Vibrant and welcoming neighbourhoods

Neighbourhoods

I love Hackney – its diversity, community spirit, and green spaces – but I know that there is plenty that needs to change. For too long, decisions about how resources are used have been for the benefit of large corporations, and residents have been missing out. Local people have experienced increased congestion, rising rents, and one of the highest crime rates across London, with 43% of women feeling unsafe while traveling alone.

During lockdowns, we relied on our neighbourhoods: their local shops, parks and streets. As we come out of the worst of the pandemic, I will continue to work with groups to protect the best of our borough and reimagine what our neighbourhoods and town centres could be in a post-pandemic era – with thriving small businesses, streets which can be enjoyed by everyone, and green spaces that are protected for future generations, bringing people together and supporting community cohesion.

Neighbourhoods

Safety and crime

Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure when moving around our borough, but this is currently not the case. In order to make our streets safer I will:

  • Prioritise public safety on all new developments, especially in relation to street access and pedestrian lighting
  • Bring vacant commercial properties quickly back to occupancy through reduced business rates and temporary pop-up schemes – thriving and well-occupied city centres are shown to reduce crime.
  • Encourage businesses to employ local young people through apprenticeship schemes, and promote businesses to residents to encourage their long-term success. (Read my policy on building an economy that works for everyone in Hackney)
  • Work with schools, youth services, and the police to take a coordinated approach to reducing violence between young people, and prevent any further cuts to youth services across the borough
  • Lobby Transport for London (TfL) to implement new standards for bus stops, to boost public safety at all times of day and accessibility for all residents

Championing community

Closer communities which support each other are also safer communities. To build on the existing community links across Hackney, I will:

  • Support communities to organise events such as local street festivals, providing logistical and financial support
  • Expand community sharing schemes such as the Library of Things and support the creation of reuse and repair hubs, to encourage the sharing of skills locally and help people save money on expensive items
  • Expand the network of community champions engaged in the pandemic response, so we can continue to break down barriers between communities and ensure that all groups are represented in decision-making for the borough
  • Use the council’s communication channels (including advertising sites) to promote local events, small businesses and low-cost activities, particularly for children during the school holidays. (Read more about my policy on advertising in Hackney)

Planning and infrastructure

Local residents are experts in what is most needed in their neighbourhoods – so where we need to maintain and update local infrastructure, I will put the people of Hackney at the heart of decision making. I will:

  • Replace town plans with people’s plans, developed in close and ongoing dialogue with the local community
  • Use Community Infrastructure Levy funds to invest in public facilities that make Hackney a welcoming place for everyone, creating more free community spaces and accessible public toilets
  • Prioritise work to bring step-free access to more of Hackney’s Overground and tube stations

The Green Party is the only party with a coordinated set of policies to create healthier, greener communities that are affordable for people to live in. It’s crucial that decision-making powers about what happens to our neighbourhoods are given back to the people who live there. As Hackney’s first Green Mayor, I will put power in the hands of residents and small businesses, create opportunities for young people, and focus on leveraging existing community structures to make our borough’s hubs safer and welcoming for all.

My Plan For Hackney

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