The Vaccine rollout comes to Mile End

Ian you trendsetter! Joan thanks you for warming the seat for her 😜 pic.twitter.com/QIGteRmFkg

— MEOTRA (@MeotraE3) December 17, 2020

Today MEOTRA resident and its former Chair, Joan Griffiths emerged from a lengthy COVID-induced hibernation and after a ten minute walk to QMUL had the first of her two COVID-19 vaccination jabs.

It was all over in no time and look who warmed the seat up for her - none other than Wapping resident Sir Ian McKellen.

Joan was somewhat surprised the doctor didn't say "sharp scratch", whilst her companion was more concerned there were no lollipops offered in reward. Nevermind. A short stop at The Coffee Room and Joan was in croissant heaven.

As the year draws to a close it's great to see these small signs of hope. 

 

Tower Hamlets - ANYONE can now get COVID-19 tested including those without symptoms

 

On Sunday Tower Hamlets Council announced that ANYONE in the borough is now able to get tested for COVID-19 including those without symptoms. This follows a worrying rise in Covid-19 cases locally.

For MEOTRA residents this is literally a walk in the park, as the Walk-in Test Centre is situated at Mile End Park's Art Pavilion (just behind the Grove Road Texaco Garage).

On Sunday afternoon there were some 400 tests available in the next couple of days at this local centre.

To book a test visit: http://orlo.uk/g0rMf When you arrive on the website, select... 1️⃣ No - not an essential worker 2️⃣ No symptoms 3️⃣ No - not part of a trial 4️⃣ My council has asked me

It takes around 5 minutes to fill out the online form and I found it easiest to do on a smartphone (less questions it seemed).

I know it may seem pointless to get tested if you don't have symptoms, but it isn't. Around 80% of infections are mild or asymptomatic but these folk can still pass the virus on to. So the more testing we do the more we can break the chain of transmission.

Bow West Safer Neighbourhood Team Newsletter & Survey

 

Attached is the recent Bow West SNT newsletter which summarises what's been happening across Bow West lately. It details the number and type of crimes in our area as well as in the borough as a whole, lists the Ward Priorities and contains the various ways you can report crime or concerns.

The Team hold regular ward panel meetings where the Ward Priorities are discussed (currently ASB and drug use in Newport House, Strahan Road; and ASB and group gathering on Guerin Square, Malmesbury Estate). These priorities are often chosen based of reporting concerns through www.met.police.uk and this shows the importance of reporting crime or issues that concern you.

There is also a short survey for Bow West residents to fill out (it only takes a couple of minutes honest!) regarding crime in our area. If you have two minutes then please do fill it out. Let's face it there is little else to do these days :) 

Roman Road LDN

 

Our friends at Roman Road LDN recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money needed for them to continue operating during this Covid-19 crisis.

This local magazine works to strengthen the community and the high street using local journalism – working to connect people, raise cultural awareness, promote the local economy and, most importantly, increase community spirit. 

There are many organisations affected by the pandemic and we can't support them all. But during 2020 many locals, especially the extremely vulnerable who have been holed-up for most of the year have found the regular RoRd newsletters really stimulating and reading them has enabled many to take a much-needed virtual stroll around Bow.

The campaign has 9 days to go and has so far raised almost £19,000 of their £30,000 goal. Please consider supporting Roman Road LDN by donating or becoming a patron here https://romanroadlondon.com/campaign/

Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum AGM 2020 -TONIGHT 7-8PM (Wednesday 28th October)

 

You can never have too many meetings, right?

OK that isn't true, but ahead of tomorrow's MEOTRA AGM there is the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum tonight at 7PM on Zoom

Further details are available on their website, but you will have to pre-register for this Zoom meeting if you want to attend.

The forum has just reached a milestone and published their [our really] draft plan which if adopted will have a significant effect on planning in our area.

If you can't attend tonight's AGM, then there will be a couple of opportunities coming up to discuss the draft plan and have your input.

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Reminder: MEOTRA AGM Thursday 29th October 7PM (via Zoom)

Hello Mark! You're on mute"

Tomorrow sees MEOTRA's first virtual AGM at 7PM. To keep it local to MEOTRA residents only, there is a short (literally 15 seconds)  Zoom registration form.

We are still keen for some new blood on the committee so please do let me know if you are interested - a newsletter editor and secretary are particularly needed.

We have some exciting news, a secret known only to one. So if you want to find out what this earth-shattering news is then please register and come along.

MEOTRA Annual General Meeting Thursday 29th October 2020, 7PM

 

MEOTRA will be holding our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 29th October at 7PM. It will be a virtual meeting using Zoom.

Usually, our AGM is held in March/April, but COVID put a stop to that. We could skip a year, but we thought let's slip one in now - it's not like we have flights to catch. 

Who can attend? If you live in the MEOTRA area, then you are a member and can attend.

Where is the MEOTRA area? This is the area bounded by Mile End Road, Lichfield Road, the Regent’s Canal and Coborn Street.

The MEOTRA boundary

How do I attend the virtual AGM? Please complete our short Zoom registration form and closer to the date you will be sent the meeting link and an Agenda.

The AGM is a formal occasion where our resident's association approve the year's accounts, receive the Annual Report from the Chair and elect the committee which comprises of the Honorary Officers:

• Chair
• Treasurer
• Secretary

and up to six other members such as:

• Newsletter Editor
• Planning advisor
• Website Editor/Social Media
• and up to three other members

Our constitution outlines how we work as an organisation and gives a bit more info on how the AGM is structured. 

If you are interested in joining the committee and would consider ANY of the above posts then get in touch via info@meotra.org.uk and we can tell you more about what the different committee roles entail etc. 

We hold about 3-4 committee meetings a year (via Zoom at the moment) and meet to discuss any activities (Carol Singing, bulb planting, our annual Fun Day etc), planning issues, and anything else affecting our neighbourhood.