Press Release: Our Tottenham Conference A Huge Success

Posted: February 3, 2014

On Saturday 1st February the Our Tottenham Community Planning Conference was attended by over 95 people representing 42 local community groups & organisations, residents associations, traders groups, education institutions and London wide networks.

The conference, organised by local residents, brought this diverse range of groups together to discuss the creation of community plans in Tottenham and to share skills and knowledge.

Many success stories from around the borough were shared, including the restoration of Lordship Recreation Ground, the 30 year campaign to retain the green space at Bull Lane Playing Field, and the continuing struggle to implement a community-led plan at Wards Corner.

Breakout sessions discussed issues facing local groups including the on-going consultation on Haringey Council’s Area Action Plan, using the powers in the Localism Act to benefit the community, getting access to funding and developing relationships with the Council.

The conference climaxed with discussion about creating a Community Plan for Tottenham. A number of open working groups were also set up to take action following the conference; these included a community plans group, a planning policy group and a local economy group.

“The sheer number of people and groups in attendance here today is yet another sign that people in Tottenham are tired of the Council’s top-down approach to regeneration. The Council’s Plan for Tottenham does not represent what local people need or want, and it is through the creation of community plans that we will show the Council that they must change their approach.” – Our Tottenham Spokesperson

“There are so many sites under threat in Tottenham that are vital resources for local people. So often the community there has the energy and the passion to take on running the buildings, whether at Lord Morrison Hall or Chestnuts Community Centre, the Council needs to take notice and start working with these groups. Community management can and does work, just look at the Selby Centre a much loved and widely used space run by and for the community.” -Our Tottenham Spokesperson

Our Tottenham    www.OurTottenham.org.uk     @Our_Tottenham      facebook.com/OurTottenham

Notes

1.    The groups which attended the conference are: Haringey Federation of Residents Associations, Friends of Lordship Rec, Wards Corner Community Coalition, Clyde Area Residents Association, Tottenham Civic Society, Conservation Area Advisory Committee, Haringey Private Tenants Action Group, Friends of Tottenham Green, Haringey Left Unity, Friends of Lord Morrison Hall, Haringey Warehouse Tenants Association, The Eye Practice, Tottenham Traders Partnership, Haringey Needs St Ann’s Hospital, Selby Centre, Tynemouth Area Residents Association, Living Under One Sun, Haringey Independent Cinema, Chestnuts Community Centre, Fountayne Arts, Moselle Project, Sustainable Haringey, Presden Leisure Graduate School, Antwerp Arms Association, Ayep Saturday School, Bull Lane Playing Area, Haringey Needs St Anne’s Hospital, Friends of Down Lane Park, Bruce Grove Residents Network,  Twisted Stocking Theatre Company, Iranian Womens Association, Carpeters Estate, Tottenham & Woodgreen Friends of the Earth, Creative Citizens, Stickyworld, Belonging, Just Space Network, Haringey Green Party, University Colloege London, Birkbeck, and London Metropoltan University.

2.    The Our Tottenham Network is made up of the following affiliated groups: Bull Lane Playing Fields Campaign / Weir Hall Action Group, Chestnuts Community Centre, Clyde Area Residents Association, Day-Mer, Defend Haringey Health Services, Find Your Voice, Friends of Lordship Rec, Growing-In-Haringey network, Haringey Alliance for Public Services, Haringey Defend Council Housing, Haringey Federation of Residents Associations, Haringey Friends of Parks Forum, Haringey Green Party, Haringey Housing Action Group, Haringey Needs St Ann’s Hospital, Haringey Private Tenants Action Group, Haringey Solidarity Group, Haringey Trades Union Council, Living Under One Sun, Lord Morrison Hall / Afro International, North London Community House, Peoples World Carnival Band, Selby Centre, The Banc, Tottenham and Wood Green Friends of the Earth, Tottenham Chances, Tottenham Civic Society, Tottenham Community Choir, Tottenham Community Sports Centre, Tottenham Concerned Residents Committee, Tottenham Rights, Tower Gardens Residents Group, University & College Union at CONEL, Wards Corner Community Coalition, 1000 Mothers’ March Organising Group, Haringey Needs St Ann’s Hospital.

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Tags: community