News in Brief
Benefit cheat sentenced
A Hackney resident who fraudulently claimed almost £53,000 in housing benefit and job seeker's allowance after dishonestly failing to declare a change in her circumstances has been given a suspended sentence.
Rasha Taha, 32, of Mabley Street, E9, pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 10 May to failing to declare that she owned a property, following a prosecution brought by Hackney Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). She was sentenced on 10 June to 36 weeks custody for not declaring the change to the Council, and six weeks custody for not declaring it to the DWP - suspended for two years. She was ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work in the community, and has to attend an education, training and employment course for 30 days. She was also ordered to pay costs.
Cllr Samantha Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: "The Council will not tolerate benefits cheats, and will not hesitate to pursue them through the courts."
20 June 2011
Picnic like it's 2012
More than 100 residents and schoolchildren have enjoyed the first public walk and picnic in completed areas of the London 2012 Olympic Park.
Residents from Hackney Wick and Leabank Square, as well as pupils from Mossbourne Academy, Clapton Girls, and Brook and Daubeney primaries, joined a group getting a sneak preview of what will be the largest new urban park in the UK for over a century when it reopens after the Games as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Created on former industrial land, the 250 acres are set to provide a colourful, festival atmosphere during the Games.
Over 2,000 trees have been planted, and a wetland bowl boasts 15,000 square metres of riverside lawns, timber seating, frog ponds, wetlands, woodlands and footpaths.
20 June 2011
Celebrating culture
Celebrations for Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month officially kicked off at Hackney Central Library on 9 June.
Entertainment included Irish dancing from the Maguire O'Shea Academy; fiddle player Tim Cotteral; and singer Josie Doherty (left). Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, presented awards to poster competition winners from Hackney Free & Parochial and Stoke Newington schools. All the entries are on display at the library until 30 June. Activities still to come in Hackney - part of national celebrations - include a reading group and children's treasure hunt at Homerton Library on 20 and 21 June respectively. There will also be a story and craft session at Hackney Central Library on 25 June.
For info call: 020 8356 7576; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries
20 June 2011
£200k for Hoxton Hall
Hoxton Hall has won £207,000 worth of funding to help restore and preserve its Grade II listed theatre.
Awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the money will be used to retain Hoxton Hall as a theatre and event space. It will also be used to develop an application for a £2million grant, earmarked to widen activities for children and young people, as well as community engagement programmes.
Built in 1863 as a music hall, the theatre now runs youth arts and theatre projects, as well as offering theatre, comedy and music shows for all residents.
Hoxton Hall Group Director, Hayley White, said: "The funding comes at a very important time in Hoxton Hall's development and is the result of a lot of hard work by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. We are grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting Hoxton Hall's commitment to exploring, preserving and sharing its heritage and stories."
The theatre now has two years to submit its proposals for the full £2million grant. For info call: 020 7684 0060; visit: www.hoxtonhall.co.uk
Star resident goes national
A resident celebrated by Hackney Homes for his hard work and selfless attitude, is one of three people to be short listed for the National Federation of ALMOs Awards.
Tony Osborne, who was named Hackney's 'Resident of the Year' in March, managed the transformation of a derelict building into a community hub; has organised gardening sessions and youth groups; and is setting up a lunch club for older residents on Aspland and Marcon Estate.
Hackney Homes is the Arm's Length Management Organisation (ALMO) for all of the borough's Council housing. The award winner will be announced at a ceremony in Manchester on 12 July.
Gillett Square
An architectural think tank has short listed Dalston's Gillett Square for a best urban environment gong.
The Academy of Urbanism, whose members include planners, engineers, designers and architects, announced the N16 spot as a 'Great Place' finalist in its annual Urbanism Awards.
