The Spitalfields Society has, over the years, campaigned on behalf of the residents for a variety of issues which have affected our community. We have also endeavoured to make our community a nicer place to live by supporting initiatives and investments in Spitalfields.
Crossrail
Planners working for Crossrail wanted to construct a huge shaft between Hanbury Street and Brick Lane in order to facilitate removal of the spoil from the tunnel. They had even started to compulsory purchase properties for demolition to clear the site. Construction of the access shaft would have meant hundreds of lorries transporting waste through the narrow streets of Spitalfields and Banglatown, creating unnecessary congestion, dust and noise. The Spitalfields Society joined together with other groups and residents to fight against the shaft. Legal representations were made to the House of Lords and over £18,000 was raised from both Society funds and private donations to finance expert and professional advice.
Eventually Crossrail confirmed that the shaft would not be constructed.
The Society continues to monitor Crossrail, as residents need assurance that the tunnel running beneath the area does not create subsidence or damage to the buildings above it.
Anti Social Behaviour
With the designation of the Brick Lane area for promotion of the night time economy there has been ongoing problems of late night drunk and disorderly behaviour, drug abuse and youth gangs. The Spitalfields Society has forged a relationship with the local Police Safer Neighbourhoods team and Tower Hamlets Council officers to address these problems.
The Society has hosted several Public meeting with the Police and Council so that residents can express their views. Our members sit on the local Safer Neighbourhoods Ward Panel to liaise with the authorities to tackle these issues.
Residents Parking
In an area where street parking is very restricted, The Spitalfields Society campaigned for a mini zone and 7 day parking restrictions for non residents in the streets west of Brick Lane. The Council agreed to 7 day parking restrictions from 8.30am to 10.00pm and added more residents bays in Fournier Street. We continue to campaign for a residents parking “mini zone”.
Filming
The Spitalfields Society has worked closely with the Film Office over the years. The Society put together the protocol for the conduct of the film crews and continues to liaise with the Film Office to monitor filming and its impact on our community.
Thames Water Replacement of Victorian pipes
When Clancy Dowcra replaced the water pipes throughout Spitalfields, the Society worked to ensure that the Victorian setts under the asphalt were retained, in the hope that they would be exposed at a later date.
Planning Applications and Enforcement
The Society is always vigilant and responsive to any new planning applications in the area and is in regular contact with the authorities. The Society engages with applicants to suggest changes or amendments for local benefit on large scale developments such as Nichols and Clarke and The Fruit and Wool Exchange. Together with the Spitalfields Trust, The Spitalfields Society helped to finance expert opinion as a part of the 2008 appeal to the development of the Nichols and Clarke site, which was won and has resulted in alternative and more favourable plans with regard to impacts on the Spitalfields community.
The Society has been successful in having applications refused if they are inappropriate to the context of the area and has campaigned for enforcement of the demolition of illegal structures.
Community Enhancement
Since 1994 the Spitalfields Society has worked on behalf of the community to improve our living and working environment. Specifically, we have in the past worked with Trees for London to plant tress in Spitalfields and giving money so that a Spitalfields Society member could plants the cattle trough fronting Christ Church Spitalfields. The Spitalfields Society raised funds and replaced the playground equipment in Christ Church Gardens. The Society also petitioned in support of a crossing point at Commercial Street outside of the Ten Bells Pub (and subsequently several other pedestrian crossing points have been implemented which the Society has supported). And we continue to work to secure the replacement of pavements on Fournier Street and Commercial Street with traditional York paving.