Correction!!!

Posted on November 11, 2008 by Sophie Talbot

Walking about in King's Cross

Apologies, I posted the wrong venue for the consultation event on 27 November. It's not at the Canal Museum, it's at York Way Community Centre, Tiber Gardens (access via York Way Court, off Copenhagen Street), London N1 0XF.

Also, I have just been emailed by a neighbour who has had her request to attend refused on the grounds that this 'is a targeted event' . A full public consultation will take place in Spring next year. So, for the time being the shortcomings of the first event with its very surprisingly small number of community based representatives and its two hour timeslot remain… Great gig this – run a couple of short events packed with consultants but lacking a representative sample of the community, use a few off-the shelf participative processes, present it all back to your client in fast turn-around glossy report form and wait for the huge invoice to be paid. As I consultant myself I'm often left feeling ashamed of my colleagues out there………
Posted in Road Safety in Kings Cross | Leave a comment

Walking about in King’s Cross

Posted on November 10, 2008 by Sophie Talbot

Googleearth Walking about in this area has never been an easy or safe thing to do, let alone an enjoyable one. It's a regular discussion point on this website and has been the focus of many a feasibility study and consultation process over the years by LB Camden, LB Islington and by Transport for London, all of whom are involved in managing the transport and pedestrian routes around here. Even Network Rail now has a hand in things just to make life even more complicated.

 

TfL's most recent report into walking routes around the station has still to be published. Thanks to Will Perrin's use of a Freedom of Information Act question we are able to see it though.

 

 

Meanwhile, Network Rail's inadequately specified feasibility study into provision of a pedestrian and cycle bridge to the rear of the station which failed to even look at the bridge our community is calling for, was recently accepted by LB Camden. The study said that a bridge is not feasible – not a surprise when the only options it did include were already known to be non-runners whilst the only feasible option was left out. Please sign the petition for a bridge if you haven't already!

 

LB Camden accepted this report on the recommendation of their consultants Colin Buchanan. Download bucannan_study_of_arup_report_oct_08.PDF Buchanan's are currently working for LB Islington, producing recommendations for the King's Cross Movement and Public Space Stategy. You may think that's a conflict of interest, I couldn't possibly comment.

 

Buchanan's organised an initial meeting of stakeholders on September 18th this year, we carried an article on it a little while ago. I also produced a short note following the meeting: Download buchanans_1.pdf.Buachan's have have now produced the official report of this meeting and although I have asked twice for a pdf copy of it, I have so far had no reply at all from Buchanan's. You might like to request a copy direct from Buchanan's.

 

A second event is now planned on 27 November, 6-8pm at York Way Community Centre, Tiber Gardens (access via York Way Court, off Copenhagen Street), London N1 0XF. Please see the papers below for details should you wish to attend.

 

 

I'm in two minds about this having attended the first one. Although very enjoyable, the first event was hurried and rather superficial as a result. I am concerned that LB Islington has contracted out this consultation rather than taking it on internally. I am concerned that the local community and voluntary sector has not been involved in shaping the process and is certainly not being paid for its efforts. I am concerned that Buchanan's left hand might not know what their right hand is doing – or even more worryingly that they do but are prepared to go ahead anyway. I am concerned that Buchanan's have not responded to either of the two emails I have sent them. 

 

I'll probably go to the event just to make my voice heard. Maybe I'll see you there?
Posted in Road Safety in Kings Cross, Transport | Leave a comment

A replacement for our old mini-post office…well maybe, better decide for yourself!

Posted on November 8, 2008 by Stephan Schulte

Interpostbox 

When the mini-post office at Caledonian Road and Wharfdale Road closed, many folks were annoyed that now, the closest place to mail a package was the large post office on the Euston Road.  Well now there is an alternative a bit closer on Caledonian Road, just below Caledonian Street (just south of Tesco) – The Interpostbox Store.

Interpostbox.close-up

 

Several local people have now reported that they were quite satisfied with the services on offer.  While not the same as an "official post office, the services seem to do the trick for most of your regular needs.

Why not check them out yourself and leave a comment on the Bulletin Board so your neighbours will know the pros and cons of this new place.

Posted in How to get things done locally | 5 Comments

Your Neighbourhood, Your Islington

Posted on November 6, 2008 by Sophie Talbot

Every planning decision made in Kings Cross is governed by a strategy set every few years by the Council.  If the 'core strategy;' says you can't have buildings over a certain height in an area or demolish old buildings or have buildings painted pink or made of spaghetti then you can't get planning permission for them.  So the strategy is very important and the Council have just finished consulting on one.