Assessors will judge the square's commercial success and character, among other criteria, before the winner is announced on 11 November. As well as a music hub, retail sites and cultural activities, Gillett Square also offers games days for people of all ages. Model and actress Danielle Lineker arrived on 26 May for a few rounds of chess and giant Jenga as part of the charity Groundwork's programme to connect neighbourhoods through the spirit of play, which is sponsored by Cadbury.
For more on the Urbanism Awards visit: www.academyofurbanism.org.uk
6 June 2011
Advice line
Residents can now get confidential advice from Hackney Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) by calling a newly launched telephone service.
The CAB helps people resolve legal, money and other problems by providing free and independent advice.
Yasmin Alam, CAB Borough Director, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for local residents with restricted mobility to receive the help that they need to resolve their problems. We often have elderly and disabled clients who struggle to come in and see us. We hope that they will now be able to get advice with ease. Please call us with your queries, big or small."
Call: 0844 499 1195. Lines are open Tues and Wed, 10am-12noon.
6 June 2011
All's well on the common
Hundreds of residents turned out to enjoy the annual Well Street Common May Festival.
Organised by the park's user group, with help from the Council, attractions at the 22 May event included live music, a five-a-side football tournament, grass track cycle racing, craft and bric-a-brac stalls, a dog show and a cake competition. Children made bat masks, and bird and bat boxes, and Dog's Trust staff were also on site to provide pet micro-chipping and advice.
For more Well Street Common info, visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/well-street-common
6 June 2011
Setting sail for success
A young sailor has received a boost towards her Olympic dream from the Hackney Youth Sports Fund (YSF).
Josie Gummer, 14, is one of the top five sailors in the country for her age group.
She learnt to sail at West Reservoir Centre, in Stoke Newington, after a visit with her junior school, and has been hooked ever since.
She races in a two-man Cadet dinghy as helm, and has set her sights on getting into the National Elite Squad.
The Council set up the YSF after receiving £300,000 from Nike, which used the borough's logo on a range of sportswear, without permission. It provides annual grants to talented individuals in a wide variety of sports.
Josie will use her grant to compete in her first international event. She said: "I'm really excited to get this award. It will help me with travel costs which means I can compete at the bigger events where the top competitors go."
Individuals, community groups and coaches can apply to the YSF at: www.hackney.gov.uk/c-sports-grants;
or for more info call: 020 8356 4897.
6 June 2011
Celebrating culture
The largest ethnic minority community in the European Union is being celebrated in Hackney - and across the UK - throughout June.
Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month aims to highlight the culture of people who have lived, worked and travelled in Britain for over 500 years.
The Council, together with The Learning Trust's Travellers Education Service; Hackney Homes; London Gypsy and Traveller Unit; and the Irish Women's Centre, are holding a series of family events to raise awareness of these communities in the borough.
Highlights include a launch event at Hackney Central Library on 9 June, from 4.30pm-6pm, where attendees can watch Irish dancing and refreshments will be available. Children's treasure hunts, reading groups and story telling sessions have also been arranged in libraries, and the Rio cinema will also be screening 'Into The West' - an epic adventure where two young boys journey towards Ireland's west coast on a stallion. On display at the Council-run museum is 'The Road to Hackney' - Ali Dunn's photographs of three generations of New Age Travellers and their journeys to the borough. The exhibition is free and runs until 2 July.
For a full programme call: 020 8356 7576; email: amber.linell@hackney.gov.uk; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries
6 June 2011
Youths sentenced
Two youths have been sentenced for offences connected to the murder of teenager Agnes Sina-Inakoju, who was shot as she visited Hoxton Chicken and Pizza Shop with friends on 14 April last year.
Dwayne McIntosh Wisdom, 17, was found guilty of assisting an offender, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and possession of an imitation firearm. He was sentenced to 13 years, with a minimum of 10 to be served.
Police spotted him in the London Fields area a few days after the shooting. He made off, throwing a rucksack into a garden. It contained the weapon used to kill Agnes, as well as a pistol, ammunition and shotgun cartridges. He was arrested the following day and subsequently charged.
