Highbury gets new pavements and other improvements
April 29th, 2008 by highburyeast|
The Lib Dem Council is working on a programme of street improvements across the Borough to help declutter our streets and improve access and safety. As a result the area around Highbury Fields across to Holloway Road will get new paving and other works to make this happen. This will also deal with the nasty mess left by the builders on Ronalds Road that we assured you would be dealt with a few months ago.
The improvements include laying new paving on each side of the street along:
At the same time there will be a reduction in thethe amount of street clutter, by removing any redundant bollards, signposts etc. These works will start on 6 May 2008 and finish by mid July 2008. To allow the work to happen the ouncil will introduce some parking suspensions in the area - lots of notice will be given but to look out for signs. However, these will be kept to a minimum and we will ensure that signs are put up well in advance to give residents as much notice as possible of any restrictions. The noise will also be kept to a minimum and work will be carried out between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday and if necessary, 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Cllr Terry Stacy said “I hope you will see the benefits of the improvements, it will make a big difference. In the meantime if you have any problems with the works please do let us know.”
You can also contact the office reponsible, Greg Kerr, Project Engineer, on 0207 527 2624. Alternatively, you can email public.realm@islington.gov.uk
|
New look to Petherton Road
April 29th, 2008 by highburyeasthas had a facelift with new pavements and reduced traffic speeds at the junction with Green lanes. The new paving scheme has also improved access for wheelchair users and vulnerable residents with even pavements and dropped curbs. The changes were made after a local resident raised concerns about how messy the area was and how dangerous the pavements were.
The resident said: “I’m very pleased that the council listened to our concerns by putting in the dropped kerbs and the smooth pavement. It has enabled me to get around in my wheelchair to local shops, mini supermarket and the bus stop independently. The council also took the opportunity to resurface the traffic island and plant new trees, which look great. Other resident’s have mentioned how much they appreciate the changes and how much better the road looks.’’
Cllr John Gilbert said: “This is a great improvement to the area – and we want to do more. If you have a hotspot you feel needs improving let us know and we can work with you and the council to make it happen.”
See the before and after pictures!
Lib Dem Council takes action to improve bus safety
April 29th, 2008 by highburyeastAfter many comments from residents about bus safety and bus driver behaviour the council has taken action to improve things for Islington residents on public transport.
The aim is to ensure drivers respect the local residents and businesses along their routes, and passengers respect both drivers and fellow travellers.
And we need you to report incidents - this allows the council, the police and transport for London to take action - including extra training for drivers so that you can be more confident when travelling by bus.
There are a number of ways to ensure London Buses can identify the driver and vehicle on a particular route: Read the rest of this entry »
Highbury Barn and Blackstock Road get hanging baskets
April 28th, 2008 by highburyeastCllr Terry Stacy has welcomed the news that Highbury Barn and Blackstock Road are to get new hanging baskets this summer.
Along with Holloway Road, Upper Street and Seven Sisters Road the baskets will be go up from the 27th May with installation completed by the 14th June.
Cllr Stacy said: “This is great news. Every year we are working with traders and spending more to make the barn an attractive place to shop and spend time. The baskets will make a big difference and finally we may feel summer is coming!”
Fieldway Crescent Tree removal
April 28th, 2008 by highburyeastMany of you may have heard that the council plans to remove a tree on Fieldway Crescent. This is a large plane tree and is a very important part of the street landscape here. We have had contact from lots of residents about this and know about the concerns of the loss of the tree.
We have spoken to officers and this is the situation so far as we understand it:
There are several related issues here, the health of the tree and the condition of a number of homes nearby and what the tree will be replaced with.
Islington has lots of trees and we are very proud of these. However, in the ten years we have represented you it has been clear that many of the trees planted decades ago were not an ideal type of tree for such built up streets. As a council we get lots of claims from homeowners for insurance claims for damage to their home as a result of the impact very large trees. The Fieldway Crescent case is not unique and we have dealt with many over the years. As a result of our desire to retain as many trees as possible we have invested in an amazing team of tree officers, equipment, surveys and policies to make sure this happens (more on this later)
Planning Application - 67 Aberdeen Park, N5
April 28th, 2008 by highburyeastNotification about a Full Planning Application (P080623) in East Area for 67 Aberdeen Park, N5 for the erection of ground floor and roof level extensions including the formation of a rear roof terrace, creation of an underground car park and elevational alterations.
The planning application can be viewed on the Council’s website by clicking here. The application can also be seen at Contact Islington (open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm).
