Finsbury Park to benefit from Tri-borough accord; will Harringay and Stroud Green be forgotten?

Finsbury Park, officially in Harringay ward, is set to benefit from an agreement made this week between Haringey Council and its neighbouring boroughs of Islington and Hackney aimed at the whole Finsbury Park neighbourhood.

The Finsbury Park neighbourhood is split between the three councils and it is thought a failure to coordinate has been an obstacle to improving the area.

The Finsbury Park Accord sets out an 11-point plan to treat the area as a single “town centre”.

These include cracking down on crime, improving the town centre area, particularly around the underground station, and investing in the park, described as a great asset but invisible from the station; building on the arts organistions in the area, such as the new theatre and Platform youth club.

Listing the area’s strengths and weaknesses the accord adds: “It is a vibrant, dynamic, and relatively affordable place to live or start a business. It is a busy multicultural area with cafés and shops that reflect that diversity. Another strength is its excellent public transport accessibility. Each year 2.5 million passengers interchange at Finsbury Park Station.”

But on the downside it says: “Finsbury Park is one of the most deprived areas in the country. A high crime rate and associated perception of crime are contributing factors to the reputation and experience of Finsbury Park. The urban fabric is severely constrained by roads, railways and poor quality public spaces.”

This is the first news I'd heard about the park being included. It sounds like Islington have an eye on connecting the park with Finsbury Park Town Centre and Hackney have an eye on the needs of its residents in Woodberry Down. Let's hope the needs of local residents of Harringay and Stroud Green are  considered and our involvement invited by Haringey Council.