A PLAN to revamp Highbury and Islington Station is part of a massive scheme to help football fans get around easier before and after Arsenal games.

Arsenal agreed to give up to �7.5 million towards improvements to public transport and road safety schemes when Islington Council granted planning permission for the Emirates.

Transport for London now plans to spend this cash on several projects including a new exit which will double the number of ticket barriers at Highbury and Islington Station.

Islington Council executive members started the ball rolling last Thursday (March 17) when they gave the go-ahead for the TfL work.

Councillor Paul Convery, executive member for planning and regeneration, said: “The fact is we now have 22,000 more spectators compared to the old stadium and the impact has been significant with travelling to and from the neighbourhood during games because our facilities are not quite as adequate as they should be.”

Planned public transport improvements which are likely to take place within the next two years include:

- A new pedestrian crossing across Holloway Road on the junction of Hornsey Street and Hornsey Road

- A stair lift for disabled people and work on the building and platforms at Drayton Park Station.

- A new stations operation room at Highbury and Islington Station

- Match day parking restrictions on the A1 Holloway Road between Highbury Corner and up along Holloway Road to the junction with Jackson Road which will include a variable message sign

- Widening the crossing for pedestrians and cyclists at Seven Sisters Road and reducing the size of the carriageway on St Thomas’s Road to create more space for pedestrians

- Improving facilities for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Holloway Road at the junction of Madras Place and Fieldway Crescent

Islington Council executive members agreed last week to contractually commit with TfL to carry out the different projects using the cash from Arsenal Football Club which is an agreement that had to be in place before July 21.