Haringey Local Plan Tottenham Activists 2nd Meeting 25.11.25

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  • online, on Tuesday 25th November 2025
     
    Attendees (and the organisations they are members of):
    Paul Burnham – Haringey Defend Council Housing
    Jeremy Cassidy and Helen Haigh – Fountain Area Residents Association 
    Hannah Kwok – local resident
    Nathan – West Green Rd area resident
    Caitlin Strongman – Save The Warehouses Campaign
    Quentin Given – Haringey Friends of the Earth
    Dave Morris – Our Tottenham Coordination Group, Friends of Lordship Rec, Haringey Community Centres Network
    Michele de Broglio – Gardens Residents Association
    Martin Ball – Tottenham resident, involved in Our Tottenham Coordination Group
    Apologies:
    Ata – Save The Warehouses Campaign
    Anne Gray – Haringey over 50s
    Dayal Strub – Tower Gardens Residents Group, Friends of Tower Gardens Park
    Amit – Gardens Residents Association

  • Dave summed up the notes from the first meeting organised by and for Tottenham activists on 17th November.  It had been well-attended and very focused. Quentin had explained the purpose, content and process of the Plan and current consultation. Attendees at that meeting had raised various concerns, including lack of a meeting about Tottenham as a whole; lack of infrastructure plan; excessive housing targets but low % of the actually affordable homes most desperately needed, and low % of family-sized homes; and possible demolitions at Northumberland Park Estate, Tottenham Green/Marcus Garvey library, Willoughby Lane area, Love Lane estate, Peacock Estate and Tiverton Primary School; failure to incorporate new Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation, and the need to clearly raise the levels of protection for green spaces including Pinkham Way and the Gardens Community Garden. In fact as the Tottenham population expands there’s a need for additional green spaces and other vital ‘social infrastructure’. Also the Council want to sell off some public buildings (there’s a secret ie unpublished ‘Disposals List’) – but some could and should be run by and for the community. It was noted that there were some good new policies regarding trees, and also climate-related adaptation and mitigation

  • The meeting proceeded with these main discussion points:
    • Paul criticised the language used in the Plan as inaccessible to many people, and said that the detail/content does not match the supposed vision of the Plan and the official Housing Needs Assessment documents. If there are not stronger policies and real checks on the power of private developers, the reality will be gentrification. He proposed a well-publicised public meeting to explain the Plan and mobilise local people to stand up for Tottenham’s real needs.
    • Caitlin said the Plan reflected positive move from previous ones regarding recognition of the value of the creative sector living in warehouses – new policy C6 in Chapter 20 – protecting such spaces. Two main issues remain – ensuring right of return and affordability when landlords refurbish buildings, and getting the use classes right. Her group is in touch with similar residents in Fountayne Road industrial estate, and they have a meeting 7 December.
    • Dave stressed the need for people to submit specific wording changes to the Plan’s proposed text, including in the key ‘Site Allocations’ documents, in addition to general objections and points.
    • Quentin and Martin had attended and reported back from an online meeting about Bruce Grove/Seven Sisters/South Tottenham.
    • Quentin pointed out that, according to the Commonplace website, some area plans had only been viewed by a handful of people – a shocking lack of engagement. More local people and local groups should be reading the plans, attending meetings and submitting their views.
    • Ashley said the whole process had passed her by – why did the Haringey people just sent out not mention it? Also concerned that Spurs area is described as a ‘cultural quarter’, but the unique heritage/cultural quarter area around Bruce Castle is being ignored despite the extensive efforts of local residents and the Museum over the last 2 years.
    • Michele raised concerns about proposed access to the proposed Harringay Stadium site development being through her local (and nationally recognised) community garden, when there is another possible arch under the railway that hasn’t been considered. The Garden clearly requires recognition and maximum protection in the policies.

Next Steps

  • Dave to circulate notes to the Our Tottenham list, and we should all encourage people to participate in meetings and submissions.
  • Dave to write to council under the Our Tottenham Network umbrella asking for an all-Tottenham public meeting
  • Michele to circulate link to introductory webinar about the Plan.
  • Jeremy to set up quick website so we can pool submissions and comments: Update: https://ourtottenham.org.uk/haringey-draft-local-plan-2025/
  • We will call another Tottenham activists meeting Tues 9 Dec, Jeremy to provide 40 minute Zoom link.



Haringey Local Plan Tottenham Activists Meeting 17.11.25

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Attendees (and the organisations they are members of):

Quentin Given – Haringey Friends of the Earth
Dave Morris – Our Tottenham Coordination Group, Friends of Lordship Rec, Haringey Community Centres Network
Michele de Broglio – Gardens Residents Association
Michael Edwards – Just Space (Londonwide Planning Network including London Tenants Federation)
Steve Jones – Haringey Community Action Network
Martin Ball – Tottenham resident who spoke at examination of previous Local Plan, Our Tottenham Coordination Group
Dayal Strub – Friends of Tower Gardens Park, Tower Gardens Residents Group
Ben Jones – Member of Your Party, Haringey Cycling Campaign, Haringey Green Party and Haringey Ladder resident
Carmel Cadden – Haringey Community Spaces Campaign, Haringey Right to Food Campaign, and Haringey Community Food Network.
Anne Gray – Haringey over 50s
Stephanie Grant – Unite The Community, Haringey Socialist Alliance
Chris Setz – Broadwater Farm resident, was involved in StART at St Anns Hospital site.
Pamela Harling – Haringey Green Party, Sustainable Haringey
Annie – Your Party
Alison – Anti-HDV Campaign, Northumberland Park Community Cook Up
Paul Burnham – Haringey Defend Council Housing
Mike – Haringey Unite The Community, Haringey Green Party
Diya – Student at University College London
Bahlul – Selby Trust
Herman Irish – concerned about Development in Tottenham
Nick Putz – Concerned about Development and Housing etc

Introduction: 

Quentin provided an Introduction to the Draft Local Plan (LP), it’s purpose in identifying Site Allocation across the Borough i.e sites suitable for development/re-development, Land use and scale of potential development, along with limits regarding building heights,  provision of green space etc.

The Council has limited powers since it does not redevelop the land itself, other than for Council-owned buildings or Council Housing. The Local Plan is a tool used by the Council for regulating planning permissions in the Borough, with housing targets being set by Central Government and the London Mayor (As set out in the London Plan). 

The Plan does not cover all council policies, so for example the transport chapter only covers transport issues in new developments, it is not a wider transport strategy.  Chapters of the Local Plan. include Sustainable Transport, Climate Resilience and the Natural Environment, Spatial Strategy and Housing, Design and Heritage, Culture and Social Infrastructure, Inclusive Places.

Green and blue infrastructure is identified in the LP, including watercourses. 

The suggested timescale for the developments varies by site some are beyond 2030 and some not until after 2040.

The public are being ‘consulted’ and are urged to respond by the deadline of 19th December.

