HIGHBURY COMMUNITY NEWS FROM THE HIGHBURY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Shop Locally this Christmas
he festive season is upon us and well-stocked cheese board and selling Macmillan Cancer Support Tso may I suggest that we are all Danny Michelson will help you make cards, as well as wrapping paper and better off if we shop locally at the right selections at La gift tags. Christmas; continuing to use those Fromagerie on Highbury Park. For all those last minute gifts shops we have used throughout the Danny is also offering why not try To Be Established at 1 year. jams, chutneys, cakes Highbury Park has some out of the Let’s start with the Christmas and biscuits. ordinary gifts as well as cards and dinner; whether you have a turkey, A couple of doors wrapping paper. Woodland Hardware, or another sort of poultry, or a joint away Da Mario is a opposite, has small electrical goods, of meat, Frank Godfrey opposite the traditional Italian- hardware and Christmas lights. Do Highbury Barn will provide it – as his style delicatessen with a wide look in at Louis Farouk, Out of the family has been doing for more than selection of English and continental Attic, Gathering Moss, and Wools a hundred years. His sausages are cheeses. This is another shop and Crafts – you are sure to find world-renowned and the shelves in renowned for their friendly staff and something. If you should feel in need the shop are heaving with relishes to located at 34 Highbury Park. of refreshment, there are two add that final touch. I cannot write about food without branches of Cinnamon Village to David of Highbury Butchers at mentioning Five Boys at 17 Highbury provide you with tea, coffee and 183 Blackstock Road also offers Park. Is it possible to stock more pastries and perhaps remind you to a range of meat and lines within such a small floor area? take some of that excellent coffee poultry to suit all They describe themselves as “a home with you. Alternatively, look in tastes and has drugstore and health foods retailer” at the Clock Cafe, renowned for its earned good reviews but they are much more. A lot of friendly service. for customer service. the food is organic and the staff And don’t forget Farm Direct For vegetables Mrs know exactly what they have and (www.farm-direct.com). They will be Lovell’s Greengrocers, where it is. offering poultry, fruit, vegetables will be offering all the For something to drink before, and freshly-landed fish this festive fruit and vegetables during or after your meal look no season, as well as Christmas trees. anyone can need plus Christmas further than Highbury Vintners at 71 Order online for trees and flowers. They are located Highbury Park. They stock 1,000 delivery or collection. just across the recently renovated wines from around the World, as well If you think you square from the Highbury Barn itself. as 150 ales and beers. They also might eat or drink White Brothers will be equally able to stock all the spirits you could need. too much over the your needs in their traditional store For most of us Christmas starts festive season, then on Blackstock Road. And if you are with buying Christmas cards. The buy your aspirins in advance at C & looking for flowers, either as a gift or last traditional stationer left in the H Chemists at 179 Blackstock Road to make your home even more area, Fish & Cook at 3 Blackstock or Highbury Pharmacy at 14 beautiful, try Miss Pem at 223 Road has a selection of cards, Highbury Park. You may also spot a Blackstock Road, a welcome new wrapping paper, as well as calendars last-minute present. We need our addition to our local shops. and diaries. local stores – use them, don’t lose Most of us like to finish our Mr and Mrs Patel of Raymonds them! Christmas dinner by choosing from a Newsagents at 5 Highbury Park are JOHN EAGAN
The HCA represents over 900 residents and businesses on all aspects of living and working in Highbury, Lower Holloway and Finsbury 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] or write to PO Box 43396, N5 9AD. The opinions expressed in HCN are not necessarily those of the Highbury Community Association and its committee members.
November 2011 • Issue 74 1 The Localism Bill and how it Highburyvintners may affect London Independent wine store New online sales Periodically the newsletter will chart progress on the implications of Wine club & tasting events the Localism Bill and how it will affect the planning framework for Over 900 wines & specialist beers our city and our area. Top quality service & advice The Draft National Planning Policy Framework Free delivery to N4, N5, N16, The Draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) attempted N1, N6, N7 and N8 to consolidate all 25 previous Government Planning Policy Guidance 71 Highbury Park, N5 1UA Notes and Statements into one document. This document draft was circulated for consultation in late July 2011 and closed for comment 020 7226 1347 in October. Newspapers and bodies, including the London Forum – a www.highburyvintners.co.uk voluntary association of societies such as Highbury Community Association (HCA), commented on the draft. Local plans need to be in general conformity with the NPPF, but they can differ from it in the detail if there is clear evidence to support local policy variation.
