Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
The Garden is at risk and we need your help!
Hackney Council are gathering views from the public on the development of buildings and land that they own in and around Dalston Lane and Ashwin Street. This consultation is the first stage in a process that will decide the future of the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden. It’s vital that we demonstrate to Hackney Council the Garden’s importance to our community, now and in the future and we need your help to do this.
The ‘Dalston Quarter Development Principles Public Consultation’ document outlines Hackney Council’s plans for the area and they are now inviting public responses. To help inform visitors about this process, we are organising a series of events at the Garden. These drop-in sessions offer the opportunity to hear more about the history and background to the Council consultation and to discuss how your response can best help support the future of the Garden.
The first of these “Future of the Curve Garden” events will take place here on:
Saturday 25 February, 2-6pm
Monday 27 February, 4-8pm
Tuesday 28 February, 4-8pm
All events will take place inside the Pineapple House, which is cosy and warm. The ‘Dalston Quarter’ consultation will continue until 17 April 2017 and we will inform you of additional dates for ‘Future of the Curve Garden’ events taking place here in the coming weeks. If you have any further questions or suggestions at this stage or would like to volunteer some time to help the Garden during this process, please do drop us an email at info@dalstongarden.org
Your participation in this consultation process is vitally important and we look forward to seeing you here soon, so that together we can help safeguard the future of the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden!
Dalston square security issues
Dear Resident
A distribution list has been set up to keep you informed.
We are aware of the security issues regarding Thomas/Burke and Ocean/Dekker and endeavour to resolve. Today I had a meeting with the door manufacturer who has said that the fixing of the maglocks may need to be addressed. The company that fitted the maglocks will be attending tomorrow. Once they attend, we can look at what appropriate action needs to be taken to remedy this situation.
I had a conversation and a meeting today with the police and gave them CCTV images of offenders that I managed to capture. May I please ask that dates and times are recorded if you come across any incidents; I can then see if anything can be captured on CCTV to assist the police.
With regards to the Concierge and what they can do:-
I would firstly point out that they are not security guards and we cannot expect them to put themselves in a situation where they could be confronted with violence or aggression. I know that the Concierge have confronted various youths to date but residents need to understand that they are not an authority with any power (only the Police have authority and power) and they cannot be expected to put themselves in a position of danger.
Whilst the Concierge can of course phone the police, we would urge as many residents to phone the police as possible as they always work on statistics. If their records show a large number of calls from the Square, they are more likely to send someone down. One phone call from the Concierge will do nothing to help in this regard.
Regards,
Gerald
Le Ziz
Dear Residents,
If you are unhappy with the way Le Ziz Restaurant is further encroaching into the square with its tables and wind breaks, and generally think it looks a bit tatty and lets the square down, you can write to Councillor Peter Snell to voice your opinion. The council have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the square. The more voices we have the more likely the council will listen and respond. So please get in touch!
Thank you
DSRA
Peter snell email: Peter.Snell@hackney.gov.uk
The Drawing Imaginarium
| The Drawing Imaginarium, Anorak’s very own festival of fun, is back!
First launched to celebrate our 10th anniversary, The Drawing Imaginarium is now a travelling festival and will be back in London for a special Autumn edition. HOORAY! Held on the 8th and 9th October at Dalston Square (London E8) and kindly supported by Hackney Council, it is a free two day event designed to encourage creativity… and silly fun too! You are ALL warmly invited to let your imagination go wild with workshops and activities such as a Happy Birthday Life Drawing Class, felt dolls making workshops, Pam & Tom dolls house, Jolly Jellyfish activity, a paper garden complete with bugs and flowers and much more. Our friends, travelling children’s bookshop How Brave is the Wren will host a Phaidon Kids pop-up too. For more details around the programming, please click here. We hope that you will ALL come along and/or tell all your friends and family about it. Let us know if you are planning to come along by here. Can’t wait to see you there! Anorak |
TP24 downlighter bulbs
Hyperoptic Broadband Offer
Review:
I signed up to Hyperoptic and arranged installation the following week. Online sign up was easy and quick, all details were emailed to me with instructions of whats happening and when.
On the day of the installation the engineer turned up on time, dressed smart and ready to go. I offered him a drink but he said he wouldn’t be here long enough – 5 minutes later he was done. I tested it and sure enough i was hitting download and upload speeds well over 800kbps which is astounding. The price, ease of installation and the speed are all factors that make this the best choice for Dalston Square residents.
Use the code above: CHAMPQ3 when ordering to receive £50 off your bill.
Thames House – Notification of Pre-Application Consultation
DSRA Information
Keeping residents informed.
We have been advised of two upcoming events to present plans for the development of the Thames House site on Hartwell street, off Dalston Lane.
