Josef Steen

London

Writer at Freelance

Bald scoundrel. Writing for @TheQuietus, @TheCriticMag, @HackneyCitizen and others

Articles

Council to close four primary schools as pupil numbers collapse

1 day ago | hackneycitizen.co.uk | Josef Steen

Hackney Council has confirmed it will close four of the borough’s primary schools in September due to falling pupil numbers and mounting financial deficits. The controversial plans put forward in September were rubber-stamped at last night’s cabinet meeting, as deputy mayor and education chief, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, and her colleagues voted in favour of closure following months of public consultation and protests.
'Abhorrent' graffiti painted in Stoke Newington park's play area

1 day ago | bbc.com | Josef Steen

'Abhorrent' graffiti painted in park's play areaJosef SteenLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceGetty ImagesThe Met said it was investigating a hate crime incident in Clissold ParkAn investigation has begun after "abhorrent" graffiti was painted in a children's play area in a north-east London park over the Easter weekend. Hackney's mayor Caroline Woodley took to social media to hit out at the vandalism after swastikas were painted on rocks in Stoke Newington's Clissold Park on Easter Sunday.
Three Hackney primary schools offering free breakfast clubs in state-backed trial

1 day ago | hackneycitizen.co.uk | Josef Steen

Three Hackney primaries are hosting breakfast clubs from today until July as part of the government’s new pilot programme for 750 schools across the country. Thomas Fairchild Community School, Grasmere Primary School and Nightingale Primary School are providing 30 minutes of state-funded breakfast time for pupils before the start of the school day.
Hackney mayor condemns ‘abhorrent’ graffiti in Clissold Park as police launch hate crime probe

1 day ago | hackneycitizen.co.uk | Josef Steen

Hackney’s mayor has hit out at “abhorrent” vandalism in a local park after swastikas were painted in a children’s playground over the weekend. The Metropolitan Police are investigating a hate crime incident after Nazi-era symbols were daubed on rocks in Stoke Newington’s Clissold Park on Sunday 20 April – the last day of Passover. Speaking to the Citizen, the Met said enquiries were ongoing. Swastikas were painted on the rocks in the children’s playground in Clissold Park.
Camden Travellers say plans for long-awaited sites don't meet housing need

6 days ago | fitzrovianews.com | Josef Steen

Members of Camden’s Irish Traveller community who have spent years waiting for culturally suitable accommodation have said they are troubled by the Town Hall’s new development strategy. Last week, councillors greenlit the council’s draft Local Plan for the next 15-year period to go through to the next phase of the planning process.
Camden Travellers anxious over plans for long-awaited sites

6 days ago | camdencitizen.co.uk | Josef Steen

Members of Camden’s Irish Traveller community who have spent years waiting for culturally suitable accommodation have said they are troubled by the Town Hall’s new development strategy. Last week, councillors greenlit the council’s draft Local Plan for the next 15-year period to go through to the next phase of the planning process.
Pitcairn House residents in service charge strike over living conditions

1 week ago | hackneycitizen.co.uk | Josef Steen

Frustrated residents have refused to pay full service charges to Hackney Council until the authority fixes the “deplorable” state of their housing block. Thirty-two inhabitants of the nine-storey Pitcairn House in St Thomas’ Square have written to the Town Hall to say they will be collectively withholding 50 per cent of their maintenance fees until “grave and urgent” repairs are made.
Care home fires up 62 per cent in London Borough of Camden

1 week ago | fitzrovianews.com | Josef Steen

Camden’s care homes have seen a spike in fires in the past year, according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB). The annual update from the LFB’s borough commander reported 13 fires in retirement homes over the last 12 months, marking a 62.5 per cent increase from 2024. This leaves Camden in fifth place out of 32 London boroughs for incidents of this kind.
Camden earns top Ofsted rating for children’s services

1 week ago | fitzrovianews.com | Josef Steen

Ofsted has awarded Camden’s children’s services the highest possible rating, after inspectors judged its social care system to have grown “even stronger”. Following a visit from the regulator in early March, the borough has been marked “outstanding”, building on 2022’s inspection which had identified some room for improvement — though services were then also rated outstanding overall.
Care home fires in Camden up 62 per cent

1 week ago | camdencitizen.co.uk | Josef Steen

Camden’s care homes have seen a spike in fires in the past year, according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB). The annual update from the LFB’s borough commander reported 13 fires in retirement homes over the last 12 months, marking a 62.5 per cent increase from 2024. This leaves Camden in fifth place out of 32 London boroughs for incidents of this kind. Data provided by the fire service shows that there were 39 casualties from fires in Camden during the same period – with two deaths and 37 injuries.