London

For Swift Awareness Week 2018, Hackney Council is delighted to announce a set of proposals designed help halt and reverse the decline of swifts in Hackney due to habitat loss.

Across the UK swifts have declined by 51% between 1995 and 2015, which makes them an ‘amber listed species’. Sadly, they are now officially classified as endangered in the UK.

Swifts, which migrate between the UK and Africa, are an exciting summer visitor to Hackney’s skies from May to August. They are unique among birds in that they rely almost 100% on the built environment for nesting space. As older buildings are renovated and newer buildings are totally sealed, available nesting sites for swifts to raise their young have fallen dramatically. This is particularly problematic because swifts, which mate for life, are extremely loyal to their nesting site, and may stun or even kill themselves trying to re-enter if it is blocked.

In Hackney, the decline in swifts and loss of nesting sites mirrors that in other large cities, where renovation works on older properties, in particular, have inevitably impacted upon the availability of nesting sites for swifts. This has been compounded by the fact that new build properties often do not include swift nesting boxes or bricks.

In an attempt to combat and reverse the worrying decline of swifts in the borough, Hackney Council will now take action in three key areas - through the planning process; through ensuring that permanent swift nests are built into all suitable new council housing developments; and through identifying and creating a register of existing council-owned housing and buildings where ‘swift boxes’ could be fitted retrospectively.

In planning the Council will ensure, through the new Local Plan*, that all suitable developments build-in permanent nesting sites, with schemes involving buildings with an eaves height of seven metres and above required to provide nesting boxes for swifts, sparrows, starlings and/or bats.

In the new build council housing supply programme, the Council will provide swift nesting opportunities in all suitably-designed buildings with an eaves height of seven metres and above. These will take the form of unobtrusive ‘swift bricks’ set flush into the external walls.

In existing council housing and buildings the Council will begin working with local bird conservation group Hackney Swifts to conduct a stock assessment of Hackney’s existing council-owned buildings and council housing in order to identify suitable sites for swifts and other endangered birds that enhance biodiversity in our borough.

Hamish Burnett, of Hackney Swifts said: "These proposals from Hackney Council are fantastic, with straightforward actions to halt declines in brilliant urban species which bring us so much joy. There should be no conflict between creating modern buildings and renovating old buildings whilst retaining amazing urban species like swifts, bats and sparrows, these proposals show this in action. We are looking forward to working with Hackney Council and residents to identify key sites where swifts boxes can be retrofitted to create vibrant new swift colonies."

If householders who currently fall outside the Hackney’s swift conservation proposals would like to find out more about how they can provide nesting sites for swifts, you can find out more through the RSPB, here.

* Due for ratification following public consultation and Examination in Public in 2019.

Hackney Council is looking for more than 30 local people of all ages to join its award winning apprenticeship scheme this summer.

The programme, which is designed to give people a chance to start their career within different Council departments, has a particular focus on ICT this year, as well as roles in youth work, plumbing, electrics, and administration.

Apprenticeships allow you to combine work with training, meaning you can earn up to £22,000 while you learn and gain a nationally recognised qualification.

The scheme recently won Best School Leaver Programme in the Public Sector at the annual School Leaver Awards, based on direct feedback from Hackney apprentices.

The 2018 summer apprenticeship campaign is now live click here for more information.The Council is also holding an Open Evening for prospective candidates at Hackney Town Hall at 4:30pm on 20 June, sign up here to attend.

Westminster Council's leaders intend to launch a judicial review against Cycle Superhighway CS11 works starting at Swiss Cottage, it has been revealed by The Guardian. The news comes a week after the council's leaders declared the removal of motor traffic from Oxford Street to be "off the table".

Living Streets and London Cycling Campaign strongly condemn both actions. Our full statement on the CS11 news is below:

London Cycling Campaign and Living Streets strongly condemn Westminster City Council leaders for launching a judicial review against Cycle Superhighway CS11 work at Swiss Cottage.

Coming soon after the same leaders took the removal of motor traffic on Oxford Street "off the table", this demonstrates the actions of a leadership apparently determined to oppose positive moves to improve roads for those walking and cycling anywhere and everywhere they can.

Westminster city council leaders seem set on unpicking progressive measures such as CS11 and Oxford Street aimed at making London a healthier, safer, more attractive place to live. Their actions prioritise motor traffic over walking, cycling, business and our health. This is in direct contradiction to the council's own policies.

Westminster Transport & Movement document (July 2014) says prioritising walking and cycling is "particularly important" for the council. Once more council leaders have opposed a scheme that would offer major improvements for walking and cycling, and one not even inside their borough this time.

If Westminster Council leaders wish to genuinely improve matters for those walking and cycling, then the council should work to ensure all of CS11 moves forward rapidly. That means helping implement the scheme on Avenue Road and Portland Place, supporting work towards closing the Regent's Park gates as consulted on, and not opposing the start of the scheme in Camden, at Swiss Cottage.

By its actions Westminster Council is putting people needlessly at risk of harm for purely political reasons. We urge it to put people’s safety first and stop attempting to wreck efforts to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on London’s roads.