When Islington Council approved its own application to spruce up Caledonian Park last year, outraged opponents to the plans said it was a “wonderful opportunity” for drug dealers and prostitutes.
The council will be hoping these doom-laden predictions won’t come true after work started on Wednesday.
Locals said a new visitor centre by the clock tower would provide dealers and prostitutes to do business, with 750 signing a petition against the plans.
But environment leader Cllr Claudia Webbe was only focusing on the positives at the groundbreaking ceremony: “It’s fantastic that work has begun on this exciting project, which offers a brilliant opportunity to celebrate our history, and bring that history alive.”
As well as the visitor centre, the £2million work – paid for by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant – will also see the park’s famous clock tower restored and opened to the public to enjoy the views from its 40m-high balcony.
Caledonian Park will remain open while the constuction takes place. It’s expected to finish next summer.
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