Cally Festival is all set for Sunday July 3rd
Get ready to clear the traffic and pave the street in people!
The Cally Festival is shaping-up to be a memorable and place-changing event as the whole community pulls together to celebrate the great neighbourhood where we live.
Caledonian Road will be completely closed to traffic between Offord Road and Richmond Avenue for the Cally Festival on Sunday 3rd July. Ever single vehicle will be removed by early morning and for a day the whole street will be reclaimed for kids, parents, visitors, shoppers and revellers.
Described by the organisers as a “pop-up” event, the festival will result in the street being lined with over 70 independent market traders and local shops selling a range of products from designer-maker crafts to home-made cakes.
There will be a live music stage with exciting acts spanning across the genres of rock n’ roll, funk, tropical pop, world music and gospel. Islington’s finest authentic foods can be sampled in the Food Village with a delicious variety of food from all corners of the world to wet your taste buds. All our food traders are ethically-minded, using organic and fresh produce.
Children will be entertained in the Kids’ Zone, with an eclectic mix of activities from circus to craft workshops and storytelling in the tipi. A bouncy castle and some traditional games such as hooking ducks and a coconut shy should keep them occupied for hours on end.
If you’re feeling energetic, you can join in one-on-one football and Wii Fit Tennis, or watch some impressive tricks at the skateboard demo. And tennis fans need not miss out – the Wimbledon finals will be shown live on a large outdoor screen by our grassy patch, provided of course with strawberries!
Rupert Perry says “I’m really looking forward to July 3rd. There’s a great energetic buzz about the organisation of the festival. It’s shaping-up to give Cally’s shops and businesses their best single boost in a generation.”
The festival is being organised by neighbourhood groups including Team Cally and supported by numerous businesses and organisations.
For latest news about the festival, there is an almost non-stop Twitter feed available at http://twitter.com/#!/TheCallyFest. For slightly more sedate online information go to the festival website at http://thecallyfestival.com/thecallyfestival/about
The powers granted to the police allow them to remove any group of people gathered within the dispersal zone (shown above) who are involved in antisocial behaviour or causing trouble or problems for other people.
Local Councillors have backed the extension of a dispersal order covering the Bemerton estate and Thornhill square which began in mid February. It will remain in force until 16th August 2011.
The dispersal order and extra police patrolling have led to a reduction in calls to the police across the area. But there is still a significant level of anti-social behaviour, vandalism and low level crime.
The Cally remains a place where young people congregate from different parts of the Borough. Recently there have been incidents caused by escalating tension between two groups of outsiders.
The police have recently made arrests and sought further orders against identified young people. Identified young people have been traced to their parents’ homes and warning letters issued and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts drawn-up. Homes for Islington and Housing Associations are working closely with the police to bring tenancy enforcement action against the parents of those involved. The Council’s Park Guard officers have been closely involved in patrolling.
Cllr Paul Convery comments “As summer approaches we must stop the Cally becoming a recreation zone for kids from all over the Borough. Scarcely any of the kids causing trouble on the Cally live here. Many families and other young people are seriously intimidated by these gangs of young teenagers. We are determined to take tough action against anti-social behaviour and criminal damage on the Bemerton and adjoining areas.”
Improvements are still needed to the estate but demolition is not the right way to “regenerate”
Islington Council’s leadership has decided that the Bemerton estate will not be demolished. The news was broken last night when the two Executive Councillors responsible, Paul Convery and James Murray, told a large public meeting on the estate that comprehensive redevelopment will not happen.
In January 2010, the previous Lib Dem administration started an “options study” which examined whether the estate might be sold-off to a private developer or housing association.
In May last year, Labour took control of the Council and decided to rule-out any sell-off but agreed to let the study continue and to begin a public consultation. But Labour’s team added a condition – any redevelopment scheme would have to provide extra affordable homes on the estate.
After a long public consultation, residents on the estate weighed up the pros and cons of what a redevelopment of their estate could offer. Over 250 responses were received (representing about a third of homes on the estate) and the Council has carefully considered the widely diverging views of residents.
Although there was considerable interest expressed in some sort of redevelopment there was no categoric support for either of the two options suggested. These would have required demolition of between two thirds and 100% of the estate. In the current tough financial climate, such a scheme would have required over 350 high cost “for-sale” homes to finance it. And the scheme would have provided very little extra affordable housing.
