Wharf

Silvertown workers await EU sugar debate

2013-05-24T15:05:44Z

The future of 850 workers at two Silvertown factories may be decided in Dublin on Sunday when Europe's agriculture ministers meet to decide sugar policy.

They are expected to cave into pressure to continue protecting the European industry at the expense of importers from beyond the EU such as Tate & Lyle's Thames refinery.

]]> French and German beet sugar producers are expected to lobby to maintain trade barriers and subsidies which harm the ability of business who import cane from the Caribbean to maintain their productivity.

The refinery on the Thames, which have been a fixture in east London since 1878, has already seen reduced hours as a result of the policy. From a seven-day-a-week operation, it now has to close for three.

Tate has campaigned for a level playing field for cane producers for over three years, arguing that protectionism artificially hikes sugar prices and the cost is carried by the consumer.

Ian Bacon, President of Tate & Lyle Sugars, said: "This policy is designed to shield the agricultural interests of Continental European member states from trade and competition. Not only will it threaten British jobs, it will also push up prices at a time when people are already struggling.

Gerald Mason, Vice-resident, EU Affairs at Tate & Lyle Sugars, said: "Europe's agricultural policy pushes up our raw material cost by creating artificial shortages and imposing taxes on cane that do not apply to beet.

"This discrimination will get worse under the deal being discussed, forcing us to compete with both hands tied behind our back. Without this unfair European policy we would be creating jobs in Britain, not seeing them put at risk."

Ian Bacon concluded: "We are extremely grateful for the continued support of the British Government in this debate. We hope they will be able to gather wider support for an outcome that is fair not just for us, but for the British consumer."

The British Government is likely to argue for fair competition when Europe's agricultural ministers meet in Dublin.

Greenwich flat raided in Woolwich probe

2013-05-24T11:53:24Z

Armed police have raided a flat in Thames Street, Greenwich, and forensics teams have been seen leaving the property with material as the Woolwich attack investigation continues.

The second suspect in the Woolwich murder investigation has been named as Michael Adebowale who is believed to have lived at the address, although this has not yet been confirmed.

]]> Mr Adebowale is currently in hospital after he was shot by armed officers following the death of Drummer Lee Rigby.

Neighbour Jonathan Ackworth, 42, told the Times: "I was so shocked when I saw his picture on the television. I used to see him coming and going and would say hello. He seemed perfectly pleasant. Everybody is in total shock."

Two children and a baby were taken away by police who entered the premises wearing balaclavas and bulletproof vests on Thursday. The suspects are believed to have plotted the attack from this base.

Neighbour Nicola James, 45, said: "When you walked past you would hear them singing Muslim songs. You would hear them chanting through the windows.

"The gran who used to live there died and since then there has been a lot of comings and goings. I saw the man who was in the video go inside the house. I think he was a boyfriend.

"The woman I think he went out with wore a full niqab. She converted to Islam about two and a half years ago."

The other suspect has already been named as Michael Olumide Adebolajo, who was filmed brandishing knives and justifying the attack. Both suspects are believed to have attended the University of Greenwich.

Both men are said to be known to the MI5 security services.

Picture: @dannymckiernan

Food For A Fiver: Yoomoo's non-limited edition

2013-05-24T10:45:56Z

YOOMOO
Mango frozen yoghurt with fresh strawberries, £3.76
★★✩✩✩

IN A NUTSHELL
Brand's May flavours of this brain freeze-inducing putty have yet to make it to Canary Wharf.

]]> REVIEW
"Indulge in Yoomoo's limited edition May flavours before they go," read the press release that prompted my visit to Canary Wharf's frozen yoghurt outlet on Tuesday.

But blank looks greeted my request for a passion fruit-infused delicacy as I attempted to find something suitable for all the sunshine we're enjoying.

Perhaps the firm responsible for delivering the blazing rays is piggybacking on Youmoo's logistics operation.

