Cally Road single yellow lines removal – does anyone know what is going on?

Posted on February 11, 2015 by William Perrin

 

IMG_8097Bad news for local traders on the bottom of the Cally Road as the council proposes taking away some of the the single yellow lines to be replaced by double yellows.  There are two single yellow sections – opposite each mid-way between Wharfdale Road and Balfe Street. But a baffling notice from LB Islington on lamp posts (below) is alarming people and makes it hard to understand what is going on (see update below).

It’s an odd one this – Islington has a slightly unfashionable policy of making it easier for local people to use their cars for short shopping etc journeys across the borough, the so-called ‘Residents Roamer‘ ‘making it easier for you to shop locally or visit friends and family’ and the debate around this in 2011 was in part in the name of supporting local businesses.  And one of the purposes returning two way working to a section of the Cally Road always seemed to be to humanise a space dedicated to thundering road traffic at the expense of pedestrians and other road users.  So taking away short stop parking spaces for loading etc outside local homes and businesses in the name of smoothing traffic flow would be a bit odd.

The bottom part of the Cally has a number of small businesses that cling on in, at times difficult conditions. Tony Rees who runs a shop and lives in this bit of the road there has written to Cllr Convery about the proposed parking changes:

‘This will prohibit all parking, loading or unloading outside our homes and businesses at any time. This was never mentioned when the two way proposal was put forward, we would have vigorously opposed it if it had, and we can see no justification for it now. This is a fundamental change that will affect all the residents and businesses on our side of the road. It needs to be discussed properly with the council putting forward irrefutable evidence of the need for this change, not slipping it through with a load of other minor alterations across the borough. Can you please look into this for us and let us know exactly why the council think this change is necessary, and ensure the local community is properly consulted.’

The consultation notice is a masterpiece of statutory notice gobbledegook, with no illustrative map nor context:

cally road islington traffic control order

 

And they wonder why people don’t get engaged in local decision making.  I understand that there is somewhere a consultation notice – when I get that I shall post it here.  From a brief chat with a council officer I understand that this is part of the ‘post implementation review’ of two way working.  If anyone could give us chapter and verse on this it would be welcome – there’s nothing on the council website.  To declare an interest I own a small flat in this section of the road.

UPDATE

In the comments, Cllr Convery helpfully says:

‘ In plain language, it’s proposed to stop parking in the (newly restored) northbound lane of Caledonian Road. Now that Caledonian Road has 2 way working, vehicles parked in the northbound lane are an obstacle to northbound traffic. Vehicles and cyclists have to pull over potentially into oncoming southbound traffic. The Council is proposing to stop parking in the northbound lane to remove that risk.’

In parking-speak this is ‘waiting’ stopping your car and leaving it there.  This is different to ‘loading’ when you stop for deliveries etc.  LBI Officers have sent a map:

cally road parking waiting and loading proposals map

The map seems to confirm this but also proposes that loading in peak times is also restricted – which is painful if you are expecting a delivery.  Both these restrictions are corollary to the return of the Cally to two way traffic but weren’t advertised at the time – I am still not clear how a consultation on these changes is supposed to work – where the council provides evidence that the problem is severe enough to warrant these changes etc. and listens to what people have to say.   The statutory notice though says you can write to Public Realm, 1 Cottage Road N7 8TP quoting reference TMO/4399.

Posted in Road Safety in Kings Cross, Transport | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Camden Town Hall extension – massive increase in roofline with daft ‘hat’ extension #camden

Posted on February 8, 2015 by William Perrin

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Camden is being asked by hotel developers to bust through local roofline heights and set a precedent for increased densities and crowding in Kings Cross with an oversize extension to the 1970s ‘Camden Town Hall Extension’ now vacated by the Council.  The vertical extension is a gold/bronze structure that without any apparent irony the architects describe as a ‘crown’.  To me, atop the Town Hall Extension it looks like a friend who suddenly tries to get in with the latest fashion by wearing a stupid hat.

The planning consultants Donald Insall Associates say in the Historic Building Assessment application:

‘Whilst in some views from the south the additional roof storeys would intrude into the setting of the listed building, the total high has been set so that it does not diminish the dominance of the tower spire as a townscape feature within the local skyline.’

