People are given the opportunity to voice their views about controversial plans to redevelop Sloane Square.

TWENTY one local heroes were saluted at  Tower Hamlets annual civic awards. Mayor Cllr Shafiqul Haque said: It s inspiring to hear the stories about all the community-based work thriving in the borough. Outstanding service to the community

Plans for a £175m expansion of one of the UK's largest military base are given the go-ahead.

The first step towards the restoration of the waterways around the Olympic Park area was taken today (28 February 2007) as British Waterways announced the go-ahead for a new lock and water control structure on Prescott Channel in Bow.

Funding for Prescott Lock

The lock is funded by British Waterways, the Department for Transport, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and Transport for London and will reinstate an historic structure which previously existed at this location and maintained the water upstream at a navigable depth. Crucially, the new lock will enable large river barges to access the area by water, helping to take hundreds of lorry journeys a week from local roads and save thousands of tonnes of CO2.

The new structure is part of an £18.9m project that comprises twin water control gates and a 62m x 8m tidal lock, providing access for 350-tonne barges. The lock will open up the waterways in the area and help the ODA meet its aspiration to transport 50% of construction materials by sustainable means. In the longer term, it will provide access for barges carrying construction traffic and recyclables between Stratford and the Thames, and create new opportunities for leisure boats, water taxis, trip boats and floating restaurants.

Promoting a green and accessible corridor along the waterways

The new lock is part of a Defra-backed recommendation for the sustainable restoration of the waterways in the Lower Lea Valley. The recommendation was developed by British Waterways, the Environment Agency and Natural England, together with a broad range of stakeholders, and promotes a green and accessible corridor along the waterways, with a series of towpaths, cycleways, wildlife habitats and restored waterways alongside new sustainable developments.

A proposed pontoon has been making waves among furious rowers and riverbank residents.

The plans, approved by Richmond upon Thames Council last week, will see an existing pontoon by Kew Bridge extended by 27 metres and various other extension and replacement works on other sections of the landing stage.

But a row broke out on the peaceful riverfront when it became clear houseboats were to be introduced to the landing area, a move which rowing clubs claim could damage access for canoeists.

The first steps towards the restoration of local rivers at the heart of the proposed Olympic Park in east London have been announced.

A new lock at Prescott Channel in Bow will help Olympic organisers meet their target to transport half of all construction materials sustainably.

The £19m project will help large barges to use local rivers and save hundreds of lorries from making road journeys.

Work will begin in March and should be completed by the summer of 2008.

Wandsworth Guardian - Thames Water's Conservation Officer Kirsty Jones, Conservation Manager Martin Wagner and Cliff Watson from the Isleworth Ait Management Committee inspect a German Hairy snail Isleworth's rare snails can sleep soundly in their shells after their …

Bloomberg - Plans also include a connecting bridge and further expansion across the River Thames. To move beyond the capital, the Tate will expand over the air, producing its own television broadcasts. Expanding an existing site may avoid the “cultural …

Leisure Opportunities - The first phase of the scheme ? which aims to refurbish the historic waterways of the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames & Severn Canal ? has been funded by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£11.9m) and the South West Regional …

A TOP development firm has gone into partnership with a council to help deliver Medway's £1 billion regeneration plans.

St Modwen Properties Plc has been chosen as Medway Council's preferred 'investment partner'.

The partnership - the first of its kind in the Thames Gateway – was approved by the council's cabinet on Monday.

St Modwen specialises in town centre regeneration, restoring heritage areas and re-developing industrial brownfield land.

Cllr Rodney Chambers, leader of Medway Council, said: “This is a hugely important moment in Medway's regeneration story. More than £120 million of public funding has gone into our regeneration programme, with much of it spent of the acquisition and preparation of sites for redevelopment.

“We have selected St Modwen as our preferred investment partner because of its strong track record in major regeneration projects and its strong belief in Medway's immense potential as the biggest region of the Thames Gateway.”

St Modwen will work with the council across a range of regeneration projects set to transform Medway into a new city of 300,000 people, with Chatham at its heart.

Tim Seddon, St Modwen's London and South East director, said: “The area has significant potential, not least in its history and heritage, the university offer and its highly attractive river front setting but also in its communications.

“Being situated so close to the M2 and with the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic services due to commence in the not too distant future, there is every reason to believe that the area will be at the forefront of economic change in the region.”

St Modwen is already involved in a number of major projects across the UK, including the £350 million town centre redevelopment of Skelmersdale in Lancashire.

Listed in the FTSE 250, it this month posted record financial results for the 14th successive year, announcing a 17 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £96m.

This is London - … An immediate increase in the cost of air travel to reflect its environmental damage. * Neighbourhood power stations to prevent energy waste during transfer from the National Grid. * Use of solar and wind power, and possibly wave power from the Thames. …

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are to visit the Old Bailey to mark the building's centenary.

Economic Times - The National film theatres, Victoria and Albert Museum and Barbican theatres would be involved and there would be a separate Thames River festival. "There will be a series of celebrations including Diwali and Baisakhi here," he said. The Mayor …

Daily Telegraph - It bears a plaque to George James Symons, "The Father of British Rainfall". In 1858 - a drought year, in which the Great Stink of the filthy Thames forced the House of Commons to drape its windows in carbolic-soaked cloth - he put a rain …

A short "period of grace" is promised to drivers who flout new bus lane rules in Oxford city centre.

Richmond & Twickenham Times - The latest proposition is no exception: sports groups are now accusing Richmond upon Thames Council of sidelining them and neglecting underfunded sports facilities. Mark Van de Weyer, of Barnes Sports Club, said: "This is disappointing. We have got …

A partnership private development company promises to spend millions of pounds transforming the Thames Gateway.

A £12m private donation is to fund the Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London.

The mayor of London highlights the issue of safety at London's rail stations during a visit to a security centre.

Organisers announce the programme of events planned for an annual arts festival in Oxfordshire.

MSN MoneyCentral - A formal celebration to mark the occasion was held in London at Old Billingsgate on the banks of the River Thames. Operating as a U.K. registered company, Fluor Limited has four offices (Aberdeen; Camberley, Surrey; West Cumbria and Victoria …

THE bells of St Paul s Cathedral, St Mary-le-Bow ( Bow Bells ) and 28 other churches will ring out on March 1 to herald a six-day cultural festival in East London.

PRINCESS Anne has officially opened a £6.1m Salvation Army hostel in Limehouse for more than 50 homeless men. The Royal visitor chatted with many of the residents, who are in second stage recovery from addiction. Riverside House, Garford Street, includes

AN HISTORIAN has slammed plans for a £100 million town centre regeneration project. Up to 1,000 new jobs could be provided if the proposed development in Gravesend s heritage quarter gets the go-ahead. The project involves building 600 apartments, a hot

HAULIERS, drivers' groups and an MP are united in condemning a government plan to increase tolls at one of the busiest river crossings in the country. The criticism comes with less than two weeks left to influence a proposal by transport minister Douglas Alexander to increase charges at the  Dartford crossing by 50 per cent.