Clapton Pond Blog

Wind Turbine, Anyone?

Those quality bloggers of Leabank Square have already set out the arguments for and against the Olympic Delivery Authority's proposal to plant a wind turbine on Hackney Marshes. The big upside would be a significant amount of profitable green energy generated for the borough: the Council claims that the combined output from a turbine on the Marshes and another that has already got the go ahead in Waltham Forest would be sufficient to power all "the main Council buildings" by day and all of Hackney's street lights at night. A reduction in carbon emissions would be another good outcome. The main problem, at least for some people, would be that the turbine would measure 120 metres in height. That's pretty vast, and would have a big impact on the skyline.

My initial reaction is to favour the idea, despite being a bit bothered by the size of the windmill and the fact that some of the East Marsh land surrounding it would have to be placed out of bounds. However, the latter isn't all that big and the Council has said (see here) that it would not reduce the number of football pitches (ten) that would be marked out there or impede its future sports development plans. And although I'm becoming a bit of a fogey about tall buildings - I've definitely taken against that thick finger of apartments jutting from Dalston Square - I find tall wind turbines rather graceful and beguiling.

Jules Pipe says that, "On balance, I think the wind turbine is a good idea," but adds, "if the public response to this is no, then it will not go ahead. This will not be forced through if residents don't want it." You can read more from him here. The Council has set up a number of consultation mechanisms (listed in full here). There's an online survey you can complete and an email address - windturbine@hackney.gov.uk - to which you can send your views. Next month there are two consultation events - the first is at the Wally Foster next Monday from 3.00 till 7.30 - and six drop-in sessions at Hackney libraries. The consultation ends of 14 December. Full details here. There's also stuff about the wind turbine proposal along with an upbeat account of progress in and around the Olympic Park in the latest Hackney Today. 

[P.S. I'm away for the rest of this half-term week and am unlikely to be online again before Sunday. This means that any comments probably won't be attended to until then. But please don't let that put you off.] 

Seen While Running

A brand new local blogger takes his camera for a run down the canal. Sample photo caption:

Old Ford Lock. A working lock but I have yet to see a boat going through.This is right next to the house that was the Big Breakfast house back in the 1990s.It is now a rather smashing home, if a little overshadowed by the new stadium. I would get the f*** out of dodge in 2012 if I was them it'll be like Oxford St at Christmas with extra fireworks.

Now read on.

Olympics Media Centre: Shades Of Grey

The bloggers of Leabank Square down in the Wick continue to be dismayed by the construction of the Olympics media facilities directly across the river from where they live. The ODA has heralded a change to the skyline. These locals see it differently: 

We all well & fondly remember all the greenery we used to see across the canal. Arena Fields was the most lush, peaceful, environmentally refreshing view we could ever have wished for....This is what the ODA think we want to see instead! 

For the whole post including photographs, read on. 

Meanwhile, Paul Norman of Estates Gazette reports that ongoing wrangles over who deals with the recently-discovered debt accrued when the land for the Olympic Park was being purchased have prevented the newly-formed Olympics Legacy Company from holding an early meeting with the East London Business Alliance, the organisation seeking possible tenants for the media centre after the Games have gone. Remember that the Council has invested great hopes in the centre becoming a job-generating creative industries hub after the Games are over. Fingers crossed.   

Lack Of Broadband

From the latest excellent edition of Hackney Citizen:

Hackney runs a serious risk of getting left behind as the rest of London goes digital. The borough may be undergoing the biggest regeneration project of any London borough in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics, but it is standing on the sidelines of the digital revolution.

Read the whole article and indeed all the others.