Congolese protest opposite embassy in Gray’s Inn Road

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Clare Hill

DSCF4119 DSCF4120The busy one-way stretch of Gray's Inn Road in King's Cross was awash with fluorescent yellow today at 4.30pm, as a clutch of police officers and two riot vans kept an eye on 50 or so protesters on the footway on the opposite side of the road to the Democratic Republic of Congo's embassy.

The protesters, vocal put peaceful, held placards reading 'Armand Tungulu: Congolese people will never forget' and 'Change in DRC will come after Kabila's departure'. According to international news sources, Armand Tungulu, a 30-year-old Congolese resident of Belgium, was found dead in his Kinshasa detention cell on Oct 2, days after being arrested for allegedly throwing stones at the Congo president's motorcade. The DRC's prosecutor's office have called it a 'suicide', international NGOs have strongly questioned this and called for an immediate investigation. Earlier this year, prominent Congolese human rights campaigner, Floribert Chebeya, was found dead in suspicious circumstances in Kinshasa.

The protesters also made use of the road space, driving a Mercedes down Gray's Inn Road, with a man standing up through the sunroof — presumably a reference to the Congolese president's motor convoy incident.

The embassy is not much more than a (perpetually closed) roller-shuttered shopfront, the only clue to its status is a flag. The only embassy in King's Cross, it is almost constantly guarded by a police officer. Asked why, a protester said, "We don't want the ambassador here, he represents Kabila — he has good reason to fear attack from Congolese people here."

Clare Hill

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Don’t throw the leaflet away!

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Sophie Talbot

KCCP-leaflet If you get one of these leaflets through your door please don't throw it away! Its the leaflet from new local charitable trust King's Cross Community Projects, a group of people that live and/or work here. They aim to work towards improving the community within a half mile radius of King's Cross Station, if you can help please do!

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LB Camden consults on improvements to York Way

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Sophie Talbot

York-Way York Way, now the only way to get to and fro the tube, train, buses and taxi ranks from the north east side of King's Cross St Pancras has long been unfit for purpose. Closure of the York Way entrance to the station in April 2009 and Network Rail's refusal to replace the much needed northern access by restoring the original bridge has resulted in increased overcrowding for pedestrians struggling along the totally inadequate pavements either side of the heavily polluted York Way canyon. The long promised improvement scheme for which LB Camden has secured funding from Network Rail via a planning gain S106 agreement, is out for consultation, deadline for responses 31 October 2010.

York-Way-consultation-area Unfortunately it does not include improvements to the horrendous crossing at the junction of York Way/Euston Road/Pentonville Road as this is to be consulted on by Transport for London at a later date. Also unfortunate is the very, very small area included in the consultation process given how many people on the north east side of King's Cross use York Way every day (see picture on the right).

It is not clear from the consultation documents whether the excellent study by Living Streets into walk-ability around King's Cross Station has been taken into account.

If you would like to make your views known on the proposed two options for York Way improvements, an online version of the documents should be available from LB Camden later today. Meanwhile, the documents can also be viewed from the links below.

Download York Way Consultation leaflet

Download York_Way_Consultation_Plan

Download Consultation Questionnaire

 

 

 

 

Posted in Kings Cross Station Refurbishment, Road Safety in Kings Cross, Transport | 11 Comments

Network Rail Exhibition Invitation – Station Concourse 11 to 14 October

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Stephan Schulte

Untitled

 

As a local resident, I received the following invitation from Network Rail to see their latest exhibition – if you did not aready receive one, you might be interest in attending.

King’s Cross Station
Redevelopment Programme
1″ Floor
Cubitt House
1 Battle Bridge Road
London
N1C 4AH

T (0845) 711-4141

October 2010
 
Dear Neighbour
 
King’s Cross Station Redevelopment
 
The redevelopment of King’s Cross station is now well underway and as a member of the local community, we would like to invite you to visit our exhibition in the station concourse to meet the leam behind the project and find out what improvements we are making,
 
Come and see us to find out more about how we’re transforming King’s Cross and to ask us any questions, we’ll be in the station: Monday 11 October to Thursday 14 October from 10am-7pm.
 
