Islington Tribune - News: Row over car park

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Islington Tribune - by MARK BLUNDEN
Published: 31 August 2007

Jo Williams near the car park

Row over car park rages on

A SENIOR Lib Dem councillor accused of making “irresponsible” comments, which allegedly resulted in a Finsbury industrial yard being turned into a parking free-for-all, claimed this week he has been misunderstood.
Earlier this month, 50 residents attended a planning meeting to protest against developer Derwent Valley’s scheme to extend an existing commercial building into the yard, taking over 200 square metres of the space.
They claim that building on the already cramped yard will mean there is not enough room for vehicles to turn and unload, transforming the already busy road into a “death trap” for children who attend St Peter and St Paul Primary school.
Cllr George Allan, chairman of Islington Council’s south area planning committee, called the controversial Compton Street site “one of the last places in the borough where there is free off-street parking” during the meeting on August 6.
Resident Jo Williams said: “I was flabbergasted by the comments of the committee chair.
“This kind of irresponsible comment plays right into the hands of the developer and validates their ridiculous scheme to build over this important loading space.”
Residents believe the councillor was implying the loss of parking was the real reason for their objections and have branded the comments “idiotic”, saying the yard has become “chockablock” with illegally parked vehicles creating bottle-necks on the rat-run between St John Street and Goswell Road.
However, Cllr Allan denies the accusation. He said: “I have been totally misconstrued.
“The point I was trying to make was that the business occupiers, not the residents, would be annoyed at losing the free parking.”
Compton Street resident of four years Paddy Marks, said: “It’s sheer stupidity – he has shot himself in the foot by making these comments.
“All they have done is force vehicles to unload on the street because they can’t get into the yard because of all the parked cars.”
A decision on the development is due sometime in September.

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