Kings Cross Local Environment

Bin and gone - cleaning up North Kings Cross, again

There has been an increase in problems with litter and tipping in the North part of Caledonian Ward in the last few months.  Stuart has been assiduously reporting problems on Rufford Street to Contact islington and I have been doing a circuit of the area once a week.  Paul Convery says he and his fellow councillors have been on to the council public realm people so we can hope to see an improvement.  Here are some things reported in the last week or so:

We want you for your body!

On the 2nd October the young photographers group at Y-Touring at OneKX are looking for models of any age, shape and size to take part in a photo shoot at Wellcome Collection.

You will take part in several interactive workshop activities and then our budding snappers will take beautiful pictures of your beautiful selves. To book a slot to be a volunteer model on the 2nd October please email Steve Byrne, leave your details in the comments section below or call me on 02075203096. Both group and individual bookings are welcome, places are limited to do hurry and book now.

All the pictures we take will form part of an exhibition looking at body image to be displayed in the public places around Bloomsbury as part of the Bloomsbury Festival (23rd/24th October), with a montage of all the photographs taken at Wellcome Collection.

Death in Argyle Square

A 25 year old man died in Argyle Square on Saturday 11th September. According to reports from Argyle Square Residents Association and an officer on the scene, the man got out of an SUV car and crossed the street into Argyle Square just as it was being opened in the morning.

He sat on a bench and then collapsed. An ambulance was called but they could not revive him and he died on the way to hospital. There was no immediately obvious cause of death.

Question: How does King's Cross retain its reputation as the drugs capital of London? Answer: Start a new needle exchange clinic there!

According to an article just published in the Islington Tribune and reported to the Bulletin Board by Sean Murray, Camden officials have decided that the best place to open "a new super-clinic and needle exchange" will be at 264 Pentonville Road (see circle on above map).

Given that King's Cross continues to struggle to cast off its reputation for drugs and prostitutes, making it a "destination location" for drug users doesn't seem like a brilliant idea.  Given the need to integrate communities, I think it would be much better to locate it right in the centre of Hampstead!

If you want to comment on this, you'd better attend the meeting that will be taking place at the Camden Centre (Download Location of Camden Centre) from 6 PM on 29 September.

This neighbourhood can go either way and many new residents have been attracted to the are in the hope of continued IMPROVEMENT.  The following is a photo just taken by one of our neighbours along York Way...

 

The pic attached illustrates the concern we have and that these are escalting in York Way, Caledonia St and outside the station.

The guy in the pic is about a p*** up the wall at 08:00 this morning (17 Sept). The situation was the same yesterday.

 

 

If you too have noticed changes in the area of this nature, maybe you should register your comments here in the hope that our elected officials can sense the tone of the residents.

Just received another pix (17 Sept, 1300) that futher illustrates the growing problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought we had a "controlled drinking zone" - apparently someone forgot to tell these folks.

Taken 3 PM on 18 Sept

What happens to local Kings Cross criminals at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court?

Local people [corrected] the police charge end up at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court.  The Magistrates there decide guilt or not and pass sentence.  So it's an incredibly important institutuion for the local community.  Although you can turn up and watch justice being done in person the courts are remarkably opaque on the internet. 

You can't even find out who the magistrates are for instance.  Nor who has been found guilty and what sentences have been awarded.  It's a major gap in understanding what has happened to crime locally.  I'm off to the Islington Community Safety Board this evening (no i am not sure what that is either) to see if that sheds any light.  But here are some fasinating slides from Highbury Corner about their approach to sentencing, including a 'you the magistrate' game:

 

Highbury magistrates presentation

View more presentations from william perrin.

King's Cross is your oyster

Usually that means the blue card-shaped thing, but for two weeks in September it's about the mollusc loved and loathed in equal measure. I'm in the first camp — one online pundit says eating them is invigorating, like "battery-licking for grownups". I agree and liken them to a mouthful of slimy mineral-laden oceanic mysteriousness, the mystery is that I'm not quite sure why I like them, but like them I do.

I regret missing last year's inaugural King's Cross Oyster Festival, so I'm relieved that it's on again this year. Over the fortnight, 20 restaurants and businesses in King's Cross will be serving oysters in traditional, weird and wonderful forms. Drew Smith, a food writer, launched the festival last year "as a way to link up local restaurants and business people." He adds, "this year's theme is to cook oysters, and the restaurants are putting old-fashioned cooked oyster dishes on the menu." Think roast chicken with oysters sausages, oysters Rockefeller and oyster soup. The festival's website also promises 'oyster walks', 'literary nights' and of course, Pearly Kings (a tradition born in Somers Town).

Speaking of tradition, oysters were the food of the poor in Victorian times. They were readily available and were, as now, highly nutritious. But in this country in particular, they've become something for well-off foodies to wash down with champagne. Pollution and neglect sent the British oyster industry into decline, precipitating scarcity and expense. Drew hopes with the festival and the release of a book Oyster: A World History, he can help in some way to stimulate the local oyster industry and acquaint them with a wider audience. If this means British oysters will in time become more affordable and available — I'm all for it.

Why have an oyster festival in inner London, nowhere near the sea? Transport is the clue. King's Cross is London's historical larder, with waterways and railways sucking produce from all over the country into the area to feed the belly of a hungry city. Drew says: "Consignments of oysters from Loch Fyne in Scotland came by train into King's Cross. And the lighthouse building was an oyster house — the light came on when they got new supplies."

