This gem is lost forever

Published: 15 October, 2010

• I MUST express deep disappointment at the decision to approve the development of NCH Highbury Park, in spite of the failure to meet planning commitments.

A five per cent increase in the proportion of affordable housing was achieved, which we welcomed.

There had seemingly been no attempt to address the question of retaining the mature grassland known as “The Field” in its entirety.

Islington Green Party has campaigned long and hard on this issue, commissioning surveys by independent bodies.

Experts confirmed that the site has great ecological value as an example of pre-urban grassland, and as such is very rare in Islington, and indeed London.

Had it not been privately owned it would be a site of importance for nature conservation and therefore protected from development.

It is now lost forever.

Councillor Phil Kelly seemed to suggest that any opponents of this scheme did not support affordable housing.

It seems wilfully simple-minded to look at the need for more social housing and the need to protect our green spaces as an either/or choice.

The wonderful opportunity of the NCH site was that it offered ample space to provide housing and preserve this natural treasure for future generations.

How ironic that in 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, Islington Council and NCH have chosen to destroy this ecologically rich and irreplaceable natural gem.

CAROLINE ALLEN
Islington Green Party