As you know the Council has a limited time to consider the application. Comments to Vicki Killeen on 020 7527 2794 by May 22nd
Planning Application - 7 Fieldway Crescent
April 28th, 2008 by highburyeastNotification about a Full Planning Application (P080734) in East Area for 7 Fieldway Crescent, N5 for demolition of WC and shower extension, shed and pergola. Single storey infill extension between main part of existing rear extension and Horsell Road. frontage, involving raising wall on street frontage to a total height of 3.2 metres above pavement level.
The planning application can be viewed on the Council’s website by clicking here. The application can also be seen at Contact Islington (open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm).
As you know the Council has a limited time to consider the application. Comments to Edward Hands on 020 7527 2359 by May 14th
Planning Application - 34 Drayton Park
April 28th, 2008 by highburyeastNotification about a Full Planning Application (P080730) in East Area for 34 Drayton Park, N5 for change of use for first and second floors from office space to tow x 2 and two x 1 bedroom flats.
The planning application can be viewed on the Council’s website by clicking here. The application can also be seen at Contact Islington (open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm).
As you know the Council has a limited time to consider the application. Comments to Edward Hands on 020 7527 2359 by May 15th
Planning Application - 102 Highbury Park
April 28th, 2008 by highburyeastNotification about a Full Planning Application (P080745) in East Area for 102 Highbury Park, N5. Rear ground floor extension.
The planning application can be viewed on the Council’s website by clicking here. The application can also be seen at Contact Islington (open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm).
As you know the Council has a limited time to consider the application. Comments to Sandra Chivero on 020 7527 7097 by May 22nd
Planning Application - 110A Highbury New Park
April 28th, 2008 by highburyeastNotification about a Full Planning Application (P080761) in East Area for 110a Highbury New Park, N5. Enlargement of existing rear dormer and formation of roof terrace.
The planning application can be viewed on the Council’s website by clicking here. The application can also be seen at Contact Islington (open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm).
As you know the Council has a limited time to consider the application. Comments to Robert Armsby on 020 7527 2151 by May 22nd
Third and final Arsenal Liaison Committee complete
April 21st, 2008 by highburyeastOn Wednesday 13 March 2008 the council held the final AFC Liaison Committee held at Emirates Stadium.
The Liaison Committee was chaired by Ken Friar OBE (Director of Arsenal FC). In attendance were senior managers and representatives from all the partners that are involved in the operations for the stadium on a match day (Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police, and the British Transport Police). A number of resident and business groups from the local community attended as well as the Arsenal FC supporters association.
The meeting consisted of a presentation of the results from the monitoring programme for the 2006/07 football season. The headline result of the monitoring are that Arsenal FC have achieved a transport modal split target of 12.5% for the 60,000 spectators travelling to the stadium by modes of transport other than private cars. This compares favourably with the council’s requirement of 20% or below.
A question and answer session followed the presentation allowing for an open forum to discuss a number of hot topics that are currently issues for the local community. This allowed the stakeholders to directly address a variety of questions raised by the local community and the council will now look at dealing with further problems.
Further information on this and previous AFC Liaison Committee meetings can be found at www.islington.gov.uk/arsenal.
For further information please contact Neil Huddart on ext 1826 or e-mail neil.huddart@islington.gov.uk.
New Technology saves Highbury Field’s Trees
April 21st, 2008 by highburyeastThe council’s tree service has just bought a new piece of equipment which will make themanagement of trees an easier task by being able to assess tree disease and decay.
The equipment has already saved a tree on Highbury Fields. The ‘picus’ machine can work out the extent of decay inside a tree using sound waves, a bit like an ultra sound machine used for checking unborn babies.
Information gained from a picus test enables a tree officer to make a much more informed diagnosis of the condition of a tree. In the past the unknown extent of decay in a tree often left no safe option but to fell. This equipment can’t be used to assess every type of disease that affects trees, but it will be invaluable to Islington’s tree service in assessing the condition of trees with external signs of trunk decay, and will allow a wider range of management options in many cases.
Islington is also one of only a handful of local authorities with this equipment. See below an example of a scan, the colours indicating the different consistencies of wood, and attached, a photo of tree officer Sheridan Sayer using the picus at Highbury Fields.
For more information please contact James Chambers on ext 4572 or e-mail james.chambers@islington.gov.uk.
