Get your hands dirty - Newham

PLAISTOW
IN FOCUS
Covering Plaistow North and South
Hello from
Councillor
Zulfiqar Ali
Welcome to In Focus. We
have another packed issue
for you this month.
Firstly, thanks to everyone
who attended the recent Give
and Take for Plaistow’s Sake
environment event. It was a
great success.
Read on to find out about
the achievements of our
Gifted and Talented school
pupils, the popular Newham
Sixth Form College and
a great talent event for
primary pupils.
And turn the page if you
want to sign up to be a walks
leader or would like top tips
on recycling.
Enjoy the read!
Community lead
councillor, Zulfiqar Ali
April 2009 The new Dirty Hands plot
Cllrs Joy Laguda, Neil Wilson, Zulfiqar Ali and
Jonathan Knott and residents meet Alison Skeat
(centre) of Dirty Hands at the recent Give and Take
for Plaistow’s Sake event
Get your hands dirty
with gardening project
A community gardening project has been given the green
light to use a derelict plot of land in Plaistow as a space for
residents to grow food.
Dirty Hands Project, which has just
been nominated for an environmental
award, has been given a licence to use
land in Valetta Grove.
The licence means residents will
be able to grow their own fruit and
vegetables in giant grow bags on
the site, which is opposite Plaistow
Station.
Start-up cash from Newham Council
will pay for seeds, soil, gravel and
equipment and residents will be free to
choose what they grow.
The licence decision follows
discussions between Plaistow North
ward councillor, Jonathan Knott, Mayor
Sir Robin Wales, Newham Council,
Newham Homes and West Ham and
Plaistow New Deal for Communities
(NDC).
“The benefits of this are immense
because you can save money by
growing your own food, get involved in
a healthy activity and get to know your
neighbours,” said Cllr Knott.
Dirty Hands currently boasts 40
volunteers and is also supported by
NDC’s community initiatives fund and
East Potential, part of East Thames
Housing Association.
Founder, Alison Skeat, now hopes
other plots could be opened up if
enough people are interested.
“If you find a little corner, come and
tell us and we’ll try and follow it up,”
she said.
Dirty Hands have been nominated for
an environmental award on the online
social networking site UnLtdWorld,
which encourages users to work on
projects that will have a positive impact
on their communities.
To vote visit www.unltdworld.com/
pages/blog.php by Friday 24 April.
For more information on the group
call Alison Skeat on 07961 674210,
email dirtyhandsproject@gmail.com or
meet the group at the Valetta Grove
mini play day on Saturday 18 April (see
inside for details).

Recycle
more
When it comes to recycling, orange
is the new black, but are you feeding
your orange bag with the correct
materials?
You can only recycle plastic bottles
(eg squash, fizzy drink and water,
detergent, shampoo, plastic milk
bottles) in your orange bag. Yoghurt
pots and lids, margarine tubs, plastic
meat trays, cling film and plastic
bags cannot be recycled in your
orange bag because they are made
from inferior plastics.
You can collect more orange bags
from your Local Service Centre (LSC)
or library. If you are disabled or have
a physical impairment and cannot
get to your LSC or library you can
ask for more bags to be sent to your
home by calling 020 8430 2000.
For more information on
recycling visit www.newham.gov.
uk/Services/Recycling
Walk
this way
If you would like to show off your
area to others, why not become a
walk leader?
We need more volunteers to lead
our walks and add new walks to the
area. Volunteers are supported by
Newham Striders.
Free walk leader training will run
on Wednesday 22 April at Beckton
Community Centre, East Ham
Manor Way, E6.
For more information call Paula
Peaty or Obi Oniah on 020 8430
2000, email: paula.peaty@newham.
gov.uk or turn to page 16 of the
Newham Mag.
top marks for NewVIc
A good report is winging its way to
Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc)
after inspectors were impressed with its
work with students.
NewVIc’s latest Ofsted inspection
praised its “outstanding response to
the needs and interests of learners”,
which enables students to achieve and
progress.
The college’s strong links with
schools and community organisations
were also praised as “outstanding
and highly productive” and the report
highlighted how much students enjoy
life at NewVIc.
Artistic pupils who tasted the art and
architecture of Oxford and Cambridge
as part of the Newham Primary Gifted
and Talented scheme have created
permanent reminders of their visit.
Pupils from Selwyn and Kaizen
primary schools have painted large
scale canvases based on their own
sketches of the chapels, colleges and
museums they visited on their Gifted
and Talented art residential trip.
Kaizen pupils and teacher, Shazia Aziz, with their
artworks
Cllr Lane (right) congratulates
principal Eddie Playfair and students
Youriy Ichtchouk, Emmanuel sackey
and Aysha Sharif
“This is something Newham needs to
be proud of,” said Plaistow South ward
councillor, Graham Lane, who was a
governor at the college for 10 years.
“In my opinon, NewVIc is probably
one of the best sixth form colleges in
the country. It offers all sorts of courses
and is outstanding in sport, art, dance,
international links and music. This
report reflects that and the hard work of
staff and students.”
NewVIc has three sites including the
campus on Prince Regent Lane. For
more information on courses call 020
7473 4110.
Gifted and talented
younG artists
Selwyn School pupils and teacher Nimisha Lathigra
show off their work
The canvases are now set to go on
display in the colleges visited by the
pupils, who were part of a 30-strong
group of year 5 students from
Newham schools.
The Gifted and Talented project is
now in its fifth year and offers pupils
the chance to learn about art and
artists by visiting art centres in the UK
and Europe.
•If your group has an activity to promote please contact us on: 020 8430 3544 or email infocus@newham.gov.uk•

