COMMUNITY NEWS FROM THE HIGHBURY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Brighter or bleaker? the future of our high streets

compromised allowing to have obtained ‘prior approval’ for retain 50% of office space in the conversion to residential since the law main town centres (outside the changed in May 2013, with 11 further central activities zone), notably the applications submitted. The total loss Angel and Nags Head. If the new of office space is around 45,000 proposals are agreed, such square meters – which is capable of exemptions will no longer be accommodating between 3,000- allowed. But what happens to 3,500 jobs. In some cases, small popular and well-patronised businesses and charities have been shopping parades outside these evicted. (Islington Council; town centres? With housing Forum’s Newsforum, Winter 2014) becoming much more profitable than Although the Council is unable to renting to offices and businesses, gauge the impact this will have on what will happen to areas such as high streets in the borough, just Since May 2013, when the Blackstock Road and Highbury Vale? when there has been a marked trend Government allowed many Commenting on the Technical towards shopping locally, viable conversions not to need planning Consultation Peter Eversden, Chair businesses could now be forced to permission - initially for a temporary of the London Forum, has noted that: close. Increasingly local independent period to May 2016, many areas in ‘Not only has the capital lost a lot shops are recognized as being more London have seen conversions from of its essential offices, the personal and contributing to offices to housing. Because planning ‘dwellings’ that have been delivered people’s sense of being part of a permission was not needed, these in their conversion are rarely the vibrant community, with the housing developments did not have type that are needed locally. If the additional benefits including cutting to offer any affordable housing, s106 permitted development of offices to fuel and food waste. or minimum standards, such as the flats is allowed to continue, with We are highlighting this amount of light required and the size exemptions withdrawn (the use of information as most of these of rooms. Article 4 Directive), as proposed proposals will be included in Bills In September, public consultation from May 2016, and other town that are being legislated now, so if was carried out in relation (Technical centre properties are also allowed to you are concerned, please write to Consultation on Planning) to new convert, it could be one of the your MP as soon as possible. proposals to extend such permitted biggest blows to the town centres DIANE BURRIDGE, Committee development to allow even more and the economy of London.’ member of HCA and the London conversions without planning per - In Islington, 71 office buildings Forum. mission from May 2016, and to extend the ‘temporary period’ to 2019. Local councils were allowed to London Forum issue Article 4 Directives to reject such conversions, but the The London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies has nearly 100 Government cancelled this right in member societies in membership, and is a good source of information Islington and Richmond. Islington on issues that are important for the living and working environment of Londoners. Council threatened a judicial review, continued on page 3 and the Secretary of State recently

The HCA represents over 900 residents and businesses on all aspects of living and working in Highbury, Lower Holloway and Park. Membership is free. Members receive bi-monthly newsletters like this one. New members will receive the newsletter by email (unless you don’t have email). To join or talk to us about anything Highbury-related, please email [email protected] The opinions expressed in HCN are not necessarily those of the Highbury Community Association and its committee members.

December 2014 • Issue 89 1 Planning and development bulletin DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL SPECIALIST CLEANERS MCS are a cleaning and maintenance company Development offering specialist cleaning services which inc: Framework Supplementary Planning windows, gutters, carpets, office, domestic, corporate Document (SPD). Consultation period and end of tenancy cleaning. We also offer a friendly, on the draft is open for comments reliable handyman service and have a great team of until 15 December. The draft provides painters and decorators. a further layer of detail to the broad development objectives that are outlined within the For a free and no obligation quote adopted Finsbury Park Town Centre SPD, and is available call 0207 288 8798 or enquire at our shop at online at islington.gov.uk/finsburypark; hard copies at 185 Blackstock Road, N5 2LL 222 Upper Street, and for reference in all Islington libraries. Queries regarding the consultation can be emailed to [email protected], also reachable on 020 7527 1825. Accountants for Small Business 11 Ronalds Road and 25-27 Horsell Road. We objected We specialise in supporting small businesses to the application to convert workshops at these and can help with: premeses into 18 residential units. Our grounds were loss • Self Assessment Tax Returns • Bookkeeping & VAT of employment space, disruption of existing small • Business Accounts • Payroll & HR businesses and absence of any affordable housing. We • Corporation Tax • Company Formations also said that the lack of amenity space rendered the • Business Start-ups ...and much more proposed units unsuitable for families with children. For your free, no obligation meeting call us today The application was refused, partly due to evidence on 020 7354 2661 or visit us online at provided by Robin Hull that the building was not used www.taxassist.co.uk/islington-N5 solely as offices, as claimed by the applicants, but as workshops. We anticipate the applicants will go to appeal.