Without clear and unambiguous support from residents, Councillors have decided the project should not continue and there will be no redevelopment scheme worked-up. The Council will officially take the decision at the June meeting of the 8 member Executive committee.
The Council will now take forward an alternative regeneration option that will improve public spaces on the estate – and will also include the redevelopment of the Lyon Street area housing office to provide affordable housing, once the current housing office moves to Highbury Corner in August.
“We have ruled-out a comprehensive redevelopment, permanently” said Cllr Paul Convery. “Much of the estate is in good condition and most people like their homes. We were not presented with a compelling case for redevelopment and there plainly was no clear, widespread support on the estate. However, we are going to find every way possible to upgrade the surroundings of the estate, improve security and continue to work with police, youth services and residents to rid the estate of its anti-social behaviour problem. And we are going to look carefully at small sites on and around the estate where new affordable homes can be built. We shall be talking to and listening carefully to residents and to the tenant management organisation BVMO at every stage over the coming months.”
Papeos nightclub – enforcement action to continue
Pappeos nightclub at 169-171 Caledonian Road
Planning enforcement action is underway to prevent the venue known as “Pappeos” (at 169 Caledonian Road) from operating as a nightclub. Why? Because people live above, next door and opposite to this venue. And it’s loud. Very loud.
We first described the problems at this venue in February 2010 when the operators were using a loophole in the legislation to bypass the usual requirements to hold a license for music and alcohol sales. Then in early Summer last year, the operators managed to wangle a license out of the Council but a few days later they went out of business when the landlord issued an eviction.
The same operators mysteriously re-appeared in November 2010 and sought a planning application to extend the hours to 4am at weekends. Just before Christmas this was refused and a temporary stop order was issued by the Council to block parties over the holiday period.
But this is not just about the hours of operation. The venue does not have a valid planning permission. It is only permitted for use as “cafe/bar, banqueting suite with dancing, meetings and conferences”. This is technically known as Use Class A3.
It does not have permission for Use Class A4 “Drinking establishments – Public houses, wine bars or other drinking establishments”. And it definitely does not have permission to be used as a “Nightclub” which is another use class altogether.
The operators themselves admit the premises are being used as a “wine and cocktail bar”. But it also very obvious the venue is operating on some evenings as a nightclub. The operator when seeking a licence last year verbally conceded that the music, dance and alcohol licence was sought for “nightclub” use. The venue therefore does not have planning permission either to operate as a wine bar or as a club with live music.
Green civic plaque honours the Keskidee Centre
Some of the well-wishers and Keskidee regulars joined MPs and Councillors to celebrate unveiling the Keskidee's green civic plaque
The historic role of the former Keskidee Centre on Gifford Street was marked on Thursday 7th April with the unveiling of a green civic plaque. Council Leader, Catherine West and Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy spoke at the unveiling ceremony which coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Keskidee’s opening.
Named after a singing Caribbean bird, it was founded by Guyanese-born Oscar Abrams in 1971. Keskidee was Britain’s first black arts and cultural centre, it forged new ground for a generation of black British poets, actors, artists and directors.
It had its own drama company, artists in residence and was a hub for African and Afro-Caribbean politics and arts, as well as a creative nursery for homegrown talent. It also catered for the needs of local youth and gave a generation of black teenagers a space of their own.
Linton Kwesi Johnson, educational officer at the centre, created dub poetry there. In 1978, reggae legend Bob Marley filmed his 1978 video for Is This Love there with seven-year-old Naomi Campbell featuring in the shoot. The building is now the “Wosem” church serving a West African evangelical Christian congregation.
In his speech to a crowd thronging the street, David Lammy observed that “as the son of Guyanese parents” he was honoured to unveil the plaque because the Keskidee had “marked a turning point in our history”.
Paul Convery and Rupert Perry attended the unveiling along with other local Councillors including Raphael Andrews, one of the Labour Councillors in Clerkenwell who was a regular attendee at Keskidee when he was a youngster.
Paul, who lives on Gifford Street, says “Oscar Abrams was one of the first locals I met when I came to Islington in 1979. He was an inspirational pioneer amongst the first generation of Black Londoners. The Keskidee made a great contribution to the rich multi-cultural identity of our city.”
