It’s official: the famous wings sculpture at Angel Central shopping centre has been saved after the campaign of 10-year-old Olivia Gordon Clark.
Angel Central has dropped its previous £8million plans to remove the Angel Wings as part of a refurbishment. Yesterday, it submitted a new application which it makes clear “does not affect the Angel Wings in any way”.
Olivia Gordon Clark, the Year 5 pupil who lives around the corner in Cloudesley Road, has been leading a campaign to “Save our Wings” since November last year and gathered 956 petition signatures.
After the Gazette told her about the new planning application this afternoon, she said: “It’s unbelievable. I am amazed and shocked that – crossing my fingers – we have saved the wings for the people of Islington!”
Last month, the town hall’s planning committee deferred a decision on the previous plans, which would have seen the Angel Wings removed from its current location.
Councillors told Angel Central it would have to find a new place to move the sculpture, and Angel Central clearly felt this wasn’t an option.
Olivia continued: “It now means people won’t wake up sad one morning when the wings have been taken down.
“The developers will get their refurbishment and we get to keep the wings. It’s a win-win situation.
“It makes me feel proud that I managed to beat developers who can spend millions and millions of pounds.
“I wasn’t so sure of myself when I first started campaigning, but this is amazing.”
Olvia’s mum, Lucy, added: “I think Olivia had a bravery that only a 10-year-old could have in leading this campaign.
“We are blown away. I am really proud of her, especially after seeing her stand up and address the council at the planning meeting.”
Angel Central announced it wanted to get rid of the huge sculpture in September last year. It was to make way for a new mezzanine, but the Wings were also criticised for “not reflecting the quality” of retailers in the centre.
If approved by the council, the new £6m plans will not include a mezzanine. Instead, they will focus on increasing retail space by converting most of the basement car park.
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