Ladbroke House. We commented on the plans exhibited by Pegasus Life, potential developers of Ladbroke House for its conversion to flats for older people. We are glad to see that something is happening to the building, although we are not totally satisfied with what is proposed. We await the planning application which we will look at in more detail. In the meantime, HCA has been invited to take part in HARDWARE FOR THE HOME & GARDEN - a further consultation which anticipate will take place in KEYS CUT - LOCKS SUPPLIED & FITTED - December. If residents have any comments, email HOUSEWARES - LIGHT BULBS - TOOLS - [email protected]. PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL GOODS LOCKSMITH SERVICES AVAILABLE Highbury Pool and Gym. Greenwich Leisure, which runs the amenity, are planning to invest £2.5 million to make 20 Highbury Park N5 2AB major alterations. These involve doubling the height of Tel: 7354 5029 Fax: 7354 5034 the site along Highbury Place and building more studios, Email: [email protected] fitness rooms and a new health suite, as well as www.woodlandhardware.com refurbishing the reception foyer. The extensions will mainly be built over the current reception area and staff car park. The Council’s consultation period and at the Pool Highburyvintners closed in November. We are aware that there are Independent wine store concerns about the over-development of land adjoining 71 Highbury Park, N5 1UA the Fields. Islington is the most densely-populated 020 7226 1347 borough in the country with the least amount of open We now stock over 1300 wines, 400 spirits and 300 beers so there’s bound space and large buildings adjacent to this space should to be something for you this Christmas. not be encouraged. We can offer you: • free glass loan / chiller bin loan - perfect for parties Student towers. Rejected earlier this year, LBI has • free local delivery • case discounts informed us that the re-hearing is to be held from 17/3/15. • expert advice on food matching and numbers Roger Wright has said he will attend for HCA and • send a gift anywhere in the UK with the Highbury Vintners gift service welcomes anyone else who'd like to be involved. HCA will If you’re pressed for time this Christmas, choose from our carefully selected keep members informed. premixed cases starting from as little as £100. They’re perfect for the festive season. DIANE BURRIDGE & JOHN EGAN

2 continued from page 1 A fond farewell and special Public meetings are held every two months and thank you to Roger Wright focus on a particular topic, n September, after many years in Highbury, newsletter and will attend planning meetings with expert IRoger moved to Cornwall with his partner on issues where he is already involved. But he speakers, and Sally. We would very much like to thank him will not take up any new issues, and is looking are free to for all the work he has done on behalf of the for someone to work alongside while his attend. The community and wish them both all the best for handover gradually takes place. next one is the future. GILL SHEPHERD on behalf of the HCA about ‘2050 Roger’s status as a planning guru was first Infrastructure established many years ago when he became and Transport involved in helping to challenge Arsenal’s s a resident I looked forward to reading his Developments’, original plans to expand its existing stadium Aarticles in HCA news. As a councillor I was 29 January (by the compulsory purchase of a long line of copied into his regular updates and responses 2015, 6:30- houses in Highbury Hill including Roger’s). It to planning applications. These were always 8:45pm. was that proposal which brought HCA into invaluable. I also came to enjoy, and slightly Meetings are existence, and Roger was part of an active wonder at, the number of times he was first held at 70 campaigning team from the first. As one of his with the facts. ‘Ping’ the email from Roger Cowcross contributions, he built a beautiful scale model would arrive and then, sometime later the Street, near of the stadium, and demonstrated the ways in Council would provide the same information. Farringdon which he thought it could be expanded without The only thing I didn’t enjoy quite so much Station. knocking down a row of houses. was bumping into Roger on Highbury Hill, post www.londonforu As a result in part of the inputs of that Arsenal games. On far too many of those m.org.uk; team, the original plan was eventually occasions in recent seasons we seemed to be http://twitter.co scrapped and plans for the new stadium were talking about the ‘fourth place trophy’ and m/London_Foru put in place. Since then Roger has, through dropped points. m HCA, led the fight to make sure that Arsenal is Roger was wearing an Arsenal tie when he The held to the S106 commitments to the gave evidence last December for the HCA, Department for community that it had to make at the time it against the club’s proposals to increase the Communities was granted the right to build the new number of concerts at the and Local stadium. from three to six a year and to triple the Government is These challenges seem never ending, and number of major events held on Sundays from publishing Roger’s patience in the often wearisome one to three. summaries of process of continuing to oppose them has His powerful contribution underlined responses from been one of his most enduring and endearing exactly how important he has been both to Councils, and a qualities. His many articles for the newsletter HCA and our local community. Not only did he wide variety of over the years, with the signature fastidious succeed in making the science of sound interest groups, detail, kept us all informed and were greatly gripping as he challenged the club’s under Planning appreciated. We will miss him and his calculation of noise levels, but he brought alive and Building energetic input enormously and will have to our local community when describing it to the Consultations work very hard to continue to cover the planning inspector. It was a tour de force, on their terrain. combining technical expertise with human website. Roger continues to visit Highbury regularly understanding, and it was a winning argument. and still organises the printing of the JULIE HORTEN

