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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Stop Haringey Council’s nature-wrecking bridge design on the Parkland Walk-please sign and share petition!!

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE OUR PETITION TO STOP THE DAMAGING BRIDGE DESIGN ON THE PARKLAND WALK (OVER STANHOPE ROAD) we need more than 2,200 signatures for Haringey to listen to our concerns so please sign and share.
Haringey Council want to rebuild the bridge on Stanhope Road, Crouch End which will cause great damage to the Parkland Walk Nature Reserve. It involves chopping down several mature trees - including 2 oaks, and destroying natural habitat, resurfacing with urbanised materials - and raising the bridge to a height which will allow HGVs through, causing yet more pollution. Haringey have not changed their approach to nature in the borough despite declaring a Climate Emergency 3 years ago.
Time is of the essence as they have already approved the plans and now is our only chance to ask them to rethink. We are calling on them to come up with a much better design which reflects the fact it’s on a Nature Reserve!
Here’s the Planning application including doc which had almost 200 objections:
WHO TO WRITE TO – CONTACT FROM THE TOP, INDIVIDUAL EMAILS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE IF YOU HAVE TIME, SIMON FARROW IS HEAD OF THIS PROJECT and MIKE HAKATA is Cabinet Member for Environment. (elections are in May so he will want your support)
Simon Farrow, Interim Head of Parks & Leisure, dept responsible for the project:
simon.farrow@haringey.gov.uk
Mike Hakata (Labour), Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport & Climate Emergency: mike.hakata@haringey.gov.uk
Stephen McDonnell, Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods:
stephen.mcdonnell@haringey.gov.uk
Peray Ahmet (Labour) – Leader of Haringey Council peray.ahmet@haringey.gov.uk
CATHERINE WEST ALSO HAS A NEW TREES Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Woods and Trees.
Catherine West (Labour), MP Hornsey & Wood Green: catherine.west.mp@parliament.uk
Others
Laurence Ackrill, Planning Officer for the project:
laurence.ackrill@haringey.gov.uk
Luke Cawley-Harrison (Lib Dem) Councillor, Crouch End Ward:
luke.cawley-harrison@haringey.gov.uk
Tammy Palmer (Lib Dem) Councillor, Crouch End Ward:
tammy.palmer@haringey.gov.uk
Dawn Barnes (Lib Dem) Councillor, Crouch End Ward:
dawn.barnes@haringey.gov.uk
David Cassells – leading the project at WSP: David.Cassells@wsp.com

Tags for Forum Posts: parkland walk, trees

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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on February 5, 2022 at 12:08

I’m rather confused by this.  The bridge has to be replaced - it’s currently held up with props (picture below). In the planning application it states that even without the work to provide access for those who cannot use steps some trees would inevitably be lost.  

 

Permalink Reply by Giovanna iozzi on February 5, 2022 at 12:35

Hi Michael,

We totally understand that the bridge has to be rebuilt, that is not our objection. We object to the massive ramp the council are insisting on building next to the bridge which will take out many valuable trees and habitat. The Parkland Walk is a nature reserve and needs to be treated with care, designs including existing habitat have not been offered up. There are a number of other entrance routes when a ramp could be included. Trees can alway be retained with some design imagination and innovation, which is sadly lacking from Haringey council. The council seem to want to turn the walk into an urbanised path, rarther than retain its biodiverse nature. Thanks Gio

Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on February 5, 2022 at 12:46

Thanks for the response.  

Permalink Reply by Park on February 5, 2022 at 17:05

A wheelchair lift could save a lot of room.

Permalink Reply by John McMullan on February 5, 2022 at 20:56

That big old tree that is the main concern, is (like many of the trees on the Parkland Walk) covered in ivy and about to die. Surely with Brexit we don't need to cater for people in wheelchairs requiring ramps onto the Parkland Walk in Crouch End, they can get on at either end like the cyclists do.

Permalink Reply by Dan Woolley on February 5, 2022 at 21:22

Hi John. I'm a bit confused by the reference to Brexit here; what is the relevance? Thanks, Dan

Permalink Reply by Giovanna iozzi on February 6, 2022 at 8:03

Hi John,

The oak tree with the russian vine is not about to die. The ivy could be cut away carefully too. It is not only that tree which is threatened, but up to 10 trees in the viscinity,

Best Giovanna

Permalink Reply by Don on February 12, 2022 at 12:14

John — Not quite sure irony works in a forum post...

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth M on February 11, 2022 at 11:42

The bridge has to be repaired, the ivy covered tree is no thing of beauty either, and disabled and buggy access this end of the walk is pretty woeful. It is also the only access point which has a bus that stops right next to it between Coleridge and the Highgate end of the Walk. To put in a new bridge without an access point which could be easily used by disabled people would surely be a breach of PSED. There is also a promise of replacement and additional trees win greater nos than those lost. 

Permalink Reply by Giovanna iozzi on February 11, 2022 at 11:57

Hello Elizabeth,

We are not disputing the rebuilding of the bridge but the size of the ramp - a smaller ramp or slope could be designed and implemented with some imagination and will on the part of the council. The friends of the Parkland walk and ourselves (North London Tree Protectors) have identified 3 other nearby access routes quite nearby which have bus stops near to the entrances which could be developed into ramps without loss of trees (Oxford road and two others). Stanhope is a steep narrow road, served by just one hopper bus, the W5.

The tree is an oak, about 80 years old, I think it's wonderful - 11 other trees will be lost too due to the ramp forcing steps to the other side too - not just this one. The Parkland Walk is a nature reserve, not a park and in the climate crisis we need to protect our mature trees - not many of which remain on the walk.

Best wishes Gio

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth M on February 11, 2022 at 12:32

Oxford Road is in Stroud Green at the start of the walk. That's not an alternative for anyone living the Highgate side of the walk. There is very little past the access at Coleridge which is ok for buggies but not for wheelchairs. The new access ramp at Stapleton Hall Road is fine - looks very much like the plans for this one. It also doesn't deal with the public sector equality duty aspect of the rebuild. I get loss of trees is not great but this is an urban rewilded railway line not an ancient woodland.

Permalink Reply by Giovanna iozzi on February 11, 2022 at 12:41

Hi Elizabeth,

Oxford road is only one example, there are some other viable alternatives much nearer to Stanhope....on the Highate side. There is of course also ther access near the Bugaloo pub. I can provide you with these, my collaeague and the FOPW (friends of PW) know much more than I do....please email me on parklandwalktrees@gmail.com

The parkland walk is a green flag wildlife reserve actually, the longest liinear nature reserve in London - it has this status and should be treated as such.

Best G

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