To be Noted: 

  • No map yet included of new Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
  • There are Sites identified that have contradictory designations eg Pinkham Way is recognised as important for nature but still also designated for waste processing. 
  • The fact that a site isn’t listed or identified in the plan does not protect it from planning applications for development
  • There is a policy on Trees for the first time, which aims to protect trees from eg ‘subsidance’ claims.
  • The Policy and Urban Greening plan includes a Biodiversity Net Gain. This could be useful for making funding applications for green sites, allotments, and food growing in developments that are covered by the Local Plan.
  • The LP does embody action on Climate Change – how to tackle this and make the Borough more resilient, with new proposals expected on building resilience. and impacting on Energy Efficiency Standards.

Latest List of Consultation events and Webinars and Recordings available so far of those that have taken place:

Have Your Say Today – Community Engagement Events – Haringey Draft Local Plan

https://haringeynewlocalplan.commonplace.is/proposals/v3/virtual-engagement-events

Previous Local Plans and successful Community responses and campaigns: 

The last Local Plan in 2017 had many shortcomings and lobbying by communities had some successes, e.g the threat to build on a third of Lordship Rec and the demolition of Broadwater Farm – after hundreds of objections and much lobbying the Inspector ruled that the Council had to scrap its plans and instead work with the Community. After much campaigning a similar judgment was made in relation to the Selby Site, and also led to the protection of the adjacent Bull Lane Playing Fields (which campaigners had been fighting to protect for 40 years). Residents near Pinkham Way in the west also led a successful campaign. And the biggest success was the Campaign against the HDV (Haringey Development Vehicle involving a plan to transfer of £2 billion of Haringey’s public assets and land into the management of notorious hedge-fund Lendlease) – this was not mentioned in the 2017 Local Plan, but planned by the then leading Cabinet Members who were defeated by a mass campaign of protests by Haringey residents coming together, a legal challenge, and Labour Party members deselecting their own leading Haringey Councillors.

Key Issues Identified in this meeting: 

  • The Failure to hold a consultation meeting for Tottenham as a whole, whilst Consultations have taken place in Hornsey and Wood Green yet the majority of the proposed Site Allocations are in Tottenham. 
  • The lack of an Infrastructure Plan, that won’t be available until this stage of Consultation on the LP has closed, but could have ramifications for elements of The Proposals in the Daft LP.
  • Housing: The Council has a Housing Needs Assessment  (SHMA) which should guide all housing built. It states that the proportion of affordable housing needed in the Borough as 60% overall, whereas the Draft Local Plan aims for only 40% and the actual amount built is a shocking 23.5%. It also states that 86% of “affordable” homes should be Social Housing because residents in need of housing can’t afford “Affordable”.
  • Rent Levels – Social v Affordable – 96% of applicants of social housing and social tenants can’t afford “Affordable ” housing!
  • Bedroom Size Mix: developers favour building 2 bed, 1bed and micro apartments , whereas the Housing Needs Survey states that the following are needed: 36% 3 bed, 23% 4 bed and social Housing.
  • Quality of new homes: Lack of natural light, too close together, many single aspect whereas all new homes should be double aspect, , kitchens without natural light. Should be 70′ separation between buildings as used up until 2014.
  • Noise, dust, vibration from construction – no conditions in this Local plan (or the London Plan?)
  • Providers are/are not being encouraged to refurbish existing homes instead of demolitions.
  • Planning Applications are fast tracked if most new homes are Council acquisitions.
  • At the recent webinar about the Local Plan, Timothy Soloman, the Council Officer who organised it stated that Genuinely affordable homes are the real focus of the Council Plan, but he couldn’t provide a definition of this , but said he would come back about that. Usually ‘Affordable’ Prices are what the London and Local Plans refer to.  And ‘Affordable’ is a proportion of Market rent in the area. A definition is needed for Haringey.
  • Council rents for new tenancies and new builds are £88 pwk or 60% higher than the weekly rents charged for existing stock.

Site Allocations of Concern and Potential Demolition identified by those present

Please note that these were just some of the concerns identified and raised at the meeting. Many may be ‘fanciful’, but even if not implemented will cause neglect and anxiety. Apologies for any omissions or inaccuracies – please check for yourself!

  • The Green Space and car park in front of Marcus Garvey Library and the Tottenham Leisure Centre is included as potential site for redevelopment.
  • Ashley Rd and Tottenham Hale Station is identified as having a 10 storey block on top of the station.
  • Estate demolition: High Road West and Love Lane council estate are identified for demolition. 
  • Northumberland Park included for potential demolition.
  • Willoughby Lane extended towards Enfield is one of the largest sites due for potential redevelopment, which is three times the size of the High Rd West site.
  • The area north of High Road West and the Peacock Industrial Estate also earmarked for potential demolition/development despite strong campaigning by the family businesses at the site
  • The Plan recognises the need to protect the Bruce Grove Cloud Garden, the area behind the site of Luke Howard House 8-10 Bruce Grove with sizeable green space. It was noted that as result of Council planning failure some has already been given planning permission for some housing though nothing has happened on the site for years.
  • Tiverton Primary School site to be developed for housing – Council, social or private?
  • Ferry Lane Estate is recognised as not suitable for further development (which is good and reflects residents lobbying) and The Paddock should now be designated a Local Nature Reserve
  • Industrial and Light industrial space to be used for Housing?
  • Green Lanes – Arena district and St Ann’s Development: large sites subject to 2 separate proposals, includes potential redevelopment of Harringay Green Lanes Station and each proposal mentioning that access between St Ann’s and the Arena site is to be provided though the Community Garden off Stanhope Gardens. This threatens a multi award winning garden, a hub of the local community used by residents from the surrounding areas, residents in the Gardens, the GRA (Gardens Residents Association) and has links with Friends of Chestnuts, Friends of Railway Fields and local schools and other community groups. Also awarded a small Community Carbon Fund Grant by the Council to raise awareness of reducing carbon footprints of the GRA and residents, contributing to the Council’s Net zero and nature strategy. The Garden must have maximum protection. Other concerns about the proposed development relate to the heights of new blocks, and the threat to Trees in the Sainsbury’s car park. 
  • Warehouse district in Hermitage and Gardens (and other areas) – has been the subject of along running campaign by residents, to retain a cultural and live work quarter. This needs recognition.
  • 100 Tower Gardens Rd – Community building which the local residents association is campaigning to bring back into public use.
  • The Council has a Disposals List that was approved at the Full Council meeting in June 2025, with redacted content. This needs to be made public so people can object and campaign to save buildings.
  • Mounting usage pressures on existing green spaces and parks due to large scale development, with thousands of extra residents having access to the same existing parks, and no new parks being created – having an adverse impact on health of inhabitants, particularly those in flats without gardens. One example is the development surrounding Green Lanes, Hermitage and Gardens, and the New River with huge ongoing development at Woodberry Down just down the road, large developments on the other side of Finsbury Park in Islington, The new St Ann’s development creating a new Village, and proposed development of Arena and warehouse sites. How does this fit with Net Zero, Parks and Green Spaces, and Health & Wellbeing Policies?

