Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Local News Archive 2008
Residents' Fears at Betting Shop's Plan
Will Stone, Haringey Advertiser, 26th November 2008
A petition has been launched in protest over a betting shop seeking to split itself into three.
Betting shop company, Agora, won an appeal at magistrates' court to open an outlet in Grand Parade, Green Lanes, Harringay, after Haringey Council refused to grant it a licence on the basis of protests by residents.But now the company has lodged an application to divide the premises into three.
Community campaign: Ian Sygrave, Liz Edwards, Profu Matebele and Shefik Mehmet are collecting signatures against the opening of a betting shop.
Ian Sygrave, of the Ladder Community Safety Partnership, said: "This is a cynical attempt by Agora to attract more punters. The law states that betting shops are not allowed any more than four £500 jackpot terminals."This would mean that it would be lawful for them to put 12 of these machines in place." "We don't doubt that the council will again refuse the application, but what we fear is that Agora will seek to win on appeal at magistrates' court again as it did to set up the shop there in the first place." He added: "There are too many betting shops in Green Lanes they attract anti-social behaviour and intimidate the elderly and vulnerable." Residents can sign the petition by visiting www.petitiononline. com/ AgoraN4/petition. html. More information can be found at www.harringayonline.com An Agora spokesman declined to comment while its application was still pending.
£500 Jackpot Arcade Row
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 20 November 2008
A bid to potentially triple the number of gaming machines offering £500 jackpots in a gambling arcade has sparked outrage from nearby residents.
Betting shop operator Agora, also known as Frankice, lodged an application with Haringey Council to divide its Adult Gaming Centre in Grand Parade, Green Lanes, Harringay, into three units.
But Harringay Online community website, a group that campaigned to stop the arcade opening, claims it is a "cynical" attempt to avoid a law that restricts shops from having more than four Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.
Hugh Flouch, website founder, said: "There is a logic around restricting machines to four per premises because they were referred to as the 'crack cocaine' of gambling in the House of Lords.
"For Agora to skirt the law by claiming they've got three different premises is slightly outrageous."
The website has launched a petition opposing the application which had 90 signatures on Tuesday.
The touch screen betting terminals look like pub quiz machines and offer a number of games including roulette with payouts of up to £500.
Haringey Council was forced to pay out £10,000 in costs to Frankice in May this year after losing a court battle to keep the arcade from opening.
It had refused its application for an adult gaming licence in January.
Agora declined to comment.
Residents can comment on the licensing application until December 3 by contacting Haringey Council or can sign the petition at www.petitiononline.com/AgoraN4/petition.html.
Juggler Takes New York by Storm
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 19 November 2008
A charity worker from Harringay kept her eye on the ball as she completed the gruelling 26-mile New York City Marathon - juggling all the way.
Adventurous Katia Richardson, 25, of Wightman Road, who has also trekked in the Himalayas, dreamed up the unusual marathon technique as knee problems prevent her from running.
She said: "There was quite a lot of incentive to get round as quickly as possible, because the longer you're out there the more painful it is. I did quite well, I only dropped the balls about 10 times every four miles!
"The Americans were absolutely fantastic. They kept shouting 'way to go juggler'."
Katia Richardson during the New York Marathon
She walked the course under target time in seven hours and 37 minutes and hopes to raise £2,000 for youth charity Fairbridge, which she works for.
"Since working here I've found it such a wonderful organisation," she said. "We work with young people who are not in education or employment aged 13 to 25. It's a first step programme offering activities and new opportunities to these young people."
Katia has juggled since she was 12, but had never done it seriously before.
Her training regime included practising with juggling balls for long periods of time to build strength and concentration.
"I think most people thought I was absolutely crazy, some people were sceptical that I would achieve it, but most people were generally quite supportive," she said.
Katia has no future juggling plans, but she has got the fundraising bug and may look into walking the length of New Zealand on foot.
To donate to Katia's marathon fund visit www.justgiving.com/katiarichardson
TV crew films Tom's 'acts of kindness'
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 29 October 2008
A teenager carried out "random acts of kindness" in people's homes as part of a TV documentary for Channel 4.
Tom Robbins, 20, of Islington, used Harringay Online community website to plan his Saturday jobs around The Ladder which included cutting shrubs, stripping wallpaper, fixing curtains and moving boxes from under stairs.
Mr Robbins said: "It was all arranged through the website. People wrote with their suggestions and I got in touch, so I had a schedule of what I was doing.
"A couple of people writing online were a bit suspicious but a lot of people caught on and I've got a lot of positive feedback and a lot of people are really inspired by what I'm trying to do."
Hard at work: Tom Robbins gives a helping hand as part of a TV show following young people who want to 'change the world'
The Chelsea College of Art student has formed the Do Gooders Army as part of Battlefront, a Channel 4 interactive project following 20 teens who are trying to "change the world" by championing issues they care deeply about.
"I'm interested in the way people respond to help because a lot of people expect to reciprocate it," said Mr Robbins. "There are some lovely people out there."Hugh Flouch, Harringay Online founder, said: "I think it's brilliant and a lovely thing to do. There is a serious undercurrent to it."
The first of two five-part series will be broadcast in December showing what the group have achieved with their campaigns.Fast food Ad Removal Plea
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 22 October 2008
Campaigners have called for the removal of a fast food advert on a railway bridge. An online survey completed by 268 residents found that more than 80 per cent wanted a McDonald's advert on Harringay Green Lanes railway bridge to go.
Hugh Flouch, founder of community website Harringay Online which hosted the poll - dubbed the "McHarringay Bridge survey" - wrote to McDonald's UK to demand the sign's removal.
He said: "The visual pollution of advertising on our high street is something I'm against. Mums are clear they're not happy with it being McDonald's. They feel they don't want their children exposed to advertising for McDonald's any more than they have to be."
Haringey Council, responsible for overseeing advertising on the bridge, said: "We are aware of people's concerns about the promotion of fast food and are currently reviewing our advertising policy in light of this.
"We have now asked the company which sells this type of advertising not to sell any more to fast food outlets until we have our new policy in place."A McDonald's spokesman said: "McDonald's strongly rejects any claims that we market so-called 'junk food'. McDonald's is a responsible advertiser. We adhere to all current codes of practice and have our own equally stringent principles for marketing, which in many cases exceed current regulations and guidelines.
Harringay Mosque Opens its Doors
Elizabeth Pears, Haringey Independent, 21st October 2008
A Harringay mosque opened its doors to the community on Sunday to help shake off negative misconceptions of Islam.
More than 400 residents visited the London Islamic Cultural Society, in Wightman Road, for the annual open day and were given a guided tour of the traditional purpose-built mosque with a special opportunity to observe prayer.
Real Impact, a Haringey-based youth organisation made up of young Muslims, delivered an inspired presentation on the meaning of terrorism, making reference to well-respected figures such as Gandhi and Nelson Mandela who, ironically, had both been labelled terrorists at some point in their lives.
Derma Ioannou, director of Haringey Racial Equality Council, said: "There was a great turn-out and it was a really good day."
"People really got involved and the presentation by Real Impact was really refreshing. Not only did they talk about the negative impacts terrorism has had on young Muslims they also took a look at the concept of terrorism on the whole. I think everyone enjoyed it."
Tottenham MP David Lammy, who lives in the area, attended the community event as well as Haringey mayor Alan Dobbie and Councillor Lorna Reith, cabinet member for community cohesion and involvement.
