Don’t $ell the $obell
Islington Green Party opposes plans set out by the council to sell off part of the Sobell Centre and the surrounding open space for housing, to help pay for the site’s redevelopment. Thankfully, following months of campaigning by the Green Party and local groups, these plans have now been shelved.
However, the risk to the Sobell is still there. In October 2009, Green Party Cllr. Katie Dawson proposed a motion to the council calling for a formal abandonment of these plans. Both Labour and the Lib Dems voted against Katie’s motion - in other words they both want to keep an option for knocking down the Sobell.
Islington is the second most densely populated borough in the UK - we believe the council should be working to maximise open space, not reduce it further. Equally, how can the Lib Dems and Labour argue they’re worried about youth crime and in the same breath cut back on sports facilities for our kids?
We agree that there is a need for more social housing in London - but not at the expense of everyone’s quality of life. The Lib Dems and Labour are trying to argue that there is somehow a trade-off between people and the environment, when in fact both go hand in hand.
We know that the Sobell is not perfect as it is, but this is a once-in-a-generation chance to turn a much-loved and valuable local resource into a top class community amenity. Instead, the council wanted to shoehorn it into the middle of a housing estate.
Altogether, this is another example of the council selling off the family silver to balance the books in the short term, while leaving us all to pick up the long-term hidden costs - just like they did in 2007 with the shops sell-off. Any fool can keep the council tax down if you’re prepared to sacrifice the quality of life of local residents.
The people of Islington deserve better, and the Greens are fighting for them on this one.
IGP is running a petition inviting residents to oppose a sell-off and force the council to scrap its shoddy plans once and for all.
ON LINE PETITION
In its consultation on redevelopment of the Sobell Centre, the Council only offered options that involved selling off part of the site for housing. We don’t believe that’s a proper consultation at all. The Greens believe that no sell-off, and no reduction in the overall amenity space is a viable option, and should have been offered to residents and users.
So if you agree with us, this petition is a way you can register your protest to the council. With enough public support, we can get the Council to reconsider the redevelopment. Thank you!
If you support the following Proposition, please enter your name and email address below. We will not use your email address for any purpose unless you authorise us by ticking the box.
I THE UNDERSIGNED OPPOSE THE COUNCIL’S AIM TO SELL OFF PART OF THE SOBELL SITE AND SURROUNDING OPEN SPACE TO PAY FOR REDEVELOPMENT, AND CALL ON THE COUNCIL TO RETHINK ITS PLANS
