To find out about
The Localism Bill: Opportunities, Concerns & How Proposals Might Work in Practice
you can attend a seminar that Camden Community Empowerment Network is holding on the afternoon of Friday 25 March at Voluntary Action Camden (293-299 Kentish Town Road). You should book your place first by sending an email to cenadministrator@vac.org.uk.
You can find details of the speakers (from Camden Council and the voluntary sector) and papers about the Localism Bill here.
Submitted by Andrew Long, apparently Google is considering a major move to King's Cross Central.
Read the story from the Telegraph.
Couple of bits of PR surfaced in the last few days on prospective tenants in the Kings Cross Central or railway lands site North of the station. Always good to see international businesses talking about moving to Kings Cross. As ever it's a long term game but hopefully we'll see the University of Arts students this Autumn.
The Eurostar is important but so is the coming CrossRail and improved links out to Heathrow and the City – as we wrote when the route was announced Kings Cross sits handily between the two if you go one stop to Farringdon and change when Crossrail is running.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that Google may be in talks to take a major lump of space – 700,000 square feet. This would be a big upshift for Google in London. I've been to their Victoria offices many times – whilst they aren't exactly packed in there they have nothing like this space. This isn't a done deal so has to be treated with a big pinch of salt as we saw with Sainsbury HQ not moving.
Pictures have emerged BNP Paribas Real Estate building on the site they bought last year. The pic look s a bit like a bad close up from Sim CIty will see if i can get any better.
If you come to this post looking for Kings cross office space then this site is handy.
The Islington Farmer's Market people have just sent this notice:
>>Islington Plant Fair on Sunday 27th March, held at the Islington Farmers’ Market, Penton Street end of Chapel Market 10am-2pm
Spring is almost upon us. We’re holding more plant fairs than ever before, including a bumper fair in Islington this year. On the 27th March you’ll be able to find a vast variety of plants on offer from a variety of locally based independent specialist nurseries, so there’s no excuse not to get out in the garden and start digging!
From grasses to cacti; the growers will be on hand to give you enthusiastic and expert advice. Many growers sell at the Chelsea and Hampton Court shows so really know their stuff. Whether you’re after unusual perennials, vegetable plants, herbs and cut flowers or spring bedding we will have everything you need, plus all your regular farmers and food producers.
Locally-grown plants are hardier and suited to our climate. They have travelled short distances for brief periods of time from the nursery to your garden, meaning that they will prosper for longer whilst imported plants will struggle.
Brief bios of nurseries attending
Participating nurseries include:
Test Valley Nursery- Hampshire
George and Julia Benn of Test Valley Nursery specialise in less common and new hardy perennial plants along with the more traditional cottage garden varieties. Plants are left outside over winter to ensure hardiness, so you can be sure that you’ll have plants which can withstand any conditions, particularly after the winter we’ve had!Bigtrees – Hampshire
Neil Hosland-Round has two Bigtrees nurseries, one in Buckingham and one in Lymington on the edge of the New Forest. The trees and shrubs he grows vary from showy ornamental species such as mimosas and elegant Silver Birches to heritage apple and cherry trees. You don’t have to worry about risking your back by carrying home a tree with you either, as Neil offers a delivery service around London.The Culinary Herb Company
Peter Sikora set up the Culinary Herb Company in 2008 and now provides Londoners with a huge range of herbs for every cooking taste. His stall is certainly one to ‘browse by scent’, and the perfect first stop for putting together a windowsill herbary!Rosie’s Garden Plants- Kent
Jackie Aviolet (aka Rosie) grows a little bit of everything on her nursery near Maidstone. She has unusual-looking prickly cacti, colourful Spring bulbs and well over 30 different types of rose bush. Jackie is one of the plant fairs’ real characters and is always happy to stop for a natter with customers.
The following information was provided to the Community Bulletin Board by Stephanie Garner-Winship, MAGPI West Neighbourhood Officer, Community Safety Partnerships Unit, Islington Council.
Islington Police and the council have put in place a Dispersal Order in the Bemerton Estate and Thornhill Square area of Islington to run from 18 February 2011 – 17 May 2011.
This is in response to an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) by groups of young people congregating in the area. It will provide extra protection to residents over the next three months.
1. What is a Dispersal Order and how does it affect me?
A Dispersal Order enables the police to tackle problems with people behaving anti-socially and making life difficult or unpleasant for other people.
It’s used to deal with groups of two people or more who are causing problems in the area.
If you are going about your usual business in the area and not behaving in a way that could intimidate or upset anyone else, then the dispersal order will not affect you.
2. How do I know where it is?
There will be signs in the area which will include a map showing the dispersal zone boundaries.
Map of Area Covered by Dispersal Order
3. What can the police do?
Dispersal Orders enable the police and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to direct groups of people who are causing problems to split up, leave the area and not return for 24 hours.
