Coach Trips
Peabody Trust is sponsoring a coach trip to Southend on Friday 1st August and Margate on Friday 15th August. Cost £5 adults, £2 children (maximum four children per adult).
For more details contact Dave at Britannia Village Hall 020 7511 6118.
Meet the Emergency Services
This event is to be held on the Village Green on Saturday 3rd August between 11am and 3 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet our emergency teams including
the Metropolitan Police, the London
Ambulance Service and the Fire Brigade. [More Information]
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Newham Council defers Airport application
The Airport's application to increase the cap on the annual number of flights - see below - was due to be considered at a meeting of the Development Control Committee of the London Borough of Newham on Wednesday 30th July 2006 at the Old Town Hall in Stratford starting at 2pm. Click here to see copy of the report of the Council's officers (.pdf 271kb)
The Committee met as planned but only to report the receipt that very morning of a letter from the Mayor of London. The Borough Planning Officer accordingly recommended to the Committee that it should postpone its consideration of the Airport 's planning application . There was no presentation by the Council or discussion of the application. A few people who had asked to make representations sought assurances that they would be notified in good time of the Development Control meeting which would consider this application. A plea was made by one resident that the future hearing be held in the evening.
It will be noted that the Mayor of London requested that consideration of the application should be deferred pending further consideration and discussion of the impact of the expanded Public Safety Zones on the case for the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge and the potential impact on a number of sites earmarked for regeneration. It is not clear at this stage how long this might need. Top of Page
Parliament approves Crossrail
The Crossrail Bill has now received the Royal Assent and construction of the railway can get uderway. For more details see the Department for Transport's press release issued on 23rd July 2008.
Crossrail's £16bn funding package is already in place. It was announced by the Prime Minister on 5 October 2007
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Royal Docks Book Club
The Royal Docks Book Club will be restarting in September when everyone will have the opportunity to suggest books to read through the autumn. Dates to follow. For more details contact sally@royaldocks.org
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Development and Delivery of Physical Regeneration Projects
Newham Council is looking at a number of physical regeneration projects for the Royal Docks and Custom House areas, to be developed and delivered using £5m funding provisionally awarded to Newham from the Department for Communities and Local Government. The projects aim to improve the public realm and green spaces; bring forward sites to provide new affordable family housing; reduce the severance effect of the area's transport infrastructure; and connect existing communities to new transport links, job opportunities and social infrastructure. [More information - Item 13 refers]
Vanesta Wharf
An application for permission to construct a riverboat pier and riverside
walkway at Vanesta Wharf (to be known as Silvertown
Pier) was considered by Newham's Development Control Committee on 2nd July 2008. The officers report on the application can be seen on the Council's website.
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Minoco Wharf - new planning application
On 2nd May, Ballymore, the developer of this important site, sent in amendments to the application they submitted in June 2007. The amendments, which follow detailed discussions with the Council's officers, would reduce the massing and height of much of the development and thus the floorspace and density. As a consquence of these changes the environment produced by the development would be improved. The amount of affordable housing remains unchaged at 35% and family housing will make up 30% of the total.
The application wasconsidered by Newham's Development Control Committee on 2nd July 2008. The officers report on the application can be seen on the Council's website
For more on the development visit our Developments Page
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Ports of Call audio trails
Three audio trails around the Royal Docks are now freely available for download or experiencing online at www.portsofcall.org.uk
The Ports of Call project has also produced a thousand professionally produced trail CDs with map booklets; if anyone would like a free set please email your mailing address to T.Butler@uel.ac.uk.
Toby's time as director of the Ports of Call project is coming to a close, but he will still have a connection with the University of East London as a visiting fellow. He is very grateful to all those who have so freely offered their advice and expertise to make a success of the project.
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New Village Hall Manager 
A new team is aiming to get Britannia Village Hall buzzing with activities for everyone in our community.
Centre manager David Mann and site supervisor Brian Elgood have been appointed by East Potential in partnership with the Hall’s new owners, the West Silvertown Village Community Foundation. They started work on 25th March. The roles are partly funded by a grant from East Foundation and there are also plans to appoint a community development and youth worker in the near future.
David helped form a charity, Bonny Downs Community Association, in East Ham which renovated and runs The Well community centre and Flanders Field sports ground. The Well re-opened seven years ago and now gets 3,500 visits a week.