Next Steps

  • All encouraged to attend relevant Council webinars and consultations – the coming week includes webinars on Wood Green and Green Lanes, and Spatial Strategy and Housing and catch up with recorded webinars.
  • Take time to read relevant policy documents, including the Site Allocations identified area by area around the borough.
  • Should people organise an in person public meeting in Tottenham with all groups represented? Is there time before deadline of 19th December?
  • Demand that the Council organise a Tottenham-wide consultation meeting.

Next Meeting Tuesday 25th November at 7pm on Zoom to focus on co-ordinated response / action

Spring 2025 Update

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Our Tottenham Coordination Group – 19th Feb 2025 @ The Garden House / KitapEvi

Present: Herman I (supporter of Goan Centre), Juliet C and Ben L (Haringey branch of the London Renters Union), Joyce R (Tottenham Civic Society), Martin B (member of misc groups), Sue P (Wards Corner + Friends of the Earth + misc groups), Elena (Wards Corner Community Benefit Soc), David K (Peoples Land Policy), Alison D (Community Spaces Campaign), Nelly T and daughter Dyllis (Devon Close Residents Association), Sean O’Donovan (Cllr), Dave M (Haringey Community Centres Network + misc other groups)      Apologies: Shirley H (Bruce Grove Residents Network), Malcom S (Tottenham Sports Centre + Weir Hall Action Group), Michael E (Just Space + Hermitage Road Residents Association), Frank M (Tottenham Sports Centre), Steve J (Convenor, Haringey Community Action Network), Paul B (Haringey Defend Council Housing), Jasmin T (Friends of Marcus Garvey Library + Haringey Friends of Reading and Education), Tony W (Haringey Solidarity Group)

Chair: Dave   Notes: Ben     Key documents were distributed to all, including: Our Tottenham flyer and Charter, Haringey Community Centres Network flyer, Haringey Friends of Parks Forum leaflet, Haringey’s Community Networks information, Council ‘Shaping Tottenham’ extracts (4pp), the Wards Corner Community Plan booklet, and Haringey ‘Totally Indypendent’ newspaper.

Agenda:  Background to the meeting   /   Updates from local campaigns and issues   /   The Council’s ‘Shaping Tottenham’ vision document   /  How can local groups and activists best keep supporting each other?  /   AOB

1.  Background to the meeting

Our Tottenham (OT) is a network set up early 2013, followed by 3 or 4 large conferences involving 40/50 community groups concerned with planning and regeneration issues. It was a direct response to a controversial Council/Developer ‘Plan for Tottenham’ which promoted mass demolitions and gentrification.The OT idea was to support each other, oppose ‘top down’ developer-led planning threats to various parts of Tottenham, and fight for better planning policies and practices supportive of local needs. Also developed a positive Our Tottenham Community Charter, signed by 55 local organisations. OT was very active for 7 or so years. Supported local campaigns around threatened sites at Wards Corner, Love Lane, Peacock Estate, Selby (N. Tottenham), St Ann’s Hospital etc – many of which have seen some real success after long and determined efforts.

OT supported the Stop HDV campaign which successfully stopped the Council from hiving off (to a notorious hedge fund, Lendlease) the management of £2 billion of Haringey’s public assets. This led to the removal of those chiefly responsible for the ‘Plan for Tottenham’ and the HDV, including the Council leader and Cabinet member in charge of ‘regeneration’. The network’s Coordination Group meetings fizzled out during the COVID years, but its website and email lists have continued to provide and circulate ongoing info. The need for revitalising the OT network is clear from ongoing campaigns and concerns, and was underlined by the need to react to the recent publication of a new Council document: ‘Shaping Tottenham’.

2.  Updates from local campaigns and issues

Wards Corner:  For over 15 years through the Wards Corner Community Coalition the traders and local community around Seven Sisters tube station have been defending a historic building and vibrant indoor multicultural market and surrounding local shops threatened with demolition. The unique market is particularly crucial to latin american stallholders. The land is owned mostly by Transport for London (managed by their property arm Places for London) and part is owned by the Council. The buildings had been decaying for a long time due to neglect by TfL since 1973. 20 years ago the Council struck a secret deal with a property developer, Grainger Ltd, for the eviction of all tenants, mass demolition, and replacement by corporate chains and a gated private estate.

A campaign was launched with huge public meetings, mass protests, extensive lobbying and legal challenges. Eventually an alternative Community Plan for the site was created and granted planning permission. But it wasn’t until Grainger pulled out in 2021 that the Council itself finally agreed to back the Community Plan. A Wards Corner Community Benefit Society was then set up to apply for the lease of the whole site to restore and regenerate the area. They have submitted an expression of interest for the space, and have been offered an official partnership with TfL and the council. The CBS is continuing to consult over and coordinate progress.

The indoor section of the market has been closed for repairs for some years now. TfL has indicated it will be re-opening the temporary market, hopefully in May. The intent is that all the traders who previously held a license will be invited back.  https://wardscorner.org

Selby site and Bull Lane Playing Fields

The Selby Trust manages an old school building housing up to 100 community organisations. The Council originally planned to evict and demolish. However following a long lobbying effort, backed by OT, the Council agreed to work with the Selby Trust as partners to create a new ‘Selby Village’. This would mean the Trust taking control of a new purpose-built community building, with the Council building new housing. https://www.selbytrust.co.uk/

The new ‘village’ would incorporate the Bull Lane Playing Fields, which have been saved after a 40 year campaign by the Weir Hall Action Group to prevent it being sold off for private housing. As the Fields are actually in Enfield, planning permission was also sought from Enfield Council – approved unanimously on 29th Jan 2025!  https://haringeycommunitypress.co.uk/2025/01/30/new-community-centre-plans-given-go-ahead/   

Love Lane Housing Estate and Peacock Industrial Estate

These 2 areas opposite the new Tottenham Hotspurs ground had been dubbed by the Plan for Tottenham as ‘High Road West’ and earmarked for evictions, demolition and eventual gentrification. This provoked strong campaigns at both sites by the tenants and small businesses. Meanwhile Spurs’ property arm has been buying up some of the land in and around the area, undermining the Council’s original ‘grand plan’ for the whole area.

The Council conducted a ‘demolition’ ballot of the Love Lane tenants and put in a huge effort to convince them to (only narrowly) support the plan, with assurances of re-housing elsewhere. Lendlease will be the preferred developer, even though they are ceasing most of their UK operations. The Council has carried out Compulsory Purchase Orders on local shops. The number of promised new social houses have dwindled. Peacock Estate businesses continue to fight removal, rejecting an inappropriate ‘offer’ to move some of them to a wharehouse in Enfield.

We paid our respects to Tino, the campaign coordinator of the Love Lane Temporary Accommodation Group (TAG), who sadly passed away last autumn. He had regularly attended Our Tottenham coordination meetings. We note that through TAG’s efforts, those in temporary accommodation have also been promised re-housing. https://haringeycommunitypress.co.uk/2024/09/04/tributes-paid-to-tottenham-housing-campaigner/   

Down Lane Park/Tottenham Hale

Down Lane Park is being renewed with £3m new equipment and facilities, and a planned new community building. https://downlaneparkimprovement.commonplace.is/  This is financed by ‘planning gain’ funding from the many tower blocks being built around Tottenham Hale – mostly private flats, but at least some (700?) Council homes which the Council unfortunately had to pay for to be included.

