 The Lea Heritage Group was launched on 1st December 1998 after meeting with 'Tower Hamlets Council' and 'Island Development Associates' led by Reg Ward ex chief executive of the LDDC, supported by Mike Fisher, and Terry Walker of Docklands Digest fame. Our original name "New Deal" (New Docklands Environment And Leisure) was dropped as it had become confused with the Government's choice of 'New Deal'as a policy. We agreed to work together with the local Authority, local Businesses and Communities to help focus attention on the remarkable history of Tower Hamlets and East London, its historic sites, its cultural diversity, and the contribution made by its remarkable people to World trade and economic development. Our campaigns for many years to improve the environment and ecology in keeping with the principals of "Agenda 21" have never been easy, it required commitment and devotion, we wish to see a sustainable future for our diverse communities based on ethical investment in environment and ecology. Positive support from local Communities has made the 2012 Olympic Games a reality for London, Government and local Authorities now need to find the promised money and resources to green, and enhance East London and help build a sustainable future for all its Citizens. We have long campaigned for improved visitor facilities and Public access to our notable heritage sites, now is the time for Government to provide much needed resources for Public libraries, museums, monuments, historic archive centres, schools, and genealogy centres, and for the dissemination of educational material so that the general public, Schools and visitors can learn of of East London, its remarkable people and its great river. A decade of dedicated community campaigns in the 80s saved one of East London's most notable historic sites, the 'first settlers monument' at Leamouth, without community intervention then, it would certainly have been lost to the excesses of Docklands development. Preserving heritage such as this is due entirely to the work of devoted community members, who turn up on cold days to give their support, it shows others too, that even an unfunded voluntary group can achieve important successes when people with local knowledge in the community care enough to work together for the common good. Our experience shows that ordinary people working together for a good cause can become extraordinary people, voluntary community work helps to bring out the best in people resulting in economic and environmental benefits for all communities. Because people care, they come together to work for the local heritage, environment, and other community issues. It is by working together, that diverse communities have helped to bring sustainable development and a happier future to our shores, London and the East End is now host to the 2012 Olympic games!. We continue to follow the principals of "Agenda 21" in all our work trying to encourage research into the remarkable local history of East london, for example, the work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, we have constantly argued the case, that investment in our significant local history and heritage sites can be very rewarding, while also helping the environment, and can stimulate an ethical economic momentum of its own. We have also argued the case for better educational facilities, more investment in Public libraries and innovation such as the ideastore, etc., so that local communities can become more knowledgeable about local history. The remarkable history of this Borough is one of its greatest assets for the future, and is a huge potential for economic regeneration. The simple message that decision makers should take on-board is that regeneration based on East London's remarkable history would require far less investment than the failed Millennium Dome concept, thankfully now rescued by AEG and Meridian. Voluntary community work is contributing to the regeneration of East London and the Thames Gateway, business people, local Communities and organisations, working together to convince Local Authorities, Government agencies, Businesses, and contacts abroad, etc., have helped to bring the 2012 Olympic Games here, which in turn is helping to build a sustainable future for East London. We can expect to welcome increasing numbers of visitors to East London in the coming years, if events like 'Brunel200', 'Jamestown 2007', and the 2012 Olympic games, are properly addressed they will help regenerate East London bringing full employment and prosperity to deprived areas and Communities beyond their wildest dreams. 'LEA Heritage' is a not-for-profit voluntary community group, all and any contributions supporting their devoted community work are most welcome, if you have any comments or need further information please contact us below:
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