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Original poster

Hackney, the worst place to live in Britain?

107 replies

MrsOhHu · 01/11/2006 09:58

It certainly is bad if you need the council to do anything. It's really bad. It is a place for criminals run by criminals. It also has some fantastic people, good houses and lovely green space. Sadly Hackney is losing a lot of the people a borough should be proud of.

OP posts:
hoxtonchick · 01/11/2006 20:38

there are no lessons this half term. maybe it's only the training pool that's closed.

lanismum · 01/11/2006 20:38

woops crossed posts, oh, so i see it IS closed then, oh dear will have to find another, maybe ill try york hall if its still open.

lanismum · 01/11/2006 20:40

ahhh, ill ring tomorrow to check, was planning to go on friday, dds only 19 months so just enjoys splashing about in the big pool at the min, have you tried the lido yet? do you know if its covered? i have been too lazy to get off my bum and walk across the fields to check

hoxtonchick · 01/11/2006 21:47

apparently the lido opened for a bit then closed due to overcrowding - ok, hackney council is a bit crap. opening again for a bit at the end of the month. but it's not covered. so am not risking it! the water is heated though....

worldgonewild · 01/11/2006 22:02

MrsOhHu, We've got something called 'Better Haringey' which has been going for a couple of years. Basically the idea is to clean up the borough, literally. Graffiti dealt within 24hrs, better road sweeping and involving schools in environmental projects etc. Each year there's a bit of a bash to celebrate the publicly voted 'best street sweeper', best community officer etc. Our school got the Greenest School Award. The Better Haringey idea seems to be working. But there's always more to do.

lizardqueen · 01/11/2006 22:03

What a load of crap! I've lived in Hackney since 1986 and still love it.

lizardqueen · 01/11/2006 22:04

I live in Clapton, by the way. Mrs Oh Uh, which school do your kids attend - mine are at Millfields.

lizardqueen · 01/11/2006 22:06

Mrs OhUh, are you sure you live here? Kings Hall is open, it has never closed, how can you live in Clapton and not know that???

krabbiepatty · 01/11/2006 22:07

Teehee about the lido, HC, wasn't fancying it in this weather much...

hoxtonchick · 02/11/2006 07:55

hi lizardqueen, long time no see .
i know, krabbie, i did snigger. roll on next summer i guess.

Original poster
MrsOhHu · 02/11/2006 14:52

My kids don't go to school yet - they're still too young! Lots of people speak very highly of Millfields. I don't know if it's in our area, although I guess it should be. We're on the other side of Lower Clapton Rd. I've been to Kings Hall, but the changing rooms smell of wee. It could be a fabulous place. Next door to it is an amazing shop that sells Super 8 feature films and projectors along side tins of beans and bags of rice.

OP posts:
eastendgirl · 02/11/2006 22:31

gee, that shop is still there?

Original poster
MrsOhHu · 03/11/2006 10:24

It certainly is! I don't know if they still have it, but they used to run a Super 8 cinema club in Hoxton Sq which was free. Apparently you are not allowed to charge people to watch Super 8 films. It is very very funny watching a film stripped down to the bare essentials. It is ridiculous!

OP posts:
eastendgirl · 05/11/2006 21:33

I love Hackney, we are a bit worried about the schools, but will probably give them a try.

doddle · 05/11/2006 21:52

I love Hackney, live in Clapton too, just off murder mile too!!! We've lived in Clapton for 8 years and I think its getting better not worse.

Clapton is a friendly place, we have proper neighbours we really know who babysit, the kids can play out because the roads are gated, you can buy anything you've ever dreamt of and a few you haven't from Palm2 at Clapton Pond.

King's Hall doesn't always smell of wee, my kids swim there qute happily. It is only partially open at the moment because of the fire but you can swim there and it will all be open soon.

Lizardqueen my kids go to Millfields, I teach there, we all love it. Mrs OhHU if you live just the other side of Lower Clapton Road then you should be in the catchment for Millfields. Hackney has plenty of more than decentish primary schools, secondary is more of a problem but is improving.

I don't find the council that much crapper than any other I've lived.

My real top tip for living in Hackney is don't read the Hackney Crime Weekly!!

Posey · 05/11/2006 22:02

My dh used to be the editor of the Hackney Gazette. His rule was, at least one feel-good story on every page. Residents knew there was a lot of crime, didn't need it ramming down their throats. So put stories of the good stuff that was happening.
And he visited all the local schools, doing journalism workshops/talks etc. Very well received.
He still has a soft spot for the area now (his journalistic roots)

Original poster
MrsOhHu · 06/11/2006 08:56

The Murder Weekly has a good reputation as a place to start in journalism. I find the council odious. I find it deeply insulting that some people don't have to apply for planning permission to set up clubs, yet the council does nothing about it. These clubs have been the subjects of many successful police raids and some people find them threatening. There are also more illegal drivers in Hackney than anywhere else in Britain. The police virtually condone this and say they have higher priorities. It is extremely dangerous to let children play on the streets, and needless when there are so many lovely parks available. I do not intend to let my children play in carparks either. Sorry for the rant. Sadly our council allows criminals to flourish and council tax payers to foot the bill.

OP posts:
goldenoldie · 29/11/2006 21:22

And why exactly do we need a mayor in Hackney costing over £100k a year?

And the council have chosen not to enforce their powers to stop people allowing their dogs to s*t on the street/parks and not clean it up. Great. Hackney, the dog s*t friendly council.

Hackney is definately a crap place to live, but then so are lots of other inner city places. It is an improving council - moved from bl**dy piss poor, to just piss poor, so def. and improvemnt there.

Fantastic place for singles or couples with money, dire for families or kids.

Hence the traditonal middle-class route of travel = Hackney when still a couple (great vibe/raw, loads of bars resturants)and Muswell Hill/Crouch End/Fincley once the kids arrive,('Oh no, we would never pay for private education - we just moved to a 'nicer' area!).

I'm looking forward to the tube arriving - another route out!

Original poster
MrsOhHu · 29/11/2006 22:28

Lower Clapton? Great vibes? Great bars and restaurants? No way! The place is going to the dogs. It is far worse than it was 10 years ago. Great place if you want drugs or guns or a knife or 2, or if you want to drive to kill. Great. The council is doing nothing about the great Olympics Land Grab on the Marshes either. I expect someone gave that land to the people.

OP posts:
winterpimms · 05/12/2006 15:10

Grew up in London Fields and was very excited when i found out the Lido has re-opened. Don't live there anymore but will take dc to the Lido as i spent many a 6 weeks holiday there!!

Apparently it is London's first olympic-sized heated out door pool (water temp 25c) A retractable roof will be built in 2007.

Has anyone been yet?

Original poster
MrsOhHu · 08/12/2006 21:54

Oh to be able to visit Hackney! CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT!

OP posts:
winterpimms · 09/12/2006 11:01

Sounds like you're desperate!

Hope it happens soon!

Original poster
MrsOhHu · 13/12/2006 21:36

Hackney is a place run by criminals for criminals. It is not a democratic borough.

OP posts:
goldenoldie · 21/12/2006 18:45

Criminals???? Tell us more.............

hoxtonchick · 21/12/2006 18:53

so why do you live here mrsohhu?