Autumn 2009 - Islington Council

www.islington.gov.uk
eyesmagazine
Edition 7 Autumn 2009

Introduction
Autumn 2009
by Cllr Terry Stacy, Leader of the Council
Welcome to the Autumn Eyes
newsletter
It’s always nice to start with some
good news so I’m delighted to tell
you that you can now recycle cartons
and household plastic packaging as
well as paper, glass, cardboard, plastic
bottles, tins and cans. I’ve always
been a passionate recycler myself,
and hope that by making it easier we
can reduce the amount of rubbish
Islington throws away.
If you are extra keen to do your bit -
and save money too - you may want
to take up our ‘Watch Your Waste
Challenge’ or ‘Reduce Your Energy
Challenge’ this October. We can
provide lots of useful (and fun) tips
to help you get into a greener, more
environmentally friendly lifestyle. Last
year our 80 waste challengers reduced
their waste by an average of nearly
50%! This year we’ve already got over
120 residents taking part and we’re
hoping they’ll do even better!
Recycling is just one of the areas you
can read about in Islington’s second
State of the Environment Report. This
gives an update on our progress in
tackling a range of issues from climate
change and waste to air quality and
biodiversity and gives us an important
overview of what is happening to your
local environment.
We have an ambition to make Islington
London’s most environmentally friendly
borough, so I am proud that we were
one of the founder signatories to
the 10:10 climate change campaign,
pledging to reduce our carbon
emissions by 10% in 2010. I hope
that you will join us by signing up on
www.1010uk.org. I have made my
own personal pledge, why don’t you?
Finally, I’m really looking forward to
meeting some of you on Tuesday, 17
November for the Eyes lunch. The Eyes
make a big contribution to improving
Islington’s environment by helping us
to respond to problems as quickly.
Please keep up your good work!
With best wishes
eyesmagazine
2
Terry Stacy

Thanks for your
good work!
Nick Collier, aged 71, an
Eyes member since the very
beginning says; “I report a
number of things to the council
such as excessive street litter,
dog mess, uneven pavements
and anything that I think is
having a detrimental effect on
our environment”.
Nick also added; “We should
encourage people to join the
scheme to help improve our
local environment. By reporting
failures and bringing forward
ideas we can help make a
difference. The scheme also
allows us to hear what the
council is doing in the many areas
which affect our daily lives”.
So don’t delay …. keep reporting
problems you spot by calling
020 7527 2000
4
Eyes Events Diary
6
News and updates
for the Eyes
8
Good news
10
Greener Islington
12
Safer Islington
13
Tips and advice
14
Get involved
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3

Eyes Diary 2009
October
Give or take day
A great way to recycle – just bring along any reusable items
you don’t want any more and take away others that you do.
Where: Hungerford Primary School, Hungerford Road, N7
When: Saturday 17 October, 11am-2pm.
How much: Free.
Contact: 020 7527 2627 or
Email: michael.benn@islington.gov.uk
Eco poetry walk
For lovers of poetry, a relaxed introduction designed to inspire
creativity and link poetry with the natural world. Aimed at adults.
Where: Islington Ecology Centre
When: Sunday 18 October, 2pm-4pm
How much: Free.
Contact: 020 7527 4462 or
Email: sustainabilitycentres@islington.gov.uk
Ditch ‘n’ Switch clothes swapping party
Reduce waste and refresh your wardrobe! Bring along between
1 and 10 good quality items of clothing or accessories that
others will want and then take the same amount away with
you. No children’s clothes please.
Where: Central Library, 2 Fieldway Crescent, N5 1PF
When: Tuesday 20 October, 6.30pm – 8.30pm.
How much: Free.
Contact: 020 7527 5157 or
Email: jean.hughes@islington.gov.uk
Recycling: All you ever wanted to know
Recycling in Islington - the challenge and what the council
is doing about it. A talk about why waste is a problem,
where our waste goes, waste and climate change and what
you can do about it.
Where: i-recycle centre, 1 Cottage Road, N7 8TP
When: Wednesday 21 October, 6pm - 8pm
How much: Free. Booking recommended but not essential.
Contact: 020 7527 4462 or
Email: sustainabilitycentres@islington.gov.uk
Energy Dr
Come and see the Energy Dr for fantastic free advice on
how to save energy and money at home plus pick up a free
energy saving light bulb to get you started. Aimed at adults.
Where: Green Living Centre
When: Thursday 22 October, 5pm-7pm
How much: Free.
Contact: 020 7527 4462 or
Email: sustainabilitycentres@islington.gov.uk
Age of Stupid Screening and Q&A
Special screening of drama-documentary about climate change
starring Pete Postlethwaite. To be followed by a Q&A with Lead
Councillor for the Environment, Greg Foxsmith and the council’s
sustainability team.
Where: Islington Town Hall
When: Friday 23 October, 7pm - 9pm.
How much: Free. Booking essential.
Contact: 020 7527 4462 or
Email: sustainabilitycentres@islington.gov.uk
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4
Please note that at the time of print we have tried to capture most
events, however there may be some that are not included as details
are still to be finalised.

