Hackney LCC meeting
Wednesday 3 May 2006
Venue:
Pembury Tavern, (transferred from Marcon Court Estate
Community Hall due to mixup with keys)
Members
present:
Trevor Parsons (joint co-ordinator, chairing) ,
Richard Lewis (joint co-ordinator), Brenda Puech (treasurer),
David Farnham (secretary), Oliver Schick (committee - council
liaison), Marian Farrugia (committee – publicity), Roger Blake,
Patrick Field, Jeremy Hill, Melissa Martin, Jenny ?? (Redbridge
member).
Guests:
Martin
Slavin.
Apologies:
Tim
Evans, Katie Hanson.
Topics discussed:
1.
Matters arising
2. Bike
Week
3. BBC
London event
4. Seminar
on shared streets
5.
Shoppers' travel survey
6.
Spice Festival
7. Stoke
Newington LCC members' social
8.
Summer Publicity Leaflet
9.
Olympics Update
10.
Consultations: LCN+, Gillett St area 20mph, leisure centres
management
11.
Treasurer's report
12.
Webspace donation
13.
Any other business
1.
Matters arising
Rectory
Road Car Free Day
Trevor
has spoken with Robert Lindsay. Jeremy notes that there is a
two-way campaign meeting next Monday at Yum Yums from 8pm.
Apparently the Stoke Newington Business Association are
relatively warm about the proposals to remove the one-way system
though they have not yet commented on parking issues.
Horseshoe
Bridge (liaison with Waltham Forest Cyclists)
No
action yet.
Annual
budget
Submitted
to LCC central office by Brenda.
LCN+ route 8 response to draft CRISP report
Draft
response completed and intention is to submit by end of week.
Request for comments made on mailing list and copy made available
for anyone to read at meeting. Still need to send a copy to
Geoffrey at WFC.
HBC
outstanding consultation responses
Oliver
still to write to Olu resubmitting these but pointing out they
were submitted previously..
Paul
Street stage 3 safety audit consultation
Trevor
has submitted our response.
Gillett
Street response
Those
who had been actioned to put together this response had not got
round to it. This left Trevor to compose the response himself. It
was eventually submitted to traffic engineer Hassan Hassan a week
late. We hope the response will still be considered. Trevor was
thanked for this additional work.
Draft
Highway Code consultation
Still
need to e-mail Driving Standards Agency supporting position on
the CCN.
Committee
members website update
Trevor
still to update website with full list of committee members and
responsibilities.
Back to the top
2.
Bike Week
Bike
Week events were agreed at last month's meeting. Since then Trevor
and David have submitted information about our activities to LCC
central office for an article in the London Cyclist magazine. We
have budgeted GBP500 for the entire week. Organisers of
individual events will need to submit budget estimates to Brenda.
Preparations
for each event were discussed in turn:
Bike
the bounds (24th June)
This
ride will last 3-5 hours, starting around 1pm with a picnic lunch
at its end. Oliver has fixed the date for the ride as the 24th following earlier confusion.
London
Fields Cyclists' Breakfast (21st June)
Ben
Webster is taking primary responsibility. Brenda appealed for
help from 6:30 onwards. Martin, Oliver and Jeremy all
volunteered. Brenda will talk to Satu Vaisanen at LB Hackney
Streetscene who is collaborating with us on this event.
Peak
Hour Pitstop (22nd June)
Trevor
will co-ordinate this event which will now be held on Kingsland
Road rather than London Fields as were the two pitstop events
last year. The intention is to make this a proper pitstop with
mechanics doing air and lube as quickly as possible, with the
option of a longer Dr Bike-style diagnosis. Will need to budget
for a couple of mechanics.
Olympic
site ride (24th June)
David
has done the initial organising for this ride so far speaking
only to WFC in order to agree Eastway at 11:30 as a rendezvous
point. However, he will be away on holiday during Bike Week so
proposed someone else take over and contact other Borough groups.