The online consultation process assisted people to comment by using a straightforward questionnaire. In addition, written comments were welcome. Consultations of this kind are difficult, the documents out for comment are often quite complicated and difficult to follow unless you are an expert. Because of this the role our local councillors have becomes even more important. 

Paul Convery Paul Convery is one of the three councillors for Caledonian Ward, the ward that includes King's Cross on the Islington side. Paul leads on issues relating to King's Cross and he submitted an excellent detailed response to the consultation, an extract of which appears below. 

"I am especially concerned that the Core Strategy Issues and Options document fails to reflect the dynamics of growth around Kings Cross/St Pancras and the impacts/remediation required to properly integrate new development on the Camden side of the border with the established communities on the Islington side which are mainly in Caledonian Ward. 

"Firstly, I consider the Core Strategy Issues should recognise that the night-time economy does not contribute to good urbanism and to achieve more balanced living in neighbourhoods close to Kings Cross/St Pancras. I welcome the recent development of Regent Quarter and Kings Place and appreciate that extant policy has encouraged a cultural area in the neighbourhood east of Kings Cross Station. 

"However, commercial pressures are beginning to exert a damaging effect on the established shops, restaurants and small business premises on Caledonian Road, particularly south of Copenhagen Street. I believe the distinctiveness and character of this area should be protected from the pressure to establish night clubs and large scale retail. 

"Equally, there is a risk that the parts of Islington east of York Way will not be well integrated into the permitted developments of Kings Cross Central. I consider that the Core Strategy should state that Islington will encourage east-west permeability into Kings Cross Central. I particularly argue that current plans may encourage a 
funnelling of traffic and footfall onto Copenhagen Street between York Way and Caledonian Road. I believe that policy should encourage several new east-west pedestrian routes, in particular: 

  • a new crossing point should be encouraged at Wharfdale Road spanning the Kings Cross railway tracks linking Regents Quarter, Kings Place, Crinan Street and points east of Wharfdale Road with the new Western Concourse at Kings Cross;
  • a route from York Way at its junction with Randells Road through Bingfield Park through the Bemerton Estate towards Bridgeman Road."  

Thanks for the intro Will 😉 

Posted in Planning, Licensing and Regulation | Leave a comment

Any Which Way

Posted on November 5, 2008 by Sophie Talbot

Now on at the Only Connect Theatre

“Two schoolboy friends divided by murder, Any Which Way is a life changing play about knife crime and its consequences.”

Only Connect Theatre: 32 Cubitt Street (from King’s Cross it’s a five minute walk down Kings Cross Road, turn right into Fredrick St then left into Cubitt Street).

3-29 November evenings and matinees including schools performances.

Click here to book tickets.

AWW1 Coleridge coined the phrase the “willing suspension of disbelief”. Theatre can require this of us in the most immediate way whereas film and TV can never do it quite so well. For this play we have a story that takes us from harsh reality to ghostly apparitions and all inches from our faces. Be prepared – this is mini-promenade theatre not telly or film. Allow yourself to feel what the piece asks of you and from the moment you enter you’ll feel the hairs rising on the back of your neck. Four youths stare at you from the steps and another four from the balcony. They are pointing and sniggering at you. You can almost smell the rubbish in the chamberlain bin and look, there’s another bloody shopping trolley overturned in the road. Normally you’d walk quickly by all this, right now you are stuck and must watch the story unfold. (Pictured left: Kareem Dauda as Stefan, Alicya Eyo as Sarah)

If you are an adult you know this is a world you are not part of. But do you know just how deep it goes? We berate these kids as silly, irresponsible – they don’t take life seriously do they? They don’t understand the consequences of their actions do they? But what is the social contract in a London that is grey for these kids. Grey sky, grey existence, grey moral framework. One character’s mum poignantly wants the best for her son but recognises that London’s greyness is inside of him.

For these kids the life they define burns through the greyness and friendship is all, even beyond the grave. Best mates want each other to live their lives to the full: “You need to go forward and do that for me, innit.”

The women in the story seem to hold many keys yet all they can do is watch, goad, pull back, nurture, teach, struggle, challenge and finally mourn.

You know this story; you’ve seen fictional accounts and read about the real life consequences taking place horrifyingly regularly. But this isn’t about being told, this is about being there – accept the invitation and walk in these kids’ shoes for a moment.

AWW4 It would be inappropriate to single any performances out. With each actor so fully committed to their roles the pace in all its light and shade – and yes there are many comedic moments – kept the audience totally absorbed from the first.

