NEWS on Finsbury Park & previous Admin's threat to Rowans

Council acts on community feedback on Rowans

Residents in three Boroughs will be pleased to see the new Green Administration act to blue-pencil the previous Admin’s long-running threat to Rowans Bowling Alley.

This has the not incidental effect of protecting Metropolitan Open Land from an ill-conceived and ill-considered land-swap, cooked-up by the previous Administration's Planning Team, who have insufficient regard for parks and a little too much regard for developers.

One aspect of this, is that the previous crew's intention to exploit to the maximum one of the furtherest reach of the Borough—having big impact of two neighbouring Boroughs—would have been made with net zero co-operation of those Boroughs.

This was part of Haringey Exceptionalism advanced by "officers".

Those who talk with senior persons in neighbouring councils are likely aware of the Fortress Island mentality in traffic and planning matters of our council's staff.

One memorable phrase I heard recently from those quarters, in those terms, that Haringey Council was "Albania"! 

I can hear now complaints by the SeaLions, Where's your evidence? … but I'm not revealing sources!

The new Administration's wise move has also avoide—or greatly delayed—possible future Judicial Review.

That three-way Borough corner should be considered as a whole, as a Town Centre and if necessary by the London Mayor. It affects a 110 acre park and one of London's most important transport nodes. It should not be down to a single council, acting unilaterally and selfishly.

I look forward to seeing more Green principles in our Borough's Local Plan.

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