Newham

Save Wanstead Flats

2010-08-22T23:28:00.001-07:00

Save Wanstead Flats
Originally uploaded by discarded production unit

Save Wanstead Flats

Mass Community Picnic

Sunday 5th September

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Protect-Wanstead-Flats-and-Epping-Forest/142307172448681

Wanstead Flats Sunset

2010-04-26T04:48:00.001-07:00

Wanstead Flats Sunset
Originally uploaded by AndyRob

Sunset over Wanstead Flats Alexandra lake.

A good time to go bat spotting

Wanstead Flats Sunset

2010-04-16T16:28:00.001-07:00

Wanstead Flats Sunset
Originally uploaded by AndyRob

Goldfish in Alexandra Pond

2010-04-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

I saw some goldfish in Alexandra Pond today, just where there's a shallow bit formed by the high water level, opposite the little row of shops. My eye was caught by a red coloured fish about 4-5 inches long, basking in the sunshine. Looking further I could see 9 or ten others, brown coloured, and some much bigger. That's the first time I've noticed fish in the lake but knew there must be some in there due to the fishing birds such as heron and cormorants which are attracted to visit sometimes.

The Orbit

2010-04-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Orbit is a new sculpture to be built for the Olympic park at Stratford, Newham.

It's a giant tower and a piece of art by Anish Kapoor

Stratford High Street Market Station

2010-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Soon to be the new DLR station known as Stratford High Street:

From TfL:

"This station will be a twin platform station where the platforms are either side of the tracks. It is located just south of the Stratford High Street with footbridge connections to Bridge Road to provide access and regeneration to surrounding areas. In order to locate the station here, Bridge Road will be permanently closed from November 3 2008, except for emergency vehicle access. The road closure will avoid taking any permanent land from Rokeby School and ensure the station remains close to Stratford High Street."

Lots more information can be found at Subterranea Britannica

Photo by suburbanslice

Stratford Old Town Hall

2009-11-22T13:39:00.001-08:00

Stratford Old Town Hall
Originally uploaded by portemolitor

So this is Stratford Old Town Hall, originally West Ham town hall, now hardly used by Newham council and a candidate for getting sold off or something.

One More Cup of Coffee - Bob Dylan - Andy Roberts Music

2009-10-16T01:28:00.001-07:00

One More Cup of Coffee - Bob Dylan - Andy Roberts Music

What's the best coffee you can get in London? I like straight espresso but the coffee you get served in London varies hugely from one coffee shop to another. There's a little cafe near me in Manor Park called the Mediterranean Cafe which is run by a Moroccan and Polish couple and the espressos there range from very acceptable to very good.

From the chain cafes my favourite is probably Cafe Nero but Cost can be OK. I wouldn't go anywhere near Starbucks - YUK!

Milk Float Movie

2009-09-04T08:21:00.001-07:00

Milk Float Movie
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Milk Float Movie filmed in Newham

Clock Mill

2009-07-02T01:19:00.001-07:00

Clock Mill
Originally uploaded by Old Four Eyes

The Clock Mill at Three Mills Island rebuilt 1815-1817 by Philip Metcalfe using the Clock Tower from an earlier building and an even older bell. The Mill was in use until 1952. Because of water extraction for the reservoirs further up the Lea Valley there is no longer sufficient water to work the machinery even though it is technically still in operating order. Rumour has it that work on the Olympic Park will create enough water flow to theoretically get the mill working again.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

2009-07-02T01:13:00.001-07:00

Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

The greater spotted woodpecker has become a regular visitor in my Newham garden and recently been joined by ring necked parakeets.

University of East London, Royal Albert Dock

2009-07-02T01:07:00.001-07:00

University of East London, Royal Albert Dock
Originally uploaded by Old Four Eyes

University of East London, Royal Albert Dock

The students of UEL have a spectacular setting on the Royal Albert Dock. The campus was opened in 1999, the famous buildings designed by Edward Cullinan Architects.

The Univesity itself was officially opened in 2000 by mayor Ken Livingstone who said it was the first new university in Lonodn for 50 years. I know because I was there.

Young Mayor of Newham

2009-06-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

Queens Market Green Street Development Upton Park

2009-04-18T01:40:00.000-07:00

Newham Council planning officers have recommended planning consent be
granted for St Modwens proposed 100m redevelopment of Londons Queens
Market.

St Modwen is planning to redevelop the market near Upton Park tube station
into 91,000 sq ft of market stalls and shops and 350 homes.

