Hello and welcome to a round-up of recent news and future events
Two large City construction projects (Golden Lane Leisure Centre and Barbican Renewal) are due to start in the new year. We are all too familiar with construction around us, but these two schemes directly affect the fabric of our main estates. The Forum will be launching an opinion survey soon. Please look out for it and send us your views.
We hope you will join us on our next consultation walk on Sunday 8 November 2026 at 2pm. Save the date!
Cathy Ross led the last one in July, celebrating women in the neighbourhood. As a result the Forum is considering what more can be done to cherish women and their contribution. See the recent press coverage here https://www.mylondon.news/
We are also pleased that, after our two-year campaign, the first of two defibrillatorshas now been installed in Golden Lane. Councillor Mercy Haggarty has helped to get this over the line, and we hope that some community CPR training will follow.
It is also encouraging to see that as a result of our efforts to improve Aldersgate Street and Goswell Road, the City has agreed to raise and improve the crossing points at Fann St and Carthusian St. A small step in the right direction:
Less encouraging is the proposed “community” room in the new 1 Golden Lane development, which does not seem to be open to the local community. The Forum has lodged an objection with City planners, and we support local councillors’ efforts to improve on the current position.
Looking ahead, we have secured a grant from the Community Infrastructure Levy fund to enable us to finish the Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Plan, and we have appointed Jon Herbert from Troy Planning and Design as our professional adviser. We expect the work to take about 18 months.
Our recent AGM was a chance to take stock, and to elect our Steering Group of 15 directors; five each from the categories of residents, businesses and community groups. James Manningmore was elected as a resident member, replacing Shelagh Wright, who deserves our thanks for her sterling work to set the Forum up.
In the past year we:
- clocked up 4545 voluntary hours (up 1045 from last year)
- attended 138 meetings about local projects and issues (18 more than last year)
- achieved a membership of 269 (50 more than last year)
- held 8 walks and events (1 fewer than last year).
Finally, next year is the 70th anniversary of both the first residents moving into Golden Lane and the committee decision giving the go-ahead to the Barbican. If you would like to volunteer to help plan some celebrations please get in touch.
Thank you for your support – please send this on to anyone else who may like to join us: the link is here.
Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum
info@bglnf.london
