The Friends of Finsbury Park: their newsletter for Autumn-Winter 2015

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on November 27, 2015 at 23:41

Sorry to be a pain..

but 'our' newsletter = friends of FP's newsletter

please let 'us' know.. = the friends of FP

Local MP surveying 'our' park ... whose park? The friends of FP's park ?

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on November 28, 2015 at 14:22

Stephen as you know, you’ve made the same or similar points before. They don’t improve with repetition, but I doubt that'll stop you.

I’ll  respond for the benefit of others, some of whom may not have seen your previous claims, including that the Friends Group is “self appointed” and that it was somehow limited to Stroud Green (both wholly untrue).

There are many interest groups in FP, only some of which we’ve been able to mention in the current newsletter. However there is only one umbrella group and one Friends' group. That’s the Friends of Finsbury Park.

We’re not self-appointed as showed earlier. The management committee is elected by members. These are members of the public who care about our park. The park was originally created from public subscription by Ratepayers in the 19th century.

Legally, the park is currently owned by the Council (of which I happen to be a Member). In a truer broader and longer-term sense, the park is owned by the public. Us. It's certain used by us.

The FoFP is a Registered Charity and a Company, whose liability is imited by guarantee and of which I'm one of several Directors. We have some 300 members and a 10-strong management committee. Our long-time Patron is the Member of Parliament for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn). Those who share our aims for the park (please see our website) are welcome to join.

--

The Winter Fair is on until five today. I appreciate that anyone living Berlin may have difficulty in attending this afternoon.

I don't doubt that parks in Berlin are good, but I have to wonder why anyone in Berlin would wish to take the time and trouble to harp on about how everything in Berlin is better than in London or Haringey, and to criticise voluntary efforts to improve parks in another country … on a community website in that other country. I'm sure native Germans wouldn't be so rude. I'm at something of a loss to discern the motives behind your remarks.

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on November 28, 2015 at 16:15

I don't doubt that parks in Berlin are good, but I have to wonder why anyone in Berlin would wish to take the time and trouble to harp on about how everything in Berlin is better than in London or Haringey, and to criticise voluntary efforts to improve parks in another country … on a community website in that other country. I'm sure native Germans wouldn't be so rude. I'm at something of a loss to discern the motives behind your remarks.

I would accept that if it were true. But like many of your postings, it isn't. I only harped on about Berlin, because 1/ you brought the subject up - you won't find any mention of Berlin or it's parks from me for weeks before you brought it into the conversation. 2/ Rude?... quite right, the Germans probably wouldn't be as rude and certainly not as cynical as all your postings tend to be. They also have a very good saying 'man sieht was man kennt' - One only sees what one knows. The comments weren't rude, but if you take them as such, I think you should ask yourself why. 3/ As an economic migrant, I wonder if you, like me, like to keep in touch with where you originally came from. If you do, then you will understand why I bother reading your rather tedious and often very pretentious postings.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on November 28, 2015 at 18:17

Stephen you will know well that that was far from your first post that bigs up Berlin and compares Haringey or London with it unfavourably. I've never understood the point of it.

I'd also add that that the Council owns "the" park but they do so in trust, implicitly for and on behalf of the public and for residents. In recent times our park has been seen too much by the Council in terms of a financial liability and as an under-performing asset.

I hope you'll be pleased to know that this afternoon's Winter Fair was well attended; well organised by the Women's Institute and successful all raound.

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on November 28, 2015 at 20:17

No, and I've never understood your trying to do the opposite with Haringey.. A place you say you want to represent. I made a conscious decision ages ago not to do what you are accusing me of. That is not the case and the reason why I tagged my reply with the proviso #only_because_you_mentioned_it.  I know what you are up to, but that's not the case.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on November 29, 2015 at 7:50

I made a conscious decision ages ago not to do what you are accusing me of.

(Stephen 2015)

From a quick Google search:

Still, you left the country and seem to be forever happy telling us how wonderful Berlin is. 

(Matt, 2009)

Stephen can I respectfully invite you to take an interest in your own local parks and make them even better?

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on November 29, 2015 at 12:14

lol..  and you had to go back to 2009 to find an example.  That you spend so much time researching me, really is a compliment. (for the period since then, read my remarks above, which you again choose to twist). But I'm so glad that the articles that I posted, got you moved enough to react in such a way.

It was obvious when I wrote it, that it would all be thrown back in my face and true to form, you did. That's the usual response for those who have been out argumented. Just like back then with Matt. Another one is 'Go back to your own country'.

I certainly do take an interest in the parks in my city. They are not my 'own parks' as you mention. But city parks. You do seem to have a penchant for taking over everything and as much as you might like to, along with your self-anointed 'friends', you are not going to change my interest in a place that I've known much longer than you have.

And, lastly, if you are ever here, I'm willing and happy  to take you on what could be an informative trip around them. You might even learn something.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on November 29, 2015 at 13:35

Stephen I have little doubt Finsbury Park compares poorly with Berlin's parks. However, you may be unaware that it also compares poorly with a more relevant example: Hackney's nearby Clissold Park, which is superior in practically all respects except size—it's half the size of FP.

Just so you know, the Friends is apolitical and run by voluntary effort.

[footnote:

One doesn't need to read through all replies to your posts to find one of the contributors who've complained about your invidious comparisons, from some time ago. Google's searching is quick and comprehensive: it's sensitive to using the right search terms. 

The point about selecting one from six years ago, was to put into context your claim of having made a conscious decision not to keep reminding Haringey how much better is everything is in Berlin, "ages ago"].

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