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The area has done nothing but continue to boom over the last few
years and it's now more popular than ever. The cuisines in the restaurants resemble a
round the world trip in food. You could certainly never die of thirst as there are enough
pubs and bars to suit everyone's taste.
But when we start to think about entertainment and activity in this community - especially
for younger people - not a lot is going on. The only thing that springs to mind is the
Festival and that only happens once a year. There are many cultures in the area but we
hear hardly anything about their activities.
No, we don't necessarily want a massive rave scene in the locality, it's far too small for
that. In any case I prefer to go with my friends to bigger areas like Camden and the West
End. One of the problems of living around here is that everyone knows each other and what
they get up to. It can certainly slow you down!
There should be a wide range of well-publicised activities for children and older people.
What about a proper Community Centre? But it's really down to us to make our voices heard
to ensure that these things are provided. So why aren't we doing more about it?
Celina Douglas is 19 and was born in Stoke Newington.
I agree with what D Kidmon wrote in the last edition of N16 -your
magazine should be renamed 'Colonial Times ' It is a magazine for people who spend
holidays 'up the Dordogne in a camper van' or like Sally Watson, who you quote as
saying that she is having such a problem finding a private nursery for Georgia and Tabatha
that she 'may have to move to Highgate just to find one'.
The problem is that the Watsons will be replaced by more rich young people who will move
in and continue to take over what pubs and cafes we have left, and show off to us about it
in the pages of NI6.
Your coverage of the mobile phone mast issue could have been based around the magnificent
resistance put up by the Tenants Association at Hawksley Court, but instead gives them
just three lines compared to the Council's two paragraphs, while worrying about the effect
on house prices. As a political organisation we wouldn't put it the same way as D Kidmon,
but he is talking about the effects of the 'social cleansing' of Hackney. As the middle
class takes over more and more of the Borough, the IWCA will continue to seek to involve
and represent what is still Hackney's working-class majority.
Anyone wanting to get in touch can contact us at Box 48 136 Kingsland High St, E8 2NS, or
you can look at our web site on www.hackneyiwca.fsnet.co.uk
Peter Sutton, Hackney Independent Working Class Association
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