Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
What Makes a Neighbourhood a Friendly Place to Live?
Last week saw the publication of a paper which presented an aspirational vision of London "Where neighbourhoods thrive and everybody matters" and sets out a challenge for London’s next Mayor:
We want to live in a place that we love and we want to be loved in the place where we live. A place where people are friendly and generous
"The Good City" contains many innovative ideas about how London's neighbourhoods could be improved and changed for the better.
Have a read. How does Harringay measure up?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Angela on
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Interesting question! I've got lots of views but I thought I'd ask my children what they think about Harringay/Haringey - they are 13 and 10.
Their main response is that they would like to feel safer, particularly in the passage, and that more families living in the area would help; they would like more things to do in the immediate area for their age group; they would like a more diverse/upmarket range of shops and less 'shabby/grubby' local shops; cheaper and better housing so their friends don't have to move away, less rubbish and cleaner streets, and no potholes and considerate drivers so they can ride their bikes safely.
On the upside they think their schools are great and they like the trees/green spaces.
Fwiw I agree with them!
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Permalink Reply by ant on
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Haven't finished reading it yet but funny to read this suggestion:
invest in 30,000 benches – roughly 50 in each ward but prioritising the predominantly residential. 30,000 Street Seats risk cheap parody but observe how the very occasional bench in residential estates is already used to see how this most basic and practical item of street furniture facilitates connection.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on
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I haven't started reading it yet but is that serious? I work for a London borough (not Haringey) and benches encourage antisocial behaviour (rough sleeping, late night drinking/partying) and increase street clutter, making it harder for disabled people and parents with buggies to get about. Whenever we put a new bench in we get complaints. (views are my own and not those of my nameless employer, etc)
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Permalink Reply by Noots on
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Benches are a lovely idea, but as above, when we had a bench outside my parents house it was a nightmare - large groups of teenagers drinking, smoking weed and lots and lots of noise. the bench went and so did the teenagers. Look at the benches/seating on the south-east side of the crossing at Manor House and sadly, that's what I always envisage happening, My mate has the same across from him on Hornsey Rise with all-day drinking, shouting and occasionally fighting.
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On the other hand, the Frobisher bench experiment had no problems like that. In the time it was there there was just one report from a nearby resident that one evening some teenagers were sitting on it. They weren't being noisy, they weren't drinking, they weren't even smoking apparently, it was just noted that they were there. And along with that incident dozens if not hundreds of other people used it during the day while the bench was there. Thats good isn't it?
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Indeed, I'm not suggesting benches guarantee anti-social behaviour - I think it's great to have somewhere to stop and take a breather or just sit outside, but in my experience, I wouldn't want one outside my house.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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Sarah - it doesn't have to be that way. Over a decade ago I worked with someone who was reponsible for a project of improvements in Argyle Square in Kings Cross. At the time it was notorious for drug dealing, street drinking, prostituion and violence. None of the people from the local estate would let their kids play there. Seating was part of the improvement plan but this went along with things like cutting back shrubs so people couldn't lurk behind them, improving lighting and generally making it feel like the area was cared for.
I went past there 15 minutes ago and it's full of kids, adults having lunch on the grass and people siting on the benches reading papers and chatting. Have a look in the next time you're passing.
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Parks and garden squares need seating - but streets?
And I love how the parks and squares get in summer, with people enjoying themselves everywhere.
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Streets definitely need them I think. They become places people spend time rather than pass thorough.
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Also, not every spot along a residential street is right outside someones bedroom window, there are places where the street makeup - the passage junctions, different building types, etc - provide natural spaces, micro squares if you like, where seating can work without disturbing anybody.
One of the first comments in this discussion was - "would like to feel safer, particularly in the passage". If we make the streets more our own - cleaner, with planting, art, seats - then they'll probably feel more welcoming and safer.
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Tottenham High Road's benches, on the stretch between 7 Sisters and T Green are very well used by all sorts of people. It is a very busy road but poele still sit there to talk and meet/socialize. So many live in flats with no outside space....
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