Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Council Decides to Rename Black Boy Lane
Following my consideration on the origins of West Green's Black Boy name back in the summer, Haringey Council has decided to rename Black Boy Lane in West Green.
The Council have called the exercise a 'renaming consultation', but the online questionnaire offers only the ability to choose from a shortlist of two new names. So it appears that the decision to rename has already been taken with only the choice of name left to be decided.
They have issued the following press release.
The council has launched a renaming consultation with residents and businesses located on Black Boy Lane, as part of the wider Review on Monuments, Buildings, Place and Street Names in Haringey – which was launched on 12 June 2020, in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The council believes that the names of our monuments, buildings, places and streets must reflect the values and diversity that we are so proud of in the borough. One of the street names that has been identified as not being reflective of this is Black Boy Lane.
Meanings change over time, and the term “Black Boy” is now most commonly used as a derogatory name for African heritage men.
As part of the consultation, the council is asking residents to consider new alternative names that celebrate some of the borough’s most notable influencers, and truly reflect the borough’s rich heritage.
The two names that have been shortlisted for residents to consider are, ‘Jocelyn Barrow Lane’ and ‘La Rose Lane’. The consultation will launch today, Monday 28 September and will run for a period of 4 weeks to Monday 26 October 2020.
Letters will be arriving on Black Boy Lane residents' doorsteps this week, who can respond to the consultation using one of the following methods:
- Online: www.haringey.gov.uk/renaming-black-boy-lane.
- Email:
- bblconsultation@haringey.gov.uk
- Telephone: 020 8489 3797
- By post: Consultation Co-ordinator, The Communications Team, River Park House, 225 High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HQ
If Haringey residents have concerns or queries about place, street or building names in the borough, please get in touch. Send your views to Leader@haringey.gov.uk.
Bios:Dame Jocelyn Anita Barrow (15 April 1929 – 9 April 2020) was a Barbadian/Trinidadian British educator, community activist and politician, who was the Director for UK Development at Focus Consultancy Ltd. She was the first Black woman to be a governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and was founder and Deputy Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Council.
John La Rose was a publisher, poet and essayist. He founded the Caribbean Artists’ Movement and publishing company New Beacon Books which has a bookshop in Stroud Green. In 1975, he co-founded the Black Parents Movement from the core of the parents involved in the George Padmore Supplementary School incident in which a young Black schoolboy was beaten up by the police outside his school in Haringey.
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Tags for Forum Posts: blackboy lane name change, review on monuments, building place and street names
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by maidikins on
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The fact that one doesn't live on Black Boy Lane is irrelevant: the petition isn't limited to its residents. And one is signing in favour of the petition's contents, not in support of any of the comments left. But one is free to use anything as a reason not to sign.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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Surely the decision is for those who live on or around Black Boy Lane? I wouldn’t want people from miles outside the area to decided on the naming of the street I live on. As for bedfellows, I think it’s entirely appropriate to know who one is cosying up to
Would you be happy if an opposing petition, in favour of a name change pipped this one at the post because it had been inflated by signatures from far and wide?
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The consultation is limited to residents of BBL but the petition for the change is not limited to BBL residents, so why should the petition against the change be limited to BBL residents? And it doesn't have to be. I've signed many a petition which doesn't affect me but I agree with the petition's sentiments. If you agree with the petition but don't want to sign because you don't like the comments left, then don't sign. As I said, that's your personal choice but I sign a petition for its contents and not in support or otherwise of any comments left.
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Michael, why should it be only residents who live near BBL? As already stated this money is coming from all Haringey residents Council tax money not just those who live on BBL. Firstly how many actually living on BBL have objected to the Name? Secondly the council leaders statement was since the recent BLM protests they decided to do this. Was the main BLM protest not mainly outside of this Area? You can't have both. And as also stated you are signing on the point so to me this is an excuse you are stating, you just don't agree which is your right so don't sign but don't use irrelevant reasons for not doing so.
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I’m not signing be because
1. I don’t mind one way or the other
2. I don’t live there
One thought though - has no one thought of knocking on neighbours door on Black Boy Lane to find out what they want and, if they don’t want it, to sign a petition? Accusations of Haringey taking this decision without properly consulting residents (an argument I have sympathy with) are a bit hollow when those opposed are gathering signatures from people upon whom it will not have the slightest impact
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So BBL residents have received two letters so far from Haringey Council. They have another week to forward their objections - or not - to them. They don't have to sign the petition for their voice to be heard. The costs incurred will be borne by Haringey Council - in other words Haringey Council tax payers - and residents of BBL for any costs that Haringey Council isn't covering. So this affects Haringey Borough as a whole. Then there's the wider issue of how this decision will affect street names, building names and statues around the country. It's not just a local issue.
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Ah, I see. You’re leading a crusade. No interest in what people living here actually want.
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I have lived in Haringey for over 30 years. I have lived on BBL for 9 years. It's my petition to keep the name.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Please reread the leaflet which Anna posted headed:
FAQs - Potential renaming of Black Boy Lane.
Paragraph 7. is on costs. It doesn't quite say that: "The costs incurred will be borne by Haringey Council". Instead referring to a "contribution" and "gesture of goodwill". I've highlighted the phrases below.
If people reread paragraph 1. they'll see that the timetable set out is completely out of sync with the circulation of the two options for names.
Then unless Anna has left it off, the two pages are only in English.
What a mess & muddle. And an enormous shame, not least because the people chosen should be celebrated in an effective and enduring way. -
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The letters posted by Anna do not ask them whether they object or not just tells them they will get a choice of 2 names..if it had an objection choice I would feel better about it
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