Kate Waters fight sequences will shock you, Mic Pool’s use of video will surround you taking you right into the action, the deftly handled lighting will keep your attention pinned exactly where it needs to be. (Pictured right: Kareem Dauda as Stefan, Junior Miller as Chorus, Phillip Clarke as Akin, Andrew Brown as Tyrone)

Go and see this and leave your expectations at the door. You won’t be sitting down, be ready to move quickly to get to the action. You are not just the audience; you are there – just like walking through an estate or passing a group of kids on the street. We see it – that is we view it – but somehow it doesn’t fit with us. We leave with a question – how can we impact their world when all we seem able to do is denigrate it?

Running time: just under an hour

Posted in Arts and Entertainment | Leave a comment

It’s happening at Housmans this November…

Posted on November 3, 2008 by Sophie Talbot

Logo This month we’ve got talks and live performances – hopefully something to appeal to everyone’s taste. Aside from great music events, we have Oscar-winning director Mike Figgis coming in to talk about the digital revolution taking place in the film world, a development that’s democratised the process of film-making, and challenged the dominance of the big studios.

HackneyElizabeth Carola – ‘Hot’ – stories from Hackney

Book launch: Sunday 9th November 5pm

Elizabeth Carola launches her latest short story collection ‘Hot’. Ten stories set in Hackney. Ten intertwined lives. A dole officer learns how to poach rabbits. A banker’s devotion to his allotment threatens his day job. An advice worker wrestles with parasites. A jilted lover speculates on the nature of torture. A group of climate activists fail to organise a piss up in the brewery of (very) late capitalism. How we live now.

In the words of Muriel Spark, for those of you who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing you will like!

Sinclair John Sinclair – ‘Rock and Revolution with the MC5 and the White Panther Party’

Talk: Monday 10th November 1pm

Housmans welcomes Detroit poet, one-time manager of the band MC5, and leader of the White Panther Party, John Sinclair, who will be signing and talking about ‘It’s All Good; the John Sinclair Reader', not published until April next year, but exclusively available on the day.

John is well known for his role in activism and publishing throughout the 1960s, and then for his management of the seminal hard-edged proto-punk MC5 from 1966 to 1969. Under his guidance the band embraced the counter-culture revolutionary politics of the White Panther Party. But it was his arrest after a series of convictions for possession of marijuana, for which Sinclair was sentenced to 10 years in prison, that made him a national star of the counter-culture.

This sentence sparked the landmark "Free John Now Rally" which brought together a who's-who of left-wing luminaries, including pop musicians John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Phil Ochs and Bob Seger, jazz artists Archie Shepp and Roswell Rudd, and speakers Allen Ginsberg, Rennie Davis, Dave Dellinger, Jerry Rubin, and Bobby Seale. Three days after the rally, Sinclair was released from prison when the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the state's marijuana statutes were unconstitutional.

Frankie ‘Singing the Struggle: Voices, Women, Peace’ with Frankie Armstrong

Music evening: Wednesday 12th November 7pm

Frankie has been voicing her values and political commitments through song for over forty years. She has sung in Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park against the Vietnam war, in favour of women’s choice and against nuclear arms.

While she doesn’t believe that song can change the world, she does believe that it can play a crucial role in keeping up hope and spirits. This, in turn, help[s give the energy and stamina to keep up the struggle. Songs can speak to our heads and our hearts in equal measure and help us to keep this balance in our lives.

As well as performing, she has been running Voice Workshops for the past 33 years, which are very much about helping participants ‘find their voice’. In order to make ourselves heard, we must feel we have the RIGHT to speak or sing.

This evening will be a mix of Frankie chatting and singing, having you, the ‘listeners’, involved in voicing – no need for anxiety; the whole point of her work is to help people not to feel judged – but for everyone to feel that they have a valid voice to contribute to the whole.

The evening will also contain fun – she is currently obsessed by Edward Said’s wonderful saying, “lightness is the aesthetic of resistance”.

Figgis ‘Digital Film Making’ with Mike Figgis

Talk: Wednesday 19th November 7pm

Mike Figgis has roots in experimental theatre and music, which are just two primary influences that contribute to the creative vision in all of his feature films and documentaries. Over the course of the past 20 years, Figgis has emerged as a visionary filmmaker who thrives on taking artistic risks.

He is possibly most famous for directing the Oscar-winning ‘Leaving Las Vegas’, but the British born filmmaker has exhibited his more eclectic personal style in such films as ‘Stormy Monday’ and ‘Liebestraum’, while more recently his innovative use of new digital technology led to the making of ‘Timecode’, one of the first films to be shot entirely on digital cameras.