It was run in partnership with Haringey Muslim Network and Safety Forum, established in 2005 after the July 7 bombings, to combat Islamophobia.
Wood Green Car-Free Plan is Axed
Elizabeth Pears, Haringey Independent, 1st October 2008
Proposals to transform Wood Green into a car-free shopping haven have been scrapped.
The plan had been drawn up in a bid to breathe new life into Wood Green town centre and establish it as a successful metropolitan shopping centre.
Pedestrianisation was mooted as one part of the image overhaul which Haringey Council hopes will attract “affluent” spenders to the area.
The proposals aim to tackle what the council sees as three decades of decline.
But at a planning meeting last Thursday council officers said they had dropped the idea following opposition from residents consulted earlier this year.
Around 450 people signed an online petition amid fears that banning cars from High Road would increase traffic in the Harringay Ladder.
Eddie Finnegan, of Wightman Road, said: "Bus-only or pedestrianisation of Wood Green High Road is superficially attractive until you consider the consequences. As a Harringay resident for 31 years I know what those will be. Traffic will be atrocious and it will only get worse."
Councillor Gina Adamou, who represents Harringay ward, said Green Lanes traders were also concerned that shutting off the high street would drive customers away.
The pedestrianisation plan had been devised to tackle the loss of trade in Wood Green.
Customers and high-quality retailers have turned their back on the area in favour of shopping centres at Brent Cross and Enfield, the council said. It suggested that pedestrianising High Road, or making it only open to buses, would make it safer and more attractive to shoppers.
Councillor Ray Dodds, deputy chairman of the planning commitee, said: “I know there are concerns, but there’s also an opportunity to do something really positive for Wood Green.
"Wood Green’s high street is dying. You go into Marks and Spencers and you can only get the end-of -the-line stuff, for anything better you have to go to elsewhere. That’s what Wood Green has been reduced to. We have to be more imaginative."
Officers said "no commitment" would be given to a bus-only High Road without a review of the impact of traffic on surrounding streets. But they said the council’s vision includes better bus routes and improved cycling facilities.
If the plan is approved, Shopping City will be redeveloped with the possibility of a department store moving to the area. The number of fast-food outlets and budget shops would be reduced.
Public services like a polyclinics and police “shops” would be introduced and Wood Green Central Library would be refurbished or relocated to a new premises in High Road.
A decision on the plans will be taken at a cabinet meeting on October 14.
Fast Food Ads Cause a Finger Lickin' Storm
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 17 September 2008
Angry residents who fear fast food adverts on council lamp-post banners are bad for children's health have created a petition in protest.
The Haringey Council banners, which are positioned in high streets across Haringey, carry council advertising on one side and commercial advertising on the other. Voiceover artist Brian Bowles, 56, of Redston Road, Crouch End, has set up a "ban the banner" petition calling for their removal.
He said: "They are really visually intrusive, particularly the Kentucky Fried Chicken signs. It does seem to me to be hypocritical on the part of the council to effectively promote and endorse both an advertising campaign and a product that in its own right is partly injurious to the health of children. It makes Crouch End Broadway look like a theme park."
Sixty-six people have signed the petition, launched on August 25, which also complains about the banners blighting the street environment.
In Harringay ward, residents have complained about Sainsbury's supermarket adverts on banners in Green Lanes and have called for a crackdown on illegal estate agents' signs.
Hugh Flouch, founder of community website Harringay Online, said: "The Sainsbury's banners, the council advertising, they just add to the general clutter of aerials and estate agents signs. It's almost like visual litter."
The council receives a percentage of fees from commercial advertising on the banners, which have been in place since 2005, and does not pay to promote its own message on one side. It received £38,058 in income from the signs in the last financial year.
Councillor George Meehan, leader of the council, said: "They are a cost effective means of providing information about council services while also giving local groups, businesses and event organisers the opportunity to advertise economically."
A spokeswoman for Kentucky Fried Chicken, said: "We always ensure that we not only follow local authority policies but also the Advertising Standards Authority guidelines for responsible advertising.
No Chance of a General Hospital, Says Health Boss
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 17 September 2008
Health bosses have dismissed campaigners' calls for a general hospital to be developed at St Ann's Hospital in Tottenham.
Andrew Wright, director of strategic development Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, said: "The NHS has a statutory duty not to consult on options that are not realistic. We need to be absolutely honest, we will not be consulting on opening a general hospital on this site."
The hospital cannot be considered as a base for general community care, residents were told at a meeting last Wednesday called by Haringey Council's watchdog overview and scrutiny committee.
But campaigners demanded more community services at the specialist mental health hospital and voiced opposition to "asset stripping".
Dave Morris, of the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition, called for "development of a general hospital as it was when the NHS was founded". He said people did not want the "sell off" of the site.
The trust is in the early stages of planning changes at St Ann's - likely to result in more community based and less inpatient mental health services.
Michael Fox, trust chairman, said change was needed to build services in "world class buildings".
He added: "I can't go to NHS London and ask for money for development of the site - that is not going to happen. We have got to look at ways to develop funds." The trust was committed to consultation "from the ground up" he said and highlighted no decisions on St Ann's future have been taken yet.
Speaking afterwards, committee member Councillor David Winskill said the trust was open about "constraints" on it by strategic health authority NHS London.
He said: "If they've got any assets they'll be expected to sell them for the development of health in the borough. A lot of people feel that this is short sighted."
Also speaking afterwards, Mario Petrou, chairman of the Save St Ann's Hospital Campaign, demanded an alternative model be considered.
The group wants to see specialist healthcare providers like Moorfields Eye Hospital, which has services based at St Ann's, lease space there to raise income. Mr Petrou said: "Our option is workable and valuable."
A new strategic outline for mental health services in Haringey will be produced by the trust in early 2009.Bedsit Concerns 'ignored'
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 10 September 2008
The uproar over soaring numbers of houses being sold as bedsits or flats continues as residents fear their concerns are ignored by Haringey Council.
Haringey's planning department has been accused of failing to control landlords in Green Lanes cashing in by converting homes into houses of multiple occupancy (HMO).
Adam Coffman, of Fairfax Road Residents' Association, told this month's St Ann's and Harringay Area Assembly: "I reported three separate properties to the council and was told they would investigate and get back to me. They never got back to me and I feel as a local resident who is trying to improve things it is really quite insulting."
Frustrated residents claimed at last week's meeting that their quality of living is under threat from disruptive behaviour in HMOs.
Liz Ixer, 42, of Warham Road, said: "We are losing valuable family housing stock, it is putting strain on the infrastructure and there are too many people hanging around. The council has the power but the planning department is not enforcing it."
The council has set up a working group to tackle residents' concerns.
But Councillor Nilgun Canver (Labour), council cabinet member for safer communities, admitted the law was not straightforward.
She said: "When a complaint comes in they do investigate and the decision is taken by development control. However in some cases the case goes to appeal. Obviously this is a grey area.
Walkie-talkies to Tackle Violence in Betting Shops
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 03 September 2008
Betting shops have been forced to carry walkie-talkies to impose bans on frustrated gamblers who smash up machines.
The ruling for all stores in Green Lanes was brought in this week to help overworked cops deal with the violence in robberies in store.
Sergeant Ian Pyles, of Harringay's Safer Neighbourhoods team, said at St Ann's and Harringay area assembly: "It's important to have communication because the main people who are banned from one shop just move on to the next one."
"There are specific betting offices that are poorly managed and some don't even report to us because they want to keep their crime levels down."
