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It is said ,Every cloud has a silver lining! This may well be the case in this instance. Obviously we have rattled enough cages between us to get the result we wished for.
But there is good in this for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. There has now been recognition from a number of bodies as to the significance of this memorial. Long may it remain so.
It would seem to me that Trinity House is being run now on pure business lines, instead of the original ethos which was saving lives at sea. I am sure that if any of the old Lighthousemen were to learn of this unfeeling attitude they would be turning in their graves.
From the office of that famous New Yorker Boris Johnson , received today
Dear Robert
Thank you for your email outlining your concerns about the application to Tower Hamlets Council for an entertainment licence in Trinity Square Gardens.
The Mayor was sorry to learn of the distress this application caused you. The granting of licences is a borough matter and does not fall within his remit as Mayor. However, we are glad that common sense has prevailed and that the Mayor of Tower Hamlets has rightly rejected the application. This decision ensures that the event can not go ahead as planned and that we can continue to remember and honour our fallen Merchant Navy personnel without disruption.
We would like to take this opportunity to convey to you our admiration for the courage and skill of the Merchant Navy. We owe a great deal to those who have lost their lives whilst defending this country, and who have made us safer through their sacrifice.
Thank you again for writing.
Yours sincerely
Meena Shah
External Affairs
I have just recieved this email from Tower Hamlets Council, it seems that TRINITY HOUSE IS THE BAD GUY IN ALL THIS.
They should appologise to all concerned for their stupidity and promise NOT to do anything like this again.
Also name the persons who would do such a diabolical thing.
Cheers
Brian
Always show content from Festivalsand.Events@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Dear B.Aspinall
Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding the use of Trinity Square Gardens for events. The booking in question will now not take place, please see the statement below from the Mayor of Tower Hamlets:
"Commenting on the Trinity Gardens proposals, Mayor Lutfur Rahman said, "Staging events in the Gardens was an idea put forward by Trinity House who have been working with the Council and the proposed event organisers so I am surprised by comments made this weekend. The Council do not wish to cause any offence to any of the parties involved. As it no longer has the support of Trinity House and the maritime community I have put a stop this event."
Your sincerely
Arts and Events Team
Cultural Services
************************************************** *******************************
Working Together for a Better Tower Hamlets
Web site : Tower Hamlets Council
Gentlemen,
I have received a reply to my E mail from Trinity House, as follows :-
Dear Mr Allman
Thank you for your email.
You have seen reported that Trinity House initially supported the application for Christmas parties to be held in Trinity Square Gardens: this is not accurate. As part of its continuing drive to raise funds for the Corporate Charity, the Charity's commercial arm did investigate whether the park might be used in some way, in combination with Trinity House’s Tower Hill building, during the 2012 Olympics only. However, when this proposal reached Board level it was rejected, and the decision was made to oppose the application for the reasons you outline below.
I hope this answers your enquiry.
Yours sincerely,
Vikki
Vikki Gilson
Public Relations Manager
Trinity House
Tel: 020 7481 6960
Email: vikki.gilson@thls.org
I will leave you all to be the judge of its contents.
Chris.
Someone is telling Porkies.
thanks Chris,
Cheers
Brian
.
More news and updates:
Protest campaign mobilised by politicians, unions, seafarers organisations and the local community:
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“It remains a scandal that there was ever even a proposal to hand Trinity Square Gardens, with its memorials to merchant seafarers who have given their lives since the First World War, to the bankers and speculators for their Christmas drinks parties.
“We welcome the statement from the Tower Hamlets Mayor but we now want a further statement from Tower Hamlets licensing and planning officials confirming that this whole issue has now been thrown out once and for all and will not resurface under a different guise.
“The whole community was sickened at the idea of drunken bankers dancing on what represents the graves of dead seafarers, thousands of whom made the ultimate sacrifice on the Second World War convoys in the fight against fascism.
“RMT will continue to monitor future proposals for the use of Trinity Square Gardens and we will use the union’s resources to protect this important memorial to tens of thousands of merchant seafarers.”
RMT - Campaign to stop bankers’ Christmas parties in seafarers memorial gardens secures assurances from Tower Hamlets Mayor
RE: Moving Venue - Corporate Events at Tower Hill:
Thank you for your email outlining your concerns about the application to Tower Hamlets Council for an entertainment licence in Trinity Square Gardens.
The Mayor was sorry to learn of the distress this application caused you. The granting of licences is a borough matter and does not fall within his remit as Mayor. However, we are glad that common sense has prevailed and that the Mayor of Tower Hamlets has rightly rejected the application. This decision ensures that the event can not go ahead as planned and that we can continue to remember and honour our fallen Merchant Navy officers without disruption.
We would like to take this opportunity to convey to you our admiration for the courage and skill of the Merchant Navy. We owe a great deal to those who have lost their lives whilst defending this country, and who have made us safer through their sacrifice.
Thank you again for writing,
Yours sincerely
Meena Shah
External Affairs
RE: Moving Venue - Proposed Corporate Events at Tower Hill:
Licensing Act 2003
Time limited premises licence: 22/11/2011 to 17/12/2011
Premises: The Moving Venue Caterers, Marquee Structure, Trinity Square Gardens
Thank you for your email regarding the above premises. The Licensing Authority has received numerous objections from various parties. I can confirm that the applicant has now withdrawn the premises licence application. Consequently, the application is terminated and the file is now closed.
If I can be of any further help, do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards
Mohshin Ali - Senior Licensing Officer,
London Borough of Tower Hamlets | Licensing Section | Mulberry Place (AH) | PO Box 55739 | 5 Clove Crescent | London E14 1BY
Tel ': 020 7364 5498 | Fax 7: 020 7364 0863 | E-mail :: Mohshin.Ali@towerhamlets.gov.uk
K.
We have rattled more cages than the monkeys at London zoo we have struck a cord with a lot of people i received the same email as most from Tower Hamlets Mayor word for word,,, So one can only assume the email was put together once and bounced back to all us complainants. I Don't have a problem with that the problem i have is that it was considered for the purpose of a gang of toffs to party the night away who wouldn't no one end of a ship from the other. Never mind the whole conception and feelings we ex and serving Merchant Seaman have for what is sacrosanct ground.I suppose the end has justified the means and can all take comfort in the fact that common sense has prevailed. And thank my old mate Ian Walker for bringing this to our attention i grew up with Ian and have relieved him on a Harrison boat in the past, But living up north would have had no idea what they were up to down there until it was to late.Well done Ian mate {JOB AND FINISH} Regards Terry.:cool:
One has to wonder whether or not the outcome would have been the same if the numerous members of this site, StS and Ships Nostalgia had not had their say. I suspect that it would have continued and in a couple of months we would have seen similar antics to those at the cenotaph. I think we should all be proud of the fact that we collectively pulled together and caused such mayhem that they had no option. Realistically there is no other reason why they did a complete u turn within such a short time. I hope that the culprit who originated this scandal is eventually dealt with in an appropriate way. I also wonder what other ludicrous venues have been planned.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyMorcom
Eh Tony, forget the lads on this site, ships nostalgia etc, it will be Bob Crowe and the power of the unions that will take the credit, wait and see. He was late coming on board and used the exact words used by members here in his statements, but he will certainly take mileage out of this at his next conference, or am just an old cynic? Not that I am bothered who takes the credit as long as the result was achieved and all help gratefully received