As a lot of you probably noticed I haven’t been posting anything lately.
This is because I moved from Islington to Camden and I’m therefore closing this blog.
Thank you for following me.
Bye bye Islington
Greens to fight against Queensland Road Development
Proposed plans for Queensland road
The development of the new Arsenal Stadium and its surrounding areas is one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects.
In partnership with Newlon Housing Association, the borough will develop 1,200 affordable homes over a number of sites surrounding the old and new stadium.
The project is part of the Emirates Stadium regeneration programme.
The Islingon Green Party stated that the development aims to cram hundrerds more flats than the original outline approval – far more than recommended in the London Plan or the Islington’s Draft Score Strategy.
Although, the party welcomes the intended provision of family housing it is concerned that the area of open space allowed by such an overcrowded development would be completely inadequate for the numbers of children likely to be living there.
The Greens’ Andrew Myer said: “The density proposed is way to high. Katie Dawson was the only councillor to vote against the application at the recent Area Planning Commitee meeting and we will continue to argue for a less overcrowded, more appropriate design for this location, right up to the Myor if it is necessary.”
In order to give local residents the opportunity to see the proposals and to have their say, a Public Exhibition will be held at the Emirates Stadium in the Woolwich Restaurant (East Club and Box entrance) on:
Tuesday 11th September (1.00pm-8.00pm)
Wednesday 12th September (10.00am – 6.00pm)
Greenpeace UK
As everybody probably knows Greenpeace is an internationally known association which defends the natural world and promote peace by investigating, exposing and confronting environmental abuse, and championing environmentally responsible solutions.
What everybody doesn’t known is that UK’s Greenpeace headquarters are in our greeny Islington .
Although, the association usually acts on a national scale, a greenpeace Islington group does exist.
Part of the North-East London Network of active supporters. The Islington group helds monthly meetings for general discussions and go through the monthly agenda. Meetings which are of course open to everyone.
For the Islington group contact: Anna B on 07790 433972 or xini@talk21.com
Click here the learn more about Greenpeace Active supporters
Click here to learn more about Greenpeace
A green budget for Islington
Islington’s budget brings together Lib Dem, Labour and Green proposals intended to help people in difficult economic times and provide a major step forward in terms of environmetal sustainability.
Katie Dawson, Green Coucillor said : “This is a historic moment for Islington and the Greens” she added “our pressure has managed to get broad support for a package of common sense, Green measures that will help all the people of the borough- families, pensioners and young people alike. I am thrilled by what we have been able to do.”
The following measures, each drawn up, fully costed and proposed by Dawson, wil now be implement in Islington:
- New green space and the greening of Islington’s “lost corners”
- New allotments and growing spaces
- Extra funding for home insulation and renewable projects
- Free acces to sports for under 18s and free after-school homework clubs, givng children safe, dedicated places to study
- More apprenticeship opportunities for Islington’s young people
- Setting up a Council repair service for household items, helping people save money and avoid having to throw things away
- An extension of the 20mph speed limit to all residential roads in one go
- A major expansion of the car club scheme
Dawson concluded: “This is an exciting, radical package: less waste and bureaucracy, more money spend directly on people – that’s what Green Government can mean for Islington.”
The Climate Change Fund
In 2007 Islington Council created a 3 million Climate Change Fund to support renewable energy and transport projects that wil reduce carbon dioxide emissions throughout the borough.
What is it for ? The Fund supports residents and community groups to install renewable energy, such as polar panels, wind turbines and biomass boilers on their home and building.
Make a difference
How to apply for funding ?
If your are a homeowner within Islington you can apply for funding to install renewable energy technologies in your own home.
All you need to do is call: 0800 953 1221
Any small business with exciting idea to reduce transport related CO2 emission can apply to the fund for a transport emission grant.
What has the fund already done ?
So far the Fund has approved over 50 projects for funding. All of these projects have included the installation of technologies that can dramatically reduce the CO2 we produce in our daily lives.
