Mr Finsbury Park, the man who likes to get things done

Published: 10th December, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

PAUL Morris, a leading light in the regeneration of once-neglected Finsbury Park, has stood down from his post to enter local politics close to his home in Hertfordshire.

Mr Morris, 59, whose family founded Isling­ton’s Business Design Centre, has become a Conservative councillor on Hertsmere council.

It has meant giving up his full-time involve­ment in Finsbury Park, which has spanned 40 years. 

At a farewell event on Tuesday night, he relinquished chair­manship of FinFuture, the groundbreaking independent enterprise board.

Mr Morris described how the area had been transformed from being rundown and neglected into a popular place to live, with some of the best restaurants and cafés in the borough.

“I shall miss the people,” he said. “This is a very cosmopolitan area and that is part of its charm and culture. Eating out around here is always a joy. There’s a very nice fish restaurant in Stroud Green Road and several good cafés in Black­stock Road.”

Born on the Wood­berry Down estate in Finsbury Park, Mr Morris said that, while pleased with the way the area has improved, he found that getting things done was always a big struggle.

“Finsbury Park is served by three councils, Islington, Haringey and Hackney, three health authorities and three police forces, including British Transport Police,” he said. “Each authority has a different way of doing things. That’s a lot of red tape.”

He believes Finsbury Park would be better served by one authority and that, in geographical terms alone, Islington would be best suited to do the job.

“When you are dealing with dumped rubbish or an incident it is difficult to know who to go to,” he added. “We currently employ a worker whose job is to liaise with all the different authorities.”

Mr Morris remains a major shareholder in the £80million City North scheme planned for Fonthill Road and is confident it will go ahead despite the recession.

The scheme, just approved by Islington Council, will provide shops, offices and up to 200 homes. 

“By next spring we hope to have found a partner for the devel­opment,” he added. “Investment brings regeneration. Finsbury Park had always been a poor relation but all that has changed.”

His first job was as a junior in the family shopfitting business in Fonthill Road, which then  had just three other shops.  

Then, 25 years ago, he was co-opted onto Finsbury Park Com­munity Trust. Twelve years ago, as im­provement grants and funding became avail­able, he took over as chairman of Finsbury Park Part­nership, which merged into FinFuture.   

“I don’t see myself as a political animal,” he said. “I just like to get things done.”

In charge – New regeneration boss promises ‘good work’ will go on

LABOUR councillor Mick O’Sullivan was named as new chairman of enterprise board FinFuture on Tuesday.

The Finsbury Park councillor pledged that regeneration would go on despite public spending cuts. “We must fight for services for youth and the environment, which are already being cut,” he said. “There’s been a lot of good work over crime. We don’t want to lose police patrols.”