Pictures from the scene show a wrecked VW Polo Zipcar and bike News | London Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A car passenger and motorbike rider are in hospital following a crash that closed a major section of the A13 in east London Emergency services were called to Commercial Road, Stepney at around 6.30am on Thursday remains in a critical condition at a major trauma centre Pictures from the scene near Deancross Street show a wrecked grey Volkswagen Polo with its passenger door severely dented and an airbag deployed The vehicle is a Zipcar that can be hired by the hour The motorbike is crumped on the ground and surrounded by debris Closure of the route in and out of central London led to significant traffic delays with queues building in surrounding areas and three bus routes on divertion A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Police were called at 6.29pm on Thursday April 10 to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car and motorbike on the junction with Deancross Street and Commercial Road “Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries “A passenger in the car was also taken to hospital with minor injuries “Commercial Road is currently closed with vehicles redirected to Jubilee Street London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 6.29am this morning (Thursday April 10) to reports of a road traffic collision at the junction of Commercial Road and Deancross Street “We sent a number of resources to the scene an incident response officer and London’s Air Ambulance “Our crews treated two patients at the scene before taking both to a London major trauma centre.” Anyone with information or dash cam footage is asked to call police on 101, quoting CAD 1053/10APR. Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications from nationalities most likely to overstay New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications The nursery will offer 30 places for children A new permanent nursery at Stepney Greencoat CE Primary School was approved at a Tower Hamlets Cabinet meeting last night following a successful pilot scheme that has been in place since September 2023.  The expansion will provide much-needed high-quality early years education for three and four-year-olds in the local area with the site providing 30 places from September 2025.  The addition to Stepney Greencoat builds on the school’s strong reputation for learning and community engagement and the school will provide curriculum support to the nursery.    The site will deliver free childcare hours under the government’s early years entitlement scheme enabling parents to access 15 to 30 hours of care each week at no cost.   The nursery will also offer wraparound care including breakfast and after-school clubs to further assist parents managing busy schedules.    “This new permanent nursery will make a real difference to local families offering high-quality early years education that lays the foundation for children’s future success By providing an additional nursery we are supporting parents and giving children the tools they need to thrive.  “Our goal is to ensure every child gets the best possible start in life and the opportunity to reach their full potential.”   a parent of a child who has been attending the nursery during the pilot “Our family has massively benefited from being able to send our daughter to Stepney Greencoat nursery We have found the nursery to be an incredibly safe She is learning and developing really well and benefits from many ‘whole school’ opportunities that she would miss out at a stand-alone nursery.   “On a practical level it has meant we don’t have to resettle our daughter in different environments in a short space of time she is able to be cared for in the same environment as her older sibling and we are able to work childcare around our working patterns.”  Executive Headteacher at St Peter's London Docks and Stepney Greencoat CE Primary School “This marks a significant milestone in our school's journey and we could not be more excited to welcome our youngest learners into our school.  “The opening of our nursery brings numerous benefits it provides access to high-quality early years education in a safe and familiar setting This will allow families to build strong relationships with our staff and create a seamless transition for younger children into school life.  “This new venture reflects our ongoing commitment to the needs of our local community and we look forward to seeing the nursery thrive and to welcoming many young children to our school in the near future.”  Early years education provides children with essential skills in communication Stepney Greencoat nursery will follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum ensuring every child receives a high-quality education tailored to their development.   The nursery will also provide opportunities for early identification of additional needs allowing for timely support and intervention for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  Any families interested in applying can find more information by contacting the school on office2@stepneygreencoat.towerhamlets.sch.uk  or by calling 020 7987 3202.  View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all Members of the Stepney community will next week have the chance to shape the future of Sculcoates Park and pocket green spaces in the area by collaborating with landscape architects Mace Group has been appointed by the Stepney High Street Accelerator Partnership to create the designs based on public survey results and feedback from the community are invited to discuss the drawings with Mace Group and also to view the broader vision for Beverley Road Feedback from the public will help the partnership and Mace Group to further understand community opinion on how these green spaces should be used Previous public feedback on green spaces showed that a primary focus for the Stepney area was for more trees to be planted and high street planters installed as well as green roofs and bee and butterfly highways Other priorities were improvements to Sculcoates Park grounds and its safety portfolio holder for communities at Hull City Council said: “This council listens to local people and those entrenched within our communities “We will continue to do this throughout the High Street Accelerator scheme and it is pleasing that Mace Group has been appointed to enable the project to progress further by continuing to work with the community “I would like to thank those who have already provided feedback to us and look forward to hearing from more people in the Stepney area next week.” The council’s High Street Accelerator programme focuses on the Stepney area of Beverley Road and the Stepney Partnership was awarded £237,000 in December 2023 to reinvigorate the high street as part of the previous government’s High Street Accelerator Pilot Programme An additional £500,000 was also awarded to improve the vibrancy and visual appeal of the area and its surrounding green spaces The council is continuing to provide the public with the opportunity to help shape