King’s Place listens – revised neighbour ticket offer

Posted on August 10, 2008 by William Perrin

Kingsplaceconcerthall Sarah Ward has been talking to the Kings Place people about improving their neighbours ticketing offer to include more accessible times for local people following her post here.  Great news that Paul Dimoldenberg and Peter Millican the developers have been listening – Chrisitian Brideson the ‘head of ticketing services’ has mailed Sarah with a new neighbour offer.

‘As a small thank you for the understanding shown by local residents during the three year construction period, 2,000 Free Tickets are being offered for a range of concerts* on the first three days of the Kings Place Opening Festival. These will be available on a ‘first come first served’ basis limited to two tickets per booking and are subject to availability.

* Applies to concerts in Hall One and Hall Two up to and including the 5.15pm performance on Friday 3 October and all performances on Wednesday 1 October and Thursday 2 October.’

‘Local residents can claim their Free Tickets by calling the Box Office on 0844 264 0321 (local rate), or by calling into the Box Office in person.  Revised Box Office opening hours Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm. Closed Bank Holiday Monday 25 August. ‘

Well done Sarah – a small moment of cheer during this grim summer.  All we need now is some sunshine…..

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Bingfield Park – war on squirrels – an update from the front line

Posted on August 10, 2008 by William Perrin

Nuttery_suet_feeder The long running struggle of bird feeders Vs squirrels continues in Bingfield Park (click here for some history and video).  After successful trials of a Nuttery seed feeder in the dense branch cover of what may be a mulberry tree I have installed two new Nuttery feeders in the same tree – one for fat and one for peanuts. These feeders have a steel cage surrounding the food that finch sized birds can get through but starlings and squirrels can’t.  In theory.  Repeating earlier tactics I have suspended them on multi-core stainless steel rope and fittings that the squirrels can’t chew through (again from the wonderful Arthur Beale ships chandlers in Covent Garden).  To stop people nicking the feeders i use a ladder to hang them well out of reach.

The big strategic problem is the lack of cover in the park for small birds. In part this reflects the trouble we used to have – when the park was redesigned the undergrowth was all stripped out to improve visibility.  The Council have now planted a shrubbery for cover on the South side, but only half of it has survived – the spot is drier and darker than anticipated.  So I have to put feeders in trees with dense branchesto give cover for the birds – which means the squirrels can always get to them, requiring effective squirrel proof feeders.

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Free Concerts For Local Resident’s at King’s Place – Part 2

Posted on August 7, 2008 by William Perrin

After responding with disappointment to the offer from Kings Place due it’s restrictive terms and conditions (i.e. free tickets only before 5.15pm on a weekday for locals) I would like to publish Kings Place’ official response:

Dear Sarah

Thank you for your recent feedback on our neighbour promotional offer. I am sorry to read that you are unable to take up our offer and appreciate how frustrating this must be for you.

Kings Place Music Foundation is a charity, which runs concerts in the building and development of community projects. This is funded by revenue from ticket sales.

Our aim however is for our program to be accessible to the wide ranging community which is why our tickets are affordably priced. Our offer was designed to be a gesture to the local community while respecting our aims and values as a charity.

Once again please accept our apologies that you were unable to take up our offer, however we hope that, as a valued neighbour, you will be able to enjoy the facilities of Kings Place in the future.

With regards, Christian

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Open Up King’s Cross Station

Posted on August 7, 2008 by Sophie Talbot

Bridge_without_text    Lots of news this week from the campaign to Let Us Through King’s Cross Station. We want a bridge to replace the entrances we are going to lose, especially the one at the junction of Wharfdale Road and York Way. We have new pledges of support from locally based businesses. A Peer takes up the cause. Lib Dems and Conservatives take action. Network Rail, still the same old easily challenged arguments… Find out about these stories and lots more by subscribing to the blog at www.kingscrossaccess.com.

Posted in #googlebridgeKX, Kings Cross Station Refurbishment | Leave a comment

The Driver seeks to expand it’s License

Posted on August 5, 2008 by Stephan Schulte

6a00d8345162e169e200e54f27dbae88348 In this case however, it’s not outward but upward!!!  The Driver, the former pub at 2-4 Wharfdale Road, and soon to be something more, has filed an application to extend it hours.  But in this case, not for longer hours, but to simply extend their exisitng hours so they also apply to their new floors.

They currently have a License that allows the following:

Activity
 Sunday to Thursday Friday and Saturday
permit the sale of alcohol, exhibition of films, performance of live music and dancing, facilities for making music and dancing 09:00 and 02:00 09:00 and 04:00
permit the playing of recorded music
24 hr/day
permit the supply of late night refreshment (supply of hot food and drinks) 23:00 and 02:00 23:00 and 04:00
permit all the above activities between the end of permitted hours on new Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day.

They now wish to extend this license to the upper floors which will be used for the following purposes.