More about the Keskidee
Islington’s Local History Centre created an exhibition for Black History Month in 2009 and short history of the Keskideed produced for the exhibition is available by clicking here.
The oral historian Alan Dein produced a programme about the Keskidee which was broadcast in May 2009 and an MP3 recording of the programme can be downloaded byclicking here (this is a 13Mb audio file).
The under-used building which is the subject of controversy
Islington Council’s independent Standards Committee has dismissed all complaints against Councillors Paul Convery and Rupert Perry which were made in June 2010 by the Trustee of a charity that owns the “National Heritage Library” at 313-315 Caledonian Road.
In April 2010, Labour’s team for Caledonian Ward in an article on this website criticised the under-use and dilapidation of the building. The article said the building should be brought back into community use and criticised the stewardship of the building by a charitable trust which appeared not to be meeting its stated charitable objectives.
The Councillors also criticised the Council, under its previous administration, for letting the building’s owners claim 100% relief from business rates.
The Standards committee concluded that Rupert and Paul’s comments “regarding the stewardship of the building and the administration of the charity responsible for the building were either substantially true or the Councillors had reasonable grounds for believing that the comments were true and honestly held that belief.”
The Islington Tribune newspaper has reported the story in detail and summarised the comprehensive investigation’s conclusion saying that Rupert and Paul had substantiated their allegations or had spoken in good faith.
Rupert is reported saying that, now the investigation is over, work could begin on bringing the building back into regular public use. He said “It would make a very good community centre.”
An official summary of the findings and the Committee’s decision has been published by the Islington Standards Committee. The decision note of the committee on 28th March is here; and an extract of the investigating officer’s report is here.
Asad Choudhury receives Mayor’s civic award
Asad and Rupert in a celebratory mood at the Town Hall awards ceremony
Asad Choudhury of the Islington Bangladeshi Association was recognised by the Islington community at the Mayor’s civic awards ceremony on March 24th.
Asad was one of many dozen nominees who were whittled down to a short list of people who have given outstanding service to our Borough.
Cllr Rupert Perry had nominated Asad and, speaking at the awards ceremony, Rupert praised Asad’s extensive contribution to our community. He said:
“Asad Choudhury came to Britain in the early 1980s. He soon was involved in the community and in the establishment of an association for local Bangladeshis. Asad has worked with the Bangladeshi community for over 25 years. The Association has been providing help and advice, as well as health improvement projects, lunch clubs, employment and training and more besides.
“During the 25 years, there have been numerous obstacles to overcome, and in 2000, with the change in Council administration, funding was withdrawn. Despite pressure to close down, knowing that the needs of the Bangladeshi Community still needed to be addressed, Asad and his team continued to work without Council aid, and over time developed and expanded the organisation.
“The good work of IBA is now recognised by many including the NHS, the Council and the Cripplegate and Richard Cloudesley Charities. It its great to see that this good work is recognised in this year’s Mayor’s Civic Awards.”
Cally Councillors say “no more bedsits above the Co-op”
Rubbish regularly builds-up on the pavement outside 1 Kember Street doorway
Cally Labour Councillors have objected to a planning application to build yet more flats above the existing 20+ bedsits currently arranged on 2 floors above the Co-op store at 303-311 Caledonian Road. The owner wants to add another storey on the building and squeeze-in a further 7 tiny flats.
This will expand an already excessively dense residential complex of bedsit rooms which is accessed through a small door on Kember Street.
The scheme is for single bedroom flats only which breaches Islington Council’s policies. The Council wants a wider range of sized flats especially those which are suitable for families. Anyone with children moving into any flat of this size will automatically be “overcrowded”. These 7 flats would be added to a building – with a single street entrance – that already contains over 20 bedsits.
These bedsits are let on very short tenancies and result in a highly transient population. It is notable that currently there are only 2 people living at this address who have registered to vote in all elections.
The application proposes further flats where the quality of accommodation is below standard. The size of each unit barely meets Islington Council’s minimum requirements and 5 of the 7 flats are accessed from a central corridor which means they have a ‘single aspect’.