Stepney’s future and a further five in-person engagement events will take place next week as below • Wednesday 5 February – 10-12pm Beverley Road Baths • Wednesday 5 February – 1-3pm Stepney Station • Thursday 6 February – 10-12pm Stepney Station • Thursday 6 February –  1-3pm Beverley Road Baths • Thursday 6 February – 3.30-6.30pm Stepney Primary School Bristol artist Omar McCutcheon contributed to the experimental film's sound design with additional music work by Newcastle artists Richard Dawson and Me Lost Me Batu has contributed to the soundtrack of a new documentary about Newcastle's young inner city horse riders Stepney Western, directed by Newcastle-based filmmaker Harry Lawson, is part of an ongoing exhibition at Newcastle Contemporary Art The experimental film was produced over two years in collaboration with the Stepney Bank Stables and in part focuses on the Alternative Provision programme which gives young people in the city an alternative to traditional educational settings Bristol artist Omar McCutcheon, aka TIMEDANCE founder Batu, worked on the documentary's sound design, with additional music work by local progressive folk singer-songwriter Richard Dawson. The film's theme is by Newcastle artist Me Lost Me "Harry and I spoke at length about conjuring the feeling of the Western genre for the sound, using modern sound design in tandem with Western music tropes and tonality to make something both otherworldly but based in the genre", Batu wrote on Instagram "It was so much fun again — well done to everyone involved in bringing this to life!' The film also features archival photography by Richard Blosse Find more information on the film and exhibition on NCA's website The exhibition is open 12-5PM Thursdays through Saturdays at NCA until the 26th In 2020, Harry Lawson directed Meat Rack, a short film about Block9's Glastonbury staple NYC Downlow.  Check out a preview of Stepney Western's sound in the Instagram video below. a rootin’ tootin’ whip-crack-away celebration of big hats and even bigger skies filmed on the wild rolling plains of… the Newcastle district (not suburb exactly) whose city streets are worlds away from Arizona or Wyoming The stars of this Western pastiche are the young people who frequent Stepney Bank Stables, just up the hill from the Ouseburn, and who ride, care for and evidently bond with the horses and ponies. They make for an appealing sight as they file down Stepney Bank in this place where nature thrives amid repurposed industrial relics and what some would call creeping gentrification. Harry Lawson wouldn’t shy away from that. He explains how one of the themes that emerged during his filmmaking was a frontier mentality, integral to every big-screen western but evident also here. Artist and film-maker Harry Lawson at Newcastle Contemporary Art“In Byker you have this cyclical regeneration, first in the 1960s and ’70s with the Byker Wall and now a quieter, more insidious version. “It’s in all cities but the Ouseburn seems a tension point, I suppose. It used to be Byker and the stables were part of Byker City Farm. Now we have Stepney Bank Stables and the Ouseburn. “These things aren’t random. Rebrands are a choice and I’m trying to think about how regeneration serves communities. Does it serve the young people at the centre of this story? “I like nice coffee shops but do they like them? Can they eat at fancy restaurants? These thoughts are the subtext to the film.” Harry was born in Sunderland in 1994 but went off to university in London at 18 to study English literature. There he hung out with film students and became interested in what they did. In his third year, his grandma fell ill and the family feared the worst. Unable to travel to Sunderland because of his finals, Harry asked his dad to take some video with his phone. “He filmed these three episodes of caring for my grandma and after her death about 18 months later, I went and spent time in the care home. “That became my first film project and actually it’ll be my next project, going back and finishing it. But through all that I realised I wanted to make films so I went and did a master’s in documentary film.” Though back and living in Newcastle now, Harry was still in London when he had the idea for a contemporary urban western and was in discussions with stables in Brixton. Smiling, he says they had seemed bemused. Part of the Stepney Western title sequence“Then I came home to see family and friends and walked past Stepney Bank Stables one day and it was like a eureka moment. Why did I even think of making it in Brixton? Obviously I should be making it in the place I’m from and care about. “The people at Stepney Bank knew immediately why someone would want to make a film recasting it as the Wild West because they knew, on a way deeper level than I did, what the life experiences of some of the young people were. “To me it became this challenge of using these stables beneath two bridges, one with trains and one with cars, and with no space and surrounded by an industrial landscape, to make a western.” He began tentatively, attending the Stepney Bank Christmas party with his girlfriend in 2022, taking no cameras but with the idea of introducing himself. Among the roles of Stepney Banks Stables, a registered charity, is to provide a practical alternative for young people who don’t thrive in mainstream education. Stepney Western (2025). ©Harry LawsonSetting out to win trust, Harry played it cool at first, taking his cue from the adult trainers and youth workers at Stepney Bank how best to interact with the kids he was to film. “I had a completely open mind as to what the story would be but very rarely does a good film have 30 protagonists so I knew at some point there must be a narrowing down. “I thought there’d be self-selection among the kids but there was a lot of enthusiasm to take part. Eventually I decided on seven who I thought might benefit from the project.” Principal among them was Ella whose face you’ll see on the 1950s-style billboard at Byker Metro station, which extends the reach of Stepney Western beyond the gallery off Newcastle’s Bigg Market. Ride into a western at Byker Metro stationHer expressive face, registering the gamut of emotions, is a big part of this film and her story, as she tries for a place at Kirkley Hall, provides the narrative thread. Around it Harry built his film, along with three set-piece scenarios, including one with the youngsters chatting around a campfire. Punctuating it are moments of epic stillness, such as a horse and rider shot against the sunset, when it’s possible to imagine yourself in a world far removed from Byker. If horses require sympathetic handling, so did Harry’s protagonists, all aged eight to 14 at the time of filming and with Ella (now 17) the eldest. “She has a strong will and I love that about her,” says Harry. “There are days when she’s more or less difficult, or keen to do what people say. If she was in a bad mood I’d say, ‘Let’s just film tomorrow, no problem’.” When a Stetson was required, Ella found a fluffy pink one on TikTok and Harry went along with her choice. When