Brenda agreed to do this and Patrick offered to assist. David
will forward his correspondence thus far.
Oliver
noted that Newham Cyclists are up for coming along and suggested
that Nick Williams, who is head of 2012 liaison at Greenwich
Cyclists, should be contacted since he is likely to be willing to
lead, having previously undertaken similar rides. Oliver will
pass on his contact info.
Back to the top
3. BBC London event
Trevor
has received a call from BBC London inviting us to attend a
couple of live broadcast events was part of its 'Is
London fit for 2012?' tour. The tour is intended to promote
physical activity and will involve bringing a lorryload of
exercise equipment etc to public spaces whilst getting school
kids and other local groups involved. On 24th May they will be
doing a live broadcast from Hackney Town Hall square during the
'drive time' (sic) late afternoon show, from 4pm-7pm. We have
been invited to do a bike maintenance stall or something similar
and to talk on air. It was noted that this would clash slightly
with Marian's Stoke Newington members' social (see below) but
that this shouldn't be a problem.
Oliver
warned that, given that it is a live discussion, there is a
potential danger that others might comment on negative issues
like footway cycling or people running lights. Martin suggested
we ought to be proactive about taking ideas to the editors as
these can be the basis for our on-air discussion. Trevor appealed
for further ideas. Generally considered that our involvement
ought to include a proper ride rather than stationary cycling on
bikes in the square, and Trevor confirmed that BBC London had
suggested this. David suggested doing commuter time trials
between cyclists and other modes which was considered a
possibility. Trevor requested that people contact him with
further ideas for the end of next week as this is fairly urgent.
Patrick
suggested we speak with London Fields Cycles who are located next
to the square. Discuss further by e-mail.
The
following weekend, the same roadshow will be in Victoria Park and
we are also invited to attend that. Brenda suggested we could do
a stall offering anti-theft cycle audits as these have proved
very popular in the past. [we need someone to coordinate this].
Back to the top
4.
Seminar on shared streets
Richard
has been proposing for some time to get a major speaker in for an
urban design seminar on this theme. He is hoping to make it large
enough to open it up as an evening event to non-members. Last
meeting it had agreed that he ought to look to arrange this for
July/August. On reflection all agreed that these are probably not
the best months as people are likely to be away on holiday.
Trevor noted that there won't be a Shoreditch Carnival again this
year, so we could hold the seminar on or around the Car Free Day,
possibly in conjunction with or as part of a smaller Car Free Day
event. Agreed that this made sense. Date added to diary for
Friday 22nd Sept.
Back to the top
5.
Shoppers' travel survey
David
had arranged a working group meeting for 9th May to progress
proposals to undertake a new set of surveys. Lots of people
reported they were unable to make this date or his back up
proposal of the 17th May. David explained he had chosen these
dates as they were most convenient to Robert and Rachel who are
assisting him on this sub-committee and agreed to contact them to
sound out alternative dates. He will then advise urgently.
Date
since agreed as Tuesday 24th May, 8pm on Broadway Market - which
pub or cafe tbc.
Marian
suggested that Dalston should be included in the surveys. David
considered this was likely to be the case since it had been
covered in the previous surveys and it would be silly to lose the
opportunity for temporal analysis.
Oliver
noted that there is a particular need to consider the car parking
requirements of specialist shops who are often most vociferous in
claiming the need for additional provision. David suggested that
this could be discussed at the meeting.
Back to the top
6.
Spice Festival
Richard
has been contacted about running a stall at this event that will
take place in Hackney Town Hall square and Hackney Empire on 24th
July. This coincides with the second edition of the Mile Of Art
public art event running down the foot/cycle path on the eastern
side of London Fields. Richard would like to run rickshaw rides
down the mile whilst Marian suggested a cycling choir. Marian
proposed we contact members via the mail list to see if anyone
wants to contribute cycling art.