For the last three years, David has been a trustee of Bridges Community Project, which is based in the village hall, and is also a governor of Britannia Village Primary School.
In January David moved into Britannia Village to succeed Penny Marsh as the unpaid minister of Royal Docks Community Church. He and his wife Sally have three teenage children.
“With its position opposite the school and across from the village green, I’d like the village hall to be right at the heart of our community life,” said David. “There is great potential here and I want to work with local people to provide the sort of activities that they want and our community needs.”
The Foundation took on responsibility for Britannia Village Hall at the beginning of May 2007 when they took over Wimpey’s leasehold interest. The transfer of the lease was part of Wimpey's completion process for Britannia Village which also saw Wimpey and CPM handing over the resident management companies (RMC's) into resident control and the appointment of Chainbow as the new managing agent with effect from 1st May 2007. [More Information]
If you have any suggestions, David would be pleased to hear from you at the Village Hall on 020 7511 6118.
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RODMA Newsletter
The latest RODMA newsletter is now available - click here (.pdf 297kb) Top of Page
African drumbeats
African drumbeats pulsated through Britannia Village when the primary school hosted a two day workshop led by IROKO theatre company (28th and 29th Feb).
IROKO use the art of storytelling, drama, music and dance to help enhance the creative potential, self-confidence and self-esteem of children. Groups of children and staff rehearsed in the school and the Village Hall and performed a vibrant dance, drum and singing extravaganza in African costume, watched by many parents.
“ It was a massively enriching, cultural and creative experience for all involved. The children's response was absolutely brilliant! ” said teacher Kiel Richardson.
Top of Page  Second Community Pride Event - 29 March 2008
The second Community Pride Event took place on Britannia Village Green on 29 March. This follows on from the first successful event on 15th September last - see below. The second event followed a similar format - stalls from the various stakeholders in the village (including housing agencies, SNT, Britannia Village Hall, Council Services etc), fun activities and planting. There was also be an opportunity for East Thames architects to display the latest proposals for the redevelopment of the green spaces in the area.
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Temporary Concrete Plant at Knights Road
In April 2007 Tarmac
Ltd were granted planning permission for a new permanent combined concrete and mortar
plant at Knights Road, E16 - see below. This was to replace the present operation Pudding
Mill Lane, Stratford which has to be moved because of the Olympics. The new operation at Knights Road is expected to be fully erected
and commissioned by the 31st August 2008.
The applicants have now asked for planning permission for the temporary use of part of
the site for the manufacture of ready mixed concrete and the erection of a temporary mobile concrete batching
plant. This is to allow them to continue
with their business until the permanent plant is erected and commissioned. The
present temporary operation at
Silvertown Quays (next to the Connaught Crossing) does not, they say, provide sufficient capacity on its own to meet their
current market demands. (In a separate aplication they are asking that the temporary permission for that site to be continued until the end of August 2008).
The application was considered by the London Borough of Newham on 12th March. The officers report on the application, recommending temporary approval for one year until 1st April 2009, can be seen on the Council's website
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Silvertown Quays
On 13th February Newham's Development Committee considered the Design Code for Phase 1. The Code
will serve as a reference point for consultants and designers involved with
the project and will help foster coherent development throughout and
safeguard urban quality. However, it is not the intention that the Code
should restrict the design idiom of future reserved matters, but instead
provide a context for submissions. Click here to see the report by Newham's planning officers.
The green light for this massive £1.5 billion development was given on 2nd May 2007when it was announced that the London Borough of Newham had finally approved the scheme following the confirmation of planning approval and the completion of legal and funding agreements by the developer Silvertown Quays Ltd (SQL), the special purpose company selected to develop the site following an international competition by the site's owner, the London Development Agency, in October 2002. [More Information]
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 Airport Fun Day
The Airport's 2008 Fun Day was held on Saturday 5th July. More than 22,000 people enjoyed the fun filled afternoon and the usual superb flying display. for more information:
The net proceeds from Fun Day are donated to the Richard House Trust.
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Airport application to increase flights - second consultation
As previously reported here London City Airport in August 2007 applied to the London Brough of Newham to vary the limits in the present airport planning permission so as to increase the number of permitted flights. If approved the new overall annual limit, which will apply to all movements including those to and from the Jet Centre, would be 120,000 per annum compared with about 80,000 such flights in 2006. This will allow for about three years growth by which time traffic at the Airport will be operating broadly in line with the capacity of facilities already built or approved This "interim" application does not seek permission to construct any new facilities.