Compost workshop
Come along to this workshop to learn how to produce compost.
Where: Freightliners Farm, Sheringham Road, N7
When: Saturday 24 October, 12noon-1pm
How much: Free. Places are limited.
Contact: 020 7527 5157 or
Email: jean.hughes@islington.gov.uk
Go Wild with Jay Griffiths
Award winning author Jay Griffiths talks about her book “Wild”
which has been described as part travelogue, part call to arms
and wholly original. Suitable for ages 13-19.
Where: Islington Ecology Centre
When: Tuesday 27 October, 7pm-8.30
How much: £2
Contact: 020 7527 4462 or
Email: sustainabilitycentres@islington.gov.uk
Curtain lining workshop
This workshop will cover how to line your curtains to keep your
home stylishly warm in winter without needing to use a sewing
machine. To get the most out of this course, bring along a photo
of your curtain rail and fixings. Aimed at adults.
Where: Green Living Centre
When: Tuesday 27 October, 6.30 to 8.30pm
How much: Free.
Contact: 020 7527 4462 or
Email: sustainabilitycentres@islington.gov.uk
Eco fashion and design
Green issues have never been more glamorous. Become eco
fashion designers and create ever lasting fashion from things that
would have been thrown away. A family event.
Where: i-recycle centre, 1 Cottage Road, N7 8TP
When: Wednesday 28 October, 2pm-4 pm
How much: Free.
Contact: 020 7527 4462 or
Email: sustainabilitycentres@islington.gov.uk
What happens to your recycling?
Come on an exciting visit to the Bow Materials Recovery
Facility and see exactly what happens to the materials that
you put in your recycling bag or box.
When: Thursday 12 November, 10.30am-3pm
How much: Free (Transport and lunch provided)
Contact: Fatma Mehmet on 020 7527 2334 or
Email: fatma.mehmet@islington.gov.uk
Lunch with the Leader (Cllr Terry Stacy)
Your chance to ask the Leader of Islington Council questions
about your borough
Where: Islington Town Hall
When: Tuesday 17 November, 12.30pm-2pm
How much: Free (light refreshments provided)
Contact: Fatma Mehmet on 020 7527 2334 or
Email: fatma.mehmet@islington.gov.uk
Please bear in mind that the following events are limited to strict
numbers, so please call/email early to avoid disappointment.
eyesmagazine
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News and Updates for the Eyes
Flower power!
Islington is the overall winner
of this year’s London in Bloom
competition and has been
awarded Gold, which means
that we have been classed as
outstanding by the judges.
The competition supports and
encourages gardening, horticulture
and environmental sustainability
across Greater London. To win this
prestigious award is a tremendous
achievement for the borough,
particularly as Islington is a densely
populated, inner-city area. More
information about the awards
can be found at the link below.
Congratulations to all involved!
Islington also won the Silver Gilt in the
City Category at the prestigious Britain
in Bloom Competition and the judges
gave us a nomination for the RHS
discretionary Community Award.
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6
Poover joins the
council’s fight against
dog fouling
It’s a spraying, sucking, faecesdevouring
machine and it’s
coming to a street near you.
The ‘poover’ is Islington Council’s
newest acquisition in the fight
against dog fouling and the first of
its kind to be used in the country.
The modified Honda 125cc bike
works by spraying the dog faeces
with a jet of water to loosen it
and then removing the mess with
a suction mechanism. A fragrant
detergent sterilises the area
simultaneously. The poover boasts a
25L holding capacity.
The poover will help support our
street sweepers in tackling this
unsightly and unpleasant issue.
Grime and Crime
Partnership
From August, Islington Street
Environment Wardens and Safer
Neighbourhood Officers from
all 16 wards have been going on
joint patrols together.
The patrols are designed to foster
a closer working relationship
between the two services. For
members of the public, this means
that patrols will be able to provide
information, support and assistance
on a wide range of issues, including
environmental, anti social and
criminal matters.
Street Environment Wardens
carry out a variety of duties,
which include the reporting of
environmental problems and
street defects as well as tackling
irresponsible dog ownership
and littering offences with fixed

