Friends of Regent’s Canal - Meeting Report

1. Present

2. Apologies

Beverley Dean

Lee Wilshere

Councillor Paul Swaddle

Councillor Polly Billington

Councillor Pat Callaghan

Councillor Paul Convery

Councillor Sara Hyde

Denise Walker

Alison Rice

Jenni Chan

Elliot Lancaster

Shoshana Goodman

Hazel Saunders

Nick Shore

David Grigson

3. Introductions

At the start of the meeting, all the attendees introduced themselves.

4. Announcements

4.1 Canal Art Exhibition

An exhibition of canal artwork (along with guided walks) had been organised by the Wildlife Gardeners of Haggerston. Based at the Barge House near Whitmore Road, 23rd to 28th July. See flyer

4.2 ACF 2019

Volunteers are needed for the Angel Canal Festival on Sunday 1st September. Please contact carolynclark10@aol.com

4.3 Holborn Studios update

On 9th January 2019 the Hackney Planning sub-committee voted once again to demolish the locally listed buildings in the Regent's Canal Conservation Area. As a result 350 people will lose their jobs to make way for 50 apartments that have already been marketed overseas. Over 25 weeks have elapsed since that meeting and the council has still not formally issued the decision. As soon as this happens the studios will be ready to secure a further judicial review.

4.4 Regent's Wharf update

In December 2017 Islington Council unamimously rejected the controversial redevelopment plan for Regent's Wharf. The developers appealed to the government planning inspectorate and a public hearing was held on 19th June. Councillor Paul Convery has commented that "The council was represented by very effective counsel who mounted a good defence of the refusal decision. A well-organised group of local residents also presented an excellent, meticulously researched case which was commended by the inspector and by the council's legal representatives". We are now awaiting the inspector's decision.

4.5 Gasholders at Bethnal Green

The gasholder site at Marian Place is being redeveloped and although the iconic structures are not listed the developers are exploring ways of retaining them. Canal supporters are being urged to sign an online petition to express public interest.

4.6 Floating Classroom at Primrose Hill

In September 2018 Primrose Hill School applied for a permanent mooring on the public towpath. The Friends did not formally object to this, as there were no opportunities to discuss it as a group, but Ian Shacklock had submitted a letter to the council expressing concerns and proposing certain conditions.

4.7 Ted Baker update

A year has elapsed since the Ted Baker plan was due to go to committee. No news. Possibly because the financial fortunes of that business have changed.

4.8 Sturt's Lock update

In November 2018 we objected to a planning application at Sturt's Lock, adjoining Holborn Studios. This would replace the Access Storage facility but it is a highly dubious application because this site is being earmarked as a CrossRail ventilation shaft. No news, so this is presumed on hold.

4.9 Starbucks at Lock Keeper's Cottage

In 2012 we campaigned to revive the canal information centre in Camden and the council enforced Starbucks to yield some space and provide canal-based murals. The exhibition area is still in situ but all the other walls have been redecorated without consulting the council, the Friends or the IWA. This apparent breach of agreement has been reported to the council.

4.10 New use of Dead Dog Basin

In 2015 we campaigned against plans to convert the Dead Dog Basin (at Camden Lock Market) into a restaurant on the grounds that it had sustainable potential for transporting waste by water. The council ignored our pleas and approved the overall redevelopment plan. However that feature of the plan has been abandoned and a waste disposal contract has now been signed between Ellliot Lancaster (founder of iRecycle) and the owners of Camden Lock Market.

4.11 Navigator Square at Archway

In April 2019 the Islington Tribune announced that the Archway Tavern pub was due to be re-opened in a newly reclaimed pedstrianised zone named Navigator Square. This name had been chosen to pay homage to the navvies who built the canals and railways. We are now in discussions with Islington Museum to integrate these commemorations with the canal's bicentenary. This could take the form of plaques in the square and illustrations on the pub walls.

5. Lower Regents Coalition

Molly Gadenz gave an illustrated presentation on the volunteering projects carried out by the Lower Regents Coalition. These ranged from regular litter picking exercises to fully funded biodiversity installations. Molly co-founded this group with Dave Bedford in 2013 and their achievements have been recognised with two successive Green Flag awards.

6. The Islington Canal Heritage project

Carolyn Clark gave an illustrated presentation on progress of the Islington Canal Heritage Project. This is sponsored by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by the Friends of Regent's Canal. The first part of the project focused on Islington and it started in May 2018. It will come to fruition in Sepember 2019 at the Angel Canal Festival with an exhibition and free booklet. Activities and events have included:

• Inter-generational workshop with older residents and children at Blessed Sacrament School. This informed the play that was performed three times at the Young Actors Theatre in Islington, on a boat in Granary Square and at last year's Angel Canal Festival and at the Cally Festival this year
• Canal songs workshops.
• Stalls at a number of events including the Angel and Cally Festivals, with a small heritage exhibition and oppotunities to collect stories from local people.
• Collection of about 20 oral histories along with a number of old photos.
• Workshops and talks with six community groups.
• Archival research with the help of volunteers
• Youth photography workshops with the production of zine
• Development of guided walks

In 2020, the exhibition will be shown at the Islington Museum, together with more guided walks. Podcasts will be created from the oral histories for points along the canal, and a school pack will be produced. Plans are being laid for the East End Canal Festival on 1st August 2020 as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations and working closely with groups including the Lower Regent's Coalition and the London Canal Museum.

7. Website and communications

Ian Shacklock gave a short demonstration of an interactive map that illustrates the geography along the canal. It covers various topics including heritage buildings, past campaigns and current amenities. Ian agreed to share the link with meeting attendees before this application is published openly on our website.

Ian also explained some of the challenges associated with communicating via e-mail. There are about 600 names on the mailing list, which comprises all attendees from previous meetings along with "passive" subscribers who have requested to be added. In addition, canal ward councillors are added automatically after each council election. Whenever Ian publishes a bulletin it is sent to everyone on the list and it is posted on our website. However, certain follow-up e-mails, such as meeting reminders, are sent only to targeted subgroups, otherwise excessive communication can constitute a nuisance.

Ian noted that e-mail is becoming less reliable because firewalls, spam filters and antivirus functions can block e-mails such as our bulletins, so we need to find other ways of reaching out to our audience and getting feedback. One option is to tag subscribers with special interests and this might help to differentiate between supporters who want occasional information and those who want frequent updates.

8. ILLUSTRATIONS AND LINKS

8.1 Holborn Studios

For further information see our website

8.2 Regent's Wharf

For further information see our website

8.3 Gasholders at Bethnal Green

8.4 Ted Baker project

For further information see our website

8.5 Sturt's lock

For further information see our website

8.6 Canal information centre in Camden

8.7 Dead Dog basin

8.8 Navigator Square