And in some babble that is hard to take seriously the developers/architects say:

A new characterful lightweight extension would replace the existing blank roof plant above eighth floor level, which is quite visible in longer views and provides an unsatisfying unfinished feel to the existing building’s top. The proposed extension would increase the height of the Annex by two storeys creating a legible top. The tripartite sub-division of the building into a clear base, middle and top would help to reduce the building’s perceived bulk; the enhancement of the legibility of the vertical bays and the contrasting character of the proposed extension would draw the eye upwards to the new crown which would provide a satisfying termination to the existing Annex, and improve the squat proportions of the existing building.

It’s simply the developers trying to cram in extra square footage so that can make more money.  The building is destined to be a hotel and the only purpose this daft structure serves is to give a nice view to visiting executives from Europe – it serves no functional purpose for the people of Camden or Kings Cross.   It’s terribly low quality design too – the 1970s building, whether you like it or not is striking and well formed and on the other side of St Pancras in a similar marmite fashion is the masterpiece of Colin St John Wilson, the British Library building.  The bizarre confection proposed here is simply not good enough to be right opposite the Gothic revival spire of the Midland Hotel at St Pancras.

The Friends of Argyle Square have been engaged in the debate with the developers and council for some time.  They say:

‘We are all horrified at the design for the roof-top.   We’ve attached two images from the application.  The upwards extension adds 50% to the height of the main body of the building, which is already very tall in comparison with the buildings around it.   This extension makes the building extremely top heavy; it looks uncomfortably distended, something like a waist-band after Christmas dinner (that’s our third picture).  There is no polite way to say this: it’s ugly!

‘The building is in an extremely sensitive location; part of the vista around King’s Cross Square, with its Grade I Listed King’s Cross Station, and immediately opposite the much-loved, Grade I Listed St. Pancras Chambers.  Many other surrounding buildings are also listed, including the very low-rise Town Hall, right next door.  And the planning system has a duty to protect not just listed buildings themselves but also the context of listed buildings, their setting.  The annexe is an extremely prominent item in the context of this treasure trove of listed gems and its development must respect the setting.  In contrast the submitted design takes a thuggish approach to its neighbours.’

The busting through the roof lines is the big problem here – planning permissions work on precedent and if this hat on the town hall extension passes it will lead to a rash of taller buildings over the next few years crowding in Kings Cross and St Pancras.

You can find all the documents for yourself on the Camden site by searching for application 2014/7874/P or email the case officer David.Fowler@Camden.gov.uk and tell him what you think by Thursday 12 February.

All together now – ‘Where did you get that hat?…..‘ a song about a man wearing a stupid hat so that he could make some money, quite apt here.

Pictures above are copyright the developers/architects and are used on a fair use basis as part of a public debate.

Posted in Architecture, Big developments, Planning, Licensing and Regulation | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Residents take apart Institute of Physics case on eve of planning meeting @physicsnews

Posted on February 5, 2015 by William Perrin

iop roof lineThe controversial plans for the Institute of physics building at 4 Balfe Street go to planning committee for decision tonight (1900 at Town Hall on Upper St). Cabe Franklin who lives next door to the proposed building has found some substantial holes in the IoP’s case in these slides.

As Cabe set out and also in my view the IoP’s light data is wrong, they use misleading photographs and have some ludicrous numbers on economic benefits apparently based upon a 1994 study of an american community hospital.  And describe Cally Road retail as ‘derelict’ – the only retail properties derelict are those this site has been sitting upon for years.

Worryingly despite all this wonky analysis the council case officer is recommending that the committee approves the proposal – which in my view effectively flushes the conservation area down the loo – with barely any conditions.  Setting this precedent in the Keystone Crescent conservation area (busting through roof lines, unsympathetic materials, breaking of planning policies) will have a knock on effect for all Islington’s conservation areas as developers can just cite precedent.  Remarkably the proposed S106 agreement seems to make no allowance for local compensation for loss of local amenity.  It’s a very poor piece of public administration, in my view.