penalty notices. They can also offer
referral services to people with
homelessness, alcohol or substance
misuse issues.
Police Community Support Officers
have a complimentary role and
can deal with issues of anti social
behaviour, disorder and crime.
Highways’ £20 million
two year street renewal
programme is nearing
completion.
The final roads to receive a
makeover include Chillingworth
Road, Highbury New Park
and Gloucester Way. Works
are scheduled to finish by
December, at which point
nearly 150 Islington streets –
more than 25km of roads and
pavements - will have been
renewed.
The ambitious scheme to renovate
many of Islington’s streets has
resulted in improvements that will
last, saving money long term by
reducing the need for repairs –
especially important during these
uncertain economic times. Our aim
has been to make Islington’s streets
more accessible, sustainable and
greener than ever. We also want to
take this opportunity to thank Eyes
members for their patience during
the works. Street renewals are,
by their nature, accompanied by a
certain degree of disruption, and
while we endeavoured to keep this
to a minimum your understanding
and cooperation throughout has not
gone unnoticed!
Low temperature
tarmac means cool
result for environment
A greener solution to road
repairs is now in use in Islington,
as the council has trialled a
new type of tarmac which
saves money and helps the
environment.
’Tempera’ is a road material that
looks and pours like regular tarmac
and is just as durable but with one
key difference - it can be handled at
much lower temperatures.
Less heating means less fuel is used
and fewer CO2 emissions created.
It also means cash savings over
conventional methods. Tempera
sets more quickly reducing the
length of time roads need to be
closed leading to faster journeys.
Roads still carry the majority of
freight and councils are facing
the twin challenges of rising road
repairs and finite budgets.
This new method - trialled in the
UK for the first time in Islington - is
attracting considerable interest in
the UK and abroad.
Contractors Ringway laid the first
section on 11 August on Stroud
Green Road between Stapleton Hall
Road and Albert Road.
Tempera can be laid at 120 degrees
Fahrenheit, 50 per cent lower than
regular tarmac and needs 20 per
cent less fuel.
In addition, fewer fumes and
odours ensure better air quality
for road layers, local residents and
businesses.
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57