The key details of the application are:
Application Number: 07/01510/VAR
Responsible Planning Officer: Sunil Sahadevan, tel: 020 8430 2000;
e-mail: sunil.sahadevan@newham.gov.uk
To help residents assess the impact of the application the Airport on 9th November issued a Question and Answer leaflet which seeks to answer many of the questions which have arisen about the Airport's application. The leaflet was delivered to all homes which normally receive the Airport's periodic publication Runway News and a copy has been placed on the Airport's website. On 20 November 2007 the Council wrote to the Airport seeking additional information for the Environmental Statement which accompanied the application and also clarification on a number of other matters. The Airport responded to this request at Christmas time. The new information can be seen on the Public Access website. In the light of this new information the Council launched a second round of consultation - the new period for representations about the application ran until 6th February 2008.
At a meeting of the Airport's Consultative Committee on Tuesday 1st April 2008 it was reported that the Council had written to ask the Airport for further information on issues which had arisen in relation to this application and that when this had been submitted there would be a further period for the submission of representations. The further information was submitted in April there was a further period for representations lasting 21 days. The further information subnmitted is said to be available on the Council's Public Access website but in any case copies can be seen on the Consultative Committee's website
Fight the Flights, a group opposed to the application, held a public meeting at Britannia Village Hall in Evelyn Road on Wednesday 6th February 2008. At least one petition opposing the application circulated in the Village and beyond.
The application is due to be considered at a meeting of the Development Control Committee of the London Borough of Newham on Wednesday 30th July 2006. Click here to see copy of the report of the Council's officers (.pdf 271kb) The present application follows approval in January last of the Airport’s application temporarily to redistribute the daily limits on air transport movements so that more movements are now permitted on Mondays to Fridays but there is a corresponding reduction in the limits on movements on Saturdays and Sundays and during quieter holiday times. The overall annual limit of 73,000 movements was not changed.
Meanwhile the Airport is working up a second planning application seeking approval for the facilities needed to develop the Airport to its Master Plan*. The second application would follow approval of the present application. The Airport expect that the process for the second, wider, application will start in the Spring of 2008.
* The Airport's Master Plan can be seen on the Airport's website Top of Page
Royal Docks Today
Click the thumbnail opposite to see the latest report published by the Royal Docks Partnership Top of Page
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Christmas fair warms Royal Docks
Mince pies and mulled wine were among the warm, winter delights savoured by people at the Royal Docks Community Forum Christmas event.
More than 200 residents braved the cold to kick off the festive season at St John's Community Centre on Saturday, 2nd December.
Local singer and musician Mark Waterman had people spontaneously dancing to his festive tunes, while Father Christmas welcomed children into his grotto where they received a free gift. People also enjoyed stocking up with Christmas goodies from the range of stalls, trying their luck on the tombola and entering the free prize draw for a chance to win a Christmas hamper.
Councillor Simon Tucker said: “There was a lovely warm, friendly atmosphere with people of all ages enjoying the live music and stalls and celebrating the wonderful message of Christmas.” St John's Community Centre manager, Elahe Panahi said: "What a wonderful event. We have received calls from people with extremely positive feedback about Santa's grotto being outside which brought new people to the centre. Many people said the music made them feel at home.”
Royal Docks Community Forum is one of nine forums in Newham working to make each area a safer, healthier and more interesting place to live.
For more information about community forums freephone 0800 519 4015 or email community.forums@newham.gov.uk Top of Page
Royal Victoria Footbridge
The bridge is now open from 7 am to 10 pm daily. State of the art CCTV and regular patrols may make our community feel safer but, please, continue to report anything to RoDMA about the bridge or water area that they may be able to help with.
For some time during 2007 the bridge was in the nighttime hours because of vandalism.
