Hello Everyone,
What started as a super cold week has now blossomed into what feels like warm Spring at last, with the weekend set to be warmer. I’ve sorted out my bike readiness for the new season, where I’ll be looking to ditch the car across the coming weeks and cycle around the borough as I head to meetings! This past week, I have been focused on the impact of the climate emergency in Newham. Following our declaration of the Climate Emergency back in 2019, I’ve tasked the Council to produce its Just Transition Climate Action plan to address the disproportionate climate risk facing Newham residents. It has been evidenced that lower-income and other disadvantaged groups contribute least to climate change; but are likely to be the most impacted by it; and people of colour in the UK are four times as likely to live in areas at high risk of dangerous heat. Climate change will cost lives in our communities and will financially impact our people disproportionately due to the costs in responding to climate impact. Already, Newham is the second most at-risk area in the UK to extreme heat, with the second-highest number of at-risk neighbourhoods. The majority of the borough is a ‘heat spot’, in particular around Upton Park and East Ham; and is at an elevated risk to overheating, compared to other London boroughs. In part this is due to a lack of green spaces compared to concretised areas and significant vehicle use on major roads, as well as heat being carried by wind from west London to the east of the capital. That is why we are accelerating our actions to achieve Net Zero within Newham; and why in our Just Transition Climate Action Plan we assert our preference to encourage walking, cycling or the use of public transport; and encourage the safe movement of goods without polluting our streets. Our transport actions, including those set out in a report coming to a formal meeting of cabinet on Tuesday 1st April, are creating equitable access to health-enhancing, comfortable and non-polluting travel in our borough, in line with Newham’s Air Quality Action Plan, which is being refreshed currently and will be published soon also. We obviously take the climate emergency seriously, that’s why on Tuesday I visited Stratford Library on to support the formal launch of the Community Energy Newham (CEN) share offer which will raise £120,000 to bring energy generated by solar panels installed on three Newham libraries, into community ownership. By investing £50, residents can earn a target 3% return annually on their investment, become a member of Newham’s first community energy co-op and help shape a greener future, and support green job skills and a fairer energy system in our borough. Already the new national government has launched the Great British Energy initiative to bring lower bills to schools and hospitals, and through our collaboration on the Community Energy Newham initiative, we’ll be supporting low energy options for Newham residents. The Community Energy Newham initiative is supported by Newham Council and is part of our collaboration with Repower London. We supported a group our local residents to develop community-owned and democratically led sustainable energy projects – all part of our people power and Community Wealth Building agendas – that will help reduce carbon emissions to build a clean, local and affordable energy future for everyone in our borough. Not only that, but it also links with our Just Transition Climate Action Plan, as we drive climate change and heat ensuring that everyone can take advantage of the move to greener forms of energy. I’m proud to be able to champion Community Power Newham as a testament to our enduring commitment to play our part in tackling climate change, so I would really encourage you to get involved – and you can find out how here! Tuesday just gone also marked World Social Work Day, and at Newham, we took the opportunity to celebrate the invaluable contributions of our social workers. They play a vital role in improving residents' lives in countless ways—providing support for mental health challenges, safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, helping families navigate immense pressure, upholding human rights, and advocating for those in need. Social work is diverse, demanding, and deeply emotional. I am truly grateful to our dedicated social workers for choosing this meaningful profession and for their tireless efforts to positively impact so many lives. To every social worker—thank you for all that you do! This week, I also met with Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability and MP for East Ham, at Stratford Station to discuss the next phase of our strategic business case for the expansion of the one of the busiest stations in the UK which is fast reaching max capacity. Late last year, I joined colleagues and partners to formally open the new Carpenters Estate station entrance – a £9.5 million project providing local residents and visitors with direct access to the station. The Holy Month of Ramadan continues, and it has been a wonderful period of connecting with our Muslim communities and those from other faith communities as our people come together in our celebration of our diversity in our wonderful borough. Earlier this week I was invited to join members of the local community for an Iftar at Plaistow Fire Station and last night I attended an Iftar organised by Revive FM and Minhaj ul Quran mosque in Forest Gate. Sharing a meal following the breaking of the fast with members of our local community during Ramadan is really special. As we countdown to the end of this fasting months for thousands of our Newham residents, have a look at our Eid webpage, which has lots of helpful information to ensure a safe and happy end of the month as people take part in Eid-al-Fitr celebrations! This coming Sunday, I’ll be celebrating another example of the wonderful diversity of our borough, with a Holi festival at Stratford Fire Station on Romford Road with councillors, including Cllr Amar Virdee who is my cabinet member for Community Safety. The famed festival of colour – also known as Holi or Hola Mohalla – marks the victory of good over evil and also ushers the spring season is observed by Sikh and Hindu communities around the world. In Newham we’ll be heralding a history making first by holding the Holi festival in one of our local London Fire Brigade station. I am so chuffed that here in Newham we celebrate our uniqueness by doing unique things, which is why I’m looking forward to celebrating Holi this Sunday! Whatever you’re doing this weekend, have a wonderful time in the Spring sunshine, and until next week please do look after yourself and your loved ones.
Best wishes,
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE
Follow what I am up to via X/Twitter: @rokhsanafiaz | 
