Junction Liberal Democrats

Cllr Ursula Woolley, Cllr Stefan Kasprzyk and Arthur Graves serving Tufnell Park and Archway

Junction Road Safety Day

February 4th, 2010 by Terry Stacy
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Stefan with police at Junction road safety event

Local Liberal Democrat councillor Stefan Kasprzyk went out at Archway at 8:00 in the morning with Islington Council officers, the Junction Safer Neighbourhood Team, and Met Police officers, to raise key road safety issues to all road users on Junction Road.

On this very cold, windy, wet day, Police and Islington Officers engaged with pedestrians and spoke to motorists, and handed out literature including information about the 20 MPH zones and the highway code.

It was a dreary, cold morning. Just the sort of day when people are preoccupied with getting to work and not really paying attention to what is going around about them. Council officers and the police were able to highlight the need to be aware of your surroundings. Pedestrians too are “road users” and need to pay attention to the traffic - so talking on a cellphone whilst crossing the road is a bad idea.

ARCHWAY LOW CARBON ZONE - HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

January 17th, 2010 by Arthur Graves
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Local Liberal Democrats successfully campaigned in 2009 to obtain government funding for an Archway Low Carbon Zone - one of just 10 such areas in London.  

The Archway zone covers estates including Elthorne and Girdlestone, the Whittington Hospital, plus properties in between (including Hargrave Road, the Shakespeare roads in Whitehall Park, St John’s Villas and neighbouring roads) and the aim is to achieve a 20.12% CO2 saving in this area by 2012, putting us on track for 60% CO2 savings by 2025.

Residents will receive a programme of energy auditing, discounted insulation and energy saving measures, and support via Energy Doctors in the Community, Energy Doctor in the Home, Eaga, and volunteers and apprentices.

Businesses will get a package of auditing, action planning, energy management advice, networking and physical measures.

If you would like to get involved or have any questions about the program of work please contact –Victoria Howse, Climate Change Partnerships Manager at Islington Council.  Her address is 222 Upper StreetLondon, N1 1XR, telephone 020 7527 2347 or email victoria.howse@islington.gov.uk.

FREE PARKING IN ARCHWAY IS A REAL BARGAIN FOR SHOPPERS

January 11th, 2010 by arthurgraves
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Visitors to Archway have an extra reason to celebrate the start of the New Year as a free parking scheme begins in the town centre. Stays of up to two hours in 513 local pay-and-display bays on Saturdays are now free as part of a new pilot project from Islington Council.

Shoppers and shops alike are expected to benefit from the free parking, which is due to run until the end of May and is part of the council’s measures to combat the effects of recession. It comes after the council ran a similar free parking scheme across Islington on Saturdays during the run-up to Christmas.

Cllr Terry Stacy, Leader of Islington Council, said: “We know these are difficult times and we want to help.

“Traders in Archway have suffered from the downturn - we’ve listened to their concerns and brought in this free parking scheme. We hope it will give businesses a helping hand and give shoppers an extra bit of New Year cheer.

Hak Huseyin, chairman of the Archway Town Centre Management Group, said: “The town centre management group is delighted with Islington Council’s decision to run a Saturday free parking pilot on Archway, as we’ve been campaigning for this for nearly two years. It’s been a really tough year for us as the recession bites and this is a great way for traders to start the new decade.”

The scheme started on Saturday (Jan 2) and will run until the last Saturday in May 2010. It will then be reviewed for its impact on local businesses and parking. It will apply in Pay and Display parking bays in Archway’s Controlled Parking Zone P, which includes bays in Junction Road, Magdala Avenue, Dartmouth Hill Park, St John’s Grove and some bays in side streets.

Archway Parking advert

ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PRACTICES

January 10th, 2010 by Arthur Graves
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The Passivhaus standard has been used for the last twenty years in Europe, particularly in Germany, to create buildings that are so energy efficient that they don’t need central heating or air conditioning.Passivhaus is not just about new build - it can be used to scope retrofit work as well (which is important because more than 80% of our buildings will still be standing in 2050). It applies to both residential and commercial buildings.To raise awareness about Passivhaus, Islington and Camden Councils are holding a free conference at Camden Town Hall on 3rd February 2010 including visits to Passivhaus sites in both boroughs.

The conference is aimed at planning officers, building control officers, architects, developers, housing associations and local representatives who are actively engaged in the Green agenda (Arthur Graves (website editor) will be attending).

Islington and Camden Councils are both led by Liberal Democrats and this conference is evidence of their commitment to reducing carbon usage and promoting sustainable building practices.

Fighting to save Whittington A&E

January 8th, 2010 by Terry Stacy
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Islington’s Liberal Democrat councillors called an emergency debate on the future of Accident and Emergency services at the Whittington Hospital. Stefan and Ursula both spoke out against cuts to our local hospital.

WHERE DOES OUR RECYCLING GO?

January 2nd, 2010 by Arthur Graves
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Local resident and Junction Lib Dem website editor Arthur Graves wanted to find out what happens to our recycling.  So he recently visited the Bywaters Recycling and Recovery Centre in Bromley-by-Bow where the recyclable waste from Islington and 6 other London boroughs is processed. 

“I was highly impressed at the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations which separate everything into a large number of categories to allow effective re-use of household waste” says Arthur (pictured).

97% of everything that enters this facility is recycled in the UK with the remaining 3% recycled in the Netherlands.

The Lib Dem led council has recently increased the range of items which can be recycled which will dramatically reduce our impact on the environment.  In the ten years since the Lib Dems took control of Islington Council, the level of waste recycled has increased more than tenfold (from 3% to over 35%) and Islington Council is continuously looking for ways to improve this.

