Death for McBridge? Have your say

Those of you who've been around on the site for a while might remember our McBridge campaign and poll.

It seems that the original advertising deal is coming to an end and the Council is seeking your views on what next.

The email below is from neighbourhood manager, Dasos Maliotis to HoL and the local residents' groups.

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The Green Lanes Strategy Group (GLSG) will soon be considering updating the current banners on the Green Lanes Bridge in Harringay. It was previously agreed by the GLSG that advertising spaces would be made available using the two small banners on both sides of the bridge to generate an annual income in order to be able to provide regular maintenance of the surrounding area of the bridge and to ensure that the banners are updated and kept free of graffiti. It was also agreed that local businesses would be given priority to use the advertising spaces available; the only take up at that time was from McDonalds. The contract with McDonalds is now coming to an end in September 2010. There are now sufficient funds generated through the advertisement to upgrade the banners and replace the small ones to their original display identifying the two wards. However in doing this, GLSG is mindful that no further advertising space will be made available and therefore, no further income will be generated to continue the future up keep of the surrounding area of the bridge and that of the banners.
In view of this, and before any final decisions are taken by the Green Lanes Strategy Group, community representatives on the GLSG are asked to consult with their respective community groups for their views regarding:

1. the possibility of continuing to use the bridge banners for advertising / sponsorship purposes from local businesses.

OR

2. to revert back to the original banners without any advertisements

The GLSG is due to meet in September and I look forward to receiving your comments by no later than the week beginning 30 August.

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I replied to Dasos with the following email:

Thanks Dasos. You say that there's a opportunity "to upgrade the banners and replace the small ones to their original display". This sound to me like it creates a number of options and a great opportunity for the wider community to be involved in designing the gateway to Harringay. Can you clarify; are you planning to replace what' s there completely? If so, is there any reason you wouldn't invite residents' views on a new design?

There's probably no need to guess what my response will be. But what do you think?

1. Advertising / No advertising?
2. If the banners are being upgraded what options should we consider? This is the gateway to our area. Let's make sure we have a say this time.

Should we do a short survey on this?