City Hall could grant permission for project despite opposition from Islington Council and local MP Jeremy Corbyn News | London Plans for 178 new homes and a separate 23-storey student accommodation block in Archway could be allowed to go ahead by Sir Sadiq Khan, despite Islington Council refusing to grant permission for the project In a letter to the borough authority, the mayor has said he will use his power to ‘call in’ the application and decide whether to overrule the council He said the scheme - located on the former Archway Hospital site at the intersection of Highgate Hill and Archway Road - “would be of a scale which would provide a significant contribution to” his annual housing targets On the Archway scheme, Islington Council’s officers had argued that the project failed to provide enough affordable housing and could damage the “character and appearance of the Holborn Union Infirmary Conservation Area” Of the 178 homes, 58 would be available at a social rent, and a further 33 would be made available as part of the mayor’s London Living Rent scheme, which is pegged to local incomes. All 91 of these affordable properties would be housed in new buildings along Highgate Hill. The project’s remaining 87 homes would be created within the site’s existing historic buildings which would sit separately from the rest of the housing would meanwhile provide a further 242 student bedrooms - none of which would be classed as ‘affordable’ only 30 per cent of the scheme - measured by the number of habitable rooms - would comprise ‘affordable housing’ which is below Sir Sadiq’s usual requirement of 35 per cent Local MP Jeremy Corbyn last year said he was strongly opposed to the project “This new tower that is proposed is going to be a complete eyesore on the area,” he said It is something that is put up purely to make a great deal of money.” Addressing the concerns about affordability the former Labour leader also warned: “In no way in a borough with over 15,000 families in housing need and where of existing tenancies around 40 per cent live in social housing can this be called an appropriate development.” Rayner faces call to say whether Army could help clean up Birmingham bins Silvertown Tunnel opens: £4 for car drivers use first tunnel under Thames in 58 years Rent increases to be capped at 6% under Scottish Government plans Past AXA Startup Angel winners share their tips Seven Capital told the Ham and High newspaper last year that their scheme will provide “high quality modern residential accommodation and student rooms alongside the restoration of historic buildings” A spokesperson added: “The submitted scheme will make a lasting positive contribution to the community and wider area through public realm enhancements and the provision of flexible community and commercial space.” Some 52 of the 91 affordable housing units are proposed to be studio or one-bedroom flats The council’s officers said this conflicted with Islington’s Local Plan which states that “concentrations of one-bedroom units” in new developments “will not be acceptable” the authority also concluded it “would result in unacceptable visual Sir Sadiq said the project could “make a significant contribution to Islington’s housing delivery” He will hold a City Hall hearing at some stage in the coming months where the arguments for and against the scheme will be re-examined before issuing a final decision on whether permission should be granted Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary deprivation and tackling parents’ abuse of home education – Sian Hampton speaks to Jack Dyson More from this author deprivation and tackling parents’ abuse of home education – Sian Hampton tells Jack Dyson about a life that has taken her from Uganda to leadership of the Archway Learning Trust Labour’s surprise assault on academy freedoms has caused consternation across the sector it has already had a more tangible effect; long-term plans to fast-track staff onto leadership wages are now on the backburner Education secretary Bridget Phillipson was forced into a U-turn on restricting academy pay freedoms – saying she would instead introduce a “floor” but “no ceiling” on pay and conditions But Hampton believes the damage has already been done “Parts of the bill were a real distraction,” she says “Academy terms and conditions – did we really need to talk about that now “I don’t know if the government is for or against trusts but the mood music makes trusts feel they are maybe less valued than they were in the past.” We meet in a bustling café in the middle of London’s St Pancras Station Having arrived from Nottingham with a large holdall containing freshly laundered clothes Hampton is stopping here before hopping on a train to Bristol to spend the weekend with her daughter She intends to work remotely for the rest of the day I later learn she remained glued to her laptop after checking into a Bristol branch of Premier Inn that evening Hampton spent the first four years of her life in Uganda Her parents had moved to the country to teach They were constantly taking us out on safari Blood-thirsty dictator Idi Amin seized power 12 months later prompting many of the family’s friends to flee the country Hampton’s “ambitious” father frequently switched headteacher jobs causing the family to regularly relocate too Her first job was working in a Wolverhampton halfway house The building was equipped with emergency buttons but she says it was “never somewhere I really felt frightened” “Working with blokes who’ve just come out of prison was an eye opener That was always interesting as you never knew how it was going to go – you were giving these ex-offenders knives and all sorts.” Hampton then moved into secondary teaching But it wasn’t until she took over as deputy head at Bluecoat Aspley in Nottingham that she encountered “inner-city diversity” “There were cultural things I needed to learn about children who came from different backgrounds to my own “I love that vibrancy – I couldn’t go to a monochrome school and work out in the shires now she was asked to search a pupil’s boot amid fears they were armed police descended on the secondary to arrest “members of the school community because they were involved in gangs” Having risen the ranks to executive headteacher at Bluecoat The trust consists of 10 schools mostly spread across Nottingham and Derby Instead of taking a “one-size-fits-all approach” to running the academies the 58 year old ensures “heads are autonomous” as they are “uniquely placed to understand their own communities” “We don’t pretend [the schools are] all the same” there are key facilities that we run through the central team “The intention of all of that was to reduce workload on our heads and to allow them to maintain and sustain teaching and learning.” Hampton also sits on the Department for Education’s east Midlands advisory board The meetings are intended to inform regional director rulings on trust growth plans At their best they are “really rich and informed conversations that I hope help DfE make their decisions” At their “worst” they’re presented with proposals “where so much development has gone on that saying no is actually going to undermine something that’s happening already” – even if the project isn’t the best long term With the likes of the academy conversion grant and trust capacity funding cut completely Hampton thinks there could be “a drying up of people wanting to academise” is the regions’ work going to be less about managing conversions [and] more about school improvement which is not what the advisory board is there to do “I don’t know how much longevity they [advisory boards] have going forward in this new educational landscape.” Hampton has thrown her hat into the ring to join the new RISE teams: groups of DfE officials and turnaround leaders charged with brokering support for struggling schools When the government’s vision for the school improvement teams was revealed in November ministers said they wanted councils to help drive their standards agenda Just days later England’s biggest local authority admitted it could no longer afford to provide school improvement support Hampton has received similar messages from council chiefs in the Midlands ‘We haven’t got the appetite or resources to run schools that are in difficulty ourselves With 80 per cent of all secondary schools in trusts why would