Lib Dem Councillor Matt Davies has expressed anger and concern at Haringey Council’s failure to act over hazardous, exposed bench fittings in Midhurst Gardens, N2 despite repeated requests to remove the fittings and regenerate the greens.

Cllr Davies and his Fortis Green colleagues have been asking Haringey Council to replace raised and cracked paving stones and look at realising the full potential of the open space since August 2003. Prior to that, the benches on the greens had been removed – as they had been damaged through vandalism. However, the concrete slabs which the benches used to stand on were not removed and they still have the old, twisted metal fixings sticking out of them.

Despite numerous council questions and correspondence on this subject over the last 18 months, the metal fixings have not been removed. They present a hazard to anyone using the park, in addition to being unsightly.

Cllr Matt Davies (Fortis Green) comments:

“I am very concerned that Haringey Council has still not removed this hazard. I have asked many times for improvements to be made to the greens – for the paving to be properly re-laid, for gardening work to be done and for more regular litter collection.

“But the Council has not even managed to removed these twisted metal brackets, let alone the now redundant concrete slabs which used to support the benches.

“The Council must remove these metal fixings immediately, followed by the concrete slabs. Then regeneration of the greens must be pushed forward to ensure that local residents can take advantage of the full potential of one of our all too rare green open spaces.”