Letter from local resident condemning proposals for a visitor centre at Caledonian Park: "Two recent examples of our residents group’s action against Islington Council’s proposed visitor centre at the north gate of Caledonian park have shown how councillors and council officials have failed miserably to convince local people when they meet them face to face.

At an open meeting of nearly 50 people, Councillor Paul Smith and parks manager Andrew Bedford put their best arguments for the visitor centre, but their case fell on stony ground. They explained how the centre had been redesigned, that a park ranger would be appointed, and that the money for the project from the Heritage Lottery Fund comes with strict requirements.

But none of their explanations convinced anyone that they had resolved problems of noise, nuisance, and anti social behaviour, or spoilt clock tower views for local people and park users. And they didn’t explain where the £90,000 per year that they have guaranteed for 20 years to run the visitor centre will come from.

Instead, those attending stayed behind and heard how to object to the council’s planning application.

At a council organised drop-in session a week later all Holloway councillors, council officials, and architects received another slap in the face. The council displayed their visitor centre plans, and for three hours talked to visitors. I conducted an exit survey of 41 of the 44 people who attended the drop-in. Twenty-three (56 per cent) gave an outright “no” to the whole scheme. Of those who supported a visitor centre only three (7.5 per cent) said yes to it being at the north gate. The ultimate thumbs down for the council plan was that 31 (76 per cent) said that they would be objecting to the council’s planning application. What a slap in the face.

If evidence was ever needed as to how our councillors and council officers are out of touch, unconvincing, and unprepared to listen to their constituents and council tax payers – then these examples surely prove it." Sharon Jobe, Chair, Clocktower Residents Group

• Keywords
  PARKS, CLOCK TOWERS, LETTERS
• Geographical keyword
  MARKET ROAD, NORTH ROAD, CALEDONIAN PARK [Open Space]
• Persons keyword
  Caledonian Park Clock Tower, Metropolitan Cattle Market, Caledonian Park Cally Clocktower Visitor Centre, Sharon Jobe, Caledonian Park Clocktower Residents Group