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The Heritage Lottery Fund has slammed the brakes on releasing £2million of funding to build a visitors’ centre and restore the historic clocktower in Caledonian Park.

The controversial scheme was given the go-ahead in May despite almost 900 people objecting to the plan.


The Town Hall had hoped to start work on two buildings at the north gate of the park, which will include a café, toilets and heritage information centre, in August.

But the Heritage Lottery Fund has written to the Town Hall expressing concerns about the plan – pushing back a decision on releasing the funding until November. Another grant meeting then will decide whether they will release the cash.

They have highlighted fears about the viability and sustainability of the café and the layout of the heritage centre.

A member of the park’s friends’ group said a council official told her the Lottery Fund was concerned about the level of public opposition.

Mike Power, a spokesman for Save Cally Park, which is opposed to a visitors’ centre at the north gate, said: “We thank the Heritage Lottery Fund for delaying their grant to Islington Council for six months to review objections to the visitor centre plans

“We have requested that the HLF’s objections be made public so we can help Islington Council to resolve these issues to everyone’s satisfaction. But this will require a complete change in the council’s approach to us, which up to now has been contempt or to ignore us.”

If granted, the money will be used to repair the grade II-listed clocktower and the park’s Victorian railings. It is hoped the visitors’ centre and new facilities will attract more people to the park and encourage greater appreciation of the historic tower, built in 1855.

An Islington Council spokesman said: “We are part-way through the normal funding application process with the HLF, and no final decision on this project has been made.

“In the meantime we will continue our constructive discussions with the HLF, working through the remaining issues towards a grant decision which could bring almost £2million of investment to the community.

“Residents remain an important part of this project, and we will continue to work with them to revitalise the clocktower and Caledonian Park.”