The radios enable gambling shops like Corals, Ladbrokes, and the more recent Metrobet to talk directly to each other and police can deal with situations as they arise.
But while the radios control the violence, some residents believe it does not tackle the anti-social behaviour brought on by gambling, including loitering and drinking.
One man in Green Lanes, who did not want to be named, said at the meeting on Monday: "One particular office always has its front door open and doesn't attempt to block the view from inside."
Sergeant Pyles replied: "The fear is if they are not visible from the street they are likely to become victims of robbery.
Fears over Stray Cats 'Plague'
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 27 August 2008
The deadly effects of inbreeding are making Hornsey's booming stray cat population ill an animal charity fears.
The alarm was raised after five of six kittens born to a stray cat under a Lavender bush in Wightman Road and rescued by a nearby homeowner died at an Animal Welfare Trust hostel.
Yvonne Treon, trustee of the hostel based in Palmers Green, said: "We've spent a lot of time trying to find if there's anything wrong and it must be through inbreeding and negligence."
Samples taken from the mother and the litter underwent laboratory analysis but there was no evidence of disease or bacterial infection which would have caused the kitten's death.
"In that area people have abandoned animals and they are breeding and having kittens everywhere," said Mrs Treon.
The cat, named Lavender after the bush where she gave birth, was cared for at the hostel with sole survivor Petal who was nursed back to health with drip feeding and is now five weeks old.
But sub editor Emma Morgan, 32, of Wightman Road, who discovered the litter, told how she struggled for over a week to find somewhere in Haringey to care for them. She said: "They're just breeding out of control and it seems like they're being born with these horrible defects."
The Animal Welfare Trust receives several calls weekly about stray cats in Haringey and estimated there are more than 100 strays in the Wightman Road area. "You have no cat protection in your area," said Mrs Treon. "People from surrounding boroughs have to come and help Haringey."
The RSPCA confirmed a 46 per cent rise in the number of cats reported abandoned in greater London in two years. There were 752 reports in 2005 compared to 1102 in 2007.
A spokesman for Haringey Council said: "Local authorities do not have specific responsibilities for stray cats, but where a location is a nuisance due to the activity of feral cats we will investigate, and will also investigate abandonment which can be an offence if there is evidence of an intention to cause distress to an animal.
"We are not aware of an increase in the numbers of cats, although there can be a seasonal increase in abandoned pets as some owners unfortunatley go away on holiday and abandon animals rather than pay boarding charges, or arrangements for the animals to be looked after break down."
It highlighted charities that will take in and rehome stray cats including Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Cats Protection, and Wood Green Animal Shelters (08701 90 44 40).
For more details call the council on 020 8489 5230.
Meanwhile, anyone who can offer Lavender and Petal a home should contact the Animal Welfare Trust on 020 8882 7017.
Council 'Failures' Slammed as Complaints Soar
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 23 July 2008
Complaints against Haringey Council soar-ed last year bucking the national trend, the local government watchdog has revealed this week.
The number of complaints against the council increased to 248 during 2007-2008 - up a third on the previous year, which was itself up a quarter on 2005-2006, according to the Local Government Ombudsman Tony Redmond.
Opposition politicians described the news as evidence of the ruling Labour party's "continued failure" to deliver quality services.
In his annual letter to the council for the year to March 31, Mr Redmond wrote: "The overall increase in complaints we received against the council continues to go against the national picture, which shows a reduction in complaints to the Ombudsman of about 3.8 per cent." He recorded "significant increases" in complaints about, benefits, tax, education and housing, which increased by 46 per cent and now makes up a third of all complaints against the council.
Benefits complaints rose a third from 19 to 30, while gripes about education almost doubled from nine to 17. Two in three complaints in the transport and highways category were about parking.
The council paid a total of more than £24,000 in compensation last year - four times the previous year's total.
The Ombudsman resolved 55 complaints as "local settlements" in which he dropped investigations because the council had taken "satisfactory" action. And he issued one report with a finding of maladministration.
But he noted the proportion of complaints resolved in these ways - 40 per cent - was "significantly more than the average for all authorities" at 28 per cent and "a much higher proportion than last year".
But he praised the council's "excellent" response time to his office's first enquiries on complaints - an average of 18.4 days. "Once again my staff have noted examples of quick and helpful response to settlement proposals," he said.
Councillor Robert Gorrie (Hornsey ward ), leader of Haringey's opposition Liberal Democrats, said: "The 30 per cent increase in the number of complaints reflects the growing frustration of residents with the continued failure of Haringey Labour to deliver quality services."
A council spokesman said: "The number of cases taken up by the Ombudsman has already fallen significantly so far this year compared to the year covered by the Ombudsman's letter. We will now be considering the issues raised by the Ombudsman in detail.
Supermarket Worker Stabbed and Robbed at Station
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 23 July 2008
A supermarket worker was stabbed in the back, beaten and robbed at Harringay railway station as he returned home from celebrating his birthday at the weekend.
Jimmy, 45, who asked for his surname not to be published, was attacked by a gang of youths just after midnight on Sunday.
He said: "We were just going to get the last train, my friend and I, from Harringay station. It's a very secluded and very badly lit place.
"As we got down to the first flight of stairs, I noticed about 10 youths at the bottom and one standing up at the entrance.
"One came up and punched me in the face. I ran back upstairs to the exit and someone followed me and tripped me about five times."
At some point during the attack Jimmy was stabbed in the back - just half an inch from his spine, he revealed.
But he did not realise until he got back to friend Alex Tarran's flat in Umfreville Road, where they had earlier celebrated his birthday.
He said: "I felt some coldness on my back and said to one of the girls, 'Can you just check my back because it doesn't feel right', and that was when she said I had been stabbed."
Jimmy was taken to North Middlesex Hospital where he needed four stitches in his back.
His attackers - youths in their late teens and early 20s, he estimated - also stole his camera, with snaps from a family holiday in Cyprus, and some £200 in birthday cash.
"You hear all these things that happen but you never think it will happen to you," said Jimmy, a Tesco worker, who lives in Winchmore Hill.
He is critical of security at the station. "I would never go to that station ever again," he said.
Friend, Alex, 36, a consultant, said: "Jimmy is such a nice person and the kind of person, who wouldn't hurt a fly. The stations on the Hertford North line are not manned from about 3pm."
He added: "CCTV is fine but it's only going to help after something has happened, so it's not safe at all."
Councillor Nilgun Canver, Haringey Council cabinet member for safer communities and enforcement, told the Journal she has asked officers to talk to train company First Capital Connect and Network Rail, which owns the line, about what can be done to improve security.
She said: "I'm sorry about what happened. It's really devastating to have something like that happen, especially when someone is celebrating their birthday and is then subjected to this violent crime."
British Transport Police are retrieving CCTV footage from inside and outside the station and the train, on which it is believed the attackers escaped.
Detective Inspector Nick Brook, who is leading the investigation, said: "It was pretty nasty and something we take very seriously, obviously, in the current climate of knife crime.
"We're not saying it was a knife that caused the wound; we're not sure what the weapon was." He urged people to be watchful when travelling late at night.
Anyone with information about the incident should all British Transport Police on free phone 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Community Website Online for Award
Charlotte Gray, Haringey Independent, 12th July 2008
A community website that has led campaigns against betting shops and parking problems has just been shortlisted for an award.
Harringay Online is the first website of its kind that has worked in bringing local residents together who live in and around Harringay.