The London Forum’s concerns with the draft include the fact that the Framework has: HARDWARE FOR THE HOME & GARDEN - • Abandoned any emphasis on using brownfield sites which will place KEYS CUT - LOCKS SUPPLIED & FITTED - considerable pressure on greenfield sites. HOUSEWARES - LIGHT BULBS - TOOLS - • Offered no guidance on where to develop, or whether that PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL GOODS development should be for housing or other uses. LOCKSMITH SERVICES AVAILABLE • Talked of “sustainable development” without defining this clearly or fully. 20 Highbury Park N5 2AB • Changed the playing field for planning. Under the previous system, Tel: 7354 5029 Fax: 7354 5034 development applications had to be determined in accord with the Email: [email protected] Local Plan. The NPPF alters this playing field by proposing that where a proposal is contrary to the Local Plan, the Local Authority will have to prove that any “harm” is “significantly and demonstrably” greater than any benefits in order to stop the development. For help with all your • Removed the requirement for Local Authorities to negotiate accounting and tax needs. affordable housing contributions with the developers of any scheme of more than 15 homes. Fixed fees agreed in advance. In the Forum’s view, the current draft does not show enough Free initial consultation. understanding of London There is no reference to London and its special circumstances in 020 7354 2661 or already having a Spatial Development Strategy which does offer an [email protected] evidence-driven basis for planning for growth within the constrained Office 111, Aberdeen House, opportunities of the region. 22-24 Highbury Grove, N5 2EA. The Forum would rather see: www.taxassist.co.uk/garybarham • The choice of brownfield land being used (where possible) before greenfield sites; • new housing sites which are well-placed to benefit from existing physical and social infrastructure; • a preference for town centre sites for retail, leisure and offices in development plans; • an attempt to retain urban open spaces. FARM- DIRECT Next steps Groceries delivered The Forum has drafted a submission on all these points and sub - direct from the farm: mitted it to the Department for Communities and Local Government. wonderfully fresh & great value. What will the NPPF mean for the London Plan and for Borough Core Strategies? Both of these will need to be assessed for 30 participating farmers & food producers bring you over 600 products, which you can order at the compliance with the new NPPF. click of a button! The HCA will be busy working on how to get the best out of Localism and the new planning framework. If you would like to write Two ways to receive your order: Home delivery or collection from our depot: to your MP about the NPPF and require further detail about these 11 Ronalds Road, N5 1XL. issues, please see the HCA website: www.highburycommunity.org If you have expertise in this area, or would like to be involved, See what’s in season at www.farm-direct.com please do get in touch [email protected] or write to PO Box 43396, N5 9AD. More questions? Call 0845 519 2415 GILL SHEPHERD AND DIANE BURRIDGE
2 Safer crossing – campaign success! We have a great range of charity Dangers still exist for pedestrians and cyclists wishing to cross Christmas packs, moleskin diaries Holloway Road; by the end of the month, the present road works and calendars at Madras Place and Fieldway Crescent will be complete. Members of Islington Living Streets, Islington Cyclists Action To Be Established Group and local residents have campaigned successfully to press Transport for London (TfL) to improve the crossing before cards • gifts • wrapping paper anyone else is injured or worse at the crossing. Working together, we formed a common understanding between Now open Sundays! pedestrians and cyclists of the dangers and design flaws at this crossing. This meant we could establish two new pedestrian 1c Highbury Park N5 1QJ crossings at the junction with Holloway Road together with an 020 7354 1223 improved crossing for cyclists. While Lisa Pontecorvo, who tragically lost her life near Madras Place, is usually described as a cyclist, at the time of her death she was on foot, wheeling her bike across Holloway Road along the pedestrian desire line to Fieldway Crescent. The smoothing out of the “dog-leg” layout of the cycle path – that was confusing to drivers – will mean in 30 Highbury Park future cyclists will be much more visible to drivers.It has been London N5 2AA educational, watching the work day-by-day, to see why the costs of what seems a simple and straightforward change are so high, and that it has taken a person’s life to concentrate minds. This Tel/Fax 7359 7440 close collaboration between pedestrians and cyclists should be a model for future working. That the new crossing also benefits www.lafromagerie.co.uk drivers by providing a clearer, more legible street-scape demonstrates that when they design ‘streets for people’, TfL can Also at do the right thing. The improvements at the Madras Place 2-4 Moxon Street location couldn’t come soon enough. W1U 4EW CHRIS ASHBY, ROBIN HULL, CAROLINE RUSSELL AND PAUL STANDEVEN Breast cancer research fundraising effort raises £1800 Drug & and counting! Health Food Store 17 Highbury Park, N5 