Blog

Infrastructure News

There are four major issues at present. If you are interested in knowing more about any of these please contact us.

  • The “Madison Square Garden Sphere” between Westfield and Angel Lane: A planning application has been lodged which gives rise on initial examination to some serious concerns. We are going to examine it more carefully with other interested stakeholders and LCC HQ with a view to lodging objections by the end of June deadline. The full application is available here
  • The Freemasons Rd Liveable Neighbourhood potentially covers a wide area and has potential to deliver huge benefits for walking and cycling , particularly when linked to other schemes covering the Royal Docks. The Council are going into detailed design stage and we hope to contribute to this. The area of the scheme is set out in this map.
  • Newham Council are consulting residents in Manor Park west of High Street North on how to counter the large scale rat-running. The recent changes to the direction of one way flows so not appear to have solved the problem as this document showing traffic flows indicates.
  • Newham Council have consulted on how to counter rat running in Manor Park to the east of High Street North. We are awaiting further information on the solution.

    We will be pressing for high quality schemes that make these areas akin to Liveable Neighbourhoods. In its Local Implementation Plan Newham Council have told TfL:

    “The Council is committed to the delivery of Safe and Healthy Neighbourhoods schemes across the Borough in response to resident concerns. Two schemes are already being delivered with 2018-19 LIP funding in the East Ham North and Manor Park wards”





May Bank Holiday Rides

On Saturday 25 May a team of Newham Cyclists took a group of enthusiastic children from the Saturday cycle club of the Canning Town based charity “Ambition, Aspire, Achieve” on a ride of the Greenway and Olympic Park.

Sunday saw a large group of 20 – from Newham and other areas of London take our latest leisurely Newham Ride.

Starting from the View Tube -thanks to Nigel for the photo

Its 15 miles took in the Greenway, Gallions, the Thames to Woolwich, the Royal Docks and the River Lea. The weather was excellent for the duration of the ride and we even managed to navigate though crowds of comic book heroes at the Excel Centre. Once we were back the weather deteriorated.

Our next ride is the longer “Cake Mountain Ride” on 9 June before reverting back to another Newham Ride, using a slightly different route, on 16 June.

Arnold

Annual Meeting 29 April 2019

20 gathered in an upstairs room in the Red Lion High Street South for our Annual Meeting.

The following Officers were elected.:

  • Co-ordinator:  Arnold Ridout;
  • Deputy Co-ordinator:  Kerena Fussell;
  • Treasurer: Bill Bremner;
  • Rides Co-ordinator:  Steve Smith;
  • Local Infrastructure Rep:  Olawale Ajibola;
  • Deputy Infrastructure Rep:  Chris Kershaw;
  • Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Rep: Jonathan Rothwell.

A draft Annual Report , Annual Accounts and Budget were approved.

Away from the more formal business:

  • Terry Patterson, LCC Trustee, expressed her appreciation of the groups work over the past year and asked members to consider standing for posts as LCC Trustees.
  • Louis Martin, from Fossil Free Newham, recalled that Newham Council had now voted unanimously to to go “fossil free”, explained what this entailed and reminded us that vigilance was needed to ensure that this vote was put into practice.
  • In response to Steve’s report on rides, there was discussion on categorisation of rides.
  • Olawale outlined developments following Newham Council’s successful bid to take part in TfL Liveable Neighbourhoods initiative in Custom House and prospects for the principles to be applied in the Stratford/ Forest Gate areas in partnership with Waltham Forest. Murray Woodburn, from Newham Council, supplemented this and delivered the news that 5 pilot “School Streets” initiatives had been agreed.
  • Our discussion on how to communicate better and in a changing environment resulted in a call for a single regular e-mail newsletter to replace the Borough insert into the London Cyclists magazine and continued use of the Yahoo Group for urgent communication – backed up by continued use of social media.
  • We discussed forthcoming activities including a possible Councillor Ride, and a partnership event with Stratford Original on 13 June during Bike Week.

Watch this space over the next year

Arnold

Nature Ride 28 April 2019

The weather was not what Newham Cyclists have come to expect, being rather chilly and dull. Nevertheless 6 of us – the “naturalist wing” – set out for a short jaunt taking in Walthamstow Marshes, Walthamstow Wetlands, the Middlesex Filter Beds, the fringes of Hackney Marsh, and the northern (and greener) part of the Olympic Park. The cycling was broken up by a coffee stop and short wander around the reservoirs of the Wetlands. An excellent variety of different birds were seen, and we were reminded of the quality of the green spaces in our quarter of London. Thanks again to Robin for his photography skills.

Arnold

River Ride Report 14/4/19

10 of us set off in fair weather on Sunday from View tube bikes in the edge of the Olympic park –along Channelsea path (once a canal) leading to the greenway up the excellent new ramp at Abbey lane –here we passed Abbey creek –leading to the Chanelsea river. We rode the greenway (river of sewage?) as far as we could to Becton & the Gallions reach shopping park, skirting the new developments we caught our first sight of the Thames. Following the river path we passed through Gallions point Marina, Royal Victoria Gardens to arrive early for the first Woolwich ferry of the day. The new Ferries have a separate section now for bikes that easily catered for our group and other cyclists using the crossing with us –they even have a seated area sheltered area for cyclists –we did not need as sun had come out and we enjoyed views up and down the Thames.

After disembarking we followed the river path and Quietway 14 using the new bypass section that kept us away from the busy Woolwich rd –leading us to the Thames barrier off road!

QW14 lead us on past Greenwich Yacht club, many new developments as well as industrial areas along some excellent cycle paths to our lunch stop at the cafe under the Emirates cable car –here we lost a couple of riders –one heading back to Bexley the other taking the cable care (for the first time ) back to Newham.

