From the Chairs of the Barbican Association and the Golden Lane Residents Association

To the Corporation of the City of London: Officers, Lord Mayor and Sherriffs, Chairs of relevant Committees, Representatives for Cripplegate, Aldersgate, Farringdon within, without, Bassishaw, Cheap and Coleman

The announcement of the abandonment of the Centre for Music and the plans to remodel the Arts Centre introduce some certainty into the future in the Northwest part of the City of London which is welcome. But this is just one aspect of other significant changes to the area with the planned movement of the Museum of London and the development of Smithfield. And the continued activity of the Culture Mile.

In the fifties the City made brave and enlightened decisions to create the Golden Lane Estate and the Barbican. There is an opportunity today to build on this by ensuring that in a similar spirit the City ensures the right balance of cultural, educational, residential, commercial and open space-something the originators of the two Estates got so right.

As residents we have a huge stake in this place we have made home. We want to issue a call to the City to take an overall strategic view of this area, rather than making piecemeal decisions on individual sites.

We are about to issue the attached Open Letter and we would welcome your comments, support and collaboration.

Adam Hogg       Tim Godsmark

Chair BA              Chair GLERA