Bring this hideous tower down gently, from the top

Published: 8 April, 2011

• IT’S not a case of “Tower move will devastate community” (Tribune, April 1), the long-suffering community of Archway has for decades been devastated to the point of desolation.

Try withstanding the vicious assault by bullets of frozen sleet or sheets of drenching rain raging around the tower at hurricane force in foul weather. God knows how the elderly, frail, Whittington and Royal Free patients with orthopaedic, neurological or vascular problems survive or cope.

Tall buildings not only shut out the light but create heavy, turbulent air currents. They have no place in society, let alone near hospitals or public transport.

What actually goes on inside the hideous and sinister place, that Orwellian-named  “Court of Protection”? It gives one the creeps.

If you want to revitalise Archway, pull down the monstrosity. All excuses about the Tube station pale to insignificance and the lies and excuses are nailed when you see what is happening at London Bridge with the latest infantile architectural version of Babel dumped slap-bang on two Tube lines, a crowded bus station and a rail hub.

The rumble of the erratic Barnet line beneath Archway’s houses, stirring dreams in the still of the night, is nothing compared with the non-stop onslaught of thunder at London Bridge.

In my long and varied experience of travelling across London, as far as Archway is concerned it is quicker, cheaper and more reliable (if equally grim) by bus, and with a wide choice of routes.

Bring the tower down gently, piecemeal from the top. What goes up can come down.

MARGARET MILNER
Address supplied

• THERE is protest about plans to spend some of the £2.1million regeneration budget on Archway Close, in favour of spending it on getting rid of the gyratory (Never mind the flower beds, dump the gyratory, April 1) 

I’m disappointed at this response, mostly because it fails to understand the facts. Of course, we all want the gyratory gone, but it would cost at least four times as much and would take the cooperation of Transport for London and funds from Mayor of London Boris Johnson, which we simply don’t have. 

Archway Town Centre Group has made a funding bid for £8million for the gyratory and is awaiting the results. But to be honest I don’t hold out much hope – the reality is probably that the gyratory problem will run for a long while yet. 

As a business manager I have always favoured a practical approach to Archway’s particular problems, so in my view it is best to get on with improvements that are possible and achievable and try to create a snowball effect. 

Now, after years of fruitless fantasies and consultations about changes in Archway that we just can’t have because of disinterested landowners and lack of money, we have an actual budget, an actual proposal and a chance to transform a space and create somewhere lovely which this neighbourhood can come to feel belongs to us. 

I favour a relocation of the library to the magnificent empty building behind the Close, but this would need a forward-thinking buyer. 

If many more of us use the Close, we are in an improved position to argue we need the gyratory gone and a decent crossing. 

There are also plenty of other ideas on how to spend the remaining funds to bring noticeable improvements to the rest of Archway.

We must, of course, still campaign against the gyratory, but can also work towards the goal from the ground up. 

Let’s get real, and get on with it. 

STEPHANIE SMITH
Archway Market manager