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p7 Has Susan Barton, Defoe Road (letters, October), come across Foe, an
earlier book by this year's Booker prize winner J.M. Coetzee? I inherited an old copy
recently and it is my current reading for trips on the 73 bus. Aside from having had an
African upbringing like Coetzee, coincidences abound: I didn't know in advance that the
book is based around Daniel Defoe and Robinson Crusoe and therefore frequently mentions
Stoke Newington; my reading of it coincided with the Booker win announcement; also with
reading N16. The real curiosity about the latter is that the main character in the book is
Susan Barton. Or is there more to it all than coincidence? The October edition was the
first I'd seen of N16. I shall certainly make a point of getting future copies. Good luck
it's a great addition to the neighbourhood. I am trying to find out anything about what happened to 135 Bethune Road
prior to what I assume its bombing and subsequent development. As a result of a strange
connection between two people, one of whom lived there in her childhood before the first
world war, I am trying to find out more of what has happened here, and beginning to try to
piece together its history. Any information or avenues of research would be gratefully
received. I had need to phone Hackney Council's Bulk Collection service to dispose
of two armchairs. They were willing to collect for a fee of £10 to be given to the driver
on collection. This service as far as I know used to be free. Instead of helping to keep
our streets clean, people will be dumping more beds, mattresses, furniture etc, because
they cannot afford or are not prepared to pay this charge. I wonder sometimes what we are
paying our Council Tax for. It's all very well saying 'Old Stokey' is coming up in the
world when already our streets are in a disgusting state. Just a quick thought about Sue
Heal's article about dog poo and Tim Stillwell of Sydner Road's response. I don't know if
he lives on another planet but where I live it's like walking through the proverbial
minefield. In response to the article by Sue Heal (N16 June issue), I must say that I do not think that dog shit is in any way a desired feature of Stoke Newington. Indeed, I get very annoyed when that trailing pong tells you that you have stepped on a turd that some selfish dog owner has left for their fellow citizens. So like Sue, I strongly believe that dog owners have a responsibility to clear it up after their dogs. This belief stems from the basic Green principle that people must take responsibility for their own impact on the environment as well as that of their society's. Thus both responsible dog owners, non-dog owners and the Council have a role to play in this and I applaud Sue's efforts to talk to errant dog owners. I know from experience of speaking to people who do not clear up their dog mess or drop litter that this is sometimes difficult and may seem unrewarding, but I believe that the effect of this is cumulative and that if more people spoke out for their community, our environment and quality of life would improve. The Council also has a role to play. It can for instance put up signs as
suggested by Sue, but I do not think that this is very effective, and boroughs like
Kensington and Chelsea with numerous signs still have a large dog mess problem. For signs
to work they have to be backed up by enforcement. This will not be easy since proof will
be needed. Perhaps video, witness statements, or confrontation with the dog owners there
and then. In the case of dumped rubbish, which often contain addressed envelopes proof is
easier and I have been successful in pursuing for greater enforcement, resulting in at
least one local householder being fined. The Art of the Millennium
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Local artist Peter Kennard pictured with Ken
Livingstone MP at the launch of Peter's Domesday Book at Gimpel Fils gallery in Mayfair.
Peter, who lives in Norcott Road and lectures at the Royal College of Art, has been
described by John Berger as 'a master of the medium of photomontage', and his work has
been praised by John Pilger as 'among the most important art in the twentieth century'.