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Campaigner Del Brenner at the canal |
Ken runs rule over towers
Mayor takes fresh look at canal blocks dismissed by author as ‘monstrous’
LONDON Mayor Ken Livingstone has controversially agreed to re-examine a decision to allow two ‘Centre Point-style’ tower blocks to be built as part of a £12 million development at tranquil City Road basin in Angel.
The news came as a major boost to conservationists fighting plans for two towers – one 38 storeys, the other 28 storeys – which they say will ruin the unique charm of this quiet oasis.
In the latest attack on the development, author Francis Wheen, writing in the London Evening Standard on Tuesday, described the proposed tower blocks as “montrous”, and asked how British Waterways (BW) can defend this “grotesque scheme” .
The Mayor’s green advisor, London Assembly member Jennie Jones, held a private meeting with Mr Livingstone last week to discuss the scheme, which is spearheaded by a British Waterways-led conglomeration and has been given planning permission by Lib Dem-controlled Islington Council.
Ms Jones said: “I gave Mr Livingstone various documents about the City Road development, including articles from the Tribune which have highlighted concerns about the height of the tower blocks.
“I pointed out that no one was against the development. It’s just that the height of the two blocks is completely out of character with the basin and would cast a dark shadow over this peaceful canal scene.
“He said he would read everything and get his senior strategist to read the material as well.”
For waterways enthusiast Del Brenner, who has been campaigning against the tower blocks for more than two years, Mr Livingstone’s intervention came as “wonderful” news.
Mr Brenner, chairman of the Regent’s Network and Mr Livingstone’s Thames and Waterways Commission, said: “There’s no guarantee Mr Livingstone can reduce the height of these tower blocks at this late stage. But the fact that he has stepped in and is taking an interest is brilliant.
“We’re not just fighting for City Road basin, delightful as it is. This is a fundamental issue about not ruining our waterway heritage.
“There are 200 miles of canals in the capital alone. This is backdoor London, a marvellous sanctuary and miles of towpath completely removed from the merciless roar of the traffic. It’s potentially a fantastic tourist haunt.
“Some of our canals and locks, like that at City Road basin, are more than 200 years old. We should be preserving these waterways, not building insensitive developments around them.”
Mr Brenner plans to take the issue a stage further by giving evidence to a government committee set up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to look into the running of British Waterways.
He said: “BW was originally set up as the guardian of our waterways but it is behaving more like a corporation.”
For the scheme, British Waterways London has formed a joint venture with Miller Developments, called City Road Basin Ltd. The company is working in partnership with the council, Fidelity Investments and Bennetts Associates Architects to create what it calls “waterside regeneration”.
The developers describe the tower blocks as “landmarks” while campaigners say they are an ugly blot on the landscape.
Lib Dem council leader Councillor James Kempton defended the towers this week. He said: “When we asked local people what they thought about two tall towers on the site, more people told us they thought they were acceptable than not.”
Mr Kempton said the development would attract people to the canal. He added: “It will create a new civic space at the head of the basin for people to enjoy, along with leisure facilities like restaurants, a health centre including a doctors’ surgery, new premises for Islington Boat Club and new homes for people on low and modest incomes.”
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