Dave Raval

I write to continue the debate on the proposed wind turbine on Hackney marshes. I bring a probably unique perspective on this – in my job I work with new low carbon technologies, creating green British jobs – but as a hobby I am also a football referee – sometimes on Hackney Marshes.

Annie Chipchase, Chair of Hackney Marshes User Group , is right: “Climate disaster is underway and urgent steps need to be taken”. Wind power is part of that and Britain is bottom of the table. Spain for example, a country with less wind than our own, recently produced 50% of its electricity from wind. The UK rarely gets above 3%. We need more turbines and yes, I am in favour of this one.

But Hackney council’s consultation website is short on facts. We’re not given, for example, a list of options where it could be sited (only one is suggested), no evidence on why no football pitches will be lost or even the most basic fact, what is the proposed power rating of the turbine? Moreover, one turbine by itself is just a token gesture. The Liberal Democrats recently surveyed 8,000 people in Hackney and 62% of the respondents said that our council wasn’t doing enough for the environment. We need to be doing a huge amount more than just proposing one turbine before people change their opinion on that one.

For local football, a major problem is trusting the council or the ODA. Plans continually change and promises sound empty. As Johnnie Walker, Chair of the Hackney and Leyton Football League , rightly says “The football community has been dumped on so many times”. So why should we believe this week’s story, when facts are scarce and it’s likely to change next week anyway? The Olympics is not about a few weeks of fun in 2012, it is about what happens afterwards. I personally would be (reluctantly) willing to see a reduction in the space for football before 2012, if this genuinely meant more space and better facilities afterwards. But we only get verbal assurances and 'intentions' from people who have betrayed our trust before.

Whether action on the environment, or improving football facilities in Hackney - few people know for sure what is going on, and even fewer trust the people in power. That's why even good ideas can be treated with suspicion and doubt. If elected, I will work unceasingly to make sure that Hackney gains maximum benefit from the Olympics. But equally importantly, I will make sure that local people know - and can trust - what is going on.

If you'd like to meet me to chat infomally about this, then I will be at the Britannia Pub on Victoria Park Road on 22 November and the Pembury Tavern on Amhurst Road on 26 November, from 8pm on both days.