Housing campaigning

Haringey London Renters Union branch has been active for over 2 years and now has 700 members in the private and social rent sectors. This year their focus is around gentrification and rising rents. Demands have been developed targeting the Council. Members are currently doing door knocking in Love Lane and Northumberland Estate to ask tenants what their issues are and to sign up more members. LRU London wide is campaigning for rent controls. They also want to see secure tenancies. They want to work with people in Tottenham to raise consciousness around these issues. https://londonrentersunion.org

Haringey Defend Council Housing has been championing the needs and rights of local Council tenants and leaseholders for over 30 years. Have many contacts on estates throughout Haringey. Regularly lobby the Council to oppose threats to increase rent and service charges. Also take up repair and safety issues, and oppose demolitions/gentrification. Having a public lobby on the 3rd March. Will get a notice sent out. https://haringeydefendcouncilhousingblog.wordpress.com/

Note: We believe Haringey Housing Action Group, one of OT’s founding organisations, is continuing to act as a mutual aid and advice group. 

St Anns hospital site

The NHS, who owned the whole St Ann’s site run by the Mental Health Trust, decided 15 years ago to sell off half the site for private development. A campaign was launched to defend the site, and then to demand that the land to be sold instead be leased to a local Community Land Trust – the St Ann’s Redevelopment Trust  – for 100% affordable long term housing and community facilities managed by the community. The Mental Health Trust put in a planning application for 500 homes with only a 14% provision for affordable homes. The Community produced a plan for 700 affordable community-led homes. After much lobbying and negotiation, the GLA bought the land, sidelined StART, watered down the affordability % – but conceded that alongside the mainly private housing there should also be 160 Council homes, 50 co-operative homes, sheltered accommodation and homes for healthworkers.  The Council has indicated it will buy those 160 council homes and Gida Housing Co-op is preparing to take on the 50 co-op homes. Some history:  https://www.startharingey.co.uk/

Haringey Community Centres Network

Following the launch of the Our Tottenham network, it was clear that some community-run Centres were threatened with potential demolition. Also the Council was only offering short term leases at market rents for those based in Council buildings – which 90% of existing Centres were refusing to sign. Many centres were set up in the 1980s and 1990s with long leases with ‘peppercorn’ or ‘circular’ contracts offsetting any rent charges. So the Haringey Community Centres Network was set up for centres to support each other and to demand that the previously affordable and secure leases continue. There were also issues with outstanding major repairs. Over the last 5 years the HCCN has been negotiating for proper recognition and support for all Centres, and the fantastic range of important services they provide to the community at no cost to the Council. The HCCN is calling for the value of Centres’ services to be calculated and such value to be offset against rent charges. Centres are holding out for improved leases to be offered, and the negotiations have had increasing success. The Council have recently conducted wider consultation on what the new leases should look like. Progress is being made but there are still key sticking points around rent and repairs. See:  https://lordshiphub.org.uk/haringey-community-centres-network/

Community Spaces Campaign

Independently from HCCN a campaign has been started in the last year to get more spaces, especially for free food distribution projects. The CommunitySpaces Campaign (CSC) has been lobbying the council for community groups to be able to access unused spaces in Council buildings. This is particularly needed in Tottenham: The Northumberland Park Community Cook Up collective project was made homeless 2 years ago – they have continued to distribute free food weekly (eg £96k worth in 2023 alone) on the street since the loss of their building; Also the Home Grown in Tottenham youth and migrant family project was kicked out of its Council building and is having to operate from someone’s back door. It was reported that the Devon Close Residents Association members had used a spare Council space, but no longer are allowed access.

These and similar much-needed food projects/banks/kitchen could multiply massively if they had access to spaces.

The campaigners met with the Council last year and general support was expressed. CSC were then asked to provide specific details of what they needed. However since then its all gone quiet. The campaign is continuing, and they believe distribution should be based on the right to food and solidarity not charity. There were 2 local ‘Right To Food’ marches in 2023 and 2024. For example: https://wrp.org.uk/features/over-1000-march-for-right-to-food-in-haringey/

Parks

There are 65 local Friends of Parks Groups – coordinated since 2001 through the bi-monthly meetings of the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum – helping promote, protect, maintain and improve public green spaces throughout Haringey (including almost all such spaces in Tottenham). It was reported that these residents’ groups achieve a lot, and try to maintain a good working relationship with the Parks Service. But Parks Service budgets are increasingly hard hit as Government funding for Council services continues to be chronically low. More info: https://haringeyfriendsofparks.org.uk/

Libraries

The cash-strapped Council has been proposing that library hours be heavily reduced, but no Libraries to be actually closed. Friends of Marcus Garvey Library has been active in working against this on the basis that it reduces access to a range of cultural and community services for all ages. They are part of a borough wide campaign, Haringey Friends of Reading and Education. The Council have since amended some of their proposals. https://librarylondon.org/localgroups/haringey/about.html

Local trade union disputes:

There have been, and continue to be, a number of local industrial disputes going on, especially to defend public services and working conditions. These are supported by Haringey Trades Union Council. This includes: Teachers in 5 secondary schools opposing larger classes and greater workloads; Haringey Housing repair workers; Local bus workers; London Underground staff; Various NHS pay disputes.  https://www.facebook.com/HaringeyTUC/

Haringey Solidarity Group: Haringey Solidarity Group print a local free community paper called ‘Totally Indypendent’. Since Haringey Community Press is now only online, this is now Haringey’s only hard copy paper. Spring 2025 issue now out:  https://haringey.org.uk/backnewsletters/

3. ‘Shaping Tottenham’ vision document

The Council has just published this urban planning document, a link for which we had circulated before the meeting. https://www.haringey.gov.uk/placemaking-community-development/tottenham/shaping-tottenham   We discussed it briefly.

Compared to the Council’s notorious ‘Plan for Tottenham’ in 2012 it feels to be a big improvement. This is not surprising since the architects of that Plan were kicked out of the Council, and some of the current regime were active supporters of Our Tottenham. Some of the wording of the policies of our own Tottenham Community Charter seem to have made it into the latest document. Check our website for the details of the Charter.

There are still many issues of concern with it. It is felt to be very vague and aspirational with no real indication how any of the positive ideas (affordable housing, stronger communities, more green spaces, better opportunities for all etc) are going to actually happen. There is a written commitment to community partnerships and working with the community. What that means in practice is not clear. Especially when it is still the private property developers who have the power and resources and therefore the real ear of the Council. Such developers generally continue to treat Tottenham as just there for their profit, and treat residents and communities with contempt.

Some of the consultation that fed into this document did seem to actually be reflected in the text.

But what is in it – eg real targets etc – to hold the council to account?  Also where’s the commitment for the Council to stand up to developers and central government more? Concern about ‘council assets’ being used to ‘attract wealth and investment’ (ie property developers) rather than prioritising wealth that is built from the community.

