MANOR PARK IN FOCUS - Newham

MANOR PARK
IN FOCUS
Covering East Ham North, Manor Park and Little Ilford
A MANOR PARK
WELCOME
I’m thrilled to introduce
the first issue of Manor
Park in Focus! This is your
local news - quite literally
it’s your community in the
spotlight.
This is where you can
find out more about your
local councillors and what
they’re doing for you in your
local area. We’ll also be
showcasing local activities
and highlighting events you
can take part in.
Manor Park in Focus will
be delivered through your
door once a month with your
Newham Magazine.
I hope you enjoy the first
issue.
Mayor of Newham
Sir Robin Wales
It’s looking rosy down in Manor Park Village
Thanks to the efforts of local residents around
900 roses planted earlier this year have
blossomed just in time for summer.
The Manor Park Village rose planting project
started in February and was based on Linda
Webb’s idea of tidying up the area. She rallied
support from the village forum, a local residents
group, and Councillor Kay Scoresby.
Two Go For It Grants of £1,012 were given by
the council for the project and that’s when the
hard work and fun began.
Over several weeks many groups supported
the rose garden rejuvenation, including
Newham Volunteers, London Wildlife Trust,
Neighbourhood Watch, Greenspace, Linklaters,
East London Business Partnership and Salisbury
School.
Linda is thrilled with the result. “The area is
looking really nice at the moment. It has saved
people fly-tipping and parking over the rose beds
which were neglected in the past,” she says.
Blooming
roses!
A pretty picture: councillors Ayub Korom Ali (left) and Khalil Kazi (far right)
join residents (l-r) Craig O’Brien, Kate Pitt and Linda Webb for a spot of pruning
Chair of the residents group, Craig O’Brien,
adds: “The real difference however has been on
the human side. The planting project has really
pulled people together and uncovered a desire
for a stronger sense of community and home.”
The group is now clamouring to organise
another activity and already plans are under way
for a fete in September.
Community lead councillor for Manor Park,
Ayub Korom Ali, fully supports the work of this
active group of residents. “The rose bushes
have really enhanced the area and this is a great
example of people working together to make
positive changes. I hope others will take their
lead.”
If you’re interested in setting up a residents
group speak to your local councillor for
guidance, turn to the back page for details.
For more information about Go For It Grants
call 020 8430 2433 or visit
www.newham.gov.uk/goforit

Meet your
councillor
Did you know you can chat
one-on-one with your local
councillor?
Whether you’ve got a burning
question or a concern about
a council service, you can
have your say at a councillor’s
surgery.
Every Saturday Manor Park
councillors hold a free, public
surgery. They usually take
place in a community centre
on Saturdays or in the evening,
but you can also chat over the
phone, or via email. In some
cases a councillor can visit your
home.
What happens at a
councillor’s surgery?
The councillor will listen
to your concerns and either
suggest who you should
contact for help or try to find a
way to resolve your local issue.
Councillors can’t work
miracles but they will go away
and do their best to investigate
your concern.
Finally, the councillor will get
back to you with a response
in the way that suits you best
– either by phone, email or in
person at the next surgery.
Deputy Mayor Councillor
Christine Bowden said: “As
councillors it’s our role to be
available for all residents to
question us or share their
concerns. It’s a vital part of
working together to improve
services for everyone in
Newham.”
To find out when your
councillor’s surgery is turn to
the back page.
YOUR COMMUNITY FORUM
Manor Park in Focus delivers news to everyone in the Manor Park Community Forum
area, which includes the wards of Manor Park, Little Ilford and East Ham North.
Manor Park Community Forum is one of nine forums in Newham working to make each
area a healthier, safer and more exciting place to live.
The forum is there for you to get involved in free, fun events and activities in your area.
There’s something for everyone with health fairs, environmental days and community
safety events, just to name a few.
Manor Park community lead councillor, Ayub Korom Ali, said: “It’s all about bringing our
people together to share skills, cultures and customs, enjoy good company and make the
most of where we live.”