Seasons and Blossoms Timebank Café In Gillespie Park We are a health food shop in Highbury selling a large range of fresh local and organic fruit and Sunday café in Gillespie Park vegetables and health foods. Open Sunday 11am to 3.30pm up to Christmas Closed January to March. Reopens first Sunday in April Seasonal produce from local farms, organic dairy & delicatessen, artisan bread, freshly prepared ➤ Delicious freshly baked cakes mediterranean salads, herbs, freshly made ➤ Homemade soups and snacks coffee & tea. ➤ Waffles with homemade jam 92 Highbury Park, N5 2XE t:020 7159 4867 ➤ Bookings for kids’ parties welcome Islington Ecology Centre, 191 Drayton Park, Highbury N5

3 Lots of choice in Because it’s that Highbury shops time of the year With Christmas just around the for this corner… Before giving up your broken laptop, why not try out Bright Sparks, Islington’s Repair andre- Christmas use shop that can bring your small electrical items back to life, from toasters to mobile phones and musical instruments. Not just a repair shop, you can also buy small electrical Continuing the tradition, our local shops this items at Bright Sparks and donate items you year are offering fresh, healthy, specialist have finished with. It offers an easy way to and convenient seasonal food, and high reuse, repair or recycle your pre-loved quality, unusual presents for everyone. electrical items, as opposed to chucking them Here’s our customary roundup for 2014! away. If you want to make a donation there are Healthy eating starts at our Highbury various sites around Islington where you can Barn fishmonger Meek and Wild who offer drop off your unwanted gadgets and appliances, fresh, line caught fish, smoked salmon and and at the same time help people to gain skills homemade salmon pate (13 Highbury Park, and be good to the environment too. Repairs 020 7226 1347). Highbury Butchers, our are done at a new workshop that offers training traditional family butchers at 183 Blackstock Road, can take and volunteeringopportunities for local people. your orders for their quality turkeys (order by mid- To find your nearest donation point you can December, forms in store) and homemade sausages, either call the shop 020 7272 9156 or opening hours 7am-5pm Tue, Thur, and Fri, and 7am-5.30pm email: [email protected]. The shop on Saturdays. Godfrey’s, are offering an easy Christmas is open Mon-Sat 11:00- 17:30, 176 Seven Sisters service this year for their game, and free range meat and Road, N7 7PX. poultry, with click and collect at their shop and Finsbury Park unit, and orders taken in store as well (www.godfreys.co). Stilton and truffle brie It’s Brrrr outside: keeping warmer are in stock at La Fromagerie. Five Boys inside without costing the Earth. Health Food Store stocks gift packs of As autumn draws to a close with temperatures organic chocolates, biscuits, cakes, gluten- outside dropping and the leaves (mostly) fallen free Christmas puddings and mince pies, from the trees, our thoughts turn to winter and and fruit punch, as well as natural we switch the heating on again. As we head into toiletries. Seasons & Blossoms has local, December, Islington’s Energy Advice team has organic fruit and vegetables, festive useful advise for practical ways to burn less stuffings, nougat, panettone stolen, handmade chocolate energy and money over the chilly season. Their coated marzipan figs, and hot mulled apple juice made in long list includes: insulation and draught store from Kentish apples (92 Highbury Park). Highbury proofing; fuel switching and bills; efficient Vintners offer a Christmas gift service anywhere in the UK, heating systems, low energy lighting and as well as cases of mixed selected wines from £100 (71 renewable energy technologies; Highbury Park). For Christmas lights, illuminated Christmas local and national grants and trees, Price’s candles and coal and logs go to Woodland discount schemes; Hardware at the Barn. Bargain cards, wrapping paper, tags, understanding bills; and other Sellotape and brown paper are stocked by Raymond’s, who low or no cost ways to save also have a range of essential branded household goods. energy. A winter warmth The selection of presents at To Be Established includes check is also available for beautiful LSA glassware, scarves, jewellery, and gifts for all residents over 60 or with ages. Charity cards, diaries and calendars are also in stock. a heart or respiratory condition or on a low At Louis Farouk you can find original gifts, lovely income with a child under the age of 5. handblown Christmas glass ornaments of birds and beasts, The team can provide advice over the phone, and distinctive jewellery and scarves (113 Highbury Park). by e-mail and in person and via hands on Gathering Moss will be open in the week before Christmas workshops like adding thermal lining to your as well as at weekends, and you can find Nkuku Fairtrade curtains without a sewing machine. For more gifts in stock, as well as local artists’ handthrown bowls and info, email: [email protected], call: vases in lovely colours, glass candleholders and reclaimed 0800 953 1221, or visit their website: furniture (193 Blackstock Road). islington.gov.uk/energy

