You are very cordially invited to…

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Sophie Talbot

WebPoster

…the first event I have ever produced. Following on from the incredible success of the TolpuddleKX festival earlier this year I thought I'd have a go singlehandedly! I'm attempting to bring fringe theatre onto our very doorsteps… and not any old fringe either. This is a chance to see brand new short plays written by some of the UK's best new writers: the Lucky Dogs Collective. The Dogs were formed via the Royal Court's Young Writers' Programme and support each other to further develop their writerly talents.

I will be on stage in the first short play and will be needing the support of as many friends and neighbours as can make it. It is nerve wracking to be producing and performing on my own doorstep! 

The on-the-door ticket price of £7 covers three performances, a feast of either carnivorous speciality or vegan delight and a pint of guesting real ale. The second short play is presented by Sally Beaumont, up and coming coordinator of the Lucky Dogs. The evening will be rounded off by a fantastic rootsy folk set from local band the Northern Celts who you may remember had us all dancing at TolpuddleKX.

I have been working with the Central Station bar, together we hope to make this a monthly event further widening the customer base at this increasingly community focussed venue. The recent refurbishment there with a brand new restaurant, roof terrace and comfy bed & breakfast accommodation are just the start for Martin, Duncan and the staff there.


Posted in Arts and Entertainment | Leave a comment

The King’s Cross Racetrack strikes again…

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Sophie Talbot
 Crash-090916-2 Enjoying a well earned pint after work in local pub The Ruby, Simmonds Bar or Miller's, doing the last minute shopping at Tesco's or hurrying home to or from the station pedestrians and cyclists were witness to a spectacle worthy of a Formula One race or Rally Cross high jinks yesterday evening. 

 

If only Murray Walker had been there to commentate: 

 

The blue car speeds past closely followed by a black one both clearly racing each other around and across the King's Cross Gyratory system down The Cally to take that oh so tempting hair pin bend at Balfe Street: 'Break Neck Corner'. 

The blue car takes the corner well at high speed, missing all obstacles, well done, fantastic driving by those fearless young lads – they're away! 

The black car doesn't fair so well and careers off the road mounting the pavement to hit the cycle parking bays in front of the telephone boxes at great speed. The sound echos out, a massive thunder clap. Both airbgs in the black car inflate, thank god no-one is hurt. 

The two unlucky lads get out looking bewildered but otherwise fine. The crowd gathers, three fire engines from Euston arrive in seconds to make the scene safe, dowsing suspicious fluids leaking from the now smoking black car with sand to avoid any possible explosion. 

 

Given no-one was injured, it was a thrilling sight and one I'd have enjoyed enomously had I been at Lydden Hill race track. But I wasn't.

 

Thanks to Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police refusing to allow LB Camden or Islington to scrap the horrendous King's Cross gyratory, or introduce a 20 mile an hour speed limit on this notorious attraction for boy racers, pedestrians and cyclists in the high density residental areas that form this race track remain constantly at risk.

 

KXG1

King's Cross Gyratory marked in red

This time no-one was hurt. Just seconds before pedestrians and cyclists had been walking directly in the path of the crash ready to cross over the road at Balfe Street, it doesn't bear thinking about had this happened in those few seconds.

TfL and the Met please, please think very seriously about the pleas from our locally elected politicians who are pressing you to scrap the gyratory and introduce a 20 is plenty speed limit before you respond with your set answer – this time you could do something incredibly positive.

If you are reading this article, whether or not you live or work in King's Cross, Please sign the 20 is Plenty petition.

Posted in Bad Gyrations KX Campaign, Road Safety in Kings Cross, Transport | 9 Comments

Kings Cross Social club – new bar in south part of Kings Cross

Posted on September 15, 2009 by William Perrin

Kx social club The south part of Kings Cross seems to go through up and down cycles faster than the rest of the area. It suffered from the change of footfall when the old Thames Link station closed.  But I am picking up reports of a new pub/bar on the corner of Brittania Street – the Kings Cross Social Club you can check out this review from a Stoke Newington website (where the owners hail from – I borrowed their photo) and a Facebook group.  There is a launch party tomorrow (Wednesday) will check it out soon and see if the owners can make an offer to locals.

Posted in Food and Drink | Leave a comment

20 Miles an hour for all of Kings Cross campaign started

Posted on September 13, 2009 by William Perrin

An official petition and campaign has started to get Kings Cross emerge into a 20 Miles only area.  The campaign initiated by the local Kings Cross Lib Dem Team is the result of witnessing a rather tragic event of a fatality near Marchmont Street.