To find out more about Community Forum
activities freephone 0800 519 4015 or
email community.forums@newham.gov.uk
Newham’s
future leaders
If you had the chance to create your perfect councillor what would he or she look like? A
young singleton? A mature married person with kids? Someone who is always out and about
in the community or a person who works behind the scenes?
This question was put to more than
80 schoolchildren to encourage them to have an
opinion on their councillors and understand the
importance of decision-making.
It was all part of Sir John Heron Primary
School’s annual Democracy in Action morning
facilitated by Manor Park councillors Kay
Scoresby and Amarjit Singh.
Pupils between the ages of eight and ten
took part in a series of activities, including Build
Your Perfect Councillor, which had most children
voting for a mature-faced person who can listen
to young people’s concerns.
Other interactive games included Agree or
Disagree where the young people shared their opinions on a variety of topics – ranging from
whether primary school children should wear a uniform to whether pop star Rhianna is better
than Leona Lewis.
“This sort of thing needs to be encouraged,” said curriculum support teacher Alzim Karim.
“It should happen as often as possible, as children are the future decision makers.”
Councillor Singh explained that the Democracy in Action sessions are ideal for under-tens.
“The younger they are, the more they can grasp the concept very quickly,” he said. “Our
children should know about democracy and how we choose our spokespersons. Maybe in the
future they themselves can be leaders.”
See the back page for details of how you can meet your councillor.
Keep your roses rosy – helpful tips from page 1
Here are a few tips from two green fingered residents.
Craig O’Brien:
Roses need a lot of water. Personally, I add
Uncle Tom’s rose tonic to my watering can
(just pure potassium phosphite).
Oh, and the other tip – be nice to them!
Linda Webb:
Keep your roses well watered in
the first year of planting and they
generally look after themselves from
then on. Planting a banana skin in the
soil is also good because of its potassium.

Newham lad composes song about Park life
If you haven’t heard of Prithpal Sirjeet then
you probably will a few years from now.
The Manor Park lad is not only a
full-time composer, producer and music
workshop facilitator but someone who
has recently used his talents to score a
piece of music about life in the ‘Park’.
The ten-minute, Manor Park
community track features a collection
of locals talking, rapping and singing
about their experience of living in the
community. Sir Robin Wales and Stephen
Timms MP even chip in vocally, not
rapping or singing, unfortunately!
The track reflects the diversity of
Manor Park with different sounds – from
electronic-industrial dance to the earthy
strum of the Indian drum.
The piece of music was commissioned
by Father James Ramsay from St.
Barnabas Church in Manor Park. Prithpal
was asked to use his talents to score the
track and the rest, as they say, is history.
“It’s a fantastic blend of different talents
from different genres,” explained Prithpal.
“It brought a lot of people together who
wouldn’t normally do so. The whole
process was a bit like Ready, Steady,
Cook but with music and different people
adding their own ingredient to the mix.”
When asked why he took the
challenge, Prithpal said: “I’m interested
in things that feature the community
because I’m a local lad!”
Businesses say Bin it
When businesses in Manor Park
highlighted the need for more rubbish bins
local councillors took notice.
As a result of a street audit led by Manor
Park community lead councillor, Ayub
Korom Ali, ten new bins were installed in
and around Romford Road this spring.
Cllr Ali said: “We responded to concerns
and hope that local traders and residents
will use the bins and that we’ll see less
litter on the streets.”
Parking improvements
Councillor Ali talks to Romford Road trader, Kay Chavda
from Manor Park Aquatics, about the new parking bays
Cllrs Jo Corbett, Sukdev Singh Marway and
community lead councillor, Ayub Korom Ali
inspect the new litter bins
Work is planned to start this
month to create new
short-stay parking bays along
Romford Road.
Local businesses, traders and
the area’s councillors agree this
is vital to improve access for
shoppers.
Councillors have also met with
residents in Manor Park Village,
the Avenues and Monega Road
area to discuss various parking
issues.