Posted in Big developments, Planning, Licensing and Regulation | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Caledonian Ward Partnership meeting Wednesday 11 February 7 pm All Saints Chruch

Posted on February 3, 2015 by William Perrin

team callyIf you have issues you want to raise about living or working in the area around the Cally Road then go along to the Caledonian Ward Partnership meeting Wednesday 11 February 7 pm All Saints Church on the corner of Carnegie Street and Caledonian Road – N1 9QW (map).

There will be at least discussion on lights and bike parking around Cally Bridge and dumping of rubbish by householders.  Local waste dumping in my experience is often local people who are tenants/victims of a rogue landlord in the micro rooms along and under the Cally. Their flats are so small you have to live with the rubbish next to the bed, so every morning they dispose of it on the way and little supermarket carrier bags build up in drifts around lamp posts – the council should not have granted permission for these buildings without proper waste management.

The partnership says:

The Caledonian Ward Partnership is working together to improve the community. If you are active in the area whether as an individual or an organisation then you will be very welcome to attend. This meeting is the place where local people and agencies meet, understand and influence local services.There are some big changes in the neighbourhood. What is going on??? Decorative lights are being install to illuminate the Cally Bridge, not only to make people feel safer but to make a statement about the area. Complementing this, new cycle racks are to be installed, and artists are being sourced to design them.

Furthermore, a clampdown to reduce the waste dumped by householders on the high street is to take place.The Council has agreed to pilot a new scheme that will stop tonnes of waste being dumped and causing a nuisance.

All this, the Ward Improvement Plan and Local Councillors Paul Convery, Rupert Perry and Una O’Halloran will be present. It will be a chance to voice your views directly and participate in local decision that affect you and your neighbourhood. Look forward to see you there!!!

For more information about the Caledonian Ward Partnership click here or see the Team Cally website click here. For any other enquiry please contact Sam Rowe on teamcally@bemerton.org or call 0207 609 8959.

Posted in Community groups, Community stuff, Democracy and Elections, How to get things done locally | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Major Balfe Street-Cally Road development for Institute of Physics at planning cttee 5 Feb

Posted on January 29, 2015 by William Perrin

cally facadeOne for the diary – the big development proposed by the Institute of Physics for Balfe Street and the Cally Road goes to planning committee on Thursday 5 February at 1900 in the Town Hall on Upper St.  Anyone can attend.  To bag a speaking slot speak you have to email enquiries@islington.gov.uk

IoP have made some changes to their plans – notably removing the awful saw tooth factory North light roof design for the Cally side.  But the building remains very big for it’s plot, busts through roof height and other guidelines in the conservation area and looms over the bottom of the Cally Road stealing loads of light from people in excess of guidelines.  If the council grant this then in my view, they won’t be able to stop all other roof lines rising in the conservation area and we’ll see a forest of this sort of thing.

Here’s the latest proposal for the Cally elevation

 

cally elevation revised

and here is the previous design

cally elevation original

The roof is no longer saw toothed but is still vastly higher than the conservation area rooflines.

From the communal garden for the properties behind the site the view is still pretty awful and will comprise loads of people behind glass staring at the garden and people in it, as this section shows.

communal garden

 

And the Victorian warehouse/factory on Balfe street is still badly brutalised  with banal steel and glass.  The Institute of Physics anticipates 216,000 new visitors per year about 850 per working day – so I guess that there won’t be anywhere to park your bike in the vicinity any more.

It isn’t too late to comment even outside the deadline – in practice Islington accepts comments right up until the meeting you can do so by emailing planning@islington.gov.uk and quoting the application number  P2014/3577/FUL.

You can find these and more drawings on the council’s site if you search  P2014/3577/FUL or ‘Balfe Street’ in their planning applications search thing.  Drawings here are copyright the architect etc I am using them here on a fair use basis.

 

 

Posted in Big developments, Planning, Licensing and Regulation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Shadow Attorney General, human rights barrister and Kings Cross MP resigns after taking the mickey out of someone’s house

Posted on November 21, 2014 by William Perrin

In a moment of high bathos this evening Emily Thornberry MP for Islington South was apparently sacked from her front bench role, for which she was highly qualified after tweeting a photo of a builders house in Kent extensively draped in St George flags, a phenomenon that apparently she hadn’t seen before.