4. How can we continue supporting each other?

It was said that it can feel very isolating for small groups dealing with issues and challenges alone, but very positive to have a network like this which is a backbone to connect groups and people. It was agreed the meeting had been really useful and we need to hold them regularly. Agreement to meet every 3 months.

Local groups and activists should also continue to use the OT collective internal ‘organising’ email list for sending round updates. Key updates can be forwarded on to our wider supporters on our one-way ‘news’ list. Subscribe to that list via: ourtottenham_news-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

We noted that OT is just one of a number of vital grassroots community networks in Haringey. These include Haringey Friends of Reading and Education (see above); Haringey Friends of Parks Forum (see above); Haringey Federation of Residents Associations; Haringey Community Food Network; Haringey Allotments Forum; Haringey Community Centres Network (see above); Sustainable Haringey; and Haringey Community Action Network. Details of all those are here: https://haringeyfriendsofparks.org.uk/haringey_networks.php 

Regarding the recently formed Haringey Community Action Network (involving 26 campaigning groups, trade union branches etc), it was proposed that the Our Tottenham Network Coordination Group apply to affiliate. This was agreed unanimously.

Community action group marks two years of activism in Haringey

5.  Any Other Business

a. We agreed to add new people to our email lists  

b. We agreed to try to keep our website up to date. There have been some technical issues, but we thank Michelle for setting it up and maintaining it for us.  

c. We noted that the Fountain Pub (saved from being developed into housing by a community campaign 15 years ago) is now running monthly ‘open mic’ music sessions.

CO-ORDINATION MEETING, 7th October 2021

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OUR TOTTENHAM CO-ORDINATION MEETING, 7th October 2021

Present: Jasmin (Friends of Marcus Garvey Library), Dave (Friends of Lordship Rec, and Haringey Solidarity Group), Shirley  (Member of Wards Corner Community Coalition), Michael (Member of Hermitage and New River Residents Association, of the Stadium Slopes Protection Society, and of the London Just Space network), Sue (Member of Wards Corner Community Coalition), Martin (Friends of Down Lane Park)     Apologies: Myfanwy (Member of the N15 Development Trust), Pamela (Sustainable Haringey network), Paul (Haringey Defend Council Housing), Joanna (Weir Hall Rd Community Open Space)

Note – this was the first minuted coordination meeting for a few months, with many of the regular OT activists focusing on Love Lane and Wards Corner activities..

Wards Corner   

The developer Grainger recently pulled out of the development agreement and the N15 development Trust is running a series of workshops to develop the Community Benefit Society to restore and manage the Wards building democratically – in line with the Community Plan. The trust has secured detailed financial modelling of the plan to show its viability, has secured some funding from the Mayor of London/CoopsUK Boosting Community Business Programme. The first of a series of online workshops for local residents, businesses and market and town centre users to shape the CBS has just taken place (23 attended). Flyers are available to invite people to the next 2 workshops on 13/10 and 20/10. Volunteers are being sought to help leaflet. The current Council cabinet supports these plans which include a temporary market until the market reopens in the restored building. There are differences of opinion between some of the traders who want the Council to take over the project. Everyone is encouraged to attend the workshops and join the Wards Corner Coalition of local residents and traders as well as the Community Benefit Society. Details of the workshops have already been sent out.

St Anns Redevelopment Trust (StART) 

Held a successful AGM attended by over 70 members. They are focussing on setting up a Community Land Trust, may take on management of 50 of the homes, and are pressing developer to keep social housing element of the scheme. There is now a very active St Ann’s Green Open Spaces Group – they are working closely with an NHS workers group at the site to protect, enhance and improve the usage of the site’s green spaces.

Love Lane 

The Council organised a ballot on demolition/re-build proposals, as per policy of Mayor of London. The Temporary Accommodation Group of residents called for a written guarantee from the Council that all on the estate could be rehoused in secure tenancies – this was not forthcoming, despite verbal promises, so they urged people to vote NO.* The Council pressurised estate residents (many who felt intimidated) sufficiently to get a narrow majority voting yes to demolition, 55 to 45%. Yet 30% didn’t vote and the Council has not secured an overall mandate from residents. But it is continuing to back the developer. Evidence was gathered during the ballot of harassment of residents and Haringey staff collecting ballot papers and getting people to vote on phone in front of them. Haringey Defend Council Housing activists supported the tenants during the vote and have made formal complaints, calling for an Inquiry and a re-ballot. Sian Berry, a GLA Assembly Member, has issued a press statement backing the call for an independent inquiry into the concerns raised. There was an excellent summary article in the Architects Journal. Meanwhile other tenant campaigns around London who have faced or are facing similar schemes and ballots are encouraged by the campaigning around Love Lane. So far the Council Cabinet are saying ‘nothing untoward to see here’ and hope to start in 2022 following the holding of a public Development Management Forum.      

* In the paper edition of Haringey People following the ballot, to be delivered to all Haringey homes, the Council does state: ‘All current tenants and those in temporary accommodation are guaranteed a high quality Council home at Council rents with a secure tenancy on the re-built estate’. But we understand that the Temporary Accommodation Group have been calling for written enforceable contracts stating this to be issued to all the temporary tenants, with the upgrading to permanent tenancies starting straight away.

Peacock Industrial Estate

The local businesses under threat distributed a leaflet during the Love Lane ballot stating their clear ‘Not for Sale’ position. This was delivered on the estate and was a poster displayed in shop windows. Their organisation, Tottenham Business Group, plan to resist any CPOs (Compulsory Purchase Orders).

Marcus Garvey Library 

At the last meeting of the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library on September 11th, we discussed how the Council has agreed that the ground floor of the library will be reconfigured; the children’s counter removed during the refurbishment would be reinstated; the light boxes would be removed to enable the available space to be more effectively utilised and the African Caribbean collection moved downstairs to become once against an integral part of the book collection and also more accessible. Professional library architects will be approached to draw up plans.  With regard to the Children’s Garden which backs onto the Green Precinct, the Chair has received an email from the Marcus Garvey library manager, asking for maintenance of the Children’s Garden to be discussed at our September 11th meeting. She had also left the plans (created by the Regeneration Team) to be discussed by the Friends at the reception desk.  The current situation is that the maintenance of the garden is to be carried out by the private company for a year; but the Library Service want to know if the Friends will take it on after that. There was some discussion about this, as it was pointed out that the garden was part of the public realm and people wanted to know why the residents be asked to maintain the public realm instead of the Council. Also, other members of the group felt we needed more information. It was finally agreed that the Chair would invite the Library Manager to the next meeting on November 13th to discuss and interpret the plans which everyone agreed were unclear. 

Harringay/Hermitage area  

There are concerns with the scale and effect of some of the piecemeal but large scale redevelopment in and around the area. Also the need to improve connectivity for local people, whilst respecting community facilities.