We’ll keep you updated with
progress in future issues of
Manor Park In Focus.
To listen to the Manor Park community
track, log on to:
www.myspace.com/prithpalmusic
Manor Park student
dresses the Mayor
Manor Park fashion design student
Anujan Niranjan has given new
meaning to the term grand designs.
The 21-year-old designed a football
strip for the Mayor’s eleven after
winning the Newham College fashion
department’s competition, which was
judged by the Mayor.
Drawing inspiration from the
Newham coat of arms, vintage football
kits and the borough’s culture, he
described the red and white kit as
having a retro feel.
Anujan said it was fascinating
seeing his idea being turned into an
actual uniform.
“It was really interesting and totally
different. This was my first football kit
design and it was a great experience
seeing the Mayor’s team wearing it,”
he said.

Spotlight on...
newham’s free summer of fun!
MEET YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR
East Ham North Ward
Every Saturday
10.30 - 11.30am
Kensington School
Kensington Avenue
Manor Park E12 6NN
Where will you find outdoor
movies, sports events, children’s
holiday activities, a host of musical
entertainment and much, much more?
In Newham this summer of course!
Everyone in Manor Park should get set
for a superb few months of activities.
Many of you may have been to the
Mayor’s Newham Show earlier this
month, but the fun doesn’t end there.
Next on the summer calendar is four
nights of free musical concerts at
Under the Stars, held from 28-31
August in Central Park, East Ham.
Come along to sample an array of
magnificent music, with the line-up
featuring a Rat-Pack night, Bjorn
Again and the Bootleg Beatles, Asian
tunes and classical music from the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
If that’s not enough, from 5-7 September you can get your movie fix at
the Stratford Park outdoor cinema. Pack a picnic and enjoy an evening of
outdoor viewing.
Finally, if you’ve still time to spare, check out the free adults’ entertainment
and leisure guide, which was included with the Newham Mag last month and
is packed with information about activities in Manor Park and beyond.
For children and young people look at Summer in Newham. This fantastic,
free activity guide was delivered to every school – if you don’t have yours you
can pick one up at your library, Local Service Centre or leisure centre.
For more information about Newham’s free summer of fun visit
www.newham.com/summer or call 020 8430 2000.
Pat Sheekey Paul Sathianesan Sukhdev Singh Marway Kay Scoresby Amarjit Singh Ayub Korum Ali Andrew Baikie Jo Corbett Khalil Kazi
Manor Park Ward
Every Saturday
10 - 11.30am
Manor Park Local Service Centre
685-689 Romford Road
Manor Park E12 5AD
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.wyman-white@newham.gov.uk
WHAT’S ON
MANOR PARK
Little Ilford Conservation Group
meeting
Everyone is welcome to join this group to
discuss conservation activities in
Little Ilford Park with representatives from
the council’s parks team and the Parks
Constabulary.
Wed 6 August, 1.30-3.30pm
Jack Cornwell Community Centre
Jack Cornwell Street, Manor Park E12 5NN
To find out more call Nick Ely on
020 8430 3595
Introduction to Indian head massage
If you’re aged 14-19 years why not learn
how to treat your friends and family to
head massages and get advice on a career
as a therapist?
Until Fri 8 August, Mon-Fri, 4-6pm
Little Ilford Youth Centre, 1a Rectory Road
Manor Park E12 6JB
Cost – FREE
For full details check out the Summer in
Newham brochure available at your nearest
Leisure Centre, Library or Local Service
Centre or call the Summer School hotline
on 020 8430 6528.
For even more things to do check out
the What’s On in Newham calendar,
where you’ll find listings for more than
6,000 events right across Newham.
Have a look for yourself at www.
newham.gov.uk/whatson
If your group has an activity to
promote please contact us on
020 8430 4533 or email
infocus@newham.gov.uk
Little Ilford Ward
Every Saturday, 10 - 11.00am
Jack Cornwell
Community Centre
Jack Cornwell Street
Manor Park E12 5NN