"I think we're going to start it this weekend," an employee offered uncertainly.

Just in time as, according to the PR, it's only going to be available until the end of the month.

I salved my disappointment with about a third of a tub of mango flavour instead and a few fresh strawberries.

It was cold, had a bite of unpleasantly fibrous mango flavour, despite the smooth consistency. It would probably be bearable in the sun's glare.

"Guess the price and get it free," said the lady.

"£2.40," I replied. Her eyes looked at me with pity.

New Greenwich Mayor takes position at Painted Hall ceremony

2013-05-24T09:44:47Z

Greenwich's Painted Hall was the backdrop for Councillor Angela Cornforth as she was officially installed as Mayor of the borough.

Currently representing the Plumstead ward, Cllr Cornforth has previously served on the council as deputy leader.

]]> Speaking at the ceremony last Wednesday, she said: "It is with considerable pleasure and pride that I accept the position of Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich for the forthcoming municipal year.

"There is always something exciting taking place in the Royal Borough and I can't wait to get involved and meet residents as well as the many visitors that come to Royal Greenwich."

The newly-installed Mayor, who works as a teacher, also announced Barnardo's and The Prince's Trust as her official charities because of their role in working with young people.

Councillor Mick Hayes will now serve as the new Deputy Mayor.

Men in hospital after Isle of Dogs fight which spilled into school

2013-05-23T14:32:28Z

A man was stabbed and another left suffering from injuries caused by a hammer following a fight which spilled into an Isle of Dogs school.

Police were called to George Green's School in Manchester Road, at 11.10am yesterday, after reports of an incident between two men that had moved from the street into the entrance to the school's hydropool.

]]> A 34-year-old from E14 was stabbed while a 40-year-old male from Ilford had received blows to the head with a hammer, with both being taken to an east London Hospital for treament.

A Police spokesperson said: "Both were arrested on suspicion of GBH and await CPS consideration concerning any subsequent charges.

"The men remain in hospital for observation at this time.

"Injuries are not thought to be life threatening or life changing."

A spokesperson for George Green's confirmed no children were using the facility at the time of the incident and that there is no entrance to the school through the pool lobby.

She said: "This was a very serious incident for the adults involved and tribute must be paid to the staff members from George Green's who unselfishly offered first aid to strangers.

"It is important to stress that such incidents at any school in Tower Hamlets are extremely rare. All schools in the borough are high-achieving and George Green's has just been declared 'Good' by Ofsted.

"This school has a good, friendly atmosphere, which makes the events of this morning all the more shocking."

The London Ambulance service said they had sent out an ambulance responder, two ambulance crews and a London Air Ambulance to the school, when it was called at 11.20am.

It confirmed staff had treated two patients, both males believed to be in their thirties, before taking them to hospital.

Isle of Dogs community slam Tower Hamlets for apparent planning loophole

2013-05-23T14:14:22Z

A community on the Isle of Dogs has criticised Tower Hamlets Borough Council for what it believes is a "scandalous" loophole in planning policy.

]]> The authority gave the nod to landowner and developer Jason Hough's application to create four terraced homes in the Island Gardens conservation area - just two years after he admitted illegally felling six trees on the site and was fined £6,015.

Campaigners in Cumberland Mills Square, led by resident Bil Bungay, are angry at the scheme "eroding publicly available space" behind the Grade II listed Great Eastern Pub in Saunders Ness Road.

Bil said he was equally furious that those who "reduced the land to rubble" had now secured planning approval.

On Friday, the 2nd East London Scouts unveiled a protest at the site addressing their concerns. Tower Hamlets council has proved crime does pay, which is a shocking state of affairs," said Bil.

"If they can be bothered about the communities they represent they should reverse this terrible decision and return it to the community.

"Builders all over the country are doubtless using this loophole and their criminal acts are irrelevant when reapplying for planning permission.

"The land has been at the heart of the community for well over a century.

