Whittington and Sobell now 'safe': are you convinced?

In the run-up to the election, Islington residents couldn't miss the two big local battlegrounds, which certainly swayed a lot of voters I spoke to, prior to May 6. So what's the latest on the future of the Sobell centre and the Whittington A&E?

True to his word, new Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has stated that he is effectively calling a halt to the planned closure of vital services at the Archway hospital, and has gone as far as to say that he will stop the "reconfiguration of NHS services” elsewhere in London, too.

Many of those who campaigned to save the hospital's A&E and maternity units were sceptical of Lansley's motives at the rally held on 29th April, where the tory miniseter appeared to have been coaxed into making promises by the noisy crowd. But Lansley's reiteration of his opposition to the original plans has restored confidence, as he assured residents that doctors and patients' groups would have to agree on any future proposals for changes to existing services.

What about the Sobell Centre - another important landmark for health in Islington? Islington Labour had always insisted they would oppose the Lib Dem-led plans to knock down and redevelop the leisure and sports centre, and now that Labour is in charge of the Council once again, it seems they've been true to their word.

The Islington Gazette reported today that Paul Convery, the Council's new executive for planning an redevelopment has confirmed that the Sobell will remain open, with a hope of obtaining grant money from the 2010 Olympics to carry out modernisation.

With Islington's two most at-risk landmarks now seemingly safe from the axe, what do you think will be the next potential recession casualty?