Harringay online

Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

New River 400th Birthday Party: Planning Meeting Tuesday 8PM

The New River is 400 years old next year and I've been digging around a bit over the past few weeks trying to find out what's planned  / could be planned by way of celebration.

I've spoken with the press office at Thames Water and they're vaguely certain that something will probably happen. More definite is a local initiative funded by the Manor House PACT.

Their project outline says the following:

PACT will use this occasion to run a Festival, to celebrate the New River. The local section forms part of the Capital Ring walk and this will be an opportunity to raise awareness of the potential of this area for walking. is bidding for funding from the Heritage Lottery for an oral history project about the history of New River to celebrate the anniversary. They aim to use their findings to stimulate new interest in the New River. There are also plans to create a walkway along part of the New River. 

Tomorrow night there is a meeting co-ordinated by PACT partner Transition Finsbury Park to start planning the New River Festival. It will be in The Brownswood at 8pm.

I'm keen to use the opportunity of the 400th anniversary to see if we could do a couple of other things locally. To make a start, I'm still trying to get hold of someone in Thames Water. My thoughts at this stage are to investigate if we could the focus on the river next year to:

  1. get rid of the fencing that borders the river through Finsbury Park - never understood why it's there since the river is barrier free everywhere else.
  2. find a way of providing better access to the river through the Ladder without disadvantaging those living along its banks? It seems such a shame to keep this great local amenity gated off.
  3. Anything else?

These elements would be beyond the scope of the PACT funds, but that doesn't mean we can't investigate what's possible.

Tags for Forum Posts: new river, new river festival, thames water

Views: 1180

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bulent Ozlem on December 12, 2012 at 12:49

wow i did not know that the new river was that old!

Permalink Reply by Lucy Jaffe on December 13, 2012 at 15:30

The New River runs right behind South Harringay Junior School and we have our lovely school garden there. We found newts there this Autumn and often find other reptiles and evidence of various furry creatures (ehem!).

I would love our New River Garden to be involved in any New River party. 

Permalink Reply by Ben Adam Sohawon on January 3, 2013 at 18:01

Not to be a party pooper, but I'm pretty sure one of the main reasons why the Finsbury Park section of the river is closed off is because it has become a fairly decent wildlife habitat. Personally, I'm not in favour of opening up that particular part, as there are plenty other parts of the river open to people. 

Also, I'm guessing there's a child safety element to it as well.

2d8z3b4wgwic8Permalink Reply by 2d8z3b4wgwic8 on February 28, 2013 at 1:01

Hi we are organising a low key local family festival to celebrate the anniversary in Clissold Park on Sunday 29th September.  Maybe we can liaise.  Caroline, Chair of the Clissold Park User Group.

Permalink Reply by Michele on February 28, 2013 at 12:27

Caroline - you can contact  Vivien Macdona at PACT by email : Vivien.Macdona@MHDT.org.uk

I have been going to the planning meetings and the plans are gathering pace for a festival on Sunday 29th September with various activities taking place from the West Reservoir to Finsbury Park and possible walks up from finsbury park as well.

PLanning meetings will be held every third Monday of the month, at 7pm. So the next meeting will be on Monday 18th March and will be held in the main hall of the Redmond Community Centre- ( http://www.mhdt.org.uk/find-us ) let Viviene know if you can make it

Permalink Reply by Vivien Macdona on February 28, 2013 at 15:10

Hi all,

Thanks for your interest in the festival Caroline, it would be great to liaise- do drop me an email at the address above.

Thanks for mentioning the meetings Michele- the next meeting was expected to be on the 18th as mentioned in the last correspondence, but as there may be a fair amount to prepare before then I'll let people know the definite date a bit closer to the time. Hope you'll be able to make it though!

Vivien

Permalink Reply by Justin Guest on February 28, 2013 at 17:32

Hugh. Is this something we might get the Corporation of London involved in? While the NR does not directly enter London itself, it was critical to the development of the City. I am happy to give them a bell and see if there is any way we can get them involved, and possibly discuss a potential contribution and support to possible events?!

Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 28, 2013 at 17:55

Good idea. Well worth a try!

Permalink Reply by Justin Guest on February 28, 2013 at 18:15

OK, will give it a go. If anyone has already thought of this please let me know.

Permalink Reply by Vivien Macdona on March 1, 2013 at 10:52

Hi Justin,

 

Thanks for your interest in the fest- that sounds like an idea which could be useful... If you're happy to give them a bell and find out what they would potentially need in terms of a proposal or overview of the festival, and by when, that'd be super. Do drop me an email at vivien.macdona@mhdt.org.uk and I can add you to our mailing list or let you know more.

Vivien

Permalink Reply by Colinloves on March 1, 2013 at 14:53

I would like to know the amount of coins that was collected during the cleaning of the tunnel. 

I also would like to know how much the river has shifted in the last 400 years.  -or dont man made shift?

I would like to see all parts open to the public.  Im sick to the teeth in Health and Safely, that stops people's freedoms.  -if I want to walk near the edge of the river and fall in....when thats my own damn stupid fault, not Thames Water

RSS

Advertising

© 2024   Created by Hugh.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service