Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
The real question is why they believed 'war zone' comment is justified
It is not much of a secret which senior Haringey Council officer called Tottenham a 'war zone' during the tour of regeneration sites recently organised for newly elected councillors. However, since the Haringey Independent decided not to name them in their story - see link below - and my concern not to get HoL in trouble, then there won't be any outing here.
What I will do is to focus on the real question of why they believed the comment to be justified. What is it about Tottenham that makes this public employee think the area is a 'war zone'? Leaving aside that the crass comment reveals a lack of empathy with those people actually living in war zones, then what particular aspect of Tottenham is a war zone? Is it the parts of the High Road left as a cleared sites by Spurs? Is it the appalling condition of Luke Howard's old house? Is it the dis-hevelled appearance of some shops after conversions? Is it the failure to deliver on regeneration promises? If these are the causes of the 'war zone' comment, then the solution is for remedial action by Haringey Council and Director of Regeneration, Planning & Development Lyn Garner, the lead officer in the relevant service areas.
Apologists for the comment have tried the old defence of saying that it has been quoted out of context. You know the reasoning: It was a throw-away casual remark said in the heat of the moment on a noisy bus of excited newly elected councillors being showcased the finest in regeneration visions.
Like many I find the comment inexcusable in any context. It is an insult to the people living and working in Tottenham. It reveals the contempt that some regeneration officers - and some councillors - have for those who oppose the place-changing agenda of knocking down homes and shops, Not forgetting the library. Council officers are happy for taxpayers to pay for them to go to Cannes to woo developers. Yet, having to bus it around Tottenham on your day off - the tour happened on Saturday 21st June - makes you think the worst of the place.
Some might be perversely delighted that at least one senior person in the Haringey Council regeneration leadership actually has an opinion. But let that strong conviction be publicly known so that it can be openly debated. Then those saying Tottenham is a 'war zone' can explain what they are doing to combat it.
Here's hoping for some transparency.
Thanks for reading.
Martin
PS Here is the link to the Haringey Independent story.
Tags for Forum Posts: council, openness, regeneration, war, zone
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Martin,
I see this matter is being followed up in a formal fashion, as an FoI request, on the WhatDoTheyKnow dot com website: Clarication of location or locations of area described as a “War Zo...
This follows the official confirmation that the remarks were made (but were claimed to have been taken out of context).
The context out of which they were taken, remains obscure.
If the FoI request is answered, some light may be shed on this context.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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John are you saying that I mustn't get upset about people in charge of the borough's "regeneration" plans who think that part of my neighbourhood - so far unspecified - is a "War Zone"?
Where the real "context" appears to be an overall view of Tottenham where "regeneration" will be achieved by demolishing council estates and a local library, evicting residents and small businesses. And building a forest of tower blocks.
Where "planners" in Haringey and the GLA are playing with their maps and making proposals and plans which will blight people's homes, lives and livelihoods.
In other words we have regeneration "experts" who are having great fun - and getting paid - to play Sim City on their computers. Though this is a new special edition of the famous game - in a real city with real inhabitants.
Okay, it's not your street and your home. Yet. But are you completely sure that you are safe?
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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Alan
I would guess that it was a trivial, off-the cuff, thoughtless remark that doesn't merit the squeals of protest. But I wasn't there.
Presumably there were Tottenham councillors and residents on that bus. Didn't they object at the time ?
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Alan:
There is a legal truism that you shouldn't ask questions if you are not sure of the answer you're going to get. I would love my home to be demolished so I could stop flushing my remaining capital down its Victorian drains.
However, this is not to minimise the distress caused to the people affected by the " regeneration " plans. My comment referred to the alleged remark only: perhaps those concerned should concentrate on fighting the regeneration plans and not waste energy on some metaphor.
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My previous post has been challenged as factually inaccurate and that I have misconstrued the GLA report I quoted. I have deleted it.
Apologies to anyone misled. I will now double-check.
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Permalink Reply by L F T Snowflake on
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I would like to read this comment, but I cannot as the text is too close together.
Any chance of re-editing it so that it has paragraphs?
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