"With the pressure of population growth, it's all the more important to have green space that encourages people to leave their flats."

A council spokesman said although it understood concerns about the tree-felling, under planning law this was a "separate matter" to the planning application.

He said the application was approved because it complied with policy.

He said: "The application was approved subject to a range of conditions, including one restricting the hours when construction could be carried out, and another relating to the landowner's plans for replacement trees.

"These conditions were imposed to minimise any impact on neighbours and to mitigate the loss of the trees.

"We appreciate that residents will sometimes feel disappointed by planning decisions but we have treated this application like any other - fairly - and judged according to planning policy.

"The council's development committee in its determination of the planning application, considered the impact of the proposed development carefully before reaching a decision to approve the scheme.

"The description of the site in the planning committee report was an accurate assessment of the site's appearance."
He said the council was committed to "balancing" demands of open space and housing for residents.

Applicant Jason Hough, managing director of Hough Building and Professional Services Limited, said the tree-felling in 2011 was "regrettable".

He said the approved application had been put together in the correct manner and that a petition signed by residents had been withdrawn before the planning decision was made.

He added that the land, which he bought from Barclays Bank in 2009, was never owned by the pub (then named The Waterman's Arms Public House).

He said: "We were dishonest, we made an error, and I believe that's the problem here. People will not forget, I don't expect them to forget, but they won't forgive either.

"They would have liked me to spend my money just to keep their garden opposite, for a long time. Unfortunately, a development company can't do that.

"If there were a loophole, it could only be down to fraud - and there couldn't be any fraud as there's so many people involved in this planning process.

"I have worked with the council for more than a year and I ticked all the boxes with regard to location.

"I have done the due diligence and I have worked with the planning team."

John Biggs: Politicians are not self-serving

2013-05-23T10:59:38Z

By John Biggs

People often despair of politicians, arguing that we can do little, and are self-serving. But they are wrong.

Most politicians are not like this. I may disagree with what they do but it is clear that politicians can and do make a difference, and mostly they believe in a bigger purpose than their own survival.

]]> Tower Hamlets is at risk, however, of being an exception. It was the only one of the five Olympic boroughs where unemployment grew during the Games.

And it has developed a reputation for vote-buying and divisive politics, based around a cult of personality centred on its mayor, whose photograph appears everywhere.

It is losing senior staff capable of providing the management a £1billion organisation needs because of a culture where advice is only welcomed if it pleases the leader. Even here, the politician in charge makes a difference, even if it is a negative one.

As in other places in history, such leaders try to present themselves as being in the mould of past heroes. But in doing so they merely show their vanity.

Properly we should respect our politicians but beware such vanity. It is this that stops them from doing the job they were elected to do.

The Tory party, fighting over Europe, appears at risk of going there. The Tower Hamlets mayor has already arrived.

■ John Biggs is London Assembly Member for City and East

Food For A Fiver: A warm salad from Chop'd

2013-05-23T10:45:44Z

CHOP'D
Warm jerk chicken and sweet potato salad, £5.75
★★★★✩

IN A NUTSHELL
Delicious melange of salad leaves and punchy fowl is a blend to get you hooked on Chop'd.

]]> REVIEW
I lost my Chop'd innocence this week. Foreplay consisted of slowly shuffling up a corridor behind men perspiring into their pale blue shirts.

We were jammed into that strange space to the left of Waitrose; a back street frequented by stressed individuals hunting relief.

The outlet's wall was all time and action - "8am: herbs arrive", maybe "10am lettuce frisked".

It conjured a kitchen filled with automatons blankly following instructions fed directly into brains via Bluetooth.

There was no menu until I reached the counter. Baffled, I ordered a cold salad.

My request was ill placed, smeared with inexperience. The cold salads were on some far flung shelf. It was impossible to know where.

I fumbled, ordered something hot instead and scampered back to the office.

