Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB Published: 5 September 2008
Artist’s impression of the £2 million adventure playground and youth club
£2m vision for adventure playground
‘Fantastic community asset’ promised as temporary cabins make way for youth HQ
AN ambitious £2 million plan to transform a Finsbury adventure playground and youth club has won approval. Work will start on Three Corners Adventure Playground and Youth Club in the next two weeks after members of Islington Council’s south area planning committee gave the go-ahead on Monday.
The council, with the aid of £1.7 million from regeneration body EC1 New Deal for Communities, is to build a two-storey community centre on the playground in Community Gardens, Rosoman Street.
The new building will replace temporary cabins on the site.
Although 430 residents were consulted about the project, there was not one objection.
Lib Dem education chief Councillor Ursula Woolley said: “This is one of the most densely populated parts of the borough and a lot of children here don’t have anywhere at home to play outside. “Three Corners is already very popular but there should be more for older teenagers there. Having adult education on the same site will be great.”
EC1 New Deal chief executive Andy Murphy said: “This is a significant project for us. Our £2 million investment will benefit many people living in the area. It’ll be a fantastic community asset.”
In total, more than £2.4 million is being spent on the project, including £193,000 from the council and £569,000 from the Learning and Skills Council.
Work is due to finish in autumn next year.