Leabank Square Swans - Please Help Them

Yesterday some kids got up onto the riverbank with an adult - and unfortunately smashed & knocked some eggs into the river.

Thankfully a few witnesses have come forward - and the police are now dealing with the matter.

But please could we beg everyone to be as vigilant as possible! There are only 4 eggs left - and this amazing couple need all the friends they can get to look after these remaining eggs.

The swans are - understandably - very nervous now - and the cobb is not going on his usual territorial paddles. He is sticking right by the nest all day & night now.

We have strengthened the fence that was damaged by the vandals - and hopefully they can't get to the nest as easily any more. But please keep an eye out for our swans.

If you see anyone harassing or threatening them - please call the police immediately. They are very aware of what happened - and will respond as soon as they can.

Thank you.

Scratch That! Swans now Expecting Septuplets

These pictures were taken a couple of days ago - and we found 7 eggs on their nest this morning!

Leabank Square Swans Expect Triplets!!

Remember last years family of swans? (http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2010/11/birds-of-leabank-square-swan.html)

Well a couple of them have decided to make our reedbeds a home. This beautiful twosome have made a huge nest on the floating island - and the penn has now laid 3 eggs.

Dad is fiercly patrolling up & down to make sure that no-one gets too close to their nest. He is having a bit of a rough time with the rowers from the clubs on both sides - and was actually clipped on Sunday.

If you're up on the riverbank while they're rowing past - please give them the heads up about the nest - especially when the cygnets arrive.

Also - please don't go too close to the nest - remember swans are protected species - and as such - it's illegal to interfere with them.

But please enjoy this stunning spectacle of nature being played out right on our own doorstep. It all goes to show that if you create a more diverse environment - nature comes to you!

Olympic 2012 Noise & Dust - Part 1007

I know! Same old same old.

Look at this pathetic sound barrier meant to shield Leabank Square from the demolition of the concrete from the old welfare centre. One resident describes it as a fig leaf, another as a cricket white board (no - me neither), and many other descriptions that I can't post up here.

However you describe it - it doesn't actually work.

They're taking the massive concrete blocks - and jack-hammering them into smaller pieces for the wall - with a pair massive diggers. The noise is absolutely thunderous! Not only is it coming straight over - but we're lucky to get the echo of it bouncing off the hideous media centre as well.

But the worst thing about it all - is that they haven't even attempted to suppress any of Arena Fields with any water at all. We are all swallowing mouthfuls of dust, concrete dust, sand - and whatever contaminates there are taking off from their site!

I know we've been here many times before - but doesn't this just go to show just how arrogantly insignificant the ODA considers its neighbours? A pathetic tiny screen to shield us from any noise - and no water suppression. It's only those oiks over in Hackney Wick - why even bother?!

Jehovas Witnesses Patrol Leabank Towpath

Not just content with waking up Leabank Square residents every Saturday morning - our overly friendly Jehovah's Witnesses are now patrolling the Towpath opposite Leabank Square!

Looks like the Olympic vigilantes have got allies helping them out all along the canal nowdays.

Some cyclists & joggers were telling them where to get off - but a few dog walkers were being friended-up by the Witnesses.

This posting also serves as a gentle reminder to all Leabank Square block residents not to just buzz anyone into the blocks - especially on Saturday mornings. Besides the obvious security risks - the Witnesses are really becoming an incredible nuisance along the corridors.

Oh yes! And when you rip the Watchtower up in their faces - please pick up the pieces after they've left.

More Scaffolding - Please be Alert!

The Family Mosaic block has just been clad in scaffolding for some much needed refurbishment. All good & well!

But there is no security on the scaffolding at all - and anyone could climb it & gain access to any of the flats as easy as pie.

Please always lock every door & window as securely as you can - and draw the curtains whenever you're not in the room. This will make any potential burglar think twice about trying to get in.

It's at times like this that Leabank Square really pulls together - so if any resident sees anything suspicious happening on the scaffolding - please call the police as soon as possible.

Please see also:

http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2009/08/leabank-square-security-alert.html

http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2009/11/just-who-manages-leabank-square.html
http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2009/09/security-alert-block-1-18.html

Spring Has Sprung 2011!!

Just look at all this activity going on in Leabank Square!

Birds, bees, bulbs and loads of happy residents!

Leabank Square Eden Project Crocuses

Remember back to early October last year? I know it's been a long cold wintertime ago - but that's when we planted the beautiful purple crocuses kindly donated by the Eden Project in Cornwall.

It was all in aid of Rotary Internationals work to eradicate Polio in the entire world.

Some of us played a small part in that message by planting this stunning path of purple crocuses along the dividing fence on the green.

They are starting to peep above the grass now - and really look lovely. If you get a chance - please take a cuppa down to the green - and admire their purpleness.


See also:

http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2010/10/purple-crocus-planting-in-beautiful.html

They Say All Politics Is Local

Parish the thought!

They say all politics is local, but how local? Well now, for Hackney residents (including the Wick), the way local decisions are made, on everything from house-building to park benches and licensing to Olympic planning, could be changing very soon.

London Assembly member, Andrew Boff, certainly thinks so. He came to Leabank Square Community Association’s latest meeting to tell us how he’s using a change in the law to set up a community council (a sort of urban parish council) for London Fields (http://londonfieldscouncil.org.uk/) and how the same idea might apply to the Wick.

We all think of Parish councils as being something for the countryside, or small villages, like the one up North where I’m from, but few people know that residents in urban areas can set up their own (http://www.nalc.gov.uk/Publications/Booklets_and_Resources.aspx). Cities having very blurred boundaries (Where exactly is Shoreditch??), there are few places within built-up areas that can said to be a self-contained community, but if anywhere is, surely it has to be our very own Hackney Wick?

So what would we do with an Urban Parish Council, or a Community Council if we decided to set one up? Well, for a start, the community council would have the right to be consulted on planning decisions in the local area, something that’s going to be a big issue for the Wick with all the Olympic developments and Lottery regeneration coming up. Urban parish/community councils can also share in the proceeds of new developments, make arrangements to put up more litter bins, get together to run allotments, organise local festivals or improve the local land and townscapes.

Wouldn’t this just cost a lot more money and mean more politicians though? That depends. The sort of community council people want for their area is up to them. Some parish councils don’t collect money and are entirely voluntary, funding improvements using their share of planning and development fees, public subscription or donations. Others might charge a precept, usually not more than £20 a year, and some will use a combination of these options. Relations with ward councillors and the borough are all issues that have been raised by opponents in other areas and it’s clear that the model isn’t for everywhere and that there are issues to be addressed. It seems that whether the Wick gets a Community Council or not and the success of that council will be dependent on one factor: US, the residents.

As with any local enterprise, it is what people make it. The make-up and ambition of a community council is a reflection of the local population. Would this work for our area? The people of Hackney Wick (the area bound by the Eastway, Railyway line and canal) will very soon be getting a chance to have their say. If more than 10% of the local population sign a petition to set up a Community Council, we could very soon be finding out.

Further information: A google search of “Urban parish Councils” will bring up lots of articles in the local and national press. This website shows the breadth of services that might be provided:
http://www.nalc.gov.uk/Document/Download.aspx?uid=dc050f08-3a21-4528-aa85-283cd57fc705


This article was written by our most enthusiastic gardener & Conservative Party Councillor hopeful - Mathhew Woods. Some of us have been lucky to work alongside him in the gardens - and will remember just how hard he grafts. And then other will remember him canvassing locally at the last election. Whatever your politics - you have to agree that Matt has Leabank Square & the rest of the Wick's interests at heart. Thanks Matt.

See also: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/matt-woods/