If you are unable to visit us in the station but would like more information, please contact our Helpline on 08457 11 41 41 or go to www.networkrail.co.uk/kingscross for further information about the project.

We hope to see you there!

Yours sincerely

Ian Fry Programme Director
King’s Cross Station Redevelopment Programme

 

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HAVE YOUR SAY: Review of the Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Stephan Schulte

Haveyoursay 
For some time this writer and others have "railed on" about the Licensing Policy in Islington (or in my view, lack of it!) that created and ever increasing number of "late-night" premises licenses in our area – specificlly those allowing the sale of liquor).  I know many of you out there share my concern so now is the time to have your voices heard.  The Bulletin Board has just received the following information from Simon Gallacher of the Licensing Department requesting local residents views on the Borough's Licencing Policy.  PLEASE READ THIS AND RESPOND AS REQUESTED.  We will not get another chance to have our voices hear as to what we want our community to be like!

Every three years Islington Council reviews its licensing policy. The policy explains how the council, as a licensing authority, promotes the licensing objectives whilst carrying out its functions under the Licensing Act 2003.  The Licensing Objectives are:

  • Prevention of Public Nuisance
  • Prevention of Crime and Disorder
  • Public Safety
  • Protecting Children from Harm

The current policy expires in 2011.  A new policy has been drafted containing some significant changes.  We are keen to hear your views on the proposed changes, as well your views generally about licensing in Islington.  A copy of the new draft policy can be downloaded from:

http://www.islington.gov.uk/Leisure/licences/licensing_act/

A short questionnaire is available via the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YRSPTB8

Your views are important and this is your opportunity to have your say about licensing in Islington.  If you have any questions about the survey or would like to request a paper copy of either the questionnaire or the draft policy then please contact the Licensing Service on 020 7527 3031 or email: licensing@islington.gov.uk.

 Please have your say before the consultation period closes on 15 November 2010

 Simon Gallacher
Licensing Officer
Licensing Team
Public Protection Division
Environment and Regeneration
Islington Council
3rd Floor, 222 Upper Street, London N1 1XR
Tel: (020) 7527 3879  
Alternative contact: Terrie Lane (020) 7527 3233

Posted in Planning, Licensing and Regulation | Leave a comment

Thornhill Bridge Community Gardens drunks, dogs etc

Posted on October 4, 2010 by William Perrin

Tiber gardens dogs etc Lisa and the Thornhill Bridge Community Gardens [corrected 5/10/10] volunteers have worked so hard over the years to make these lovely gardens alongside the canal next to Caledonian Road. 

But increasingly the childrens garden is colonised by drunks, six of them today and related dogs .  I am sure they are nice doggies – a rotweiler, a husky and a staff – but their owners don't inspire confidence when taking the kids to play.  Park Patrol was summoned i understand.

It's really tough to design somewhere like this and keep it amenable to parents with children – Bingfield Park has a lot of crime designed out, but is a bit sterile with few places to sit and little cover.

Posted in Anti Social Behaviour, Crime etc | 5 Comments

Kings Cross sex shop closed down by council and faces £34,000 bill

Posted on September 30, 2010 by William Perrin

Priate books kings cross Good to see the council taking some enforcement action and tackling the long standing unlicensed Pirate Books at 4 York Way.  The shop was an eyesore for people arriving in Kings Cross and redolent of the Kings Cross of the 1980-90s.

On the Cally Road resident led action led to the licensed Soho Books sex shop having an attractive shop front – for some time the best on that stretch of road.  So its good to see this one being sorted out by the council.  Also on that bit of the Cally the Paradise Island brothel is now an estate agent, though it’s debatable how much progress that represents…

Paul Convery reports over on the Cally Councillors blog:

‘Islington Council has successfully prosecuted the owners and operators of an unlicensed sex shop at Kings Cross. Today, September 29th, Highbury Magistrates ordered fines and costs totalling £35,360.