In recognition for its efforts the wesbite has been shortlisted for two awards - the Revolutionary Award and the People's Choice Award - by this year's UK Catalyst Awards, a recognition of everyday heroes who use technology to make a positive impact on the world around them.
Creator of Harringay Online, Hugh Flouch, was brought before a panel of "Dragon's Den" judges on Wednesday to explain this how he has done just this.
He said: "I wanted to build a far stronger sense of community in Harringay. A lot of people who live here feel a sense of powerlessness in infuencing what happens in the area they live in and they are really frustrated about it."
The idea to create a community website as a force to empower residents really took off. The website now has 770 members and gets 200 hits a day.
The website spearheaded the campaign against betting shops, organised a 600-stong traffic petition and surveyed residents' priorities.
Cabinet member for safer communities and enforcement, Councillor Nilgun Canver, spoke out in support of the site. She said: "It's very innovative what has been thought up and obviously people are not used to coming together around a website.
"It has also been instrumental in bringing together views on consultations, so I believe intiatives like this create a sense of community spirit. Congratulations."
Mr Flouch said: "Politically the Council can't keep on ignoring hundreds of people and hopefully next year it will be thousands. We don't want Haringey paying lip service to consultation - I want to work in partnership with them.
"There's something very unsual that's happened with this website, we've found something to really make it work and it's the first of it's kind that I know of to do that.
"It would be really nice to win but it's already a fantastic achievement."
Catalyst Awards judge Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden project, said: "This is just the beginning. In order to create maximum social impact, the ideas and projects that we've unearthed here must be scaled up and replicated.
"We must also inspire a new generation to keep pushing the boundaries and finding even more innovative ways of making a difference through the technology they encounter every day."
To vote for Harringay Online in the Catalyst Awards, go to ukcatalystawards.com or visit harringayonline.com.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony on July 24.
To vote for Harringay Online in the Catalyst Awards, go to ukcatalystawards.com or visit harringayonline.com. The winner will be announced at a ceremony on July 24.
Tougher action needed to stop landlord scams
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 09 July 2008
Residents are urging Haringey Council to appoint a new chief of housing to clamp down on dodgy landlords who put the lives of tenants and neighbours in danger.
Some landlords are risking huge fires by wiring electricity supplies directly to the mains rather than through a meter.
Others invite burglars with poor security and ignore legal requirements to apply for planning permission and comply with building regulations, it is claimed.
The concern is over houses of multiple occupation - or HMOs - where, generally, bedsits and flats share a single main entrance in a converted house.
Ian Sygrave, chairman of the Harringay Ladder Community Safety Partnership, says Haringey needs a "HMO tsar" to safeguard tenants and co-ordinate different departments.
Haringey has seen ever greater numbers of HMO conversions in recent years. But the council has no idea how many there are, as dishonest landlords can simply avoid applying for HMO licences and for planning permission for the conversion work.
Mr Sygrave says the numbers of HMOs in Haringey are subject to "wild estimates" at best.
During a police operation last month in Harringay and St Ann's wards, police and electricity teams disconnected 15 premises using illegal electricity and recovered 14 stolen electric meters. A further four premises had an illegal gas supply, and four stolen gas meters were recovered.
Haringey Council discovered 13 illegally converted HMOs in the same operation.
But Hugh Flouch, who runs the community website Harringay Online, and lives in Hewitt Road, said there seemed little co-ordination between departments, with the authority still "placing people into illegally converted HMOs".
Around 180 HMO licences have been granted in Haringey since 2006, and six refused.
Councillor John Bevan, cabinet member for housing, said: "Residents are right to say that we need a very considered and co-ordinated approach to deal with some of the problems that are arising from HMOs and changes of use, such as preserving the character or neighbourhoods, protecting tenants and tackling associated anti-social behaviour.
"We will need the continuing help of residents in identifying rogue landlords or owners who are converting properties without permission."
To report a suspected non-licensed HMO call 020 8489 5230/5240 or illegal change of use by calling 020 8489 5508.
Art Gallery Goes Down the Pan
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 02 July 2008
Homeless: Shiri Shalmy has had to move out of gallery:space
An art gallery created in an old toilet block in Finsbury Park has been left homeless after Haringey Council pulled the plug on the lease, its boss claims.
Fine arts graduate Shiri Shalmy, who runs gallery:space, has been forced to move the popular independent art centre out of its park home in McKenzie Pavilion.
She claims the council refused to renew her lease which expired on Sunday.
She said: "How do you justify shutting it down if you haven't got an alternative? That's it for independent art in Finsbury Park."
But the council stressed "there is no leasing arrangement for the building".
The gallery had expected its rent-free tenancy would be renewed until the end of the year and had artists booked for exhibitions until then.
But the council changed plans with little notice after taking almost three months to organise a meeting, Ms Shalmy claims.
The space will now be used by the council and the Friends of Finsbury Park as an information centre - with the council saying the gallery is welcome to apply to hold further exhibitions there.
A spokesman for Haringey Council said: "It was always understood that Ms Shalmy could use the exhibition space while also delivering the Friends' of Finsbury Park Lottery-funded Heritage Trail project, which ran until March this year.
"We have supported gallery:space by allowing Ms Shalmy to use the pavilion free of charge during this period."
The council confirmed a condition of the grant awarded to restore the building was that it should also be used as an "information resource" including community art projects from a borough-wide programme.A farewell picnic in the park on Sunday saw a swell of community support for the gallery which has seen 10,000 visitors throughout the year.
"We've had 400 signatures on a petition from local people, we've had letters from artists," said Ms Shalmy. Open since April 2007, gallery:space is an independent not for profit arts organisation which has been run mainly with Ms Shalmy's own cash and the help of volunteers.
Rage over Haringey Road Plans
Charlotte Gray, Haringey Independent, 26th June 2008
Consultation on a major development in Wood Green closed yesterday, with more than 600 petitions to Haringey Council from local residents.
The Wood Green Town Centre Plan proposes a regeneration and development of the area, including a pedestrian-only zone during shopping hours.
But people living in and around the town centre are concerned these plans would simply divert traffic anc increase their problems.
Hugh Flouch organised a 600-strong petition through his community website harringayonline.com protesting about changes to traffic flow along the High Road, which he presented to the Haringey Council on Wednesday.
He believes closing the street to all vehicles except buses would push the traffic along Wightman Road and down the Harringay Ladder - the row of parallel streets running east to west from Green Lanes.
Hugh said: "The plan forsees the possiblility of shutting off Wood Green High Road for all traffic except buses during the day and by implication the Ladder roads would suffer.
"What we're demanding is that the council promises to look at the implications of what they're doing in Wood Green and the surrounding areas.
"A lot of people are very unhappy about the amount of traffic using the roads already. It's atrocious. Traffic is already the residents' top priority."
The Wood Green Town Centre Plan does propose a bus-only high street during shopping hours but also seeks to enhance public transport access and promote cycling and walking.
Hugh's website, created in July last year, has created such a strength of community feeling around traffic issues.
615 people have already signed the petition, which was presented to the council on the closing day of their consultation.
He said: "I wanted people to be able to connect residents so they could have more power to affect the future of Harringay. I wanted to create more of a sense of a joined up community and build together a vision for the future.
"There is a general traffic issue that needs addressing in Harringay."
A council spokesman said: "These plans for Wood Green will have a major impact on the area for many years to come. That is why we have consulted extensively and invited comments from as many people as possible. All comments will now be taken into account as final plans are prepared."
