Published August 13th, 2008
Bike Racks Bonanza
Over 50 new bike racks have been installed across Highbury as a result of your Liberal Democrat Councillors. Using money from their Area Committee allocation, Terry, Laura and John put forward sites for new bike racks in our area. These include additional bike racks outside Central Library on Fieldway Crescent, around Highbury & Islington Station, on Highbury Place and Highbury Crescent, along Highbury Park, at Highbury Barn and at the Blackstock Road/Riversdale Road junction. Cllr. John Gilbert, who is a keen cyclist himself, said,“These cycle racks will make a big differene to local cyclists. If anyone has any further suggestions for cycle rack locations, let us know.“
Published August 13th, 2008
A Safer St. Augustine’s Path
As 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 June 25th, 2008
Planning Application - 58 Aberdeen Park
Notification about a Full Planning Application (P080875) in East Area for 58 Aberdeen Park, N5 for the Installation of new timber sash window opening at second floor level of south elevation
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 July 3rd.
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
Published April 29th, 2008
Highbury gets new pavements and other improvements
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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
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Published April 29th, 2008
New look to Petherton Road
has 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!
Published April 29th, 2008
Lib Dem Council takes action to improve bus safety
After 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: (more…)
Published April 28th, 2008
Highbury Barn and Blackstock Road get hanging baskets
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!”
Published April 21st, 2008
Third and final Arsenal Liaison Committee complete
On 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.
Published April 21st, 2008
New Technology saves Highbury Field’s Trees
The 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.
