Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Improving Harringay's Bridge
If you've been around on this site for a while you'll know I hate the gradual degradation that's been inflicted on Harringay Bridge. It's gone from honest Victorian ironwork:
To something covered in a silly banner and finally McDonald's advertising.
Then I found a great example of how a bridge could be restored in Camden:
Thanks to Nigel for the Camden picture.
Then, a few weeks later discovered that the next bridge up the line (at the end of St Ann's Road) had had a makeover:
I'd love to have our bridge looking like that. So I sent a Freedom of Information request in asking:
1. Please can you tell me the total cost of the recent refurbishment of the Railway bridge in the South Tottenham near the junction of Seven Sisters and St Ann’s Roads. Total cost to include all labour and materials.
2. If the funding was drawn from different sources, please also identify which sources and how much came from each.
This was the response:
The total cost of the project once approved was £1,335,456. This figure relates to all of the physical work done to the bridge. This figure does not include additional upgrading of the lighting underneath the bridge, figures for which we don’t currently have as they are with the commissioning agency – Design for London.
The funding for the core works was drawn from two sources: Work to the bridge was drawn from Network Rail (£1,235,456) and NDC (New Deal for Communities funding) (£100,000) respectively.
So, the huge proportion was paid for by Network Rail. I'd love to hear from our councillors about whether they feel they could champion our bridge. This year I think good slugs of the Making a Difference funding is being applied to the Food Festival. What about putting it towards the bridge next year. I'm sure we can top up the rest somehow.
Waddya say folks?
(Read the other post about this here)
To something covered in a silly banner and finally McDonald's advertising.
Then I found a great example of how a bridge could be restored in Camden:
Thanks to Nigel for the Camden picture.
Then, a few weeks later discovered that the next bridge up the line (at the end of St Ann's Road) had had a makeover:
I'd love to have our bridge looking like that. So I sent a Freedom of Information request in asking:
1. Please can you tell me the total cost of the recent refurbishment of the Railway bridge in the South Tottenham near the junction of Seven Sisters and St Ann’s Roads. Total cost to include all labour and materials.
2. If the funding was drawn from different sources, please also identify which sources and how much came from each.
This was the response:
The total cost of the project once approved was £1,335,456. This figure relates to all of the physical work done to the bridge. This figure does not include additional upgrading of the lighting underneath the bridge, figures for which we don’t currently have as they are with the commissioning agency – Design for London.
The funding for the core works was drawn from two sources: Work to the bridge was drawn from Network Rail (£1,235,456) and NDC (New Deal for Communities funding) (£100,000) respectively.
So, the huge proportion was paid for by Network Rail. I'd love to hear from our councillors about whether they feel they could champion our bridge. This year I think good slugs of the Making a Difference funding is being applied to the Food Festival. What about putting it towards the bridge next year. I'm sure we can top up the rest somehow.
Waddya say folks?
(Read the other post about this here)
Tags for Forum Posts: harringay bridge
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on
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If local-ish artist and designer, William Morris had his say the "truth to materials" ethos would be applicable here. The one on St Annes Road really looks a masterpiece and the council and unfortunately along with many traders opted for this kitsch makeover which cheapens the area further.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Looks like? It IS a masterpiece, I am gob-smacked. Lucky people who see it every day eh?
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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Who in the council drove through the idea for the refurbishment of the St Anns bridge? Clearly Network Rail paid for 99% of the works so who is the contact there?
Yes, the Harringay bridge has to be refurbed and the awful tatty advertising removed. Which reminds me, this is a marginal ward and the election is just 11 mths away. Oh just a minute, the council no longer has a 'Regeneration' councillor now that Mr Cooke has left ....
Well done for getting the info Hugh.
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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I've been wondering by what right do the Council sell space on the MacBridge ? I would have thought the bridge belongs to Network Rail ?
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Interesting. So perhaps the huge sum was the structural element and the NDC contribution was the decorative. The NDC is pretty much wound up now and our bridge was out of area anyway. Thanks Graham.
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Permalink Reply by gill on
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Do I understand correctly that you, Hugh, are proposing to take any money given towards the Food Festival and put it towards a bridge renovation? That's not a good idea even if we could. The food festival is a community ACTIVITY and gives an opportunity for people to work together. A more elgant bridge would be good to have and would certainly enhance the built environment; funding should be got from other sources.
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I disagree, funding for parties should not come from my council taxes. You want a party? Do what I do and fund it yourself. I am unable to fund a bridge renovation, even if I had the money.
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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on
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Gill, I think it's clear that Hugh was suggesting diverting a good chunk of next year's Making a Difference funding towards Bridge decor, not donating a few bob from this year's Food Festival.
I'd say fine, so long as we can have a similar chunk of 2011's Making a Difference funding diverted towards Wightman Road Bridge and immediate environs, to match what we're going to demand from Jewson's and Network Rail.
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(Is it in structural trouble now?)
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Permalink Reply by KP on
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Love the design for the bridge at Camden. It would be great to have the one at Haringay looking something like that. Clean and smart without any tacky advertising!
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Permalink Reply by pamish on
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Not all aesthetic - the bridge at St Ann's had a load of structural work done, then the bit of paint. I well remember having to squeeze my car though the foot-wide gap between the scaffolding for months while it was done. Well maybe ten feet.
Also paint is for protection as well as appearance. If I have to paint my windows every three years, they must have to do the bridges at least as often? The ones at Finsbury Park could do with refreshing too.
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