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p4
 Say what you like about the London
Mayoral Elections. But nobody can complain that it's boring.
And one of the good things about it is that it has forced a big debate on public
transport. I take a keen interest in public transport because I do not drive. People
sometimes ask me how I manage. But because I have never driven, I don't miss not driving.
And I certainly don't miss finding somewhere to park in Central London.
Sometimes they can't quite believe that a Member of Parliament actually travels on public
transport. And I sometimes catch people looking at me on the number 73 bus as if to say,
'that looks like Diane Abbott. But it can't be. What would she be doing on the number 73
bus?' If I could do one single thing in the constituency it would be to build the
Chelsea-Hackney Line. The Chelsea-Hackney Line is a long-planned extension of the Jubilee
Line into Hackney. It would come all the way to Dalston. For the first time Stoke
Newington would have an underground station. So you could travel from Dalston down the
existing Jubilee Line all the way along a new extension that would take you to Chelsea.
A tube line in Stoke Newington would rejuvenate the area. It would give business a boost.
Even more people would come to the excellent Ridley Road Market and Stoke Newington Church
Street. And it would make it much easier for people to travel to work. The Conservative
Government talked about building a Chelsea-Hackney tube link but never did anything.
But in May, whoever gets elected as Mayor, I will be the first one banging on the door
campaigning for the Chelsea-Hackney tube link.
Festival News
by Paul West
It's springtime, and the Stoke Newington Festival office is total mayhem! We have
deadlines coming at us from all directions and the phone never stops ringing with
questioning artists.
This is my first year at the Stoke Newington Festival. My role is marketing and
fundraising. Oh, and IT, not forgetting photocopying and receptionist. It is my job to
ensure that more people are aware of, and attend, the wonderful range of events that the
Festival provides. I am supposed to make everyone realise that the Festival is not just
The Street Festival (11th June this year), but that there are three additional weekends in
June which hold host to a range of exciting, cutting edge performances, concerts and
exhibitions. So, what are these events?
You may have heard of Parklight on the grapevine (15th - 18th June). If you live
overlooking Clissold Park your favourite houseplant may well be auditioning as a film
star. Parklight is, quite simply, a large-scale art exhibition involving light, in
Clissold Park, running from dusk 'til dawn. Parklight will transform the park into a
night-time exhibition-come-social space.
There will be a restaurant tent provided by Yum Yums and we are hoping to provide a Light
Bar. Artists confirmed so far are Saatchi artist Tomoko Takahashi, Keith Piper, Michelle
Griffiths, Chris Grottick and Simon Faithful, and the artwork will be nothing short of
brilliant. It's a free (yes, I said FREE!) event made possible by a contribution from the
Millennium Commission (they haven't wasted all their money on the Dome!) as well as
generous support from Holden Matthews, Traymans and Bibliotech.
The Festival has also commissioned three local artists with a brief to create large-scale
work above street level. We're calling it 'What's Up!' and the ideas will certainly grab
your attention! There will be a mini-weather system at the Street Festival, so expect to
see snow on a sunny day in June. A 73 bus projecting light and sound will cruise down
Church Street, and, if the tower at the fire station seems to resemble a blond wig, your
eyes will not be deceiving you. It is being transformed into a fairy tale fantasy by local
artist Caroline Lawton.
The last weekend of the Festival is dedicated to Rasa's Indian Festival, which I can't
tell you much about at this stage, except the food will be great and that it will run from
the 29th June to the 2nd July.
You will not be disappointed, whatever art, music or theatre you like. There will be
brochure diaries containing everything about the Festival all over Stokey from the middle
of May, and our web site should be up and running at about the same time on www.stokenewingtonfestival.co.uk
. If you want to get hold of us please either email us on:
info@stokenewingtonfestival.co.uk.
We still need volunteers and are also about to launch our new Festival Friends' Club, so
please get in touch if you are interested in helping the Festival in any way.
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