File:Dumping in Markfield Road N15 - 2 (17170507342).jpg

Saturday 28 March 2015. As part of a "consultation" event about Haringey's regeneration plans for our area, residents and other people were invited to visit two "creative industries" initiatives.   One was at Gaunson House, Markfield Road, Tottenham N15. For several years this building has offered workspaces to artists.

Many local councils, including Haringey, now welcome the "Creative Industries" and see them as part of their "regeneration" strategy. Naturally, politicians like to take the credit when such businesses move in. (Even when they avoid "officially" designated "cultural quarters" and make their own arrangements instead.)   Many politicians also like to associate themselves with the glamour of artists and new media. What <a href="http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/reith/reith_20131029-0940b.mp3" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Grayson Perry described</a> in his Reith Lecture as:     ". . . this fairy dust of cool, marketised bohemia     drift(ing) down over various boroughs of London."

Creative Industries also need basic services

Despite this welcome, Haringey Council seems to miss the obvious when it comes to supporting such initiatives. By this I don't mean dishing-out subsidies; or arranging photo-ops.   I have in mind services like street cleaning, and pothole and street light repair. It seems that elected politicians, and staff who are regeneration professionals can never get these basics right.   Haringey Council staff were proud to show visitors the studios at Gaunson House on 28 March 2015. So I wonder why they couldn't - at minimum - make sure the street was clear of dumping for the Saturday when they'd organised and hosted a showcase event? And even better, to maintain high standards to help the businesses attract and keep customers and staff. Would they, I wonder invite valued guests to their own homes and not bother to clean up the cat tray or put out the rubbish bags?

Haringey Council has "form" in this. Please scroll down to view my screengrab of the Tottenham & Wood Green Journal's website for their edition of 4 March 2010. In her front page story <a href="http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&refresh=y04R1Mn23k1N&EID=7f818fd3-d4e3-46a6-ae57-1ed0bbe5f009&skip=true" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Dumping On Our Dream </a> journalist Daisy Collins reported on a successful arts and media building at 28 Lawrence Road N15. (Very sadly like hundreds of local newspapers the Journal subsequently closed. A great loss to local democracy.)   For years, Haringey Council failed to maintain even a minimum standard of cleanliness. On occasions the piles of rubbish in Lawrence Road were <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andybuk/4374065290/">spectacular</a>. Though on some days you could smell the bags of rubbish before you saw them.   At one point I pleaded with a senior member of Haringey staff in the Planning and Regeneration team, asking for their help in tackling this problem. They dismissed my request - explaining that it was the responsibility of another department.

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§ Read more about <a href="http://www.euroart.co.uk/about.php" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Euroart here</a>. § "We cannot achieve the big things we want for London if we do not attend first to the small things." — 'The Good City: where neighbourhoods thrive and everybody matters'. <a href="http://www.change-london.org.uk/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.change-london.org.uk/</a> § "Our streets are among the cleanest in London and resident satisfaction is at its highest ever level." — Quoting Claire Kober then Leader of Haringey Council. Source: Labour Election Manifesto May 2014. § "I can't believe that!", said Alice. "Can't you?", the Queen said in a pitying tone. "Try again: draw a long breath, and shut your eyes." Alice laughed. "There's no use trying" , she said: "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice", said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." — The White Queen; "Alice Through the Looking Glass" chapter 5.