Tottenham Hale  

The tower building continues all around the area, and a new 24-storey one might be coming to the corner of Hale Road. The trucks and the working hours continue to disturb residents and pedestrians.  The block on Ashley Road bought for £29.3m could have Council tenants by the end of this year. Haringey Council are buying 177 units on the Tottenham Hale Wharf site but are refusing to reveal the (expensive?) price. The Contracts Register reveals a £44.6m contract with developer Argent for Welbourne Tower (where the community centre was evicted and demolished). The Down Lane Park hub and café are concerned about private access routes affecting their site. Chesnuts Estate has had its adjacent narrow green space along its southern side built on. Also there’s a threat to build on an open area behind the police station in Ryecroft Way, which has provoked a local campaign. Down Lane Park, faced with thousands of new residents coming into the area, should clearly be being greatly expanded.

Tottenham High Road   

The Council has recent grant funding for much needed improvements in the Bruce Grove area. Many thought this was for rescuing the abandoned train station forecourt, but it turns out this cant be funded as its Transport for London land. Artistic installations are being promoted. There is a Pride In Bruce Grove drop-in event to get info and to discuss ideas and proposals with the project team in the alleyway by Scotland Green, N17 9TA (just outside the Bruce Grove area) on Wed 13th Oct.

Gourlay Triangle  

The Council are buying up properties in this industrial area full of local businesses alongside the Seven Sisters Road, aiming to advance a mixed development scheme. There are claims about creative industries and the Council are doing propaganda tours of the area to capture history. The reality seems to be they are trying to force certain businesses out. The major stumbling block is that most properties are outside Council ownership and the Wickes site is unlikely to be part of the plan as it recently had a major revamp.

Sustainable Haringey

Climate Emergency – There has been a flurry of local activities, events, lobbying and campaigning in the build up to the global Climate Conference in Glasgow at the end of October. This could be a last chance to reverse the catastrophic damage the world’s industrial systems are causing to our climate and to nature. This has included a Go Green week, a mass bikeride of 150 people of all ages, a 200-strong march along the North Circular to oppose the plans for the Edmonton Incinerator, a planned Friends of The Earth lobby of the Council on 12th October, the launch of an Enfield/Haringey COP26 Coalition the same evening, an international-themed event in Finsbury Park on 31st Oct, and a mass rally for the Climate outside the Civic Centre at 11am on Nov 6th (which will then go to join a huge planned march in Central London).

Our Tottenham website  

We agreed to make a £150 contribution to the costs of managing our website over the last few years. This will be from the OT money (£450) being held in the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations account for us. And a big thank you to our webperson.

Next meeting – In approximately a month’s time.

Coordination Meeting 20th May 2021

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Next Our Tottenham coordination meeting:   Thursday 17th June, 7.30pm by Zoom.

Our Tottenham Network  Report of Coordination Meeting – 20thMay 2021 [by zoom]

Present: Dave Morris (Friends of Lordship Rec / Haringey Community Centres Network) – facilitated, David King, Martin Ball (Friends of Down Lane Park), Paul Burham (Haringey Defend Council Housing), Pamela Harling (Sustainable Haringey/Wolves Lane) – took notes, Shirley Hanazawa (Wards Corner Community Coalition).      

Apologies: Mark Panton (Researcher), Jasmin Taylor (Marcus Garvey library)

Background: This was the first coordination meeting for a few months, so the aim was to focus on updates.

The main business of the previous meeting had been to discuss the Council’s proposed new Local Plan. David King sent a response to the initial consultation stressing the importance of socio-economic status as a metric for planning.  We are now expecting the report on the first consultation.  

Updates:

1. Spurs developments at the Goods Yard and the Printworks. There is a dispute now between who develops these sites – the council or Spurs. There is a pre-application meeting for the planning permission on 25th May.  Link sent round. It is not clear what is happening on the Love Lane estate – is there still gong to be tenant’s ballot over demolition and rehousing proposals? The Temporary Accommodation tenants’ group is still active.  TAG to be asked to the next meeting.

Peacock Industrial Estate is still under pressure to sell out to the council, but campaigning for their own interests.

Spurs are looking to provide more housing and are proposing a tower block.  Northumberland Terrace is being refurbished.

There has been a change in leadership in the Council (new leader is Peray Ahmet).  Ruth Gordon takes on housing and John Bevan management of council housing. So there may be less sympathy for the Spurs plans?

The Spurs developments may squeeze the High Road West masterplan.

2. There is a crowdfund in process for ‘meanwhile’ use by the market activists of part of the Latin market at Wards Corner, since Apex House is no longer available as a temporary space.

3. St Ann’s. The Trust’s lobbying efforts continue. There is still concern that not enough social housing will be provided on site and that there will be higher rents for new build properties. It is still hoped that the council will build 200 houses at this site.

4. Broadwater Farm. 2 blocks are to be demolished for safety reasons. Tenure in the blocks is not always clear.  Compulsory purchase orders may be needed in the blocks to be demolished. Architects are consulting widely over replacement designs for the blocks and also how to develop various non-residential parts of the estate.

5. Bruce Grove low traffic neighbourhood consultation will take place next week with a series of virtual consultations. Comments can also be made on the website.

https://tottenhambrucegroveltn.commonplace.is/

6. Libraries. Most are now open again.  The children’s garden planting at the back of Marcus Garvey is taking place.  The new screening looks nice.  There is support from Isadoros Diakides (one of the local councillors). 

7. There is money for the refurbishment of empty buildings in and around Tottenham High Rd. eg Luke Howard’s House, Palace Theatre, Youth Centre, loos at bottom of Bruce Grove.  What’s happening at Bruce Grove station?

Any Other Business     Dave stressed the growing outrage over current government proposals on changes to planning legislation which threatens to remove all community rights to challenge planning applications.  

Spurs: a couple of hundred of fans gathered outside the ground last Saturday to protest against the Club’s support for the ill-fated ‘European Super League’…

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/12306946/tottenham-supporters-hold-protest-against-club-owners-enic-and-chairman-daniel-levy-as-super-league-fallout-continues
Next Our Tottenham coordination meeting:   Thursday 17th June, 7.30pm by Zoom.

For more minutes see documents tab

Massive Victory by the Wards Corner / Save Latin Village campaign – property developer pulls out of demolition plan

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The property developer, Grainger, has pulled out of the Wards Corner / Market site and the council are at last giving their full support to the Community Plan!!
This is a huge victory against overwhelming odds, following 15 years of struggle – a victory not just for residents and traders but for anti-demolition and anti-gentrification campaigns across London.
The Development Trust are now calling on Sadiq Khan to move quickly to confirm his support for the plan and begin collaborating with the Trust and Haringey Council to implement its delivery.
Please help by retweeting this tweet, sharing Save Latin Village social media posts and spreading this message far and wide!!
https://twitter.com/LatinVillageUK/status/1423640921057415168?s=20

Please also consider donating to the Trust – https://n15developmenttrust.com/donate/
!! SI SE PUEDE !!

