From Barbican Life magazine Christmas 2024
Firstly, let me introduce myself as your new Cripplegate Alderwoman Liz King. Following Sue Pearson’s retirement from the Court of Alderman earlier this year, I was elected unopposed in July. I have lived in the Barbican for over 25 years, and served as one of your Common Councillor since 2022. It is an honour to continue to represent my neighbours and small businesses in Cripplegate Ward.
I reiterate what I said in my speech when introduced as the new Alderwoman:
I thank so many of you for your ongoing encouragement and very kind words.
I thank my dedicated Cripplegate Ward colleagues, without whose friendship and support, I would not be able to undertake this role.
I pay tribute to my predecessor, Sue Pearson, an exemplary public servant, without whose example, I would never have contemplated standing for public office.
In many ways, being an Alderwoman is very similar to being a common councillor – I still sit on my committees, attend meetings with residents and representative groups and work on the issues that matter to us all. However there is a significant ceremonial aspect involving a lot of dressing up – this veers from historically fascinating to verging on the absurd.
As a Magistrate in East London, I am particularly interested in the criminal justice system. It was a personal highlight for me to meet and listen to speeches from the Lord Chancellor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice – all of whom are women.
I was really pleased to take part in Leaping the Bounds, a reinvention of the old tradition of beating the bounds organised and led by St Giles and the Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum and will hopefully become an annual tradition. Our procession was made up of many neighbours, clergy, councillors and students from CoLPAI. Father Jack provided fascinating historical context about our neighbourhood, its buildings and businesses to the children, and I particularly enjoyed speaking to them about being an elected representative and serving your community. I think they enjoyed trying on my big red Aldermanic robe on and the buns at the end of walk the most.
I was lovely to be joined by the Cripplegate Ward Club and St Luke’s Community Centre representatives on the walk as well.
cripplegate ward club
The Ward Club is a social club formed of people who have lived or worked or just love the City. Cripplegate is among the busiest Clubs in the City, with a varied programme of events throughout the year. There are both daytime and evening activities ranging from informal visits and tours of general interest, to the most formal of Civic Lunches and Banquets. They visit some interesting places revealing facets of the City not normally seen and of course being a social club, these very often include lunch or dinner somewhere nice too. Membership of the Club offers an opportunity to discover and appreciate the traditions and fellowship of City Life. To find out more about the club email: cripplegateevents@gmail.com
children’s centre services in the city
There has been much concern about the changes happening to children’s services. It is important to be clear that children’s centre services are not closing. To reflect residents’ feedback from consultation and review activity in the spring of 2023, children’s centre services are being located across the Square Mile to aid accessibility and convenience for all residents. Summary findings of the review report can be found here.
planning
1 Golden Lane noise
After all the problems with the work on the 1 Golden Lane redevelopment, it has been heartening to see the contracts engage more proactively with the local communities impacted. The contractors have held meetings with residents, and will continue to do so on a fortnightly basis. They are also publishing an improved neighbourhood communication email. If you would like more information, or to be included on the distribution list, please contact: vas.chiotis@midgard.ltd.uk +44 7917 462 179
The pollution control team are working with the contractor to minimise the impacts and visit the site daily.
Tenter House Application
My first Planning Application Sub Committee as the new Aldermanic representative was on the Tenter House development project. Where yet again your local representatives were outvoted, although we came close to approving a decision to defer the project until the servicing plan had been reevaluated.
Whilst level access across City Point Plaza is of course welcome, we were not able to mitigate all the adverse impacts of this scheme. However, concessions were made by the developer on: terrace usage, planting and protection of residents from noise and overlooking; servicing hours; and the installation of blinds on the western façade to minimise night time light pollution.
monthly ward surgeries
Finally, don’t forget that we run monthly ward surgeries. To make them more accessible we are holding the Barbican Library surgeries on the first Thursday of alternate months from 6.00-7.00pm and the Golden Lane surgeries in the Community Centre on the first Saturday of the month from 10.00 -11.00am. There are always two or three councillors available to discuss your issues, or just have a chat. Here are the upcoming dates and venues:
- 7 December – Golden Lane Community Centre
- 2 January – Barbican Library
- 1 February – Golden Lane Community Centre
- 6 March – Barbican Library
As always if you have any issues you want to discuss, you can contact me by email elizabeth.king@cityoflondon.gov.uk
