Kings Cross Local Environment

Poor street sweeping on Rufford and Gifford Streets

The standard of street sweeping on Rufford and some of Gifford Streets in the north of Kings Cross has slipped.  There seems to be a lot of detritus in the gutters and the odd bin bag scattered about.  Nearby Randell's Road isn't much better, where rubbish is collecting around workmen's stores.  There have been problems here in the past.  I reported it to the Council - let's see what happens.

Voting in King's Cross — South of Euston Road and Camden supplement

Swot up for 6 May, now that it's been announced.

King's Cross also takes in the parliamentary constituency of Holborn & St Pancras. It's famously (or infamously?) a Labour stronghold, but the stats show a reduction in Labour's lead over the past couple of elections. You can submit local issues for this constituency too at Democracy Club — but there's only a few days left to do this. All these wonderful web resources that probably weren't around last election, here too are citizen-submitted leaflets for Holborn & St Pancras from across the party spectrum at Straight Choice.

As for the local government elections, a large chunk of King's Cross is also in the London Borough of Camden, and the two relevant wards are King's Cross and St Pancras & Somers Town. All six incumbent councillors are Labour, but Camden is a Lib Dem/Conservative-controlled council. You can find current information and past election results on Camden's 2010 election pages.

Vote however you like, just make sure you vote!

Clare Hill

UK’s first vegan shop opens in King’s Cross

That’s what that big mysterious 'V’ at 73 Caledonian Road is about. Vx (V-cross) sells groceries, clothes, hot and cold drinks and cakes of the animal-free and dairy-free persuasion. According to the proprietor, it’s the only vegan walk-in shop in the country, let alone London.

Owner Rudy opened a month ago and designed the distinctly anarchist theme of the shop and merchandise. The emblem of the shop’s parent organisation ‘The Secret Society of Vegans’ is a Zorro-masked character set off by black and red stripes, and tattoo motifs. Rudy said, “We want to show that being vegan is not all about sandals and sprouts, and this is not like a health food shop”. Indeed, dominating the modest range of biscuits, cakes, snacks and vegan dog food (!) are a proliferation of printed t-shirts, bags, button badges, mugs, screen-printed posters and vegan shoes and belts.

I had a soy latte when I dropped by – it lacked strength but was nutty and smooth, and drinking it in the warm little conservatory downstairs with Coco the resident pup compensated somewhat.

This non-vegan local is pleased to see another interesting niche shop open up in the area. Vx, along with the stall at the post office, Itadaki Zen (vegan Japanese) on King’s Cross Rd, Matchless Gifts (Hare Krishna) on the Cally and the latent Tony’s Hemp Café add up to a veritable vegan/veggie hub. Rudy tells me that Tony’s might open temporarily near his store on the Cally. Meanwhile, I await news of visits from the likes of Morrissey and Natalie Portman when they’re in town. You never know.

Clare Hill

Voting and elections in Kings Cross 2010

In a few weeks we shall be asked to vote for a local member of parliament and local councillors.  In Kings Cross this website provides local information week in week out to help people make choices about the neighbourhood, without taking sides in party politics.  We want to do the same with the elections.  Control of both Parliament and the Council are going to be tightly contested and every vote will count.  The parliamentary majority in Islington South is one of the smallest in the country at 484 votes and control of the council is finely balanced.

We shall keep you updated with factual information as it appears - for instance basic stuff like who is running for the Council and Parliament from the area. It’s often hard to work out what your vote will mean for neighbourhood issues.  We want to help you with local information about what candidates will offer for Kings Cross.  To do this we don’t intend to editorialise but to ask candidates for election from each of the parties that came in the top four at the last election to submit a short article and/or a video clip where they describe how voting for them will affect local issues in Kings Cross.  I shall ask likely candidates for statements on local issues in the next day or so and hope to start posting some up soon - you will be able to find them all in the Democracy and Elections category we have created for this purpose.  If you want any particular questions asking of the candidates let me know.

There are already some non-partisan information sources out there for Islington South and Caledonian Ward.  Scanned-in election leaflets for Islington South are already appearing on the Straight Choice website.  The Wikipedia entry for the constituency gives you the general election results from 2005 and 2001. If you aren’t registered or are uncertain about how to vote or which constituency you are in then visit the easy to understand Electoral Commission website. Council election results for Caledonian Ward in 2006 are in this pdf on the council site.  Likely candidates for the upcoming general election are here on the Your Next MP site.  It's also worth keeping an eye on the new non-partisan Democracy Club site which is trying to pull together local issues and information about candidates - if you find any mistakes there sign up as a volunteer and correct them (for instance some of the local issues they list).

If there is anything else you'd like us to cover please let me know in the comments.