she failed to turn up for a riding lesson, he agreed to take her place and sat on a horse for the first time in his life. a charming expression of the bond between horse and human is an amalgam of Harry’s own footage and archive material he sourced from various places This includes snippets from the 1995 Amber Films feature which also features a boy at odds with the system There’s also some extraordinary monochrome footage of a classroom experiment in which children astride vaulting horses ride like cowboys or jockeys flat out in a driving finish And the opening credits roll in classic western style with animation reminiscent of Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood in his prime At Newcastle Contemporary Art (which was previously Baltic 39 and Waygood) Stepney Western is being shown on the big screen with hay bales – hence that warning – to sit on In the adjacent gallery, further evidence of Harry’s interest in archives, is a display of photographs drawn from various sources including the Ouseburn Trust and the Amber Film & Photography Collective. Ragman’s Horse and Cart by Union Road (Byker) ©Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen - Courtesy of AmberSide CollectionNone is captioned putting the work of Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen esteemed chronicler of Byker and an Amber founding member on a par with local community photographer Davey Pearson who photographed incessantly and whose work was ultimately rescued from a skip There are also anonymous snaps taken over the years by Stepney Bank Stables staff and visitors each capturing a moment precious to someone The official premiere of Stepney Western took place recently at Bewick Film & Media Arts Festival, when the young stars took part in a Q&A, but you can see it at Newcastle Contemporary Art, 4th Floor, 39 High Bridge, until Saturday, April 26 (a related programme of events is listed on the website). Newcastle Contemporary Art, 39 High BridgeAnd you can even contribute to it. Going the whole hog, Harry commissioned a series of fabulous western-style posters for visitors to decorate according to style and taste, the best being added to a ground floor display. There’s a publication, too, a one-off Stepney Western edition of a once popular community paper called the Byker Phoenix. Supported by Arts Council England, the BFI Doc Society Fund (which distributes lottery money) and the Community Foundation, Stepney Western is well worth braving the horsehair and the hay. Stepney Western sunset (2025). \u00A9Harry LawsonA notice to visitors at Newcastle Contemporary Art warns that \u201Cthis exhibition contains hay & horsehair\u201D a rootin\u2019 tootin\u2019 whip-crack-away celebration of big hats and even bigger skies filmed on the wild rolling plains of\u2026 The stars of this Western pastiche are the young people who frequent Stepney Bank Stables, just up the hill from the Ouseburn, and who ride, care for and evidently bond with the horses and ponies. Harry Lawson wouldn\u2019t shy away from that. He explains how one of the themes that emerged during his filmmaking was a frontier mentality, integral to every big-screen western but evident also here. Artist and film-maker Harry Lawson at Newcastle Contemporary Art\u201CIn Byker you have this cyclical regeneration, first in the 1960s and \u201970s with the Byker Wall and now a quieter, more insidious version. \u201CIt\u2019s in all cities but the Ouseburn seems a tension point, I suppose. It used to be Byker and the stables were part of Byker City Farm. Now we have Stepney Bank Stables and the Ouseburn. \u201CThese things aren\u2019t random. Rebrands are a choice and I\u2019m trying to think about how regeneration serves communities. Does it serve the young people at the centre of this story? \u201CI like nice coffee shops but do they like them? Can they eat at fancy restaurants? These thoughts are the subtext to the film.\u201D \u201CHe filmed these three episodes of caring for my grandma and after her death about 18 months later, I went and spent time in the care home. \u201CThat became my first film project and actually it\u2019ll be my next project, going back and finishing it. But through all that I realised I wanted to make films so I went and did a master\u2019s in documentary film.\u201D Part of the Stepney Western title sequence\u201CThen I came home to see family and friends and walked past Stepney Bank Stables one day and it was like a eureka moment. Why did I even think of making it in Brixton? Obviously I should be making it in the place I\u2019m from and care about. \u201CThe people at Stepney Bank knew immediately why someone would want to make a film recasting it as the Wild West because they knew, on a way deeper level than I did, what the life experiences of some of the young people were. \u201CTo me it became this challenge of using these stables beneath two bridges, one with trains and one with cars, and with no space and surrounded by an industrial landscape, to make a western.\u201D Among the roles of Stepney Banks Stables, a registered charity, is to provide a practical alternative for young people who don\u2019t thrive in mainstream education. Stepney Western (2025). \u00A9Harry LawsonSetting out to win trust, Harry played it cool at first, taking his cue from the adult trainers and youth workers at Stepney Bank how best to interact with the kids he was to film. \u201CI had a completely open mind as to what the story would be but very rarely does a good film have 30 protagonists so I knew at some point there must be a narrowing down. \u201CI thought there\u2019d be self-selection among the kids but there was a lot of enthusiasm to take part. Eventually I decided on seven who I thought might benefit from the project.\u201D Principal among them was Ella whose face you\u2019ll see on the 1950s-style billboard at Byker Metro station, which extends the reach of Stepney Western beyond the gallery off Newcastle\u2019s Bigg Market. Punctuating it are moments of epic stillness, such as a horse and rider shot against the sunset, when it\u2019s possible to imagine yourself in a world far removed from Byker. If horses require sympathetic handling, so did Harry\u2019s protagonists, all aged eight to 14 at the time of filming and with Ella (now 17) the eldest. \u201CShe has a strong will and I love that about her,\u201D says Harry. \u201CThere are days when she\u2019s more or less difficult, or keen to do what people say. If she was in a bad mood I\u2019d say, \u2018Let\u2019s just film tomorrow, no problem\u2019.\u201D is an amalgam of Harry\u2019s own footage and archive material he sourced from various places There\u2019s also some extraordinary monochrome footage Waygood) Stepney Western is being shown on the big screen with hay bales \u2013 hence that warning \u2013 to sit on In the adjacent gallery, further evidence of Harry\u2019s interest in archives, is a display of photographs drawn from various sources including the Ouseburn Trust and the Amber Film & Photography Collective. Ragman\u2019s Horse and Cart by Union Road (Byker) \u00A9Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen - Courtesy of AmberSide CollectionNone is captioned The official premiere of Stepney Western took place recently at Bewick Film & Media Arts Festival, when the young stars took part in a Q&A, but you can see it at Newcastle Contemporary Art, 4th Floor, 39 High Bridge, until Saturday, April 26 (a related programme of events is listed on the website). 