we suddenly go into this place where we haven’t got the skills or the money to support?’” Hampton backs a number of Phillipson’s reforms She regards the curriculum and assessment review as an opportunity “to make schools think about how children can be happy and successful” She also backs plans to tighten up elective home education (EHE) rules welcomed around 193 children in-year over 2023-24 Thirty-six per cent of them had been home educated Education Datalab analysis last year showed the secondary issued 176 suspensions per 100 pupils across 2022 and 2023. The rate was among the highest in England “The community there was playing games,” she says “A child would get into trouble in one school and the parents would then choose to electively home educate and apply for a completely different school.” “There were parent forums and all sorts of social media [groups] where it would say ‘how to home educate your child’.” She claims some leaders in the area have also told the parents of misbehaving kids: “We’re looking at permanent exclusion but if you prefer to educate your child at home The children accepted into Alvaston Moor through this route “usually need really bespoke support” to reintegrate them into classes “I’m not saying it [the exclusions] is all EHE but I think those that come through fair access and have failed in other schools are usually the ones that come to us and fail again,” Hampton stresses Alvaston Moor managed to reduce suspension rates to 12.3 in the autumn it has held 10 in-school meetings with parents every day Archway also invested £1.5 million in “an internal AP and intervention system” recruiting staff to work with children with additional needs Hampton spends half her week working from the trust’s central team base on Bluecoat’s top floor The rest of the time she hot-desks during visits to the rest of her schools She rails against the notion of having a separate office building for central staff “I hate the idea of me somehow being in an ivory tower and making edicts I still pick up litter [and] challenge children to tuck their shirts in.” A working group has been assembled at Archway to examine “how we can make working in our trust as attractive as possible” It hopes to do this in ways that aren’t to “the detriment of other players nearby” One of the measures being looked at is the leadership pay fast-track experienced staff will be able to skip the final upper pay scale level and move onto the leadership spine The move will cost up to £30,000 to implement But Hampton says the plan is “still very much paused” and expects it to be examined again in September The idea is that employees could move into assistant head roles sooner and give leaders the chance to ask them to “do other stuff as well” as they won’t be “beholden to 1,265-hour” rules I think it would allow us to be more imaginative in what we’re doing rather than being rigidly attached to teachers’ pay and conditions.” The delay means the plans will likely be someone else’s to implement Hampton will retire in August – saying it is time to make way “for somebody new with fresh ideas” “Carrying the responsibility of the trust is a 24-hour-a-day role “I’ve got enough of my career left to go off and explore different things I didn’t want to go on for so long that people were saying Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College IPPR associate director Avnee Morjaria has taught inclusion and being mission-driven from Steve Chalke's life and work the Ofsted team tasked with tackling illegal schools speaks about the horrors they have witnessed,.. When University Technical Colleges launched in 2010 they were hailed as the solution needed to propel young people to.. Ask most people what they know about the Old Kent Road and they’ll probably tell you it’s the cheapest.. NASBTT chief executive Emma Hollis tells Schools Week about guiding providers through the ‘bruising’ ITT review and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Become a subscriber and stay up to date with the latest breaking news and industry discussion Website by Creative Sponge A new series of pop-up events at Archway Market will spotlight Black entrepreneurship and create lasting opportunities for local Black-owned businesses to flourish in Islington Islington Council has commissioned local entrepreneurs Tricia Blake of Diva Choice and Natalie Royer of NLPR Agency to deliver the Black Excellence Pop-Up series designed to showcase and support innovative Black-owned businesses in the borough The programme will provide a supportive platform where local Black-owned businesses can connect with new audiences and establish a regular presence in the community The series will launch on 11 December and feature an exciting lineup of vendors offering fashion and gift items perfect for the holiday season This will be followed by a Youth Market in collaboration with The Lift Youth Project and a Female Entrepreneurs Market for International Women’s Day in 2025 Islington Council’s Executive Member for Inclusive Economy and Jobs said: “Our ambition is to create a more equal Islington where everyone has the same opportunity to reach their potential we need to build a fairer local economy for all our residents “Islington’s economy is characterised by its brilliant small businesses Our fantastic street markets offer great opportunities for entrepreneurs with good value stall rents and great locations in central London This initiative celebrates Black-owned businesses and helps ensure people from all backgrounds can succeed as entrepreneurs and business owners.” with plans for a monthly Black-owned business event at Archway Market following the pop-up series the project’s impact is set to continue for the long term co-founder of the Black Excellence Community Interest Company (CIC) said: “Our goal is to create lasting economic opportunities for Black-owned businesses in Islington fostering connections and building visibility for talented entrepreneurs who might otherwise face barriers in traditional retail spaces We are very excited to have the opportunity to bring these businesses to the forefront and encourage people to come to Archway Market and take a look!” All events will take place at Archway Market 11 December 2024: Black Excellence Pop-Up Fest 19 February 2025: Youth Market in collaboration with The Lift Youth Project 5 March 2025: Female Entrepreneurs Market for International Women’s Day For more information on the Black Excellence Pop-Up or to get involved please email blackexcellencecic@gmail.com or call 07304065453 Cookie Settings Powered by Onclusive PR Manager™ Londoners love their pubs and love a good Indian so the growth of Indian-based pubs in the City isn't altogether surprising Arriving off the back of the huge success of The Tamil Crown and Prince comes new Archway gastropub The Great Indian If the name rings a bell it's because owner Aman Dhir also runs an Indian takeaway in Hackney under the same name Up in Archway he's taken over the old Prince Alfred pub To help run the food at the new pub Aman has brought in as an Executive Chef Chef Jolly who's been a Chef Judge on MasterChef India for years Jolly's menu will be a mix of small and sharing dishes including: There's also an entire section of the menu devoted to pao or pav with fillings including Goan Portuguese Confit Pork Belly with pickled cabbage and Tandoori Fried Chicken This is still very much a pub that you can pop in for a pint with a separate dining room if you want to come here for lunch or dinner which will go nicely with bar snacks like their coastal prawn mini dosas and the jackfruit croquettes there's a decent-sized alfresco seating area which is also going to prove a boon It all sounds like Archway residents might have a hit on their doorstep When does it open? Opened 9 January 2025 Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @thegreatindian_ldn Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy View on Google maps About us  |  Contact Us  |  RSS Feed  |  Site directory  |  Privacy policy  |  Log in/out Join 50,000 other Londoners getting exclusive news and restaurant offers from Hot Dinners. Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy See our previous newsletters here Archway School is exploring the possibility of converting to academy status Headteacher Kieron Smith told Stroud Times that any switch to an academy would involve a consultation with parents he explained: “Archway is one of a very small handful of local authority controlled secondary schools in Gloucestershire as part of the regular strategic reviews undertaken,  governors and senior leaders scan the educational landscape and considers future pathways for their school as an OFSTED graded ‘good’ school we are able to largely determine our own destiny at Archway It is the role of governors to ensure that the school is financially viable and that the students gain the best possible outcomes “It is important to stress that this is only one possible future pathway for Archway” “It is prudent to look at all possible models of how this can be done for the future health of the school.  Many schools primary and secondary in Gloucestershire have joined multi-academy trusts.  “Were Archway to choose this future pathway then a great deal of stakeholder engagement would need to take place It is important to stress that this is only one possible future pathway for Archway We are in the fortunate position to be able to determine whether or not our current status as a local authority school is best for our students.” The sixth form opened in the 1980s and the school now has 1,000 pupils on its roll Former England and Gloucestershire cricketer Jack Russell is a former pupil and made his debut for Gloucestershire whilst a sixth former at the Stroud school they’re independent from local authorities meaning that they aren’t overseen by councils they have more freedom in how the school is run Pupils in academies study the same core subjects and do the same exams as those in any other school but unlike schools managed by the local authority academies can choose to adapt the curriculum term dates and school hours to help children learn Academies also have the power to decide how to spend their money on things like teacher salaries and classroom equipment Some academies used to be council-run schools and others are brand new schools known as ‘free schools’ which are established to create more school places in a local area including primary schools, colleges and special schools To contact the Stroud Times team, please visit our contact page to find the appropriate email address or send us your story via email on news@stroudtimes.com Website built and managed by Hewlett Photography & Design Níall McLaughlin Architects’ proposals for student tower in Archway have been called in by the Mayor of London following rejection by local councillors Islington Council’s planning committee refused the scheme The application featured 87 homes designed by GRID and 91 homes designed by McLaughlin Student beds meanwhile total 210 beds in the tower designed by McLaughlin and 32 student beds in the existing Clerkenwell building designed by GRID London Mayor Sadiq Khan will now take a decision on the proposals removing the final decision from Islington A public hearing on the development will now be held Planning officers at Islington had laid out 14 reasons for refusal of the heavily opposed scheme which includes a GRID-designed revamp of the locally listed former 19th-century infirmary building on site Former Stirling Prize-winner Níall McLaughlin Architects is designing the controversial 82m-tall tower and lower-rise blocks providing affordable homes planning officers said that McLaughlin’s proposed buildings would ‘cause harm’ to the surrounding conversation area and heritage assets due to the height of the planned tower as well as the footprint and location of new buildings on the site The same officers added that the Archway Campus site was not designated for a tall building and that the scheme ‘fails to provide 50 per cent on-site affordable housing without public subsidy’ or other options Officers also cited insufficent information on biodiversity net gain or evidence the scheme would meet the highest standards for fire safety Níall McLaughlin and GRID's Archway Campus scheme (October 2024) Around 450 letters of objection were received before Islington rejected the scheme last month Local Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn had also weighed in on the opposition to the development last year citing concerns over the scale of the tower and what he said was a lack of provision of homes for social rent Níall McLaughlin Architects said in planning documents that the tower needed to be around 30 storeys ‘if it is to acquire elegant proportions and sufficiently differentiate itself from its surroundings’ The team had previously likened the skyscraper to Richard Seifert’s Centre Point tower describing it as ‘a singular object that stands out from its surroundings [which] needs to be significantly higher than nearby buildings to achieve this character’ The submitted scheme is eight storeys shorter than proposals for the site put to consultation last year for a 35-storey student accommodation skyscraper Seven Capital snapped up the site from Peabody in 2021 after plans drawn up by Haworth Tompkins for 400 homes were not progressed The AJ understands that Historic England is currently assessing the former infirmary for listing A timeline for the mayor’s decision is unknown BDP’s College of Arts & Society at Coventry University has been named… Lewisham Council has given Turner Works planning permission for a mixed-use regeneration… Wandsworth Council has given Gehry Partners planning permission for two more residential… Southwark Council has approved tp bennett’s plans for a 25-storey student tower… Finding an affordable rental home for one is difficult but worth it Homes & Property | Renting Archway persists in the minds of many north Londoners as the ugly junction where a McDonald’s the Whittington Hospital and Archway Tower collide this busy road junction at the top of Holloway Road and the bottom of Highgate Hill is in the process of a major makeover which has already made the area noticeably more pleasant A newly pedestrianised area has replaced the old roundabout and there are now pricey but slick apartments in the build-to-rent conversion of Archway Tower The vast majority of private renters in Archway are young professional couples Electric vehicles park for free in Islington A residents permit for a petrol car costs between £20 and £490.70 per year A permit for a diesel vehicle can cost as much as £610.70 per year Crime in Archway is below the London average with five crimes per 1,000 residents Archway Leisure Centre is the local council-run gym It has a swimming pool with wave machine and a water slide Or try all-levels boxing classes at Islington Boxing Club Roads close to Archway Tube station are particularly popular with renters director of JTM Homes estate and letting agents Miranda Road and Cressida Road in the so-called “Shakespeare enclave” towards the foot of the Whitehall Park conservation area and also tips streets in the St John’s conservation area Yerbury Primary School and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School are both rated “outstanding” by Ofsted and there are several other “good” primaries in the area an Aldi and a Sainsbury’s Local at the top of Holloway Road and a Co-op round the corner in Junction Road Don’t be a car owner in Archway unless you have somewhere designated to park On-street parking is virtually impossible when Arsenal are playing at home A bad experience with a housemate left Iona determined to live independently despite the relative dearth in London of small affordable flats for people wanting to live on their own But with very limited time available to look an executive assistant for a business management consultancy managed to secure a “teeny-tiny” studio flat in Archway for £700 a month “I had a bad experience once with a flatmate who did things like labelling their food in the fridge so I was determined to search online until I found a studio flat that would give me independence “When one came up that I liked the look of It is ridiculously small so I’ve had to be really creative with the storage.” Clever ideas include wall-mounting anything that can be stuck to a wall making sure everything has a place and is put away and using a subscription for Audible books Iona has also adopted that staple of Nineties women’s magazines — the capsule wardrobe I even watched an old Trinny and Susannah video on YouTube for tips but I also found these cool French girls whose must-have items included a white