1QJ. The Highbury Barn shopping area was in the pink Tel 020 7359 3623 on October 8th – all in aid of breast cancer Organic & Non-Organic • Food • Baby Products research and support. £1800 was raised on the Toiletries • Household Products day, and more money is still coming in to donation Aromatherapy • Homeopathy boxes! The teams at Mrs Lovell’s Greengrocers and To Be Herbal Remedies • Eco Friendly Products Established, along with family and friends, joined forces to bake Organic Fresh Fruit and Vegetables cakes and buns, collect raffle prizes and gather other items Body Building Products together for the fundraising activities. Two tables were set up outside each shop in the Highbury Barn shopping area, and produce and raffle tickets were sold in support of breast cancer charities. October each year is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this is the fourth year that Michelle Lovell (herself a breast MAC McCABER cancer survivor) has organised a fundraising event to support handyman and window-cleaner breast cancer charities. “The first year’s activity was relatively mobile: 07960 037 485 small scale – selling strawberry sticks and some sweets – but it raised over £200,” said Michelle, “and we realised that there was Hard-working and trustworthy, living locally. greater fundraising potential given the kind response from the Recommended by several HCA members - people of Highbury.” Beneficiaries of the money raised will be references on request. Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Campaign, and the Pink I do painting, decorating, small electrical and Ribbon Foundation. The star prize, a large soft toy donkey with a plumbing jobs and gardening at £120 a day very fetching look, was won by James Percival, of Stoke Newington. pro rata. I also clean windows inside and out - James said: “I was both surprised and delighted to win the Breast £80-90 for a 3-storey Victorian house. Cancer raffle – it will make a fantastic present for my sister.” GRAHAM COULT
3 Charles Dickens at home Highbury’s cultural A BOOK REVIEW BY GRAHAM COULT history In her successful book about Agatha Christie local author Hilary Macaskill Highbury boasts a rich and varied cultural past, looked at the author’s attributes as with famous writers being its main, but by no an astute businesswoman who made means only, luminaries. very shrewd property investments. From the literary standpoint, Canonbury In her latest book, the second in stands out as a chief locale. In the house a series which looks at famous attached to Canonbury Tower (just off writers “at home”, Hilary Macaskill Canonbury Square, and dating from the early looks at Charles Dickens. She 1500s), Francis Bacon, philosopher and presents us with fascinating facts, statesman, lived from 1617–1624. Among his which many people are not likely to works was The Advancement of Learning. In the know, however familiar they might next century, from 1762–1764, part of the house be with David Copperfield, Oliver was occupied by the playwright Oliver Twist or Ebenezer Scrooge. Charles Goldsmith. His most famous play is She Stoops Dickens was a homebody at heart, but his home was enshrined in To Conquer. Also, given the previous many buildings over the years. He liked to travel, he sought mention of Canonbury Square, many frequent changes of surroundings, and so being a homebody, people probably know that George home was a moveable feast. Orwell lived there for one year, 1945. Feasting was something about which Charles Dickens was also He is perhaps most famous for the very enthusiastic the reader discovers and he was a great novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. entertainer, both in the sense of being a public performer, but also And we are not done with Canonbury yet! in offering sumptuous meals to family and friends. Canonbury Square was home, in the 19th A further discovery from Hilary's beautifully laid out and Century, to George Grossmith, co-author of The written book is that Charles Dickens’ early life was tough. His Diary of a Nobody, and, in the 20th Century, to father became insolvent a number of times and was imprisoned Evelyn Waugh, of Brideshead Revisited fame. for debt more than once. This caused fairly frequent changes of Now, leaving Canonbury and authors, home and Charles had to earn a living from a comparatively young let's consider some other locations and figures. age in work, which may have been unexpected for somebody with Highbury Place, the site of Highbury's first his social background. These experiences and his incisive housing development in 1774, was the childhood observations of people were worked into his stories, a technique home of the 19th Century politician and which he used extensively throughout his professional life. industrialist Joseph Chamberlain (incidentally, The photographs in this new volume which, like the Agatha he also attended a school in Canonbury Christie title, is a visually compelling coffee table book are mostly Square). the work of Graham Salter. He has a gift for composition, as well Another resident of Highbury Place, was the as obvious technical skill and his pictures complement the text artist Walter Sickert from 1927–1934, who ran and add significantly to the pleasure of looking at this work. A an art school there. Sickert was one of the foreword by Dr Florian Schweizer, Director of the Charles Dickens leading artistic figures of his day, an associate Museum (on Doughty Street, WC1) adds further authority and of J.M. Whistler and a life-long friend of Edgar authenticity to the book. Degas. Charles Dickens at Home would make a wonderful Christmas So, for those of our readers to whom the present. It is a worthwhile investment and an enjoyable and above information is new: next time you are in fascinating read. Its recommended price is £25.00. The two “at any of the areas named, pause and breathe in home” titles are published by Frances Lincoln the heritage. http://www.franceslincoln.co.uk TOM RUBENS