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SQL at the Thames Gateway Forum
Silvertown Quays Limited were at the Thames Gateway Forum on 28th November 2007 to launch the Silvertown Quays Employment Charter, and also a Jobs and Business strategy for the development, setting out policies and initiatives to improve training, business and employment opportunities within Newham and to assist local people in securing employment at Silvertown Quays. They also used the occasion to highlight their community work with a group of pupils from years 8 and 9 at the Royal Docks Community School (RDCS) who have produced a newsletter for young people by young people featuring the Silvertown Quays development [More Information] Also launched at the Forum was
- the East London Green Grid - a guide to creating a network of interlinked, high quality open spaces that will connect town centres, public transport hubs, the Thames and the surrounding countryside with the area`s newly created communities.
-
the Government's plan for delivering the Thames Gateway with £9bn of government investment.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the money would be invested in vital infrastructure including jobs, transport, education and new affordable homes.
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 Detailed plans of the Biota! Acquarium published
The developers of the £1.5 billion Silvertown Quays site have revealed the final designs for Biota! the aquarium to be operated by the Zoological Society of London. The development team haved also released images of the striking pedestrian bridge which will create a key gateway to the development.
A detailed planning application for Biota! and the accompanying public realm has been submitted to the London Borough of Newham and detailed design work on the building has commenced. A detailed application was also submitted for the infrastructure elements of the development.
For more information see our Development Page
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Peruvian Wharf
In January 2007 the planning application submitted by Capital and Provident for a mixed development at Peruvian Wharf was turned down by the Government following a public inquiry in mid-2006.
Since then Capital and Provident have been reviewing their options, taking into account the need to devote 9 acres of the site to an aggregates operation without the environmental protection they had built in to the earlier scheme. The first result of this review is a new planning application submitted by C&P's development partners Brett Aggregates for a scheme which will give rise to much less noise and dust than the scheme drawn up by Aggregate Industries and approved by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation in June 2007. A copy of the Non-Techical Summary of the Application and Environmental Statement (.pdf 237kb) is attached
The new Brett scheme was presented to residents in detail at a public meeting at the Village Hall on Tuesday 9th October. A report of the meeting has been posted on our Development Page. Capital and Provident say they are still looking at the rest of the site.
The application was considered by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation at a meeting of its Planning Committee on Thursday, 8th November, 200. Copies of the officer's report on the application (.pdf 112kb), and its addendum (.pdf 63kb), considered at the meeting are attached. The Committee agreed to delegate to the Director of Planning authority to approve the application subject to referral to the GLA, additional responses to the points of clarification on the EIA and the conditions and s106 agreement as outlined in the report .
Our Development Page has full infomation about the development of Peruvian Wharf.
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Safer Route to Schools
Last year Drew Primary School piloted an initiative in which a group of children were escorted around the streets in vicinity of their school to point out to the authorities what concerned, worried or caused fear in them. On these 'routes' such things as dumped rubbish and graffiti were indicated as a safety issue.
Transport for London working in partnership now wish to promote this across London and the Royal Docks Safer Neighbourhood Team are repeating the process with Drew Primary School and also with the Britannia Village Primary School.
However, the Team will adopt a more sustained approach with consultation with parents as to what fears and concerns they have about routes to school. It is also intended to perform short personal safety talks with the children in both schools.
The Britannia Primary School event was rained off on 9th October 2007 and a new date was to be fixed.
For more information contact Sgt Tony Galinis at North Woolwich Police Station, telephone 0207 275 5903. Top of Page
Community safety event
More than 250 residents concerned about crime and anti-social behaviour turned out last month to hear what’s happening to make the community safer and learn tips from the experts.
Community lead councillor for Royal Docks Patrick Murphy said: “The response from residents was very impressive. The workshops were especially popular, with people eager to learn about what they can do personally to help make our community a safer place.”
Around 70 residents attended informative workshops on personal safety and gun and knife crime, while more than 120 people welcomed the opportunity to take home a free personal safety alarm.
The council’s crime and anti-social behaviour unit and Royal Docks Safer Neighbourhoods Team hosted popular information stands.
People also had the opportunity to give their views about how they feel living in Royal Docks, with many residents commenting that it was pleasing to see a greater number of people attending community events.
Foundation trustee June Welcome, a village resident, took her twin daughters to the event. She said: “It was a beautiful day and good to see so many people there. I enjoyed talking to the councillors and police officers about what’s going on locally. It was also interesting to find out people’s different perspectives on crime issues.”
The Royal Docks Community Forum is one of nine in Newham working to make each area a safer, healthier and more interesting place to live.