The retail will be divided into 23,000 sq ft of market stalls and 68,000 sq
ft of shops. It will also include a 20,000 sq ft civic front office
facility facing onto Green Street.

The scheme, which goes before the council next Wednesday, has faced
opposition from local group The Friends of Queens Market who fear that
St Modwen will hike rents once the scheme has been developed. Newham Council
owns the freehold of the land and St Modwen will take a long lease on when
the development is completed.

South Indian Restaurants

2009-03-05T12:28:00.001-08:00

Newham must have the best concentration of South Indian restaurants in Britain, with dozens of Dosa houses in High Street North alone. Manor Park and East Ham is the epi centre of south Indian cuisine.

Manor Park Station Sign London Overground

2009-02-13T09:51:00.001-08:00

Manor Park Station Sign London Overground
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

This new sign is an attempt to guide people coming off the London Overground station at Woodgrange Park heading from the main Manor Park railway station for trains in to Liverpool Street Station and out to Essex.

Greylag Goose

2009-01-12T15:43:00.001-08:00

Greylag Goose
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

It's always nice to see a native greylag goose amongst all the Canada Geese on the duckpond at Wanstead Flats.

Organic Vegetable Boxes

2008-12-01T05:12:00.000-08:00

I put my postcode in to do a local search for organic vegetable boxes for delivery in Newham and got some interesting results:

We quite like the Riverford boxes but they do come all the way up from Devon so the local vegetable box delivery option from Hackney could be better in some ways.

minute by minute 2

2008-11-09T15:29:00.001-08:00

minutebyminute2
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

This was filmed in Newham, just.

Minute by Minute

Earl of Essex Manor Park, Newham

2008-09-30T06:48:00.001-07:00

This is the corner of Romford Road by the Earl of Essex at Manor Park broadway.

Pic by Karin Bultje

London City Airport Expansion

2008-09-17T04:01:00.000-07:00

I am angry that the Council wants to give London City Airport permission to increase flights from 80,000 to 120,000, this is about the same number as Luton Airport (116,000 in 2006).

Newham Council does not care that the noise from the airport's operation is causing misery to the quality of life of Newham residents in Sourth Beckton, Royal Docks, West Beckton, Gallians Reach, North Woolwich, Silvertown, Custom House, Cyprus, Canning Town South (see plan). People can't even open windows during the summer time and can people enjoy enjoy the garden and open parks. So why let it increase flights?

Using the Council's own figure, noise will increase from 3,000 homes to 11,000 homes (within the 57dB noise contour). On weekdays, people can expect one 1 flight every 90 seconds!!

When London City Airport was built in the 1985, it was restricted to 30,000 flights. The airport promised that it would use smaller quieter planes. But all these promises have been broken and since that time is has applied for more flights, expanded the runway, built more stands. The majority of aircraft are much larger now and they are using larger 100 seater 'regional' Jets, instead of smaller quieter 30 seater planes. So it is nuts that the Council is letting them expand further?

And so where do our Politicians stand?
============================
(1) Stephen Timms MP's web site says "Working For You". So why did he write an article in the Newham Recorder supporting London City Airport?. Is he working for Residents? or London City Airport's Shareholders?

(2) Jim Fitzpatrick MP (E16) - remains silent!

What about the Local Councillors? Should they not be supporting residents?
(3) Beckton Ward Councillors (E6)

Ayesha Chowdhury - Received free flight to Dublin airport
Christine Bowden -
Alec Kellaway - Wrote a letter in private capacity to support the airport

(4) Custom House Ward (E16) (inc West Beckton)
Patricia Holland - Received flight to Dublin Airport and Giftbag [And sits on Planning Board]
Conor McAuley -
James Butler -

(5) Royal Docks Ward (E16.... Silvertown, Brittania Village,.....)
Anthony McAlmont -
Patrick Murphy -
Simon Tucker -

Sir Robin Wales - is supporting the London City Airport.....(and is good mates with Managing Director of Richard Gooding of London City Airport that he gets invited to his 40th Anniversary!).

None of the above Councillors has publicaly objected to the London City Airport. So why have they not represented for the electorate?.

See http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com/2008/09/aviation-gifts-to-local-councillors.html
for a list of Goodies received by Newham Councillors!

Boris Johnson - Is Supporting the Airport (despite coming out a few days ago claiming we need to do something about Climate Change!). he does not like expansion at Heathrow, but does not mind that Newham residents will suffer.