shirt so now I buy a small amount of quality clothes It’s quite a smart collection of things that are very mix-and-match.” but she has a small outside space with a table and chairs which she will use when the weather gets warmer At the moment she sticks to a two-guest limit Sometimes they just go out to a local restaurant “I don’t want people to feel too crammed in,” she says Archway Tube is in travel Zone 2 on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line The area is also plugged into the London Overground network at Upper Holloway station part of the so-called “Goblin” line between Gospel Oak and Barking Studio living forces Iona to be a mindful and minimalist shopper but she is a fan of her local plant shop She also regularly walks the 10 minutes to Crouch End for more extensive browsing in the full selection of independent boutiques there At the weekend Archway Market is one of her new discoveries for food “Trattoria is a really nice family-run Italian restaurant near my flat I often take friends there for dinner and it’s always busy no matter what day of the week,” says Iona She also recommends nearby Cypriot café and deli Limone for coffee while for something more special she’ll go to French/Italian restaurant Melange in Crouch End The Odeon Holloway Road is the nearest cinema to Archway but for a higher-end movie night Iona likes the Picturehouse in Crouch End A walk up the hill to Highgate also yields cultural opportunities in the form of Jackson’s Lane theatre and multi-arts venue as well as several small art galleries in Highgate Village although not huge leads to Highgate Cemetery and then to Hampstead Heath the reclaimed former railway line between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace The headteacher of Archway has announced he will be leaving his role at the end of the summer Kieron Smith has led the comprehensive school in Paganhill He told Stroud Times: “It was an incredibly difficult decision as I have grown to love the school and the community it serves in during my five years as headteacher “I have worked closely with our Chair of Governors and we have a plan in place to smooth the transition to a new head We can look back with great pride on what we have achieved “We can look back with great pride on what we have achieved” “I was fortunate to be welcomed by a very capable team of senior leaders who worked tirelessly to help the school achieve it’s improved Ofsted grading.  Numbers have grown from 840 students in 2020 to 1,050 today and our sixth form is also becoming more popular every year.  “I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to lead an international school in Africa for five years and Archway School for the same period.  “This decade of headship has been an incredible experience for me personally “I have every confidence that the new headteacher will also feel empowered to take the school further forwards and they will be starting with a brand new 3-G pitch to show off I am humbled by the kind letters that I have received from parents and I will continue to enjoy leading the school for the next six months.” West End stars will flock to Stroud for a charity fundraising concert in memory of a beloved Archway School music teacher inspired thousands of pupils through her direction of dozens of musical theatre shows and concerts at the school including Les Miserables She taught at Archway from 1977 to 1980 and then from 1995 to 2014 She also taught at Marling School and worked as a supply teacher in the town Now a group of her former pupils have teamed up with her family to organise a fundraiser for Stroud-based Longfield Community Hospice which helped care for her in her final days The team hope Stars: An evening inspired by Ros Tyler will raise at least £10,000 for a fantastic Stroud charity Archway’s main hall will be transformed once again into a theatre including theatre star Craig Mather and friends from the West End.  There will be a charity raffle with prizes including tickets to an England football game and for Les Miserables in the West End a family photo shoot and various hampers and produce from local business who with Ros’s support and teaching has gone on to take leading roles in West End productions of Les Miserables said: “This concert is a celebration of Ros Tyler’s incredible legacy and the lasting impact she had on so many students.  “She inspired countless young people to pursue a wide range of careers she was the driving force behind my journey into performing arts I truly don’t think I would have pursued this career without her encouragement and belief in me shoot for the stars!’ That has stayed with me throughout my career “This event is about bringing everyone back together and there’s no better place to do that than where it all began—Archway School.” Ros’s husband Bob and sons Paul and Mark said: “We’re immensely proud to be supporting Craig and other former pupils of our wife and mum.  “She would have been delighted that so many of her former pupils have collaborated in putting on this event and celebrate the legacy and impact that she had on so many lives.” said: “We are touched that such a high-profile event is being held locally in aid of Longfield “Funds raised will go towards helping others in our community receive Hospice care or supporting those living with life-limiting illness and their family carers through a range of Wellbeing and Bereavement services at our Minchinhampton centre.” Tickets for the event will cost £30 and include a glass of fizz (or soft drink) on arrival Stroud’s iconic Big Red Bus Bar will also be on site selling a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks The organisation has also kindly agreed to donate 10 per cent of their takings to Longfield Tickets are being sold online only, via this link: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/starsaneveninginspired/stars-an-evening-inspired-by-ros-tyler/2025-06-14/18:00/t-zznznlm  Donations link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/stars-ros-tyler A man in his 20s is fighting for his life following a stabbing near a north London Tube station A man has been arrested following a stabbing near a busy north London Tube station A man in his 20s was left fighting for his life after a serious assault near Archway station at the weekend The Met Police were called at 10.28pm on Saturday after the victim had been rushed to hospital with stab wounds The force believes that an assault took place in Navigator Square Scotland Yard said a 22-year-old man was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody Investigating officers are carrying out multiple enquiries in the nearby area and appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything to contact police said: “Our officers worked quickly to establish where this assault occurred putting a cordon in place and carrying out enquiries in the area a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and he remains in custody “Residents and visitors to the area will have noticed an increased police presence whilst this investigation remains ongoing “We have designated officers on reassurance patrols to answer questions that the public may have “I encourage anyone who has information but may not have contacted police yet to get in touch and assist with this investigation.” Anyone with any information is asked to contact police quoting CAD 7159/15FEB or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously ‘Bonkers’ Archway skyscraper plan is rejected – for now Friday, 28th March — By Daisy Clague Architect’s drawing of the proposed student tower on Archway Campus as seen from Highgate Hill [Niall McLaughlin Architects] DIVISIVE plans to build a 27-storey skyscraper in Archway have been rejected in a victory for residents opposing the development Developer SevenCapital submitted a proposal in September to transform the Archway Campus a cluster of red-brick former hospital buildings behind Navigator Square that have been vacant for more than a decade into a tower of 242 student flats as well as private and affordable homes But the development was refused by planning officers at Islington Council last week to the relief of local opponents who submitted 450 public objections to the plans whose home backs onto the Archway Campus site told the Tribune: “Personally I’m extremely happy that it’s been rejected because it was