V I C T E R I Get your fantastic Christmas trees, wreaths and garland at THE VICTORIAN TERRACE ENERGY REDUCTION INITIATIVE Mrs Lovell’s Greengrocers A social enterprise based in Highbury; reasonable prices 28 Highbury Park N5 2AA 020 7354 5325
Call us 6 • for a solar electricity/hot water assessment and referral British-grown produce 6 Supplied mostly by local farms • for an Energy Master Plan for your house 6 Juices, jams and pickles available • to mend and draught proof your leaky sash windows 6 Family-run business 6 www.victeri.co.uk Flowers, pot plants and potting soil 07732 628174 or 8348 2896 6 As well as the range of fruits and vegetables! [email protected] We have now joined the HUBBUB team. Preparing Victorian Homes for a Low Carbon future Find us at www.hubbub.co.uk
4 Recent planning issues around Safety in the Emirates Highbury – Islington Council Officers have been busy recently trying to sort out a number of applications from Ashburton Trading Safer (one of Arsenal Football Club's property companies) and Newlon, the club’s chosen Social Housing provider. Neighbourhood Ashburton Trading applied to build a 25 storey accommodation block for 450 students at the junction of Team message Hornsey Street and Benwell Road. Such a tall building is completely out of scale for the surroundings and would Harassment tower over the Emirates stadium. The application was The Safer Neighbourhood Team rejected by Islington Council Officers in August 2011 and supported by the (SNT) in Highbury has been made Greater London Authority Planning Decisions unit. Up to mid-October, aware of increased harassment in Ashburton Trading had not appealed, although they do have six months in Blackstock Road/Finsbury Park, which to lodge an appeal. Along Drayton Park, outside the with men gathering outside cafes Arsenal sports shop, the Club had applied for permission to erect taunting and hassling women on an illuminated advertising panel similar to those seen on petrol their way home from work. If you station forecourts. Council Officers rejected the application on have been a victim of this type of the grounds of harm to the character, appearance, and visual harassment, please contact the cluttering of the street scene and the sign being a pedestrian SNT by phone or email safety hazard during busy times. Islington Council Officers have ([email protected] rejected an application by Newlon to change the external ; Office: 020 7161 8270; Mob: appearance of the social and affordable housing development in 07879 661 405). Any communication will be in the Queensland Road. Council Officers said that the changes proposed needed strictest confidence. to be submitted as amendments to the existing scheme and could not be considered as ‘design clarifications’. ROGER WRIGHT Scam phone calls Criminals are calling people to ensure the scheme is effective and attempting to get hold of their Proposed lorry have advised Council Officers on this. personal details. In one case they Councillors also realise that there is called claiming that a large ban for need for a contact telephone number amount of cash had been left to for people to report any lorries seen the victim in a will and that they Gillespie Road breaking the ban. This is a further needed personal bank details to requirement that needs to be taken transfer the money. Do not give A proposal has been put forward to into consideration when designing the out personal details over the introduce a width restriction on programme. phone; always verify the Drayton Park in the Whistler It is thought Network Rail will use authenticity of the caller. You can Street/Bryantswood Road section Gillespie Park for work they are do this by asking for the company which would be monitored by CCTV. The intending to carry out at Finsbury details and a contact number and scheme is referred to as the ‘Drayton Park Station; using the access via then making follow up checks on Park/Gillespie Road area – Lorry Ban Drayton Park to get equipment on to the internet. Enforcement Programme’ and the main the rails. It is thought that vehicles for purpose of the programme is to stop some of this work will probably use Bicycle theft lorries cutting across from Blackstock Gillespie Road. Bike theft in Islington has always Road to Holloway Road. The proposal is Further information is needed to been higher than in some other not yet formally approved. The gain assurances that the lorry ban will parts of London. Higher value programme will be funded by Islington be fully effective for the area. For bikes have been targeted in the Council and the scheme is a local example, what consideration