Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Street lighting in Finsbury Park
I was delighted when they put the street lights in Finsbury Park so in the winter I could still cycle home through the park when it was dark. There were so many more cyclists and walkers and it felt safe.
Now when I cycle through from the South Gate up towards Endymion Rd exit there are lights up to the tennis courts then they go off and they don’t come on again until the cafe - leaving a fairly long stretch of pitch black. I asked on the council website for them to fix the lights. They said they had but the lights are still off. Does anybody know if this is a cost cutting exercise?
Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Park on
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Hi Zena,
Who do I contact about accessibility in parks when Emilly Arkell is not responding to emails anymore?
The park is dangerous to cross in a wheelchair due to the dangerous drop kerbs and even sections with no kerbs at all. It could be deemed a breach of the Equalty Act and actionable if the council continues to take not action.
Emily has also failed to respond to emails about the illegal and very loud soundcheck from wireless did last year that went on until 10pm on a weeknight when there was meant to be no soundcheck.
How do I escalate this matter please, to ensure local residents' issues are addressed and not ignored by our elected officials? Is there an offical complaints procedure please?
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Hello "Park",
Zena Brabazon asked me to apologise. Today she's sitting on a staff disciplinary panel which has to take priority.
As very much an ex-councillor I'm way out-of-date on equality legislation; and ditto health-and-safety.
From my own personal past experience I would very much recommend that that you write directly to Andy Donald the Chief Executive.I assume that his email follows the standard format:
andy.donald@haringey.gov.uk.
Could I please ask you to include mention of the missing park lights problem.
You may also want to phone and confirm he's not on leave. Unlike some previous CEs I've heard good things about Mr Donald.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Alan, at the risk of adding little to net information, I can confirm the Finsbury Park lighting problem.
A few days ago I walked clockwise around the park beginning at the Endymion Road entrance. Just over half-way around near the southern end, I noticed two lights come on around dusk. It attracted my attention, as lights on either side of the pair remained unlit.
Within a few minutes, a few more came on.
However, a continuous stretch of lampposts between the tennis courts and the Richard Hope Play Space stayed unit. I'm not an electrician, but this evidence suggests to me a power supply problem rather than a lamp-bulb issue.
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Immediately after the council installed the lighting, they sought to exploit it from a PR standpoint. Printed notices were attached to each lamppost. They were probably ordered by the council Events Team who appear to dominate most aspects of our park. The notices boasted that Haringey Council and/or commercial hire had provided them (after enormous delay). The council's PR boasting, usually misplaced, was again misjudged here.
The council rarely-to-never consults park users and always knows best.
The council did specify shields around lamps to avoid annoying nocturnal wildlife. These are black on both sides; they didn't take the small extra step of specifiying the inside of the shield should be white or silver in order to reflect more light to where it is wanted. Some of the light and energy output is wasted.
It's a small point, but appears to reflect a lack of care and a lack of attention to detail.
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Clive, as a Trustee of the Friends of Finsbury Park, could you address the apparent contradiction in stance regarding lighting and the locking of the park?
Lighting and CCTV aid in the safe use and passage through the park at night. Locking the gates is clearly aimed at halting use and passage through the park.
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I don't think you need ask Clive about any apparent contradiction, Jamie. Clllr Zena Brabazon yesterday noted that 'It is only the vehicle gate at the Endymion Road entrance which is locked at 3.30pm. The other gates are open.'
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The vehicle gate was wide open when I walked through at 6 pm today, as was the gate to down to the new river by the Christmas tree place, giving access to anyone with a vehicle to the whole park.
Not sure how this is better than the gate being manned?
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I was surprised that Zena had missed the point, but now that you have too, perhaps I should be repeat what I said. The Friends' stance is that the gates should be locked. I even quoted them. Given that they are another self-appointed 'voice of the people', it's always worth questioning their motives and intentions.
So, Clive, please indulge us.
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Permalink Reply by Zena Brabazon on
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Hello everyone. An update on gates and lighting.
The gates
I specifically asked about the gates and was advised that the only gate being locked is the vehicle penetrance gate at Endymion Road. Others remain open. I can ask why the vehicle gate was open at 6pm yesterday.
Lighting
I have chased this twice. The streetlighting team were in the park last week an dare due back this coming week to undertake 'further works to the cabling to the streetlights in the park'. Hopefully this will sort out the problems.
Zena
Zena Brabazon
Cllr, Harringay ward
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Bob, in the last hour, I walked around Finsbury Park in the dark.
I'm pleased to report that all-but-one of the many lamps are working. i.e. in a stretch several hundred metres long, between the Endymion Road entrance and the southern end.
These may have been fixed some days ago but in any event, it appears that Cllr. Zena Brabazon's chasing of the-powers-that-be has borne fruit, or in this case, light.
Thanks Zena.
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This is great news! Came through on Wednesday and they were still out.
Thanks Zena
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I'm pleased they are- almost - fixed. Thanks Jane for alerting me to the problem.
Happy holidays
Zena
Zena Brabazon
Cllr, Harringay ward
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"Park", if neither Zena nor the Cabinet Member for "parks and green spaces" (Emily Arkell) is your local representative, then I suggest contacting your local Ward councillor.
If Cllr. Arkell continues to stonewall, then I invite you to consider complaining to Councillor Elin Weston who is the Labour Group Chief Whip.
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At around 7:30 AM in darkness this morning I counted 44 lampposts in Finsbury Park. That total included several that were off to the side of the main carriageway lighting.
Of these, 43 were lit. The sole dud is the one closest to the Richard Hope Play Space.
Events Team bosses—who dominate changes in our park—are likely to regard this as more than good enough for local residents and park-users.
This lighting benefits only the general public and has no relevance to the council's paying, corporate customers during their "Events Season". Or any other time. Cllr Arkell may share such a cynical view.
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