Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Benched!
Where have all the benches in Finsbury Park gone?
Walked along the inner road that runs parallel to Seven Sisters. There used to be a bench on the pavement either side, every 100 or so yards - now there is a single forlorn bench along the entire stretch from the Finsbury Park Gate to the Manor House Gate.
What has happened and are they coming back?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by BadaBing
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Was waiting for the ghost of Farage present to put in his twopenneth worth
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton
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If someone has questions about benches or anything else to do with Finsbury Park, why not start by checking what's on the website. Then use Freedom of Information Act questions.
I'd also recommend listening to people who give given their time as volunteers in some cases for years as residents. And also give their real names and also giving criticism, mostly giving their names as frank honest critics.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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HERE is the Google advanced search of the council's website on Finsbury Park benches.
What I've learnt is that the council is now inviting council tax payers to pay for benches in the same way residents are invited to sponsor trees.
Benches are no longer seen as a necessary or as a traditional part of public park but now, as an optional extra or as a luxury feature.
This is consistent with Haringey Council's well-established managed-decline of the Borough's "Flagship Park".
As hinted at above by Gordon T., the remaining benches in FP may get in the way of the council's corporate customers during the "Events Season". And therefore, be a nuisance for the council Events Team (who call the shots) and the main goal for FP as a gig-venue.
And not so much as a year-round resource for the general public. Has the council not (informally) decided to run down the number, if not the condition, of park benches?
Some of that £1,200,000—raised by commercial exploitation—that the leader boasts about could be used for bench repairs, but leadership attention remains largely focused on indoor activity.
The general decline is noticeable when comparing benches in FP with the fine benches in Hackney's better-managed Clissold Park. What a contrast!
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In the narrow space available to try to hold councils and government to account, the FoI Act is a great asset for residents and journalists.
It is most suitable for seeking documents that are known to exist or likely to exist. In my view, asking for something as detailed as park benches is unlikely to fall into this category. I think it is likely to waste the time of residents and council staff, but one could always try.
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Permalink Reply by j jones
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Is there a way to report a broken or damaged bench/outdoor gym ... in downhills park?
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Suggestions for reporting a broken bench …
- Contact the Friends Group: https://www.ccurrie.me.uk/downhills/index.html
- Make an appointment with a Ward Councillor
- Contact the council Parks Dept.
BTW, in Finsbury Park, the Events Team—who dominate Parks—appear to have ordered the removal of most benches in the area of their Premises Hire to Festival Republic.
What relatively few benches there were, appear to have been shifted into MacKenzie Garden, which now has almost too many.
Park benches are best placed near the entrances to parks, but this conflicts with the needs of the council's big customer. Park benches are not part of the gig, they remind paying punters that they're in a public park and during setup and break-down, are simply a nuisance.
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TODAY I counted 7 (seven) benches on both sides of the "heritage" carriageway in a distance of 800 or 900 metres, i.e. in a great arc between Manor House and the Richard Hope Play Space.
The longest gap was in the south eastern side, where Haringey Council hire customer Festival Republic set up their headquarters.
I also noticed several concrete bases where benches had been but which are probably unlikely to return under the current crew.
The Major Event policy for Finsbury Park might be less objectionable if all the cash was returned to FP and the park was well maintained.
But it's being run down alongside the Major Event policy.
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