39 High BridgeAnd you can even contribute to it Harry commissioned a series of fabulous western-style posters for visitors to decorate according to style and taste the best being added to a ground floor display a one-off Stepney Western edition of a once popular community paper called the Byker Phoenix the BFI Doc Society Fund (which distributes lottery money) and the Community Foundation Stepney Western is well worth braving the horsehair and the hay This fun family-friendly day with free entry will include several activities to take part in such as Maypole dancing with music from Folk Dance Remixed and pottery wheel workshops with resident artist Jess Jos There will also be sheep shearing and wool spinning demonstrations throughout the day for visitors to enjoy The day will also see the grand opening of the new on-site cafe The team behind Stepney’s – Natasha Sayliss (who founded and run popular cafe Mae + Harvey on Roman Road) and Florence Creffield – are excited to welcome locals The café will source ingredients directly from the farm whenever possible Visit stepneycityfarm.org for more details Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Please adjust your search criteria and try again Roman Road LDN is published by Social Streets C.I.C, a not-for-profit news and media organisation to get the latest news and events from your neighbourhood delivered to your inbox every week FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramTiktok Visiting Roman RoadGlobe Town MarketRoman Road Market Membership for OrganisationsMembership for IndividualsAdvertise with us Copyright © 2025 Roman Road LDN. Part of Tower Hamlets Slice newspapers and published by Social Streets C.I.C Sign up here for your daily business digest direct to your inbox Sign Up Discover our talented editorial team and the principles that drive them A Newcastle-based artist is reimagining the city’s past and present through a Western-inspired lens in a new exhibition set to open at Newcastle Contemporary Art.  blends documentary filmmaking with archival photography to explore the unique culture of young inner-city horse riders from Stepney Bank Stables At the heart of the exhibition is an experimental documentary that incorporates footage shot by riders on their iPhones as well as material from the North East Film Archive Henry’s own footage and fragments from the 2004 CBBC series The Stables.  featuring an original soundtrack by local musicians Jayne Dent and Richard Dawson presents an intergenerational portrait of the Byker community Stepney Western showcases archival photography from acclaimed photographers including Henri Cartier-Bresson drawn from the collections of AmberSide and the Ouseburn Trust provide a fresh perspective on Newcastle’s social and industrial history inviting young people to create film posters and engage with the themes of the project.  inspired by the Byker Phoenix community magazine of the 1970s and 1980s featuring new writing and original articles Stepney Western will also extend beyond the gallery with a large-scale public artwork at Byker Metro Station and an abridged version of the exhibition will be presented at a local arts festival showcase later in the year To find out more, see the Newcastle Contemporary Art website here Plays that tackle difficult subjects deserve respect Actors who put their energies and their craft into striking fire from problematic material are admirable guarantee an enjoyable theatrical experience The Practice explores the aftermath of the death of a charismatic cult leader Harry Fischer has a Foundation that offers Primal Therapy-type psychological re-sets What The Practice is is never explicitly stated but it involves masks and role play and accessing the subject’s Inner Child and lots of stuff like that It seems to owe a debt to Method Acting as well but maybe that’s just because it’s a play with actors discussing the process and a group of individuals are vying to take control of the Foundation There are a series of board meetings interspersed with therapy sessions lots of shifting allegiances and betrayals a whole heap of somewhat random emotional outbursts People storm off and come back in another state there’s a lot of emotional Sturm und Drang Perhaps the play requires a prior commitment to the philosophies of self-actualising and the value of charismatic individuals to steer adherents through change the play consists of a group of sketchily characterised individuals squabbling over a company the importance of which is unclear Is it a huge gold mine with thousands of participants In which case the motive for fighting for control is financial gain which is a clear and understandable motive Or do the vying principals have a profoundly felt desire to continue Harry Fischer’s noble work The five actors struggle to animate the sketchy premise The exit is a long hike through the audience which makes flouncing off difficult the very basic lighting – four yellow fluorescent tubes overhead all controlled with on-stage light switches –  is not subtle or flattering The presence of a double-bass player improvising behind them is intriguing and quite pleasant – thanks to Deniz Dortok the musician – but does nothing to make the intentions of the play clearer The main handicap though is characterisation so sketchy it’s nearly invisible Stephen Chance has to present an individual reverting to childhood which in this exploration of therapeutic communities would seem a quite high-stakes transformation but it doesn’t appear to impact him or anyone else much It’s a theatre piece that sets out to explore a significant subject It fails because the theatricality is lacking Following approval by the Mayor of London and no objections after notifying the Secretary of State for Transport, penalty charges and additional fees will increase across all 32 London boroughs and the City of London from Monday Parking arrangement plans can be found below of your estate in Stepney showing parking numbered bay locations: The cafe at Stepney City Farm has been closed since November but will reopen as Stepney’s with thanks to the founder of Roman Road’s Mae + Harvey Stepney City Farm will reopen its café in May Stepney’s will reopen with thanks to Natasha Sayliss founder of Roman Road’s popular brunch spot Mae + Harvey and close friend Florence Creffield a chef and baker who has been a part of the Bonnington Café in Vauxhall since 2015.  