Highbury looks forward to fields extension

5.26.15pm GMT Fri 22nd Jan 2010

Highbury East councillor Terry Stacy and local resident Julie Horten inspecting the depot which will be demolished to create brand new green space for Highbury.

An extra 300 square meters of open green space will be added to Highbury Fields with the demolition of an derelict works depot in the Northwest corner of the park. Council leader Terry Stacy took Highbury resident Julie Horten to the site to review plans for the park extension.

Council officers are currently drawing up plans for the corner, and, after consultation, demolition of the old depot should start early next Spring.

The old depot is one of three rundown or derelict buildings that the Council plans to removed, the others are a former toilet block and rundown changing rooms which will also add to the green space in the area. These improvements follow on from feedback from the newly established Highbury Fields Management Group, who are implementing the community backed "vision for Highbury Fields" and are part of over £1 Million worth of improvements planned to the fields.

Councillor Terry Stacy, who represents Highbury East, commented:

"This Liberal Democrat council has been committed to finding new green space for the borough wherever we can, as we have the smallest amount of open space of any London borough. We have brought over a hectare of extra green space into public use since 2005, including brand new extensions to Gillespie Park, Arundel Square, and Caledonian Park. As the local councillor I'm pleased that now it's Highbury Fields turn."

Highbury resident Julie Horten added:

"It seemed wasteful that these run-down sheds were sitting at the corner of Highbury Fields going to wrack and ruin, and providing a hidden spot for people to loiter in. Opening up this corner of the park will not only provide valuable new green space, but help make this entire side of Highbury Fields safer. I've asked the council to make sure that they pay attention to this safety aspect, and put in new lighting as well as new trees."