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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 14 November 2008

Objectors to the ‘St Peter’s Fawlty Towers’ plans who saw their protests overruled

Evictions loom as ‘St Peter’s Fawlty Towers’ win backing

Protests fail to block plans to turn church into ‘hotel’ for business people

A NINETEENTH-century church converted into flats is to be refurbished under a plan that critics claim will turn it into “St Peter’s Fawlty Towers”, an upmarket “hotel” for business people.
At least 20 tenants of flats in the former church will have to find alternative accommodation when improvements are carried out to the Grade II-listed building in Devonia Road, at the Angel.
Islington Council’s south area planning committee, which approved the plans, heard on Monday that the church was originally converted to flats in 1988. Tenants have been told they have four months to find alternative accommodation.
Angry residents told the meeting at Finsbury Town Hall they feared the building will become a “glorified hotel”, with business people occupying the flats for periods ranging from one or two nights to a couple of weeks or months.
Resident Beth Stockley said the plans had no benefits for the community and were just an opportunity to increase rents.
She added: “To plant a hotel in the middle of a residential area is ridiculous.
“The residents or guests will not be around long enough to want to contribute anything to the locality.”
Another resident criticising the plan, Oba Nsygue, said: “The scheme with its huge turnover of residents coming and going will change the entire nature of this family area.”
Supporting the residents, Labour councillor Gary Doolan described the scheme as “St Peter’s Fawlty Towers” after the popular John Cleese TV comedy.
Cllr Doolan added: “It’s in the wrong place. I don’t believe it is desirable for the area.”
Agent for the scheme James Taylor said tenants would be able to rent back properties at market prices after the refurbishment.
“This will be serviced accommodation of the kind that is desperately needed in the capital by professionals right now,” he added. “It will be monitored carefully to ensure there are no problems.”
Lib Dem committee chairman Councillor George Allan said he could see no reason to reject plans for the refurbishment, which he thought was not out of keeping with the area.

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