What prosperity?
============
The airport claims it has brought prosperity to Newham but walking from North Woolwich to Silvertown shows no sign of it: roaring jets over head, no open spaces for recreation, a poor bus service, streets full of derelict buildings. Compare that with neighbouring Canary Wharf? It is a stark difference.
The 'prosperity' which London City Airport is so proud of arrives and departs in a car, leaving nothing for Newham residents - apart from the fumes and noise and inconvenience.

Regeneration NOT DEGERATION
=========================
Well look at all the jobs that were "NOT" created as a result of the Airport?. For instance Building 1000 which is opposite the London City Airport has been vacant since 2002, struggling to find a suitable business tenant (see photo). It would have been welcome for the Borough to attract a prestigious businesses to the area, but this REGENARATION HAS UTTERLY FAILED. Who wants to have coroporate offices next to a noisy airport?. In fact this building has been bought by the Newham Council for £75m (which is merely relocating jobs from one part of the Borough to another). Hardly any encouragement for developers to build any new offices complexes (they were supposed to build a total of FOUR such buildings).

Lots of new development in West Silvertown is being scaled down and lots of housing will be effected....

You only have to look at the stark difference between E16 and E14 both on the Docks. Who is going to move into an area that is blighted with aircraft noise?

Sound Monitoring
=============
London City Airport has breached a number of conditions relating to Sound Monitoring, which has been non-existant since 2000, so why hasn't the Council taking London City Airpport to Court for breach?. Instead the Council is rewarding the airport by allowing the Airport further expansion? So whose side are they on?.

Jobs
====
The airport plays lots of Spin with employment figures. The airport "directly" employs 406 people and even then only 29% are from Newham (i.e. 117 people). The airport is supposed to employ 35% people from Newham. So How hard can this be?.

The airlines employ people, but it has no obligation to employ from Newham other than a commitment that they may be from the 'local area' which can mean as far away as Lewisham.

Campaign
========
Residents who are interested should look at the "Fight the Flights" Blog on http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com

Stratford

2008-07-22T17:20:00.001-07:00

Stratford
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Newham Town Hall - East Ham

2008-07-02T09:05:00.001-07:00

This is Newham Town Hall in East Ham, where the mayor of Newham and Newham Borough Council meet . There's another town hall in Stratford, but that's redundnant.

pic by Joebelle

World War II bomb at Bromley by Bow

2008-06-24T09:25:00.001-07:00

Avoid using the District Line Friday 06 June
No District or Hammersmith and City line service between Whitechapel and PLaistow , severe delays.

The work to safely difuse a World War II bomb has proved far more difficult.
Bromley-by-bow - Stratford - Plaistow - Canning Town

minute by minute

2008-05-15T06:24:00.001-07:00

minutebyminute2
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Minute by minute was a collaborative art project which involved 12 artists each making three individual one minute videos.

This one was made by Andy Roberts at Aldersbrook.

Election bus

2008-05-04T04:32:00.001-07:00

Election bus
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

George Galloway's Respect Party bus campaigning for the city and east constituency in the London Assembly elections.

A well used short cut

2008-04-05T13:08:00.001-07:00

A well used short cut
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

A well used short cut near Stratford in Newham

Channelsea

2008-04-05T13:04:00.001-07:00

Channelsea
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Down by the tidal part of the waterways from the Greenway near three mills island

blackandwhiteduck

2008-02-11T02:51:00.001-08:00

blackandwhiteduck
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Three years ago, this kind of duck was common on the lake in Wansted Flats. Now there are shovellers.

Wansted Flats pond

2008-02-10T08:31:00.001-08:00

Wansted Flats pond
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

On a February day

The moon tonight

2008-01-22T11:02:00.001-08:00

The moon tonight
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Moonrise over Wansted flats

Song thrush

2007-10-06T03:28:00.001-07:00

Song thrush
Originally uploaded by bramblejungle

Similar to one spotted in a Newham Garden

yellow bracket fungus

2007-08-19T22:47:00.001-07:00

yellow bracket fungus
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Spotted in West Ham Park , London , UK in May on a deciduous tree.

Is it Chicken of the woods or something else?

Manor Park Library

2006-11-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

Manor Park Library
Originally uploaded by Fin Fahey.

Who'd Live in Stratford, Eh?

2006-09-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

Who'd Live in Stratford, Eh?
Originally uploaded by DG Jones.

Clock Mill

2006-09-23T04:44:00.000-07:00

Clock Mill
Originally uploaded by LoopZilla.

