Winter is holding the year back, refusing to release an icy grip on the elements, writes Will McCallum, Newington Green

Returning from the Antarctic last week I did not expect to be greeted back in London by sub-zero temperatures, slow snow drifting across the window.

I padded out over the weekend, delicately avoiding the treacherous pavement-ice on a slow jog to refamiliarise myself with the neighbourhood. In such conditions, remarkably little had changed over the six weeks I was away [Will has been on Greenpeace’s ship the Arctic Sunrise, as reported eaerlier this month].

Crocuses planted by local children noisily crowded patches of green at the fringes of Clissold Park, stubbornly refusing to accept the grey weather with purples and yellows.

No sign of the bluebells at the north end, however, that had long since come out this time last year.

Apple blossom in Butterfield Green was mournful, drooping in sad resignation at having exploded in colour too soon – a warm spell will quickly revive it.

For the most part, the buds wait anxiously for sunnier days.

Horse chestnut branches weighed down by not-yet-opened flowers, their petals poised for a spring awakening – our streets are set for a roar of colour.

My own garden needs it – dominated by the gloomy mud that has spread over the winter months, I can only hope spring brings it some much needed respite.

Just sending this mail after reading about the car park – it’s really disappointing, writes Fahima Hussain, full address supplied.

In the shopping centre there aren’t that many shops that people are paying for. I think people should just use Asda free parking.

Matalan in Dalston doesn’t provide free parking but in Leytonstone Matalan you pay £1, spend a fiver and get your pound back.

Iceland and Specsavers customers in Dalston can use the shops in Mare Street and park for free in Morning Lane Tesco, so I don’t understand why people are using that shopping centre full of rubbish. Most of the good shops have gone now from Dalston – it’s not like before.

I write with regard to City North N4 and the closure of the Wells Terrace exit from Finsbury Park Underground Station, writes Ann Devine, Hertslet Road, Holloway.

My mobility is severely impaired. I am unable to travel on the Underground but I relied on the tunnel between Seven Sisters Road and Wells Terrace to reach Park Theatre. Park Theatre put on consistently excellent performances and go out of their way to help disabled people enjoy great shows.

Last year I visited Park Theatre. The Wells Terrace exit was closed. I tried to reach Seven Sisters Road via Stroud Green Road instead but this way round was too difficult for me and I nearly collapsed in the street. A kind passer-by helped me reach the bus stop. The bus driver was very helpful.

The Wells Terrace exit is still closed. I now follow the street signs to Park Theatre via Fonthill Road instead but the mud and heavy lorries from the City North N4 building site make this way round difficult for a disabled person like me.

The Wells Terrace exit has been closed for far too long and needs to be re-opened very soon. I hope City North N4 will be willing to engage in a positive way by involving disabled people in decisions regarding access between Seven Sisters Road and Wells Terrace.

At the public meeting held on January 8, 2018, at Regan Way regarding the proposed redevelopment of the Britannia Leisure centre, the mayor, Phil Glanville, said he would be using the Britannia as part of his campaign in the forthcoming election, write Stephen Smeeth, Purcell Street, Hoxton, Michael Jones, Bridport Place, Hoxton and Leslie Harrison, Regan Way, Hoxton.

Since then Hackney Today has published several articles showing the plans for the new Britannia.

Obviously none of these articles voice the concerns of those opposing the scheme, which range from overdevelopment of the Hoxton area to not enough social housing among the 480 flats planned. So we now find ourselves not having our voices heard at council but the mayor having his argument heard all over the borough.

Let’s not forget that Hackney has been warned countless times by the government to stop publication of Hackney Today but has continued. One of the council’s arguments for the continuation of Hackney Today was that it was printed in-house, so why does it state on the inside of the paper that it is printed by Mirror Trinity group? We have made a complaint to minister Savid Javid regarding the council disregarding the order made and await their answer. We feel strongly that the council are using Hackney Today as a propaganda sheet.

The building work being done in Hoxton and its surrounding area leaves people no type of lifestyle. We are told that due to the lack of building space in the borough every square inch is needed. So we end up with tower blocks and housing which is so close together you could shake the hand of your next door neighbour from your front room window. But this isn’t the case across the borough. Go along Green Lanes and the regeneration work done there. Plenty of grass areas between buildings and no tower blocks. So what is the difference between us here and those in other parts of the borough?