SLM WEEKLY DIGEST 9 APRIL 2015
This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes. We are an open group of people living in the Lea
Valley area, who share a common concern that the marshes and other green local spaces be kept for
wildlife to thrive and local people to appreciate and enjoy now and in future years. Do visit our
website to find out more about our work and campaigns www.saveleamarshes.org.uk
Well, here’s hoping your Easter Holidays went well. As the weather improved on Easter Monday,
there were simply masses of people walking, cycling and running along the River Lea and relaxing in
the local parks and marshlands. The leisure aspect of marshes, demonstrates the deep need we all
feel to get out and enjoy natural surroundings. Around this time of year, it is traditional to spot the
first thing of spring, alas, this year it is the first human homesteaders of Essex Wharf flats. Ho
hum...
GLYPHOSATE - an article in the current issue of Private Eye last week on the latest International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) for the World Health Organisation, that Glyphosate more
commonly known as “Roundup” is “probably carcinogenic to humans”, Hackney’s Lea Bridge Ward
Councillor, Ian Rathbone, (whilst not endorsing the comment), responded to on line conversation
about the weed-killer by following up with Hackney Council recommendations again. He sent a
quote from Dr. Penny Bevan, Director of Public Health at Hackney Council which included this quote:
“Whether a substance is meaningfully ‘carcinogenic’ often depends on the dose and circumstances.
For instance, also classified as 2A by the IARC, are alcohol, sunlight and night shifts. The concerns
over Glyphosate have been raised in larger scale agricultural use on food crops and in laboratory
tests on animals.. not on used on individual weeds. Hackney Council will continue to follow
government guidance and will be open to other methods that are affordable and efficient”. As, I see
it, the weakness in this argument is that to some extent we can choose to avoid alcohol, sunlight and
night shifts if we wish to, it is much more difficult to avoid eating something we don’t know whether
or not it has been sprayed . The real danger of this substance is that once absorbed it cannot be
removed and therefore has a cumulative effect.
IN THE PRESS – this week’s “Hackney Gazette” on page 2 has a story by Dominik Lemanski headed
“Games legacy bosses slammed for bonuses; Chiefs criticised in the face of ‘lacklustre’ Olympic
legacy. The story describes how recently released accounts, show how the ODA’s leading executives
have enjoyed pay rises whilst cutting their working hours and how the ‘legacy” of active sport has
significantly declined instead of increased. (Well, if they had only bothered to put a few thousand
quid into supporting the SLM’s campaign to renew two basketball pitches for local kids instead of
squandering £5 million on a barely used basketball facility that wrecked Leyton Marsh ....)
www.hackenygazette.co.uk Meanwhile, over in Walthamstow, The Walthamstow Guardian is again
warning of another bout of high pollution over the next few days and also reports on a second
cyclist, targeted by thieves whilst cycling through the popular Walthamstow Marshes route in the
last two weeks. http://www.guardianseries.co.
PETITIONS OF THE WEEK
For those of you that haven’t yet seen these three:
1. You’ve heard about the Thames Garden Bridge – which sounds attractive but the newly
formed Thames Central Open Spaces Group have come up with some strong arguments
against including: it will block views of St Paul’s Cathedral from the Lambeth riverside; it will
be private with no public right of access outside of certain times and closed for corporate
events on many occasions; there will be no picnic space or cycling and it is doubtful whether
many trees will survive on its narrow green strip; wildlife organisations have withdrawn their
support and it is a vanity project costing a whopping £40m in contrast to the £6m spent on a
park which provides all this bridge does not. Read the article in The Guardian
then if you are not in support of the bridge go to
2. Epping Forest District Councils have granted permission on 11 February to knock down a
horse stables and put up executive houses on green belt land. The petition link was previously sent on to
this list.
3. The Save Dundonald Rec Campaign are trying to save an open space in Merton, where the
Council are trying to get away with an unsubstantiated comment that the site “is not
needed” without providing any proof. CEO Merton Council: Investigate false claims by local Councillor over Dundonald Rec
EVENTS
Our friends at Hedge Herbs have a very busy programme over the summer, so do check their social
media pages. For example on the 12-14th June at Crabapple Housing Coop near Shrewsbury,
Shropshire, there is a weekend event designed for people who are interested in the connections
between plan medicine, health, equality, social justice and ecology. They are also promoting the
annual Waltham Forest Green Homes event, with the opportunity for people to come and share
their money saving and ecological tips (you need to be quick to book a place ideally by 10 April by
telephoning 0208 558 6880 or email greenhomes@hornbeam.org.uk). For further information on
Hedge Herbs notices telephone Rasheeqa on 07784506494 or Hedge Herbs on Facebook or
Twittering Hedge on Twitter.
Our friends at Sustainable Hackney have also sent us a programme of very interesting events,
classes and enterprises go to www.sustainablehackney.org.uk for further information .
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