| |
Borough of Arsenal?
• WITH many other residents, I attended the licensing committee meeting on January 23 to oppose Arsenal’s application for concerts and other events to be staged at the stadium.
On reflection, I felt I should really not have bothered. There seemed to be an air of inevitability about the outcome. Arsenal had already sold tickets, arranged publicity and organised an extra concert before the noise tests and application hearing had taken place. From its view, the outcome had already been decided.
At a pre-meeting organised by two of our local councillors (the third one is going to the concert), they considered that the application would be passed and could only present to us a list of conditions we should ask the committee to consider.
I also discovered that the “opposition” councillor sitting on the committee was none other than Wally Burgess, an active supporter at the time of Arsenal's plans to build a new stadium.
Despite the many valid points made to the committee regarding noise and other issues that would lead to a public nuisance, the committee approved the application.
I know the committee was under pressure from Arsenal. The barrister representing the club issued a thinly-veiled threat when he said: “We don't want to be lining the pockets of lawyers, do we?” (Was he doing it for nothing then?)
But I believe the application to stage the concerts will cause a public nuisance to local people and as such should have been turned down. Councillors are elected to represent and speak for all the people in the borough, not just the ones in their own ward.
I would therefore ask the question: is there any point in having elected representatives? Councillors do not have the courage of their convictions to make the decisions that are right for the people they represent. Our two MPs are also silent when items concerning Arsenal come up.
I would therefore suggest that the area around the Emirates stadium be separated from Islington and become known as the London Borough of Arsenal. At least it would be made official who is in charge.
TED BEDFORD
Harvist Estate, N7
|
 |
|
| |
| Your Comments : |
| |
| |
| |