But it got me. The jerk chicken burned my mouth, cauterising the gaping wound of confusion. Hooked, I'll soon be back in that queue for mild humiliation and spice.

Why Iberica's terrace is perfect for the Wharf

2013-05-23T09:34:55Z

It's only been open a couple of weeks, but Iberica's terrace in Cabot Square is such a perfect fit for the Wharf I'm inclined to indulge in a little historical revisionism. Once you stroll past its wrought iron gates, which have the ring of permanence to them, it seems preposterous nobody had thought to make use of these shady tree-lined spaces before. It's almost embarrassing.

]]> So rather than admit the tardiness of its development, let's pass this article through the Orwellian Ministry of Truth, via Winston Smith's desk and assert the curiously secluded corners were always destined for al fresco dining.

I'm sure planning documents could be produced if necessary, backing up this ambition. No tricks missed.

After all, the whole thing seemed obvious to Iberica's executive chef Nacho Manzano.

Having popped over from Spain for the terrace's official launch last week, he said: "We opened the terrace here to appeal to Londoners.

"The people here like to be outside a lot; out in the open air. Its reception has been better than we expected."

Head chef at the brand's Canary Wharf outlet César Garcia added: "It's been really good - the feedback has been great and every day we are seeing how to do things better.

"It's been amazing when it's sunny - you know how the people of London are when it's good weather.

"What is really nice is that you get the sunset between Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley and that gives the terrace a totally different ambience.

"You can feel like you're in Ibiza between the Wharf's towers."

Just to be clear, what they meant to say was since opening in the dim and distant past, the terrace continues to go from strength to strength alongside healthy but friendly competition from First Edition and Corney and Barrow's concessions (surely to come).

It's long been a delightful place to enjoy superb Spanish tapas in the fresh air, stamped with Iberica's seal of quality.

The only thing I can't work out is, if it's always been there, why haven't they sorted out an on-site toilet yet? The trot to the restaurant, dodging taxis and couriers, isn't really acceptable.

Go to ibericalondon.co.uk.

One dead, two shot in Woolwich 'beheading' horror

2013-05-22T15:17:52Z

Updated below

Police say they are responding to an incident in Woolwich amid unconfirmed reports that a man has been beheaded with a sword.

Scotland Yard said the incident took place in John Wilson Street, at 2.20pm and there were claims that were shots were fired near the Royal Artillery Barracks.

Picture: KingAdeIV on Twitter.

]]> Police and the air ambulance are in attendance and pictures on Twitter show three people lying on the ground being attended by paramedics.

The Metropolitan Police helicopter team called the incident "serious". Eyewitness David Dixon said he saw a body lying in the road and he then heard gunshots.

MP Nick Rainsford told the BBC that one person is dead and two were seriously injured.

Update: Two people have been shot after armed police were called to the incident in which a man was attacked with a knife. One witness said he saw two black men attack a victim, believed to be a serving soldier, attacked with weapons including a meat cleaver.

The witness, who gave his name as James said the men treated their victim as a "piece of meat" after he was dead.
"These two guys were crazed," he told the radio station. "They were just animals." Reports suggest the victim was hit by a car by the attacks.

The two attackers, believed to have been shot by police, are in a serious condition.

Update:

Twitter user Boya Dee gives her views of the incident. The account is not verified.

"Ohhhhh myyyy God!!!! I just see a man with his head chopped off right in front of my eyes!

"Oh my God!!!! The way Feds took them out!!! It was a female police officer she come out the whip and just started bussssin shots!!

"Mate ive seen alot of s*** im my time but that has to rank sumwhere in the top 3. I couldnt believe my eyes. That was some movie s***.

"The two black bredas run this white guy over over then hop out the car and start chopping mans head off with machete!!

"People were asking whyyy whyyy they were just saying we've had enough! They looked like they were on sutn! Then they start waving a recolver

"Then boydem turn up!! Woolwich feds didnt want it... They had to wait for armed response.. Helicopters everyting...