the café will undergo a refresh with a new open kitchen and an injection of colour in the outdoor seating area expect accessible breakfast and lunch options like fish finger or bacon sandwiches plus daily lunch specials and freshly baked goods courtesy of Chef Florence Draft beer and wine will also be available with the cafe set to stay open into the long summer evening suppers or just a simple bowl of chips and a pint The café will open during the day on Tuesday to Friday from 10 am The café was previously the family-run Allotment Kitchen Stepney’s is bringing fresh hope for a quality café offering in the Stepney Green area Natasha Sayliss has already made a name for herself in the local food scene with Mae + Harvey and midweek dinner specials such as fennel salami with poached pears and honey Their ‘legendary’ chicken sandwiches have also earnt them a spot in Time Out’s Best Brunches in London Stepney City Farm is located just off Stepney Way between Stepney Green Park and St Dunstan’s Churchyard The 4.5-acre working farm is currently home to Kinda Grind a coffee vendor selling vegan coffees and hot chocolates from a converted pink horsebox.  A Farmers’ Market is also held nearby every Saturday on the north drive off Stepney Green If you liked this read The best vegan cafes near Roman Road. Archiving Desires: A Badge Cafe Exhibition by Ben Walters The restoration of Stepney Station has been shortlisted for the prestigious National Railway Heritage Awards These awards are the only recognition dedicated to encouraging best practices in the re-use and upkeep of railway and tramway heritage across the UK Stepney Station is a key landmark that plays a significant role in Hull’s transport and social history Now operated by the Summit Education Society the station has transformed into an essential venue for the local community The winners of the National Railway Heritage Awards will be announced during a ceremony at Merchant Taylors’ Hall expressed his enthusiasm: “We are delighted that a part of the Beverley Road Townscape Heritage Scheme has been shortlisted for this award “The restoration of Stepney Station was very much needed and it has become a key venue and sanctuary for the local community.” Zeki Tasdemir from the Summit Education Society said: “As the ‘Summit Education Society’ Community We are deeply honoured that the restoration of Stepney Station has been shortlisted for this year’s National Railway Heritage Awards once a vital part of the local rail network has been carefully restored and continues to serve as a vibrant community centre the restoration project is aimed at protecting the heritage building while breathing new life into the space to provide a safe and reliable place for our community. “We are incredibly grateful for the support from the Hull City Council and the National Lottery Fund Summit Education Society remains committed to the ongoing care and use of the building ensuring that Stepney Station continues to serve as a hub for community engagement and connection for generations to come with our various partnership and community-driven projects.” made possible through funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and led by Hull City Council included the building’s special historic details as well as essential repairs to the roof and windows The Station House was returned to its traditional brown and buff paint colour scheme offering residents a glimpse of its original appearance from the 1850s when it was operated by the North Eastern Railway company Stepney Station connected Hull residents to East Yorkshire and the wider UK a comprehensive restoration program initiated fifty years later has successfully revived this significant piece of Hull’s heritage Stepney Station stands as one of the last surviving components of Hull’s suburban railway network Rushanara Ali has been elected as the Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Stepney following the General Election which took place on Thursday 4 July 2024.    Rushanara Ali of The Labour Party received a total of 15,896 votes Independent who received a total of 14,207 votes The turnout for the constituency was 57.67 per cent.  Acting Returning Officer and Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets Council I would like to say congratulations to Rushanara Ali on her election to Parliament as the Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney and I look forward to working with her “Running elections involves an incredible amount of hard work by the council working closely with the Metropolitan Police the Electoral Commission and many others and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved and worked so diligently from the early planning stages through to polling day and the count.” graffiti and fly-tipping would have the greatest impact in improving Stepney according to a survey completed by the area’s residents and businesses A four-week survey held earlier in the summer showed that 69 per cent of respondents were of the same opinion part government’s High Street Accelerator (HSA) pilot programme which focuses on the Stepney area of Beverley Road provided the public with the opportunity to shape the vision for the area’s future The Stepney Partnership was awarded £237,000 to reinvigorate the high street as part of the previous government’s High Street Accelerator Pilot Programme in December 2023 Four in-person engagement sessions also took place to offer the public the chance to discuss proposals with council officers Hull City Council is part of the Stepney Partnership chaired by resident John Scotney and includes local businesses which is tasked with revitalising the high street facilitating change and growth and attracting footfall to the area Other areas of improvement earmarked by the citizens survey included lowering levels of crime as well as improving the appearance and conditions of buildings and attracting a wider range of shops and services Respondents were also asked for their opinions on the top five green space improvements which were: ·        Trees (48%) ·        Green roof ·        Sculcoates Park grounds improvements (39%) ·        High Street planters (38%) ·        Sculcoates Park safety improvements (37%) A week-long spring clean of the Stepney area took place in March in line with the Great British Spring Clean 2024 where children from Stepney Primary School and Hull Trinity House Academy joined council streetscene staff on litter picks in the area with additional support via the Love Your Neighbourhood initiative Other activities included graffiti removal whilst skips were rotated around the area for residents to dispose of unwanted household items with several being filled throughout the week portfolio holder for communities at the council said: “This council is one that listens to local people and does its best to act on what we’ve been told “We’re pleased to hear from the community about the improvements they want to the Stepney area on Beverley Road “Listening and getting feedback is key to everything we do people had their chance to shape the vision for the Stepney area “I would like to thank all those who took part in the survey we’ll continue our work in making the city a cleaner and greener place.” the Stepney Partnership has worked with the council’s nominated High Street Expert to turn the community’s views and aspirations into a reality which will help to shape the project’s