His enthusiastic uptake of the digital format has led him to write a book on the subject, ‘Digital Film Making’. On the one hand the book is a handy guide, offering the reader a tutorial in how to get the very best from digital film-making technology. But above all it sets out to encourage people to pick up a camera and have a go.

Mike Figgis will be talking about the digital film making revolution, answering questions and will also be signing copies of his book.

Groove ‘Forward Groove: the radical history of jazz’

Music with Chris Searle

Saturday 22nd November 3pm

Chris Searle’s book ‘Forward Groove’ is a survey of recorded jazz from its beginnings to the present, seeking to show how its musicians always reflected in their music the is sues of their day, from mass migration and the struggles against racism, to a hatred of war, the assertion of internationalism and the aspirations towards a fair and just world.

Searle looks at attempts to resist racism through music, including the Civil Rights movement in the US and the continuing fight against racism in the US and Britain.

This book will appeal to jazz lovers everywhere and those interested in culture and music as an expression of real history – jazz reconciles scattered cultures with diasporan sounds and instruments.

Chris will be discussing the radical history of jazz, playing excerpts from key pieces of music, answering questions, and also signing copies of the book.

Sweat No Sweat @ Housmans

-Triple Bill featuring King Blues’ frontman Itch Fox, Clayton Blizzard and PJ & Gaby

Music: Saturday 22nd November 6pm-9pm

No Sweat regularly host the best nights in politically charged music, with all proceeds going towards fighting sweatshop bosses around the world. This evening No Sweat bring a selection of their favourite artists to Housmans, all playing in an unplugged style. The fantastic line up includes:

 King Blues’ frontman Itch Fox – skacore street politics and protest with a smile and a wink

 Clayton Blizzard -  the Finest in Political Hip Hop

 PJ & Gaby – emotive and outsopken FolkPunk

 …plus anti-sweatshop speeches, free drinks and a raffle.

 This event is guaranteed to pack out, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

War War Resisters’ International website launch party

Talk & party: Wednesday 26th November 7pm

War Resisters' International (WRI) is an international anti-war organisation with members and affiliates in over thirty countries, whose international headquarters are based in the offices above Housmans. This evening WRI will be launching their new website, On 26 November War Resisters' International will be launching its new website. The website – or better knowledgebase – provides information on everything of interest to WRI: issues of conscientious objection and recruitment all over the world, issues of nonviolence, and war profiteers.

The website also includes the new Conscientious Objection Information System (COBIS), which includes a global database of conscientious objectors and combines this with WRI's co-alert system.

Andreas Speck from War Resisters' International and Anselm Heaton from Netuxo Ltd will give brief presentations on the new website.

Drinks and snacks will be provided

Info: http://wri-irg.org

http://netuxo.co.uk

Lee ‘Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – burning down the Ark’ with Henk Targowski

Music: Saturday 29th November 5pm

Reggae producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry is one of modern music’s undisputed legends; his groundbreaking production techniques proving hugely influential to this day. However, his visionary talents came at a price – by 1979 the pressure of the Jamaican music industry and the excesses of his lifestyle caught up with him, leading Perry to a mental breakdown that damaged both his personal and musical life. Perry’s studio, the Black Ark, fell into disrepair, and it looked as if Perry would never work again.

In April 1979, Perry received a visit from Henk Targowski, an impresario and owner of Black Star Liner distribution, a record company based in the Netherlands. Targowski wanted to distribute Perry's material, but was not prepared for the madness he would encounter at the Black Ark – reels of master tapes lay strewn on the floor, and the recording equipment was next to useless due to water damage from a leaky roof. The once proud studio was now little more than a junkyard.

Along with some associates, Targowski decided to attempt a salvage operation, trying to refurbish and restore the studio to working order. Financed by Black Star Liner, construction work progressed throughout 1980, and new equipment was ordered and installed. Along with a motley crew of European studio musicians, Scratch erratically recorded what would eventually become the ‘Return Of Pipecock Jacxson’ album – the last album to be recorded at theArk.

By the spring of 1980, however, the restoration project was abandoned, and Black Star Liner's crew left Jamaica for good. What had been painstakingly rebuilt in the past year was dismantled and destroyed by Perry. Worse was to come: one morning in 1983, the Black Ark burned down. Fire raged through the concrete structure, the temperature inside becoming so intense that it eventually blew the roof off. The studio, the source of some of the most powerful music ever recorded, lay in ruins.

