LONDONASSEMBLYLABOUR

20 February 2007
For immediate use

John Biggs backs
Bethnal Green Memorial Campaign

Local Assembly Member John Biggs yesterday met and offered support to campaigners pushing for a Blitz Memorial at Bethnal Green Station

John Biggs met the Stairway to Heaven Memorial Group.  Alf Morris the campaign leader who survived the 1943 wartime disaster, was joined by a relative of a survivor and victim, and the memorial architect.  The campaigners want the memorial to commemorate the 173 victims of the disaster. 

John Biggs said "I strongly support the plans for a memorial and believe it will be a striking and fitting memorial to those who lost their lives and to the painful collective memory of residents in the East End.  Bethnal Green was one of the worst wartime civilian disasters to hit this country, and we need a fitting tribute to commemorate those who lost their lives."

John was shown the design for the memorial which would form a canopy over the tube entrance at Bethnal Green.

John continued "My next step is to meet tube bosses to get this project moving.  I know that Transport for London do not yet fully support the proposal and I will be strenuously lobbying them and the Mayor to try to reverse this. The design is appropriate and I do not believe in any way impedes the operation of the station or raises problems of public safety. March 3rd 2008 will be the 65th Anniversary of the disaster, so we need to see action now to see the memorial completed by then."

ENDS

Editor’s notes

1. John Biggs is London Assembly Member for City & East London, covering The City, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Barking & Dagenham.

2.   Pictures of the memorial design and more information about the disaster can be found on the campaigners' website at www.stairwaytoheavenmemorial.org

For further information contact John Braggins, Senior Press Officer, London Assembly Labour Group 0207 983 4952, mobile 07961 446038 or Nina Dawson 020 7983 4356