Eel Fishing

2006-08-31T15:47:00.000-07:00

By dcasey

if you're ever skint in London and hungry eel fishing is the awnser they're a doddle to catch , taste good and you can catch them in the Thames which is the river that runs through London so you'll never be far away from it .A friend was catching them and told me they taste good i asked what like and he said like trout now this i didn't beleive as i've tried jellied eels and they were disgusting but i caught wild brown trout as a youngster in Ireland so know what a true wild trout tastes like as opposed to a supermarket one so i decided to try for myself . They're easy to catch the best bait is Chicken preferably Halal if you're skint just go to Iceland and you can get a couple of legs near the sell-by date for 50p alternatively go to you're local Paki butchers and get a couple of hallal legs for about 80p you can also barter while you're in the Indian shop for example just tell them you're a bit skint but if they give you say 4 pieces you'll catch about 6 eels big ones and you'll bring back 2 for them they like that as they like to make an Eel curry . If you change you're mind and don't bring them back to them just don't go back to the shop again and make sure you remember 'cos if they see u around they'll chase u down the road . Also word gets around that the fishing is good so u have to expect that as u go to you're spot the Pakis will turn up mobhanded as they like to get in on the action but don't worry too much as they're fishing methods are pretty lame usually mackerel feathers which they've used back in the river Ganges but eels feed off the bottom so they won't catch any .If you can't bring yourself to do this and are still skint then just nick a couple of legs from the Iceland store while doing it nick a packet of Cadbury's Smash while you're at it as this will come in handy later don't worry too much about getting nicked as Iceland does everything at a discount so they're security staff are usually too underpaid to be bothered to give chase .
Anyway back to basics make sure use a lead weight and get that chicken to the bottom and the bites will soon come those eels fight like wildcats so b careful sometimes it takes two of us to lift one out so hard they fight .In fact where we fish there's so much toot floating about i think some has fallen in the River and energised the eel more than usual . When you've got them out on the bank they'll squiggle about a lot but here's a trick and the sad part just stroke the eel on her underside and she'll lay down very calm for you cut the line , don't bother trying to get the hook out as you'll be there all day , and pop the eel into a big plastic bag the eel lives out of water for a long time so will be o.k.Some of those Thames eels are as big as lamposts (check the pics to see )one . If you have to go back home by Bus make sure the plastic bag is tied tight 'cos if the eel gets out you'll be even more unpopular than you usually are .
When you get home get two friends to hold the back of the eel get a small axe and chop it's head off very sharp knife slit the underside remove insides and you're ready to go . Chop the eel into small salmon steak like slices boil a pan add parsley fry butter into a pan some of the eel slices coat in flour and pop into the frying pan the rest pop into the boiling water after 10-15 mins theyre basically done mix up you're cadbury's smash that you nicked earlier and you 're nearly there for a final touch get some flour make into a paste like when you make custard add this to some of the water you boiled the eels in and this will make the wonderful green liquor you get in the pie and mash shops .That's it ! and when you taste that beautiful eel it will taste just like wild brook trout !
Also just remember there are other long term benefits in doing this as well for example you can fuck that Gordon Ramsay Haggis face off forever also you don't have to worry about that mockney jamie oliver twat nicking you're recipe either as he'll be eating his grandma's jellied eels for the next 20 yrs ...and you thought Izaak Walton was good . The only drawback we've found to date is that the next day you're stomach feels like it's got a bit of lead pipe in it we haven't quite worked that one out yet ....

Technorati Tags: london, fishing, newham, eels

Blakesley Arms

2006-05-12T01:09:00.000-07:00

blakesley1
Originally uploaded by Andyrob.

East London is gearing up fo the FA cup final in Cardiff in a couple of weeks. West Ham have made it all the way for the first time in generations, and a place in Europe next year is already assured.
Makes a nice change from the usual relegation battles.

Stratford Eurostar station

2006-04-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

Stratford Eurostar station
Originally uploaded by snappysmashingbloke.

This is the station from which it will be possible direct from East London to Paris when it opens, and will also bring crowds to the olympic stadium from St Pancras in 2012.

Photo by Richard Overton

East Ham

2006-02-26T06:52:00.000-08:00

East Ham
Originally uploaded by 'Bellezza'.

I like this photo of High St North, East Ham mainly because for the perspective. I think it has been taken from the top deck of a bus, probably a 101 or a 104.
Photo by Karin Cameron.

Athletezilla

2006-02-26T04:17:00.000-08:00

P6050001
Originally uploaded by Andyrob.

A strange artefact used as publicity for the London Olympic bid.

Stratford station

2006-02-23T04:21:00.000-08:00

Stratford station
Originally uploaded by Clive Power.

The view from atop the multi-storey car park.

Photographer: Clive Power