More than 80,000 London properties lying empty 11 February 2009 by sianberry New figures from the Empty Homes Agency show that between 2007 and 2008 the number increased from 80,691 to 82,327, despite falling the previous year. Soaring repossessions and a glut of new-build flats have been blamed for an increase in the number of vacant properties in the capital. Darren Johnson said: "The number of London […] Read more »
Mayor’s promise to direct LDA on home insulation 10 February 2009 by sianberry The London Mayor has promised that he will direct the LDA Board to provide money for home insulation if its Board does not voluntarily reject the recommendations from officers not to fund measures to ‘green’ homes. Darren Johnson said: "I welcome the Mayor’s determination to make good his promise to fund home insulation in London, […] Read more »
Suburban cycling cut to pay for central London cycling 9 February 2009 by sianberry Analysis of new figures released by Transport for London shows how the Mayor is spending less money on schemes which would benefit cycling in outer London. Funding given to the boroughs for the LCN+ is being halved in the coming year. New figures show that out of a total of 383 schemes which have not […] Read more »
Enough to make you gasp 5 February 2009 by sianberry Read the article on the Guardian’s Comment is Free The European Commission last week announced that it will be taking legal action against the UK for its continuing failure to meet agreed air quality standards. This follows the introduction of the new EU air quality directive in June last year and is likely to result […] Read more »
London will choke on pollution plan 3 February 2009 by sianberry Read Jenny’s articles at The Guardian’s Comment Is Free Yesterday was a good day to bury bad news under several feet of snow. As Boris Johnson skated between media interviews trying to justify his dubious decision to cancel all the buses in London, no one considered asking him to justify the much more environmentally disastrous […] Read more »
Mayor drops early action on air pollution 2 February 2009 by sianberry The London Mayor has decided to postpone the extension of the Low Emission Zone to include small lorries and vans. The heavy fine on polluting vehicles entering London was due to include lighter goods vehicles in October 2010. Darren Johnson said: "This is the height of irresponsibility and an absolute disaster for London’s environment. The […] Read more »
Sri Lanka situation 30 January 2009 by sianberry I am appalled by the human rights violations currently taking place in Sri Lanka. I have been informed by aid workers that hundreds of civilians have been killed in the last week and the fear is that this situation could become far worse than the recent dreadful devastation of Gaza. On Thursday next week, […] Read more »
London Mayor fails rape victims 30 January 2009 by sianberry The news that more than one hundred local councils could face legal action for not providing specialist support for women affected by sexual violence has added to the pressure on London Mayor Boris Johnson to deliver his promise of £744,000 a year for rape crisis centres in the capital. Under questioning by Jenny Jones at […] Read more »
UK Green Euro-MPs to doorstop Israeli Embassy to demand Gaza aid refund 30 January 2009 by sianberry The UK’s two Green Euro-MPs will hand deliver a letter to the Israeli Embassy in London today (30 January), demanding a full refund of EU aid, estimated to be at least 53 million euros, spent on Gaza’s now devastated infrastructure over the past ten years. In the wake of the Israeli army’s violent offensive on […] Read more »
Plans for house building on Crystal Palace Park 29 January 2009 by sianberry Darren Johnson has welcomed the Government’s decision to call in the planning decision on Crystal Palace Park. The plans, recently approved by the London Mayor and Bromley council, included the building of 180 houses on Crystal Palace Park. The strength of feeling locally was reflected in a 8,000 signature petition which Darren Johnson presented at […] Read more »