a mad plan Building a tower the same height as Highgate is obviously a bit bonkers “It’s possible to develop the site a bit more kindly – it was a really nasty aggressive plan that really maxed the site to the limit “We have no problem with social housing being built there NHS England and Transport for London also raised concerns citing the heritage value of the buildings and the surge in demand for healthcare and transport that would result from so much new housing Planning officers noted the extreme height of the tower and low quality of the proposed social housing as factors in their decision Better Archway Forum’s Kate Calvert said it was “good news” that the plans have been struck off “It’s contrary to so many different policies; it would have been worrying if it had been accepted,” she said Chair of Islington’s planning committee Councillor Martin Klute told the Tribune: “It’s hugely frustrating that in 10 years we haven’t managed to get to a point where there’s approval for the site “The tower was just wrong for so many reasons – not just the height but the fact that it was all student housing and [the developer] didn’t have a named educational institution that wanted the accommodation So it leaves you wondering why on earth would they want to build student housing “We’re desperate to see that site come forwards with housing on it and we negotiated with the developers for quite a long time but they just weren’t getting anywhere near policy compliance.” The developer was also unable to produce a financial plan that showed it would be able to deliver the social housing it was promising The final decision lies with the Greater London Authority which has the power to override the council and approve the development which means the proposals would go to the govern­ment’s planning inspec­tor­ate for a second opinion The GLA has gone against Islington Council’s planning decisions twice in the past when Boris Johnson was Mayor of London green-lighting developments at 250 City Road and the former Royal Mail sorting office at Mount Pleasant even though the council had refused them both SevenCapital did not respond to the Tribune’s request for comment but its website for the Archway Campus development said: “Our development proposals have been developed following a productive consultation process and look to deliver a scheme that will preserve the rich heritage of the site help to alleviate local housing need and provide new creating a positive impact for the local area.” a parent-led local charity dedicated to providing care and support to children and adults with learning disabilities and their families across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is delighted to announce the appointment of Iain McKenna as its new chief executive officer Iain brings extensive experience in strategic leadership and operational management from previous roles in the third sector and regional radio where he managed multi-million-pound revenue streams maintained agile and responsive operations and fostered innovation in high performing teams Iain is responsible for guiding Archway towards achieving its mission and strategic goals cultivating partnerships and ensuring the effective management of resources to drive the charity’s growth an organisation with a long-standing commitment to supporting individuals with learning disabilities and their families I look forward to learning from the incredible team at Archway and working with them to continue delivering high-quality personalised care; exploring new opportunities to enhance our services and raise awareness of Archway’s impact in the community." managed this critical leadership search for Archway “Comprehensively understanding the organisational needs and developing a clear role description and compelling candidate profile facilitated the targeted search for potential applicants I focused on values-driven leadership and the vision skills and passion to drive Archway forward while maintaining its strong family ethos and community focus Iain stood out as an exceptional candidate perfectly aligned with Archway’s mission to be a recognised leader in best practices supporting people with learning disabilities His financial and operational acumen will ensure Archway continues to thrive and serve families in the best possible way Archway was founded in 1986 by a group of parents seeking respite care for their children with learning disabilities it has grown to offer a range of community-based services For more information about Archway and its services, please visit www.archway.org.uk Being a member of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce can bring significant value to your business By NOTICEBOARD · 14 April 2025 adapted from the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price who is making his directing debut in the main theatre Clue: On Stage is inspired by the 1980s film 'Clue' in which the audience meets the same classic characters (Miss Scarlet How has James managed to give Archway audiences the same level of silliness and energy that the film delivered the reason is twofold: “The cast have worked hard look fabulous and have got to grips with every fiendish twist and turn that Clue involves I’ve been greatly inspired by (stolen loads of ideas from) people who have previously directed me!” Performances are at 7.45pm from April 30 to May 3; and May 6 to 10 2025, with a matinée at 2pm on May 3. Tickets: £13.50 (non-members); £11.50 (members). For further information, and to book, visit The Archway’s website: www.archwaytheatre.co.uk LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} Developer sparks backlash with application for 27-storey tower Friday, 18th October 2024 — By Daisy Clague How the new tower planned for Archway could look A 27-STOREY skyscraper of student digs will loom over Archway if plans to redevelop long-empty university buildings on Highgate Hill are given the green light The tower – which some critics have likened to the Eye of Sauron from Lord of the Rings due to its striking scale – would replace former medical training buildings behind Navigator Square and stand 10 storeys higher than the Archway Tower above the tube station The planned building will consist of 242 student studios Renovations to other historic buildings on the Archway Campus site will provide a further 178 new homes – around half at affordable rates But the skyline-changing scale of the project has left existing residents concerned Natasha England who lives off Highgate Hill said: “We really don’t know what [the tower] will be like but we know the impact will be huge and we will have to live with it for the rest of our lives Nobody likes the fact that it has been left empty for so long but I just think this proposal doesn’t suit anybody’s needs.” Developer SevenCapital bought the Archway Campus site from the Peabody housing association in 2021 and consulted residents on its first set of plans – originally for a 36-storey tower – in 2023 It submitted a planning application to the council last week This has been met with a petition to block the scheme set up by residents’ group Stop Archway Campus The group includes Lidyard Road resident Mark Davies whose garden will be “eyeball to eyeball” with the new development “We’re not against affordable housing – we’re not nimbys But this will change the character of Archway forever Mr Davies said that while residents have different opinions about why the new Archway Campus will be so disastrous – over­shadow­ing from the tower overcrowding at Archway tube station – they are generally united against the proposals Better Archway Forum member Kate Calvert said: “They’re not listening to what people want and it’s not meeting any local need.” She added that developers must not be allowed to backtrack on the amount of affordable housing they provide later down the line told the Tribune that SevenCapital had yet to offer a package of community benefits big enough to win the council’s blessing so there will have to be some pretty big positives to justify it,” he said The developer will need to show that it can gen­er­ate enough money from the scheme to finance the promised social housing and other public benefits like community rooms or affordable office space SevenCapital did not respond to a request for comment but its website said: “We have developed our design in consultation