A 16-year-old male, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of one count of possession of a prohibited firearm. He was spared detention because he was 15 at the time of the murder, and was sentenced to a three-year youth rehabilitation order.
Detective Chief Inspector John Crossley said: "We are pleased with the sentences imposed today. It sends out a clear message to those involved in gun crime."
Leon Dunkley, 22, and Mohammed Smoured, 21, were both found guilty of Agnes's murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. The pair were given life sentences on 12 April at the Old Bailey, with a recommendation that they serve a minimum of 32 years.
At the time, DCI Crossley said: "Agnes was a totally innocent victim who had her whole future ahead of her."
23 May 2011
Beat the noise
As part of National Noise Action Week from 23-27 May, the Council is launching an extended
out-of-hours service.
The Noise Service investigates complaints about everything from barking dogs and building sites, to loud music from nightclubs, pubs and parties.
While the day service operates Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm, in response to residents' concerns and the rise in demand that the summer evenings bring, night service hours have been extended.
Residents and businesses can now contact the team between 8pm, Thurs, to 2am, Fri; from 8pm, Fri, to 5am, Sat; from 9pm, Sat, to 5am, Sun; and from 6.30pm, Sun, to 2am, Mon.
In addition to the extended hours, the Council has introduced an extra team investigating night noise nuisance at the weekends. Both teams are able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to anyone who has received a warning notice about excessive late-night noise, but has not taken action to rectify the situation.
The Council is also promoting ways in which residents can minimise their noise. For info call: 020 8356 4455; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/noise
23 May 2011
Get ahead of the crowds
Residents will get a 48-hour head start to bag seats for world class competitive events at 2012 venues in August.
The London International Basketball Invitational and the BMX World Cup Series will be held in Olympic Park venues as part of the 'London Prepares' testing programme.
Tickets go on sale to host borough residents from 24 May. Prices range from £20 to £35 with concessions from £10. The London Prepares programme will involve 8,000 athletes from more than 50 countries competing in front of 250,000 spectators at a range of venues over the next 12 months.
A priority code for residents will be on the Council website from 9am on 24 May, use it when buying tickets from booking agent, Ticketmaster. Visit: www.ticketmaster.co.uk/londonpreparesseries. For the code, visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/2012-test-events; for test event info, visit: www.londonpreparesseries.com
23 May 2011
Torchbearers wanted
DO you know a really inspirational Hackney person who could carry the Olympic Flame through the borough as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay?
The flame will arrive from Greece on 18 May, 2012, with the relay starting from Land's End the following day.
It will travel 8,000 miles and visit all the host boroughs including Hackney, before finally arriving at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July, 2012, for the Opening Ceremony.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) needs 8,000 people from all over the UK, and nominations are open until 29 June.
For info and to nominate someone visit: www.torchbearernominations.london2012.com
23 May 2011
Bradbury Street party
Businesses held a party in Bradbury Street on 30 April to mark the end of Transport for London improvement works.
Visitors enjoyed the N16 street's mix of boutiques, bars and cafes as well as a gallery exhibition, record fair, table tennis tournament, and a variety of pop-up businesses. DJs provided music, while children played on equipment from Gillett Square. The event was supported by the Council.
23 May 2011
£500k for museum upgrade
THE Geffrye Museum has received a £518,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to begin development work.
The Kingland Road museum plans to create a new main entrance and temporary exhibition gallery; improve refreshment, education and conference facilities; and offer public access to its library and archives. It now has up to two years to submit more detailed plans and apply for the balance of its £10.9million bid. The total cost is an estimated £13.2million and is due for completion in April 2015.
23 May 2011
Changes to East Marsh
East Marsh is set to be closed to the public this month as work for the 2012 Games steps up.
The area is being handed over to the Olympic Delivery Authority and will become the key access point for spectators at the northern end of the Olympic Park. Find out more
09 May 2011
Cricket, football and harmony
Football and cricket talent was in evidence at Hackney Marshes last month.
