Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
ALL along the Watchtower: security response to concern about public order at Events in Finsbury Park
FOLLOWING the break-ins to the Wireless Festival in June and July, the Council's latest events – in the weekend just passed – exhibited beefed-up security.
In addition to the hundreds of metres of steel wall that we've come to expect, watchtowers were erected at strategic locations.
These permit guards to spot attempts to break-in. All were built just inside the wall and the guards access them by ladders; all platforms allowed standing; at least one had the comfort of a chair.
Due to the earlier break-ins – and particularly the Facebook video (viewed some 3.5 million times) – I think it's fair to say that this north London park has achieved some notoriety. If there's a Wireless 2016, then I think security would have to be significantly toughened.
I don't imagine that the observation platforms will be weaponized, but I wonder if klaxons and searchlights might be considered to complete the security picture.
It's only a public park, after all.
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Haringey Councillor
Liberal Democrat Party
Tags for Forum Posts: finsbury park, finsbury park events, wireless festival
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by matthew cuthbert on
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"Ich bin ein Berliner," or is that I am a jelly doughnut, I know which one I'd prefer in a park.
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To my knowledge the Klaxons have never played FP, but agreed the boundary has a hostile perimeter, I think Ken as Mayor and Unison had better gigs, on a human scale.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Matthew on the Sunday, I watched youths peering through the cracks, watching all the noise fun inside. I thought to myself, these youngsters can't afford to be in the Council-sanctioned event.
In terms of the the forthcoming Borough slogan "I am in", I would have to say that these youths were not in.
This was not an in-clusive or community event.
When he visited in the (destructive) wake of Wireless, one of the points that David Lammy MP picked up on quickly was how the wall acted as a barrier and was excluding.
I am in … to open access for parks.
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Permalink Reply by Bee on
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Clive - I'm surprised that as you were obviously viewing this event on Sunday you make no mention of the numerous litter picker uppers in attendance who were not only cleaning up the litter by the Finsbury Park entrance, but also cleaning the park down by Endymion Road. The park is now cleaner than after a normal weekend.
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Well Bee, there's much that could be said and has been said about Haringey Council's policy for events in FP, but the topic of the thread I began was the advent of the watchtowers. I walked past the event (not viewing it) and experienced the thump thump thump thump noise complained of by others.
I didn't see any litter pickers on Sunday or yesterday, but saw nine of them working this morning. I did feel sorry for them working in the rain.
It was worse for them as they had not been properly equipped. They were stooping to bend down and held a bag. At least some clearly had no gloves; they had no bag hoops and not a single one had been issued with a litter picker – surely this stuff is basic?
No matter how much litter they pick up, something they cannot do is repair the renewed damage to the park surface.
Litter is just one aspect of the Events: the southern area looks a mess.
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All Rise!
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24z8y_the-wailers-finsbury-park-0...
The Rise low down: all free!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rise_Festival
I don't expect groups like Funkadelic or Osibisa would present a big problem. The Rainbow offers a Fri night, Sat Night solution, though the current church group seem keen to point out Jimmy Hendrix etc once played at the venue, but I guess they wouldn't wish for those days to return.
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I now know why the Stone Roses Roses referred to their album as the Second Coming, as their riffs were lifted from Hendrix.
The Finsbury Park gig was the only Roses concert within the tour that didn't result in a death, but only just, the council have to be conscious of who bands pull into the area, monitor the behaviour of security, ensure the safety of concert goers within, and conduct outside the park.
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By posting eleven pictures showing the same thing, the boundary wall is inevitably going to look hostile.
Pavlos I'm not sure that follows: 11 photos of a teddy bear need not look hostile at all, let alone inevitably so. I didn't mention "hostile". Do you think the steel wall and watchtowers look offensive?
I think the appearance is more of a defensive fortification, rather than something offering hostility. But still, in my view, inappropriate in a park.
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Permalink Reply by JJ B on
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It doesn't look hostile it IS hostile. I can't believe that parts of FP have been blocked of AGAIN!
This is just unreasonable!
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Permalink Reply by Peter Chalk on
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The LibDem coalition government heavily policed events like Carnival and New Year Fireworks. Some say you ruined the experience! (Although I agree these events must stop in Finsbury Park.) - from an ex Labour Councillor.
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Yup. Carnival has been completely 'spoilied' by the extreme and paranoid controls put in place to keep people in check. It is just so obvious that London needs a city-wide yearly celebration to let loose. Instead of increasing the controls they should be expanding the Carbnvial to other areas.
England has no national day when the entire country is allowed to 'let loose', make noise, dance in the streets and be happy TOGETHER a la 'Fete de la Musique' or 'Bastille Day'.
Every so often there is a Queens celebration of other when 'Englanders' show just how enjoyable and beneficial this can be.
Why the over-bearing paranoia and controls?
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Permalink Reply by JoeW on
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I noticed the watchtowers on Sunday morning. I think it might be kinder if the council could erect more permanent watchtowers, with a roof to protect the guardians from sun and rain. They could also be used as children's playhouses on weekends with no festival. Here's one possible design:
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