Good news –
you now can recycle
more than ever before!
Keeping an eye on
our environment
Sustainability – protecting our
environment and making sure
we have a good quality of life
both now and in the future – is a
key council priority, and a major
international issue.
You can now place drinks cartons
and household plastic packaging
(such as yoghurt pots and fruit
punnets) out for recycling,
in addition to all your other
recyclables. This means that there
will be practically no materials
left for you to throw out!
You can now recycle:
Cartons (tetra paks)
Household plastic packaging
– bottles and packaging
containers of any colour
Cardboard – boxes, corrugated
card and greetings cards
Glass – jars and bottles of all
colours
Metal tins, cans and packaging
– food and drink cans, empty
aerosol cans, aluminium foil and
metal caps
Paper – newspapers,
magazines, catalogues, yellow
pages, junk mail and envelopes
(including windowed)
This has been made possible as we
will now be sending your recycling
to new Materials Recovery Facilities
(MRFs) which are capable of sorting
a wider range of materials.
If you want to find out more about
the full range of materials that you
can now recycle, please visit
www.islington.gov.uk/recycling
Islington’s State of the Environment
Report 2009 gives an update on the
health of our environment providing
the broadest picture yet of the
quality of our local environment. Its
aim is to raise awareness of the key
environmental issues in Islington and
encourage innovative action with
chapters on the build environment,
biodiversity, climate change, transport,
recycling and may other issues.
For the first time the report contains
information on climate adaptation.
Adaptation is the way in which
we make changes to the physical
environment and to our everyday lives
to ensure that we can cope with the
already changing climate. This could
involve installing a green wall, changing
what we plant or simply advising
people how to deal with extreme heat.
The report will be available in hard copy
and on the council’s website from mid
October. Look out for copies available in
the Green Living Centre and website
eyesmagazine
Images courtesy of Groundwork and St Luke’s Parochial Trust.
8

Working together to care for Islington’s
Greenspaces
Islington’s ‘Friends of Parks’community groups work with the council’s
Greenspace team to create and improve our open spaces. They get
involved in all aspects of their local parks including management,
conservation, design, safety and community events.
A shining example of community and council partnership is King Henry’s Walk
Garden (KHWG) in the Mildmay ward. The garden was once a derelict troublespot.
The Friends of KHWG and the council joined together to change all that
and has transformed the space into an exciting community garden. The Friends
who lead on managing the space are now proud owners of a ‘Green Pennant’
Award is in recognition of the high standard of the project.
In order to help the different groups share information, ideas and inspiration,
our Greenspace Service at Islington Council has published its first quarterly
newsletter GreenspaceNow. If you are interested in our parks and greenspaces
you may like to download a copy from http://www.islington.gov.uk/
Environment/outdoor/parks/default.asp .
If you would like to form a ‘Friends of’ group or join an existing one and/or
subscribe to GreenspaceNow, please email greenspace@islington.gov.uk .
9

Greener Islington
Archway Low Carbon Zone
Islington Council has been
selected to create one of ten
flagship Low Carbon Zones
across London to cut carbon
emissions, create jobs and slash
energy bills.
The new Archway Low Carbon Zone
aims to cut CO2 emissions 20 per
cent by 2012 - a doubling of current
borough-wide targets. It will also cut
local energy bills.
Measures include:
A major homes insulation
programme in Archway’s social
housing.
An offer of heavily subsidised
insulation for private houses in the
zone
A team of energy doctors will
visit homes to carry out energy
audits, give advice on using energy
efficiently and carry out measures
to help (eg fitting reflective radiator
panels).
Local people will be recruited as
apprentices to work alongside the
energy doctors.
Businesses, charities, churches
and community organisations will
be offered energy audits and tips
on cutting electricity use, as well
as help and financial assistance
installing some energy efficiency
measures.
Volunteers will be trained to help
residents who want advice on how
to take more radical steps to cut
energy use (eg installing solar panels
etc).
Islington Council will work together
with Homes for Islington, Eaga,
Groundwork London, Better
Archway Forum, Archway Town
Centre Management Group, the
Whittington Hospital and others to
create the Archway Low Carbon
Zone.
The Low Carbon Zones will be
funded by the London Development
Agency’s recently approved budget
for climate change activities.
eyesmagazine
10

