English: On 24 September 2014, Martin Ball and I walked to Coombes Croft Library, High Road Tottenham. We went for a consultation event about Haringey Council's budget - a further £75 million cuts planned for 2015/16.

The event was due to start at 11 am. We arrived a few minutes early, but there was nobody there who knew about it. That included the Librarian in charge, who told us that no one had booked a room. In fact the main space was already booked for a group of library users.

More about this pretend "consultation" posted here.

Message on the Wall

My photo shows a mural outside Coombes Croft library above a raised flowerbed which is part of the library forecourt. It was painted by professional artist Cath Rive on the flank wall of No. 731 High Road. It's like an embroidery of the national flowers from many of Tottenham's diverse communities.

In October 2007, David Lammy, our Member of Parliament attended a ceremony to mark completion of the mural. But ever since, the Council has failed to properly maintain the raised flowerbed. If nagged they will cut back the weeds. But as you can see, they've let a creeper grow from the flowerbed onto the roof the building next door.

For me this is the real "message" for the "Leadership" of our Council with their grandiose, misguided and damaging plans for the regeneration of Tottenham. Forget yachts and trips to Cannes; forego fawning over football clubs; desist from dinners with developers. See if you can manage to achieve a couple of things that are actually useful. Trim the bushes; cut the weeds.

It Should Be Obvious

I've added this updated photo of the mural to my photoset called: It Should be Obvious.

'Obvious' because regeneration of Tottenham is supposed to be high priority for Haringey Council. And because this mural is in a fairly prominent location. Hard to miss as well, for new councillors elected in May 2014, who were taken on a bus tour around the so-called "regeneration" areas.

Although of course, overgrown weeds and murals and libraries seem of no concern whatever to consultants and other "experts" employed at vast public expense to plan the demolition and social cleansing of this part of North Tottenham. Including levelling Coombes Croft Library, the flats above it, and the other homes and businesses nearby in the photo.

___________________________________

§ While it's still there, explore this location with Google Street View. Scroll down for a thumbnail photo from Google Street View July 2008. § My photoset of Coombes Croft Library Mural. § "Tottenham War Zone". Journalist Aime Williams in Tottenham Independent on 6 August 2014 reported that: Council says Tottenham 'war zone' slur 'related to appearance of one area'. § WhatDoThey Know website Freedom of Information Questions to Haringey about the Tottenham War Zone" description.

§ Article by journalist Jaber Mohamed in the Haringey Independent Council Defends Trip to Cannes Property Conference