"Then thats how u know they were on sutn cos they actually went for armed feds with just two machete and an old rusty lookin revolver

"The first guy goes for the female fed with the machete and she not even ramping she took man out like robocop never seen nutn like it

"Then the next breda try buss off the rusty 45 and it just backfires and blows mans finger clean off... Feds didnt pet to just take him out!!

"These times i was just going to the shop for some fruit and veg and i see all that!"

Update: Home Secretary Theresa May has summoned the government's emergency response committee Cobra to assess the incident.

Mrs May said she had been briefed by the director general of Security Service MI5 on the "sickening and barbaric" attack.

Whitehall sources have told the BBC the attack may have terrorist links.

Pleasure gardens legal challenge kicked out

2013-05-22T12:39:15Z

Activists who went to the High Court to get Newham councillors to re-pay millions for the failed Pleasure Gardens scheme have failed - and told not bring any further legal challenges without the permission of a judge.

The east London-based Communities United Party has been hit with a rare civil restraint order and told to curb its litigation which has seen nine "truly hopeless claims" since 2011.

]]> The latest bid, lodged today saw party leader Kamran Malik seek court orders requiring councillors to give up six months' salary or resign over the bungled Pleasure Gardens project at Silvertown.

The council had lent the backers £3.3million to establish the urban arts and music venue beside the Royal Docks before the Olympics. But the project collapsed after a series of poorly-managed events which left ticket-holders furious.

Pleasure gardens supporters imagined they would profit from people milling around the Excel Olympic venue but efficient transportation deprived the grounds of foot traffic.

Nearly a year on, the installations - including a mock One Canada Square and a number of large marquees - are still in place on the site.

Former mayoral candidate Malik said the loan was "inept" and applied for a judicial review against 22 councillors and officials, including mayor Sir Robin Wales.

But Mr Justice Collins, sitting in London, said the party "comes running to this court every time Newham makes a decision it does not like" which constituted a "real nuisance".

The judge also ordered the party to pay Newham more than £2,000 in legal costs. The council, which did not seek the order, says it has spent more than £6,000 defending claims.

A council spokesperson said: "We are pleased that a judge in the High Court has recognised the nuisance caused by these pointless, flawed and failed legal challenges. They have used up considerable council resources which would have been more usefully spent benefitting our residents. We hope the verdict has brought this to a close."

West Ham agree fee for Carroll

2013-05-22T10:33:21Z

The shape of West Ham's summer looks to have the profile of Andy Carroll.

The east London club and the striker's home club of Liverpool have hammered out an advantageous £15million deal - now they're just waiting on the frontman's nod.

]]> The Canary Wharf resident is calculating his best move as he looks to seal a place in England's World Cup set-up while a devaluation of £20million in two years is not something to emboss in gold on the CV.

Carroll, who has had an impactful, if injury prone, season has received a warm welcome at the Boleyn and linked up to great effect with pal Kevin Nolan. Sam Allardyce is looking to construct a campaign around the tall 24-year-old and has persuaded the chairmen to break the club's record transfer fee.

After securing the team's 10th place finish with a win over Reading, Allardyce said: "If we can start with Andy Carroll, that would be a great achievement for us as he can only get better and better. Then we build around that in terms of how we want to improve next year, with better quality."

However, if Carroll says no, then West Ham have their eye on Ivory Coast international Wilfried Bony, who was top scorer in the Dutch league with Arnhem Vitesse.

Meanwhile, the club have announced that Carlton Cole will leave West Ham this summer. The 29-year-old had struggled to make an impact and only scored twice.

Councillors approve Great Eastern Quay residential scheme

2013-05-22T10:22:49Z

Another step in the regeneration of the Royal Docks was taken this week when Newham Council approved plans for a huge residential development next to London City Airport.

]]> The Great Eastern Quay scheme could have up to 819 apartments.

