered at the same time. Linked to this is the Council’s Strategic Development Committee.

http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/too_many_skyscrapers_so_isle_of_dogs_to_tell_treasury_secretary_stop_we_ve_had_enough_1_4887020