Wood Green Civic Centre to be Demolished
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 26th June 2008
Click here to read story (and then click to zoom)
Joint Operation Cuts off Illegal Energy Users
Charlotte Gray (HoL site member & Harringay resident), Haringey
Independent, 18th June, 2008
Nineteen properties in the Harringay and St Ann's wards have been disconnected from the national gas and electricity network after being inspected during a week-long operation to target the illegal use of energy.
In a joint operation, Haringey police, council officers and EDF engineers checked 200 properties suspected of using stolen electricity and gas meters.
The team of enforcement officers inspected houses which had been illegally divided into multiple flats or bedsits and were suspected of failing to pay for their extra electricity or gas supply.
The operation disconnected 15 premises found to be illegally using electricity and recovered 14 stolen electric meters. Police also found four premises using stolen meters for their gas supply.
Haringey Council also discovered 13 houses which had been illegally converted into multiple occupancy dwellings.
By law, all buidings occupied by more than one household need to be licensed by the council and comply with health and safety regulations. This applies to bedsits, self-contained flats, hostels and shared houses.
Haringey police believe some of these residents have been stealing meters and using unsafe wiring to avoid paying large electricity bills.
Officers fear this also causes a fire hazard in the home and danger to other residents.
A spokesman for EDF energy company said: "EDF Energy warns that anyone interfering with an electricity meter risks electrocution and could start a fire.
"An illegal connection can produce enough heat to catch light to something, so there is always a risk of fire endangering the lives of occupants and neighbouring properties.
"We have known of incidents where fires have been started by people tampering with their electricity meter. We employ forensic scientists to investigate fires that may have been started in this way.
"EDF Energy will always work with the police when we suspect the illegal abstraction of electricity at a property."
Sergeant Ian Pyles from Harringay Safer Neighbour-hoods team said: "We will not tolerate this sort of activity and will continue to work in partnership to make Haringey a safer place."
Faki Akpinar, 35, from Wightman Road, in Hornsey, has been charged with using electricty without authority. He is due to appear at Highgate Magistrates Court on June 26.
Bookies in 'free bets' Poster Row
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 18 June 2008
Gambling opponents have hit out at a Green Lanes bookmaker for offering free bets to "entice people" into the shop.
Metrobet in Green Lanes has a window advertisement offering "free bet draws every Saturday" - a ploy criticised by anti-gambling advocates.
Mario Petrou, of St Ann's Road, Tottenham, who has battled the influx of betting shops to the area, said: "I think it's highly irresponsible to entice people to gamble with free bets.
"It's an insult to the many objectors who were concerned about the exploitation of the area's vulnerable people, the advertisement's effect on children and the detrimental impact on families and the potential breakdown of social cohesion."
Metrobet opened just months ago after overturning a Haringey Council decision to turn down their application for a in Green Lanes at Haringey Magistrates' Court.
Ian Sygrave, chairman of the Harringay Ladder Community Safety Partnership, said: "When they won the appeal at magistrates' court one of the arguments they made was that they were a responsible company, gambling with a conscience - but now here they are offering free bets to come into their shops and spend money customers they've not got. It doesn't look responsible or socially aware; it looks hypocritical to me."
He fears the free bet tactic will spread. "All of them are going to resort to this sort of tactic because there are so many of them," he said. "Presumably, social conscience goes out the window."
Ward councillor Gina Adamou said she was "disappointed" by the window display. She pointed out the council works with police, health authorities and gambling shops to make sure "people in my ward are afforded the best possible protection".
Nigel Smith, managing director of Metrobet, defended the offer. He said: "Unlike free bet offers routinely and frequently made by the leading bookmakers, Metrobet's offer does not require a customer to spend money to take advantage of it."
He added the offers were designed to attract existing customers from competing shops.
He pointed out all offers followed the Gambling Commission code of practice and the bookmaker took its responsibilities under the Gambling Act "seriously".
He added the industry's adoption of "appropriate codes of practice" meant levels of problem gambling in the UK had not increased "despite the considerable growth in gambling in the UK over the last five years".
Police at your Bet and Call in Haringey
Charlotte Gray, Haringey Independent, 5th June 2008
Police are to carry radios linked directly to betting shops in Haringey because angry customers are smashing machines.
Harringay Safer Neighbourhood Team has revealed its plans to carry special emergency radios for use solely by gambling premises in Green Lanes after an increase in criminal damage.
Offences in these premises have increased by 145 per cent and 'disconcerted' customers are being blamed.
Last month police reported 49 offences compared to just 20 in May last year. Police will not name the affected premises for security reasons.
A police spokesman confirmed: "In many of the offences, the damage has been caused by a disconcerted customer having lost on a gaming machine and subsequently smashing the machine.
"Harringay Safer Neighbourhoods Team are working with the venues to try to introduce a radio system linking the venues to each other and to police.
"This system should enable venues to communicate with and warn each other if they are experiencing difficulty with a customer, and also to contact the Safer Neighbourhoods Team directly, during their shift, to deal with suspects."
The spokesman said the plans were still in the early stages and it could not be confirmed who would be footing the bill for the new radios.
Mario Petrou who has campaigned against betting shops in Green Lanes said: "I think the types of machines causing these problems have been desribed as the crack cocaine of gambling machines. They are highly addictive and induce the poorer sections of society and most vulnerable people to try their luck on them.
"I think it's unfair to target those that have been seduced by these machines. I would prefer to see the police actually focus their efforts on the operators of these premises. It should be their responsibility to ensure their premises are operated without these machines that lead to people causing crime and wasting police resources."
Sergeant Ian Pyles tried to calm angry residents at Tuesday's St Ann's and Harringay area assembly meeting. He said: "All these premises are going to get licences but I'm gathering evidence for when we can object. I'm storing the evidence and it will be used later."
GPs not Consulted on Shake-up
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 04 June 2008
Most Haringey doctors have not even been consulted on plans for the biggest shake up in health provision since the NHS was set up 60 years ago, it has emerged.
The vast majority of Haringey's 60 GP surgeries have not been consulted Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) plans that will directly affect them, said Dr Helen Pelendrides, partner of Evergreen House Surgery in Cheshire Road, Wood Green, at Haringey Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday.
This is despite the fact the PCT is a year into developing its 10-year strategy, due to be signed off next summer.
Dr Pelendrides, whose surgery is one of many that may close if GPs get relocated to one of five health centre hubs in the PCT's plan, said: "It is hard for most people to understand that there has not yet been any formal consultation with local GPs. We have been asking the PCT where the polyclinic is to be sited and been given three conflicting answers."
Helen Brown, deputy chief executive at Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust, said: "I accept there have been shortcomings. We need to do better." She said there had been "some opportunities" for GPs to feed in. Meetings with every GP surgery will take place later this year.
Bin Men Told to Dump Van Cuddly Toys
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 05 June 2008
Haringey waste collectors have been angered by a ban on cuddly toys in lorry windows - because of fears children attracted by them will run into the road.Drivers for Haringey Enterprise were told to remove the toys on health and safety grounds or face disciplinary action.
In the leaked memo, general manager Doug Taylor said: "Quite why adults would wish to decorate their vehicles this way is frankly beyond me.
"These items could attract children who may run into the road and suffer injury. On the grounds of health and safety and presenting a professional image of our company, I want all such decorations disposed of with immediate effect."
The war on soft toys began in mid-May as the borough hit the headlines for the dirtiest streets in the UK.
One employee said: "This borough is suffering from continuous fly-tipping and rubbish and management are constantly cutting services. We then have to suffer the managing director badgering staff to remove cuddly mascot toys."