The projects the Climate Change fund has suported so far wil save over 400 tonnes of CO2 per year- the equivalent emission of nearly 100 Islington homes.
Islington – Living Streets
Living streets is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians and challenges the authorities who for decades, have allowed traffic priorities to overwhelm local streets and public places, and failed to keep them clean and safe.
It’s aim is to encourage people to walk and make sure that UK’s streets and towns are designed to allow people to do so.
Islington – Living streets is the local branch of the association. It has two general meetings a year – the AGM in May and a Christmas meeting in December, each with an outside speaker.
The association is also consulted regularly by the Council on a variety of issues. These are mainly transport related matters: traffic management schemes, controlled parking zones and planning policy and proposals.
Last summer it spent time on making a contribution to the Council’s Sustainable Transport Strategy – the borough’s 10 years plan for submission to the Mayor.
It is important to underline that as it is often in environmental issues, the key word is: Everybody.
The more members the association will have the more information they’ll obtain about what concerns people on foot and the more ideas they’ll gain about improvements which could be made to Living Streets in Islington.
If you are interested in joining or for more informations about the association go to the Living Street Website.
Islington’s Green Roofs
Green roofs have numerous advantages: they provide a habitat for wildlife, give temperature and noise insulation, reduce rapid water flow and flood into storm drains, offer a new gardening opportunity and last but not least absorb CO2.
Fortunatelly for all the environment’s lovers in Islington, the council conscious of the benefits from green roofs has encouraged in 2007/2008 the installation of nearly 7,000 square metres of them on new developments.
To know more about it come take a look at the excellent Islington Gardeners Blog.
London Bike Hire Scheme
What a bike station should look like next year (designed by Minale Tattersfield)
In the Spring of last year a bike hire scheme was introduced in Luxemburg (country where I am from).
Called “VeloH!” the scheme was a sucess from the beginning and I must admit a really practic, healthy and environment friendly way to go from a place to another around the city.
Especially great during Summer time.
Which is why I was more than pleased to see that a new Cycle Hire Scheme is due to be introduced in central London in May 2010, similar to the sucessful Vélib scheme in Paris and the as sucessfull but certainly less known VeloH in Luxemburg.
The scheme promise to offer an innovative addition to London’s transport network: good for London, good for Londoners and good for the environment.
Islington should be an obvious borough to benefit from the scheme, near enough to central London to tempt any cycler to get there in two wheels and therefor avoid the usually crowded underground or bus.
Key Facts:
- 6,000 cycles
- 400 cycle stations
- 10,500 docking stations
- An area of approximately 44km2
The Cycle Hire scheme will:
- Be easy to use for short trips around Central London
- Be available 24 hours a day, 365 days ayear
- Alleviate congestion on the Tube and buses
- Offer a sustainable and low emission form of transport
- Provide a shift from car usage to cycling
- Encourage local trips within central London
“Clean Britain” awards
Thanks to the council’s street cleaning services Islington has won two national prizes, the “Clean Britain” awards, for keeping the borough clean and tidy.
The clean team was awarded a four-star rating, and Islington was also given a special judges’ award for the Cleaner estates programme – which is improving cleanliness on the thirteen most deprived estates in the borough.
Greg Foxsmith, Islington’s Liberal Democrat councillor in charge of the local environment, said: “These prestigious awards confirm that Islington is on the right track and is getting better all the time.”
The Clean Britain awards aim to help put civic pride back into Britain.
Islington’s Springwatch
Watch the development of a family of birds as Spring arrives:
The Ecology Centre bird box webcam is back for the third year running, bringing you live footage 24/7 for you to enjoy.
Thanks to the the technology provided by the council IT department, a camera was linked to the bird box to the internet so you can experience the development as spring arrives.
The nest box was put up at the Ecology Centre as part of a National Nest Box Week to demonstrate what you can do around your own patch to give a helping hand to the borough’s wildlife.
The Ecology centre is encouraging everyone in Islington to put up a nest box at their home, school or worlplace, in order to promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation of wildlife.
ISLINGTON GREEN 