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.
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