Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Consultation on renaming Albert Road Recreation Ground

I received a letter from Haringey Council this morning stating that they were consulting on renaming Albert Road Recreation Ground to the O. R. Tambo Recreation Ground.

The letter doesn’t explain what is wrong with the current name. I don’t have particularly strong feelings about the current name or the proposed new name - both seem fine (I note that there is already a nice statue of Oliver Tambo at the entrance to the ground). However, I can’t help but think that this naval gazing is an expensive distraction from more meaningful work that could be undertaken by the council.

At a time when social services are having their budgets cut and more people than ever are using food banks, is it right that the council spends time and money (both in terms of employee costs and any subsequent costs resulting from changes to maps and signage) on changing the name of a piece of grass? Councils are renown for undertaking projects which waste public funds - there is already another thread discussing the dangerous changes that have been made to the layout of Wightman Road. And this seems like yet another example.

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Permalink Reply by Xavier on October 16, 2020 at 15:53

My sentiments entirely.

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Permalink Reply by JJ B on October 16, 2020 at 19:47

Come on people. Menachem Beguin was bombing places in the name of the zionist cause. His actions and Tambo's actions can be equated given the way in which South Africans were treated in their own country by white colonials i.e agressiveley invasive immigrants. Would you allow your self to use the same words against M Beguin?

Or is this just blatant double standards?

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Permalink Reply by Neil on October 16, 2020 at 22:05

This name change should be opposed as left wing posturing.

How would the Labour council react if a large number of people wanted it renamed Margaret Thatcher Recreational Ground? She was the first female PM who never lost an election after winning three general elections and represented a neighbouring constituency.

The new name sounds daft, is a tongue twister and belongs to a foreign politician who was never elected by voters. Can you imagine typing into a Sat Nav "O. R. Tambo Recreation Ground" ? Or trying to remember the full name to give to a Uber driver?

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Permalink Reply by JJ B on October 17, 2020 at 9:37

A tongue twister? Really. Compare..

Albert Road Rec

Tambo Rec

I know which one is shorter.

Marylebone is more of a tongue twister than T...A...M...B...O

And if enough people wanted to name a new place that needs a name after that PM why shouldn't it be done? But this is a Labour held council and it would indeed be resisted.

Wouldn't make me respect her politics, though.