'Easy parks Council' hire policy harms relations that have improved our parks‏

In opposing an application for a music concert involving up to 9,999 attendees in Down Lane Park (Tottenham Hale, N17) on obvious practical grounds - it is a park in a residential area, not a mini-Glastonbury field - I warn Haringey Council that the long-term harm of their parks hire policy will be to undo the good relationships with the community that have been vital to improving our parks.

The objection also lists ten reasons why this event should be refused, as the community has asked for. A position that has been backed by all three ward councillors. More detail on the practical grounds for objecting to these large commercial events can be found at
http://tottenhamlife.co.uk/profiles/blogs/down-lane-park-is-a-commu...

All best,
Martin

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Subject: 'No, no, never, no more' RE: Application - 'Mauritius Open Air Festival 2015' , Application No - 'HGY01227'
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 08:24:29 +0000

Hi,

After the damaging impact of this event last summer the Friends of Down Lane Park were assured by a council officer that the Mauritian event would not be granted any subsequent permission to be held in Down Lane Park. While I accept that the organisers are within their rights to apply for a licence, residents are expecting our councillors and our council to refuse this event application.

As a reminder I am forwarding a sample of the photographic evidence of the mess caused by last year's event, when there was substantial damage to the open grass area and a disgraceful littering of the park. To go with the disturbance the event caused to residents. This represents strong evidence why the wish of local people for this application to be refused should be supported by the council. I also forward a photo of the damage to the park caused by the fun fair's extended stay last summer. Lots more available on request.

Main of the reasons I have set out in the objection to the Caribbean Bubble event also apply to this application. But for the record, let me set out in bullet points the reasons why the application should be refused

1. The park is a park, not a music concert venue
2. The park is not an appropriate venue for an event of up to 9,999 attendees
3. The noisy disturbance to local people on their weekend break
4. The exclusion of park users from their own park
5. The damage to the park caused by the event
6. The disruption to the surrounding community, especially from extra cars parking
7. The organisers have mismanaged the 2014 event, including failure on littering
8. The event has no significant connection with the local community
9. The council's hire policy harms relations with community groups
10. The council must stop the policy of excessively hiring out our public space to large commercial operators

I formally ask that you refuse this application and expect the previous assurances that it won't happen in Down Lane Park again to be honoured.

Granting of permission for these large commercial events is an abuse of your licensing powers, since of the council has already collected taxes to provide green space and facilities for local people. You can't then have a policy of actively hiring out our parks that results in people being restricted in accessing the green space their taxes are paying for. The council have taken money for providing a service and then you diluting that service. You might believe you can do this lawfully, but it is another example of the contemptuous way the council treats residents.

A consequence of hawking around of Down Lane Park and other green spaces is to undermine the strong partnerships the council has established with Friends of parks groups and community organisation. These collaborative relationships have been successful in rescuing the borough's parks from a low point and have been successful in bringing improvements. Not just the physical improvement of facilities, but increased interest by the community and the enhancement of recreational capital benefiting local people in many ways beyond 'doing a bit of exercise'. Pushing aside the objections of the community breaks the trust build up and potentially starts the cycle of decline for parks. Disengagement by Friends groups, reduced community feedback, low reporting of problems, lack on interest in volunteering. All are landmarks on the slope to a worsening in the condition of our parks.

Hiring out Down Lane Park for commercial events - and yes, flogging Finsbury Park for promoter's gold - is fundamentally wrong. Philosophically wrong and environmentally wrong. It is back-door privatisation of public space. Dressing it up as bringing extra investment in park is not true as we know the ultimate goal of the council is to have the parks budget entirely paid for by the hire policy income. The more money you make, the less money provided for the base budget from the revenue support grant. Your out-sourcing of the financing of the borough's green space has to stop. Becoming the 'Easy parks Council' is a direction that should be recognised as bad for green space in the borough. It makes parks funding dependent on the vagaries of the marketing of commercial events and the future of our public assets insecure.

There are practical reasons why the Mauritian event application has to be refused, and these are sufficient for the council to support the community wishes to peacefully enjoy their weekend and park. The council should also stop the policy of excessively hiring out parks for large commercial events because they are harming the relationships that have been instrumental in improving green space and promoting social cohesion across the borough.

The Friends of Down Lane Park are happy to meet to discuss the reason for the objection to the Mauritian event. In addition, we are willing to participate in a wider forum to discuss the long-term consequence of the short-term agenda of commercial plundering our public parks.

Regards.
Martin Ball
Chair, Friends of Down Lane Park


From: noreply@eventapp.org
To: Bridget.BadoeMcQuick@haringey.gov.uk
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2015 17:45:02 +0100
Subject: General Notification for Application - 'Mauritius Open Air Festival 2015' , Application No - 'HGY01227'

Haringey Event Office

Council Name Haringey Event Office
Ref No HGY01227
Sent From Bridget Badoe McQuick
Please respond to: Bridget.BadoeMcQuick@haringey.gov.uk
Phone 02084891418
This notification has been sent to the following:
First Name Second Name
Stuart McNamara
Martin Ball
Lorna Reith
Reg Rice
Vincent Carroll
Title:
Notification of Proposed Mauritius Open Air Festival 2015 in Down Lane Park on 26 July 2015
Notes:
Please provide comments or questions about this application by 20 April.
Event Detail:
Title of event: Mauritius Open Air Festival 2015
Venue: Down Lane Park
On site at (Prep): 25/07/2015 06:00:00
Start time: 26/07/2015 12:00:00
Finish time: 26/07/2015 21:00:00
Off site (clear up): 27/07/2015 17:00:00
Other information:
Max number of attendees: 9999
Audience Profile: Families, Young People, Older People, Other
Is the event ticketed:? Yes
Is the event open to public:? Yes
Invited guests only:? No
Type of Event: Community, Music festival

Event Description:
This summer sees the return of the annual Mauritian Open Air Festival. Now in its 7th year, the Festival will be rebranded under the newly named “Mauritius Open Air Festival". As the UK’s largest exhibition for Mauritius and its interests; well-established eateries, bars and businesses are represented, making the Festival the ultimate Mauritian showcase. Mauritius Open Air Festival or in short MOAF, welcomes family and friends to revel in the sounds and tastes from the beautiful island which is widely known as paradise on earth.

What benefits will this event bring to the local community?

We will be bringing a taste of Mauritian culture to North London. Our aim is bring the Mauritian community in the UK closer as well as giving non-Mauritians a taste of the culture that we are famous for.