Keith Flett, president of the Haringey Trades Council, said: "This bears all the hallmarks of some kind of power struggle. The amount of rubbish is increasing and that is a safety issue."
Councillor Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, said: "I understand the safety worries but it seems that Haringey Enterprise should have bigger worries - ensuring the people of Haringey get the rubbish and recycling collection service they deserve."
A Haringey Enterprise spokesman said: "This instruction has been issued to ensure that vehicles represent the company in a professional manner. And to avoid the hazards that might arise from items obstructing the view of drivers and the possibility that children may approach vehicles to touch cuddly toys.
Sobell Centre will be Demolished
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 04 June 2008
The biggest leisure centre in Islington is to be bulldozed and dramatically rebuilt in time for the 2012 Olympics at a cost of at least £20million.
The Sobell Centre, in Hornsey Road, Holloway, was one of the largest sports centres in Britain when it opened in 1973, and is home to the borough's only ice rink.
But now Islington Council says it would be cheaper to demolish and rebuild the centre than refurbish its outdated facilities, leaking roof and crumbling infrastructure.
Four options for an ambitious rebuilding project - part-funded by incorporating new private and affordable housing on the site - are being put before 500,000 people who use the Sobell every year.
Councillor Ruth Polling, executive member for leisure and equalities, said: "It's a landmark facility but we want people to be proud of it.
"Only 40 per cent of the current building is actually used for leisure facilities - the rest is corridors and plant rooms and the reception area. And there's a lot of green space on the site but you'd never notice it because it's totally underused.
"This will be a new community hub not just with sports facilities but with advice centres, a youth club and a crèche. We really want people to get involved."
Although all four proposed schemes would see new homes built on the site Councillor Polling insists that whichever scheme is chosen, more green space will be created. The plans would open up neighbouring Kinloch Park - currently a haven for street drinkers - and could even see a new swimming pool being built.
The scheme will cost upwards of £20million and is part of a drive to create an Olympic legacy of improved sporting facilities across Islington. Earlier this year over 900 residents responded to a similar consultation on the future of Finsbury Leisure Centre.
"We're just trying to gather as many people as possible," said Councillor Polling. "Finsbury Leisure Centre was one of the most successful public consultations ever held in Islington so that's quite a benchmark to better. It's very exciting - it's going to be an amazing project."
Islington Council has already ring-fenced £12million in public funds for the rebuilding of the Sobell, raised through the controversial sale of a portfolio of council-owned properties.
Neighbour Rescues Teenager from Blaze
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 21 May 2008
A NEIGHBOUR made a heroic rescue attempt pulling a teenager from a burning first-floor flat after a fire trapped him inside.
It is believed the blaze in Allison Road, Hornsey, was started by incense sticks left alight while the occupants - a woman and her teenage son - slept.
The roof was ripped off and slates were seen shooting into the back garden as the fire took over at about 7am on Tuesday.
Andy Jephson, 30, who lives in the flat below, witnessed his neighbour in action. He said: "We heard the smoke alarm go off about 7.15am and went outside to see a teenage boy hanging out the back window trying to get out with clouds of smoke pouring out."
The boy was trapped inside as dense smoke filled the first floor bedroom.
The neighbour, who so far remains anonymous, managed to pull him to safety through an adjacent window.
Firefighters and ambulance arrived at 7.30am and took the boy and his mother to the Whittington Hospital. He was suffering smoke inhalation while the woman had to be treated for burns.
Builder Stefanos Lambrou, 25, was working down the road when he saw firefighters tackle the blaze. He said: "The ceiling and plaster boards were all burnt off".
Labour Rejoices as it Holds GLA Seat
Elizabeth Pears, Haringey Independent, 3rd May 2008
Conservatives fail to claim Enfield and Haringey as Labour clings on.
The area that has been touted as the most marginal in the capital has remained under Labour control much to the delight of the party.
Returning officer, Rob Leak, announced Joanne McCartney as the winner at 9.40pm, meaning she will serve a second term on the Greater London Assembly.
Her closest rival, Conservative candidate Matthew Laban, led the race in the first half of the day but started to lose ground after the halfway mark.
The Palmers Green resident won with 52,665 of votes. Mr Laban secured 51,263 votes.
She said: "I am delighted and relieved.
"The Conservatives made this area their number one priority and said this would be an easy sell. We have fought back and it was not."
She won the seat by just 1,402 votes.
In the last election, Ms McCartney beat Conservative Peter Forrest by a margin of just one per cent.
Mr Laban said: "Obviously the residents of Haringey were not ready for change. I'm sure the Enfield voters were.
"I've closed the gap and would not do anything different. I've enjoyed going around Enfield and Haringey meeting old friends."Ms McCartney dismissed the idea all her support came from Labour stronghold Haringey and said she had received a good repsonse in both boroughs.
The Liberal Democrats came third, after their candidate, Monica Whyte, received 23,550 votes.
Ken Livingstone won the mayoral contest in the north London constituency after securing 42 per cent of first preference votes.
Whether this victory will be echoed in other constituencies remains to be seen.
Results for the hotly contested race may not be announced until tomorrow after count centres Excel and Olympia reported problems counting their ballots via the electronic system.
Police Raid Results in Return of Church’s (Dented) Chalice
Sara Newman, Islington Tribune, 25th April 2008
Articles stolen from churches have been recovered after a police raid. In a series of burglaries last year, an antique set of keys was stolen from the Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer in Exmouth Street, Clerkenwell, and a CD player taken from St Peter and Paul Church, in Amwell Street, Clerkenwell.
A gold-plated chalice given to Father Robert Martin by his parents when he was ordained went missing from St Paul’s Church Centre, in Harringay, along with a plate used during the celebration of the Eucharist. Fr Martin said: "When I got it back there was a little dent on the bottom of the chalice. Sister Jean Mary decided we should keep it with the dent in."
David Daly, 51, of Skinner Street, Finsbury, faces three burglary charges. A pre-trial hearing will take place at Blackfriars Crown Court on May 13.
Ken's Pally Takeover Offer Rubbished
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 23 April 2008
London Mayor Ken Livingstone's promise to take over ailing Alexandra Palace if he gets re-elected on May 1 have been rubbished by his political rivals.
Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick said Mr Livingstone's promise would never materialise.
He said: "This is a Mayor who will promise you the earth at election time, then fail to deliver when he gets in.
"That is what happened four years ago, when he promised to save Ally Pally, but he has done nothing about it since. Why should anyone believe him now on this or anything else for that matter?"
Others in Mr Paddick's party backed up his argument, branding the promise a "cynical bid for votes" and pointing to the millions of pounds spent by Labour's Haringey Council propping up the Palace since the same promise was made in 2004.
Then, Mr Livingstone said just before the election that extra funding could be made available for the Palace from the Mayor's budget to ease the financial burden on the council.
In December of that year, then London Assembly member Lynne Featherstone pursued Mr Livingstone on his commitment.
He replied he would be prepared to take over the management of the Palace "should resources become available for me to do so," but that he had no cash to do so at that time.
Hornsey ward councillor Monica Whyte, standing for election to the London Assembly on May 1, said: "Ken Livingstone's empty promises to save the Ally Pally from the clutches of Haringey Labour would be great if they were true - but this just shows that he will say anything for a few votes in this area."
She added: "Local residents will not be fooled by Ken a second time round!
Betting Shop Awarded Costs after Appealing Decision
Elizabeth Pears, Haringey Independent, 20th April 2008
Haringey Council has been ordered to pay £10,000 costs to the betting firm whose licence it rejected after its appeal was upheld in court.
