Master plan for playing fields

By Ann Bronkhorst
Improvements for Muswell Hill playing fields, alongside Coldfall Wood, were up for debate at a special Area Assembly as the first step towards a master plan for one of the area’s largest open spaces.

On Sunday 7 September, a large number of people from Barnet as well as Haringey met in a marquee on the fields to put their point of view. Some wanted the fields to be left alone; some hoped for increased facilities for children or sport players; some were asking for paths, litterbins and toilets. Many were concerned about noise, vandalism and maintenance problems both now and after any improvements.

Halliwick Park

Several important points emerged from the assembly. One is that Haringey is committed to not building on open land, so it seems likely that the essentially open nature of the site will not be compromised. Housing in the Coppett’s Road area, however, will increase in the next few years, affecting the existing and future infrastructure, including leisure facilities.

If the nearby but rundown Halliwick Park and playground, owned by Barnet, were improved, perhaps through a joint scheme with Haringey, local people in both boroughs would benefit. Haringey councillors say they will approach their opposite numbers in Barnet about this.

Consultation
Some residents at the assembly were concerned about the planned process of consultation by postal survey. Because of the odd borough boundaries, a sizeable area of Barnet lies on the eastern side of Coppett’s Road. Residents in those streets will not be consulted, despite living so near the fields, and will have no say apart from a possible on-line response.

One important concession was won, however. Originally the survey was to cover only those homes within a 400m radius of the fields. Thanks to pressure at the assembly it will now reach homes in Ringwood Avenue, Beech Drive and Church Vale (but not Twyford Avenue).

The survey results will be made available in November at Muswell Hill Library, in the local press and on www.haringey.gov.uk. The next stage is a master plan to be put to Haringey Council’s cabinet in late January 2009.

In the meantime, for information about the possible improvements contact parks@haringey.gov.uk or call 020 8489 5873.

The Archer

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