SARAH POTTER

4 The streets they left behind

In the last publication of the centenary year, The Highbury Barn would like to wish all of their customers a very we’d like to draw attention to Islington Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Heritage Service’s project ‘The Streets They An intimate restaurant and theatre kitchen, with refurbished bar area Left Behind’ which commemorates the and pop up coffee shop for your morning breakfast coffees and pastries. Breakfast now served every day. Reserve tables early for our Islington residents who died in First World War. busy Sunday lunchtimes. One part of the project is an interactive Booking now for December Christmas Party menu £32.00 per head. map that marks out with a poppy every Superb selection of Real Ales, Fine Wines and Beers. household in Islington that suffered a fatality. All year round Match Day barbecues for home games. Prompted by the question ‘was my house affected?’ brings the Big Screen for all the Live Sports Action conflict closer to home, or even actually into it. Mapping the casualties illustrates the scale of the war and gives an idea of Twitter: @highburybarnpub ~ Facebook:\The Highbury Barn Pub www.thehighburybarnpub.co.uk ~ Tel: 020 7226 2383 the impact this must have had on communities. Details of the victim’s age, regiment, site of death, and place of burial make examining the map a moving experience. With neighbours scattered from France to Palestine, we also see the extent of the HOT WOK ISLINGTON territories involved. To view the map, follow the link Dining. Drinks. Delivery. http://bit.ly/1oGBHXf. A brand new Chinese dining experience, with an extensive sit-down and home delivery menu available. Another part of the project sees plaques installed across With a convenient position opposite the Emirates stadium, Islington commemorating residents who died from each Hot Wok is the destination of choice on match days for a quick bite from the street. From a plaque on Highbury Park, near St Joan of Arc Wok Box menu or a drink at the bar, whilst meeting friends. church, we learn of a family which lost two sons, and the history Open seven days a week for home delivery/collections witnessed by the streets we are so used to walking down. from 17.45 to 22.30. The project will remain online to enable local school, Eat-in dining: Sats 12 - 22.30, Suns 17.00 - 22.30 community group, family or individual to find out more about the Mon to Fri 12.00 - 14.30, 17.00 - 22.30 men and women who sacrificed their lives. Twitter: @myhotwok Face book: /myhotwok If you would like to volunteer to help on any of Islington Online Ordering: www.myhotwok-orders.com (17.00 to 22.00 only) Council’s First World War projects or have any family photos, 66A Drayton Park, Islington, London, N5 1ND letter or memorabilia from 1914-18 email MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL AT HOT WOK [email protected] or call 020 7527 2837. To help trace addresses and other details for people not yet on the interactive map, you can get in contact with the WW1 Project Officer, John Shepherd, at [email protected] or call 020 7527 2837. More information about the commemorative projects can be found at: Drug & http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/history- Health Food Store heritage/heritage_borough/Pages/world-war-one-centenary.aspx 17 Highbury Park, N5 1QJ. Tel 020 7359 3623 Calendar- snippets of what’s on… Organic & Non-Organic • Food • Baby Products Toiletries • Household Products 14 December Carols by candlelight, 6.30pm at Christ Church Aromatherapy • Homeopathy Highbury Herbal Remedies • Eco Friendly Products 16 Dec. Islington Society AGM, 7.15pm at Islington Town Hall. Organic Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Body Building Products 17 Dec. Organ recital with mince pies, from 11am at the Union Chapel. And at the same venue, 21 Dec carols by candlelight. 7pm but arriving early advised Until 21 Dec. Exhibition last two weeks, Roman Ostia:Ancient MAC McCABER Ruins, Modern Artat the Estorick Collection. handyman and window-cleaner Until 4 January 2015, Jack and The Beanstalk, Christmas mobile: 07960 037 485 pantomime at Park Theatre. [email protected] 7 Jan until end Feb. Venturing away from the ‘bury, work of local topiarist who raises funds for the charity Hft, Tim Bushe, will be Hard-working and trustworthy, living locally. featured in a Selfridges window and atrium. Recommended by several HCA members - Until 25 Jan. New solo exhibition, Through my Hand, paintings references on request. by local artist John Sheeny at Outpost, the gallery space and I do painting, decorating, small electrical and gift and homeware shop at 546 Holloway Road (N7), run by plumbing jobs and gardening at £120 a day Peter Bedford. pro rata. I also clean windows inside and out - Until 26 February. Exhibition, From East to West: Chinese life in £80-90 for a 3-storey Victorian house. London since 1900 at the .