delivery plan Further public engagement will take place in the coming weeks The council’s largest housing development scheme has been approved providing 407 much-needed new homes will be demolished to make way for several new 4-8 storey buildings The development also includes communal gardens car parking and secure cycle and refuse storage Members of the Development Committee accepted the planning application at their meeting on 12 June The redevelopment scheme is part of the council’s commitment to delivering 4,000 new affordable homes for rent to help tackle the borough’s housing crisis Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets said: “Housebuilding is my number one priority and so it’s with much pleasure that we are moving forward on delivering this major scheme “I’ve made a strong commitment to delivering new homes for affordable rent and the Harriott Apsley and Pattison re-development will make a big different to achieving our goal and providing the homes that residents in Tower Hamlets desperately want and deserve.” The development has been designed by architects PRP and building work is set to commence in summer 2025 Associate Director at PRP said: “We are delighted with this approval as it marks the culmination of our close collaboration with the residents the local Red Coat Community Centre and Masjid group we have worked to deliver the best quality for the existing residents making sure their new homes meet their needs the proposals will provide a significant number of new affordable rent homes for the Council many of which are large four-bedroom family homes addressing the pressing need for spacious accommodation for families in the area.” The amended application incorporates the latest building safety standards announced in 2023 ensuring all flats have a secondary means of escape and other measures to improve fire safety The proposed community centre is also relocated Home   Sport   Article A Moray schoolboy has qualified to play for Scotland’s table tennis team at an international event for the second year running Elgin High pupil Alexander Stepney (12) has been playing the sport competitively for little over two years but is already one of the best in the country for his age Last year he qualified as a primary school pupil at Mosstowie and a strong performance in his first time at the Scottish Secondary Schools Championships in Bathgate earned Alexander another Scotland place with sessions held at UHI Moray every Thursday the top four players in each age group gain selection for an international schools event held in Jersey in June involving the best players in the British Isles Alexander lost out to his friend and long term rival Dean Robertson who was undefeated in winning the under-14 boys section The next three places were decided by a countback with Alexander just edged out of second place but comfortably in the top four to earn his spot in Jersey his first coming at the British primary schools championships last year when he won a team silver medal as well as a bronze in the singles competition Alexander trains in Moray and Inverness each week coached by former Welsh international and Commonwealth Games player Stephen Gertsen who has been a coach for all of the home nations in his career Gertsen remembers Alexander barely being able to hit a table tennis ball when he first started the sport three-and-a-half years ago The Moray club caters for all ages and abilities and play at UHI Moray every Thursday between 4.30 and 6.30pm was found with wounds to his leg at the branch in Stepney Green shortly before midday on Tuesday News | Crime Police are hunting a knifeman after an Asda security guard was stabbed inside a store in east London The man, in his 30s, was found with wounds to his leg at the branch in Stepney Green shortly before midday on Tuesday the attack happened when the employee confronted suspected shoplifters Officers and medics scrambled to the Anchor Retail Park on Mile End Road with emergency services arriving in around three minutes A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “At the scene a member of store staff “He was taken to hospital where his injuries were deemed non-life threatening and non-life changing Khan: Trump win will leave Londoners anxious and fearful Just Stop Oil supporters paint US embassy in London after Trump declares victory William tells Earthshot finalists ahead of awards ceremony Sadiq Khan says Londoners 'fearful about what Trump return means for democracy' “Urgent enquiries are underway to identify and apprehend the suspect “At this early stage there has been no arrest Detectives have cordoned off the shopping district which also has a Currys and Halfords An Asda spokesman added: “We are in contact with our colleague and are providing ongoing support to him as well as any colleagues or customers that witnessed this incident “Next week marks Respect for Shopworkers Week and this incident further highlights the urgent need for stronger protections for retail workers “We continue to advocate for acts of violence or abuse against retail workers to be recognised as a standalone criminal offence “No colleague should come to work in fear of being attacked.” London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 11.46am on November 5 to reports of a stabbing at Anchor Rail Park a paramedic in a fast response car and an incident response officer “Our first paramedics arrived on scene in three minutes We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre.” Hope Rowe has been charged with the murder of Charlotte Lawler Police have named the victim of fatal stab attack in east London as a woman was charged with her murder She is due to appear in custody at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday has also been charged with possession of a bladed article A 37-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was later released on bail Ms Lawler’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers Woman charged with murder after fatal stabbing in east London Murder investigation launched after woman in 30s stabbed to death in Tower Hamlets Sadiq Khan challenged over grip on Met Police after critical report Appeal for witnesses after cyclist dies in west London tipper lorry collision A Scotland Yard statement said: “Police were called at approximately 01:17hrs on Sunday 15 September to reports of a woman suffering stab injuries in a foyer of a block of flats in Duckett Street “London Ambulance Service also attended but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene police are confident that she is Charlotte Lawler “Next of kin have been informed and continue to be supported by specially trained officers.” “A 37-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was later released on bail.” A crime scene remains in place at the address as forensics officers scour for clues and detectives carry out door to door inquiries CCTV and doorbell footage from around the scene will also form part of the investigation Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD480/15Sep To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 