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Give us a new lake
• THE South Canal Basin, on what is known as the City Forum site in City Road, was drained and roofed in the 1960s, but is now largely disused because of the congestion charge. It has spaces for 98 cars and is very large and deep. An historic canal basin, it has great potential as an amenity, and for leisure use.
A City Forum site planning brief, dated April 2005, states: “A water feature should be provided here to respect the site’s historic integration with City Road Basin.”
Obviously, unroofing and filling the existing South Canal Basin with water is the ideal way of providing what would be quite a magnificent water feature. It would be a new lake for Islington, and a significant open space.
Amenity societies, including Islington Society, Islington Archaeology and History Society and Angel Association, want an opportunity of a detailed discussion with councillors. City property developer Land Securities and its two partners have had numerous meetings with planners.
As representatives of Islington residents, we want to meet councillors and officials well before any decision is made to consider a planning application.
We would want to see the 2005 City Forum planning brief considered further and made stronger, with emphasis on restoration of what is the major feature of the site. The south section of the basin is still intact, although there is no thought at present of connecting it with the main City Road Basin, which would be technically difficult. That is for the future.
Del Brenner
Regents Network
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