Met with businesses during walkabout

Olympics minister Bob Neill visited Newham last week to see for himself the improvements made to Stratford.

He was met by Mayor Sir Robin Wales and then went on tour to meet with a number of local businesseses.

The multi-million pounds public realm works have been fujnded by Newham Council, the London Legacy Development Corporation, Transport for London and and Department for Communities and Local Government.

The works are part of the wider regeneration plans for Newham and will not only improve the environment and access for residents by but also visitors for the Games.

The minister surveyed completed works on Meridian Square and the Shoal with Sir Robin Wales, Jamie Hodge, Stratford Renaissance Partnership, and Christophe West from Studio Egret West.

He then went into into Stratford Centre and met Ilan Goldman, from Catalyst Capital, the Stratford Centre owners and investors and heard about development and investment plans

He then met with market trader Darren Brooks, fruiterer – whose family has been trading for generations in Stratford.

Following that, Mr Neill walked to the Stratford Cultural Quarter and met Stratford Rising representatives and heard about the plans for the area from Debra Reay and Kerry Michael of Stratford Rising.

This stage of the visit was then followed by a visit to the construction site of new Stratford University Square being carrioed out by the UEL and Birkbeck.

His visit thenconcluded with a walk through the new public realm area at the Grove and view the Clouds.

where he met Alon Brizman, Vice Chair, Stratford Town Centre Forum