Harringay online

Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Over on the Help clear the passage post, kas has mentioned Arnstein's Ladder as a measure of citizen participation.

Here's the Ladder:


Where on the Ladder (Arnstein's not The Harringay) would you say we are in Haringey?

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Absolutely right Alan - the key is how much debate and discussion there is as part of the consultative process. Ideally if you are having a referendum on anything, it is accompanied by information and debate - but that can be very hard to put into practice. The deliberative polls are an attempt to move beyond that, and to address criticisms that the public don't 'understand' the complex issues that are at stake in much decision-making. They are effectively like a big jury - their size being an attempt to make sure that they are more representative.

There have been a few in the UK (in the 1990s, funded by Channel 4 back in those pre-Big Brother days!) which focused on issues like the NHS, the monarchy, crime and justice.
... produce real change ...

Maggie, build up. Most European cities and others build up rather than out. You may have noticed this happening more and more throughout parts of Islington. Seems to work. It would also help if the UK housing market wasn't dominated by a few huge house building companies that have a habit of sitting on extensive land banks, locking up land from development for years. In the so-called 'new world' land is sub-divided into sections for people to buy privately. Building your own home in those countries is fairly common and provides more variety in housing styles as well. These are policy issues. Not sure how 'citizen power' can affect change there but that's the same with all issues in the UK.

This Labour government has created no considerable real wealth whilst in power. It has, as we all know, created a debt mountain instead (both govt & private) against inflated house prices. Plain stupid. And of course all the tories could do was sell off the council housing.

Some things re the housing problem are cultural; ownership above all else. Policy re rental in the UK favours the landlord. Low rental is encouraged in a number of European cities and folk there seem happy to live this way. They have the right to change the interior to their taste etc. so it there is flexibility in their rental system. The law there is more on the side of the tenant.

Effecting change? You have any ideas? Or anyone else in this discussion for that matter ... Birdy?
Hmmm things maybe changing somewhat with shared ownership. Most big developments have to incorporate affordable housing into their plans.

I am currently marketing a flat for someone who purchased it as part of a shared ownership scheme. So in effect they owned a majority percentage of the flat (thus allowing them to get onto the property ladder) and paid rent on the other part.

They took advantage of their right to purchase a bigger percentage, and paid less and less rent as they did this. Within about four years they now own 100% and are able to sell. So not only did this scheme allow them to get onto the market, it provided them with an affordable home, with the likelyhood (as was certainly the case here despite a hard hitting recession) of seeing some capital growth. This option ticks a fair few boxes for a fair few people surely.
I suggest you read this report.

'For many, shared ownership has become a permanent housing solution. It cannot be regarded as just a 'stepping stone' to full home-ownership since it seems only half of those moving home in the sector move on to full ownership.'

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