Local councillor Lynne Featherstone had vowed to continue the campaign to have basketball nets put up in Alexandra Park. Cllr Featherstone recently met some of the children who started the campaign. Over seventy children from Our Lady of Muswell, Fortismere and St James’ schools have signed a petition calling for basketball nets at Alexandra Park.

Cllr Featherstone has written to the Council’s Executive Member for Alexandra Palace urging him to listen to the local children and provide what would be an excellent facility, but has not yet received a response either way. She is determined not to let the issue rest.

Cllr Lynne Featherstone explains:

“A lot is said and written about the detachment of people, and especially young people, from politics and local representatives. The children who signed the petition have made a real effort to get involved in the democratic process, which is to be commended.

“It is now important that the Council listen to them – and I cannot see any reason for not being able to fulfil their wish for basketball nets to use. It is an excellent opportunity to show these children that local politics has a real impact on their lives and they have the power to influence it.”

Cllr Hoban, who represents Alexandra Ward, is also keen to highlight the importance of these types of facilities to young people in the community:

“Youth facilities need to be improved across the borough – this would be a quick, cost-effective way of making a good start. It is great that local children have come up with this idea for a practical improvement to the Alexandra Park, which has not been used to its full potential for some time.

“These children want to do something positive and now need the help of the Council. We cannot let people complain about children hanging around with nothing to do if we are not prepared to taken even basic steps like this to give them something productive to do.”