Newham's planning committee followed their officer's recommendation on Tuesday night and backed the scheme, with some conditions.

Director of strategic regeneration Sunil Sahadevan said: "Importantly, it will also help create a critical mass with the existing Royal Quay development and help the establishment of a sustainable community within the Albert Basin."

Architects have faced twin challenges - from the neighbouring airport as well as the nearby sewage works.

However, London City raised no objections over the 13 storey scheme and Thames Water predicts improvements to the Beckton Sewerage Treatment Works, will reduce the smell by 2015.

Great Eastern Homes, part of the Notting Hill Housing Group, is behind the scheme for the east end of the Royal Albert Dock, on the former home of pharmaceuticals firm Ivax, which moved out of the area in 2007.

Of the maximum 819 homes, 109 will be for affordable rent and 147 for shared ownership.

The first phase includes 350 homes, as well as business and leisure space.

The Great Eastern Quay scheme was considered just days after it was revealed Chinese firm Advanced Business Parks was set to be approved by Mayor Boris Johnson to build a major set of offices to the north of Albert Dock.

By Rob Virtue

Blonde's Eye View: Bank Holiday blues

2013-05-21T14:30:28Z

Angela Clarke's wrapping up for the weekend in case it snows

We should have guessed something was afoot when temperatures hit 23C on the first May Bank Holiday. The newspapers were too busy frothing at the mouth at the sight of girls sunbathing in bikinis and excessively deploying the word "bask".

]]> Those funny little green areas that are found out the back of our houses and dotted around London suddenly distracted us.

The outside stopped being a freezing grey blur you walked through quickly on the way to work, and became inviting. Enjoyable. Glorious even.

As a nation we may not get many warm days, but by God do we know how to use them when we do: drinking alcohol in the sunshine.

How foolish we were. We shed our cardigans and socks. We barbecued sausages with wanton bravado. We were bombastic with the Pimm's.

How quickly we forgot the biting wind, the driving rain. But the Great British weather wouldn't let us delude ourselves. It's jumped out from behind the sunshade and peed down all over our parade.

Ladies and gentlemen, Wharfers and passers-by; it has just snowed in Devon. In May. Like a drunk gobs bits of his pint at you as he hysterically laughs at his own joke, the weather's laughing so hard it's spitting snow.

This is the UK. It's the Bank Holiday weekend. It's going to be miserable.

So what do we do now? We can't lounge in Jubilee Park, we can't drink G&Ts beside the river. OK you could do both of those if you really wanted, but more frozen fool you than me.

It's going to be 9C. Max. And raining. If you don't want to be a Bank Holiday DIY statistic, or a TV viewing figure, there's really only one choice. Three days in bed, anyone?

Follow Angela on twitter:

@TheAngelaClarke

Oak tree planted in honour of architect

2013-05-21T12:54:14Z

An architect who helped design the Olympic Park has had an oak tree planted in his memory.

John Hopkins, who died suddenly in January, aged 59, was responsible for the London 2012 parklands, transforming an urban corner of east London into an ecological park.

]]> The nine metre tall, 25-year old oak tree was planted alongside what will become a busy public footpath in the north of the park, in the newly named Hopkins' Field.

Family, friends and colleagues from across the landscape, horticulture and regeneration industries attended a memorial event and tree planting to recognise the the architects achievements.

The tree was planted by John's children, Rosie and Jack, and fiancée, Laura, along with Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy
Development Corporation. Mr Hone said: "This oak tree and grassy meadow are fitting ways to remember John's huge contribution to the creation of this fantastic new park. His vision and expertise ensured the parklands were one of the most loved attractions by many of the visitors to the Park, during the London 2012 Games and will be enjoyed by millions more as Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park begins to reopen from this summer."

The parklands are currently being transformed by the Legacy Corporation in line with the vision John Hopkins had of its long-term future.The Park will reopen in stages between summer 2013 and spring 2014.