B&D council don't know what they've done

On 15 August I asked B&D council for a list of all roads in the borough down which one cannot cycle in either / both directions fully. On 3 November I got this answer which can be reduced to "we don't know":

"We do not have a register classifying roads in this way, however with very few exceptions almost all roads in the Borough have provision for cycling in both directions and where a road or part of a road does not make this provision, it is our understanding that alternative routes for cyclists are available very nearby. You have been informed previously of the Council’s commitment and support for cyclists and I can inform you that [names of 2 officers] continue to be available to work with you for the benefit of cyclists and cycling as a whole."

Very few exceptions, eh? Please let me know the names of roads in postal Dagenham and Chadwell Heath that habe any kind of restriction on cycling. I wil try to compose my own list. I know Barking well enough to cover it myself, I think, but don't let me stop you!

Heaven for petrol heads

Not a headline to gladden the hard of a sustainability campaigner, but Motorways' advert in the council newspaper The News features a photo with bicycles outside, and mentions being "expert when it comes to ... bicycles" in the text. They are in Church Street Dagenham. Tel: 020 8592 0294

Closed loop recycling

According to The Week (14 June) Britain's first 'closed loop' plant dealing with plastic bottle recycling opens at Dagenham on 26 June.

Under 'closed loop' recycling, different types of plastic are kept separate so they can be used again at the same quality as the virgin plastic, rather than getting mixed up with other plastics and becoming "low grade" and therefore unusable for high-end packaging such as for food.