Highbury Fields- Greener, Cleaner, Safer Day a great success
April 21st, 2008 by highburyeastThe Greener, Cleaner Safer day took place on the 7th in Highbury Fields and was a big success. The weather helped, there was plenty of sunshine many more people were in the park. Street Environment officers were present throughout the day. There were displays by Street Environment and Greenspace offering advice and information On the day the Graffiti team carried out proactive work and all graffiti was removed from all bins in the area and the bins were also washed by the ART team.The highways department repaired footway potholes in the park and Street Wardens were in attendance as were the Safer Neighbourhood Team, who made regular patrols in the park and surrounding area. Parkguard attended between 3pm and 7pm offering advice etc. with regards to dogs and several young people took up the offer of training advice and the free grooming kits that were available. 40 cubic metres of compost from Edmonton was delivered at 9am and a steady stream of residents collected it free of charge throughout the day. All the Islington staff in attendance assisted residents in loading their bags, boxes or whatever containers they brought. As this had been publicised across the borough in ‘Islington Now’ residents from across the borough took advantage of the free compost.During the course of the day approx 800 people spoke to staff asking for advice or taking information leaflets.
Premises Licence (Variation) - Thai Corner Café
April 16th, 2008 by highburyeastPremises Licence (Variation) - Thai Corner Café
Address: 236 St Paul’s Road, London, N1 2LJ Received by the licensing team: 11 April 2008 Last date for representations: 9 May 2008 The existing licence allows:
- the premises to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises: 1000 to 0000 from Monday to Saturday and 1200 to 2330 on Sunday
- the provision of regulated entertainment for the playing of recorded music: 24 hours seven days a week
- the provision of late night refreshment: 2300 to 0030 the following day from Monday to Saturday and 2300 to 0000 on Sunday The proposed variation is to:
- to extend the area that alcohol can be consumed to include the garden area at rear of premises on the lower ground floor level: 1000 to 0000 from Monday to Saturday and 1200 to 2330 on Sunday Please contact Aiden Fitzsimons on 020 7527 3031 you would like a copy of the application. You are not able to make a representation unless you personally live or have a businesses within the vicinity of the premises.
- the provision of regulated entertainment for the playing of recorded music: 24 hours seven days a week
Planning Application - Balfour Road
April 14th, 2008 by highburyeastNotification about a Full Planning Application (P080644) in East Area for 41 Balfour Road, N5. Conversion of an existing loft space into a habitable room including the construction of two small zinc covered dormer windows to rear roof area.
The planning application can be viewed on the Council’s website by clicking here. The application can also be seen at Contact Islington (open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm).
As you know the Council has a limited time to consider the application. Comments to Robert Armsby on 020 7527 2151 by May 5th.
Planning Application - Baalbec Road
April 14th, 2008 by highburyeastNotification about a Full Planning Application in East Area for 31 Baalbec Road, N5. Installation of new front wall and railings and new railings on the back extension. Listed Building Application P080555 also submitted
The planning application can be viewed on the Council’s website by clicking here. The application can also be seen at Contact Islington (open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm).
As you know the Council has a limited time to consider the application. Comments to Vicki Killeen on 020 7527 2794 by May 8th.
Planning application for Quadrant’s new windows
April 9th, 2008 by highburyeastNotification about a Full Planning Application in East Area for Quadrant Estate: 152-270 (even), 278-316 (even), 193-311 (odd) Highbury New Park & 1-55 (odd), 4-122 (even) Catherall Road, Islington, London, N5.
Replacement of existing windows and balcony doors with new white UPVC glaze units. Renewal of existing flat roof covering and installation of roof edge protection to blocks 12-22. Replacement of existing windows and balcony doors with new white UPVC double glazed units to block 23.
The planning application can be viewed on the Council’s website by clicking here. The application can also be seen at Contact Islington (open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm).
As you know the Council has a limited time to consider the application. Comments to Edward Hands on 020 7527 2359 by May 8th.
Change of use application Blackstock Road
April 8th, 2008 by highburyeastNotification about a Full Planning Application in East Area for 231, Blackstock Road, Islington, N5 2LL for a change of use to A3/A5 (hot food take-away) including erection of flue to rear .
The planning application can be viewed on the Council’s website by clicking here. The application can also be seen at Contact Islington (open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm).
As you know the Council has a limited time to consider the application. Comments to Vicki Killeen on 020 7527 2794 by April 17th.
Save our post office
April 8th, 2008 by highburyeast
Four post offices across Islington are facing the threat of closure as a result of action by the Labour Government and Royal Mail. One of those facing the “chop” is at 147 Blackstock Road.
Highbury East Cllr Laura Willoughby has joined Liberal Democrat GLA Candidate Cllr Meral Ece, who are pictured outside the post office below. Meral and Laura have launched a petition to keep the post office open, and are urging local residents to support their campaign.
Meral, who lives close to the post office under threat and who uses it on a regular basis, said, “Post offices like the one on Blackstock Road are a life line to communities like ours that live along Blackstock Road and across Highbury.”
Highbury Councillor Laura Willoughby added, “Yet another Islington post office bites the dust. Labour and the Royal Mail just don’t care about us.” You can sign the petition by clicking here
