Rally to save Highbury Roundhouse

Published: 17 September, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

THREATS to demolish one of the borough’s most popular venues, Highbury Roundhouse, amid claims that the building is unsafe, sparked a public protest this week.

Dozens of residents and users rallied outside the building in Ronalds Road on Wednesday morning calling for the centre – which has provided community facilities for almost 40 years – to be saved.

Cracks were discovered in the walls of the main building at the back of the centre, caused, it is believed, by subsidence. It was closed by Islington Council’s building control team who declared it unsafe.

Council officers have argued that the cheapest option would be to pull the building down.

But directors at the centre have hired their own private structural engineer who believes that while the building needs monitoring, it can be made safe.

Andrew Berthier, director of the Highbury Roundhouse, said it was a sad day for the many thousands of residents who provide or attend groups and events at the venue. 

“Highbury Roundhouse has been at the very heart of our community since it was handed over by the old GLC in the ­early 1970s,” he said. “We’ve now got to make many important decisions at a time of severe financial restraint. There are currently two options: demolish the main building with no guarantee that it will ever be rebuilt; or have it repaired so that we can still use it. 

“We obviously prefer the second option and hope that we can persuade the council it is ­feasible. Otherwise doz­ens of important community groups will find they have no home.”

He also called on the council to explore the possibility of providing temporary accommodation for community groups currently without premises.

Independent structural engineer Bob Stagg, from local firm Conisbee, said: “My own view is that while major remedial action, including underpinning and comprehensive brickwork repair and rebuilding will be needed if the building were to be kept, its current condition does not warrant the issue of a dangerous structures notice.”

He added that the building has been suffering from cracking, most probably from the subsidence, over a number of years. There are large trees very close to the wall and some slippage of the embankment may also have contributed to structural weakening.

Mr Stagg said: “In    the meanwhile, if the building is to remain in use, I would recommend further monitoring whereby a number of the cracks were measured regularly, say weekly. The whole situation would then need to be re-assessed if further movement was identified.”

The youth and community centre has served the young and old of the area for up to 40 years. The Highbury Roundhouse is home to a nursery, a youth club, pensioners’ groups and sports and exercise classes. The front building is open as usual.

Councillor Catherine West, leader of Islington Council, said: “The Roundhouse has made a huge contribution to Islington and we’re absolutely committed to it. Unfortunately, monitoring has revealed signs of substantial ground movement and following an inspection by our building control team, a dangerous structures notice had to be served. 

“The safety of its users is, of course, paramount and as the property owners the council had to take immediate action. We’ve been working extremely hard to ensure that local residents shouldn’t suffer, and temporary venues have been found for all the centre’s activities.

“We’re monitoring the site and will be working closely with the Roundhouse over the coming weeks. All options will be explored for tackling the problem and redeveloping the   site in ways that will permanently re-provision Highbury Roundhouse.”