"The Black Ark was too black and too dread," Perry explains. "Even though I am black, I have to burn it down, to save my brain. It was too black. It want to eat me up!"

We are delighted to welcome Henk Targowski to Housmans to recount his memories of Lee Perry, and discuss all aspects of this seminal producer’s work. Henk is also the publisher of the now ultra-rare fanzine ‘The Upsetter’, copies of which we hope will be available on the day.

Guitar John Sinclair – Guitar Army

We are delighted to have John Sinclair visiting us on  the 10th November to talk about this latest book ‘It’s All Good: the John Sinclair Reader', and wanted to flag up this other important work ‘Guitar Army: Rock and Revolution with the MC5 and the White Panther Party’. ‘Guitar Army’ is about a time when revolutionaries kicked out the jams against The Man’s war machine. The costs were high but the possibilities immense.

As the founder of the White Panther Party, John Sinclair was set up by the police, having rallied thousands against the establishment. Sinclair became one of the most legendary political prisoners of the time, and with the help of John and Yoko and other comrades he successfully fought for freedom.

This new edition of the 1972 classic includes many never-before-printed photographs of MC5 and the incendiary tribal scene. It also includes a bonus CD, with recordings of the MC5 and other revolutionary bands, Allen Ginsberg, Black Panther Bobby Seale, White Panther Meetings and more. Get a copy, come down on the 10th and John will sign it for you!

Diary

Peace Diary 2009

The 56th edition of the Housmans Peace Diary is being published in October. Not only is it a beautifully presented, pocket-sized diary, but thanks to its World Peace Directory it serves as a unique reference tool for peace, human rights and green activists everywhere. The Directory lists almost 2000 peace, environmental and human rights organisation in 150 countries, and is the only directory of its kind.

The Diary and its Directory (both a non-profit service to fellow activists) continue to depend on much voluntary labour. We welcome help in promoting the Diary – appropriate leaflets are available from Housmans Diary Group – either call the shop on 020 7837 4473 or email nik@housmans.com.

The Diary is available from Housmans and can be sent direct to any destination worldwide for just £8.95, post-free. It makes a wonderful gift, whether for your loved ones, fellow activists, or even yourself! To get your copy either get in touch with the shop by phone or in person, or email orders@housmans.com

Click here for more information.

Housmans
 5 Caledonian Road, King’s Cross, London N1 9DX

020 7837 4473

shop@housmans.com

Posted in Books | Leave a comment

Insect farm in Bingfield Park promises more birdlife

Posted on November 2, 2008 by William Perrin

Bingfiel park insect factory What used to be a dead tree in Bingfield Park is now an insect farm.  The Greenspace folk at the council (thanks to Ranger Lawrence) have been trying to figure out ways to improve the park's biodiversity.  There is very little cover or food for birdlife. 

So they chopped down a dead tree and, instead of throwing it away embedded it to rot down naturally.  The decaying wood will attract insects.  Which will feed the birds.

If you haven't been up to the park before it looks lovely right now in the Autumn.  The community has invested a lot of time and effort into rescuing the park from urban decay (it used to be a race track for stolen mopeds).  Bingfield Park is just off York Way – turn down Randell's Road and there it is. (map)

Posted in Wildlife and Nature | Leave a comment

Vegetarian rescues Royal Mail Post Office at Kings Cross…

Posted on November 1, 2008 by William Perrin

IMAGE_331 Kings Cross finally has gotten a new classic.  One of the most reliable and longest running vegetarian / vegan take aways, established in 11 Warren Street has recently expanded to Kings Cross and at a surprisingly central location, the Kings Cross Post office.  The shop is run by Mena, a former pharmacist who can also advise word or two about health (their health food store on Warren Street is full with herbal remedies and supplementary foods and they have years of experience).  On offer at Kings Cross Post Office is now anything vegetarian and some vegan food, mainly based on a Indian lentil and peas basis, but you can also get an Italian Ciabbata with vegetable filling and salad and a rather "unhealthy" coffee.  Most food is self made and self cooked.  This comes at a time when the classic Tony's health food shop at Caledonian Rd is still being refurbished.  Vegetarians and vegans will be delighted to have finally an option in between Burger King, Mc Donalds and KFC.  But anybody else can check them out now, after dropping that letter or parcel.  What's more Mena tells me that they can cater for business needs in the eara around Kings Cross and Euston that need a vegetarian emphasis. Now that many will be coming into the post office for superb lunch packs, the future of the post office at Kings Cross must be certain.

Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink | 1 Comment