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Venture Xtreme
On 17th September 2007 SQL released conceptual images of Venture Xtreme, which is billed as a unique surf centre and extreme sports complex, the first project of its kind in the world, designed by Baca Architects. The surf centre is a conceptual project which may form part of the visitor attraction area at Silvertown Quays. If it does go ahead the surf centre will be located alongside the aquarium Biota! and will include London 's largest permanent outside beach and a surf pool with perfect waves all day every day!
To see more images, and for more information, visit our Development Page
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Britannia Village Community Pride Day
On 15th September 2007 residents in Britannia Village turned out in force to help make their area cleaner and greener, with a clean-up event hosted by Newham Council.
More than 200 residents rolled up their sleeves and took part in the Britannia Village Community Pride Day, held at the Village Green.
Age number of residents took the opportunity to spruce up their front garden with new plants, clean up communal areas and get rid of unwanted household items.
 Deputy Mayor Councillor Christine Bowden said: “The response from residents was outstanding and it was wonderful to see people of all ages mucking in to improve their environment. This is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting community project.”
On the day 33 gardens weregiven a make-over with 60 new outdoor plants and more than 100 spring bulbs. Staff from Lea Rivers Trust and Pinnacle's ground maintenance team helped residents with the weeding and planting.
Newham Council's Public Realm staff took away unwanted bulky items, such as white goods and furniture, and the Crime and ASB and recycling teams also took part.
The event is the first stage in a long-term project, with a civic pride residents group being set-up for people to promote a stronger community spirit. Twenty-three residents showed an interest in the group and it's due to get underway in October.
Resident Lorraine Church has lived with her family in the area for 22 years. She said: “It was a brilliant day – I really enjoyed it and the area looks a lot cleaner now. I helped clean up rubbish and went door to door to encourage people to take part. My granddaughter and her friends helped out and had a great time.”
Along with the hard work there was plenty of fun with people enjoying a free barbecue, bouncy castle and face painting. Bike works, a social enterprise that promotes cycling in East London, also hosted a popular workshop where young people learnt about road safety.
For more information about the Britannia Village Civic Pride residents group please contact Liz Whitworth on 020 8430 6245 or email liz.whitworth@newham.gov.uk. The first meeting will take place on 24 October 2007 at Britannia Village Hall. We hope you can join us.
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Trad Scaffolding site - Knights Road
In April 2007 Tarmac Limited were given planning permission by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation to erect and operate a combined concrete and mortar batching plant but this was subject to a condition that the permission would expire after 10 years. This was to allow the Development Corporation to re-visit the question of the most appropriate use for the site after that period and perhaps to bring forward proposals which fit in better with the regeneration of the area.
Tarmac have since applied to remove this condition. The Foundation objected to the application and a copy of the Chairman's letter (.pdf - 207kb) is attached. It will be seen that Newham's Planning Department is located at the
Town Hall Annexe,
Barking Road,
London,
E6 2RP. The lead officer is Mr S Sahadevan and the application reference is 07/00754/LTGDC. As at 4th March 2008 the application had still to be decided.
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Latest Airport Noise Contours
These can be seen on the London City Airport Consultative Committee's website.
The 57 LAeq contour is generally regarded as
a key indicator of the
onset of "significnt community disturbance". At London City Airport it is the trigger point for sound insulation and mechanical ventilation for homes and noise sensitive premises. Most new homes at West Silvertown were built after the airport started its operations and noise insulation was installed as a condition of planning permission. Top of Page
Thames Gateway Bridge - inquiry to re-open
On 25th July 2007 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced that the public inquiry into this proposed new road was to be re-opened. [More Information]
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School Goes Green
Pupils at Britannia Village Primary School are doing their bit to help look after the environment.
For the past year pupils have been enthusiastically taking part in projects which include recycling items which normally go out with the rubbish. The School has introduced 'water hippos' which save water each time the loo is flushed and eco-friendly hygiene paper products, along with other measures such as water butts and compost bins.
The School sees this as an ongoing educational journey which will become embedded in the school ethos and across the curriculum. They hope to make a real difference to the community and be a flagship to other schools by sharing good practice.
Through the pupils' sterling efforts, the school has achieved the Bronze Eco School Award.
[More Information]
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Page last modified: 31st July 2008
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