Cally Councillors have welcomed the prosecution of “Pirate Bookshop” at 4 York Way.

The defendants were Maria O’Sullivan and her company Ballaction London Ltd. The company was fined £17,500 plus £2,830 costs and £15 victim support surcharge.

Mrs O’Sullivan is the sole director of the company and was personally fined £15,000 plus £15 victim support surcharge. The case was brought under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

Maria O’Sullivan is the mother of snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan. She has attempted to run several sex-related businesses in north London over recent years and was jailed for a year in 1996 for tax evasion.

Caledonian Ward Councillor Paul Convery said “I am very pleased that the Council’s case has been successful. For nearly 5 years, we have repeatedly called for legal action against unlicensed sex shops in Kings Cross. The first step in ridding the area of its vice reputation is to get rid of every vice-related business, particularly the ones that refuse to be licensed by the local authority. Our policy is simple – zero tolerance against all types of sleazy and illegal sex related activities.”

Posted in Anti Social Behaviour, Crime etc, Planning, Licensing and Regulation | 11 Comments

Street works in Islington 2009 – 13,000 sets of works 81,000 days ?

Posted on September 28, 2010 by William Perrin

P1030475 The Council has sent me a spreadsheet of street works in Islington in 2009 in response to an FOI request.  There are over 13,000 entries or about 50 every working day. Street works encompasses a range of activites – not all is digging up the road, but a fair bit is. Such works are mainly about the utility companies' and the council's own works to repair or improve the road. You can find out more about street works here.  They are mainly 'excavation works' but many are 'non excavation works', 'pavement works', 'works for road purposes', manhole replacements etc.

Analysis of the data is tentative at this stage.  The data set is so large I had to ask our neighbours at the Guardian for help – I am most grateful to Simon Rogers for his help.  Neither of us are experts on street works terminology.  But I thought it best to share the working so far and see if anyone can help correct it.  There are no doubt some street works anoraks out there who can help make sense of this – please drop me a line or comment below.

Taking the council data at face value, the grand totals are 13,000 individual sets of street works going on between them for 81,000 days.   Some 2,500 works are recorded as 'abandoned' – it isn't clear what this means.

People go on about road works a fair bit and as a cyclist I have frequently been endangered by them.  But it is salutary to see these large numbers spelled out in black and white.

Here's the top 20 roads for number of street works for the 2009 calendar year.  Inevitably the longest, busiest roads and those in commercial areas score highly.

HOLLOWAY ROAD 531
CALEDONIAN ROAD 337
SEVEN SISTERS ROAD 280
HORNSEY ROAD 231
ST JOHN STREET 213
CITY ROAD 207
GOSWELL ROAD 199
BLACKSTOCK ROAD 162
LIVERPOOL ROAD 162
PENTONVILLE ROAD 150
ESSEX ROAD 139
FARRINGDON ROAD 133
STROUD GREEN ROAD 132
ROSEBERY AVENUE 126
DRAYTON PARK 116
JUNCTION ROAD 108
ST PAUL'S ROAD 105
OFFORD ROAD 98
HIGHBURY NEW PARK 96
TUFNELL PARK ROAD 96

And here is a list of the roads with the highest number of street work days, you can see some local Kings Cross roads top the list.  The higher numbers tend to arise where several sets of works are recorded as in place for a whole year. There are quite a few instances of works finishing before they have begun – these have been omitted, possibly a data entry error or an early start.

OFFORD ROAD 1832
CALEDONIAN ROAD 1487
GOSWELL ROAD 1364
CITY ROAD 1304
ST JOHN STREET 1251
HOLLOWAY ROAD 1129
GROSVENOR AVENUE 1127
BARING STREET 1087
NORTH ROAD 1073
AMWELL STREET 994
YORK WAY 931
OFFORD STREET 900
HIGHGATE HILL 892
SEVEN SISTERS ROAD 834
ROSEBERY AVENUE 800
SIX ACRES ESTATE 784
HIGHBURY NEW PARK 769
ESSEX ROAD 732
STOCK ORCHARD CRESCENT 690

 

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