The application does not provide for adequate waste storage space. This building already relies on a “Eurobin” placed on the pavement outside the street door on Kember Street. This is routinely overflowing with rubbish bags and is quite inadequate. Council policy requires any new development to provide sufficient refuse storage.
The rear of the proposed development on Carnoustie Drive will further worsen the visual amenity of residents living on the adjacent Bemerton Estate. The building already has an exceptionally ugly steel framed escape staircase to the rear – and this was only recently built in order to comply with fire escape requirements.
Details of the application can be read on the Islington Council planning website by clicking here.
** UPDATE (31-3-11) Planning officers have confirmed this application will be rejected for the reasons outlined by local Councillors.
Join us protesting the Government’s cuts on March 26th
Cally Councillors are joining the mass demonstrations on Saturday 26th March at Highbury Fields and in Central London.
Islington is due to lose £335 million of public funding as the Tory Lib Dem Government cuts hit public services across the borough – a total of £4,000 per household.
The Council currently estimates that it faces losses of over £54 million to fund services and £80 million slashed from repairs, buildings, roads and other capital projects. The NHS in Islington could see £90 million slashed from services while the 20% cut to the Met police could mean £15 million less spent on crime-fighting and community safety in the Borough. Spending on public transport in Islington will be reduced by £55 million whilst welfare benefit cuts to Islington residents are likely to total another £40 million.
This year alone, Islington Council has lost 12% of its funding from central government; meanwhile an affluent Borough like Richmond upon Thames has only lost 2%.
To pledge your support for the March 26th demonstration, please go to Islington United Against the Cuts.
York Way needs wider pavements, traffic calming and pedestrian crossings
Pedestrian improvements are badly needed on the southern section of York Way – along the east side of Kings Cross station. Over the next few months Islington, Camden and Transport for London will begin works to widen pavements and introduce better pedestrian crossings along the stretch between Euston Road and Wharfdale Road.
York Way is the boundary between Camden and Islington and – despite many other improvements in the area – both Boroughs have neglected the road in recent years. For obscure historic reasons, Camden Council is the highway authority for all of York Way so it is responsible for the carriageway and the pavements on both sides of the road.
Camden has now published plans for one stretch of York Way – to widen the pavement alongside the station flank wall, to introduce a pedestrian crossing by Caledonia Street and to re-position the main bus stops and the bus stands.
Last year, Islington Council proposed to return York Way to two way traffic as a first stage in removing the entire gyratory that includes Wharfdale Road and the bottom of Caledonian Road. This was intensely opposed by TfL and by Camden – not least because further junction improvements at Euston Road would become very complicated if two-way traffic were reintroduced on York Way without corresponding changes to all the other roads in the area. So Camden has proceeded with a new scheme that has several reasonably attractive features:
- Widened pavement alongside the Kings Cross station flank wall;
- Some widening of the east side of York Way between Euston Road and Caledonia Street
- A pedestrian crossing just before Caledonia Street that creates a traffic “pinch point” by reducing all traffic to single lane.
Cally Councillors are still pressing for further changes to the scheme notably to restrict more of the carriageway to a single lane beyond the new crossing at Caledonia Street. And we are still waiting to see proposed plans for two further schemes: to significantly improve pedestrian crossing at the Euston Road junction; and the Wharfdale Road junction. The Camden scheme is funded by £1m of S106 payment from Network Rail which arises from the redevelopment of the station.
Paul Convery comments “I am disappointed that Camden has still not accepted changes that Islington proposed. There still may be a chance for last minute modifications. And I really want to see the scheme for the Wharfdale Road junction – not least because one of the key elements of the Kings Cross station redevelopment was the removal of the York Way entrance which was next to the Wharfdale Road junction. Ideally I want to see a pedestrian bridge across the tracks at Wharfdale Road but I fear that time is running out. With a price tag of around £8m required to build such a bridge, I really cannot see much chance of capital funding materialising to build this”.
Meanwhile Paul has started discussions between Islington Council and Transport for London to examine the case for returning two-way traffic on Caledonian Road in the stretch between Wharfdale Road and Pentonville Road. This alone would effectively remove the gyratory system around the north side of Kings Cross and bring relief to Wharfdale Road and the other residential streets around it.
A copy of the latest Camden plan can be downloaded by clicking here.
Labour Councillors representing the Cally neighbourhood in Islington 