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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Friend or foe of the neighbourhood? MPMoran blocks most of the pavement on West Green Road

A new business, a big and established seller of construction materials, employing some local people, has just opened on West Green Road. Good signs, welcome to the neighbourhood!

However...

Notwithstanding their overwhelmingly enlarged logos on display in the big shop windows (Tesco and Sainsbury do it with pictures -- really offputting but that's another issue), M.P. Moran & Sons Limited, using portable barriers that display more of their logos, have decided to block the wider portion of the pavement during their business hours (6:30am-5pm).

On the corner of Langham and West Green Roads, their portable barriers block two-thirds (actually, even more) of the pavement, making it difficult for a person in a wheelchair (or mobility scooter) or with a pram or pushchair (especially if double width) to navigate a corner with a lamp post (Photo 1). On the other side, adjacent to another business, they eventually halved the barriers (Not shown in Photo 2), but still kept the one that actually hinders pedestrians' passage. By the way, the other side of the road is much narrower, has a bus stop, and more businesses. 

Why can they do this?

The manager claims the portion of the sidewalk is their property. If I understand correctly, Haringey Council does not say so. The business may have paid for a license but even in that case, they would have to give reasonable access to pedestrians. https://www.haringey.gov.uk/business/licensing/licences-permits-reg...

It is very unlikely that they would be allowed to store their material in the whole area they claim to own because that would be huge. Besides, they have access for trucks in the back of the building.

So, why can they do this?

I looked at their other sites and they have not done this at locations with sidewalks (Kilburn and Kennington), i.e. that are not on an industrial estate.

West Hampstead: 020 7644 9022

Kennington: 020 7735 9291

Kilburn: 020 7328 5566

Watford: 0192 322 9700

Willesden: 020 8459 9000

Tottenham: 020 7644 9080

Therefore, why can they do this in Haringey?

Talking to the manager has not helped; sending an email has not helped since in both instances they claim ownership of the sidewalk?! Pleas for empathy have not worked. Possibly, some of the trade people might have said something that made them reason (as in, it looks bad for business), to adjust the side adjacent to a business in their trade, but not the one that is an obstruction to the general public. 

Any recommendations how to proceed? Thanks!

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It just occurred to me to check the planning records for this development. (See excerpt below) They certainly show that the developer claims to own the curtilage. So, either the developer's agents were trying it on (which seems the less likely explanation) or indeed they do own the curtilage. However, if future consultation of the land records accords with the Ordnance Survey map and shows that they don't in fact own this part of the land, then it's a real failure by the planning department.

Wow, thank you very much, Hugh! 

Just to add that Cllr Seema Chandwani has suggested asking the Planning Team to look into it, which is welcome. The situation as it is does not comply with Equality Act 2010 guidelines for mobility impaired persons.

Ivana, I've been a member and contributor of Harringay Online for many years.

This issue and the way you've approached trying to solve it is an excellent example of why every Haringey elected councillor should sign-up and give some time at least to dip into HoL pages.

I'm embarrassed to confess that your point about the potential use of Equality legislation hadn't hit me as hard as it should have.

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