2011 Hackney Debate with George Alagiah.

BBC newsreader and presenter George Alagiah is returning to chair the third in a series of debates held in DeBeauvoir Town.

The topic for debate is The Media We Deserve?.

In the wake of the phone hacking scandal and the closure of the News of the World should there now be tighter regulation of the media? And what possible effect might there be on free speech?

Speakers will be:

Nick Higham, BBC correspondent,

James Alan Anslow, City University lecturer and former production editor at News International,

Suzanne Moore, Guardian and Mail on Sunday journalist.

The debate takes place in St. Peter's Church, De Beauvoir Road, N1 on Friday 4th November.

Doors open at 7pm and the debate begins at 7.30.

Admission is free.

Bus Stop Improvements on Englefield Road

Hackney Council will be carrying out improvements to Bus Stops on Englefield Road.

These improvements will make the stops more user-friendly and generally accessible.

The stops concerned are in front of house numbers 126a and 65 Englefield Road.

The work will start on Monday 7th November and be completed the same day.

Resident access will not be effected and if possible a temporary stop will be provided during the works.

If you need more information or wish to comment on these works please contact Hackney Service Centre on 020 8356 2897 or email: info@hackney.gov.uk

Hackney Winter Night Shelter

An open meeting is being held this Monday 24th October for any residents interested in volunteering at Hackney's winter night shelters for the homeless.

The shelters were started seventeen years ago by a local Christian group and are now a registered charity.

The shelters will provide a meal and bed for the night for vulnerable homeless people in Hackney during the cold winter from January to March at various churches throughout the borough.

Last year the Shelter provided accommodation for 92 people including 11 women and helped 62 people find permanent accommodation.

If you feel you could spare some time to help the shelters with food preparation and supervision it would be greatly appreciated.

The meeting is being held on Monday 24th October at St. Mark's Church Hall, St. Mark's Rise, Daltson, E8 2NL from 7.30pm. Map

For more information on the vital work the charity carries out, and to download volunteering forms, please visit their website.

Hackney Biodiversity Plan Consultation

The consultation period for Hackney Council's Biodiversity Plan is coming to an end.

Biodiversity is the local wildlife and their habitats including the boroughs parks.

Many residents value our open spaces and enjoy seeing the wildlife. It has also been proven that contact with the natural environment can improve well-being and reduce stress.

The Biodiversity Action Plan outlines the planned activities to protect the local wildlife.

The closing date for residents to comment on the draft Biodiversity Action Plan is Monday 24th October.

Further details on the consultation are available on Hackney Council's website, where you can download the full draft of the plan and a questionnaire to have your say.

If you just want to get the questionnaire you can download it here (right click and 'save').

New Bridport House

The BBC has recently visited the De Beauvoir ward to report on the building of Colville Estate's new Bridport House.

Bridport House is the first step in Hackney Council's seven-year regeneration of Colville Estate.

Please follow the links below to learn more about this impressive new site and the ingenious innovation that went into its construction.

BBC TV News channel report:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15298896

BBC Radio 4, Today Programme:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9615000/9615230.stm

And a report on construction from the Timber Trades Journal online edition:

http://www.ttjonline.com/story.asp?sectioncode=16&storycode=68366&c=3

Your Labour councillors look forward to working closely with local residents and Hackney Council over the coming years on this and other exciting building developments in our community.

Greener Hackney Event

Residents who have an interest in Green issues and environmental impact are invited to Hackney Council's inaugural Greener Hackney event.

Hackney Black History Month 2011

Today see's the start of Hackney Black History Month, the borough's annual celebration of the contribution that Black African and Carribean communities have made both here in Hackney and across the whole world.

Over the coming month, a wide range of events, including storytelling, poetry workshops, and film screenings will be happening across the borough - you can download the full programme of events here.

One of the centerpieces of the Month is 'Our African Roots' a new exhibition opening at Hackney museum which focuses on culture, identity and linkages back home in the Hackney African community. The exhibition - which includes exhibits from the Royal geographic Society and the Horniman Museum - opens on October 11th.