Neighbourhood Forum Update - Your likes/dislikes about our neighbourhood

The recent MEOTRA/RomanRoadBow neighbourhood forum meeting in the Art Pavilion was fairly well attended considering the short notice (that was my fault!). We started off with a leisurely walk around our streets which helped to prompt the grey matter to think of what we like and dislike about the area, as well as "could do better" items. I've entered this feedback onto the Roman Road Bow Placecheck map as shown above. Below is a table summarising the key points.

If you weren't able to come to the meeting but would still like to add your comments then please pop over to our dedicated placecheck website and register (it takes less than a minute and only needs your name/email and for you to choose a password). If you click on existing marker flags then you can give points a thumbs up or down. Alternatively, email me and I'll enter it for you.

The placecheck map covers the whole of the neighbourhood area (ie Bow), but below I have focused on the Meotra area to keep things manageable.

Key
	Bad Things
	Good Things
	Things to work on

General Points
	Lack of good-quality sheltered housing	There is a lack of good quality sheltered housing so that older people can move and release family housing.
	Splitting of houses / Short term-lets	In the pursuit of profit, there is a growth in short-term lets, multiple occupancy and dividing of family homes into smaller flats. This leads to a rapid turnover of residents and consequently a reduction in community cohesion and neighbourliness.
	Vehicles parking up and leaving engines running	TfL workers and Gateway Housing vehicles habitually park up in Rhonnda and Aberavon Roads. They often leave their engines running. TfL workers come and go at all hours (as they work nights on engineering works). Can't they use the tube?
	Rat Running	When traffic on the A11 backs up cars use residential streets such as Aberavon, Morgan, Lichfield to avoid hold ups.
	Prevalence of low-rise buildings here is a defining feature	One aspect of the MEOTRA area that makes it so special is the predominance of low-rise housing. This must be preserved.
	Bookshop or cinema would be a welcome addition	A bookshop or cinema would be nice in the area
Clinton Road
	Proposed Speed Humps - need more here	The number of speed humps proposed here is not enough. One or two more are needed.
	ASB from youths on hippy crack and speeding in cars
Coborn Road
	Road surface poor quality - especially for cyclists	Neglected
	Graffitti on the wall under bridge	Perhaps some street artists could create a mural here rather than the low quality 'tags' that are on the walls?
	Underpass - a bit grim, could be vastly improved through lighting, being painted in bright colours, etc	Boring, Unwelcoming, Neglected, Uninspiring, Low Quality
	Pub	Welcoming, Enlivening The Coburn Pub
	Pub	Welcoming, Enlivening The Morgan Arms
Grove Road
	Bus turn-around full and in need of TLC	Since the 25 bus route was revised this turn around is now full of buses that don't even work this street. This reaches the point that buses such as the 323, D6, D7, 277, 339 don't have room to pull in. Brick paving needs relaying in places.
	Constant piles of Litter and Shop Refuse	The piles of rubbish from the shops here are excessive and near constant. Surely a better solution can be found. Underground bins? Compactor bins?
	Airport Buses	Since the CS2U upgrade National Express, Terravision, Easybus and others use Grove Road/Roman Road instead of going along Whitechapel Road. This causes extra traffic, pollution and noise.
	Grove Road road surface is appalling	This is well overdue for a resurface. Burdett Road was redone a couple of years ago and the difference is remarkable. A quiet, semi-porous tarmac nouveau should be used.
	Number 25 buses parked up - blocking stops	The number 25 bus parks up in Grove Road regularly. It isn't even on the route. They frequently park up at bus stops in 2s and 3s and it means those waiting at the stops are often not seen by approaching drives
	Not enough Trees in Grove Road	Grove Road is remarkable for having so few trees, which is ironic given its name. More trees would help fight pollution, provide shade, reduce traffic noise and add to the general well-being of the local population
	Planning application for TEXACO GARAGE	To be replaced by flats- TOO HIGH
	Parade of shops has improved over last few years	The Pizza Room, Coffee Room and Greedy Cow are welcome additions to this small parade of shops. The kebab shop is well used by policemen and cabbies which is a seal of approval.
	Vegetable Garden - Is it ever used?	This patch of land has potential. It is set up as a space for older folk to get together and grow veg, but is it ever actually used?
Lichfield Road
	Tree roots lifting pavements	Lichfield road has a large number of trees and narrow pavements. As the trees grow the paving is lifting and causing significant trip hazards.
	Enlivening Pub	Lord Tredegar
Mile End Junction
	Mile End Junction	What a mess this is. The no right turns cause a major issue and lead to traffic crossing the junction twice to effect a right turn. This leads to extra traffic, noise and pollution and does not increase the safety of cyclists for whom the LEFT turns are the concern.
Mile End Park
	Art Pavilion Lake - needs some TLC	This pond is in need of some TLC. It has leaked for several years and the yellow hose topping it up with tap water is almost a permanent fixture. The aquatic plants need thinning out as they contribute to the problems of maintaining water levels.
	Arts Pavilion	Neglected Great potential
	Mile End Park	This green space is one of the main positives of living in the area
	The Art Pavilion	This is a great space and has great potential as an Art s venue. Whilst there are a number of good exhibitions on each year, the place could be better utilised as a community space.
Mile End Road
	Cycle Route - hardly ever swept	The CS2 route is hardly ever swept and is awash with litter and dust most of the time
	Subway Take Away - Litter	This shop causes an enormous amount of litter in the neighbouring streets, The owners should follow the McDonalds model and litter pick the area around their shop
	Rusty Bike - Great addition	This place is ideally located next to the station and does excellent Thai food.
	Bike crossings	Well maintained, High Quality, Welcoming Great improvements to cycle safety. Keep them coming!
	Worry of over-development	There is much local concern that buildings such as Onyx House, the Territorial Army building and the Gateway Housing site will be redeveloped as some high-rise, high-profit developments. Keep it low-rise.
	Onyx House: Underutilised inspiring building in a prime location.	This building was designed by the renowned architectural firm CZWG and is a landmark building that has been allowed to remain empty for a number of years.
Mile End Station
	Mile End Tube - Step-free Access	This station really needs step-free access. It should be fairly simple to do as the site is not highly developed and the platforms are shallow.
	More greenery	Uninspiring, Neglected, Low Quality Know this is technically out of the RR boundary, but would be great if there was more greenery around Mile End Station. The Rusty Bicycle cafe, for example, could add hedges or plants to their exterior garden
Morgan Street
	Tutelage Court - cut off from Community	This redevelopment, being gated, is cut off from the rest of the community. Consequently, this does not help community cohesion.
	Holy Trinity Church - Cemetery needs "greening"	The graveyard area surrounding the former Holy Trinity Church could be a wonderful wildlife zone which would enliven the day of those walking past along either Lichfield Road or Morgan St. It is an under-utilised space.

(If you got this far you deserve a medal)