Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
All 3 Haringey paddling pools out of action
To save anyone else the same faff we’ve just encountered - please be aware that ALL THREE of Haringey’s paddling pools are currently out of order! All of them were due to open today - but none of them have (and Priory Park is out of action for a longer period). What with Clissold Park also being out of action for potentially the next 6 weeks, it’s not looking good for children’s water play in our local area. (My additional particular irritation is that when I checked on the pools and opening dates literally 2 days ago, they were all still anticipated as opening - hence my fruitless search for cooling down options today…!)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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KATIE, when I was a Councillor I came across excellent council staff: helpful, constructive and a pleasure to do work with.
By the same token, I came across a few who were rude, obstructive and effectively insolent.
They forgot that the public pays their wages. This was particularly the case when they were implementing big, mistaken, misconceived and misguided Council Labour Group policies. Due to chronic poor decision-making, previous Administrations have cumulatively cost us many tens of millions of pounds of our money over the years.
When faced with bureaucratic inertia, "backbench" councillors on both sides had little influence.
In terms of complaints or questions, the main difference between them and us residents, is that Councillors may expect a response to a "Member's Enquiry" from the "service" within 10 working days, as compared with the supposed 20 working days for "ordinary" residents.
In my experience the latter Statutory period is often ignored by the "service". The residents' equivalent are Freedom of Information Requests. This service is broken and is an area which the new council needs to fix. Too often, residents are treated with barely concealed contempt.
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My practical suggestion is to (a) not to try contacting a council employee; but (b) to contact your local Ward Councillor.
If they're new, give them a chance to learn the ropes. If you've already done this without result, contact their Party Whip.
BTW, after that Stage Two you mentioned—without satisfaction—you were then qualified to take it to the Local Government Ombudsman. It all takes time of course and the summer could be over before there's action on the paddling pools.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton
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In Katie's situation she wants something done - or found out - NOW. The Chief Excutive has the power to do this.
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'Tis true, the quality of past Chief Execs was not maintained and has at times droppeth as the gentle sludge. Therefor let us persist until a few good words are matched with many more good deeds.
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Clive, I very much liked your headline about impertinence.
But what I observed you doing was not cheekiness. It was: calmly, most polightly, and factually informed, truth-telling to powerful people. The truthful, accurate facts you drew to our attention,shamed and embarrassed the powerful.There's another important aspect which I think you and I probably share. Which is that we don't see hierarchy and formal authority as more important than ethics and morality.
Might is not right. Money can buy fear and obedience.
Bosses and even elevated Council Leaders and a borough Chief Executive may earn the respect of colleagues.
But they are not Kings & Queens who command that respect.I took a course once in community work. The Lecturer introduced us to books by Saul Alinsky a Chicago community organiser. Alinsky was friends with a Catholic priest of a poor neighbourhood. He asked his friend about their relative positionS. The priest said they'd both chosen a similar life. Serving local people.
Not to become The Pope.
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ALAN I may not harbour quite the same anarchical tendencies you have, but sometimes I do not shy away from challenging those in "high" position.
One of the proudest moments was at the time of the 150th Anniversary of Finsbury Park.
The current Deputy Prime Minister was generous enough to describe me then as "a local troublemaker" (thank you David!). Recognition!
And on a later conference call with another, he was kind enough to tell me that I had "baggage!" (i.e. I'd been an Opposition Councillor)
Which I enjoyed!
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Clive, we both enjoyed sporadic attempts by Party high ups - mini bullies - to silence us. These twerps never grasped that talking to us in a friendly reasonable way was far more effective than making threats.
Threats increased both our determination and our potential allies.
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Permalink Reply by Sixfaces
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Closing Splash Pad on the hottest day of the year (and for 6 weeks following while they wait on a part‽) is a real shame.
Much like refurbishing Chestnuts Park playground over the entirety of the Easter school holidays.
Not like any of this stuff has seasonally predictable usage patterns that it could be repaired around.
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Hi "Sixfaces"
Did you send in a formal complaint at the time? Did you get a reply?.From your comment about the part, it sounds like you did.
Could you please post any correspondence here on Hol? My apologies if I missed it.
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