The other week I dropped a line to Hackney Today to ask whether, after a hiatus of some years, I could have a copy of the paper delivered to my flat. A copy landed on the mat that same day and not only was I impressed, but I also said so.

In the same post, I also said:

I was delighted to read that, to “celebrate the £800million restoration of St Pancras International station” (in Camden), “[Hackney] Council was given its own Eurostar carriage for the day” and that “places on the special trip were awarded to residents connected to three local charities”. Admittedly, details about why Hackney needs to be represented in Paris, exactly what the trip achieved, and the identities (and number) of the councillors and officials on the trip (and whether they were paid or using holiday time) were rather scant.

Anyway, Polly Rance from the Council has been in touch about it. This is what she says:

Dear Ben

I read your blog, and other local ones, with interest. I was particularly interested to read your feedback on Hackney Today and I am pleased that your complaint about non-distribution was responded to so effectively and quickly by my team. It is always good to get positive feedback.

Just a note of clarification in answer to your questions on the Eurostar trip.

Eurostar donated use of a carriage each to 5 neighbouring London boroughs and it was our responsibility to fill it. We decided to offer seats to volunteers who work hard for the Speaker’s chosen charities (Hackney MIND, St Joseph’s Hospice, and Hackney Age Concern), as well as a group of full time carers identified for us by social services. All those who went had a fabulous time and saw it as a real treat, including one Age Concern volunteer in his 80s who had never left London before that day and called it the trip of a lifetime. Forty seats in the 48 seat carriage were occupied by these volunteers. The Speaker of Hackney, Cllr Faizullah Khan went along with his consort. A journalist from the Hackney Gazette attended, and one officer from Hackney Today, plus a photographer. Two senior council officers went along as we felt we should take some corporate responsibility for the welfare of the volunteers on the trip. No officers were paid for their time. So three council officers, unpaid. No expenses were claimed and the day did not cost the Council any money.
I hope this answers your questions.

Incidentally, I am always interested in reader feedback on Hackney Today, so if any of your readers want to get in touch with me directly they can do so at polly.rance@hackney.gov.uk.

All the best

Polly Rance
Head of Media and External Relations
London Borough of Hackney

So there you go. Hats off to Polly for getting in touch.

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