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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

What's happening to the Downhills Park cafe?

I was concerned to discover that as the summer holidays crept up on us, one of our favourite destinations for  playing tennis and general hanging out, Downhills Park, was still without a cafe and, crucially, toilet facilities. I think its fair to say that for a park to feel welcoming and safe there needs to be some kind of facility for refreshments and relief.

After a cross little rant on Twitter, following an email about the park not being ready to host the usual tennis camp, I emailed Peray Ahmet, who is the cabinet member for parks (amongst other things), who replied today with the following ( she is aware that I will be publishing this, incidentally, as I always tell any councillor that I am likely to write what they tell me on HOL and other social media):

As you are aware, under its previous management the Downhills Park Cafe was forced to close due to a general lack of business. The building was also in need of repairs so the Council took the decision not to re-let the cafe to another tenant before these works were completed.
The building is currently owned by the Adults and Social Care department within Haringey Council as it was built with the aim of providing a space for people with learning difficulties to develop their skills and confidence.
Since the cafe’s recent closure, I have been in discussions with colleagues to try and transfer ownership of the building to the Council’s Parks team. Our aim is to lease the cafe to a local community group who will work in conjunction with a food growing project that the Council is planning for the park. There is no time line for this process as yet but I am happy to provide you with an update when we have confirmed the letting of the cafe.
While I appreciate the temporary loss of the cafe and toilet facilities is inconvenient for park users, the Council is committed to ensuring that the cafe has a long-term and sustainable business model that will allow it to operate successfully when it does reopen in the future.

It's sad that the lovely social enterprise that enabled adults with learning difficulties to get work experience was unable to get enough business to make a go of it but encouraging that the council want to let it to a community group and the the growing project sounds interesting. Let us hope we don't have to wait too long for this facility to return to one of Haringey's most interesting wild spaces.

Tags for Forum Posts: downhills park

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Antoinette on July 29, 2016 at 13:29

It's not cutting in though - the total area of the site will be exactly the same as before,

Permalink Reply by Pat Devereaux on July 29, 2016 at 13:33

Really not cutting in? Please explain to me why the council have to publish a public notice saying they are cutting into the park? 

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on July 29, 2016 at 18:09

Thanks Pat Devereaux, do you have by any chance, still have the advert in the Haringey Independent so I can use the reference to access the Council's website for this Planning application? I can't read the scanned document you posted. Don't worry if you've recycled it. I will look harder online.
Having had some experience of proposed "landswaps", while I have no objection to the principle. I recall one example where the "additional" swapped green area turned out - on investigation - to be what might charitably be called "sleight of land".  Ever since I've recommended caution when dealing such a proposal,

Permalink Reply by Pat Devereaux on July 30, 2016 at 13:49

Hi Alan I don't have the actual document but you can pick it up on this scanned document attached below. If you open it then download it and then blow up the pic on your computer. It says Local Government Act 1972 section 123 (1) (2A) Land at Keston Road, London N17 6PW forming part of Downhills Park. It says objections should be addressed to Nick Papapavalou Development Surveyor Corporate property and Capital projects, London Borough of Haringey, Alexandra House 10 Sation Rd, London N22 7TR by no later than 5 August 2016

Attachments:
Permalink Reply by Justin Hinchcliffe on July 30, 2016 at 21:48

This is getting silly now...

Permalink Reply by Kieran Cullen on July 29, 2016 at 12:54
I don't suppose any cafe will be doing much business during the long disruption of the planned building works.
Permalink Reply by Charlotte A on July 29, 2016 at 12:59

I don't know, if I was a builder on that site, I might like to spend my lunch break sitting outside a cafe in a park. 

Permalink Reply by Kieran Cullen on July 29, 2016 at 14:15
That's true. Good for them.
Permalink Reply by Pat Devereaux on July 29, 2016 at 13:13

I agree Kieran and the possible TFL disruption at the other end of the park will definitely disrupt the activities of pupils of the three schools, and countless others, who use Downhills Park facilities like the tennis courts.

Permalink Reply by Antoinette on July 29, 2016 at 13:32

Can I ask what "the possible TFL disruption" you refer to is?  Are you talking about the overground closure?

Permalink Reply by Gordon T on July 29, 2016 at 14:09

If Crossrail 2 is ever built around 2030, one of the two possible routes will require a ventilation shaft in a corner of Downhills Park.

Permalink Reply by Hugo Read on July 29, 2016 at 14:03
I think this thread about the cafe has been jumped! We already have a thread for the building works that I believe you've all posted to.

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