Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Council to sue gardener for growing flowers
The Journal is reporting this morning that a disabled pensioner is being taken to court in a long running row over a garden he has spent more than 14 years nurturing.
They report that housebound Yousri Awad, of Park Road, Crouch End, built a flourishing garden from scratch on a stretch of neglected communal land at the back of his home, but Haringey Council has launched a legal attack claiming he “assumed control” of the site without permission and has demanded he tear it down.
Neighbours have also complained that the garden was encroaching on the footpath and water from the hosepipe was making it slippery.
A council spokeswoman said: “Homes for Haringey (the Council's housing team) has offered to discuss the matter and seek a compromise with Mr Awad which would see him maintaining a smaller space in the garden, but unfortunately he has refused to discuss this with us.
“The majority of residents want the communal gardens to remain as they were and to be maintained by Homes for Haringey.”
Now, I'm sure the issue is complex and of course the Council has many priorities to balance, but I can't help wondering why so much effort is put into this whilst things like illegal estate agent and shops signs along Green Lanes are left unchallenged. Is this a case of the Council having its priorities wrong?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by William Booth on
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Of course it is. Easy target. Disproportionate waste of resources against a probably eccentric but ultimately pretty harmless chap. Not least when greening our borough is something we really need to get on with more seriously.
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Permalink Reply by Alice Mezzo on
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WHAT?! SHOCKING! The council are utterly crazy. They seem to have no idea how to create a happy community. Maddening!
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Permalink Reply by Joe Bailey on
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Our council is in my opinion self serving, and can at times bully the residents that it is there to serve*.
This is yet another fine demonstration of Haringey's ability to pick an easy target and sink their teeth in, without thinking in a reasonable way whatsoever. Good work Haringey.
* I exclude our rather fine councillor Mr Schmitz from the above statement.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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BRAZEN Gardening: there's no excuse for this.
This disabled pensioner gardener should feel the full force of Justice in the Court.
I'm sure the council has enough powers to mount a full scale prosecution. He may even have been caught on CCTV watering those flowers. If it goes to the Magistrates Court, or better, to the Crown Court, the prosecutors should not be afraid to seek maximum sentences.
There's too much of this kind of feral gardening going on and the forces of law and order need to make an example. This man has been in and out of garden for 14 years.
It is believed that three quarters of gardeners are repeat gardeners. Why can't someone like this just go out shopping for trainers with a group of friends in the evening, instead of resorting to gardening, weeding and watering? Sometimes I think the whole system has broken down.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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I know nothing about this particular case. But before people run out of exc!amat!on MARKS!!! can I gently ask HoL members what is so terrible about having a simple licence agreement with a local council? An agreement which could achieve win-win for everyone.
Once more, here are links to my previous comment about the scheme run in Vancouver. Here are Vancouver's current guidelines. They made a video in 2002 called "Blooming Boulevards".
Or maybe it's just that bashing the council online is far more fun than getting such practical schemes going?
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Alan I have to say I wasn't too impressed at the gardener's behaviour and I think people are being a bit sentimental and not thinking about property law.
That said, Hugh also has a very valid point. Would you care to comment on the 102 Warham Rd post above this one or are you one of the councillors complicit in the routine flouting of residential planning law? I am happy for councillors to sue me over that so don't ring Hugh up and ask him to delete it.
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And when did I stop being complicit in the routine flouting of residential planning law? About the same time, John, as you stopped truffle hunting in Harringay Passage.
I can't find a case reference on Haringey's Planning applications page. Presumably it has gone to appeal because enforcement action was taken. Has anyone asked Planning Enforcement for information?
Had anyone previously asked Harringay ward councillors to get involved?
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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On 102, this is a long running case, complicated by the involvement of the police due to the activities of a previous set of tenants. It is my understanding that David Lammy's office have been involved and I believe that David Schmitz is also dealing with this case. The landlord in question is fully aware of what he is doing. He is also making large amounts of money while running rings around the council and prolonging the process of enforcement. Every hour he keeps his little slum open, he makes more money.
Beyond this, many of the details of the case are not appropriate to be shared on an open forum as the current tenants are not to blame for this massive swindle. It is my understanding that it is being pursued by at least one of our councillors. What will help is if people can add comments to the appeal.
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@Alan, is that a denial for all Haringey's councillors?
I'd hate to see the day when Green Lanes is cleared of shop keeper's clutter. Part of the character and all. Unlike the clutter on Wightman Rd footpaths.
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As you should know by now, John, I try to speak as well as think for myself. But it would really help if I knew what you were on about.
What unmentionable crime am I accused of? Am I expected to throw myself on the mercy of the court of McMullan and ask for 56 other councillors to be taken into account?
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Look at Hugh's far too tame jab in the original post. There are many more problems the council could be dealing with involving residential planning law and the enforcement thereof but they're not. I'm saying they're not because there is an unwritten rule in the council that with a shortage of living space in the borough houses need to be illegally converted into HMOs, flats and bedsits. After all, the only people opposed are the nimby home owners. It's deliberate, just like parking enforcement is revenue raising.
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