PRESS RELEASE
FOR THE ATTENTION OF
Hackney Today
News Desk
7 February 2002
ST. JOHN AT HACKNEY CHURCHYARD: YOUR SAY IN
ITS FUTURE
Local people are being encouraged to attend an exhibition
of draft proposals for the revitalisation of St John at Hackney’s churchyard,
taking place at Sutton House (2&4 Homerton High Street, E9) from 22nd
February to 3rd March.
The exhibition is the next step in a consultation process begun by The
Hackney Society and Groundwork Hackney, who appointed a team of consultants to
investigate the issues that impact on the churchyard in consultation with key
stakeholders, including the local community. The report, funded by Groundwork’s SRB2 Vital Centres and
Green Links programme, was produced in December 2001 and threw up issues such
as poor lighting and access, rubbish and vandalism and goes on to provide a
framework for delivering a regeneration programme for the site.
Working in partnership, the London Borough of Hackney,
Groundwork Hackney, St John at Hackney and The Hackney Society have already
secured nearly £700,000 for improvements to monuments, railings and the
installation of CCTV. Councillor Guy Nicholson, chairman of the council’s
regeneration committee said
‘We have been working with Groundwork Hackney and we think
the bid for Lottery funding is an excellent idea. It will significantly improve the environment of the area.’
St John at Hackney churchyard and gardens comprise a
well-loved historical site, which has been the heart of Hackney for over eight
centuries, and monuments such as St Augustine’s Tower which dates back to the
11th century, provide tangible evidence of this rich history. However in recent years the area has
become neglected. The exhibition
gives Hackney’s public a chance to give their views and priorities for the
site, by completing a questionnaire, which will inform the final proposals to
be submitted for Heritage Lottery Fund funding. A member of the partnership will be available to answer your
questions between 2.30 – 4.30 on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24. For further enquiries contact Matthew
Carrington at Groundwork Hackney on 0208 985 1755. You can view the original report on the Groundwork hackney
website www.ground-level.org/st_john’s. A Friends Group consisting
of local people is also being set up, if you are interested in being involved
please contact The Hackney Society on 020 7254 0212.