Highbury East Liberal Democrats

John Gilbert, Terry Stacy JP and Laura Willoughby MBE

Archive for the ‘Local Issues’

Published November 22nd, 2008

Premises Licence -Variation JE Fine Foods, 187 Blackstock Rd

The council has received the following application for a Premises Licence (Variation) for  J E Fine Foods, 187 Black Stock Road, London, N5 2LL

Received by the licensing team: 20 November 2008
Last date for representations: 18 December 2008

Details of application:

To allow the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises: 00:00 to 00:00 from Monday to Saturday and 00:00 to 22:00 on Sunday

Please contact Aiden Fitzsimons ( 020 7527 3031, licensing@islington.gov.uk) if 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.

Ward Councillors can attend and object only if a resident in the area has requested that they do so on their behalf.

Published October 28th, 2008

Highbury Roundhouse Cash Boost

Local Lib Dem Cllr Terry Stacy secured over £31,000 worth of funding for the Roundhouse to carry out much needed repairs/improvements. These included redecorating the centre’s toilets, improving the ventilation system, replacing the surface outside the children’s play area, and renovating the centre’s three kitchens. Terry said “The Highbury Roundhouse is a key part of the our neighbourhood and these repairs were long overdue. I was delighted the Council listened to my appeal and granted the centre the funds”

Published August 13th, 2008

New pavements for Baalbec Rd

Works to the pavements on Baalbec Rd will start on August 18th.  This may mean it may be necessary to introduce some parking suspensions on

Baalbec Road

. However, these will be kept to a minimum and the council have said they will ensure that signs are put up well in advance to give residents as much notice as possible of any restrictions.

Noise and disruption will be kept to a minimum and as such the work will be carried out between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday and if necessary, 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

If there are any problems do let us know and we can take them up for you.

Published August 13th, 2008

Open letter to Hackney re: Blackstock Rd Post Office

Dear Jules

 

Re:  Post Offices

 

You will be aware of the widespread public opposition to the post office closure programme being promoted by the Labour Government.

 

Islington Council has campaigned strongly against post office closures.  Although we have won the campaign to keep open

Essex Road

post office, other post offices are about to close – including one in

Blackstock Road

which is in your borough but is used by Islington residents.

 

I am aware that the Labour Group in Islington has intimated that you wish to step in to save the post office.  I would be very pleased to meet to discuss any plans which you may have to preserve post office services in the area and to see if there is anything that we in Islington can do to help.

 



Yours sincerely

Councillor

James Kempton

 

cc Cllr Lucy Watt, Cllr

Terry Stacy, Cllr

John Gilbert, Cllr Laura Willoughby, Kevin Lloyd

 

Published August 13th, 2008

A Safer St. Augustine’s Path

 St. Augustine's PathAs a result of the work of your local Liberal Democrat Councillors, St. Augustine’s Path is a lot safer for local residents.

New lighting has been installed along the passage between Highbury New Park and Petherton Road. Anti-moped barriers have also been installed and the walkway has been resurfaced.

This joins Kelross passage, which benefited from the same works last year.

The Council’s Community Safety Chief Cllr. Terry Stacy said, “Residents told us these areas were of concern to them, so we listened and acted.”

Published August 13th, 2008

More Improvements to Highbury Fields

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;

At the Children's Play Area- 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!”

Published June 25th, 2008

Hihbury get cash boost from Arsenal fund

Over half-a-million pounds of funding is being dished out to community groups near the Emirates Stadium in Highbury East and Highbury West.

More than 20 organisations are set to receive money from the Arsenal FC Community Benefit Fund - a pot of cash available to help set up local projects, or continue to run existing ones.

It includes more than £30,000 getting young people into sports projects; £30,000 to help grow organic food without the need for any green space; and over £70,000 to tenants’ and residents’ associations for community activities.

Islington Council secured the cash as part of a legal agreement when the Emirates Stadium was built.

Cllr Terry Stacy, said: “We asked local people to tell us how they thought this money should be spent, and we’ve listened to their views.  We are really pleased with the projects in our area that will get funding.”

More than 80 applications were received, totalling more than £2million. Projects are near the stadium in the Highbury East, Highbury West and Holloway areas - which include some of the borough’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

Priorities for funding included young people, older people, environmental projects, community facilities, health and skills for life. The funding was secured by Islington Council from Arsenal FC, as part of a planning agreement to build the new Emirates stadium - known as “a section 106 planning agreement.

The projects to be funded:

  • Access to Sports Project: Sports coaching programme at community venues - £30,000
  • Centre 404: Support to disabled children and thei r families - £12,422
  • Drayton Park Primary School PTA: Improvements to school infants playground to increase activities - £12,161
  • Friends of Gillespie Home School Association: To transform the existing tarmac surface of the school playground into a Green Learning and Activity Zone - £30,000
  • Friends of Paradise Park and Islington Play Association in partnership: Improvements to children’s centre facilities and park - £26,272
  • Highbury Builders Collective: vertical wooden structures which allow communities to grow organic vegetables in small indoor spaces - £30,000
  • Highbury Roundhouse Youth and Community Centre: project supporting new estate based youth group and the roundhouses 3rd age project for older people - £29,990
  • Highbury Vale Blackstock Trust: Refurbishment of sports hall at Elizabeth House - £30,000
  • Fire Station Community Centre (Holloway Neighbourhood Group): Renovation of community facilities - £29,354
  • Hyde Village Community a nd Social Association: Aims to set up a number of activities for local people at three community locations on Hyde housing estates - £16,000
  • Islington Law Centre: Improvements to law centre reception - £29,997
  • Islington Somali Community: Work with young people to tackle anti social activities - £24,385
  • Islington Time Bank Network: Engage students at City and Islington college in volunteering with local projects - £29,300
  • The Parish of St. Mary Magdalene and St. David: Refurbishment to provide modern community building at Westbourne Road N7 - £30,000
  • Martin Luther King and Hyde Plus: To fund work at the new youth centre ‘Ringcross Youth Facility’ and outreach on all local estates - £30,000
  • North London Central Mosque: Engage with young residents in targeted wards - £30,000
  • Olden Gardens Community Project: Support to a community garden - £30,000
  • Quadrant Gardening Club in collaboration with the Highbury Quadrant Tenants and
  • Residents Association: Community gardening project involving volunteers in improving green spaces on estate - £30,000
  • Quill Street Residents Association: a three year programme of events for residents planned by the residents association - £9,213
  • St Thomas Church Finsbury Park and St Thomas’s Playgroup: Improvements to kichen and toilet facilities - £25,000
  • Vaudeville Court Tenants and Residents Association: Pilot green time bank based at a council estate on St.Thomas Road - £14,964