LOCAL RESIDENT FINALIST IN ECO AWARDS

December 17th, 2009 by Ursula Woolley
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Local resident and Lib Dem Activist Arthur Graves was recently shortlisted as a finalist in the category of Best Environmental Household in the Archant London Environmental Awards for 2009.

The awards aim to recognise people who had taken the environmental message that step further, and from whom, good environmental practices could be shared.

Arthur commented “Given that 90% of London’s housing stock is Victorian and thus almost impossible to cheaply insulate, I and my family have been looking for other ways in which we can proactively reduce our carbon footprint.”

“For example, we recycle all our bath water into the garden; we compost all food and garden waste; we grow a large range of fruit and vegetables both in our own garden and in a neighbours unused front garden; we use car clubs and public transport rather than owning a car; and we recycle religiously including putting unwanted household items on our front wall for other people to use rather than throwing them away.”

“I think it’s important that Awards such as these recognise families such as mine, and there are many others out there, who are doing as much as they can realistically do to reduce carbon use.”

ARCHWAY LOW CARBON ZONE KICKS OFF WITH A GREEN CHRISTMAS

December 15th, 2009 by Arthur Graves
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As the environmentally-friendly LED Christmas lights were switched on at Archway on the 27th of November, a new steering group met to start the process of turning Archway into one of London’s showcase low-carbon communities.  Liberal Democrat campaigners from Archway are calling on local residents to kick it off by having a low-carbon Christmas.

Local Liberal Democrats successfully campaigned to have Archway named as one of London’s new ‘Low Carbon Zones’ by the Mayor, and won £200,000 from City Hall to turn this goal into a reality. The community is now aiming to cut its carbon emissions by 20% by 2012, starting from this December.

The panel met for the first time on the 27th November to set a plan for making Archway more environmentally-friendly. Their programme includes:

- Solar panels for St. Joseph’s School, installed by Islington Council’s Climate Change Fund;

- Insulation for schools;

- An ‘Energy Doctor’ to give advice to residents on saving money on heating and electricity bills, visiting homes and on hand at community centres and local events;

- Intensive work with businesses by the Town Centre Manager;

- Involving the Better Archway Forum and other local community groups.

Councillors are asking Archway residents to inaugurate the Low Carbon Zone by having a low-carbon Christmas. Local people are being urged to:

- Use local shops to cut the emissions by driving to get the Christmas shopping;

- Buy recycled cards and wrapping paper, and avoid excess packaging for presents;

- Think about environmentally-friendly gifts like houseplants, theatre tickets, antiques, or home-made cakes;

- Put your tree out in January to be recycled and composted by the council.

Junction ward Lib Dem councillor Ursula Woolley said: “Local people and businesses are really excited about making Archway an environmental example for the rest of London. I really believe that we can be a showcase community for the whole city.

“Our Low Carbon Zone kicks off in December, so we’re dreaming of a green Christmas this year. I hope all residents will join their Lib Dem councillors in starting it off with an environmentally-friendly festive season.”

GREEN LIGHT FOR FREE ARCHWAY PARKING PLAN

December 9th, 2009 by Arthur Graves
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Shoppers and businesses in the Archway area are all set to benefit from a new free parking scheme starting in January.As part of its package of help for residents and businesses struggling through the recession, Liberal Democrat-run Islington has agreed to trial free parking for up to two hours in pay and display bays around the local shopping area from January to May 2010.  The scheme will then be reviewed to judge its impact.The move follows the Liberal Democrat council’s decision to bring in free parking for up to two hours throughout December in all the borough’s pay and display parking bays.  The council has also funded a special Time Out guide to Islington and a ‘Shop Local’ campaign.

Islington has been praised by the Government this week for its response to the recession.  This latest initiative shows how the LibDem council is continuing to try new ways to help local residents and businesses get back on their feet.

Chair of the Archway Town Centre Board, Hak Huseiyn, said: “The free Saturday parking in the run up to Christmas has so far been a great success. But we want to do more for businesses at this difficult time.

“So after discussion with the Archway Town Centre Board we asked the council if they would consider a pilot parking scheme for our town centre. We were delighted the council listened to us and is continuing its support for Archway businesses.”

Liberal Democrat leader of Islington Council, Terry Stacy, said: “The credit crunch has hit traders hard in the north of the borough and this is just one of a number of ways the Council is trying to support local businesses.

“The Council has listened to the Archway Town Centre Board’s concerns and ideas. This latest scheme builds on the free Saturday parking the Council is already providing across Islington in the run up to Christmas.”

Islington racks up cycle stands

December 9th, 2009 by Ursula Woolley
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Islington’s Lib Dem Council has installed 350 new cycle racks in the last year – putting Islington streets ahead of other London Boroughs in providing safe places for people to lock their bikes. New bikes stands have been put in on Bickerton Road, Elthorne Road, Highgate Hill, Junction Road, Rupert Road, Tufnell Park Road, and in Whittington Park.

In August 2007 there were 420 racks in Islington. By August 2008 the council had doubled that number to 880. Today there are over 1230 cycle racks on roads all around Islington – more than double the number than in neighbouring Labour-run Hackney.

A June 2009 report by the London Assembly found that 45% of people would cycle more if there was better cycle parking. Research conducted by TfL showed that the availability of cycle parking and the security of parked bikes remain the two biggest cycling-related concerns.

Councillor Greg Foxsmith, Islington’s Liberal Democrat councillor responsible for transport and the environment, said:

“I cycle, and would recommend it as a great way to get around Islington. The Liberal Democrats want to support people to take up cycling, and people need to know that they have somewhere secure to park their bike when they visit the shops, the doctor, church, or while they’re at work.

“That’s why this Liberal Democrat council has tripled the number of cycle racks on our streets in the last two years. We’re committed to making Islington one of the most cycle-friendly boroughs in London.”

Stefan and Ursula with bike stand

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