Valuable initiative like this needs fair crack of the whip

Published: 28 April, 2011

• AS the Islington Fairness Commission comes to its final meeting we should like to congratulate everyone concerned; for their initiatives, their willingness to consult and listen and their informative and people-friendly meetings. 

We are pleased that one of the authors of The Spirit Level, Richard Wilkinson, was able to attend every meeting and contribute his wider analysis.

We look forward to the final report and hope it is comprehensively publicised and discussed. 

One of the most useful meetings for us involved the people responsible for Islington services – including Islington Council, the police and NHS – explaining the probable effects that central government cuts would have on their respective provision. It felt like a “town meeting” – and probably should have been one.

Islington Fairness Commission has established such a valuable constituent in Islington society that it would be foolish if it were now abandoned. 

We appreciate that everything costs and that this is not a time for extra expense but this open explanation and listening to Islington people has been so valuable it must be continued, perhaps on a quarterly basis.

We hope other residents will think as we do, and support us in this request,

ANNE MUMMERY
DIANE BRACE
N1