Finsbury Park again covered in litter

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Permalink Reply by LOUISA LIVERMORE on June 6, 2011 at 22:48

Yes. I e-mailed re Chestnuts a few weeks ago and was told I would get a reply in 10 days. Of course, all I got was the automated reponse saying my complaint had been referred to the Parks Department. Then nothing. This morning all the bins on Chestnuts had overflowed - rubbish everywhere, and yes some of the borders and grass areas are very overgrown. Does nayone know who the Councillor responsible for parks is? Did we get the number of signatories required for the petition?

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Permalink Reply by alex on June 6, 2011 at 22:50

I walked through Downhills Park today and that was awful too.  Bins overflowing, litter all over the place and broken glass on the path.   It's depressing to see our parks in this state.

I haven't seen the flower beds recently but as they are now done by fictional 'Big Society' volunteers rather than paid and trained staff we can probably expect standards to be patchy to say the least.  If someone's paid to do a job they turn up or risk losing their job.  If the work is to be done by volunteers there's no guarantee who will turn up or how long for.  I'm surprised Haringey's Labour councillors are embracing Tory ideology so enthusiastically. 

Then there's the Stationers Park Veolia yard with its great ugly fence stealing part of the park for industrial use.  Probably the next proposal will be to concrete over all the parks and turn them into car parks to bring in revenue for the council.

If you haven't already signed the petition against the parks cuts, please do so.  There is also a paper version available from the Friends of Parks Forum.  We need to stop the rot before it takes hold.

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Permalink Reply by Zena Brabazon on June 7, 2011 at 0:05

The Councillor in the Cabinet with lead responsibility for Parks is Nilgun Canver. She has just sent a letter to the Friends of Parks groups inviting them to a meeting on June 23 to discuss the issues and problems facing parks. There isn't any way to hide the impact of the government budget cuts since there are just fewer staff to do the work, and of course, reduced maintenance and care is there for all to see.

I've been trying to keep an eye on Chestnuts Park and the last few times I went there it was clean, but it is in the same position as all the others. I hope the June 23 meeting will be the start of a joint process between the Council and residents where the problems are really confronted and creative ideas are encouraged. Nilgun's letter is below.

 

Zena Brabazon

Cllr, St. Ann's Ward

____________________________________________________

Copy of letter from NIlgun Canver sent June 2

Dear Friends,

Re: Haringey Parks Service

I am writing following my recent meeting with the representatives of Haringey Friends of Parks Forum to introduce myself as the newly appointed Cabinet member for this area and to invite you to a meeting on 23 June to discuss the future of our parks service.

Before I inform you about the details of the meeting, I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize that the council very much values your commitment and contribution to improving the borough’s Parks. Thank you very much for all your hard work. With your uncontested contribution we were able to improve the parks service over the years.

I fully recognise the challenges presented by the very difficult budget decisions forced upon us by the current coalition government’s frontloaded cuts. I am sure you will appreciate that the council has an overriding responsibility to set and maintain a balanced budget, which we have done following detailed examination of proposals, including those in relation to our Parks and Open Spaces.

I am a member of the Friends of Chestnuts Park and fully aware of what volunteering means through the work of its Chair and active members. I strongly believe that partnership working with volunteers is pivotal to turn our Parks into pleasant, safe and accessible spaces for all. Like you, I am passionate about our local environment and local parks. As the newly appointed portfolio holder for this area, I would like to invite you to work with me to:

Determine the use of unallocated £85k to support additional appropriate volunteering activity
Determine the use of the recently agreed £65k for improving the service delivery
Further improve our work with yourselves and partners e.g. Metropolitan Police, Groundwork, British Trust for Volunteers, to source and secure new investment
Explore more joined up provision of environmental maintenance of services, within our new ‘single frontline service’ approach to delivery.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, 23 June at 7.30pm at the Civic Centre, rooms 1 & 2. With your help, I would like us to develop an agreed action plan to close the gap and move us forward again. The agenda will be forwarded to you nearer to the time.

I, like you, do not want to see a return to the poor standards and quality of the 1980’s and 1990’s. We can only move forward by working together! Please join me on 23 June for a healthy debate to move forward.

We aim to have maximum 2 representatives from each of the Friends Groups where appropriate. I would appreciate if you could confirm your attendance through sending e-mail to jane.nicholson@haringey.gov.uk

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Nilgun Canver
Cabinet Member for the Environment

 

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