Tower Hamlets Wheelers Meeting Minutes – March 2021
Held online via Zoom
Wednesday 10th March 2021 at 19:30
Attendees –David, Julie, Luuk, Dan, Keith, Sean, Dave, Ross, Owen, Iain
Apologises – Neil, Helen, Christy
Liveable Streets Update
Update on LS
- Bethnal Green is still under construction in parts and where we have highlighted issues around the lack of dropped kerbs these are now being rectified.
- We understand that the Whitechapel scheme has now been delayed.
- The Bow scheme was fully signed off at the last cabinet meeting. A number of exemptions will be permitted through the bus gate on Roman Road. Some of the school streets in the area have already started and work on the walking routes noted in the scheme are to commence shortly.
- We are still awaiting the results from the public consultation for the Old Ford West area.
- We believe Brick Lane should be moving towards public consultation soon so we will look to evaluate the final plans and decide how to respond accordingly.
- ACTION – Iain to set up a campaign planning meeting for the Brick Lane scheme.
- Barkantine, we need to find out when it should be finished as this could be a good case study to highlight the positive changes that have been made.
Cycle Buddies
- We will be relaunching our Cycle Buddies scheme at the start of April as per LCC central guidance.
- We have a number of posters to put up so suggestions of locations across Tower Hamlets are welcome.
- ACTION – Iain to prepare social media content for relaunch
- Julie is attending virtual cycle buddies meeting next week to give feedback on the scheme so far.
Chisenhale Dr Bike
- We have been approached to see if we could offer a Dr Bike at the new community space that has popped up outside Chisenhale Primary School.
- We agreed that we can look at running a Dr Bike on a day in May.
- ACTION – Iain to liaise with Chisenhale about possible dates.
- Owen, Keith & David said they are happy to help out at a future event.
- It was noted that it is also worthwhile having a couple of people on hand to show people how to pump their tyres up properly and lube their chain.
- ACTION – Make new print material for Dr Bike event
Newsletter
- We don’t currently produce any form of monthly newsletter and it was noted that this could be a good opportunity to reach out to our members to inform them of what we are doing and potentially encourage more to become involved.
- It was suggested that a monthly email newsletter could be produced containing items such as; upcoming consultations, calls to action, Cycle Buddies updates, workshop dates, upcoming rides, what we have been working on and a link to the previous months minutes.
- ACTION – Julie to reach out to Hackney to see what they include in their monthly newsletter.
- ACTION – Iain to speak with LCC Central about what the process would be of setting up a monthly newsletter.
- A possible alternative could be to set up a broadcast WhatsApp channel solely for announcements
- We can explore the possibility of doing a quarterly hard copy of the newsletter which we could distribute to local cafes as well as for use on our stalls at events.
Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) Action
- The EDF in partnership with ‘Choked Up’ are carrying out a campaigning to highlight the levels of pollution across London. https://ace.media/press-releases/environmental-defense-fund-europe/young...
- They are carrying out a London Mayoral campaign which has the following three asks
1. Rethink the harmful Red Routes
2. Expand the ULEZ
3. Deliver a zero-emission bus fleet this decade
- They are putting up guerrilla road signs on 11th March in pollution hotspots to raise the awareness of air pollution. In Tower Hamlets they are targeting the Whitechapel area.
TfL – Wallis Road
- Ross & Iain attended a road safety workshop organised by Michael Barratt around the bridge over Wallis Road in Hackney Wick. Members form Hackney Council, London Legacy and TfL were present.
- At present there are safety concerns around vehicles movements in and around the bridge over Wallis Road. The footpaths on either side of the road are particularly narrow under the bridge and sightlines are poor.
- Discussions about short, medium and long term improvements to the immediate area around the bridge were had and suggestions have been made.
- There will be a follow up meeting in due course to look to move forward with short term actions that can be take in order to improve road safety in the area.
CEE Bill
- We have been contacted by Extinction Rebellion Tower Hamlets who are coordinating the campaign to have both of Tower Hamlet’s MPs declare their public support for the private member’s Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill. So far Apsana Begum MP has already declared public support so the action is mainly focused for those who live in Rushanara Ali’s constituency of Bethnal Green & Bow.
- To see more about the CEE Bill Alliance, see https://www.ceebill.uk/
- They are asking for individuals to send an email to their respective MP asking them to declare their public support for the bill. There is an email template available which has been circulated on the email group.
- They are also asking if local community groups will sign an open letter urging Rushanara Ali to declare her public support.
- If you would like to know more, please contact Iain.
Ropersmakers Field
- There has been some cycle lanes painted in on the path through Ropemakers Field which are not fit for purpose.
- We understand that the cycle lanes are going to be removed after contacting local councillor James King.
- ACTION – Iain to put out a post on social media around this
AOB
- Tower Hamlets News site has reached out to us to write a guest column.
- We are looking doing the article around the lack of safe cycle storage, especially around estates.
- If approached to do a second article we would like to cover inclusive cycling.
Next Meeting – Wednesday 14th April 2021, 7.30-9pm, The Cabin, St Margaret’s House, Old Ford Road, E2 9PL or via Zoom if lockdown is in place. Email or contact on social media to receive the invite link to the Zoom meeting.
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