Springwatch Kings Cross

Some wonderful signs of Spring in Kings Cross - Tony Rees sent in these lovely pictures.  If you have any pics of spring flowers or wildlife in Kings Cross please send them to me [email protected] and we'll feature them on the site.  Alternate images of Spring are also welcome - I'll leave that up to you...

First a Great Spotted Woodpecker - Tony said 'I was in the garden yesterday afternoon and heard a hollow knocking and there was a woodpecker tapping away at the old cherry tree at the bottom of next door's garden. He stuck at it for about ten minutes and then gave up'

And a Birch Shield Bug.

Crimestoppers Bulletin from Islington Police

Do you know this person?

Police in Islington have released CCTV images  of a man they want to speak to in connection with an assault in Caledonian Road, N1 , that left a 41 year old man with serious facial injuries.

On 24 February 2010, between 13:15 and 13:30, the victim was walking along Caledonian Road when he became involved in an argument with the suspect.  The suspect pushed the victim to the ground and began to kick and punch him repeatedly.  The suspect stopped and walked off but returned shortly after and continued his attack on the victim.

The victim was taken to the Whittington hospital with severe facial injuries and will require extensive surgery to repair the damage.

The suspect is described as a black man, 6’02” tall, aged in his mid 20s. He was wearing a beige three quarter length coat, blue jeans and trainers and carrying a black rucksack.  

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Constable James Howarth, Islington CID on 020 7421 0185 or  Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

KEYS, SUITS AND BOOTS - new business in our area

Located just opposite Tesco's on the Caledonian Road this shop is just what the neighbourhood needed.  I dropped in last week to have my shoes repaired and spoke to the new owner John, who was very chatty and was excited about coming to the neighbourhood.

My shoes got some top-notch attention, so I thought it would be worthwhile to alert our readers of my satisfaction and encourage you all to drop by the shop and tell John, you read about the place on the Bulletin Board.  To tell you more about all the services they provide here is the blurb from their website: 

Here at KEYS SUITS AND BOOTS, we are a second generation with over 50 years of experience.  We specialise in traditional shoe repairs, leather repairs etc and we take great pride in our work.  So much so we guarantee your satisfaction.  That is why we have loyal customers that come back time and time again and continue to reconmend us.

So why not try us for yourself and put us to the test. We guarantee to be the best.

We lookforward to seeing you and we value your custom.  There's no job too big or too small, we undertake them all AND we have prices to suit all.  Please drop in...

For more info and prices, check out their website: www.keyssuitsandboots.co.uk - and check out my shoes which should be good for another 50,000 miles!!!!

Stuff for Kid's This Easter Break

Attention Parents!

 

Are you looking for some activities to keep the kids occupied during the Easter Break?  Well you can download the following pamphlets from Islington Council about activities for children and young people around the borough.

There's something to suit every interest from arts and crafts, to sport, drama, music or gardening- take a look!

Download Things to do- Easter for a full listing of planned activities across the borough over the Easter Break.

Download Things to do- Barnsbury for a list of activities that take place regularly in your local area.

Stephanie Garner-Winship
MAGPI West Neighbourhood Officer
Islington Anti Social Behaviour Team
Community Safety Partnerships Unit
Islington Council

Local Youth Charity to Form Girls Karting Team

I have posted the following press release as it involves one of our local charities and local business working in support.

SPARKPLUG, Islington’s Youth Charity know primarily for it’s activities taking young people on off-road motorcycle scrambling trips and providing mechanics courses has now expanded it’s activities into the world of karting.  To broaden its offering further, it will now be forming an all-girls karting team with major support from two well-known businesses – The Driver from King’s Cross and The Raceway, formerly from King’s Cross and now located in Docklands.

The SPARKPLUG Team will eventually consist of five girls who will earn their places through a series of competitions over the coming months to be held at The Raceway’s karting track.  Girls between the ages of 13 to 16 will be selected from local youth projects around the Borough and over the coming year ten girls each month will have the chance to participate at track-day sessions at The Raceway to try to qualify for the Team.

The girls will receive instructions from The Raceway’s experienced staff well as from Junior Championship Karting Driver Joseph Reilly who will be involved throughout the programme to help mentor the girls and develop their racing skills.

The top driver at each day’s session will earn a place in the run-off later in the year, and will have the chance to return for three more track-day sessions during the following months to receive additional instruction and gain more experience.  Later in the year, the top drivers from the various track-days will compete in a final show-down to select the five strong SPARKPLUG Girl’s Team.

Once the final Team is selected the real competition begins as they will be invited to participate in the Johnny Herbert Celebrity Challenge Race that take place each year at The Raceway to raise money for charity.  Named after the well-known Formula One driver, The Challenge invites major sporting celebrities and business teams to race each other.  Celebrities have included: Jenson Button, Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Robbie Williams, Nick Mason (Pink Floyd). Clearly the SPARKPLUG Team will have its work cut-out!

