The spotlight turns to Finsbury Park in Islington Council’s continuing initiative to bring visible and lasting improvements to some of the borough's most environmentally deprived areas. <br><br>The Finsbury Park Spotlight launch kicked off to a vigorous start on Wednesday 5 October with a business breakfast held at Finspace in Finsbury Park to consult with local traders about the issues they wanted the spotlight campaign to address. <br><br>The traders, predominantly from the Fonthill Road area, highlighted the following as priorities: street cleaning and dog mess; a revamp of the area under the bridges; more recycling facilities for business and better recycling facilities in Wells Terrace.<br><br>In the evening, local residents and community groups were also given the same opportunity to discuss issues from their perspective. Their priorities included issues such as: installation of CCTV for the area; drug dealing in the area (Moray Rd/Abbeney Rd); and revamping the area under the bridges.<br><br>Councillor Bridget Fox, Executive member for sustainability said: “The spotlight campaign is another example of how the council is listening to businesses and residents to improve environmental surroundings. <br><br>Finsbury Park is one of the borough’s more deprived areas but with a vibrant local community. Many people pass through each day - so we’re working in partnership with FinFuture’s spotlight campaign to develop and enhance the area.”<br><br>The spotlight campaign covers all aspects of the street environment and coordinates with all relevant council departments, the police and other agencies (such as Transport for London) to try and deliver the local community’s wish list of environmental improvements.<br><br>The council is now in the process of discussing what can be achieved and organising an action week mid November 2005. <br><br>Despina Johnson, Chief Executive of FinFuture, said: “FinFuture will work in partnership with SpotLight to consult with local people and traders on which activities to undertake, and in the longer term on how these improvements will be maintained.”<br><br>A newsletter highlighting achievements and long-term plans will be distributed to participants after the action week, in order to keep local businesses and residents involved and informed about the campaign.<br><br>For more information, local businesses and residents can contact the project co-ordinators on spotlight@islington.gov.uk or by phoning 020 7527 4624.<br><br><br>Note to Editors:<br><br>1: Spotlight Aims and Objectives<br><br> The Spotlight Project was created to achieve the following aims and objectives:<br><br>· To identify and target environmentally poor areas within the borough. <br>· To engage with all key stakeholders within the area to determine what they perceive to be the main environmental problems and their causes<br>· Develop lasting relationships with these stakeholders.<br>· To get all teams in the Environment and Regeneration Department working together to create a holistic approach to the way we work.<br>· To enhance the reputation of the Council and achieve the One Islington vision.<br>· To make a visible and where possible, sustained impact. <br>· Deliver co-ordinated and high profile action weeks in which different departments address the problems identified / raised within particular area.<br>· To improve the quality of life for all users of the targeted area.<br>· To measure the impact and publicise<br><br>2: Background<br><br>Spotlight was born out of a desire by the Director for Environment and Regeneration to find a way of improving the links with the community and to create a more holistic approach to the way the Department works. <br><br>Spotlight is an initiative designed to identify and tackle issues in key areas that are perceived to be environmentally poor. The aim is to empower residents, businesses and other stakeholders within the identified areas by providing them with a forum to express their issues and ideas to us. Representatives from all the key areas within the Environment and Regeneration Department attend the forums to make sure that any questions raised can be addressed quickly and by the correct people. We are then able to act on their concerns, working together to create a cleaner, greener Islington.<br><br>The desired outcome of this scheme is that, as well as building positive links with the community, we create an area for residents to be proud of which will encourage the local community to sustain that improvement.
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009