with the London borough of Islington local residents and other key stakeholders for almost two years “The designer’s intent has been to provide a deliberately tall elegant tower that provides generous public realm to improve residential amenity accessibility and connectivity across the site.” The University of Aberdeen continued its collaboration with local charity this week with a training session for medical students on caring well for people with learning and communication disabilities The University of Aberdeen Medical School continued its collaboration with local charity this week with a training session for medical students on caring well for people with learning and communication disabilities For the past 3 years the charity has been involved in the special lecture for fourth year medical students which helps the future doctors better understand the needs of patients with profound learning disabilities and how to meet them families share their experiences and ideas giving invaluable insights into the unique challenges they face when accessing healthcare and a Speech and Language Therapist also discuss their roles and advise good practice Director of Education for the School of Medicine Medical Sciences and Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen supports the initiative saying: “As a paediatrician I am delighted to see the progress that has been made since Archway contacted the University This collaboration trains the next generation of doctors to have the awareness and capability to communicate effectively with patients and their families in this previously under-resourced area.” Archway was set up almost 35 years ago by parents and carers themselves It now supports almost 200 children and adults with a wide range of complex learning disabilities many of whom also have associated physical disabilities and other medical conditions The charity recognises that attending hospital can be a 'challenging and frightening experience' for many people with profound learning disabilities and is associated with poorer health outcomes.  is one of the parents who shares her experience Jacqui's son Jack has a condition called Isolated Lissencephaly sequence and needs total care Jacqui said:"I have been caring for Jack for over 25 years now and am so tuned in to what he needs and how he is Jack has seizures that can scare healthcare professionals if they witness one and they think he needs admitting but for us these are normal daily occurrences that we can manage If we went in every time he had one of those we would never get home I really know when to be worried about him - I know my limits when I cannot provide the right level of intervention at home and when I need them to listen and take action "I think my biggest message to medical staff is to listen and value the expertise and knowledge parents and carers have."  The feedback from previous lectures has been very positive with students finding the sessions 'thought provoking' 'insightful' and a provide an understanding of the expertise and information parents have.  Chair of Archway and an Archway parent himself initiated the collaboration with the University said: "This year we understand that in addition to the lecture there is the possibility that a video will be made This might benefit even more medical students and those with learning disabilities and their families across a much wider area and that is something we would be delighted to see.” University of AberdeenKing's College,Aberdeen,AB24 3FX The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland Check if you already have access from your company or university With a MRW subscription you’ll get access to: New images show that the historic listed facade is only thing left of a former Junners building The much-loved former Elgin toy shop closed in January 2016 after 116 years of trading It was once the entrance to the town’s Victorian market with the archway protected as C-listed The preserved facade will be incorporated with the new South Street mixed-use redevelopment the former Jailhouse nightclub which was only open for only 18 months has been reduced to rubble The former Elgin Furniture & Carpet Centre and a two-storey building once home to Junners at 51 South Street have both already been completed demolished Since demolition work started, Press and Journal photographer Jason Hedges has been capturing pictures using a drone Here are his latest images of the Junners and Jailhouse redevelopment: Moray Council, development partners Robertson Property Limited (RPL) and UHI Moray are behind the regeneration project The Moray Growth Deal is supporting elements of the project, while £18.3m Levelling Up Fund cash will also contribute to the redevelopments. three retail units and 38 flats across five blocks and a courtyard Business leaders hope the new homes and shops will help boost footfall and trade for local businesses. Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Paris Olympians Liam Pitchford and Anna Hursey recently spent a fortnight at the Archway Peterborough club training with its Academy players The Archway squad (pictured above with Liam and Anna) includes a number of current and former internationals including current England No 4 Sam Walker and Wu Zhang a former double gold medallist at the Chinese National Junior Championships as well as England junior Jakub and Kacper Piwowar A club spokesman said: “It’s been a pleasure to host both Liam and Anna recently so soon after them competing in the Olympics and real added value for the club’s players to train and spar with such calibre.” who was a major influence on his career during his cadet and junior days Liam said: “(It was) great to catch up with this legend taught me so much about table tennis over the years and still going strong.” nine members of the club’s Hope Squad spent part of their summer holidays on a month of extensive training in China The trip began with the players visiting the WeiHai National sports champion Table Tennis Club who was Woman’s Olympic gold medallist at the Sydney 2000 Games The players also had four nights in Beijing where they competed against players from three clubs and engaged in cultural activities Squad coach Hong Hong Peebles said: “This was a great opportunity for our team high quality training conditions and high level experience in physical training for all the players.” UCLan North of England Cadet & Junior 2 Star Gold for Karabardak in Montenegro Cates and Rainford dominate Island Finals Night Website by Jask Creative We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports On Saturday 18 February 2023 at around 15:50 hrs a passenger became trapped in the door of a Northern line train at Archway station The passenger was exiting the train using a single leaf door at the rear of the fifth car when the door began to close on them The train departed and the passenger was dragged for approximately 2 metres along the platform before falling to the ground and the coat became free of the door The train travelled approximately 20 metres until it stopped after the train operator became aware of the passenger being dragged and applied the brakes The passenger sustained serious injuries and their companion was uninjured The accident occurred because the passenger’s coat had become trapped in the door as the passenger alighted and because the train’s door control system did not detect the presence of the coat trapped in the door Although the train operator was aware of the passenger and their companion they were not aware that the passenger’s coat was trapped before they initiated the train’s departure The train operator was not aware that the pilot light which indicates that the train’s doors are closed could still illuminate with something trapped in closed doors On Thursday 20 April 2023 at around 23:03 hrs a passenger’s coat became trapped in the doors of a Northern line service at Chalk Farm station The passenger had attempted to board the train but stopped as the doors began to close The doors closed while the passenger was still close to the train The train travelled for approximately 20 metres until the coat became free and the passenger fell to the ground The train operator was unaware of the accident and continued the journey The passenger sustained minor physical injuries to their left elbow and both knees and psychological distress This