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Brick Lane ‘hijab gates’ plan goes back to drawing board
Terry Kirby5 Mar 2010
A scheme to build giant arches designed to appear like headscarves or veils at either end of Brick Lane has been temporarily withdrawn.
Tower Hamlets council revealed they were rethinking plans for the so-called “hijab gates” hours before councillors were due to make a final decision on the plans yesterday.
The move could now be substantially modified or downgraded and the decision will give hope to objectors that it could be scrapped.
Tower Hamlets said the scheme —which attracted 158 objections and not one letter of support — would be subjected to a further “community consultation”.
A council spokeswoman admitted: The plans could be modified.''
The arches plan is part of a £1.85 million cultural heritage trail for the area designed by the council.
But it has been criticised as “ugly” and “potentially divisive” since the headscarf was often associated with fundamental Islam.
Reader views (32)
The arches should not 'go back to the drawing board' - more wasted money! Brick Lane doesn't need them!
As others have noted, it's already narrow and overcrowded (even for pedestrians) without new obstructions, and recent 'new' paving is already hazardous. And it *already has* colourful 'Bengali-style' street furniture. So what is the council's agenda for frittering planning-gain money (when they are millions in debt) on steel objects that look like rejects from a 'Dubai In Miniature'? (Including the illuminated syringe/minaret - looks like the former, council coyness pretends it isn't the latter - they have already erected outside the former Huguenot chapel/synagogue/now mosque.) We were told these objects would be part of a 'cultural trail' - but I can't see any information panels. We were told the arches and syringe are to 'attract visitors' - when Brick Lane already has plenty. So what's it all for? I feel these objects were conceived more to efface the history and (true) diversity of the area than promote it!
- Claire, 10 minutes from Brick Lane, 08/03/2010 15:48
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These plans are a bad idea. They are culturally divisive. Not everyone approves of the hijab and that includes moderate Muslims. It is just one fundamental sect trying to impose its world view on others.
- Alice Jones, London, England, 08/03/2010 12:57
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Brick Lane must not be allowed to become the private fiefdom of one particular clan.
The area has a huge historic value in that it gave shelter to many dispossessed peoples fleeing tyranny.
We must not forget the Huguenots and the Jews.
- Nora Kane, london, 05/03/2010 16:33
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I always think of Tower Hamlets as Jack the Ripper country,absolutely nothing to do with multiculturism.
Perhaps Livingston,Galloway and all their far left mates could move even further left,perhaps as far as the Thames estuary.
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey, 05/03/2010 14:38
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Rakesh Patel
Well said. Why should it allays be the noisy wheel that gets the oil.
- Monkey For Sale, London, 05/03/2010 14:32
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Why cant the newspapers expose the politicians who come up with these ideas/proposals? It would be good for the people in local communities to know exactly who it is that squander their tax money on stupid things like this. Maybe the fear of having your face on the front page would make them think twice.
- Kenneth, Bergen, Norway, 05/03/2010 14:32
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A classic case of not considering the wider interests. If they had they would not have come up with 'hijab gates' but something that celebrates diversity and relevant for the area.
- Edwin Underhill, beaconsfield bucks, 05/03/2010 14:23
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Another stupid idea that's a waste of tax payers money...as if this country doesn't bend over backwards enough for this minority group. Spending this money on treatment for the ill and old in the community is the correct thing to do.
- Rakesh Patel, E1, 05/03/2010 13:50
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'Cultural Heritage' - in what sense is a structure based on a religious practice of a singular set of people who are recent immigrants demonstrate the East End's cultural heritage? This borough wanted to get rid of its Local History Library - they seem more intent on cultural genocide. The proposals ought to be roundly condemned.
- Nora, London, UK, 05/03/2010 13:20
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A veil should be drawn over the whole affair IMHO
- J B Blackett, Hendon, 05/03/2010 13:12
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They have probably had them built already, and so they tried to press ahead and have them erected.
- Charles Greenwood, Clapham, London, 05/03/2010 12:54
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More to the point, -which highly paid public servant had nothing better to do with his/her time, -than to come up with this stupid useless waste of public money?
I am also amazed that at this time of great austerity, Tower Hamlets has £1.8 million to throw away on this senseless sop to 'multiculturalism'?
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 05/03/2010 12:47
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Why did they design this in the first place? This is England, a christian country - why would we want a `hijab` design in London? It seems to me that this government and it's councillors are determined to turn our country into an Islamic state, if we are not careful they will be introducing Sharia Law next. Please hurry up with the general election so we can finally rid our beautiful country of these loony lefty maniacs in power once and for all.