I am at loss for words at so many levels.

Posted in New | 7 Comments

Wonderful, rather moving map of Islington’s dead from WWI – ‘the streets they left behind’ #WW1

Posted on November 11, 2014 by William Perrin

Islington Council has produced a touching digital memorial to the boroughs first world war dead in a map of the houses to which 9,400 people did not return.  Have a look – it’s rather poignant to see the name and description of someone who died who would have been your neighbour in some form 100 years ago.   It literally brings it home from the war memorial on Upper St.  There’s a good write up of it on the council website.

‘The STLB project draws upon the database created for the Islington Book of Remembrance, which accumulated the names for all casualties of conflict (military and civilian) from the 20th century up to the 1950s. This is where we are gathering memories about these people and media such as images of them and their families.

The STLB focuses just upon the First World War casualties and locates them on an interactive map by their last known address. The poppies which mark each man are scattered around the world, because we have collected information about all casualties with an Islington connection.’

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund

Posted in Community stuff, Kings Cross local history | Tagged | 1 Comment

Cemex in Kings Cross must be prosecuted @cemex_uk

Posted on October 20, 2014 by William Perrin

noisy Cemex plant Rufford StreetCemex a colossal Mexican concrete company bought UK conrete-ier Readymix and the knackered old concrete plant sandwiched between Randalls Road, Rufford Street and the railway.  They have a long history of incredibly noisy, in my view illegal behaviour.  We have been covering their mis-demeanours on this site since 2006, most recently last year.  And now they are at it again.  Local resident Stuart (a lawyer) copies me his Saturday email to Cemex:

The noise coming from the site today is unbearable. I cannot hear myself think and I cannot concentrate on work I have to do following a 50 hour working week.

You have been carrying out the activity I have complained about before whereby a man with a mallet bashes the cement mixers presumably to remove concrete as part of a cleaning process. This is primitive and unbearably noisy. Since 0925 this morning this has been non-stop (3 hours and counting). It is a Saturday. The noise far exceeds any other construction noise that would be tolerated in a residential area.

When they are battering away like this it is a like a huge atonal church bell echoing through the neighbourhood.

Cemex in 2006/7 was investigated by Islington’s environmental health team after local people (including me) had made a number of complaints – here’s a letter from Islington to Cemex  (karas to cemex).  In my view Cemex are committing what is known as ‘statutory nuisance‘ – basically when a business repeatedly interferes with people’s right to quite enjoyment of their property.  The way statutory nuisance works, it is for the council to prosecute nuisance makers.  In 2006/7 to stave off possible prosecution Cemex agreed a noise management plan which you can see here: cemex noise management plan.

Over the years many complaints have been made in different ways and local people have tried to work with them.   Cemex though in a modern environmentally friendly guise have a management pattern which seems to be to let things slip until complaints get to a high level, then correct things and let them slip again over the following months and years.   Given the amount of construction in London and in the immediate area this must be a lucrative plant with aged most-likely written off facilities having money wrung out of them – the community should look at whether this is an appropriate site for a plant any more and whether a high enough price is being charged for its environmental impact.

Way, way back in the 1960s the application to build a concrete plant here was turned down twice by the council largely on noise grounds who were then over-ruled by the planning inspector – his report RMC Rufford St, Inspector, 1961  The area then was just as built up in a different way -there were buildings where the park now is and 1-2 Rufford Street now flats was a warehouse.  Anyone living there would have known that there was a concrete plant when moving in, but would have assumed reasonably that it abided by the law and did not commit nuisance.

As well as noise, every day Cemex receives many lorry loads of material to make concrete and lorries leave carrying concrete.  These gouge huge holes in the road where 30 tonne trucks make a very tight turn grinding out several huge potholes.   The holes are probably the biggest in Islington – you could raise a carp in one.  On a basic health and safety level these are huge vehicles making a reverse turn across a pavement with no banksman.  This would not be allowed on a building site.

Posted in Anti Social Behaviour, Crime etc, New, Noise, Noisy CEMEX concrete plant Rufford Street | Tagged | 4 Comments