• WE held an emergency event at Popham and Cumming Community Centre on Wednesday to raise the community’s awareness of the proposed development in Windsor Street, near Essex Road.

More than 60 residents turned up. Back in November 2015, the council had  a formal walk-in consultation session for all residents to ensure they had been properly engaged in the use of the site but only a handful of residents were informed of this, with 11 attending.

Further meetings were promised to involve the whole of the local area, but these never took place. Residents from Packington Street, in particular, have repeatedly requested this – including via letters in the Tribune – but these have been ignored.

Posters with information from the council planning application and feedback on the proposal from relevant bodies such as Learning Disabilities England were put up by residents to explain the proposed development and concerns related to it.

Residents took turns to speak on Wednesday. More than 99 per cent said they had never been consulted on the development or had even received a planning notice letter.

Some had been to an original pre-consultation in 2015 and were furious that they hadn’t heard anything since. Other residents said they had even called Islington Council and were told that nothing was planned or going ahead in the area.

There has been no community involvement (as per the Localism Act) as to how a rare and valuable site within the area should be used for neighbouring residents – many raised the needs for a community centre or other amenity, doctors’ surgery or even a nursery school.

The design does not comply with the care recommendations for individuals with learning disabilities, in accordance with NHS England, the National Institution for Health and Care Excellence and the Care Quality Commission.

Rather than being “ordinary houses” on “ordinary streets” the proposed building appears to be an “institution”. One lady who has a daughter with autism specifically explained that this would be exactly the wrong type of building for her, given it is communal housing for a large number of people.

Given the narrow nature of Windsor Street, a three-storey building (alongside proposals to make the Windsor Centre larger and five storeys) would lead to an intimidating and unsafe street environment.

People do not trust the council in managing costs, which have almost doubled to more than £4million from just two years ago.

Many elderly and disabled residents already struggle with parking. The loss of the garages and street parking spaces will lead to a serious impact on their daily lives.

Repeated complaints were made about the way councillors and MPs just disregard the opinions of those from the estates in the area.

When it was suggested residents should write to the council raising their concerns, many believed it would be pointless as they feel as though they have long been abandoned as the council has constantly ignored other complaints and suggestions from the community.

A petition was signed by more than 70 residents, with more signatures being added from elderly and disabled people unable to attend.

The majority specifically stated they had not been consulted or received formal notice and requested the council go back to properly consulting the community and actually discussing what the best use of the site would be as opposed to imposing their own wishes.

Residents have said they will also be writing to councillors and their MP to voice discontent at not being consulted and reminding them of their role in supporting residents’ views in the upcoming local elections.

MARTIN RUTHERFORD
Popham Street estate, N1