The Bishop of Stepney has called on the government to intervene in the case of Jason Moore highlighting the miscarriage of justice’s watchdog‘s ‘historical‘ shortcomings’ In an exchange with justice minister Shabana Mahmood Dr Joanne Grenfell has written to say that as a result of new evidence ‘combined with the Criminal Cases Review Commission‘s (CCRC) past failures’ it was ‘imperative’ that immediate action was taken As reported last year who was stabbed to death in a pub car park in East London joined with campaigners supporting the release of Jason Moore convicted of his killing In a new letter shared with the Justice Gap Reverend Grenfell acknowledged the CCRC’s independence but argued that it’s ‘historical shortcomings’ cast ‘serious doubt on its ability to review Jason’s case impartially and effectively’ this is a fact that your government is well aware of as shown by recent calls for [CCRC chair] Helen Pitcher to step down Yet despite public acknowledgement of the institution’s numerous failings the government continues to refer people to the CCRC Yet if the institution has repeatedly failed to fulfil its mandate at what point does the government intervene to assist the many individuals who have suffered as a result?’ As previously reported on the Justice Gap, Rev Grenfell argued that in the CCRC’s rejection letter, the watchdog ‘falsely asserted’ that two eyewitnesses had implicated Jason Moore as Darby’s stabber (see here) Based on this ‘fundamental misunderstanding’ she argued the CCRC refused to order fresh DNA testing and refused to interview the witness who had picked Jason from a line-up Newsquest journalist Charles Thomson tracked the witness down who admitted on tape that he had been drunk when he had witnessed the stabbing and might have picked the wrong man After the rejection of Moore‘s first application to the commission Thomson promptly contacted the watchdog to point out the mistake in their assessment of the case ‘Despite the seriousness of this mistake the CCRC  did not take the initiative to reopen the case As an independent body that exists to safeguard against wrongful convictions the CCRC should have been eager to correct their own mistake the CCRC  has compounded the problem and is now actively adding to the miscarriage of justice This refusal was especially damaging because the CCRC initial error directly caused evidence that was vital and supporting Jason‘s first application to be unusable in his current application’ The Bishop goes on to say that Thomson subsequently obtained exculpatory evidence from the key witness which was offered to the CPS the police and Jason Moore’s lawyers ‘but neither the CPS nor the police showed any interest whatsoever in reviewing it’ The Reverend closed her new lettter by saying she felt ‘little consolation’ at the Justice Secretary’s previous correspondence suggesting that the matter needed to be left to the commission it is not the efforts of the CCRC but the intervention of outside actors that finally brings about justice such as the assistance of APPEAL to Andrew Malkinson or the advocacy of former MP Sandy Martin for Oliver Campbell.’ Support the Justice Gap, buy PROOF Labour MP Rushanara Ali fended off a strong challenge from pro-Palestine candidate Ajmal Masroor in the race for the London seat of Bethnal Green and Stepney on Friday a drop of 39.4 percent form the last general election Local activist and Muslim preacher Masroor had run his campaign exclusively on a pro-Gaza platform after another candidate had agreed to step down in order to avoid splitting the vote and called on other candidates to do the same Masroor thanked those who had backed him for their "magnificent support" "You have sent Labour a clear message: that the politics of genocide is no longer acceptable and our votes cannot be taken for granted You can hold your heads up high knowing that you have slashed Labour’s second highest majority in the country We will hold Labour accountable every step of the way," he said in a post on social media Akunjee appeared to blame Masroor for the failure to unseat Ali saying: "I tried my best to convince people that we need a unity candidate in Bethnal Green & Stepney I even stood down for the greater good of achieving that aim Ajmal Masroor was a hard sell and failed once again as he has always done to win." Akunjee also repeated a line he had used during the campaign commenting: "You lost when a turnip could have won." After her victory was confirmed Ali thanked those who had campaigned for her re-election: "Together we showed that hope wins over fear Together we will rebuild with a Labour Government Thank you all so much for your tireless work and everything you have given so that we could win together." Ali courted controversy after she abstained in a parliamentary ceasefire vote despite local calls for her to support the move saying she could work more effectively inside the party Ali refused to criticise Labour Party leader Keir Starmer after he singled out the Bangladeshi community during a debate on immigration Tower Hamlets is home to a significant Bangladeshi community comprising around 32 percent of the borough's population making it one of the largest Bangladeshi communities in the United Kingdom Several Labour councillors in Tower Hamlets also criticised Starmer with the deputy leader of the council resigning in protest Starmer subsequently apologised for "any offence caused" and gave an exclusive interview with local Bangla channel ATN Bangla to repeat his apology Ali was criticised for not criticising Starmer after his comments saying instead she intended to "relay the concerns in our community" to the Labour leader Copyright © 2014 - 2025. Middle East Eye Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters Middle East Eye          ISSN 2634-2456                      A protest outside Downing Street in October last year THE Bishop of Stepney calling for a review of the case of a man who protests his innocence of murder The man, Jason Moore, was convicted in 2013 of the murder of Robert Darby who was stabbed to death outside an east London pub in 2005 The prosecution relied on the testimony of a single eyewitness Mr Moore has always maintained that he did not commit the crime Dr Grenfell’s letter argues that the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) examined the case and opted not to put it forward for appeal but that their analysis of the case wrongly suggested that there had been a second witness during an investigation by a local newspaper that the sole witness had been drunk at the time the CCRC declined to reopen its file on the case; so Mr Moore had to start the process again Dr Grenfell praises Ms Mahmood for seeking the removal of the chair of the CCRC and suggests that the case-review system needs to be overhauled especially in the light of the acquittal last year of Andrew Malkinson The CCRC twice failed to review Mr Malkinson’s case and integrity of the CCRC” justified calls for “a review of all outstanding cases that the CCRC has ignored under the previous government” She refers to the support of Mr