5 Elizabeth House: a living legacy

HIGHBURY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION www.highburycommunity.org Please let us know if you move… To stop receiving newsletters write unsubscribe in the title of an email to [email protected] with your name and address in HCA News • No 89 • Dec 2014 the body of the email. Elizabeth House: a living legacy

If you read the article about Stephen benefactor the building was eating, football training, and Coles in Highbury Community News purchased and its work was able to residential courses for older a year ago you will have heard of continue. Getting the centre active children. We are currently Elizabeth House; it is a thriving again and restoring the crumbling developing ideas for a new oral community centre in the heart of building was a still a daunting history project. We are well loved by Highbury, whose history goes back, challenge, and the small group of all the children and adults who use all the trustees worked really hard to our services or work with us as way back, achieve their vision. We can now say volunteers. We have hundreds of to the with pride that they have more than users each week. 1800s. managed it. In 2013 we The Today, Elizabeth House is were honoured building flourishing and busier than ever. Its by a visit by HRH first activities include an afterschool Prince Philip, who appears on maps sometime between club, a summer and holiday play was impressed by 1805 and 1841, on what was then scheme run for children 6-12 years, the impact and change that a small Myrtle Street. It is likely that this an art club, a organization like Elizabeth House property and those surrounding it youth club can make. We would love you come were associated with the then run with and see us, join our activities or get Highbury College – which is now various involved as a volunteer, and use your buried under the main stand of activities for skills to run classes, like IT, as play Arsenal’s old stadium. young adults, workers, or to help run the youth Later in the nineteenth century Taekwon-do club, or even to assist in the office C

the building came under the and Capoeira classes for adults, and gain administration experience. o p y r

auspices of the Soroptimists, a Saturday morning music classes for Also, please see our advert for i g h

women’s organization which is part kids, and much more. The centre trustees, we look forward to hearing t

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of an international volunteer also offers educational support from you. A

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movement that exists to this day courses, in subjects such as healthy RONIT DASSA (Chair of Trustees) 0 1 4

which aims to •

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empower and d i t o

transform the r :

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lives of women Would you like to become a trustee of Elizabeth House? u c y

and girls. The Play and youth charity Elizabeth House offers educational and B r a

name dates from recreational opportunities to the residents of Islington, Hackney and d l e that time after y Haringey. We are looking for volunteer trustees from a range of •

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one of its members, Elizabeth backgrounds, but we would particularly welcome practical experience in r i n t

Hawes. the following areas: law, human resources, partnership working and e d

As you may recall, the 1980s saw community development, marketing and communications and fund- a n d

the building and its work entered a raising. The Trustees meet about eight times a year, usually at Elizabeth p u

period of decline, and the decision b House, at 6.30pm. If you would like more details and information on how l i s h

was made to close it and sell it off. to apply, please email our Centre Director, Megan Pakam at e d

Thanks to enormous support within [email protected]. b y

the community and an anonymous H C A .

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