Emergent Finsbury Park Neighbourhood Forum in Harringay Land Grab

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michele on February 3, 2017 at 16:59

I live in N4 and don't consider myself to live in Finsbury Park.

I used to work for Finsbury Park Action Group in the '80's and its boundaries covered the three boroughs but the streets nearest to the park, as I recall. Will have to see if I can dig out the map from my loft some day.

In the meantime if there is to be a Neighbourhood Forum we should have one for Harringay. Might not be a bad idea with all the changes that are being proposed, coming through thick and fast, as we no longer have a voice since the old forums were disbanded.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 3, 2017 at 12:34

No, the sorting office was given the area of the name in which it was located rather than the one it served. The history I shared is sourced from the Postal Museum.

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 3, 2017 at 12:45

Well yes, isn't that what I've been saying. It was you who said the N4 post code equated with Finsbury Park. I disagree and explained why. 

If you're now saying that it's the people who live in an area who should have the say, then we're on the same page. It's what I've been championing for the past 10 years - whether or not the result agrees with my view. 

Permalink Reply by Arkady on February 3, 2017 at 12:47

Except, as the map shows, it's not quite true that N4=Finsbury Park. North and west of the park the 'Finsbury Park' identity is patchy and quite tentative. We've been in discussions with the Woodbury Down folks and they don't want to be included. Harringay seems to be a separate beast (as this morning's survey results overwhelming confirm). The tricky bit is going to be the area between the GOBLIN and the New River, east of Green Lanes - not having a strong local identity of its own it seems to have defaulted to 'Finsbury Park'. But it doesn't sit comfortably with the geographically-contiguous areas south and west of the park 

Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 3, 2017 at 14:47

I'm surprised to hear that about the Hermitage/Vale area. I would have thought it does have an identity. When I first drew my borders for Harringay, I didn't include it. A number of people from that area contacted me and explained that the area they live in is and always has been part of Harringay. Of course they were right. 

Of course where ares lie between neighbourhoods or at the edges of them, in a city like London with a highly mobile population, people unfamiliar with an area often identify it by reference to wayfinders - famous landmarks and very often public transport stops. This explains for example why the newer residents in the Warehouse District often call it Manor House whereas those who've been around for longer call it Harringay.

Permalink Reply by Arkady on February 3, 2017 at 14:56

Hugh, Perhaps the latest spate of survey submissions will provide clarity.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 3, 2017 at 12:16

I do hope it takes more than a sensationalist heading and the expression of an opinion to frustrate people's ability to make up their own minds. (I suspect it will take rather more than that for you, for example!).

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 3, 2017 at 12:31

But it's doing it's job, Anne. I'm afraid an unembellished title would have led to fewer views and less engagement. Look at Ben's original discussion from December.

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Permalink Reply by Arkady on February 3, 2017 at 12:34

a) Hugh's right

b) Hugh should be a redtop headline writer

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 3, 2017 at 12:35

What a great job. Got any contacts?

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Permalink Reply by Arkady on February 3, 2017 at 9:45

Thanks for raising this Hugh.

I strongly advise that Harringayers fill in the short survey below so that the FP Neighbourhood Forum steering group have a better idea of whether people in and around the ladder affiliate themselves with Finsbury Park or not. The more evidence we get the better. Please do so ASAP!

https://finsburyparkplan.wordpress.com/boundary-survey/

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 3, 2017 at 10:16

Thanks Ben.

Your survey has three questions. of which the second is optional:

• What is your postcode? 
• When describing where you live, what do you call your local area?
• Do you feel that your local area is part of "Finsbury Park"? 

Whilst short surveys are admirable in some circumstances, this is an important issue. Do you really think that the responses to a survey of this sort confirm that your respondents understand the implications of what they're being asked? Does it form a sufficient basis on which to base, or even to start the process of, a significant change to local governance structures? I don't.

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