Mayor Garbett has been in office for less than a week. That makes it all the more significant that yesterday morning her office called to request a meeting with me, the WDCO board, and local residents — with a start time of 3:45 that same afternoon.
Short notice it may have been, but I had no hesitation in agreeing. I knew we could count on our executive, our board stalwarts, and a solid core of residents to turn out at short notice — and so it proved. By mid-afternoon a substantial group of us had assembled.
We were joined by Mayor Garbett and Councillor Alastair Binnie-Lubbock, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Inclusive Neighbourhoods, along with three council officers and a member of the Independent Tenants and Leaseholders Advisors. The rain held off, allowing us to walk the estate together — which we shall take as a good omen.
The conversation ranged widely: the potential power of residents’ associations; the escalating level of anti-social behaviour; the planning and design process for future phases; and the current state of play with phase four under construction. We also visited the community centre and our local library, where the Mayor met members of staff.
That a Mayor so newly in post should make Woodberry Down one of her first visits is a clear signal of where we stand on her agenda. We look forward to building on that.
On a busy day for the mayor, this is her comment on the King’s speech https://news.hackney.gov.uk/news/mayor-garbett-we-need-a-government-that-backs-rent-controls
Image courtesyof William Sheehy and Gareth Crawford.
This is brilliant. Hopefully she has been made aware of the ever increasing service charge issues.
Great that the Mayor came to visit Woodberry Down. I’m sure she’ll want to attend WDCO Board soon to hear the priorities of all Board members.