Incident in early hours near Barclays Bank Sat a.m.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Liz on February 24, 2010 at 11:14

I'm not sure why people think its going downhill here or are trying to talk the area down.

When I moved here 12 years ago, it was a much less pleasant place than it is now, the Salisbury was a no go area, there were few restaurants I would be willing to use and there were lots of those 'social clubs, where boys would regularly fight in the street. The things that are blighting the area such as betting shops are a national problem, not specific to the area. There has been a lot of work by a lot of people to bring the organised crime to book and we have seen new places opening up, unlike many high streets where the shops remain resolutely empty. We have to keep a sense of perspective I think. There's plenty of people still committed to improving things and working hard to solve the problems (and no I don't mean the politicians, I mean local people, ordinary residents not allied to political parties). There is always the option for anyone to join those folk in providing solutions to identified problems.

The social problems that exist spill over less into people's everyday lives here, than they do say in Kentish Town where I used to work or Finsbury Park, Islington side where I used to live (although the prices of the houses were much higher than here).

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by matt on February 24, 2010 at 12:03

Discussing the pluses as well as being made aware of any issues is important. I'd hope that HOL would encourage both. We shouldn't just rely on the police and the local newspapers to tell us what's going on re criminal activity in our neighbourhood.

Monitoring what's going on and getting people's feelings on these matters is very important as this allows feedback to those that are meant to be dealing with the matters at hand, which includes our local politicians, who are charged dealing with residents concerns.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JeremyS on February 24, 2010 at 13:22

I'm new here but it seems quite apparent that this website network does encourage discussion on the positive aspects as well as discussion and action on the issues that need addressing. The focus on the negative is the point Rahman made above.

I've just moved from Marylebone. Like Rahman, I tired of an area I'd lived in for too long and wanted to move on. Although new to this area, it seems to me like the issues and crime levels faced here are typical for most areas of London, including "good" and "bad" areas. I have friends who live in Muswell Hill, for example, and they say that it feels safer here at night. They've had some murders up there. We had muggings and stabbings in Marylebone. This is a big city after all.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by rahman on February 24, 2010 at 12:42

I dont think we're talking the area down - just being honest about our feelings for the area.

We will always have a soft spot for Harringay because it holds many memories for us, we have long standing neighbours who are close friends, and it does have it quirks. Which is why our family stuck around through the good times in the 70s/80s, the terrible times in the 90s, and the not so bad times in the 'noughties'. However, now that we're thinking about starting our own little family (the third generation), we're not sure this is the place we want to do it.

It has improved since the 90s, but not fast enough.

Does that sound terrible?

Perhaps we have just been here for too long and its time for a change. On the other hand, it has been a huge decision for us to even think about leaving as we are so tied to the area, so it cant just be about us outgrowing the place. If Harringay had remained a pleasant place to live, we probably wouldn't even have thought about moving on.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ruth on February 24, 2010 at 17:25

No Rahman, it doesnt sound terrible! I feel much of what you describe and discuss. I still like many things about the area and feel it has been my home for a long time with good neighbours etc., but it is not pleasant out of the streets a lot of the time. I think many parts of London will be the same/similar and I know that even rural areas have crime and hoodies and nuisance.. I could get very depressed if I think about it for too long as I might feel there is nowhere else to go! I will keep thinking and looking before making the big step of leaving Grand Parade behind.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page