The proposal is for a mixed-use scheme with a 50/50 mix of commercial and residential space. 41 new homes will be provided, 50% of which will be affordable. Of these affordable homes, 60% will be available for affordable rent and 40% as shared ownership.
We are holding two events near to the site on Saturday 18th and Sunday 21st June at:
- Saturday 18th June 14:00-17:00 at Halkevi – Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre
- Monday 20st June 17:00-20:00 at the Eastern Curve Garden
DSRA June 2016 Update
Dalston Square Residents’ Association
The DSRA depends on a small group of actively engaged residents. While we don’t know about everything that goes on in such a large complex we do keep an eye on the main issues that affect our welfare and finances.
The main ‘current’ issues have been the recent call for more chances to meet fellow residents- which we responded to by organizing a very successful roof top garden social on May21st – attended by over 70 residents on the first warm day of the summer. Thanks to all those who contributed! The atmosphere was very positive. Many of us learnt about Erika’s fantastic colourful roof garden and several new volunteers to help tend it came forward in true community sprit.
The other issues concern:
- Restaurant kitchen odours that continue to affect some flats on the east side of the Square. Barratt have agreed to retro installation of a fully integrated restaurant kitchen smoke extraction system. Slow progress and we continue to put pressure on the builders. The Council have asked, and are waiting for a planning submission as there are technical issues to be resolved. Watch this space for developments.
- Skateboarding is causing distress to families living on lower floors in flats that overlook the Square: personal appeals and ‘soft’ intervention by the Council’s Street Wardens has helped. However the Council has agreed that ‘no skateboarding’ signs are needed, and will be installed soon. Meanwhile residents should register their complaints on Hackney’s Noise Pollution website. It is possible to call for the Street Wardens. The number is available via the Concierge.
- Service Charges continue to be a cause for concern. The DSRA has established a ‘Finance Committee’ which meets to go over First Port’s accounts for the Square. In brief, it has taken some time to get a full understanding of First Port’s costs and charges. Vigilance is essential. We are always seeking new members for this committee. If you have a strong interest contact the DSRA via this website or put a note in the DSRA letter box in Gaumont Tower Concierge reception.
- Maintenance of the Square. The Square belongs to the Council and we have chased the relevant parties to ensure they maintain the green spaces and manage the litter situation. As its use increases with the arrival of more restaurants, we have pressed for high standards. Kim, the street operative, does a good job in difficult circumstances. Those of us who know her appreciate her positive outlook and care for the Square. If you have a chance to pay her your respect personally please do so.
The DSRA has been in operation since the Square opened to its first residents. It has chased and successfully seen resolved hundreds of issues. The Developer, Management Agents and the Council listen to us because we are firm and persistent while maintaining a positive working relationship.
If you are interested in joining a committee please get in touch via the website.
Exclusive DriveNow Membership offer
Dalston Square residents can now take advantage of this limited offer for free lifetime membership with DriveNOW
DriveNow is the on-demand, flexible car sharing scheme operating across the London boroughs of Hackney, Haringey, Islington, and the southern part of Waltham Forest. We’re delighted to be able to offer FREE lifetime membership to all followers of Dalston Square Resident’s Association.
Here’s how DriveNow works:
Find it – Find your nearest BMW or MINI with the DriveNow app on your phone or tablet.
Drive it – Drive by the minute and only pay when you drive the car – fuel, tax and insurance are all included in the price.
Drop it – Being fully flexible just leave the car in any residents’ bay or pay and display bay within the DriveNow business area for free.
To celebrate BMW’s 100th birthday we our dropping our prices for the summer, now starting for as little as 29p/min. That’s just £4.35 for a 15 minute journey.
With no annual membership fee or ongoing costs, experience the flexibility of a car without the hassle of ownership.
Please contact jake.baldry@drive-now.com. to claim your FREE lifetime membership.
Review:
I was issued my membership, received my card and everything was easy and ready to go.
Not sure when i would use it, but not long after i had set it up the day came. I took my partner and daughter with our new little puppy to watch the Hackney half marathon and then spend some time at london fields. The sun was shining and after a relaxing play in the park we were all tired, a quick look on my DriveNow App and i can see there is a car less than 2 minutes walk away. I suggested we head down, my partner was sceptical that my phone would open the car and that it would all work. I was dreading the ‘i told you so’ situation that was on the horizon. But I’m pleased to say the whole thing worked with very little ease. the car was easily located – the App unlocked it and my PIN number started the car. We were in a very lovely brand new BMW i3 – We headed home everyone on board parked it up over the road in a pay and display parking bay (we didn’t have to pay its all covered with DriveNow) set the car to end the rental, got out locked it with the app and walked over the road to home. My honest opinion is it couldnt have been any easier.
