Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Call for the community to have priority in planning and development
On April 17th at Hornsey Vale Community Centre, 40 Haringey residents from many local organisations and groups from all over the borough took part in a residents' conference on planning and development issues.
The conference had been called to mobilise concerned community groups and residents to influence the borough's planning and development policies - known as the Local Development Framework - currently being re-written.
The consultation documents set out very important policy proposals on how the borough will manage issues of housing, climate change, transport, employment, leisure, retail, open space, and design from 2011 to 2026. The documents are about to undergo 6 weeks of public consultation from May 10th to June 21st, following which they will be examined at a long and formal public hearing at the Civic Centre, presided over by a Planning Inspector.
This is a new, complex and confusing process which will replace the 'old-style' 10-year Unitary Development Plans, the last of which was adopted in 2006. The conference enabled participants to identify some of the key concerns over the proposed policies, some of the changes we would like to see, and ways in which local people can respond with their views.
Participants took part in a series of workshop discussions on the following topics: design and conservation; housing & development; open space and community facilities; transport & street scene; climate change and sustainability.
Concerns were expressed about over-development and skyscrapers, advertising hoardings, loss of Haringey's heritage and character, threats to some green spaces, the selling off of community facilities and local pubs, and too much traffic. There were strong feelings that what Haringey's communities actually need but are rarely getting is genuinely affordable housing, well-designed buildings, good quality local jobs, community-led regeneration, safer, greener and more friendly local streets and better public transport, more green space and allotment sites, protection of public land and community facilities, safeguarding of small independent shops, and the long term sustainability of our society.
Finally, in a session entitled 'Community Involvement and Empowerment In Planning - what we can do as residents', there were presentations from some of the local campaigns around Haringey where local residents are standing up for their communities against unpopular and inappropriate development, and sometimes creating their own alternative community plans for contested sites. These included Alexandra Palace, Wards Corner, Hornsey Town Hall, various local parks, and certain back-land sites.
Participants pledged to continue to work together to ensure residents' voices will be heard loud and clear throughout the coming consultation, and beyond. A website has been set up to help as a reference point and to promote communication and co-ordination.
The conference had been called to mobilise concerned community groups and residents to influence the borough's planning and development policies - known as the Local Development Framework - currently being re-written.
The consultation documents set out very important policy proposals on how the borough will manage issues of housing, climate change, transport, employment, leisure, retail, open space, and design from 2011 to 2026. The documents are about to undergo 6 weeks of public consultation from May 10th to June 21st, following which they will be examined at a long and formal public hearing at the Civic Centre, presided over by a Planning Inspector.
This is a new, complex and confusing process which will replace the 'old-style' 10-year Unitary Development Plans, the last of which was adopted in 2006. The conference enabled participants to identify some of the key concerns over the proposed policies, some of the changes we would like to see, and ways in which local people can respond with their views.
Participants took part in a series of workshop discussions on the following topics: design and conservation; housing & development; open space and community facilities; transport & street scene; climate change and sustainability.
Concerns were expressed about over-development and skyscrapers, advertising hoardings, loss of Haringey's heritage and character, threats to some green spaces, the selling off of community facilities and local pubs, and too much traffic. There were strong feelings that what Haringey's communities actually need but are rarely getting is genuinely affordable housing, well-designed buildings, good quality local jobs, community-led regeneration, safer, greener and more friendly local streets and better public transport, more green space and allotment sites, protection of public land and community facilities, safeguarding of small independent shops, and the long term sustainability of our society.
Finally, in a session entitled 'Community Involvement and Empowerment In Planning - what we can do as residents', there were presentations from some of the local campaigns around Haringey where local residents are standing up for their communities against unpopular and inappropriate development, and sometimes creating their own alternative community plans for contested sites. These included Alexandra Palace, Wards Corner, Hornsey Town Hall, various local parks, and certain back-land sites.
Participants pledged to continue to work together to ensure residents' voices will be heard loud and clear throughout the coming consultation, and beyond. A website has been set up to help as a reference point and to promote communication and co-ordination.
Tags for Forum Posts: consultation
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Permalink Reply by Adam on
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This conference was organised by the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations (HFRA):
The HFRA is the umbrella organisation for local residents’ associations of all kinds around the borough - there are over 150 such groups.
The aims of the HFRA:
To promote and encourage residents throughout all local areas of Haringey to organise themselves into diverse local residents’ groups and associations, and to speak out and take action on matters of common interest and concern. By supporting each other and taking action together, as residents and as RAs, we aim to build up a strong residents’ movement throughout Haringey.
To promote and encourage the participation in the life of the local community of every resident in Haringey. In particular:
-to promote community spirit, communication, co-operation, solidarity, mutual aid and awareness throughout local communitiesTo oppose all forms of discrimination, oppression or injustice
-to ensure that all residents and also local RAs are consulted regularly and that residents have the opportunity and ability to speak out, to influence, to challenge and to eventually make the decisions which affect them or their neighbourhoods and communities.
-to promote residents’ rights and collective interests, and to improve the quality of life for local people including:
- a safe, pleasant, friendly, and green local environment in every corner of Haringey
- a wide range of publicly-accountable community facilities, resources and services
- decent, adequate, affordable and secure housing for all
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