has been larger blocks of flats and some priority. It is hoped the programme will given to lorries using Gillespie Road stolen from the lockers in reduce the through-traffic currently and then Plimsoll Road, Monsell Road, people’s front gardens. The SNT seen on Gillespie Road and the Romilly Road, Ambler Road or Avenell told us: “To counter this we are surrounding streets. Road as a cut-through from Blackstock trying to get as many bikes as It is proposed to use cameras and Road, to Seven Sisters Road as they possible to be property marked 'pinching' – a width restriction of the do now? and logged on the ‘Immobilise’ road on Drayton Park –near Martineau The HCA would be keen to hear web site, so we have a chance of Street or Whistler Street. There is from people with any feedback, ideas returning bikes to owners and already a speed camera on the corner or concerns on this proposed ban, in arresting the thieves. You can do of St Thomas’ Road and Gillespie Road addition to the planned consultation it yourself online on and it has been suggested that this from Islington Council. Please do get www.immobilise.com or call our could be used for enforcement of the ban. in touch [email protected] or office and we will arrange a visit.” Islington Councillors have write to PO Box 43396, N5 9AD. recognised the need for a further JOHN EGAN, DIANE BURRIDGE camera near Gillespie Primary School AND HANNAH BRISTOW
5 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] HC News • No 74 • November 2011 with your name and address in the body of the email. The festive tradition of Wassailing
trees is first recorded in spirits to ensure a good 1585. The wassail was harvest of fruit in the An example of a poured on to the orchards Autumn. The old way of traditional wassail after harvest as an offering doing it involved the young to bless the fields for the men of the village (plough song coming spring and to ward hands, farm labourers etc.) off evil. The wassail bowl going from farm to farm to Oh apple tree was often passed down drink to the health of the Oh apple tree, we'll through the family. These leading apple tree. In wassail thee bowls were large and exchange for drink one And hoping thou wilt bear Origins embossed or painted with would sing to the tree, make For the Lord does know Wassailing is one of the foliate designs. The bowls libations and dip toast into where we may go oldest traditions with a would be filled with a brew the wassail and arrange it in To be merry another year huge number of local based on ale, cider or wine the branches of the tree to To grow well and to bear variations. Its origins are together with spices and attract ‘the good spirits’. well unknown but it is mentioned served hot. From the placing of the
And so merrily let us be Copyright HCA 2011 • Editor: Hannah Bristow • Printed and published by HCA, PO Box 43396, N5 9AD in various texts dating as toast in the branches of the Let every man drink up far back as the 13th Century Season tree we derive the modern his glass where we find the first Wassailing often takes place expression ‘to raise a toast’. And a health to the old reference to the wassail around Twelfth Night (also Would anyone be apple tree cup. In 1320 we find known as Twelfth-tide) used interested in continuing the Brave boys, and a health references to the expression to mark both the end and tradition of wassailing of the to the old apple tree. ‘wassail’ meaning good the climax of the Christmas trees in Highbury on Twelfth health (from the Anglo- Night? People could take Traditional wassail Saxon wæs hæil) and its part in either or both of two recipe retort ‘drink hail’. In one of ways: these texts, the leader of a be part of the group of 10 very small apples group of party goers is wassailers going from house 1 large orange stuck with described as taking a bowl to house (by invitation) to whole cloves and raising it to the drink the health of a tree 10 teaspoons brown assembled crowd, shouting (need not be an apple or sugar “Wassail!” in the same way or Yuletide celebrations. even a fruit tree); or 2 bottles dry sherry or one might say “Cheers!” The celebration of Twelfth host the group by dry Madeira today. Night included a special invitation, this might involve 1/2 teaspoon grated There are three main cake which would have a brewing some mulled nutmeg types of wassailing. First is bean and a pea set in. The wine/ale/cider and directing 1 teaspoon ground ginger the filling of a common bowl lucky people to find these us to your tree (if you don’t 3 cloves or cup and passing it around were declared bean King have a tree you could use 3 allspice berries to be shared. Second is and pea Queen (the Lord one in the street). 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks taking a bowl to individual and Lady of misrule). 2 cups sugar houses so neighbours can Please contact me if you 12 to 20 pints of cider partake. Third is a Wassailing of apple would like to join in or take according to the number celebration of the apple trees part in any way, perhaps we of guests harvest and the blessing of The purpose of wassailing is could set up a meeting 1 cup (or as much as you the fruit trees. to awake the apple trees Andrew (25 Corsica Street): like) brandy. The wassailing of fruit and to scare away evil [email protected] 6