Spend precious council funds on improving Brick Lane

This letter from Respect councillor Fozol Miah published in this week’s East London Advertiser

To the editor,

I am a serious, committed and devout Muslim. I dislike the turn the debate over the Brick Lane arches has taken in some of the press. Women should have the right to wear the hijab (head scarf) on the basis of their religious convictions and not feel any shame in doing so.

However, as ward councillor for Banglatown and Spitalfields, I am strongly opposed to the proposal to spend a windfall from the Spitalfields development on arches of any description in Brick Lane. This money could be much better spent in other ways. For example, it is a disgrace that there is still a chronic lack of toilet facilities when the market is in Brick Lane on Sundays. This is something local traders have complained to me about over and over again and which I have taken up with the council, only to be told there are not the resources for it.

There is also the issue of the pedestrianisation of Brick Lane making it more attractive for people to use the restaurants and other facilities available to them in this vibrant area. Pedestrianisation could, in the first instance, be limited to weekends but I believe this could again significantly improve Brick Lane.

We are facing a severe attack on council revenue over the next few years as a result of the government’s massive debt problem. In these circumstances prudence in the use of our limited funds is more important than ever.

Yours sincerely,

Fozol Miah, Respect Councillor for Banglatown and Spitalfields ward
Town Hall
Mulberry Place