accident also occurred because the passenger’s coat became trapped in the train doors as they boarded the train and because the train’s door control system did not detect the presence of the trapped coat the train operator was not aware of the passenger nor that their coat was trapped in the doors before initiating the train’s departure They were also unaware that the passenger was subsequently being dragged along by the train The investigation identified underlying factors associated with both accidents It is possible that the train operators’ actions may have been affected by the automatic train operation system in use on the Northern line the methods for managing the safety of the platform-train interface were not sufficiently effective at controlling the risks to passengers by getting their clothing trapped in closing doors RAIB has made four recommendations addressed to London Underground Limited and made three learning points The recommendations concern the understanding of risk arising from trap and drag events the minimum station dwell times and how the design of the task and the cab environment can influence train operators’ attention and awareness The first learning point concerns the importance of documenting action plans in accordance with company procedures and recording when safety briefings have been undertaken The second learning point concerns the importance of promptly reporting notifiable accidents to RAIB The third concerns the importance of trainers and managers ensuring the risks of relying on the pilot light when deciding whether it is safe to start the train from platforms are completely understood by train operators The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible and certainly long before publication of our final report Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Plans put forward by developer SevenCapital have been met with staunch resistance from residents Locals have slammed proposals for a new high-rise building in Archway with fears that the development would be an “eyesore” on the Islington skyline led a demonstration outside the pub on the 2 November against plans to build what he dubs a “big Lego biscuit tower” behind the inn last Saturday Mr Dillon said: “The interest from the public was incredible.   “People were stopping by every two minutes They couldn’t believe how awful it [plans for new building] looks,” he added “We’re opposed to the look of this diabolical monstrosity,” said Mr Dillon “We think it’s going to impact the area negatively.”  The pub has put up posters designed by Mr Dillon marked with the slogan ‘Stop the Tower’ along with instructions to join the protest SevenCapital said the prominent height of the building would allow for more affordable homes and “create a landmark structure that serves as an urban focal point” one of the leaders of the resident groups opposing the tower said: “We’re very keen to see the site developed but we really want quality and a design that keeps the character of the area.” A poll on Archway Tavern’s Instagram page showed that 96 per cent of the 309 respondents opposed the plans Jamie Boys is a student journalist from London Jamie is a huge Chelsea fan and has had a season ticket his whole life He has a particular interest in political journalism Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn has called on Angela Rayner to intervene against plans to build a new tower block in Archway.   Mr Corbyn made a rousing speech to residents on Tuesday at a packed community centre that met to oppose the construction of the high-rise.   He attended the meeting alongside more than one hundred locals some of whom had to stand because all seating was taken.   The independent MP said: “While there is a desperate desperate need for social housing in this borough which is not being met by the private sector… [this development] does not meet the needs of our community.  “I think it’s unnecessary and wrong in this area and I said I would do everything I could [and] insist that the mayor call in the Secretary of State [for Housing Communities and Local Government] because I do think we’ve got to be very assertive as communities.”   The meeting was the latest show of resistance against plans by developer SevenCapital to build an 82-metre-tall high-rise in central Archway.   A resident of 35 years and a conservation architect labelled the tower “a giant middle finger to us all”.   representing the “30+ Islington residents” said that she supported any plan “insofar as the maximum amount of housing is built”.   “It’s a giant middle finger to us all” Another resident from Highgate Road questioned whether the people at the meeting were “objecting for the sake of it” and that the plan “seemed really good to me”.   Islington Council said: “This application is being considered by planning officers so this will take some time this decision will be made by planning officers alone.”  An old north London boozer has found new life as an Indian restaurant London: ‘A thoroughly delightful food pub’ – restaurant reviewThis article is more than 2 months oldAn old north London boozer has found new life as an Indian restaurant alongside his Indian cooks and the Indian front of house team The charming head waiter who served us had not long arrived in the UK from India It speaks volumes about increasing sensitivities around dish origins and cultural appropriation that an entirely Indian team apparently think it wise to open up a little distance between the satisfying and well-executed Indian food they are serving and the mere suggestion that it might actually all be Indian food among the small plates section of the evening menu must come from the upstate New York bit of India ‘Served in its own cast-iron pot’: chicken biryani Photograph: Sophia Evans/The ObserverThese are dainty folds of flaky each filled with a hefty spoonful of a hot in which the sauce has almost been cooked out to a crust around the meat These are topped with crispy deep-fried curry leaves and arrive at the table in one of those zigzagged metal trays used to keep hand-sized tacos in one piece If these were served as canapés at a party one to which I would very much like an invitation thank you anyone with good taste would be loitering by the door from the kitchen to get their hands on them as they arrived To describe it otherwise would be to set weird and arbitrary boundaries around what fits within a culinary tradition and what does not The word “influenced” is happily redundant A Desi pub is one which happens to have an Indian kitchen generally serving the local Asian community among others; a place where you genuinely could just go for a quick pint or seven a pretty one with a jade-green tiled frontage Guinness and Neck Oil Session IPA on draft But the two high-tops for drinking at feel solely like places at which to wait for tables in the abutting dining room ‘Heavy with roasted spice’: Punjabi lamb Photograph: Sophia Evans/The ObserverThe ceiling is hung with artificial foliage and there are multilayered rattan lampshades which have been smoked and come with a chutney in the colours of the Indian flag At the bottom there’s a date and tomato relish of that a dense mess of finely chopped sweet-sour mint Hilarious amounts of work have gone into this idea given that digging in with a teaspoon doesn’t quite reveal the full beauty of the flag But it’s a great accompaniment and a nice story Alongside the roti tacos we have their tamarind-rich chaat which peek out shyly from the crust of fried noodles and pomegranate seeds From the Mexican part of India Photograph: Sophia Evans/The ObserverAt lunchtime there are thalis at £14.90 built around the likes of butter chicken or tandoori paneer Or there are bigger dishes priced in the mid-teens which are proof once more of the power and joy The Punjabi lamb curry has a thick gravy the colour of freshly turned London clay heavy with roasted spice and the sort of acidity that opens everything up The dal makhani is described as having been simmered for 48 hours and there is a buttery-rich quality to it that suggests they really aren’t kidding Come for the lamb tacos; stay for the lentils Assume no one is watching and spoon it neat from the bowl ‘Tamarind-rich’: samosa and chaat Photograph: Sophia Evans/The ObserverWe forgo a side of rice in favour of the chicken biryani Take off the lid and breathe in the