All stree20ts at Kings Cross on which people live should be reduced in speed.  This should also include streets that are part of Transport for London, like Acton Street for example, where two, almost three uni-directional lanes invite motorized traffic to speed up beyond even the current the 30 miles limit.  

The campaign can be signed here:

20splentyforKX

Local Labour councillors have also been trying to raise this issue before, although this petition is a first so far.  The neighbourhood can only hope that Labour can unite with Lib Dem on this issue as it would truly serve the interest of many vulnerable Kings Cross residents, such as those with children, disabilities, cyclists and many others, and would improve quality of life without a doubt.  It could be even conceivable that the campaign would include both sides of wider Kings Cross (Camden and Islington) as similar problems exist on Caledonian Road where a single lane merges into a uni directional dual lane.

In a discussion with me, Lee Baker, who co-organising the petition, agreed with me, that in the case of TFL not willing to reduce speeds on TFL roads, the least they could do is insure that nobody is able to exceed 30 miles any longer.  I suggested that ways to do this include a reduction of the width of the streets (for example to open up space for proper cycle lanes and / or popular residential car parking). 

Regardless of party loyalties, if traffic is too much, and too fast for you at Kings Cross, go and do support this opportunity of a petition to voice our concerns !

Sign Here

Kill_your_speed

Picture Source

Posted in Transport | 7 Comments

New Life For Historic Gas Holders

Posted on September 12, 2009 by Stephan Schulte

Feix__Merlin_webJohn Ashwell of Northdown Street, spotted this piece on the web that illustrate some of the short-listed designs for the gas holders that will be re-erected on the old Railway Lands site.

Take a look at this link – View Designs

What are your thoughts?  Comment Below.

Posted in Kings Cross N1C, railwayslands | 3 Comments

Royal Mail Delivery Problems

Posted on September 7, 2009 by Stephan Schulte

Pa_rmlogo The following has been reported by Caroline Shearing of New Wharf Road:

A number of residents in New Wharf Road have not received Royal Mail deliveries for more than two weeks.  To date – 42 canal boats, 10 houses, six flats and one office are among those affected. 

New Wharf Road’s regular postman has been moved to another route and Islington sorting office is now using casual staff to deliver post to the area (or not, as is the case).  Numerous items of post containing information that could lead to identity fraud are missing.  

Anyone concerned about their postal deliveries should call Royal Mail Customer Service on: 01752 387112 (thus avoiding having to endure the infuriating options on the 08457 740740 number that Royal Mail would rather the public use).

Have you been affected by this problem.  If so, what did you do.  Please comment in the section below so other residents can benefit from your experience.

Posted in Noticeboard | 1 Comment

Local Band Luna Kalamata back at Gillespie Festival

Posted on September 6, 2009 by William Perrin

Local band Luna Kalamata were formed around Kings Cross, rehearse at SOAS played their first ever gig at The Cross Kings in York Way. They are returning to play the Gillespie Park Festival on Sunday the 13th September after headlining last year.

Luna Kalamata who are onstage from around 2;25 on the main stage play acoustic music from the Balkans: Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Bulgaria etc  a selection of Klezmer favourites and their line-up features musicians from England, Turkey, Greece France and Japan.

The Gillespie Park Festival runs until 5pm. Entry is free and features local musicians and lots of stalls and events for children and adults. Gillespie Park is opposite the old Arsenal stadium near Highbury tube station. The festival is organised by Friends of Gillespie Park in collaboration with Islington Ecology Centre.

More about Luna Kalamata

Gillespie Park

Logo1  

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

USA Pizza & Burrito Bar seeking permission for late-night activities

Posted on September 6, 2009 by Stephan Schulte

Usa_logo The Community Bulletin Board has just been advised that an applicatiion has been received by the Islington Council Licensing Team on 3 September from USA Pizza & Burrito Bar located at 65 Caledonian Road (at Northdown Street), London, N1 9BT seeking permission for the following licensible activities:

  • Permit the sale of alcohol between 11:00 and 05:00 on Mon. to Sun.

  • Permit the provision of late night refreshment between 23:00 and 05:00 on Mon. to Sun.

Local residents can comment on this Application, but must do so before 1 October 2009.  Send your email to: licensing@islington.gov.uk.  Be sure to provide your name and address and refer to the name and location of the establishment.

For more information contact:

Dominic Ping
Licensing Support Officer
Licensing Team
Islington Council
Tel: 020 7527 3031
Alternative contact: Emma Rolls 020 7527 3421

What's your opinion?  Will you be supporting or objecting to this application.  Let your neighbours know by commenting below - (note that comments made here are not part of the formal planning process).

Posted in Planning, Licensing and Regulation | 5 Comments