Dog Control –
Court Action
Islington sees first prosecutions
under new dog fouling rules
Dog owners are being reminded to
clean up after their pets following
the first two prosecutions in Islington
under new anti-fouling rules.
Peter Mills, 57, of Strang House, N1,
and Laura Morison, 41, of Priestly
House, EC1, both admitted breaking
the Clean Neighbourhoods and
Environment Act.
Highbury Barn -
Free of Plastic Bags
The world’s first Plastic Bag Free Day took place on 12
September, and Islington’s very own Highbury Barn played
host to an event to support the occasion.
The purpose of the day was to encourage shoppers to ditch plastic
bags and take reusable bags with them instead.
Supported by the Marine Conservation Society, organisers in
Highbury Barn handed out a whole box of reusable bags and
information about how detrimental plastic bags are to our
environment. Plastic bags are the ultimate symbol of our throwaway,
disposable lifestyles. The 2008 MCS Beachwatch litter survey
found 8,174 plastic bags littering UK beaches on just one weekend.
Both were prosecuted after Islington
Council officers saw them fail to
clean up after dogs in St Luke’s
Gardens, in separate incidents.
Magistrates were told that the
prosecutions were brought after
concerns from local residents about
the negative impact dog fouling has
on their lives.
Islington Council brought in Dog
Control Orders in August last year
following a large-scale consultation
with residents. Since then 87 people
have been issued with Fixed Penalty
Notices for dog fouling.
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11 13

A Safer
Islington
Tackling noisy
nuisances!
The council’s night-time noise
patrol has joined forces with staff
from Homes for Islington (HfI)
to provide all Islington residents
with an enhanced noise patrol
service. The team currently deals
with around 5,000 calls a year,
around one third of which relate to
HfI properties, so it makes sense
for staff with a knowledge of the
homes and tenants to become more
actively involved.
If you are being bothered by noise,
contact the noise team on
020 7527 3229 (8pm-2am,
Sunday to Thursday and 10pm-4am
Friday and Saturday) or
020 7527 3258 during office
hours.
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Make sure it’s
firework fun, not
bonfire blues
The council is once again
working with the London Fire
Brigade and the Police to make
sure safety is a priority this
Bonfire Night.
Last year’s joint campaign resulted in
15% fewer calls to the police about
anti-social behaviour related to
Bonfire Night and Halloween, which
comes just a week before. Key to the
success of the campaign is making
sure fireworks don’t get into the
wrong hands. If you suspect a shop
is selling to under-age youngsters,
contact the trading standards team
on 020 7527 3198. To report
crime or nuisance, contact the Police
on 0300 123 1212.
Follow the
firework code
To minimise the risk of accidents,
always follow the firework code:
Only buy fireworks marked
BS7114
Don’t drink alcohol if setting off
fireworks
Follow instructions and use a
taper to light
Keep fireworks in a closed box,
never in your pocket
Stand well back and never go
back to a lit firework
Never throw fireworks
Keep pets indoors
Always supervise children and
no sparklers for the under 5s.

Tips and
advice
Winter Warmth
Christmas isn’t the only expensive
thing about winter. Heating bills
can be high and now’s the time to
start looking at how you can make
your home more energy efficient
and save on your bills. The Winter
Warmth Guide will be out soon and
will give you advice on how you can
avoid big heating bills and make
sure you get the benefits you’re
entitled to. It’s also important to
reduce the cost to your health when
temperatures plunge by eating well
and staying active and, if you’re
vulnerable, making sure you get your
flu jab.
Pick up a copy of the Be Warm, Be Well:
Your Winter Warmth Guide to find out
more.
Fair gas and
electricity bills
With Ebico, a not-for-profit
company, it doesn’t matter
whether you pay for your gas
and electricity by pre-payment
meter, every quarter or by
direct debit.
However you pay, you pay exactly
the same amount. Ebico also aims
to combat fuel poverty by offering
fuel without adding on the costs of a
standing charge.
To find out if you could save on your
gas and electricity bills by switching
to Ebico call 0800 458 7689 quoting
reference ISL or visit www.ebico.
co.uk/islington.
Islington Council provides no
guarantee that every resident would
save money from switching to Ebico
and each resident should satisfy him
or herself before switching supplier.
Grants
Making your house energy
efficient can be expensive but
grants are available from the
council and our partners to
help residents with insulation,
replacement boilers and even
solar panels.
The Safe & Warm scheme is open
to owner-occupiers over 70 or
who receive certain benefits and
can pay for the replacement of old
boilers or to have your loft or walls
insulated. The Climate Change Fund
can provide a renewable energy
system such as solar panels free
of charge to owner-occupiers on
certain benefits. All householders
can receive subsidies towards loft
and cavity wall insulation.
Call the Green Living Centre
on 0800 953 1221 for more
information.
eyesmagazine
13

