Message from Ann Pembroke re Victorian Public Lavatories

The palisade enclosing the Victorian Public Lavatories on Clerkenwell Green has had the graffiti painted over now. But still no reply from local Councillors.

The Crown Tavern’s second-year Licence from Islington Council, to erect commercial coverings for their customers drinking outside the pub on the eastern end of the public open space of Clerkenwell Green, expires next month. It was the COVID Pandemic precautions which closed interior drinking and brought in a large area outside for their customer to sit, eat and drink in the open air, involving the new commercial advertising.

In the course of this provision of extensive and substantial umbrellas, four in all fitted together, the pavement was covered, despite the protection of iron bollards, causing pedestrians and those with buggies and wheelchairs to walk in the road. Motor traffic rounding the blind corner of Clerkenwell Close from The Three Kings would swerve to void pedestrians, causing potential injury.

As a result of the Crown’s initiative, its neighbour, No. 42 Take-away, also erected a large canopy adjacent to those of The Crown Tavern, taking up further public space. CGPS has placed six new public benches on the Green to allow those who wish to sit and eat a sandwich to do so. No. 42 has no interior seating for its customers., which is not a café.

In their pamphlets last year Islington Council’s “Peoples Street”, wrote of the closure of motor traffic to Clerkenwell Green and the removal of car parking, thus allowing the intersected road of Clerkenwell Close of this historic public space to be joined together. No further LBI updates have become available.

However, CGPS is worried that this expansion of commerce, including advertising, post-COVID would receive a licence to continue both businesses’ intrusion onto the historic public open space. If allowed, trading marques will become commonplace over the Green which would deny its place in history and purpose for allowing Free Speech and crowds to listen.

We already have large intrusive marquees on the public open space and CGPS wants them removed post-COVID. I would appreciate members looking out for any new licences from No. 42 and The Crown Tavern so that the CGPS and supporters can apply against this renewal of commercial occupancy post-COVID.

The restoration of the public and historic open space of Clerkenwell Green and George Jennings Victorian Public Lavatories for use is the Society’s main objective. As the first Conservation Area in the Borough, so designated by Islington Council, Clerkenwell Green and its heritage are worthy of protection.

Thank you for your support, and I would like to invite members and residents for their comments. You can provide comments on this page further down in the comments section, otherwise, you can email me directly to my email address via the Contact Page.

Ann Pembroke