Dalton Street Show
Call for Entries
Deadline for submission 9 September 2016
THE DALSTON STREET SHOW is a dynamic new exhibition of street photography created as part of the Dalston Cultural Programme.
Dalston Day & Night is the theme for the show. Images demonstrating the diversity of Dalston, it’s people, it’s street life, it’s built environment, will be seen from the street, displayed in the windows of Dalston shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, on poster boards and inside a selection of local venues.
The Street Show exhibition will take place over a period of 4 weeks from 14 October to 14 November 2016 during Photomonth East London – the annual International Photography Festival.
The Call for Entries is open to all kinds of photographers, professional and non-professional, students, schools, community groups, youth projects and local residents of all ages, who are invited to submit images of Dalston to be selected for exhibition.
Entry is FREE Please complete the attached Entry Form and send in with up to 5 high res images per individual entrant or up to 10 high res images per group entry to info@alternativearts.co.uk All images to be at 300dpi. Early submission advised.
The management reserve the right to reject work not deemed suitable for exhibition.
All participants will be invited to the opening of The Dalston Street Show on Friday 14 November from 6pm to 8pm in Dalston Square when the submitted images will be projected to live music.
THE DALSTON STREET SHOW – BE PART OF IT
Entry Form Here: Dalston Street Show Entry Form
DRSA News Update March 14, 2016
Turtle Bay
The new restaurant is now open. Residents will have mixed views about this new complement to the Square. Some are concerned about the noise disturbance that Turtle Bay’s ‘beach party’ pitch might cause to the peace of the Square. Others are however looking forward to a piece of ‘Caribbean spirit’ adding warmth and sunshine to Dalston. Only time will judge how things will work out. The restaurant has however made a rather ‘mixed’ start!
Weary of the potential problems of more kitchen smoke entering the buildings immediately above, a small group of DSRA members were invited last week to look around Turtle Bay’s smoke extraction and filtration system. Billed as a ‘state of the art’ set up, it all certainly looked impressive! We will see if this ‘eco filter’ stands up to heavy use in the weeks ahead!
Noisy opening event causes nuisance noise
Those residents whose windows and balconies overlook the Square sadly took the full impact of Turtle Bay’s boisterous first-night event last week.
A live Band struck up which could be heard from all corners of the Square. Added to this was some energetic behaviour which as the evening wore on, spilt out onto the Square while residents were settling down for the night. The reports of disturbance were considerable and the concierge service was overwhelmed with calls. Their team tried to intervene but from all reports the managers were less than cooperative.
It should be said that the band did stop at 11pm but it was again frustrating that the roadies took their time to pack up and the disturbance did not finally abate until after 1. 30 am.
Don’t be a kill joy?
Everyone enjoys a party once in a while. However loud music late at night is nearly always a source of ill feeling for neighbours living in a block of flats. It should be pointed out that our leases state that noise should not be so loud as to be heard beyond the four walls of our homes. The good news is that we have received fewer complaints about noise in recent months.
In the case of Turtle Bay’s party an effort by the managers to forewarn its many neighbours would have made a difference while also conveying a degree of community spirit too.
The DSRA met with the management the next day. It was told that the event was a ‘one off’ and should not happen again. Sadly, we did not get an apology however.
Residents who feel strongly should ‘log’ their complaint on the Council’s online noise pollution page.
Restaurant Smoke- Gaumont Tower and the Gym.
For those who want an update on the protracted smoke saga…
The smoke emanating from the restaurant kitchens beneath Gaumont Tower continues despite the efforts by the DSRA to get Le Ziz to service and repair its kitchen filters. The situation in the gym has nevertheless, improved as Barratts have headed The DSRA’s request to install new inward ducting to bing in fresh air from outside the building. This seems to have worked.
The service tunnel behind the restaurant however is still filling with smoke at peak cooking times and we continue to campaign for proper extraction ducting to be retro fitted by Barratt Homes to take the odours and smoke away. Barratts have consented that this is needed but are awaiting planning consent from the Council.
We have engaged the support of Councillor Peter Snell to help chase this matter up at the ‘highest level’ in the Council. He has done so but progress is slow. We understand, legal measures are to be taken to impose lease agreements on Le Ziz.
We ask residents to keep up the pressure on the smoke pollution by notifying the Council again via their online pollution page.
On a more positive note…
Things are of course by no means all gloomy. The DSRA can claim a long list of achievements and improvements since the Square opened.
As always our work requires activists and so we are always looking for new residents willing to join us in whatever capacity.
If you are Interested and want to meet engaging and interesting neighbours, we would love to hear from you! Contact the Residents Association at dalston.square.com and we will get back.
DSRA committee.
Dalston Square Residents' Association 