Statement from the N15 Development Trust:

” We are excited to announce that following Grainger’s withdrawal from the Wards Corner site, Haringey Council have committed to working with us to implement the Community Plan! This is a major victory for the community – read our joint statement here: https://n15developmenttrust.com/2021/08/06/joint-statement-with-haringey-council/. See also – https://haringey.gov.uk/news/council-leader-and-chair-west-green-roadseven-sisters-development-trust-statements-wards-cornerThe Trust is ready to work with all parties to deliver the community plan and calls upon Sadiq Khan and Transport for London to collaborate with us in securing a future for the site which benefits everyone in Tottenham. We also reiterate our urgent call for financial support for affected traders.Grainger’s withdrawal marks the end of 15 years of neglect, fear and uncertainty for traders, residents and businesses. The Community Plan is a viable scheme which has already achieved planning permission – we hope to move as quickly as possible to restore the Wards buildings. “

Coordination meeting 6th August 2020

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Present: Dave Morris (Friends of Lordship Rec / Haringey Friends of Parks Forum / Haringey Community Centres Network) – facilitated, David King (St Ann’s Redevelopment Trust) – took notes, Martin Ball (Friends of Down Lane Park), Paul Burham (Haringey Defend Council Housing), Sue Levenson (Difficult Parent), Pamela Harling (Sustainable Haringey/Wolves Lane), Zeekos, Jasmin Taylor (Friends of Marcus Garvey Library), Moaz Nanjuwany (Hammonds Eye Practice / Tottenham Traders Partnership), Shirley Hanazawa (Wards Corner Community Coalition)      

Apologies: Emma (Tottenham Black Lives Matter), Mark Panton (Researcher)

Background: This was the first coordination meeting for around 6 months, so the aim was to focus on updates.

Local groups and campaigns reports 

David (StART): StART have been campaigning for many years for community control of the section of the huge St Ann’s Hospital development site which was being sold off – and for community-led policies on what goes on there. Eventually the GLA bought the site, and then put out a tender to find a developer last year. The GLA say they will announce the successful developer in September. The tender included a lot of what StART wanted but not all by any means. StART has its AGM coming up in September, there will be a consultation to help decide whether it will become an organisation that could manage the 50 ‘community led’ homes or focus on the site as a whole, or try to combine both aims. Don’t know yet what impact Covid will have on the viability of the development, but worries that it will mean less affordable homes.

Jasmin (MG Library): The group represents library users who have been campaigning to protect library facilities and services, including restoration of the children’s garden. The former manager has left – now have a new manager who is very experienced. Library had been shut down since the beginning of epidemic because the leisure centre (Fusion) was closed, leisure centre is still closed. Matt White is the councillor responsible. Fusion in financial trouble. Staff worried about their jobs.

Dave M (Parks): Lobbying council for more resources for parks. Earlier this year completed a 2,500-strong petition up which triggered a debate at full Council meeting – finally scheduled for July. Had a deputation of reps to the council – all Cllrs agreed with the deputation and aspirations but Council says it doesn’t have the money and is awaiting Government reimbursement for its extra work due to covid 19. 

Dave M (HCCN): After years of opposing Council policies to put up rents to market levels and only grant short leases, the HCCN has finally held constructive meetings with Council reps. The current Council is more supportive and has recognised the real value of this part of the community sector. But community centres now in financial crisis because of loss of takings during forced Covid-19 closure. LBH agreed to suspend rent payments. Irish Centre facing financial ruin and has closed despite a Save Our Centre petition. They’ve taken legal advice. Might the Irish Centre organisation move in with Selby Centre when its redeveloped (as part of the new Selby Village)? 

Dave says thanks to everyone who supported the fundraising crowdfunder appeals of Living Under One Sun (running cafe in Down Lane Park) and Lordship Hub – both raised over £30,000 to help towards their survival.

Moaz (TTP): Shops and restaurants reopening. Some businesses got grants, hardship grant closed today. Businesses with complex accounts didn’t get the grants.

Martin B (FODLP):  LUOS cafe/food growing project is now back open. Park now has three tennis courts but some nets in bad condition, and 5-a-side in bad condition. Some section 106 money from new development around the park but haven’t seen any of it yet… New build is encroaching on the edges of the park, extra pollution, traffic etc. Park is not under threat. Tottenham Hale lots of development both sides of Ashley Road. Historic White Hart Pub there has been demolished, despite campaign.

Sue Levenson (Difficult Parent): Blogs about children with special needs. Been in Lockdown since March. Support services have been ripped apart eg Hazelmere Centre has gone. LBH want to make £1m cuts from budget of £4m. No specific campaigning group but the Parent Carer Forum is no longer functioning due to lack of support from Council. Keep being told special changing facilities will be funded in 3 parks, but has been delayed. No consultation. 

Paul Burnham (HDCH): HDCH have been campaigning to support Council tenants for over 15 yrs, and have organised a number of lobbies and protests in the last 12 months. Context is the Government is opposed to Council housing, and now trying to get rid of planning controls, despite them already favouring developers. He reported campaigns against shocking ‘poor doors’ (separating luxury and social homes) in proposed developments in Wood Green, maybe more to come. A number of estate demolition threats, eg Raynard and Stokley estates, both have campaigns – the one in Muswell hill successful. 

A revised Haringey Local Plan will start being developed this autumn. LBH rent policy generally good but have begun to wobble, three developments now using GLA definition of social rent which is £60pw more expensive. The covid-19 evictions ban is being lifted on the 23rd August, meaning that landlords will be threatening mass evictions for people who haven’t been able to pay their rent. There will be protest action in London somewhere on that day demanding suspension of evictions.

Pamela H (Wolves Lane): Lots of activity at the community-run Wolves Lane food growing centre, plant sales and seed swaps. Has received more grants from National Lottery and thriving. Growing-In-Haringey network ticking over.

Shirley H (Wards Corner):  Market has been closed since March, causing problems for traders. Worries about the electric supply. Proposal for an open air market at the site, though shops in the parade are already open. The residents/traders’ own Community Plan is on hold after years of patient work and calls for Council support. Held a 100-strong protest recently, a combination of local traders and traders from Ridley Road Market. Apex House tower and shop fronts over the road nearing completion.

Planning policies / system       Discussion about whether council supports the community or has their own agenda? In any case, people in Tottenham need to organise, speak out and and represent ourselves. Fuller discussion at the next meeting and agreement on actions going forward. 

If the Haringey Local Plan is being revised we’ll have to engage with the process – but its a bit of a nightmare process for community groups to have any real influence. There’s a new London Plan awaiting implementation – however, ‘Just Space’, the community groups’ network to which we are affiliated is unhappy with the result (too pro-developer) and is calling for legal challenge on equalities grounds. The Government is unhappy with it too (not pro-developer enough) and in any case is threatening an overhaul of the whole planning system to remove what they call ‘red tape’ but which in fact means processes enabling community objections and input. Indications are that reforms will be even more pro-developer and more ‘deregulation’. 

Black Lives Matter movement     We noted the inspiring and widespread rise of this movement to challenge and end racism. Lots of local protests and mobilisations. 2000 joined local kids walk against racism. Council is calling for views on renaming streets and buildings etc which may celebrate people linked to slavery and other extreme oppression. 

