The Exercise Yard: the steel wall erected on three sides, around a childrens' playground, in a public park

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Permalink Reply by Heather Martin on June 29, 2015 at 16:52

I noticed this when in the park early yesterday morning.  It does look oppressive.  I noticed last week that the "rock-climbing" playground and picnic area have been completely swallowed up.  I have friends who walk their dogs daily in the park; they tell me that a much larger area has been taken up by this event than last year.  Do you know if this is objectively true?

Also, what happened to your question about cigarette vending machines? Or I am I confusing issues/events?

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on June 29, 2015 at 18:36

Hello Heather,

Yes it does seem oppressive. I've seen the rock area is out of bounds.

The ball park (west side) is not shown as part of their 'estate' in Live Nation's advertising literature and indeed it is not behind the steel wall.

On the other hand this area, known by Live Nation staff as "the bone yard", is surely not able to be used by the public (I invite residents to check for themselves). Approximately three quarters is used as a car park, staging area and marshalling yard by Live Nation. Since the build-up began on the 19th, they've steadily expanded northwards.

The regular public car parking area seems to taken up by employees of Live Nation and the stretch of road between the north-west entrance and the site entrance, is sometimes taken up with large and very large vehicles lined up, waiting to go in.

If the Council understands the amount of normal public activity that is displaced during this period, they will not admit it.

The Council-approved cigarette sales venue is on the east side, a little north of the Seven Sisters Road gate.

I am informed that the fire incident – to which the fire brigade was called – occurred in a Live Nation vehicle and caused (unspecified) damage to our park.

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Permalink Reply by Heather Martin on June 30, 2015 at 11:08

I checked this out this morning; I was in the vicinity of the "bone yard" at 0645.  No part of this area is accessible to the public.  I was rather amused to see some crows there.  I attempted to share the joke with a gaggle of "stewards" but one of them had to be told by another that crows are "those black birds" and so I helpfully explained that they are traditionally birds of ill omen associated with death.  Unfortunately, I did not have a camera with me.

I continued to walk along the perimeter fencing and so am now aware of the extent of the "land grab" this year.  On reaching the point at which the road is divided into "site traffic" and "cyclists and pedestrians" I obediently took the latter path.  The main feature of this walk was the space dedicated to bars and fast food outlets (perhaps the tobacco outlet is somewhat camouflaged).  I assume this is where the bulk of the event revenue is raised, junk music being the "loss leader".

I see that in Haringey we are now blessed with an Obesity Alliance, chaired by Cllr Peter Morton, Cabinet Member for Health (& Wellbeing).   Oh dear ...

Alas I no longer own a dog, but if I did and used the park regularly for his/her exercise, this would be causing me considerable inconvenience.  As it was this voyage of discovery took me  longer than I had planned.  Fortunately I was able to get home in time for the arrival of my mother's morning carer.

  

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Permalink Reply by Pat on July 3, 2015 at 12:02

I ran through our park on Tuesday and Wednesday. Didn't find it oppressive and the park was being used by a lot of people. The Stewards were letting people run through the gates without any problems. I would prefer to remain at our park for tag rugby on Wednesdays but a couple of weeks at Downhills is no great inconvenience, especially as the pitches are flatter.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Woods on July 3, 2015 at 11:15

Expensive and silly since access is essential so if it is to protect the kit... Save us from fools, oh Lord....

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Permalink Reply by ThaiDi on July 3, 2015 at 12:07

Hi Clive, would it be possible to have more information on the Friends of Finsbury Park petition? What is the closing date for the petition? How many people have signed up thus far?

I do feel quite strongly that making large chunks of the park inaccessible for almost 4 weeks for a total of 4 days of music is pretty disproportionate.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on July 3, 2015 at 13:35

ThaiDi, here's the link to the petition on the FoFP web-site. Don't know if there's a closing date, but it wouldn't be before Live Nation's one-week tear down of the site, following the last concert day. Scores have signed so far. I've attached FoFP's inaugural newsletter.

Attachments:

• Finsbury Park Life (issue one).pdf, 1.3 MB

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