Cllr Neil Wilson, ACT member Saleh Jaber,
Cllrs Joy Laguda, Zulfiqar Ali and Jonathan Knott
with members of St Mary’s Allotment Association
Give and Take
Almost 400 residents joined ward
councillors at a free, fun, green
community day filled with music, top
tips and fun activities in Lister School.
The community forum and its
active community team’s (ACT)
Give and Take for Plaistow’s Sake
event celebrated recycling, energy
efficiency, responsible dog ownership
and solar power.
The day included the chance to
Clean
up after
your dog
Keep the music down
make badges, murals and masks,
exchange unwanted household
items with other residents and get
advice and free seeds and pots from
Plaistow-based St Mary’s Allotment
Association and Dirty Hands Project.
“This was a great chance for
residents to do their bit for green living
while having fun and meeting their
neighbours,” said community lead
councillor, Zulfiqar Ali.
The council is urging residents to take
responsibility for their dogs and clean up
after them.
Under the Dog (fouling of land) Act 1996,
it is illegal to allow your dog to foul on any
open land accessible to the public.
Anyone found breaking that rule
could face an on-the-spot fine of £80 or
prosecution through the magistrates’ court.
Community lead councillor, Zulfiqar
Noisy residents are being reminded to
consider their neighbours by not playing their music too
loudly. Those who do so could risk a fine and possibly have
their stereo seized.
The warning from Newham Council comes as a Plaistow
resident was fined a total of £840 and had his stereo seized
for disturbing his neighbours with his loud music.
The council prosecuted Gary Jeeves, of Balaam Street,
after he breached a noise abatement notice within a month of
it being served.
Newham Council’s executive member for anti-social
behaviour, Cllr June Leitch, said: “Noise can badly affect
people’s quality of life and is known to be a major reason for
neighbours falling out.
“We will not hesitate in taking legal action against persistent
perpetrators of noise nuisance.”
Nadia Genuise paints a mural
Compere Trevor Blackman with puppets
Carol Basulwa of the Plaistow
Pathfinders’ Club having some
fun at craft time
Ali, said: “Please clear up after your dog.
Fouling is not only a nuisance to the local
community; it poses health and safety
problems too as it can spread bacteria.”
If you know anyone allowing their dog to
foul on the streets, report it to the council’s
crime and anti-social behaviour service in
confidence on freephone 0800 731 3300.
For the removal of dog fouling, call 020
8430 2000.
STOP PRESS!
Don’t forget that you can have your say on possible
improvements to Valetta Grove on Saturday 18 April.
Newham Council and West Ham and Plaistow New
Deal for Communities (NDC) are currently working on
a masterplan of designs for the area and are asking
residents to add their ideas too.
Displays of possible designs will be on show. Alongside
the consultation, there will also be a mini play day, funded
by the Big Lottery Fund, led by Newham Council and
operated in partnership with Community Links, featuring
a bouncy castle, under-fives’ play area, t-shirt and
badge-making and free refreshments.
Mini Play Day, Valetta Grove
Saturday 18 April, 12noon-4pm

spotliGht on...
E13’s Got talEnt
E13’s Got Talent, the all
singing, all dancing showcase
of the talents of pupils in
Plaistow schools, has taken its
first bow.
More than 140 children from
seven schools in the E13 Learning
Community strutted their stuff in
the inaugural showcase at Cleves
School in Arragon Road.
The schools are part of a
federation which works to raise
pupils’ achievements and develop
community cohesion in Plaistow.
And they raised the bar with this
showcase as the pupils performed
13 acts, ranging from solo piano and
modern dance to Congolese choral
music in front of a rapt audience.
After much deliberation, a judging
panel featuring Lister School pupils,
Munier Hussain and Aidan Clarke,
announced the runners-up as
Southern Road School year 6 Singing
and Dancing group and the winners
as Plaistow Primary School choir.
For more information on the
E13 Learning Community, visit
www.e13lc.newham.gov.uk
or call Simon Vincent on 020
8548 5620.
MEET YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR
Fourth Saturday of
every month
10.30 - 11.30am
Islamic Centre
72 - 74 Selwyn Road
E13
Councillor Ali
Zulfiqar Ali Jonathan Knott Joy Laguda Maureen Jones Graham Lane Neil Wilson
Plaistow North Ward Plaistow South Ward
Every Saturday
10.30 - 11.30am
Plaistow Library
North Street
E13
Alternating between
Councillors Ali and Knott
Cllr Joy Laguda with performers from Curwen School
Runners-up Southern Road School
with judge, Lister School pupil
Munier Hussain
Third Saturday of the
month
10am - 12noon
Curwen School
Atlas Road E13
Councillor Laguda
Winners, Plaistow
Primary School
WHAT’S ON
PLAISTOW
Aerobic sessions for
14 to 19-year-old girls
Wednesdays 4-5pm
Cost £1.45 per session
Newham Leisure Centre
281 Prince Regent Lane
Plaistow, E13
Bingo and Disco
Sundays 8-11pm
Granwell Community Centre
97 Whitwell Road, E13
Call 020 8430 2486 for more
information
For even more things to do
check out the What’s On in
Newham calendar at
www.newham.gov.uk/whatson
If your group has an activity
to promote please contact
us on 020 8430 3544 or email
infocus@newham.gov.uk
Councillors out and about: If you would like a councillor to visit your community organisation, school, place of worship,
meeting or event please call 020 8430 3055 or email john.wymanwhite@newham.gov.uk
Every Monday and Wednesday
(alternating) from 6pm
Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc)
Prince Regent Lane
E13
Need to talk to Mayor Sir Robin Wales? Being an elected mayor, Sir Robin is directly accountable to you. Look out for Question Time
times and dates in the Newham Mag, visit www.newham.gov.uk/mayor or call 020 8430 2107.