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Lib Dem councillor Stefan Kasprzyk, who supports the residents’ campaign |
Gated community unites in face of heavy lorry invasion
School rebuilding plan on hold as neighbours warn of threat to quiet street
AN upmarket gated community has won the first round of a battle to prevent their street being invaded by up to 45 lorries an hour during the planned rebuilding of St Aloysius College in Archway.
More than 60 residents, representing over half of the community, told an Islington planning committee meeting that proposals to use private Thornbury Square as a heavy lorry access during work on the school would make their lives a “misery”.
After a heated 90-minute debate on Monday, the council’s north area planning committee agreed to delay making a decision on the school rebuilding plans so that more information could be obtained from developers.
Thornbury Square has 29 private flats and houses, built in the 1980s. Residents pay for the upkeep of the road.
A spokesman for the residents, managing director Tony Richards, said they were not against the redevelopment of St Aloysius, but believed the work could be less disruptive.
He added: “It would result in an estimated 45 lorries an hour using our road at peak times, including Saturdays, which would make it very noisy and disruptive, not to mention damaging to the road.
“On top of that, the developers want to put up two temporary buildings which would block out our light.”
Jennifer Cross, director of the Thornbury Square management company, said the estate was a “nice and safe” place for young families, but the lorries would ruin all that.
She added: “We all use the access road, including a group of elderly residents from a nearby care home.
“Children are able to play in the street on their bikes. That would have to stop.
“We’re worried that the fabric of the road would not be able to stand the amount of use.”
Residents were also concerned that plans for a wind turbine on the school roof would create extra noise.
Islington Council planners, who are backing the school rebuilding in principle, have argued that the developer, Transform School, had promised disturbances would be kept to a minimum.
“Noise would be regularly monitored, and any damage to the road would be repaired,” said a spokeswoman.
The proposed rebuilding of the boys’ school in Hornsey Lane is part of a £100 million schools development plan by the Lib Dem-run council.
Under the proposals, two temporary administration and teaching buildings would be put up on the site during construction work, expected to last 69 weeks.
The existing centrally-located building and a block to its south would be demolished. A new building of three storeys would front Hornsey Lane, and there would be a new sports hall.
Many of the buildings will have “green” roofs, and there will be new habitat areas and ponds for nature study. However, concern has been raised about the effects of the plans on trees around the site and about proposed landscaping.
Last week in the Tribune conservation experts criticised designs for the scheme as “uninspiring and bland”.
The council’s own design and conservation panel said a “nicely”-designed courtyard at the proposed building is compromised by an over-projecting dining hall.
The panel also criticised the proposed chapel elevation – it preferred something more interesting – and uncovered external access to the classrooms.
The Highgate Society has described the school plans as “poor” and unsympathetic to the conservation area.
The society’s conservationist, Michael Hammerson, voiced concern at the failure of the council to consult it over the plans. |
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