On 13 April, a team of Met Police officers and staff padded up to face young cricketers in the first official match to be held on the Marshes in over 15 years. 'Peace at the Crease' marked the opening of new facilities - including seven new pitches - jointly developed by the Council, the England and Wales Cricket Board and Middlesex Cricket Board. The event was part of the London-wide StreetChance initiative supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports. For more info, visit: www.streetchance.co.uk
Then the Safer Neighbourhood Tournament (SNT) Cup saw scores of grassroots footballers get together to battle it out for trophies, as well as raise awareness of community safety and building relationships, on 17 April.
Now in its ninth year, the Cup - this year supported by Hackney Homes - involves teams from estates across East London. See: http://sntcup.com
A new cricket competition for Hackney Marshes, The Last Man Standing (LMS) League, will be starting on Thursday evenings from mid-June. Teams are invited to an open evening on 26 May. For info, prices and registration email: hackney@lastmanstands.co.uk
09 May 2011
A better square all round
Hoxton Square was closed to the public for eight weeks on 3 May so a number of planned improvements can be made.
As part of the Council's investment in the borough's parks and green spaces, the square will benefit from new plants and an improved lawn; more seating; a restored drinking fountain; and the re-laying of a path around the edge of
the square.
The work is being carried out following a consultation to find out what kinds of improvements should be made.
The closest alternative green space is Shoreditch Park, approximately ten minutes walk up Pitfield Street or Hoxton Street. The square will be monitored by CCTV while work is taking place. For info call: 020 8356 3000; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/cp-community-parks
09 May 2011
Meet the microbes
Hackney Museum is offering residents a chance to meet a host of nose invaders, gut-dwellers, lung destroyers and lifesavers.
The Council-run museum has joined up with educational charity The Centre of the Cell to create a new exhibition called 'Micro Monsters: The Good, The Bad and The Tiny'.
The interactive display, which runs from 19 May to 17 September, brings the science of microbes alive and is filled with eye-catching sights, fun activities and fascinating facts about the lives of microbes.
Hackney Museum is in Reading Lane, E8. For info call: 020 8356 3000; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/museum
The Centre of the Cell is based in Whitechapel. For info call: 020 7882 2562; or visit: www.centreofthecell.org
Booked in for improvements
Work to improve Stoke Newington Library means it will be temporarily closed until 17 May.
When it reopens, customers will be able to borrow books and DVDs and pay fines at new self-service kiosks. This will mean staff can spend more time supporting customers, and managing stock, information and events. The interior will be slightly changed to reduce the counter size, and a teenage study area will be developed.
Other planned improvements to the borough's libraries include a refit of Woodberry Down, and the opening of the new Dalston CLR James Library and Hackney Archives later this year. For info visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries
09 May 2011
Life sentence for Agnes killers
The killers who gunned down 16-year-old Agnes Sina-Inakoju in a Hoxton takeaway have been jailed for life.
Leon Dunkley, 22, and Mohammed Smoured, 21, were both found guilty of murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. They were sentenced to 32-year minimum terms at the Old Bailey on 12 April.
The court heard how the shooting on 14 April last year was sparked by a gang feud. The killers, who were in the London Fields gang, had gone to Hoxton Street, N1, in search of rival gang members to avenge an earlier attack on one of their group. They cycled up to the Hoxton Chicken and Pizza shop, where Dunkley pulled out a sub-machine gun and fired through the window, believing rival gang members were inside. Innocent bystander, Agnes, was shot in the neck and fatally wounded. The murder weapon had been used in six other shootings, the court heard.
Two teenagers were convicted of holding weapons on behalf of older members of the London Fields gang. Dwayne Wisdom, 17, was found guilty of assisting an offender, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of an imitation firearm. A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also found guilty of possession of a prohibited firearm. They will be sentenced at a later date.
