Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Haringey's Public Rights of Way - What's Missing?
The New River Path - not a protected right of way
Is there a local pubic right of way that you're keen to establish or protect?
In 2008 Haringey started work on its definitive map of rights of way with the The Rights of Way Improvement Plan.
Rights of Way are pedestrian passages which are legally protected against attempts by land owners to close them. One of the key objectives of Haringey;'s plan was 'to set up a programme to identify additional paths and add such paths to the map'.
So far, no funds have been allocated to the identification process and there are paths which are not recognised as rights of way and therefore have no legal protection.
The qualifying paths in the east of the borough borough have nonetheless been confirmed the and the borough is in the process of doing so for the west. I am unclear as to whether Harringay is considered East or West for the purposes of this exercise.
However, whatever the situation, looking at the map for the centre, it strikes me that the New River Path is not included. It may well be that Thames Water took steps to ensure that it never became a public right of way at the time it was opened, but I'd have thought this is worth checking.
There is a procedure to be followed to get this or any other path recognised. The usual route is to find about twenty people who are prepared to sign a witness statement to declare that they have used the path without hindrance for a considerable period of time (up to twenty years). The Council is then bound to investigate the claim and respond.
My attention was drawn to this issue by Chris Barker at the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations / Ramblers Association / Living Streets. He has offered to help anyone with advice and forms to use.
Attachments and Links
Central Haringey Rights of Way Map (attached below)
House of Commons Paper on legislative background (attached below)
Haringey Rights of Way Improvement Plan, 2008 (attached below)
Haringey Public Rights of way page (including maps for East and West)
Contact information for Chris Barker: 020 8347 7684 / c.barker@lineone.net.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Justin Guest on
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Happy to sign it Hugh, I use that stretch lots!
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Permalink Reply by ant on
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There are these signs at each entrance which make it sound like Thames Water don't consider it a public right of way :
Thames Water are still making noises of encouragement for doing some improvements to that bit of the New River path next year so I wouldn't want to do anything to upset them while thats going on.
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I would imaging that given the topography of the New River- relatively flat, gently sloping down from Source to London, that historically this would have made a perfect path way and was likely used as such prior to what ever enclosing has occurred since then. So, not sure what claim there is to this being a historic right of way, or not... Just a thought.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Right, I think that seals its fate. This means it'll never be a right of way then. Any other paths?
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Permalink Reply by Mark Smith on
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I'd gladly sign it, and I'd also like to push Thames Water into opening the section of the New River between Hewitt and Umfreville Roads.
It's currently a waste of green space, and would make a very scenic alternative to the passage.
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I spent some time this year talking to Thames Water about opening the path through the Ladder for the 400th anniversary day. After about six months of tracking down the elusive people in charge and weekly or even daily emails phone calls discussion and getting the ok from everyone who had a garden backing on to it Thames Water eventually said no. The main reason seemed to be they just didn't want to set any precedent for opening it up again more often.
They did sound a little interested in trying again to opening it up permanently. They tried some decades ago and asked everyone who backed on to it but some people said no so it was kept closed.
One of the concerns was having it open at night, so if the council could be persuaded to have their guy who locks the other park gates at night come around and lock/unlock all the gates everyday (that would be 14 gates just for the path down one side) then maybe those residents who've said no might be persuaded to change their minds?
Thames Water have though given some commitment to next year helping fund improvements to the section behind Wightman Rd - landscaping, planting, and making the path more weatherproof and that type of thing.
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Permalink Reply by Matt on
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A big help would be consistency with gates at either end of some sections. For example, both the Green Lanes - Seven Sisters Road and the Woodberry Down - Reservoir sections have gates at one end that prevent access with a pushchair or bike, but not at the other. Regularly see parents/cyclists arrive at the gated end and being left to hope a passer-by is there to help lift their item over the gate!
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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You can lift those gates off their hinges quite easily. Well, you could until someone put a padlock on them. I've no idea why some scrap metal "merchant" hasn't filched them.
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