All the events will be taking place at The Raceway which for many years was located in the Goods Way Yards in King’s Cross.  However, now with the new construction going on in the area, they have relocated to a fantastic new venue in Docklands.

Major support for SPARKPLUG’s new undertaking is also coming from The Driver, the former Pub on Wharfdale and Caledonian Roads that has been recently transformed into a striking new wine bar and restaurant - notable also for it’s new “green wall” exterior.  Without the support of The Driver, the new Team could not have been formed!

The first of these track-day sessions will be taking place at The Raceway in early April.

SPARKPLUG is already well-known to local Councillors, but when he heard the news of this new initiative, Caledonian Ward Councillor Paul Convery was delighted and commented… “This is wonderful news and a great initiative by local business to get involved with the young people of our community.  The Council has already shown its support for SPARKPLUG through the construction of a new youth facility in Bingfield Park.  This kind of action from local business will add to SPARKPLUG’s ability to channel our young people into positive activities which will sustain them for life.”

Martin Willis, the Head of SPARKPLUG also wanted to express his thanks to these local businesses for their innovative thinking in coming up with an idea like this.  “It’s not only about supporting the work of local groups like ours with money.  This is a prime example of how creative thinking can help different entities join-up to form a programme that can work.”  He also wanted to thank the many volunteers that already attend SPARKPLUG’s youth sessions to act as unpaid mentors providing leadership to the area’s young people.

Stephan Schulte, a Trustee of SPARKPLUG added that during these tough times for business, these two companies were stepping up and making a substantial contribution to the local community which in real terms is in the order of £50.0 K over the year!

For more information on how local business and residents can get involved with the work of SPARKPLUG, please check out their website at: www.thesparkplug.org or contact Martin Willis at: [email protected].

Robbery on Regent's Canal: 18 Year Old Girl Sentenced

This is a recent release from the Met.  It concerns something that happened in our area and shows local residents the outcome of the police and courts actions.  For some time I have asked the police to report on the outcomes of trials when criminals are arrested, so it would be my intention to continue to carry these reports.  However I would like to gauge public opinion - do you want to know about these matters?  Please send me your comment.  Meanwhile here is the story...

 On Tuesday 23 March 2010, an 18 year old girl from Islington was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment for a knifepoint robbery on the Regent’s Canal towpath. During the robbery, Natsena Quatome–Takab (born 1.8.91 - aged 18) from the Packington Estate, Islington, egged on her male accomplice shouting “stab him, stab him”.

She was also sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for possession of a knife - even though she was not holding the weapon. She pleaded guilty to both offences on 23 March at Blackfriars Crown Court. The sentences will run concurrently.

On 17 November 2009, a 28 year old local man was walking along Danbury Street, N1, where it meets the Regent’s Canal towpath, when he saw Quatome–Takab and an unidentified male youth.

The victim was approached by the pair and threatened by the male youth who was holding a three-inch bladed knife. The pair demanded he hand over his wallet and mobile phone. Quatome–Takab shouted “stab him, stab him” as the male youth moved the knife closer to the victim. Fearing that he was going to be stabbed, the victim ran away to a place of safety.

A Nokia mobile phone worth £130 was stolen from the victim.

The robbers were captured by CCTV cameras walking down the canal but they could only be seen from behind. Quatome–Takab was arrested a few days later by officers who recognised her from her description.

She was interviewed at Islington police station where she confirmed that she was the person caught on CCTV before fully owning up to the offence. She refused to divulge who her accomplice was.

On 30 November 2009 she was charged with robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

The robbery was investigated by DC Kevin Johansen from Islington’s Robbery Squad: “The structured interview technique we used was vital in securing this conviction, as there was no other evidence. Once she owned up to the fact that it was her on the CCTV, it was all downhill for Natsena.

“Towards the end of 2009 and start of 2010, there was a spate of robberies in the Regent’s Canal area, which thankfully now seem to have stopped. I would like to warn Natsena’s associates that if you commit knife point robbery, you can expect to receive a long prison sentence if you are caught.”

Upon sentencing Judge Hillen said he would have given Quatome–Takab the maximum sentence had she been the one holding the knife.

He also recommended that she be deported. NON-ATTRIBUTABLE: She was born in the UK but both her parents are from Somalia.

Rebecca May | Media & Communications Manager
Islington Borough (NI)
MetPhone: 20371 | Telephone: 020 7421 0371 | Mobile: 07525 410 821
Address: Room 2.50, Islington Police Station, 2 Tolpuddle Street, London N1 0YY
Web: http://www.met.police.uk/islington