- Katy, Tower Hamlets, 05/03/2010 12:45
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The Labour Party in Tower Hamlets has been infiltrated by the IFE ( Islamic Forum of Europe).
We need a Gert Wilders here in the UK to sweep out this tide of filth.
- Monkey For Sale, London, 05/03/2010 12:42
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"The arches plan is part of a £1.85 million cultural heritage trail"
Everyone already does a cultural heritage trail… It’s the one that takes in a couple of pubs (UK heritage)... followed by a quick curry (Indian heritage), then onto Vibe Bar - ultimately queuing at 2am at the bagel shop at the end of the road (Jewish heritage).
- Paul Byrne, London, 05/03/2010 12:41
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Typical Uk. The rest of Europe trying to band veils, burkas and the like and we are funding this sort of Cr*p
- Ade, London, 05/03/2010 12:31
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I am a Tower Hamlets resident and am very pleased that Tower Hamlets Council is being recognised publicly for being largely incapable. There are many other words i would use to describe them but i'm certain my comments would get removed if i used them!
A serious look at them by the government would be a wise move!
- Jonny, London, 05/03/2010 12:20
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I am a muslim but that is just a waste of money that could be put to good use such as educations etc.
- Sammy, London, 05/03/2010 12:19
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A waste of public money & socially divisive.
Tower Hamlets has been taken over by an extreme minority,
& is squandering its BILLION POUND annual tax revenue on representing
the aims of that extreme minority
- Convenient Truth, Reading, 05/03/2010 12:17
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Why are the plans for this eyesore going back to the drawing board? Shouldn't they just be going exactly where they belong... in the bin!
- Paul, London, 05/03/2010 12:12
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Whats the need for this? Shouldnt the council use the money on poverty issues in Tower Hamlets!!! Theres only one word - UGLY!!! What a waste...
- Zuliqa, Finchley - UK, 05/03/2010 12:08
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Brick Lane was repaved only a few years ago and the road is literally sinking at the end where the famous Bagel Bakery is. Tower Hamlets should ask for their money back from the contractor and repair the roads first before they spend any money on 'follies'.
- Adrian, London, 05/03/2010 12:08
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Problematically for Britain, there are Muslims living here who become extremists in their views and actions in the name of their faith. Little is heard of Mosques and prominent Muslim leaders publicly condemning self-styled 'jihadis' who blow themselves up on London's trains and transport, taking scores of the innocent with them.
Even the IRA didn't kill and mount attacks on Londoners in the name of religion. Their activities were strictly political.
- Richard, London, 05/03/2010 12:05
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The plans will most likely go ahead once Labour is re-elected.
- Totally Confused, Ex London, 05/03/2010 12:05
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At a time where there is very significant pressure on public spending and significant cuts and jobs losses will be announced who ever wins the election, why on earth are Tower Hamlets even considering spending money on these gates in the first place?
- Very Angry At Mp'S Expenses, Home Counties, 05/03/2010 11:56
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I wouldn't want to be standing too close to that next time we get hit by a hurricane or even a strong gale!
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 05/03/2010 11:16
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Good news. Scrap it altogether. And by the way, there is no such thing as 'fundamental' Islam. It is just Islam. Yes I am a muslim.
- Nav, England, 05/03/2010 11:07
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One gets the feeling that fundamentalist Islamists in the Labour party really want clashes and confrontation with mainstream Britain.
- Richard, London, 05/03/2010 10:46
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What a damn joke "Hijab Gates" could be "Hoodie Gate" looks the same ,what a waste of tax payers money Cultural Heritage my foot who thinks up these stupid plans, its ugly ugly ugly.
- Sorraya, croydon, 05/03/2010 10:41
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Religious conotations aside, we don't need more street furniture in this area, it needs wider pavements and better paving. Not opressive gateways that take up space and frankly turn the area into a faux themed area.
If they want to spend money why not document the area with plaques and information on Jack the Ripper. It's what 80% of the tourists in the area come to see.
- Adam, Soho London, 05/03/2010 10:36
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Can anything Tower Hamlets Council do from now on be of any credibility. After the allegations of religious motivations it seams their vanity project may have to take a back seat.
- Dave, London, 05/03/2010 10:35
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Why not let them, they are taking over the country its just a matter of time
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh UK, 05/03/2010 10:31
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