The council initially turned down the application made by Metrobet to open a betting shop at 507 Green Lanes last November, but the company successfully appealed the decision last week.
And on Monday, Haringey Magistrates Court awarded Metrobet £10,000 to cover costs.
A statement by the magistrates said: "We believe the local authority has not acted on grounds that reasonably appeared to be sound when making the original decision to refuse the licence to Metrobet."
It is a further set back to the council and residents who have campaigned against additional betting shops opening in the area.
Fiyaz Mughal, Liberal Democrat councillor for Noel Park, said: "This is a sad situation. It was a good stance the council took, one where it took the concerns of the community on board and one that was in line with the gambling act. The decision sends a message to the community that there is no space for their objections."
Resident Mario Petrou, who led the campaign against the betting shop, added: "It was unfair of the magistrates to rule the council did not act on reasonably sound grounds. The council must appeal the decision to restore the community's faith in the judicial system."
Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said the council was disappointed with the decision.
Take-away Told to Shut
Caron Kemp, Haringey Independent, April 17th, 2008
A Harringay restaurant that regularly flouted licensing laws and stayed open after its permitted hours has been told to shut down.Mizgin Restaurant, in Green Lanes, was the subject of a review by Haringey Council's licensing committee on Wednesday night.
In November 2005, owner Nizamettin Kovaycin applied to the council for a late premises licence but this was refused due to the noise, waste and smell from the business. However the following year the extended licence was granted on appeal and the Turkish restaurant has been allowed to open until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays since.
But both before and after the new opening times being granted, council enforcement officers have cited numerous occasions when Mr Kovaycin was found to be breaching the regulations and opening late into the night. And to date he has been fined more than £12,000 for staying open longer than allowed and serving food to customers.
Carolyn Baker, Liberal Democrat councillor for Harringay said: "Karen Alexander fellow ward councillor and I are delighted that Haringey has finally taken firm action in this case. "It is great that Green Lanes has a lively late night scene, but this needs to be balanced by nuisance caused to residents by late night opening beyond permitted hours. It is just a shame it took so long to do this."
Unless Mr Kovaycin appeals in the next 21 days, he will be forced to close down. Mr Kovaycin declined to comment but confirmed he is considering appealing.
A spokesman for the Ladder Community Safety Partnership, which represents residents in 19 roads along Green Lanes, said: "We welcome the law-abiding traders but those who abuse their licence repeatedly need to be shown that they can't get away with it. So we welcome the decision given the owner's continued breach of the regulations."
A spokesman for Haringey Council said it would not comment until the appeal period had ceased.
Ken Offers to run Palace... if he Gets Re-elected
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, April 16th 2008
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has said he would be "happy" to take beleaguered Alexandra Palace off Haringey Council's hands - IF he gets re-elected on May 1.
Mr Livingstone exclusively told the Journal that he had offered to take over the running of the Palace from Haringey Council during a brief visit to Muswell Hill last week.
His remarks mean there could again be a three-way fight for the Palace - not promised since a tender for its 125-year lease was offered in 2005.
The Greater London Authority could go head-to-head with millionaire entrepreneur Firoz Kassam, whose company Firoka has spent the last two-and-a-half years trying to thrash out a highly controversial deal with the council for the Palace lease.
The Save Ally Pally campaign group is also in on the bout, having recently unveiled its own bold plans to run both Park and Palace using a new Board of Trustees and investment from several quarters.
Speaking during a pre-election walkabout in Muswell Hill Broadway last Thursday, Mr Livingstone said: "I have said to the council if they want to give up Alexandra Palace, we will take it over. It is a huge burden on one borough. We have taken over Crystal Palace and we would be happy to do the same for Haringey Council."
Turning to Councillor George Meehan, leader of Haringey Council, who was listening to the conversation, Mr Livingstone said: "If you want to give it to us we will take it over." He said the Palace was "an impossible burden for a local authority to bear, but it is manageable for the GLA".
A gleeful Councillor Meehan later told the Journal: "If the Mayor's offers are serious and he wants to take over the Palace, and he wins the election, I will ring him on May 6 and say, 'Ken, when can we talk?'
"It would be a great location for a hotel I think, and a restaurant. You can imagine sitting there having a meal and looking right out across London."
The Save Ally Pally campaign has proposed establishing the People's Palace Trust in which Wood Green-based Mountview Theatre School could pump £7million into a restoration project.
SAP's Jacob O'Callaghan said: "I find Ken's proposal very interesting, and I will be conferring with colleagues about it. We will be trying to talk to both Ken and Boris ourselves soon."Although Mr Livingstone did not expand on how he planned to rescue the Palace, he already has experience of taking on large, complex projects, namely Crystal Palace Park.Mr Livingstone and the London Development Agency took on the south London park's National Sports Centre as part of its London 2012 Olympics bid, and this year the LDA submitted a masterplan for the entire Park, which unlike its Muswell Hill twin no longer has a Palace.
The 11,000-page masterplan could contain pointers to Mr Livingstone and the LDA's ideas for Alexandra Palace. Building a cricket pavilion, reinstating the boating lake and building a dinosaur-themed education centre were generally well-received ideas, but most controversially it includes plans to sell off part of the Park for private housing to help balance the books.
This led to residents gathering a 7,000-signature petition in protest - "scarcely acknowledged" by the Mayor, according to John Payne, chairman of the Crystal Palace Community Association.
He said: "Nothing the public has said has made any difference to the masterplan. The consultations have been a sham from day one. His view that selling off parkland for housing, an 'ends justify the means' approach, is in our view totally flawed." The plan is currently being considered by Bromley Council.
FIROZ Kassam's company Firoka retains the upper hand in the battle for control of Alexandra Palace, as it has a contract in place with Haringey Council.
It is still working with the Palace's current Trustees on details of a 125-year lease of the Palace, despite being forced to vacate its offices on the site after the High Court ruled last October that the public consultation on the lease was fatally flawed.
The Save Ally Pally campaign claims the current Trustees have lost well over £3million in income due to Firoka's occupation.
Firoka has not discussed its £55million regeneration proposals for the building since 2006, which then specified a casino - now off the cards - cinema, restored theatre, new ice rink, hotel, office and conference space, gym, restaurant, museum, nightclub, market, recording studio, bowling alley and crèche.
The People's Palace Trust, proposed by the Save Ally Pally campaign group and outlined at the charity's last advisory committee meeting, would be a new board of Trustees, democratically elected by Londoners. SAP claims lots of groups are willing to get involved and offer investment, but had "not been encouraged to come forward by the current Trustees".
The plan is to refurbish the Palace, including the Willis Organ, in a piecemeal fashion, building an "Olympic standard" ice rink and improving the exhibition business.
PPT would raise vital cash from various groups in return for use of space - £7million had been offered by Mountview Theatre School in Wood Green to refurbish the Victorian theatre and use it as a base, and £10million from hotelier Malmaison to set up in the building, for example.
Commercial rents would subsidise peppercorn rents paid by community and charitable interests in other areas of the Palace, fulfilling the PPT's charitable obligations. SAP's Martin Hay even says the PPT could bring the entire Palace back into use ahead of Firoka. A separate contractor could be paid to manage the Park itself, he suggested, adding: "This is a tried and tested method and it works.
Council Writes off £6.4million
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, April 16th 2008
Haringey Council wrote off almost £6.4million pounds in unpaid Council Tax last year - more than any other London borough.