There is a planned demo this Saturday at Tottenham Police Stn 1pm on the 9th anniversary of the police killing of Mark Duggan which had sparked Tottenham and nationwide protests and riots in 2011. We noted that as a result of those mobilisations a report was commissioned by the GLA on the supposed initial ‘causes’ in Tottenham which concluded there should be mass gentrification and the break-up of council housing in the area – this led to the Council’s obnoxious ‘Plan for Tottenham’, and the launch of the Our Tottenham network to fight for our communities’ interests.

Covid / Mutual Aid Groups movement     We also noted the rise of dozens of independent local Mutual Aid Groups set up by residents throughout Tottenham (and across the UK) to support each other and especially vulnerable people during the public health crisis. Hopes that many of these become ongoing community solidarity networks.

Next steps       We need to support current local groups and campaigns, develop solidarity and continue to build the Our Tottenham network.

Any Other Business      High Road West     It was reported that Tottenham Hotspur property arm was still buying up land to cash in on property development near the stadium. We noted the continuing excellent work by the Temporary Accommodation Group on the Love Lane estate, and Tottenham Businesses Group on the Peacock Estate to oppose the threat of demolitions in High Road West and to fight for their rights. 

Next Our Tottenham coordination meeting:   Thursday 3rd September, 7.30pm by zoom. Dave to set it up again.

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NOVEMBER 2019 UPDATE

Notes from coordination meeting:  21 November 2019 at Kitapevi / Garden House cafe

In attendance:  Dave K (StArt), Pamela H (Sustainable Haringey), Jasmine T (Friends of Marcus Garvey Library), Martin B (Friends of Down Lane Park), Paul B and Gary K (Haringey Defend Council Housing), Shirley H and Sue P (Wards Corner Coalition), Dave (Friends of Lordship Rec, and various networks HFRA, HFoPF, HCCN)      Apologies: Mark P (Researcher),

1.  Brief local updates/summaries from the groups present:

StArt    A well attended AGM. Frustration over lack of support from GLA and Council for the community plan for the ex-hospital site. Internal stresses and strains within StArt.

Latin Market / Ward’s Corner   Are promoting their revised Community Plan and calling for support from the Council. A special Scrutiny Cttee of the Council has largely backed the traders and community and the recommendations are going to the full LBH Scrutiny Cttee next week. The Labour Group of Councillors is also backing the local campaign.

Friends of Marcus Garvey Library  Jasmine outlined the issues with the children’s garden at the back of the premises.  They want the whole space back, and volunteers may be able to restore it. They also want a staffed reception desk in the children’s area of the library.

Spurs and High Rd West   Mark and Amanda reported (by email) that they aim to do a follow up next year to their well-received graphic book.  Local complaints continue, related to Event Days which dominate the north of Tottenham for the whole day. The Love Lane Temporary Accommodation Group continue to campaign, and recently got more national publicity. The estate ballot re demolition or not has been postponed as the Council doesn’t have the money to move ahead with their controversial plans. Meanwhile spurs have now bought up 35% of the High Rd West area, no doubt wanting to gentrify it all – the Tottenham Business Group on the Peacocvk estate continue to fight back.

Tottenham Hale   Lots of horrendous tower blocks going up, causing dangerous lorry movements.

Selby Trust   Are working in partnership with the Council to develop their site. They have successfully lobbied over the last couple of years to achieve a purpose-built new centre to house all the existing groups occupying the current site. But what type of housing will also be built and what about Bull Lane green space? Selby have been holding meetings around Tottenham seeking feedback on the future of the site.

2.   Wider updates

Haringey Defend Council Housing  Campaigning continues over defending estates still under threat, and Council seems to be changing its previous demolition policies. But one estate Woodside Ave still being threatened have made a 5,000-strong protest petition.   Concern over planning officers allowing ‘poor doors’ on the new Altitude Estate.  Also Pamela expressed concern over planning officers failure to ensure all new homes reach the zero-carbon standard.

Haringey Community Centres Network  Reconvened over the summer to respond to an internal review Council officers have been conducting into their policies regarding support for community centres and the voluntary sector generally.  The policies brought in 5 years ago (to increaser rents to market levels, and only 5 year leases etc) were highly controversial, unpopular and as expected totally impractical for community centres. It turns out that many centres refused to sign such contracts. Now the Council have agreed they should be listening to and working with the sector. HCCN have set up a sub group who have held a couple of constructive meetings with the relevant Council officers.

Haringey Federation of Residents Associations  After a quiet couple of years for the HFRA, a meeting in September brought 13 associations together for an excellent meeting re housing, planning, public services, local reports etc. 

Haringey Friends of Parks Forum   Continue their well-attended bi-monthly meetings. Pursuing a petition calling for more resources for the underfunded and understaffed parks service.  This has been demonstrated by the service having to put in a lot of extra resources in to maintain their 22 Green Flag parks accreditation.  Also joint meetings with Council officers to develop a new 15 years strategy for parks.

Extinction Rebellion / Climate Change:  Local events in 7-8 September a success, ending with 500-strong march/procession from Turnpike Lane to Finsbury Park. There was a Haringey contingent helping organise the occupation of Trafalgar Square and surrounding streets in October. Council declared a climate emergency last March and are preparing an Action Plan by the end of the year.  Sustainable Haringey continues as an informal network. Next Climate Strike day is Friday 29th Nov, with gathering/rally at Wood Green Library, 12.30pm.

London Plan and Just Space  The Inspector has now produced a report on the draft London Plan. Fails to challenge the developer-led approach, but some criticism of handing over housing space standards to developers. Some other small concessions were achieved during the hearings (which a couple of us took part in). Just Space network is holding a meeting Friday 22nd Nov to review what was achieved by community groups lobbying and collaborating during the hearings.  Just Space members (like the Our Tottenham network, Wards Corner etc) have had some expert support from planning students – now people are talking about how to get the most of what is sometimes a difficult and time-consuming collaboration.

3.   Other

London Mayor’s Public Question Time  In Wood Green in January. We agreed to encourage people to come and lobby and raise a range of issues.

Freedom of Information Act requests.  Council often seem to be failing to reply to requests for info for ages. Also want people to go through a convoluted method. This will be investigated and questioned.

Next Meetings  Maybe a meeting in mid Jan to discuss the the Mayor’s Question Time. Next full Coordination Meeting on Thurs Feb 20th

STarT produce Community Masterplan for St Anns Site

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http://www.startharingey.co.uk/blog/our-vision-takes-shape

We’re delighted to announce the publication of our Masterplan for the St Ann’s site, titled Our Vision Takes Shape.

This document is the result of a two year campaign, involving eight consultations and surveys with the Haringey community, a successful crowdfunder, and work with architects from 6a and Maccreanor Lavington. The Masterplan sets out our vision for the St Ann’s site, including the following aims:

  • To provide 100% genuinely affordable, secure, good quality homes for people who really need them.
  • To build a physically and socially sustainable community integrated with the natural environment of the site
  • To provide health, wellbeing and new integrated health services
  • To build community and retail spaces that provide opportunities for a vibrant and participatory community.

Commenting on the Masterplan, Kathryn Medien from StART said: ‘This Masterplan is StART’s statement of intent. It shows that the community is best placed to define the shape of housing in London and provide a viable grassroots alternative to the current housing crisis.’