Lecture Notes: Christine Franks' Experience in Stratford

Introduction

• Speaker: Christine Franks
• Background:
  • Born and raised in Stratford
  • Family history in Stratford (parents, grandma, relatives)
  • Married school sweetheart and lived in Stratford since 1973
  • Family continuity in the area with her daughters

Stratford's Image and Development

• Perception of East London:
  • Historically seen as "rough" (Stratford, Whitechapel areas)
• Olympic Development:
  • Brought global recognition
  • Significant development compared to other East London areas
  • Major changes since childhood

Work and Environment

• Job at Roussel Laboratories:
  • Located on the Olympic site
  • High-risk environment (flammable, marooned during heavy rain)
  • Surrounded by canals and other industrial sites
• Industrial Neighbors:
  • Nearby nuclear research center, car repair, junkyards
  • "Harrison Barber" factory notorious for bad odor
  • General "stinky" environment in Stratford

Environmental and Health Concerns

• Pollution:
  • Historically high pollution levels
  • Childhood memories of dense pollution (scarves over faces)
  • Dust and dirt prevalent in the area
• Olympic Park Clean-Up:
  • Extensive soil cleaning due to chemical contamination
  • Partially improved environment

Urban Challenges

• Population Density:
  • Increase in residents without matching service expansion
  • Difficulty accessing services like doctor appointments
• New Developments:
  • Proposed "globe" to increase foot traffic
  • Concerns over overcrowding and safety
  • Community and council opposition

Conclusion

• Christine's perspective reflects both nostalgia and concern for Stratford
• Highlights challenges of urban development and population management
• Acknowledges improvements with Olympic developments but raises caution about future projects