Councillor Andrew Wood
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You will find no mention of me in the press before I got elected, I was not that interested in getting my name into the newspapers but as a Councillor it is important to keep people informed about what I am doing but also as an opposition Councillor to try and influence decisions through the media.
If you search on the Internet for 'Andrew Wood Tower Hamlets' you will get an update of what I have been doing
Below is a selection of articles to which I have contributed or have been quoted in;

The Wharf & east London Advertiser

The two main local newspapers are The Wharf & the East London Advertiser plus a new newspaper the East End Citizen​
  1. East London Advertiser has many stories here 
  2. East End Citizen letter about over development http://www.eastendcitizen.co.uk/2016/05/24/greatest-planning-failure-british-history-andrew-wood-councillor-isle-of-dogs/
  3. East End Citizen article about the planning forum http://www.eastendcitizen.co.uk/2016/04/07/isle-dogs-neighbourhood-forum-disenfranchises-thousands-residents/
  4. East End Citizen about the Wood Wharf closure http://www.eastendcitizen.co.uk/2016/04/27/residents-legal-action-closure-coldharbour-canary-wharf-footpath/
  5. Clown story in East London Lines http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2016/10/public-urged-to-ignore-clown-pranksters/
  6. Evening Standard about infrastructure in my ward www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/resident-plan-to-help-plug-1bn-infrastructure-funding-gap-for-isle-of-dogs-goes-to-public-a3836971.html
Funnily enough East End Life (the Council's own newspaper) never followed any of my stories

Conservative home and planning sites

  1. "Yes, Singapore really is an example we can learn from. But not for the reasons some Tories give." article I wrote following my visit to Singapore where I met their planning team     www.conservativehome.com/platform/2017/11/andrew-wood-yes-singapore-really-is-a-example-we-can-learn-from-but-not-for-the-reasons-some-conservatives-give.html
  2. "Tower Hamlets Council must put the interests of children ahead of political correctness' article I wrote about the little girl put into foster care by Tower Hamlets Council www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2017/09/andrew-wood-tower-hamlets-council-must-put-the-interests-of-children-ahead-of-political-correctness.htmlhttps://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2017/09/andrew-wood-tower-hamlets-council-must-put-the-interests-of-children-ahead-of-political-correctness.html
  3. “We’re denser than Manhattan! The Isle of Dogs responds to claims of NIMBYism" article I wrote in response to a suggestion we should be be sent to prison for opposing new homes   www.citymetric.com/fabric/we-re-denser-manhattan-isle-dogs-responds-claims-nimbyism-3270
  4. Why the government should follow Winston Churchill and Singapore in building news homes  http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2017/05/andrew-wood-we-need-to-follow-macmillans-example-and-let-the-state-build-the-homes-we-need.html
  5. Article in Conservative Home about starting a Neighbourhood Plan www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2016/09/andrew-wood-why-you-should-start-a-neighbourhood-plan.html
  6. Article in Conservative Home about Planning and the balance between quantity and quality http://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2016/02/andrew-wood-in-demanding-ever-taller-buildings-boris-is-forgetting-about-quality-of-life.html
  7. Another ConHome article about giving all residents who pay Council tax the opportunity to vote in local elections http://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2016/10/andrew-wood-no-taxation-without-representation-should-apply-to-council-taxpayers-too.html
  8. I also have a strong interest in defence issues and wrote this article about reductions in our military capability http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2016/11/andrew-wood-we-cant-keep-running-down-the-navy-by-stealth-and-pretending-that-nothing-has-changed.html
  9. Article in Conservative Home about Grammar Schools, it was written when Kent were considering expanding grammars through satellite sites which I thought would be an error (this was written before the decision to open new grammar schools as government policy) www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2014/11/cllr-andrew-wood-satellite-expansion-of-grammar-schools-would-be-a-mistake.html
  10. My article in Conservative Home about Tower Hamlets Council providing property and buildings for faith groups https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2019/03/andrew-wood-we-need-clear-rules-to-ensure-fairness-by-councils-providing-property-for-faith-groups.html​
  11. BDOnline article http://www.bdonline.co.uk/mayor-flags-worries-over-docklands-towers/5071308.article
  12. Architects Journal - a brief mention of my concerns about the lack of consultation over the South Quay Masterplan http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/council-disputes-london-mayors-intervention-over-docklands-towers/8670621.fullarticle
  13. London Planning Analyst - quotes about the GLA decision to approve Alpha Square and Westferry Printworks http://londonplanninganalyst.com/2016/04/29/isle-of-dogs-housing-boost/​

Official responses

On the 27th the Deputy Mayor for London made planning decisions on two developments in my ward, Alpha Square which I supported and Westferry Printworks which I opposed. Transcripts of what I said are in the attached links; 
  1. https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_-_alpha_square_rep_hearing_27-04-16.pdf
  2. www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_-_former_westferry_printworks_rep_hearing_27-04-16.pdf
Attached is a link to the responses I & others made to Transport for London about a proposed change in bus routes
  1. https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/isle_of_dogs/results/isle-of-dogs-consultation-report.pdf

BBC Radio 5 Emma Barnett Show May 2020

Interview on BBC Radio 5 Live on the 28th May on the Westferry Printworks story
More press coverage summarised here
www.leaseholdknowledge.com/has-jenrick-been-saved-by-the-cummings-furore-for-rushing-through-approval-of-1500-home-docklands-scheme-that-would-have-saved-publisher-richard-desmond-40m/

bbc london october 2018

Interview about the lifting of controls on Tower Hamlets Council by the government

 Channel 4 Dispatches

​Is Britain Full? November 2017 - my appearance here

National Press

  1. BBC about South Quay Plaza 1, the 3rd tallest residential tower in the UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32334436
  2. Independent - about the waving of black Islamic flags in Poplar http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-isis-flag-may-be-gone-but-tensions-over-gaza-remain-high-in-tower-hamlets-9662553.html
  3. Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2711635/Protesters-block-London-road-tunnel-waving-flags-experts-claim-used-extremist-groups-including-TALIBAN-Free-Palestine-rally.html

Other local sites

  1. Quotes from me about evidence suggesting that the female wage gap was worsening  in Tower Hamlets http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2015/11/women-working-in-tower-hamlets-lose-out-due-to-widening-pay-gap/
  2. Evening Standard http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/letters/letters-to-the-editor-londoners-need-the-living-wage-9873885.html
  3. Bangla News http://www.banglamirrornews.com/2016/05/freeman-gaffar-choudhury-at-tower-hamlets-council/



















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This website is published and promoted by Andrew Wood, independent candidate, at 12 Neptune Court, Homer Drive, London E14 3UQ

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