By Josh Spero
A COUNCILLOR has secured £10,000 for the regeneration of a Highbury road, and plans to let the public decide how it should be spent.
Cllr Katie Dawson said a complaint about Monsell Road had inspired her to seek funding to redevelop it. She intended to arrange a public meeting in early December on the subject.
“I want to get the residents in there and say: ‘What do you want?’” said Ms Dawson.
Ms Dawson, councillor for Highbury West, said she did not want to impose her own ideas on the project but suggested “planted beds which residents could take ownership of” and “games such as concrete table tennis tables or giant chess sets” as possibilities.
Residents say the street, which is off Blackstock Road, is inhospitable at best, dangerous at worst.
One, who did not wish to be named, said: “I don’t really feel safe there after dark; the rest of the time it’s okay.”
Another resident, James Bennett, 34, said: “This road could do with a lot of improvement. If we can get people to spend time on it and not use it as a cut-through, it could be quite nice.”
Wednesday, 15 November 2006
Investment for Monsell Road
Friday, 3 November 2006
Prositution problems in Gillespie Park
By Josh Spero
A CRACKDOWN on the prostitutes who have turned a local park into a den of crime has had no real effect, police admitted.
Police said their increased patrols in Gillespie Park have only moved the prostitutes into Hackney, where they came from in the first place. Drug addicts are also still using the park for using and supplying their drugs.
Sergeant Clare Messer, head of the Highbury West Safer Neighbourhoods team, said that their patrols had not solved the problem, just shifted it: “The Hackney crackdown has caused a displacement of prostitutes [to Gillespie Park]. Now it’s finished, they have returned to their old haunts.”
A Police Community Support Officer from Hackney said: “We just move them on from one place to another. It’s a vicious circle.”
Police patrols have not eradicated drug use from the park either. Sergeant Messer said there has been a “slight” drop in the number of users, but added: “There is still an amount of drug use that goes on.”
There are three times as many drug offences in Islington compared with the national average, according to government statistics.
The Ecology Centre refused to comment.
Sunday, 15 October 2006
Queen backs out of Arsenal opening
By Josh Spero
THE IRONY was not lost on Prince Philip as he pulled back the curtains on a plaque which read: “Emirates Stadium officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen.”
“Second to her,” he said, “I’m the world’s most experienced plaque unveiler.”
The Queen, who was to officially open Arsenal’s new £400m stadium yesterday, cancelled her appearance because she had hurt her back. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was due to attend in any case, performed the Queen’s duties in her absence.
Many at the opening said they were disappointed the Queen had not been able to attend.
Alan Sefton, head of Arsenal in the Community, which promotes sports in the area, said: “Prince Philip is still a charismatic figure. "I am disappointed but it’s one of those things.”
Joe Payne, a 10-year-old midfielder in a juniors’ exhibition match, said he was “quite disappointed,” a sentiment echoed by other children playing.
Some of the children were more concerned, however, with seeing their footballing heroes.
“As long as Thierry [Henry, Arsenal captain] was here, Will would be happy,” said Karen Young, whose son Will Young was playing in the match. But she added: “I’m disappointed because it would be the nearest I’ll ever get.”
Staff at Arsenal, who had been working for weeks to prepare for the visit, were only given three hours’ notice by Buckingham Palace that the Queen was not coming, and there were some swift changes at the stadium.
The two huge video screens in opposite corners of the stadium that announced the Queen’s attendance also had to be rejigged. Even the programme for the next match, two days later, had to have a note inserted because all the text mentioned the Queen.
Prince Philip was first shown the Northern Triangle building, a development of affordable housing next to the Emirates Stadium, where he met Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood and the Mayor of Islington, Councillor Jyoti Vaja.
He then went into the stadium itself to meet the Arsenal squad lined up on the pitch and was led down the line by captain Henry. The Prince stopped to chat to several players. After that he unveiled the commemorative plaque in the Diamond Club lounge, part of the stadium’s hospitality facilities.
The Prince was presented with several gifts from the club, including a miniature cannon made from silver, which is represented in Arsenal’s club badge.