Detective Chief Inspector John Crossley said: "Agnes was a totally innocent victim who had her whole future ahead of her. These convictions can only be achieved by the courage of members of the public coming forward to give vital evidence. I would like to thank them for the courage they have shown. I would finally like to pay tribute to Agnes's family for the dignity they have shown and our thoughts are with them during this time."
In a victim impact statement Agnes's older brother, Abiola Inakoju, described his sister, as 'full of ambition', and told how she had visited Oxford University, where she hoped to study, the week before her death.
He said: "We still can't believe that she has been taken away from us at such a young age. We are still coming to terms with her loss and the fact that we will never see her again."
Judge Peter Beaumont, the Recorder of London, said the sentence was to act as a deterrent. "Gun violence with loaded weapons that imperils innocent people on the streets has to be stopped," he said. To the killers he added: "Not only have you taken a life, you have destroyed a family's happiness and destroyed your own lives too."
18 April 2011
In full bloom
An over-50s group in Homerton has planted more than 1,000 daffodils, turning an overlooked corner of the borough into a flowering garden.
Laying the foundations for a blooming oasis, the Forever Young members shifted nine tonnes of soil and laid timber sleepers to create flower beds. The 'Colouring in Kingsmead' initiative aims to brighten neglected spaces and is supported by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Sanctuary Housing. Community worker Carly Bond said: "The over-50s sometimes get told that the best of their life is over. We aren't into nostalgia so much as being people who can make a difference. And small actions count."
Forever Young emphasises being active and offers a varied programme on Monday afternoons at the Wally Foster Community Centre, Homerton Road, E9; plus a gardening group on Wednesdays at Kingsmead Way Community Garden, E9. For more info, call: 07850 370 222; or: 07956 247 173.
18 April 2011
Your views on Olympic Park
There'S still time to have your say about the proposed creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation for the Olympic Park which would also include part of Hackney Wick and would come into effect from next April. The Mayor of London has identified this area as 'London's single most important regeneration project for the next 25 years'. The deadline is 28 April. For a summary of the Council's current position visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/opdc
To respond, visit: www.london.gov.uk/mdcconsultation
18 April 2011
Resident banned from estate
A man has been banned from a Hackney estate for five years. Alston Lynch, 24, of Downs Road, E5, was given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) preventing him from entering Clapton Park estate until March 2016.
The prosecution came after Kings Park Safer Neighbourhoods policing teams, working with the Council, created a three-month dispersal zone on the estate last year, following complaints about anti-social behaviour from residents.
The zone gave police officers power to disperse groups whose presence was likely to cause harassment or distress. Thames Magistrates Court heard that Lynch had been part of a group that loitered on the estate for hours on end, intimidating members of the public. He was regularly moved on by police and arrested on numerous occasions for breaching instructions to leave the area.
Lynch was convicted of 'contravening a direction in a dispersal zone' and fined £100, plus £15 costs, on 22 March. A 'bolt on' ASBO was also granted by magistrates.
For help with anti-social behaviour in your area, call the Council's helpline on: 020 8356 3030; or the Met Police non-emergency number: 0300 123 1212.
4 April 2011
Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor
One of London's oldest youth clubs is planning a tribute to screen legend Elizabeth Taylor after she helped save the venue from closure over 45 years ago.
Widely recognised for her philanthropy and charitable campaigning, the Hollywood icon donated £5,000 towards rebuilding the Pedro Club in Rushmore Road in 1965. The money was raised at a West End premiere of her film 'The Sandpiper'.
Founded in 1929 by Baroness Elliot of Harwood, the club was reopened in 1969 by Taylor, its then vice-president, and her husband Richard Burton.
The actress died last month, aged 79, and the club hopes to dedicate one room to her, with an image of the 1969 visit as a wall mural.
4 April 2011
Page updated: 7 Jul 2011
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