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/

Your Roman Road Habits - A Short Survey by the Roman Road Trust

Do you shop on Roman Road? If not where do you go? And how do you get about? What do you think would make Roman Road a better high street in terms of shopping and transport?

Please tell the Roman Road Trust about your shopping and travel habits by completing this short survey and help them get a better understanding of how transport impacts our local economy.

Roman Road Neighbourhood Plan - Area Application submitted

In Tower Hamlets it seems you can tell when Christmas is 'round the corner as it is when important planning applications get submitted. Last year it was to build flats on the Grove Road Texaco site, the tower block on the site of Benjy's, and the house in a MEOT back garden. 

This year's present comes from a group known as "The Roman Road Neighbourhood Forum". I have written about them before, and although their aims (currently largely unknown) are I'm sure well intentioned, it remains to be seen if the whole "neighbourhood plan thing" is right for us in MEOTRA and if this incarnation of it, in particular, best serves us. 

So as well as getting the kids and relatives presents, staggering through work parties, all that food shopping and getting the house ready for Chrimbo you've also got to see if you can find time to absorb and comment on this.

I received the following email from the council which links to the 19-page application form and details how you can obtain further info and also comment on the application. So if you have a spare half hour can I suggest you click on the links below and see what you think. I'll write soon with further info soon, but please try and take a look.

Neighbourhood Planning Area Consultation

 A consultation period has begun on an application by the community group ‘The Roman Road Neighbourhood Forum’ to establish a Neighbourhood Area in the borough, in the Roman Road area (Core Strategy ‘Place’: Bow, Wards: Bow East and Bow West).

Neighbourhood Planning was introduced by the Localism Act (2011) and enables community groups to submit applications to the Council to establish ‘Neighbourhood Planning Forums’ and ‘Neighbourhood Planning Areas’.

The Plan Making Team has assessed that the application includes the necessary information required by legislation to determine the application. If the Council designates the Area, no other applications are able to be ‘made’ for the area until the designation is withdrawn.

Before the Council is able to determine the applications, a 6-week consultation period is required by legislation to be carried out within the proposed Neighbourhood Planning Area. Your views are sought on the application.

The application materials may be inspected free of charge from Friday 11th November 2016 to Friday 23rd December 2016 at the following locations:

•             on the Council’s website•             at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall reception
•             at Idea Store Bow, 1 Gladstone Place, Roman Road, E3 5ES

The focus of the consultation is on people who live, work or carry out business in the proposed Neighbourhood Planning Area. Responses from individuals or groups in other locations are also welcome. Written responses should be made by 5pm on Friday 23rd December 2016.

Responses should be sent to neighbourhoodplanning@towerhamlets.gov.uk  or to:

FREEPOST
Neighbourhood Planning Consultation
D&R Strategic Planning
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
PO BOX 55739
London E14 1BY

Roman Road Neighbourhood Plan Meeting - Wed 15th June

"Neighbourhood planning allows local residents and businesses to have their own planning policies in a neighbourhood plan that reflect their priorities, deliver tangible local benefits and have real weight in planning decisions. "

This Wednesday 6.30-8.30 PM at the Caxton Hall Community Centre off Malmsbury Road (close to the PDSA Centre) is the third meeting of the Roman Road Neighbourhood Forum. Light refreshments will be available.

So what has this to do with MEOTRA residents? Well take a look at the boundary these guys are defining as the area they aim to develop planning policies for:

Yep. That's right. The boundary includes the whole of the MEOTRA area.

Personally, I have concerns the plan will be too Roman Road-centric and "swallow up" Meotra. Ask yourself: How come I didn't know the meeting was taking place?

But have I got it wrong? Is this a great opportunity to solve some of the ongoing issues in our area, bring a greater sense of community, make it a better place to live and/or work in?

The meeting starts with a presentation explaining the whole "Neighbourhood Plan" concept. I hope to see some of you there and maybe you'd like to join me in The Lord Tredegar after for a beer to let me know what you think. I'm easy to spot - I'll be the one mentioning Meotra every couple of minutes :)

Our Bow: An Interesting Local Website

Residents might be interested in the "Our Bow" website which carries news stories from around the Bow area including Victoria Park and the Roman Road market. There's info on local groups for older men ("The Geezers"), older women ("Bow Belles") and youngsters ("the U13s"). The history section is also well worth a look.