Monday, 9 October 2006
Residents speak out over casino plans
By Josh Spero
ISLINGTON residents are divided over possible plans for a casino at Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium, with some expressing fears it would increase crime and disorder.
“I wouldn’t like that at all,” said Ellie Jones, 28. “It could potentially bring a lot of unsavoury characters to the neighbourhood.”
A survey of people on Highbury Park yesterday showed residents' concerns that it would lower the tone of the area or make it more dangerous.
“I wouldn’t be happy with that, actually – we’ve already got a pub outside my house. It would create a bad environment,” said Neil Singh, 57.
Some residents who were opposed to a casino in the area felt that, if there were one, the Emirates Stadium would be the best place for it.
Judith Comyn, 38, said she objected to a casino at all but minded less about having it at the stadium. “In a bizarre way that makes it slightly better. It’s an entertainment hub and they could use their underground car-parks. But it can’t be good for people.”
Many people questioned sounded a cautious note, including Islington’s chief policeman in an interview with a local newspaper. Chief Superintendent Barry Norman said: “Anything that attracts money into the community and creates jobs and investment is fine by me, as long as it’s monitored properly.”
“As long as the right regulations were in place I wouldn’t be too upset,” said Jason Hughes, 36.
There were expressions of support too, with people particularly suggesting it could be good for local businesses.
"If they aren’t here, it will be somewhere else, and it may liven up the area: there would be more shops, hotels, a bigger range of businesses,” said John McCarthy, 28.
One person suggested that the casino would make the area safer. “It could bring more attention to this area. We have suffered a few crimes here and it could make the police more focused,” said Rafal Marcinkow, 30.
Steve Bliffett, of estate agents Hotblack Desiato, said a small casino would have little effect, especially in the Emirates Stadium which already has “60,000 rowdy Gooners.” But he added: “A super-casino would ruin the area – it’s a residential area with a few high streets; it would turn in to a stinking mess – it would become Blackpool.”
Some people expressed wider ideological reservations, while others compared their experiences of casinos abroad.
“It’s dreadful – I completely disagree with the Government’s policy on gambling,” Judith Comyn said.
The Government has said it will license only one ‘super-casino’, which would have restaurants and entertainment venues as well as gambling. Islington is not in the running for this, but the borough is licensing smaller casinos.
Sunday, 1 October 2006
Elderly Amble in park
By Josh Spero
THE MAYOR joined dozens of walkers this morning for Islington’s Autumn Amble around one of the borough’s green spaces.
Despite the overcast sky, more than 60 people from all over Islington were guided through Gillespie Park and learnt about its natural resources.
Walker Ann Colls, 64, of Balls Pond Road, said: “It was a stupendous effort.”
Emma Charlton, who organised the event on behalf of Camden and Islington Health Walks, said she was surprised by the “fantastic” turn-out: “We were expecting maybe 30. If it was a really sunny day we couldn’t have coped.”
The Mayor, Councillor Jyoti Vaja, said: “It’s good to see so many people here. The turn-out is excellent.”
After the walk, lunch was provided in the park’s ecology centre and there were workshops in the afternoon. The workshops included a herbalist, a talk on ‘food for free’ which can be found in the park, and stories with a nature theme.
Islington Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is responsible for the borough’s health services, funded the walk, the main cost of which was providing the lunch. Sam Spindlow, a press officer for the PCT, said: “Walking is something the PCT supports. Many older people go to this and the health and social benefits for those who attend are considerable.”
Some of the older people at the Amble remarked on how much they enjoyed the walk and the park itself.
Alexander Ramsay, 72, of Angel, said: “It was nice to have over-55s here. An initiative like this is tremendous and the walkers were very knowledgeable.”
The Mayor said such a park was unusual in a city: “You can’t believe you’re surrounded by two football stadiums – you feel like you’re in the middle of the country.”
The walk was led by a combination of volunteers and park rangers, who explained about the different trees, plants and animals that can be found in the park. Special large signs were put up to show particular points of interest.
It lasted an hour and took in some of the park’s most notable inhabitants, including brightly-coloured goldfinches and hawthorn bushes.