Local News
Council says drink & drug-related ASB down 5%
A NEW approach is helping to cut drug- and drink-related Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), says Tower Hamlets Council. The Council attributes this improvement to “a new partnership” – but is that the whole story? The Council press release reports that there was a 5.6% reduction in the amount of ASB...
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Sounds on Sunday: 50 years ago – 1976-19
FIFTY YEARS AGO we were humming along to the hits of 1976. Some have magnificently stood the test of time; others have not. Join us on Memory Lane as we review them on their golden anniversaries. You know what we are going to say. Elton John and Kiki Dee are still at number one. It’s ... The post ...
Add your voice to an autumn of events for peace
An inspirational station was agreed at the International Anti-War Conference in June: “From this International Anti-War Conference we raise our united voices: against war and genocide, and the growing nuclear threat, and for peace.” With so much military action around the world, with war-thirsty...
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Boundary community laundry saved: why the delay?
THE COMMUNITY laundry on the Boundary Estate in North West Tower Hamlets has been there for years. The laundrette has been experiencing financial problems, but Tower Hamlets Council has just announced that it has found a way to secure the laundrette’s future. How did we get here? Many community or...
Newham gunshot victim named
AS POLICE continue to investigate a murder in St Bartholomew’s Road, Newham, the victim has been named as Masum Miah, 42. Gunshots were heard in St Bartholomew’s Road at around 3am on the morning of Tuesday, 18th August. The emergency services came to the scene and found Mr Miah in a car. He had...
Mayor Lutfur Rahman praises school achievement
PRAISE was directed at Tower Hamlets school students last week as “A”-level results were announced. Although Mayor Lutfur Rahman often says housing is his top priority, he is known for his interest in education too. Speaking as the borough’s students received their ”A”- level results, Mayo...
Police appeal for help as man shot dead in Newham
A MAN in his 40s, with gunshot wounds, was found in a car in St Bartholomew’s Road, Newham at around 3am on Tuesday, 18th August. He was found by police, who had been called out by members of the public reporting that they had heard gunshots. The London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance a...
Tower Hamlets and ULEZ cut air pollution
TOWER HAMLETS Council has claimed the credit for a cut in air pollution since 2019. This comes at the same time as academic research has shown that London ULEZ has led to a huge improvement in children’s lung capacity. Tower Hamlets Council is claiming that nitrogen dioxide pollution (which is mai...
Trump peace plan leads to angry stalemate
IT’S ANOTHER plan that is going nowhere. The Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza conflict, also known as the Gaza Peace Plan (GPP), signed by Israel and Hamas but brokered by US President Donald Trump, is stuck in political stalemate. That leaves some two million people to continuing suffering in G...
Second fire in Deptford this summer
A HUGE PLUME of black smoke rose up from south west London earlier this evening, clearly visible across East London. Fifteen fire engines with around 100 firefighters are at the site. The fire is reported to be at the Deptford Recycling Centre, which is thought to be run by a number of private compa...
Dr Zakir Khan hands out medals at Community Shield
ARSENAL took on Manchester City at the FA Community Shield final at Wembley on 16th August. The Londoners came away clear winners, with the match ending 3-0. The football wasn’t the only point of interest that day. The Football Association (FA) held its Grassroots Football Awards. The awards celeb...
Brick Lane Curry Festival is back!
SAVE THE DATE: 20th September 2026. Having returned in 2025 after a nine-year hiatus, the Brick Lane Curry Festival is back again this year. The event returned as part of the Mayor’s work to improve community cohesion – work which has seen a huge rise in residents getting on with their neighbour...
Hackney man charged with starting fires in London Fields
A MAN has been charged with arson after a number of fires were started in London Fields, near Lansdowne Road in Hackney. The story began just after 5am on Saturday, 15th August when the emergency services received reports that a man was starting fires in London Fields – and rushed to the scene. Fo...
Housing progress: but where are the residents?
THERE’S NO hanging around in Tower Hamlets when it comes to delivering more social homes. The most recent step forward was a huge meeting of housing companies designed to move forward plans to build new homes. But is something missing? It wasn’t the developers. What happened was that “represen...
Sounds on Sunday: 50 years ago – 1976-18
FIFTY YEARS AGO we were humming along to the hits of 1976. Some have magnificently stood the test of time; others have not. Join us on Memory Lane as we review them on their golden anniversaries. Yes, Elton John and Kiki Dee are still in negotiations over breaking hearts at number one – and there...
Trump: war aim or just a very bad joke?
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has veered between escalating military action against Iran and backing peace talks. He’s agreed to ceasefires – and carry on firing. Now he’s giving even more signs that he does not know what he is doing. The latest surprise came on Friday, 14th August. Speaking to la...
Mayor Lutfur Rahman offers help with Council Tax
COUNCIL TAX bills are up – as are so many household bills. Mayor Lutfur Rahman has stepped in to offer the poorest households assistance with paying them, as part of his work to help residents with the cost of living. The Mayor is offering two kinds of help. The Tory/Lib-Dem 90% Rule In 2013, duri...
Farage wins Clacton – but this is no ringing endorsement
AS EXPECTED – not least by him – Nigel Farage, Leader of Reform UK, has won the Clacton by-election. The by-election was called because the previous MP for Clacton, Nigel Farage, resigned and then stood again. It was less a by-election and more of a stunt. Why did Farage resign? The Parliamentar...
Burnham unhappy as regulator backs big water bill increases
THE WATER industry in the UK is in a mess – and no one wants to pay to clean it up. At the moment, the regulator, Ofwat, which is supposed to protect consumers from the worst ravages of private water companies, is suggesting that consumers should foot the bill. Water companies have to apply to ....
Barking warehouse fire now under control
SMOKE FROM a huge fire at a warehouse on the A13, Ripple Road, in Barking could be seen across London yesterday, 12th August. A massive turnout from East London fire fighters ensured the blaze was quickly controlled. The very hot weather dictated the tactics of the fire brigade. Fire engines from Ba...