Get involved
Islington Council signs
up to 10:10 fight
against climate change
Islington Council has joined dozens
of organisations and public figures
in pledging support for the new
national 10:10 campaign against
global warming. The council is one of
the first local authorities in the UK to
sign up to 10:10, which commits it
to strive to cut its carbon footprint
by 10 per cent during 2010. Public
figures supporting 10:10 range from
climate change expert Lord Stern
to TV chef Delia Smith and designer
Vivienne Westwood.
Islington has already taken pioneering
action to cut its share of carbon
emissions. Measures so far include
the UK’s largest solar hot water
installation on a swimming pool (at
Highbury Fields), installation of lowenergy
lighting and draught-proofing
of libraries. Also, all primary schools
roofs in Islington are being insulated
in time for this winter to cut carbon
emissions and also fuel bills.
To sign up to 10:10, or for more
details, go to www.1010uk.org
Watch your Waste Week
(17-25 October)
Watch Your Waste Week is back to
help you cut waste and save money.
We’re running a series of events,
including clothes swaps, Give or
Take days and the Watch Your Waste
Challenge to help you discover more
about the multitude of ways you can
reduce what you send to landfill.
You can also join the Watch Your
Waste Challenge and take steps
towards a greener lifestyle. Discover
how little rubbish you can produce for
a week by joining the challenge! Your
goal - to create as little rubbish as
possible by only using things that can
be reused, recycled or composted.
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14

out a guide with every copy of the
November issue of IslingtonNow, so
keep your eyes peeled!
Energy Saving Week
(19-25 October)
If you want to take part email:
michael.benn@islington.gov.uk or
call 020 7527 2627
Islington – the place to be!
Not to mention the place to shop,
the place to eat, the place to go out
and have fun! To help us get the
message out to people across the
capital, we’ve joined up with Time Out
to publish an Islington guide which
will be jam-packed with details of all
the great things our little borough
has to offer, from shops, markets,
restaurants and bars to galleries,
parks, museums, activities for kids and
much more! If you don’t read Time
Out, don’t worry as we’ll be sending
Join our Reduce Your Energy
Challenge for Energy Saving Week.
This year the Energy Doctors are
coming to a shopping centre near you.
Meet the Energy Doctors as they
take their mobile surgery around the
borough helping local residents to save
pounds on their fuel bills. The Energy
Doctors can help with a wide range of
advice including stopping damp, grants
for boilers, solar power and energy
saving hints and tips. Come and tell us
your best tip for saving energy.
You can also take part in the Reduce
Your Energy Challenge’. Take your
meter reading then lower the amount
of energy use as much as you can.
We’ve got a great pack with tips and
advice that you can collect from the
Green living Centre or ring
0800 953 1221. Great fun and you
can save money and win prizes.
Advice
on home
heating
Save
Energy
Save
Money
eyesmagazine
15

eyesmagazine
Edition 7 Autumn 2009
If you would like this document in large print or braille, audiotape or in another
language, please contact 020 7527 2000
Contact Islington
222 Upper Street
London N1 1XR
E contact@islington.gov.uk
T 020 7527 2000
F 020 7527 5001
Minicom 020 7527 1900
W www.islington.gov.uk
Printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based inks.
Published October 2009