Darby’s family as a further reason that there was a compelling case for a review of Mr Moore’s conviction: “In a remarkable display of unity both families have joined forces to try to quash Jason’s conviction Nicholas Reed Langen examines the Supreme Court ruling on gender We are a partnership of six diverse and welcoming congregations in the northern districts of Milton Keynes offering a rich tapestry of worshipping traditions – Anglican Situated in the beautiful Suffolk countryside St Mark’s is a charismatic evangelical church in North London multi-cultural area that God has placed us in Intercontinental Church Society is an Anglican mission agency with mission partners serving in various locations around the world We seek a full-time Recruitment and Short-Term Mission Manager based in Coventry to lead chaplaincy recruitment and manage short-term mission run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times tickets available This online seminar, run jointly by Modern Church and The Church Times discusses the theology underpinning the drive for growth tickets available Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month You are viewing your 1 free article this month Midas has announced that Maddie Dunne Kirby and Yolanda Copes Stepney have been hired into new roles at the independent books Kirby will take on the role as senior digital account manager and joins from HarperCollins and Stepney is moving into a permanent role as associate director director of marketing and digital at Midas Dumughn said: "It’s a year since the new marketing division launched at Midas and we’ve achieved an incredible amount during that time The publishing landscape is evolving constantly and it’s clear there is increasing need for an agile strategic and industry-specific marketing agency to help drive awareness of books and authors with consumer attention at a premium So I’m delighted to be able to strengthen our marketing offering with the hire of Maddie Dunne Kirby who blew us away with her reader-focused marketing nous and focus on author care "We are also very lucky to have Yolanda Copes Stepney on the team Her expertise in influencer communities and reaching non-traditional audiences not normally on the radar of publishers has helped us deliver some great results this year These hires represent the next phase in our growth as a fully-fledged marketing agency and mean we are even better equipped to deliver sales success on behalf of publishers and authors." Dunne said: "I am thrilled to be joining the wonderful team at Midas It is an amazing opportunity for me to expand my marketing knowledge across such a diverse range of campaigns." Today Midas announced that Phoebe Williams is also joining from Penguin Random House Children’s as account director Williams said: "Having long been an admirer of Midas’ incredibly creative and strategic work across the publishing industry and beyond I am absolutely thrilled to be taking up this new role and re-entering the vibrant world of PR agencies—where I started my career I am so grateful for my years spent at Penguin Random House Children’s and shall miss the colleagues and authors I worked with greatly but am very excited to be working with the incredibly talented team at Midas and its impressive roster of clients." deputy managing director of Midas said: "This autumn Midas is as in demand as ever working across a raft of high-profile authors and publishers including Patricia Cornwell with Little Brown Jane McDonald with Ebury and a number of exciting titles on retainer with Dialogue Publishing It will be brilliant to have Phoebe’s celebrity and children’s book expertise further strengthening our team." Carmarthenshire News Online Local and National News for Carmarthenshire Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email are helping to raise awareness of bowel cancer and bowel cancer screening… Hywel Dda University Health Board is inviting people from the wider Llanelli community to shape potential options for the future… The 73rd Annual Brin Isaac Memorial Fund Presentation Dinner took place on December 3rd at the Diplomat Hotel in Llanelli,… the excitement of Ruben Amorim’s arrival and more As far as great Manchester United goalkeepers go – you won’t get much better than Alex Stepney. The shot-stopper made a whopping 539 appearances for the Red Devils across all competitions, winning numerous trophies with United in the process but Stepney was an integral factor in doing so He played almost every game of the First Division title-winning 1966-67 season Stepney also played in goal in United’s first-ever European Cup victory in 1968 where he infamously had none other than Eusebio stand and applaud him for a remarkable save at a crucial moment It was a pleasure to catch up with a true Manchester United legend and hear his thoughts on some current affairs along with some stories of personal Red Devils highlights He handled himself well in some very challenging moments and leading the team to a win over City in the cup final was a fantastic achievement “But in the end, the highs weren’t consistent enough to make a lasting impact. To be manager of Manchester United is such a demanding role “Anyone who turns the team into a nightmare to play against is a manager for me I’d like to see the team hunt the ball like a pack of animals for starters if I had to give an answer – somewhere between 4th and 8th “A lot depends on the next few games, and when Amorim comes in but it’s going to be tough to claw back from the position we find ourselves in.” I like his attitude and he moves the ball forward Manchester United emerged victorious over Portuguese giants Benfica and lifted their first-ever European Cup on home soil at Wembley. I asked Stepney just how special this night was and his mind quickly turned to the Munich air disaster “When the final whistle went after winning 4-1 in extra time every one of us sub-consciously went to Bill Faulkes “No one ever spoke about Munich and I wondered when I joined if anyone mentioned it I think in everybody’s mind individually it was there.” “We won the league at West Ham and that never really comes up And then of course the European Cup final – yes Winning the FA Cup at Wembley and beating Liverpool and stopping them from winning the treble – wasn’t so bad was it.” “I’m enjoying life on the Lancashire coast, but I’m still very much part of the fabric at Old Trafford including through the Manchester United Foundation charity “I’m involved with hospitality on matchdays and media work which often brings back memories of that incredible night in May ‘68 when we won the European Cup “I’m also thrilled to have recently partnered with Legends Whisky and I even have a single malt named after me – personally selected and tasted by me If you’re interested in this, Alex tells us you can get yours in time for Christmas by contacting [email protected] for more details “Other than this,” Alex continued, “I’m still a full-time Manchester United fan – and that’s a job in itself!” and hopefully his job as a Red Devils supporter will get easier when Amorim arrives at the helm