It is a crime if you do not do what you are told (‘directed’) to do, and will lead to arrest.
4. Under 16?
If you are under 16 years old and you are not with a parent or responsible adult (over 18), and you are involved in anti-social behaviour, police officers or PCSOs may take you to your home address or to a place of safety.
This does not mean you are not allowed to be in the dispersal zone if you are under 16. If you are behaving in a reasonable and considerate way, the dispersal order won’t affect you.
5. What if I live inside the dispersal zone?
If you live within the dispersal zone, you cannot be directed to leave it but you can be directed to disperse (split up from the group of people).
6. How is a direction given?
The officers will explain to each person what direction(s) they are giving them, complete a ‘stop and account’ form for each person and ask for their details. Whenever possible they will give them information about the direction they have been given and a map of the dispersal zone.
If you are given a direction, you have not committed an offence at this stage. It is a criminal offence if you do not do what you are directed to do.
7. What if I’m arrested?
It is a criminal offence to breach a direction you have been given by a police officer or PCSO. This can result in a criminal conviction with a punishment of up to six months imprisonment or a fine of up to £5,000.
If you repeatedly breach directions and you are convicted, the police and council will consider applying for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO). This is far more serious and can place an individual under strict conditions, and is punishable by up to five years imprisonment if breached.
For further information you can contact Caledonian Safer Neighbourhood Team on
020 7421 0271 or 07876 132092 . Alternatively you can contact the council’s Community Safety Team on 020 7527 4200.
This is a reminder that the next Caledonian Ward Safer Neighbourhood Panel's next meeting is on Thursday, 10 March , from 7 to 9 PM at King's Place, 90 York Way.
The specific room has yet to be confirmed so please look for signage and directions on the day in the King's Place Lobby when you enter the building.
The Panel's Agenda will be as follows:
1. Welcomes and apologies
2. Janice Grant community Pay Back
3. Amendments and matters arising
4. Update from the Safer Neighbourhoods team
5. Cally Festival
6. Confirm date of next meeting
7. Any other business
All are welcome.
To follow the activities of the Panel, here are the Minutes of the last meeting – Download Caledonian_Ward_Safer_Neighbourhood_Panel_Minutes_6_jan_2011
Many Thanks
Mohamed Hammoudan
Neighbourhood Coordinator, Team Cally
The Bulletin Board had been wondering just what was going on at the garden on the Caledonian Road, just West of the bridge over the Canal, so we went to our "source" Lisa Tang, of the Thornhill Bridge Community Gardeners. Here is her report. (Please click the picture to see a larger plan.)
After extensive consultation, Big Lottery (Community Spaces) awarded funding to local community group Thornhill Bridge Community Gardeners for developing the space on the west side of Caledonian Road into a new outdoor classroom.
The site has been extensively landscaped and redesigned by landscape architect Johanna Gibbons and will feature interpretation boards, a ditch with marginal aquatic planting, an invertebrate wall, stag beetle pyramids and local schoolchildren's wood carving incorporated into two new sculptural seats.
The garden will be launched in a special ribbon cutting ceremony on April 5th featuring the Mayor of Islington, local councillors and local schools. Pupils from Vittoria Primary School will take part in woodcarving workshops in the morning and afternoon with artist Karen Hansen - www.karenhansen.co.uk
This outdoor classroom forms part of the Regents Canal nature conservation area and is a Site of Metropolitan Importance (SMI). There will be a TBCG blog where educators can access free resources and information about this area.
_____________________
Please note that the development of this open space is the culmination of a three-year project conceived, fundraised and project managed by Lisa Tang founder of Thornhill Bridge Community Gardeners.
Help is at hand in Kings Cross on Wednesday night when a group gets together to help each other out with modern online media. It's free, welcoming and friendly and focussed on the local community and voluntary sector. SIgn up at the website and find out more there. If you have some skills you would like to offer sign up at the site too. See you there at 16 Acton Street from 1700 on Wednesday.
'A social media surgery is a pretty informal gathering of people who want to learn how to use the web to communicate, campaign or collaborate. They are deliberately relaxed. You will get to sit alongside someone who understands good ways to use the internet and they'll show you useful free tools. If you like what you see they can help you set up your own.
'Are you interested in using blogs, text messages, Facebook, Twitter and other free web sites to help a group or organisation that you belong to? Do you already have a web site for your organisation that is difficult or expensive to update? Are you looking for an easier way to promote your activities or to share information, photos and videos online? King's Cross Social Media Surgery is a free advice session for community and voluntary groups, clubs, societies and small arts organisations. Come along to find out how you can use free web sites and services to organise activities, promote events, raise funds, collect feedback from your participants and keep a record of everything you do.'
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Pollution levels on Euston Road King’s Cross weather (BBC)
Kings Cross Environment 
