Dear N16

What I would like to know, but suspect it will be consigned to the ‘one of life’s little mysteries’ category, is how long it takes to put up (or move) a bus shelter. I am referring firstly to the one that was once at the bus stop near Stoke Newington station, but that one day, suddenly, wasn’t. It disappeared overnight (at least a year ago now) and, I fear, will never be seen again.

I have written to Transport for London several times, who informed me that they were moving the site of the stop (to accommodate bendy buses) and that, as soon as that was done – it involved Hackney Council doing some prior road works – the shelter would be re-erected. Well, it took HC months to get round to the work (quelle surprise!) but now it has been done and we await the shelter. And have been awaiting the shelter for months. Actually, even the temporary bus stop has now disappeared and passengers stand vaguely around where a bus stop once was and shelter might one day be. As I write this, the sun is pouring down, but all-too-soon it will be the rain and wind and winter. Are we to be abandoned to the elements for ever? 

And, whilst I’m on the subject, let’s mention the shelter at the Cambridge Heath stop. Many many months ago the stop was moved a few hundred yards along the road, but not the shelter. When I wrote to TfL they said it would follow shortly. Ditto the above story and the shelter has not yet managed to re-join its stop. Is this a permanent divorce or just a long separation? Please could all involved get their acts together – it can’t be that difficult – surely!

Cherry Klein, Evering Road, E5

Dear N16

You write in your article ‘Monkey Business’ (issue 12!): ‘In fact, she’s not the only member of Jan’s family who contributed to his ‘calling’. ‘My dad was in a band called The Joystrings. They got to number 45 in the charts in 1964 with a song called It’s An Open Secret. And if anybody reading this has a copy, then let us know and we’ll get Jan senior to sign it for you. Y’see, that’s community in action again!’ My question is. Who is your dad who was in The Joy Strings? I do not know a Jan. Maybe you can help me on the way, and besides I have the record It’s An Open Secret .

Kindly regards, Cor Quint,
Holland

And Mr Temple again…

Dear N16

I was amused to read about the Rio cinema. I confess that I haven’t been to a movie in Stoke Newington for more than 40 years. I guess prices have gone up somewhat
since the days when I paid two shillings. The article inform us that if anyone objects to the prices, they can go on an expedition to ‘the outpost known as Edmonton’. Now, it just so happens that I live in an outpost known as Edmonton. But if anyone wishes come here to see a cheap movie, they will need to plan on a nine hour flight across the Atlantic, and over Greenland and Baffin Island all the way to western Canada.

Norman Temple, Edmonton,
Canada

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