Neighbourhood Fix-It – reporting local street problems

Posted on May 19, 2007 by William Perrin

Mattress_308_cally You can see in the top left hand corner of this site a list of the latest local problems reported via the easy to use Neighbourhood Fix-It website.  If you want to report a street problem just go to their site, enter a postcode and click on the map – you can even upload a photo.  Reports get passed to Contact Islington who get on and fix the problem.  If you report something in another council area the website magically works out who to send it to. This takes a lot of hassle out of working out where to report things you see on the street.  Over time, hopefully the map will show nicely where problems arise

I have had a long debate with MySociety about Neighbourhood Fix-It and am pleased to see it working well.  MySociety also developed the excellent and very easy to use Writetothem site for writing to your Councillor and MP for free which I can strongly recommend for local campaigning (they are busy updating the newly elected Cllrs etc right now).

Posted in How to get things done locally | Leave a comment

Bollards to you too

Posted on May 17, 2007 by William Perrin

Tilloch_st_bollard Bollards are very humdrum things but if they are removed or put in the wrong place all sorts of thing can go wrong.  We have had two bollard problems here in North Kings Cross.  The ten metre long pedestrian Tilloch Street off the Cally Road is a remnant of the old grid system.  It used to be abused heavily by fly tippers, skip dumpers and illegal parkers as the old bollards were wrecked.  Working with the Council i got some new bollards put in and some trees planted.  Then someone smashed the locks on the removable bollards and wrecked things again.  Cllr Convery has had one replaced with a fixed bollard and is trying to get somethign done about the other

2huntingdon_street_bollards On dead-end Huntingdon Street on the other side of the Cally running off into Barnsbury a street gate traffic barrier was replaced by some two bollards (i don’t know why).  Fantastically the Council has not put the bollards close enough together.  A well-driven small car can get through the gap.  You couldn’t make it up.

Posted in Anti Social Behaviour, Crime etc | 1 Comment

On a low income? Get your energy needs sorted out!

Posted on May 17, 2007 by Sophie Talbot

Gleen_logo I’ve just had the GLEEN experience and it’s been great. If you are on a low income like me, then I’d highly recommend it. Greater London Energy Efficiency Network (GLEEN) run a number of schemes for local authorities including LB Islington. I asked them to come and visit my flat to see what, if anything they could help me with. I certainly wasn’t expecting what happened next… I was handed a number of low energy lightbulbs for free. That was nice, then… Two guys booked an appointment to fully draughtproof the flat for free. And that was nice, then… A team of four guys arranged to come and install a new gas boiler and gas central heating (in Battlebridge Court we are all electric). That too was free. So now, I have a cosy flat that’s many times more energy efficient than it has ever been, I have constant hot water and water pressure to die for. That was nice.

Contact GLEEN via their website at www.gleen.org.uk. By the way, I highly recommend Montrose Building Services, they were very professional and most pleasant.

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Bank Holiday Event – 28 May

Posted on May 15, 2007 by Stephan Schulte

Gig_pixThis just in from one of our neighbours Alastair Murray – advance notice of this month’s Last Monday Club on Bank Holiday Monday 28th May that will be taking place at The Cross King’s on York Way, just South of Copenhagen Street.

For more info, gigs and songs on http://www.myspace.com/guitarfeverduo   

Posted in Arts and Entertainment | Leave a comment

Sponsor Me – Please!!!! (Alastair Murray that is)

Posted on May 15, 2007 by Stephan Schulte

Church20logo One of our neighbours Alastair Murry is getting involved in the following event and is looking for your support.  This just in from Alastair:

Please sponsor me for the St Martin-in-the-Fields Pilgrimage! I’m taking part in this year’s pilgrimage to Canterbury on Friday 25th – Monday 28th May. Please sponsor me! Whatever I raise in sponsorship will be shared between Connection at St Martins and Housing Justice UNLEASH, which supports the network of churches around London dealing with the needs of people who are homeless and on the margins. http://www.housingjustice.org.uk  Pilgrimage info http://www.smitf-pilgrimage.org.uk/

Giving is easy (OK less hassle..) via this web page http://www.justgiving.com/AlastairPilgrimage or you could drop me a line if you want to know more.

all the best,
Alastair

Posted in King's Cross People | Leave a comment

Too much stuff in your small flat? Give it away to local people on Freecycle

Posted on May 14, 2007 by William Perrin

Freecycle If like me you have a small flat overflowing with stuff then why not have a go with Freecycle to give things away to local people.  I have shifted dozens of DVDs and a whole set of encyclopaedias to people in Islington.  It is basically a give away email list – people put an email around a local list with stuff to give away.  I have seen everything from plant pots to three piece suites on offer. One of the nice things is that you can choose who you give things to.  Islington has almost 5,000 people on the list, the most of any London borough and probably the most densely Feecycled place in Britain.  Also if you are say a student or looking for stuff it is a great place to pick up things to furnish your flat.

You can sign up by clicking here it can take a day or so for it to start up.  You can get quite a bit of email  and it is best to set up a filter for it.  Thanks to Jema for suggesting a piece on Freecycle.

Posted in How to get things done locally | Leave a comment

What Would The Sun Say?

Posted on May 14, 2007 by Stephan Schulte

Tree_lower_northdown_2How do you describe this?

Yet another tree destroyed – this time on Lower Northdown Street.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop this!

Posted in Anti Social Behaviour, Crime etc, Wildlife and Nature | Leave a comment

Horticultural Resource Centre – Open Day

Posted on May 14, 2007 by Stephan Schulte

Horticultural_poster_v2 Received the following notice from one of our neighbours Lisa Pontecorvo regarding an Open Day at the Islington Resource Centre on Thursday 31 May from 10am to 3pm.

See where the best bedding in London is grown: an opportunity to visit one of the country’s most sustainable nurseries. See how bedding plants for Islington’s parks and open spaces are produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. Pick up some useful tips along the way.

Come to the Open Day at:

The Islington Horticultural Resource Centre (Entrance via Islington and St Pancras Cemetery)
High Road
East Finchley
N2 9AG

Thursday 31 May 10am-3pm

For more information please contact Tommie Durkanon 020 8444 9185 or 07904 104073.

Lynn Hebblethwaite
Greenspace Ranger
Greenspace and Leisure Division
Islington Council

Posted in Wildlife and Nature | Leave a comment