The
organisers of the Mile of Art have proposed that the cycle route
be closed for the day. Apparently Olu (LB Hackney cycling
officer) has been contacted about this. Richard took an executive
decision earlier in the week to e-mail opposing this. It was
eventually agreed that this was the correct course since most
people will dismount in any case when the path is busy with
pedestrians, whilst official closure would be costly and time
consuming.
Back to the top
7.
Stoke Newington LCC members' social
Marian
has confirmed that she will organise a social for LCC members
living in N16 event on Wednesday 24st May. Meeting at 6:30pm
outside Rose and Crown (Albion Road/Church St junction),
attendees will proceed on a cycle audit ride around the local
area before returning to the pub for drinks at 7:30pm where a Dr
Bike will be on hand. LB Hackney cycling officer Olu will be
attending. Apparently he is happy as he was intending to set up a
similar event himself. There was concern that this would clash
slightly with the BBC London event on Mare Street which takes
place between 4-7pm, but it was eventually agreed that the events
have different audiences and that the clash is unlikely to be a
problem.
Marian
went on to propose that we use this event for a press announcement of
our having signed up our 1000th member. Some discussion followed as to
whether this would be better done during Bike Week but it was
eventually agreed that that would be too late and the Stoke Newington
members' social would prove a better occasion. It was agreed that the
lucky member ought to be awarded a prize - perhaps a bottle of
champagne or potentially even a weekend in the New Forest (already
offered by Richard's mum who runs a B&B there). Oliver has agreed
to liaise with Charlie (membership secretary) to establish who the
member is. Marian has agreed to co-ordinate the press release /
invitees etc...
-
Action
14: Oliver to liaise with Charlie to establish who 1000th member
is
-
Action
15: Marian to organise publicity and invitations
-
Action
16: committee to confirm prize
Back to the top
8.
Summer publicity leaflet
Marian
is putting together a leaflet which will eventually include diary
events and information about LCC membership. She requested a
small sum from the budget to cover photocopying costs. Marian
suggested that the leaflet could be initially distributed at the
Stoke Newington social and revised subsequently for future
events. Brenda pointed out that Richard had already put together
such a leaflet. Richard offered that they wouldn't really be
repeating one another as Marian's would be more of a
semi-newsletter. David proposed that we budget for this. Trevor
reminded Marian that we usually use WCS Digital Print for our
newsletters and we have an account with them. Agreed that Marian
should contact Brenda (treasurer) with a quote from WCS for a
small run.
On a
similar theme, Trevor said that he is working with Sally Haywill
of STA Bikes to help her produce a briefing leaflet for new
cyclists.
Back to the top
9.
Olympics update
Agreed
that we need a short Olympics update every meeting. This can be
provided by Oliver, who set up the LCC Olympics Group that he continues
to attend. Oliver summarised developments so far. Outline Planning for
the Olympics Park was granted in 2004 with plenty of conditions as
expected. The London Development Agency have produced numerous strategy
and framework documents to discharge the conditions. Oliver summarised
the main current issues for LCC:
- The Eastway Cycle Circuit: this will be closed shortly and an alternative facility opened elsewhere.
- Access routes to
and through the park: these should conform to our permeability
principle of maximum route choice / minimum diversion. The plans as
they currently stand won't leave many through routes.
- Ensuring that the games pursue our policy of 'active spectatorship', which has been committed to by all parties.
Oliver
also explained that the LDA is serving compulsory purchase orders on
lots of land at the moment and a public enquiry is taking place into
this. The LCC has objected and may appear at the Public Inquiry on
Friday 19th May.
Brenda raised concerns about the Arena Fields towpath along the River
Lea navigation which will be close during construction works. Martin
noted that the canal will used to transport construction materials.
Oliver noted that whilst this doesn't require closure of the towpath
per se it is likely to be pursued as the developers will want to
protect construction materials etc. Brenda also noted that the LDA have
said that the Eastway cycle circuit will be reinstated in the Lea
Valley.