hot waves of cardamom and the sweetness of caramelised onions in among each spice-dusted long grain Lubricate it with a little of the snowy garlic yoghurt with which it arrives Or scoop it away with a crisp-crusted naan filled with pickled chillies and stringy cheese which feels like the sort of thing you might order after a long session down the pub That one item shows a particular determination to feed is putting its back into the cooking rather more than might be expected ‘Sweet Photograph: Sophia Evans/The ObserverDesserts are sweet made by simmering sugar-rich milk with cardamom and saffron until it thickens and serves as a great defence against the miserable The Great Indian might be a slightly grandstanding name for this newcomer but it sits comfortably alongside places like the Tamil Prince which have helped redefine what the gastropub might be some locals will feel they’ve lost an old boozer of having gained a great Indian restaurant Email Jay at jay.rayner@observer.co.uk or follow him on Instagram @jayrayner1 This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media A REVAMP for a historic pedestrian shopping area and listed buildings is being planned. Welcome archways could be installed across the entrances to Monmouth’s Church Street, which as the town's 'Old Quarter' is home to the Grade II-listed Savoy Theatre and 24 other protected buildings, and is a favourite location for film crews. Before the construction of Priory Street in the 1830s, the narrow road linking Agincourt Square at the top of Monnow Street with St Mary’s Street, was the main eastern entrance to the town for centuries. Once home of the town's butchery trade and historically known as 'Butcher's Row', it has recently starred in several TV dramas, including Michael Sheen's The Way, Oprah Winfrey's Black Cake, Guy Ritchie's Young Sherlock starring Colin Firth and Dr Who. Monmouth Town Council has been awarded funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund to support the regeneration of Church Street and the adjacent White Swan Court, but must spend the money by March. It has asked Monmouthshire Council for planning permission for archway welcome signs, a canopy of lights along the street and ‘finger post’ signs directing pedestrians to White Swan Court, as well as the installation of an information board at the entrance near Agincourt Street. The town council is also seeking permission to replace and install catenary curving wires on a number of listed buildings in Church Street. It first applied for planning permission in September but submitted revised plans in December. A report in support of the plan says: “The regeneration programme is aimed at supporting the businesses that trade in Church Street and White Swan Court. “Whilst the difficulties being encountered by retail in town centres generally is widely acknowledged, Church Street and White Swan Court have been suffering decline in trade and occupancy for some time and the town council has highlighted the street and court as in need of support, hence the application to UK government for financial support.” It said it is also concerned that a downturn in trade would result in a lack of maintenance of the listed buildings and highlighted the “unsightly appearance of 10 Church Street (formerly the greengrocers)”. The council claimed that since Covid, footfall has declined “with a spike of empty units in the area in 2021” and its research shows it is overlooked, while works by Welsh Water last year saw the street dug up for weeks on end. “A survey carried out by the Town Council as part of this project, highlighted that many residents and visitors to the town do not know where Church Street and White Swan Court are, or only use it as a walking route and not as a destination for shopping, eating or socialising.” The archways will be attached to existing CCTV posts, rather than historic buildings, to reduce the impact while the additional catenary wires will be installed on the Nationwide branch at 4 Church Street to Rossiters Books, the British Red Cross shop to Rossers Chemist, the Chop Shop to Extons and from Woodys Attic to Meraki Hairdressers. Comments Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 graffiti isn't just legal - it's actively encouraged and you can take grafitti workshops you can’t just rock up and paint wherever and whatever you want But there is one spot in London where graffiti isn’t just allowed it’s actively encouraged: the Leake Street Arches this arched walkway is a feast for the eyes Even if you’re not a fan of street art it’s impossible not to be impressed with the pieces adoring every square centimetre of the tunnel And you’re more than welcome to add your own art In a list of rules (largely regarding what art isn’t permitted and reminding people to refrain from anti-social behaviour) the very first rule is “Graffiti and street art are permitted on the walls of the Leake Street Tunnel.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marc Craig Artist (@creativethinkin) Fancy spraying some paint and working towards becoming the next Banksy Leake Street Arches offers two-hour graffiti workshops where participants will learn from Marc Craig himself The workshops comprise a guide to using spray paint and the chance to create your own Graffiti Galaxy painting There’s more to the Leake Street Arches than the street art. The site is also home to several venues, such as the Draughts board game cafe and Passyunk Avenue (Top tip: the latter is home to what many agree are the best Philly Cheesesteaks outside of Philly itself.) The Leake Street Arches also houses event spaces which can be hired out for art exhibitions Find out more about the Leake Street Arches here 📍 You’ll find the Leake Sreet Arches on Leake Street between Station Approach Road and the A3200 Fylde operator Archway Travel has taken delivery of nine new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single-decker buses and a single used example for its first venture into local service operation The new vehicles have been supplied on five-year rental arrangements by Asset Alliance Group while the used bus has been funded by the same supplier on a hire-purchase agreement They have been put to work on Lancashire County Council contracted services 74 and 75 between Archway’s hometown of Fleetwood and Preston Managing Director Sam Archer says that the venture “could be a real gamechanger for our business” and that Asset Alliance was “the first call I made” after notification of the tender win the new buses are each 8.9m long and have a Voith automatic gearbox along with Alexander Dennis SmartSeats Fylde Villager branding is carried on a bespoke livery while contactless payment is offered and an app for passengers has been developed Mr Archer adds that starting with new buses from the get-go was seen as important by Archway Travel Asset Alliance Group was able to deliver the vehicles quickly,” he continues “We sourced one used vehicle from another operator but we wanted the majority of the service fleet to be new as it gives you that reliability and peace of mind Asset Alliance has worked with Archway for some time National Sales Manager Scott Burke says that the supplier takes pride in assisting the family-owned Fleetwood operator in going from strength to strength “It was a pleasure to be able to work with it again on this latest deal marking a significant moment in Archway’s history,” adds Mr Burke The business engaged in a major recruitment process for the new services, with Mr Archer having recently commented how important a strong company culture has been in that exercise routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage North London baker Michelle Eshkeri is building a little bakery empire for herself She started with Margot in East Finchley where she became known for her sourdough bread and patisserie prowess Two years ago she followed that up with the Holloway Model Bakery just off Holloway Road tucked in between a Chinese takeaway and kebab house Turns out it's close to Michelle's own home "so I can go get bread when needed instead of forever having none!" It looks as though you'll be able to pick up all manner of treats here from bread to sourdough almond croissants and cinnamon buns When does it open? Open now on Thurs/Fri/Sat Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @margotbakery View on Google maps