Floor Use

Capacity
Ground Pub

120
1st Dinning

70
2nd Lounge

70
3rd Lounge

60
Total

320

For those who are not familiar with him, the owner of The Driver is Billy Reilly.  Mr. Reilly owns a number of establishments in London which previously included all the clubs in the Goods Way Yards.  For some of us, the point we got to know him was when he cancelled the contract for The Church, the event that saw hundreds of drunks invading King’s Cross for a Sunday drink-a-thon.  I have attached a recent letter that I received from Billy to again assure local residents of his intentions at The Driver- Download Open_letter_to_residents_5_aug_08.pdf

I would add that prior to his requesting permission for the Change of Use for the upper floors at The Driver, he called for a meeting with local residents and explained his plans and took questions.  I believe his application received no objections.

Lastly I would mention that the outside of The "new" Driver will be covered by a Greenwall similiar to that which is being developed by our own Sophie Talbot and friends of Wharfdale Road.  The Driver has now contributed £2000 to Sophie’s Community fund for her Greewall.

Should you wish to commet on this on his application, you can email the Licensing team at licensing@islington.gov.uk prior to 15th August 2008.  Please be sure to include you address and refer to the Application No. Prem/3927.  However as he has always been responsive to local folk, you might simply want to drop by The Driver and speak to him directly…that’s what I have always done.

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Frankly I thought I lived in King’s Cross Too…

Posted on August 2, 2008 by Stephan Schulte

Multimap_map This week, I just happened to pick up both a copy of the Camden New Journal and its sister publication the Islington Tribune.  Naturally, by their very titles you would assume that one is primarly about the goings-on in Camden, while the other focuses on items of interest in Islington.

What surprised me however this week, was the attached article, which appeared in the New Journal, but not the Tribune.  You will want to read it because it’s about King’s Cross, and contains one of the biggest announcements to date – the arrival of Central St Martins College to the Good’s Way Yards – Download kings_x_article_CJN_31July.pdf

I don’t know about you, but I always thought that most of us lived in King’s Cross, so I found it surprising that this article did not also appear in the Islington Tribune, the one that I perceive to be our local paper.

You might say, "what’s the big deal?"  But, frankly I do think it is a big deal because it reinforces the perception that Islington is not part of the Railway Lands development – a very hot topic when you consider the battle between local residnets and Network Rail over closing off the station to Islington.

I hope the local press is reading this, and sees the error of its ways on this story, and more importanly considers who exactly does live in King’s Cross!

Posted in Current Affairs, Planning, Licensing and Regulation | Leave a comment

Free Concerts For Local Resident’s at King’s Place

Posted on July 31, 2008 by Stephan Schulte

Untitled1Kings Place has 2,000 free tickets for a range of concerts on the first three days of the Kings Place Opening Festival, 1st – 3rd October 2008.

The tickets are available for local residents and people working in the area on a ‘first come’ basis and limited to two per booking.

Local residents and those working in the area can claim their free tickets by logging on to www.kingsplace.co.uk and using the promotional code ‘neighbour’.

Posted in Arts and Entertainment | 3 Comments

King’s Place Planning Application P081436 – Removal of Condition 6

Posted on July 30, 2008 by Stephan Schulte

6a00d8345162e169e200e551978dd288338Those of you who previously objected to the recent Licensing Application that was submitted by King’s Place, might now be confused to see another Planning Application that seems to cover the same matter.  It does and it doesn’t.  To explain…  This past January, King’s Place had gone before the Licensing Committee seeking to expand the hours during which they could provide entertinment and serve alcohol until as late as 0130 hrs.

Their application was not successful to the extent they desired, however they were granted an extension until midnight (see former story).  As their hours were a Condition (6) of their original planning application, it is this application that must now be amended, thus this latest Application P081436 to amend Condition 6.

In preparation for this application King’s Place executive John Nugent, circulated a letter to many residents explaning what they were doing.  I have attached it here for those who may not have received it. Download kings_place_letter_30june08.pdf

As there had been some concern voiced that this latest application was a ploy to again seek longer hours, I have now confirmed with the Planning Officer involved that this was not the case.  Her comment is as follows:

Dear Mr Schulte

You are correct in your understanding of the situation.  The owners of

Kings Place

merely want to tie up the planning condition with the recent hours granted by Licensing.  They do not want to extend the use of the outside terrace until midnight.  No other conditions are proposed to be changed.

Helen Dilks
Deputy Team Leader Development Control

Given this information, If you wish to comment on this latest Planning Application P081436, you can do so by clicking the following link: I want to comment?  You will be directed right to the Planning Departiment’s online comment form associated with this specific application.  Alternatively, you can send an email to planning@islington.gov.uk. Be sure to include your address and the application number. All comments must be received prior to 21 August.

I personally, will not be commenting, however I do encourage those others who may have differnt views to express them.  It is only through strong local voices that the Council will understand the level of local community interest on this and other matters.

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