Information revealed in response to a parliamentary question revealed that in 2006-2007 Haringey made the biggest debt cancellation of any of the 33 boroughs - almost double that of the next biggest write-off by Brent.
A spokesman for the TaxPayers' Alliance, a campaign group for lower taxes, said: "Councils spend a lot of money on tax collection, so it's unforgivable that they are still writing off so much in missed payments.
"At a time when pensioners are being sent to jail for not being able to pay relatively small amounts, it is shocking that councils are happy to write off millions."
Councils write off Council Tax debts when it declares them no longer collectable. For example, if the debtor has died, emigrated, become bankrupt, been jailed or cannot be traced. The figures were revealed in an answer to Southend MP David Amess.
Councillor Charles Adje, Haringey Council cabinet member for resources, said: "This figure is not unpaid Council Tax in 2006/7. It relates to the write-off of old debt, in some cases going back more than 10 years and beyond, which has proved uncollectible despite our efforts. Haringey collects some 97 per cent of Council Tax overall, and chases every penny owing. Our collection performance is comparable to other councils, and we will not write off debt until all avenues are exhausted and the debt is genuinely uncollectable.
"All local authorities, like all businesses, will inevitably write off some debt which cannot be collected for various reasons. As with all public bodies and businesses, a provision for this is included in budget planning and approved by our auditors." London councils wrote off a combined total of £49.2 million.
School Happy to Ring in the Changes
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, April 16th 2008
Tottenham MP David Lammy and the headteacher of North Harringay Primary School, are pictured at the unveiling of a refurbished bell originally used in Victorian times.
The school in Falkland Road, Hornsey, marked the return of the bell to use with a special ceremony and Victorian Day to echo the time when it was first used more than 100 years ago when the school was built.
Pupils dressed up in Victorian costumes, sang old London songs and took part in an assembly as it would have been in Victorian times.
Headteacher Helen Connor said: "One of our parents applied to Haringey Council for a Making the Difference grant to have the bell refurbished and reinstalled in the tower.
"We're absolutely thrilled to have it ringing again. Part of the restoration work was to install an electronic timer so that it rings first thing as well as at morning and lunch breaks."
The bell, taken down in the 1950s, was restored and installed by the Bow Bell Foundary with a £3,400 grant from the council's Making the Difference scheme.
Residents Fighting Plan to Ease Retail Park Traffic Chaos
Hornsey and Crouch End Journal, April 16th 2008
A residents' rebellion is brewing against a Haringey Council-led proposal to ease chronic traffic problems in a popular Green Lanes shopping centre.
The council has met Arena Retail Park owners Wildmoor Properties and representatives of on-site supermarket Sainsbury's in an effort to ease problems for traffic getting out of the car park on to Green Lanes.
One of the suggestions is to open talks with London and Quadrant Housing Trust, which owns land at the rear of the site, about introducing emergency access only to the site from Finsbury Park Avenue.But this has angered some residents, who say the road is their only way out of the surrounding estate.
Andrea Constantinides, 39, a mother-of-four, who lives in Wiltshire Gardens, off Finsbury Park Avenue, said: "The majority of children who live here are families with small children, who play out a lot. They want to open up this little alleyway to traffic flow, which will lead onto the estate and will cause mayhem. It's ridiculous."
Residents are planning to draw up a petition to fight the idea.
Anna Maria Licheri, 47, also of Wiltshire Gardens, said: "If they are allowed to send customers out our way it will be chaos for us, a terrible situation. We already have our own problems getting out of the square and that is going to create amazing problems."
Jim Cassins, chairman of neighbouring Hermitage Road, Oakdale Road, Beechfield Road and Ashfield Residents Association, has said: "It's a very, very narrow road and there will be numerous accidents. It's not fair to people who live there." Instead, he advocates an exit through Doncaster Gardens.
Councillor Brian Haley, cabinet member for environment and conservation, said after last month's meeting: "There are no simple solutions to these problems. We need to work very closely together and with a range of other partners if we're going to tackle this congestion effectively." Other options include rerouting traffic around the retail park and creating a bus stop lay by at the junction with Williamson Road so cars do not have to wait behind buses.
Transport for London has said that planned new traffic light "phasings" to ease traffic flow will be working in June.
Parking Row Restaurant put on Market for £2million
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, April 16th 2008
The iconic Pumphouse Restaurant, focal point of one of Haringey's flagship redevelopments, has been put up for sale for £2million.
The restored Victorian pumping station has been put on the market less than 10 months after its former manager, entrepreneur Johnnie Mountain, left the business - but agents Christie & Co. insist it remains a going concern.
Shortly before Mr Mountain left, the Journal reported that parking problems were killing the business, with customers being clamped by over-zealous wardens at New River Village.
The Pumphouse's owners, the Sumal family, went into business with Mr Mountain in 2005, opening the restaurant to positive reviews. It was relaunched as a pizzeria after the departure of Mr Mountain, who is also behind the Mosaica restaurant in Wood Green's Chocolate Factory and The Lock in Tottenham Hale.
He is now a "business ally" of the Save Ally Pally group, keen to develop outside investment in the Palace should the current lease deal with Firoka fall apart.He said: "The parking situation at The Pumphouse wasn't helping the business at all. I am sad to see what happened to it from when I left to the position that it is in now. I never wanted to see those signs offering pizza for a fiver. If they managed to sell it for £2million I would be very surprised. I have always loved Ally Pally, so I decided to resign from the 15 jobs I had at The Pumphouse.
"Ally Pally is a big job but we are quite genuine. I have got a good group of people with me.
Bid to End Traffic Woe at Retail Park
Hornsey & Crouch En Journal, 09 April 2008
An emergency summit has come up with fresh ideas to end traffic gridlock blighting Arena Retail Park in Green Lanes.
Haringey Council called a meeting with park owners Wildmoor Properties and Sainsbury's representatives in a bid to ease problems of traffic getting out of the shopping complex on to Green Lanes.
Options included re-routing traffic around the complex and introducing a bus stop lay-by at the junction with Williamson Road so cars do not have to wait behind buses.
The representatives also agreed to talks with London and Quadrant Housing Trust, which owns land behind the site, about creating emergency access only from Finsbury Park Avenue.
Councillor Brian Haley, cabinet member for environment and conservation, said: "There is no simple solution. We need to work with a range of partners to tackle this effectively.
"I look forward to meeting with both organisations again in May and I hope positive progress has been made."
The proposals were given a cool reception by Jim Cassins, chairman of neighbouring Hermitage Road, Oakdale Road, Beechfield Road and Ashfield Residents' Association, who has witnessed the traffic chaos.
He said: "They need another exit. If they push all that traffic onto Finsbury Park Avenue, there will be accidents. It's not fair to people who live there."
He says instead an exit through Doncaster Gardens "would be a good means of getting traffic out of Sainsbury's car park on to Green Lanes". He added: "Rather than talk, they have to act or it's never going to end."
Transport for London has promised new traffic light "phasings" will be working in June and allow "the lights to synchronise more effectively with other junctions".
Bookmakers Win Licence Appeal Bid
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 9th April 2008
Residents fear that more betting shops will open in Green Lanes after a decision by Haringey Council to refuse a gambling licence was overturned at appeal.
Bookmaker Metrobet has won an appeal against Haringey Council after its decision to reject a premises betting licence for 507 Green Lanes last November.
Residents were opposed to the application and have concerns about the high number of gambling shops in Green Lanes - five increasing t
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