ISLINGTON News
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ISSN 1465 - 9425 Winter 2004 ISLINGTON news The Journal of the ISLINGTON SOCIETY incorporating FOIL folio Saving Local Shops Section Break The Council’s development plans, and all the Islington Society’s campaigning for a sustainable environment, will fail unless we residents use our local shops, and learn to appreciate what an important part they play in the life of the community, writes Harley Sherlock . In 1997 the Islington Society, with others, won a only 30 percent of the shops. And the Council’s great victory over the Council and Sainsbury’s by Development Plan does indeed designate such defeating the latter’s proposals for an out-of-centre areas, which must be located so that everyone in superstore on the Lough Road site in Holloway. Islington “should be within easy reach” of essential There can be little doubt that such a store, being shops. It seems to me that this policy has worked mainly accessible only by car, would have increased reasonably well, and that without it we would by traffic in the area enormously; and, more now be considerably worse off than we actually are. importantly, it would have been the death-knell for But there can be no doubt that the planners’ good food-shopping at The Nags Head, Highbury Barn intentions will be brought to naught unless we, as and Caledonian Road, as well as for local residents, support them. neighbourhood shops generally. The abandonment So why don’t we? And why do so many of my of the superstore means that those of us living in fellow residents in Canonbury take the car to places the south of the borough, at least, have retained our like Brent Cross or Palmers Green when we have ability to walk to the shops rather than having to good-quality grocers, green-grocers, butchers, emulate the rest of the country by getting the car delicatessens and even a fish-monger within out every time we need an extra loaf of bread. walking-distance? It is very sad therefore to find our local shops Two answers are usually given to this question. again under threat. But now it is not from The first – and the most feeble one – is “price”. But anything so obvious as a Sainsbury’s superstore, but surely anyone who puts a value on their time from the more insidious actions of the shopkeepers’ cannot really afford to spend a large part of their absentee landlords who, over a period of time, try Saturday morning in the inevitable traffic jam. The to improve the value of their properties by letting second – and better-founded answer – is that the their ground-floor shops to estate agents, car is a very good shopping trolley, and allows you restaurateurs and the like, who are able to pay rents to make one trip for a whole week’s shopping. But far higher than anything that the ordinary who needs to do all the shopping in one trip by car shopkeeper can afford. The Council, as the local when there are shops available at the end of a short planning authority, has powers to prevent such health-inducing walk? gradual erosion of our ability to shop locally for Admittedly, when we were still a family of five, I food and other essentials. All they have to do is to did do most of the shopping on Saturday morning. designate “protected shopping centres” where I did it on foot; and, needless to say, it usually estate agents’ offices, coffee-bars etc are limited to continued on page 3 Campdale Road, N19 Roman Way, N7 2 Islington news Winter 2004 the Islington Society Impaired Vision? At this year's AGM a member OFFICERS OF THE In this issue : ISLINGTON SOCIETY asked whether it would be Use Them or Lose them possible for the Society to produce an audio version of the President – Harley Sherlock Many members have expressed concern about the future of our Newsletter for people who have Vice President – Mary Cosh local shops. Harley Sherlock's has sight problems. The Committee set out the case in his front-page agreed to look into this, but Chairman – Andrew Bosi article in this issue. The number of cannot make any decision The Croft, Wall Street, such shops has been in decline for about a response until we know London N1 3NB decades. Pressure on road space, what the demand is likely to be. t.: 020 7354 8514 the money to be made from cafés, There might be some members e.: [email protected] bars and restaurants, and other who are totally blind who changes in the way we live our would require audio tapes and Vice-chairman – Alan Turner lives are just some of the pressures there might be others who are 62 Northchurch Road, causing loss of shops. But older partially sighted who have London N1 3NY people and those without private access to computers with large t.: 020 7226 2053 transport rely on their local shops. type programs. Another e.: [email protected] We and a number of number of possibility is working with DAI like minded groups have persuaded to produce a regular audio Joint Secretaries – the Council to join with us in a newsletter to include one or Frances Balfour "Use them or Lose them" poster two articles from the Islington 26 Allingham Street campaign. Society newsletter each time. London N1 8NY Two posters come with this issue It would help the Committee t.: 020 7226 5795 of ISLINGTON news, one for your to consider the matter if e.: [email protected] own use, and one for your local everyone who has difficulty David Peel shop. reading the Newsletter would 67 Hemmingford Road PLEASE PUT THEM UP let us know which of the two London N1 1BY alternatives would best suit t.: 020 7607 6387 Parking Control e.: [email protected] them. By the very nature of the George Allan, the council's problem, it is probable that Executive Member for Customer Treasurer – Donald Mitchell people who need help will not Focus - which includes Parking - read this note, so if any 63 Cloudesley Road, has sent a frank reply to our letter London N1 0EL member knows of other to him expressing members' members who have impaired t.: 020 7278 6573 concerns about parking enforce- e.: [email protected] vision would they please bring ment. The full text of his reply is it to their attention. on pages 4 & 5 of this issue. Membership Secretary If any member might be The Society is holding a special Bob O'Dell, interested in reading the meeting devoted to Parking 35 Britannia Row, articles, please make contact. Control on 8 March 2005. London N1 8QH Please call Alan Turner on Come along and have your say. t.: 020 7434 2494 020 7226 2053 or email at e.: [email protected] Andrew Bosi, Chair [email protected] ISLINGTON news Suggestions for topics to be covered and articles to be considered may be sent to the Society at this address. The Journal of the Islington Society Award winning Local organisations are asked to send notification of incorporating FOIL Folio activities and events they would like to be listed. 35 Britannia Row, London N1 8QH Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily t.: 020 7226 3377 e.: [email protected] reflect the views of the Society. Winter 2004 Islington news 3 Times New Roman 12pt fill line continued from page 1Times New Roman 12pt fill line Saving local shops Times New Roman 12pt Section Break amounted to more than I could Hawkes. It was he who drafted into-London direction be short- carry in one journey. But so the clauses in the Development term parking spaces in the what? Surely two 200-yard Plan to encourage local shopping, evening? journeys were better for my and who drew our attention to But all the Council’s health than one! Unfortunately them recently when we expressed development plans, and all the our children have always been our concern about the onward Islington Society’s campaigning, the only members of our family march of the estate agents and will fail unless we residents use who can cook; and, now that we coffee-bars. It was also he who our local shops, and learn to oldies are left to our own devices, recently helped to convene a appreciate what an important we are rather dependent on round-table meeting with all part they play in the life of the Marks and Spencer’s oven-ready concerned after Chris Ashby (of community. This latter point meals. We have, therefore, the Green Party), Philip Walker applies particularly to corner become involved in a weekly (of the Canonbury Society) and shops which have long been run journey to M&S at the Angel Norman Beddington (of every by expanded families who live which, although once regarded as environmental organisation above the shop, and can thus walkable, is now usually a bus- under the sun) had complained offer long hours of service to the ride. about irrational parking public by spreading their work- I can truthfully say, however, restrictions around shopping load. The Amin brothers at that I have only once in my life streets. Canonbury Place now stock driven to a superstore; and that As one who has always everything from lavatory paper was to collect a turkey for a campaigned for shopping without and groceries to freshly baked friend who was ill over cars I found myself a little outside bread and good-quality wine. Christmas.