Consultation on redevelopment plan crosses borough boundaries

ARCHWAY’S concrete mall is a “1960s disaster” that needs tearing down, according to one of Britain’s foremost experts on architecture.
Writer and broadcaster Paul Barker spoke out as the first round of Islington’s public consultation exercise on redevelopment proposals nears completion.
Islington Council has said Camden residents can take part in the month-long consultation by attending an exhibition or visiting the council website at www.islington.gov.uk.
Mr Barker, who lives less than a mile away in Dartmouth Park Avenue, Dartmouth Park, regularly uses the shops, post office and Tube station at Archway.
He said: “It’s a useful place with a nice range of small shops but the area around the tower is a bit of a 1960s disaster.
“It does need something done about it, but whether that involves demolishing the tower is a different matter. The immediate area is a low-quality environment, partly due to the down-draught from the tower.”
Proposals being discussed include turning the mall into a small garden with benches and trees but he doubted if they would survive the down-draught, which would make everything dry.
He said: “I’d prefer to see a street market a couple of days a week in the mall. That would maintain something of the feel of the area.”
He added that the Corporation of London might also have an opinion as the 16-storey tower has always disrupted views to St Paul’s Cathedral from Parliament Hill. Mr Barker said: “In general, there is a lot to be said for taking the tower down or at least lowering it. But I yield to the views of local people.”
On traffic issues, he said that the island was a “nightmare” made worse by the bus lanes in inappropriate places.
He said: “Experience seems to indicate that straightforward road junctions in inner cities are much more sensible than roundabouts.”
Leaflets are going out as part of the Archway consultation and an exhibition, at which people can give their views, runs at Archway Library until Monday.
Pressure group Better Archway Forum is holding a public meeting at Hargrave Park School on Wednesday at 7.30pm.
Its website is at www.betterarchway.info.