Post letters: Trocoll House, Stinky Street, young voters and Covid

Trocoll House in Barking (Image: Archant)

Why we oppose tower block plan

Paul Scott, full address supplied,writes:

Speaking on behalf of many locally concerned residents, including the Barking and Dagenham Heritage Conservation Group, we maintain our objections to the Trocoll House high-rise residential development in Barking for valid social, environmental, heritage, public health and safety planning reasons as well as the lack of guaranteed locally affordable social housing despite the concession made by the private development company behind their scheme.

The coronavirus pandemic that we have been struggling to cope with over the past few months has highlighted the fact that in terms of public health this disease spreads more quickly amongst people living within high density tower blocks that are also in places with greater amounts of air pollution and that have a lack of close access to open green spaces too rather like this planned development does in effect as well.

With disasters involving high rise flats such as the Grenfell Tower fire has proved the public safety issues associated with high rise living as well.

Therefore it is in the best safety interests that Trocoll House is not converted into another unaffordable high-density block of flats which we currently have more than enough of in Barking town centre.

The planned 23 and 28 storey blocks are also in close proximity to grade two listed buildings such as the Spotted Dog Public House that has stood there since 1870 and Barking Station which has been in its current form since 1961.

Having these flats on this particular site would in due course overshadow them and that would not be advisable in terms of protecting our town’s heritage either.

Unblock drains in Stinky Street

Norman Sampson, Cornshaw Road, Dagenham, wrote to his councillor:

I live in Stinky Street, known as Cornshaw Road, where the waste pipes have been on and off for months.

Neighbours have continually phoned the council to come and unblock the drains.

We are forced to miss all the nice weather as we can’t sit in our gardens because of the disgusting smel. We have to keep our doors and windows closed at all times.

If we had a councillor living in Stinky Street, I am sure these waste pipes would have been unblocked months ago, but no such luck, so we have to sit and suffer.

We are expected by the council to pay our dues on time and they are expected to do the work.

Please, please, please, will you come to Stinky Street as soon as possible and let us breathe some reasonable air and sit in our gardens and enjoy what is left of summer.

Please do not ignore this letter as I am sure that by breathing in this contaminated air does not help our lungs or general wellbeing.

We’ve been waiting long enough. Does this council consider the health of its residents?

Young voters can make a difference

Dr Leonard Restall B Ed, M Ed (Hons), New Zealand, formerly from Barking, writes:

One of the privileges given in a democracy is the right to vote for various representations for statutory bodies such as for a council or parliament. These various bodies are formed to represent all the people not just some of them, so they need to be well supported so that good democratic decision is made.

It appears from the report in the Post that there is still a large amount of apathy within the whole of the London area.

It is deplorable that London has the lowest registration of voters throughout the UK. Young people, black and Asian minorities are seen as not registering to vote. Why leave it to the older people? What is the reason? Do they not want to support or change conditions locally or nationally in general elections? Or do they think that their vote won’t make difference?

Every vote not given is support for what may be happening, which may be a good thing, but is also the sign of a lack of pride within their district and is detrimental to good community relationships and personal responsibility. When one becomes involved by voting, one may feel more a part of the district and so help to consolidate what is happening in their district, or what needs to happen within their district.

Young people do have very good new ideas to bring to any council and are vitally needed and should be encouraged to do their part rather like playing for a team. This is where you do make a difference so be bold and take the step and vote and fulfil your local obligation.

Now education within our schools may be helping in the transmission of knowledge to help voters and to explain the advantages of being involved and such organisations as Shout Out UK are raising their voice to elicit greater participation.

War with Covid is far from over

Len Duvall OBE, London Assembly member, chair of the London Assembly Oversight Committee, writes:

It’s becoming increasingly clear that Covid-19 is going to become an even bigger issue for London over the coming days, weeks, and unfortunately months. Our city has seen an increase in people needing tests and hospital beds. Patients being admitted to ICU is also on the rise.

London is now on the government’s watchlist. I urge Londoners to keep a close eye on government advice. We must protect lives and our NHS by obeying the rules. Everyone wants our war with Covid-19 to be over but it’s far from that. We must do the right thing and protect our city and each other from this horrible disease.

By washing our hands, sticking to social distancing, and wearing a face covering we will all be doing our bit to stop the spread of the virus.

Virus situation is getting worse

Cllr Peter John, chair of London Councils, writes:

With tighter restrictions being brought in across parts of the country, it is clear the situation around Covid-19 is worsening.

We must all remember to frequently wash our hands, wear face coverings in enclosed spaces, including in shops and public transport, and to keep at least two metres apart from others wherever possible. If we have symptoms of Covid-19 we should immediately self-isolate and get tested.

We must not meet in groups of more than six people, including people in our household or support bubble, indoors or outdoors.

It is vital that London’s testing capacity is boosted so that Londoners have timely access to Covid-19 tests, as well as ensuring they self-isolate to stop transmission of the virus as soon as they have symptoms.