The most dangerous park in the district?

A resident of Canning Town, full name and address given, writes:

Is Keir Hardie Recreation Ground the most dangerous park in Newham?

I live very close and use this park most days to play sports and go to the shops in Canning Town, but I always have my phone and personal alarm ready.

Every day the park is full of drinkers and drug users, open on the benches and worse. Youth gangs ride around on electric scooters, terrorizing anyone who isn’t fast enough to get out of their way. After dark, it’s time for the Wild West.

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The final attack on me – without the routine sexist and ageist abuse I routinely get for daring to believe I could walk in the park alone – was a full can of drink thrown at me and hard on me on the back of the head and the ceiling hit me in liquid. In all the times I’ve been here, I’ve never seen a PC or Community Safety Officer in the park.

And yes, I reported this, although it was difficult to see the point, to be honest.

Travel concerns of all genders

Emma Gibson, Director of London TravelWatch, writes:

Our recent research with Londoners has shown that personal safety concerns are currently growing while moving to the capital.

We have addressed these concerns from all genders, but especially from younger people who wanted to see more visible staff and police presence in traffic to combat antisocial behavior.

We have also noticed higher levels of concern for their health and wellbeing on the way to and from work among BAME people.

With 60 percent of key workers being women, it is especially important that transport companies listen and respond to the concerns of people who are about to travel. The pandemic has increased concerns for safety in general and more needs to be done to reassure everyone that it is safe to come back.

All of us in the transportation industry need to listen to women and other marginalized groups, prioritize measures to improve safety, and hold those who make others unsafe to account accountable.

Be clear if you are not religious

The first digital-first census will take place in Redbridge and will take place on Sunday March 21st.

The census is ongoing and will take place on Sunday March 21st
– Credit: PA

Paul Kaufman, chairman of the East London Humanists, writes:

21 census is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The information gathered will help determine government policy for the next 10 years.

It is therefore important to ensure that the information provided is correct.

This is especially important for those of us who are not religious.

We make up around two-fifths of London’s population and over half of the UK’s population, according to the British Social Attitudes Survey.

Unfortunately, the question in the census, “What is your religion?” Leaves many people saying they have a religion even though they do not have meaningful belief in it. For example, it might just be the religion they grew up in.

The same misleading question in the last census cut the results of the UK’s more accurate social attitudes survey in half. This is important.

An underestimation of the number of non-religious people leads to a sub-distribution in the areas of education, health, social affairs and pastoral care.

It is used to justify outdated regulations like compulsory Christian worship in state schools and the automatic right of unelected bishops to vote on our laws in parliament.

It is therefore important that anyone who is not religious in any meaningful sense ticks the “no religion” box.

Newham is a one-party state

Danny Keeling, Convenor of Newham Greens, writes:

We are shocked to hear that Labor has suspended East Ham and West Ham constituency parties due to fraud reports and possible police investigations.

Newham is a one-party Labor-run state and they can’t even keep their own house in order.

Until we elect an opposition here in Newham, the residents will continue to be forgotten while Labor continues to infight.

We think Newham has had enough. The time has come for Labor to be serious about ruling on behalf of all Newham residents, rather than taking each other’s pieces off one another while ignoring the real problems that residents face. If they don’t, we will.

Help us fight ovarian cancer

Sarah Greene, Patron of Ovarian Cancer, writes:

Charities like Target Ovarian Cancer need your help more than ever because the resources within the NHS are reaching their limits.

Please help us raise awareness and raise funds.

Two-thirds of women are diagnosed late when the cancer is more difficult to treat.

I am writing to ask your readers to take just two minutes to learn the symptoms and pass them on to their families and friends.

The main symptoms of ovarian cancer are: persistent bloating, feeling full or difficult to eat, stomach pain, and the need to cry more or more urgently.

  • If you believe in a future where any woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival, please show your support and visit targetovariancancer.org.uk/March