Your local Liberal Democrat Councillors are committed to improving and protecting this unique and well-used open space for local residents and visitors alike.

Record amounts of funding have been secured by your Councillors. Spending on facilities on and around Highbury Fields has begun, and more is planned.

Already we have seen:

- Over £1 million spent on the extension to Highbury Pool to improve the gym and sauna, and to build new fitness rooms;

- The installation of solar panels on the roof of Highbury Pool to reduce its energy costs;

- New fencing and gates at the Childrens’ Play Area;

- New benches and litter bins installed, with more on the way;

- Repairs to fencing around the park;

- Soil and turf repairs underway and new planting coming shortly.

Cllr. Terry Stacy, who has been leading the campaign to get Highbury Fields improved, said, “Working with local residents, the Council has developed a clear vision for this great open space. These are just a few of the improvements people told us they want to see.”

He was joined by fellow Highbury East Cllr. Laura Willoughby, who said, “We hope this is just the beginning. There is still a lot to do, so watch this space!”

The Council and Local residents in Fieldway Crescent have won a battle to ensure Thames Water to make good shoddy repair work that has ruined the street.

Cllr Terry Stacy said “After major excavations back in March local resident expected the road to be put right, instead the road surface is poor and irregualr causing pot holes and looking a mess. It was basically a temporary repair. This is not good enough. I contacted Thames Water to get swift action.”

After months of Thames Water refusing to undertake the work the council finally took action to bill Thames Water for the cost of the council undertaking the work they fianlly did the work. “At last!” concluded Terry

As many of you know, after a long consultation process with the community a vision was agreed for Highbury Fields that is helping us make the Fields better for everyone.If you want to see a full copy of the vision click here: click here

What has happened to the fields since the vision document?

• new metal, bow top fencing around the play area new benches
• installed the installation of a 20mph zone around the fields and adjoining roads
• new and improved road crossings (near Ronalds Road) to make access to the park easier

Below are details of what is to come:

Improvements to the Fields Soil and Turf

To deal with large numbers of Arsenal Fans and now summer sun seekers the grass is showing signs of wear and tear. In some areas the grass has been worn away to bare soil which is heavily compacted and increasingly susceptible to water logging. The permanent damage that could result from this is a real concern – it would create real eyesores and water problems. So the grass is going to be re-sown starting next week and up until early July, this will means some areas of the fields will be cordoned off to give the grass a chance to grow. There will also be some changes to prevent future damage. This will mean:

North West end

• The path to the West of the ranger’s hut will be removed and grass reinstated in its place.
• The first set of steps will be removed, and cobble stone reinstated in its place in character with the surrounding area.
• The post and rail fencing will be extended, down Highbury Crescent, to the second set of steps, again in character with the existing post and rail.
• A gap in the fencing will be created opposite the Ronald’s Road crossing. This gap will have an inbuilt, extendable tube, to allow for it to be closed on Arsenal match days.
•  Existing damaged post and rail fencing will be rebuilt

South East end – Highbury Pool

The area between the Highbury Place path to the playground (roughly opposite Calabria Road) and the edge of the fence to Highbury Pool is also heavily used by pedestrians and in shade for the greatest part of the year. Discussion with your councillors, residents and officers concluded that restoring grass in this area was unlikely to succeed creating a unusable space. So instead the council will fence off the area using black bow top fencing to match the playground and encourage pedestrians further up Highbury Place. There will also be planting of low growing, native shrub species to hide changes in styles of fencing. These works will be completed by the end of June 2008.

Development of a Tree Management Plan

By the summer of 2008, the council’s tree service will have the started consultation process for the tree management plan for Highbury Fields. This document will define the long term maintenance and planting objectives for the trees on the fields.

Development of a Management Group for the fields

As agreed with residents the councils is setting up a new management steering group for Highbury Fields, which will be chaired by Cllr Stacy. If you would like to be part of this group then please contact Laura Sanna, Greenspace Ranger, on 07825 098451 or laura.sanna@islington.gov.uk

From mid-June you should expect to see improvements to street cleaning in and around Highbury.  Street cleaning service in residential roads that will occur on the same day that refuse and recycling collections are made to ensure roads are left clean and tidy.

The street cleaning service will also feature mobile ‘team sweeps’ that will enable a greater emphasis on litter collection and the ability to target litter hot spots at times of need. For example in high pedestrian areas, or outside schools during or after peak times.    This also means if there is a problem in your road that needs sorting outside of your normal street sweeping day - let us know and we can get it sorted.

The Green Team will work alongside the refuse and recycling crews. They will be monitoring service delivery, encouraging the crews to do better, by putting lids back on bins, clearing up spillage and dealing with your eqnquiries.

They will also be running a ‘Love the Street you Live In’ to encourage residents to take more care and litter less, making Highbury better for all of us!

Cllr 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!”