Record temperatures across London have forced the temporary closure of a space meant to provide shelter from extreme heat due to the building itself overheating.
By Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter
Record temperatures across London have forced the temporary closure of a space meant to provide shelter from extreme heat due to the building itself overheating.
Islington Council confirmed on Friday (June 26) that one of its designated ‘Cool Spaces’, Archway’s Whittington Park Community Centre, had been temporarily shut, following reports that staff welfare was at risk. The local authority owns the community centre’s building but it is run by a local charity.
However, Islington Council was quick to confirm that its remaining cool spaces are still open and encourage residents to find ones nearby to them.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cllr Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Climate, Environment, and Transport, said: “We know that the heat poses real challenges for the local community. That’s why we’re so grateful that despite one Cool Space having to close, 17 other cool spaces spread across the borough, and four further spaces in neighbouring City of London and Hackney, have been offering residents somewhere to cool down, drink some water, and rest.
“We’ve been glad to learn during the recent intense heatwave that many residents have been using and benefitting from this network of public and community-run Cool Spaces,” she said.
Though not all of Islington’s Cool Spaces are air-conditioned, most offer places to sit and rest, free drinking water and toilets. A map on the council’s website encourages residents to find respite from the heat, including libraries, community centres and faith venues, outdoor shaded areas and parks and even public water fountains.
On Friday the country saw its record for the hottest June day broken for a third day in a row, with temperatures topping 36C in Suffolk. The heatwave has caused travel disruption, early school closures and seen expert warnings to Londoners, especially those with children and pets, to be careful around hot surfaces reaching up to 57C – including pavements and playground matting.
According to a 2024 report by the consultants Arup, inner London boroughs are particularly susceptible to hazards arising from extreme heat. Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Camden are the most at risk for residential properties because of the higher density of flats, which are generally more vulnerable to heat than houses. Islington and Tower Hamlets notably have the smallest amount of green space per person in the UK.
Camden Council has also set up an interactive map showing residents where to find air-conditioned spaces and free water to stay cool.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, June 25, City Hall officials unveiled London’s first-ever Heat Ready Plan to prepare the capital for soaring temperatures. Measures include retrofitting high-risk homes, increasing urban greening and expanding access to Cool Spaces across the city.