On past the O2 only one small path diversion remained before cutting through the old Naval college in the University of Greenwich, past the Cutty Sark to take the foot Tunnel back across river to Isle of Dogs. Passing through island gardens we continued along the Thames path, passing beach at Amsterdam rd, over blue bridge onto East India dock basin (see second photo) We decided to divert into the new development London City Island surrounded by the River Lee meander through the Bow ecology park then over Newham way to Cody dock for a brief comfort break.

Following  Bow Creek we used the steep bridge to rejoin the River Lee past three Mills, back to Olympic park to end of ride back on the Greenway

An easy 20ish mile ride with many riders discovering new places – even after many years in the area!

Sorry no map as I had a technology malfunction(S)!

Thanks for Arnie for back marking & Nigel at view tube bikes for start photo (thanks also Nigel for checking over some bikes before ride!)

Bill

Readout from March 25 Meeting

We met at Stratford Library – a new venue – thanks to Trevor Mbatha. there was the usual crowded and interesting agenda.

  • Laura Shelton, a Crossrail Walking and Cycling Ambassador started us off, being available to mark bikes before the meeting. At the meeting proper she explained her role and some of her ideas for increasing cycling around stations and for staff. She explained that current policy will be for Crossrail to carry bikes – off peak- over all its lines (including the central underground tunnel.
  • Richard Wadey (Newham Council Sustainable Transport Officer) unravelled how Newham was proposing to spend the £2-3m pa TfL funding to promote the Mayor of London’s Transport Policy. For details see the earlier post of the catch up meeting with him. Headlines are that the big ticket items will be for (a) progressing design of Liveable Neighbourhoods (Forest Gate North in partnership with Waltham Forest and Woodgrange Estate). These would link to TfL’s accelerated interest in tackling the Romford Rd strategic cycling corridor; (b) forwarding design for some other strategic cycle corridors and completing improvements to Greenway and its ramps (e.g. at Newham General, Upper St) and a path through West Ham Memorial Park; (c) progressing design for key junctions on TfL’s identified strategic cycling routes, particularly the Barking Rd and (d) continuing the successful training and cycle hanger programme. He also explained various potential sources of funding to convert design into actual infrastructure. This is in addition to the Freemasons Liveable Neighbourhood for which Newham’s bid was successful, and other projects on the fringe of the borough such as Ilford Hill, the crossing of the Roding at Ilford and the Ilford to Barking route.
  • Trevor led discussion on the proposed “Greenway Challenge” event he was promoting on either the first or last Sunday of Bike Week. He had set up a number of partnerships already to get this event off the ground and we indicate a positive wish to help.
  • Also during Bike Week we decided to seek 13 June for a Bike Week partnership event with Stratford Original to promote and celebrate the improvements brought by the removal of the Stratford Gyratory.
  • Jonathan updated us on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the disturbing approach of the LLDC (the Planning Authority) whose current Design Guidance includes some real cycling howlers. We are going to have to get down to detail to update them not only on current practice but also to bring to their attention the historic mistakes make in the QEOP.
  • Richard Stevenson is pursing a Councillor Ride to ensure that the Newham Councillors who cycle get a better idea of what cycle infrastructure is possible and in place elsewhere.
  • Partnership Rides with Clapton CFC on 27 April and Bike from Boleyn on 4 May are coming up. A chance to mix football (of your choice) with cycling. And of course our own ride season is now in full swing.
  • Our Annual Meeting will take place on 29 April at the Red Lion 80 High St South East Ham 7.30pm to 9.30pm Light refreshment will be provided. Whilst predominantly a social/discussion event with guests we will have some formal business, particularly the election of Officers. Anyone who would like (or think they may like) to take a more active role in Newham Cyclists is encouraged to put their name forward. We want to continue to be a vibrant group.

Arnold

Steve’s Ride Report – Much Hadham Ride

The sunny and calm weather made for near perfect conditions for this ride.

Eight of us met at Leytonstone station as usual to take tube to Epping for the start. We followed the B181 out of the town and through the countryside to Epping Upland, Epping Green and Roydon. Over the river Stort and the level crossing and deeper into the Hertfordshire countryside, through the pretty villages of Hunsdon and Wilford to Much Hadam. We turned east and passed a field full of sheep with their newly born lambs, cross a ford on the river Ash and climbed the hill towards Perry Green. The Henry Moore studios and gardens are not open until 3 April, although some of his iconic statues can be seen from the road.

We rode through Green Tye and saw a pillbox that used to guard a long forgotten WW2 airfield. We passed Thorley woods where the notorious murderer Harry Roberts lived while hiding from the police. We took the back route through Sawbridgeworth and crossed the locks and railway line and we were back in Essex. The Fox at Matching Tye was our lunch stop, there were two other cycling clubs there, including a big group from Redbridge. I wonder if any had attended the Redbridge LCC meeting?

The last leg inevitably included the Toot Hill rollercoaster before climbing back up to the station to catch the train home. Well done to all participants, especially those that had not done such a long distance (38 miles) before.

Infrastructure Issues

Every few months we have a “catch up” meeting with the Newham sustainable Transport Officer (Richard Wadey). A chart accessible through this link records the outcome of this meeting by reference to some specific major cycle infrastructure issues. Some headlines:

-The chart references areas affected by the draft LIP bid.

-There has been an increase in cycling in Newham on CS2 and the Greenway (Quietway 22).

-Cycle training has a high demand.

-There is also a High demand for secure cycle storage.

Any question please contact me through the Newham cyclists contact e-mail.

Arnold