Change language
Actions
Displays
Remove from selection
Add to selection
Abstract

A long-running battle between residents and the Town Hall has ended after plans for a heritage centre at the north gate of Caledonian Park were given the go-ahead – despite almost 900 objections.

Islington Council can now push ahead with securing £2m investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund to repair the Grade II-listed clocktower and the park’s Victorian railings. The cash is dependent on the new facilities being built.

The improvements are part of a plan to attract more people to the park and encourage greater appreciation of the historic tower, built in 1855. A total of 874 objections against the scheme were received by the council, with 354 in support.

At a packed meeting on Tuesday, frustrated residents made a last-ditch attempt to persuade councillors that the centre would attract anti-social behaviour.

Members of Clocktower Residents Group, representing people living in flats close to the north gate, said the heritage centre should be built at the south gate.

Chairman Simon Bent said: “There is prostitution, drug taking and vandalism in that park.”

He argued that building the centre would attract more problems, but councillors rejected his view.

Caledonian ward councillor Paul Convery said: “This is an open area. There is nothing intrinsic about the design that makes it more vulnerable to anti-social behaviour.

“This is part of an upward spiral of massive regeneration of the area around Caledonian Park.”

There will be round-the-clock CCTV on the buildings, and a staff presence during the day would deter trouble­makers, council officers said.

The scheme has been through numerous consultations, and officers pointed out that changes have been made.

James Gilchrist, the council’s head of greenspace and leisure, said: “The journey has been painful. There has been a lot for the council to learn from this project. We apologise for the impact this has had. The scheme has improved significantly as a result of the consultation.”

Mike Power, vice-chairman of the residents’ group, said: “We haven’t been listened to. It feels like the decision was already made.”