Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Riding in Haringey
Some of you will know that there has been a discussion about an equestrian centre in Haringey -- possibly in Alexandra Park.
I sent a letter to Matt Cooke about it a while ago and have had no response. It looks like this subject is not to Cllr Cooke's taste -- even to the extent of composing a polite brush off.
Despite the fact that the Councillors want this subject to just GO AWAY, I do not feel inclined to co-operate with them on that. The question is, though, how to proceed. A petition has been suggested. The Council are not exactly famous for taking notice of such things but it is a start. We could do one online and if there are enough volunteers we could put up stands in the shopping centres, such as Muswell Hill, Crouch End and Wood Green to get signatures. Who is for it?
Also if anyone can think of another way of putting pressure on the Trust please feel free to contribute ideas.
If people are interested in meeting up at my place, also let me know.
--Lydia
Tags for Forum Posts: alexandra park, equestrian, horses, parks, riding
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by ElleCarumba on
-
hello Lydia
I have not heard about this discussion before
Who is interested in opening a riding centre? Is it a local charity or a commercial enterprise? Or by the Ally Pally trust themselves?
-
Permalink Reply by Lydia R on
-
What happened was that a thread called "A canter over to Cockfosters" was started by HornseyCupcake, in which she described taking her daughter to Trent Park for an Easter treat.
I responded that it is supremely ironic that an ecologically sound sport like horse riding has to start for Haringey residents with a long car journey. I have a history of trying to get the AP trust to consider turning over part of the park for the use of an equestrian centre. My idea is that all they have to do is give the land for a peppercorn rent to anyone who will provide riding facilities for those who can pay, to fund riding for those who cannot. I have already spoken to a council committee about it and they were..um..how do I put this..unenthusiastic.
At Alan Stanton's suggestion, I wrote a letter to Matt Cooke who is on the Trust board and the Labour party nominee for chairman, but he has not even bothered to respond with a message of acknowledgment.
There is an area I think would be idea for a riding school and I wanted to take a group of the Board members round it, to explain what I was talking about. However there has been no response. That is why I want to step up the pressure. You can go over to the "Canter" discussion to see all the comments.
-
-
I was thinking about the isolated sports field behind the deer enclosure.
It is a large area that hardly anyone uses because it is very lonely and cut off from the rest of the park by topological features. I have paced it out and I believe it would support a fair sized riding establishment.
Getting even more imaginatively baroque, though, there is the possibility of extending equine accommodation into the Palace itself, which has enormous unused and hidden areas in a state of dilapidation, fit only for stables. However, that really *is* off the wall. Using parts of the Palace as an equestrian centre which would attract people from all over north London and might provide jobs and education for underprivileged children is a thoroughly weird idea. I am sure that the best thing to do would be to knock the whole place down and turn it into a casino. Gambling is so...dependable.
-
Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
-
No! We play cricket in the racecourse! The games area will be just to the left of the clubrooms looking from Campsbourne. There's lots of room at the top of the hill.
-
Permalink Reply by IB on
-
I'd love to have the ability to do horse riding nearby, too. Not sure what is required to organise a campaign or if petitions are a start, but I'd be happy to get involved.
-
-
has anyone ridden at Lea Valley Riding Centre?
You could point the relevant councillors toward Kentish Town city farm riding centre which is part funded by Camden council as an example.
-
-
Yes, I went to look round the LVRC to see how these things are done. It's a beautiful place.
-
Permalink Reply by Adrian Hackney on
-
I have read a number of pieces recently about horse riding and it seems it is an activity that can bring a great deal of pleasure to many, especially the young and the disabled. It seems to me that based on this it is relatively easy to put together a manifesto to support the idea of riding in AP park. I would include the following bullet points:
1) the park is presently underused - giving some of it a purpose would reduce this under use
2) the proposed use would render a large part of the park self sustaining - thereby (indirectly) reducing Haringey costs
3) the proposed use is entirely consistent with the charitable charter of the park and palace, which indeed once played host to a race track
4) there is a demand for this sort of use - the responses on HoL seem to indicate this - perhaps some more definite numbers would help
5) there is a very substantial benefit in terms of getting more people, of all levels of ability, to be more active
6) the London Olympics will feature equestrianism - this is a good time for this initiative
I do not think a petition to the council would be of any use - Haringey's control over the AP board is coincidental - Haringey would get involved only at planning permission stage I think.
A cost benefit analysis is essential. Haringey is attempting to divest itself of numerous responsibilities in respect of the Parks directly under its control. See here, here and here for other discussion around the borough. I can only guess the start up costs would be substantial - I understand horses are expensive to keep and stabling would be needed (? or would it - could they be kept off site). Once running presumably the place would pay its way (Lee Valley and Scrubs presumably do). AP has a management who are looking for commercially viable ways to exploit the resources - this might be appealing to them They say they have a vision:
To regenerate Alexandra Palace & Park, in the pioneering spirit of our founders, creating a proud, iconic London destination with global appeal – a successful, valuable and sustainable asset for all, including the local community and stakeholders.
Fitting this proposal into their strategic vision would seem to be a good place to start. Riding might well be a 'subsidiary symbiotic use' within their Leisure and Entertainment strategy.
-
-
MacHeath, these are all terrific suggestions and excellent observations.
However, what should we do with the manifesto when we have composed it? How do we get the Trust to take any notice? I already tried putting the suggestion to them. It was like telling jokes to the cat.
I think that we should meet, brainstorm and put something together and maybe agree on a strategy. We could arrange a date at the Salisbury. If the few of us who have visited this thread agree, I shall ask the Salisbury about booking a room and then post more generally to all the local Neighbourhood associations. The more of us involved, the more notice the Trust would have to take.
-
-
Regarding demand: there is a two year waiting list at Kentish Town City Farm for weekend children's riding lessons (it is restricted to Camden residents and disabled children only as subsidised by the council)
Adults can pay full price for lessons during the week.
I learnt to ride in west London as a child and spent every weekend and the school holidays earning free lessons and tips mucking out ponies and leading beginners in lessons at a site between the north circular road and the district line in Ealing. Happy days.
Wormwood scrubs pony centre in Hammersmith is having an open day in June - they are a highly successful charity so could be worth asking for advice. Running costs are 180,000 a year apparently according to their website!
-
-
I have already visited the Scrubs riding school and spent a long time talking to Sister Mary Joy, who founded it. The Scrubs riding school would not have happened had she not been so dedicated, but as a nun she was able to devote her life to it in a way that few could. I certainly could not do that. My idea is that the Trust donates the lease to a commercial outfit which will have to do a proportion of pro-bono work as a condition of its charter. The reason most inner-London riding schools have closed down is pressure of land rents. This is one way to cancel out that part of the problem. Sister Mary Joy convinced the local council to let her have a chunk of unused land in the corner of the scrubs and it is noteworthy that they had enough imagination to go with her idea, which has now become a beacon. Good for them.
-
Permalink Reply by Louise Nazeraj on
-
I'd come to a meeting to help in any way I could. Is there anyway of sounding out who could open the riding school first? If there was an entity willing to take this on, it might become a viable proposition and lend more weight to the campaign.
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