The King's Cross Oyster Festival runs from 18 September to 3 October. Participating business include Camino, Smithy's, Sourced and St Pancras Grand.

Clare Hill

King Charles 1st - best local contender

Fancy a local pint? Then do yourself a big favour and visit the King Charles 1st on Northdown Street where downing a heavenly brew won't necessarily result in losing your head.

Locally known as 'the craic house', the Charles prides itself in serving east London's fabulous Brodies Beers, including one created just for them, a dark, delicious bitter not for the faint hearted.

As you enter the pub you'll see the three hand pumps, often including a London lager, notice the traditional bar billiard table - perhaps have a game, and drink in a very traditional, very welcoming old British pub atmosphere complete with wonderfully idiosyncratic interior. A treat for us women real ale enthusiasts is the chandelier in the tiny ladies!

Feeling peckish? Do not fear, just bring your takeway with you as you are very welcome to eat it at the pub. If you like Thai, order from the Royal Thai just around the corner and they'll deliver it direct to your table at the Charles complete with crockery and cutlery. If you can't be bothered to pop round the corner, ask at the bar and they'll give you the phone number and details of how to order.

All in all the Charles is a top contender, easy atmosphere, great real ales. If you are visiting from overseas and want to experience what a real old British pub is like (before we lose them all) this is an absolute must. A hidden gem.

 

Typical street issues North Kings Cross

I started this website in 2006 to help me record, get fixed and tell others about street issues in the Northern part of Kings Cross - mainly North of Copenhagen Street.  I noticed quickly that if i made my private dialogue with the council public things seemed to get done more quickly.  Over the years things have got better thanks to some good work by council officers, help from Councillor Convery and concerted action by neighbours.  But i am concerned by some slippage in recent months.  Here are some pictures of typical issues i picked up in a short bike ride on Friday evening (Sept 10th 2010).  All now reported to contact Islington.

Drivers avoid Copenhagen Street closure at York Way causing chaos

View York Way problems in a larger map

 

Neighbour Michael describes a sorry state of affairs as drivers try to avoid the barricade at York Way by diverting up the parade of shops set back from York Way (see map above or click here) The person to contact is Jonathan Barnes at BAM on 0207 014 9409 - i spoke with him the other week he was helpful. At Islington council it's Barry Lucas via contact islington 02075272000 although Camden is co-ordinating the works.  Argent have a construction helpline 0800 328 8840.  I remember dimly that the road is question might be a private road, which will complicate things.  Sounds like a total horlicks.

UPDATE

Got hold of Barry Lucas at Islington on Friday morning - the road is a private road owned by Islington.  Camden were forewarned that this behaviour would be a problem at the liason meeting - Barry will raise this with Camden straight away.

Neighbour Michael writes:

'Who can be contacted about it to rectify a serious traffic and noise problem.
 
The road junction at York Way and Copenhagen Street is now closed off with a barrier errected at the road entrance to York Way.
 
All the traffic is now trying to gain access in both directions via the small slip road in front of the parade of shops. In effect, it has become a one way major narrow substitute road between York Way and Copenhagen Street.

We had this same problem one time before last year.  It was chaos and drivers arguing and nearly fighting each other because neither would reverse back.  It needs some level of control.

Either a No Entry Sign from either York Way or from the Copenhagen Street direction.  Or a set of lights need to be in place also.  But I think drivers would ignore them anyway, sa they do.

Having traffic coming from both directions is causing obstructions, as vehicles race to get in there first to gain access and contol - but traffic meets in the middle of the shop parade, with cars following the front one and it create a confrontation with vehicle drivers. Car drivers naturally hoot their car horns and shout, this happens from 6.30am to 0200hrs in the mornings.'

Open House Kings Cross

A dozen interesting Kings Cross buildings are opening their doors as part of the London Open House weekend which takes place on the weekend of September 18 and 19. Full details of Open House events, some of which require booking, can be found at http://www.londonopenhouse.org/index.html .

On the Camden side of Kings Cross there are architect-led tours of two recently refurbished community centres. On show will be the conical ‘sacred space’ of the Lumen United Reform Church and Community Centre and the copper-roofed barn of the New Horizon Youth Centre in Somerstown. The two colleges involved include the neo-Georgian Oxbridge-like cloisters of Goodenough College - a world away from the photovoltaic panels and sedum roof of the new building used to house the Kings Cross Construction Skills Centre on York Way. On Sunday there are also architect-led tours of a brewery reputed to be a former home of actress and mistress of Charles II Nell Gwynne in Phoenix Yard off the Kings Cross Road and a converted printer’s workshop Mews in Doughty Street..

In Islington there are tours of award-winning indoor street-like atrium of the Kings Place galleries and concert halls as well as the former ice warehouse used to house the London Canal Museum on New Wharf Road. The Vittoria Primary School Community Building on Half Moon Crescent incorporates timber, zinc and a glazed cantilever roof and sustainable design including rainwater harvesting and heating recovery units. Conisbee on Offord Street is a mixed use redevelopment built around a courtyard ‘oasis’ with water, towering ferns, outdoor terraces, living ‘rubble’ roof and natural ventilation/light shafts.