Martin reported that he has been researching the Olympics proposal with some interest. He is only now beginning to get to grips with all the documents and is in the process of setting up a 'Games Monitor' website. The next stage for his group will be to come up with a list of themes regarding critical issues. Trevor asked whether the group has a view on permeability and cycling issues. Martin responded that it did not.
We agreed that to provide a link to the 'Games Monitor' site when it comes online.
- Action 18: Trevor to update website with a link to Games Monitor.
Oliver
and Martin discussed proofs of evidence which Martin suggested are the
only real way of getting a true understanding of what's being proposed.
These are available on the planning enquiry website. Oliver suggested
that those by Hedley Walker and Jason Prior of EDAW are most relevant
to cycling. Agreed this could be discussed further at LCC Olympics
working group.
Lastly, Patrick suggested that it might be a good idea to use the
Olympics as a means of allowing cycle sport to take place in Finsbury
Park, perhaps through a demonstration event. Agreed that this would be
worth pursuing.
Back to the top
10.
Consultations: LCN+ route 10 & bus route 38; leisure centres
management
LCN+
Route 10
The
implications of the bus route 38 improvement proposals for
Kingsland Passage need to be considered further as they have a
major bearing on our own proposals for a crossing over Balls Pond
Road in this location. Oliver suggested that this could be
discussed further at the CRISP stage 3 review meeting. Part of the
affected route being in Islington, Oliver has written to Alison
Dines of Islington Cycle Action Group to notify her.
Leisure
centres management consultation
Trevor
noted that a consultation on the contents for a new contract to
run leisure centres and pools in the borough is currently
ongoing. He recently attended a consultation drop-in at Kings
Hall and discussed the problems of cycle parking and access.
Others suggested that the contract should perhaps include a
requirement to run events to promote cycling or simply to provide
secure cycle parking. Trevor will co-ordinate our response, which
will draw on proposals we presented during a Learning
and Leisure Action Plan consultation a few years ago.
Marian
noted that there is a Hackney Parks consultation day occurring on
Saturday 20th May at Ocean in Mare Street (lunch provided).
Back to the top
11.
Treasurer's report
Brenda
reported that we have GBP4000 in our account. Part of this is
restricted (a small surplus from last year's Car Free Day) whilst
it also includes contribution of a GBP200 lecture fee from Ben
Webster. There was a vote of thanks to Ben for his generosity.
Given
the comfortable surplus, Trevor proposed that we use some to
purchase a Brox freight quadricycle as Patrick knows of one
currently being offered second hand at a bargain GBP800. Agreed
that Trevor and Richard should look further into this.
Back to the top
12.
Webspace donation
Trevor
reported he has accepted an offer of free hosting from Gordon
Hodgson, a friend of David's, on a server which has various free
software
content management systems pre-installed. This should help us to set up
a new dynamically produced website over the coming months. All agreed
that Gordon should be thanked for this. Trevor warned that we should
keep the hackney-cyclists.org.uk domain where it is, safely parked on a
UK server, rather than transfer it to a US server over which we would
have little control in case of problems, which have occurred in the
past and resulted in us dropping out of the domain name system for
nearly a year. It should be possible to keep our DNS in the UK while
forwarding traffic to Gordon's server in the US.
Back to the top
13.
Any other business
Richard
said that Alison from Islington Cycle Action Group had approached
him about running an event during Bike Week on the boundary of
Hackney and Islington. Agreed we should contact her requesting
she provide further info on what they are proposing and who will
fund it.
David
inquired if we were consulted about the current conversion of
zebra crossings into puffin crossings on Church Street. Oliver
confirmed that we were consulted last year. We objected but
without success.
Back to the top
Next
meeting
Wednesday 1 June 2006, 8pm, Marcon Court Estate
Community Hall, E8
Back to the meetings
index
|
