The council confirmed today that they have approved the permanent closure of the alleyway. I have scheduled a final meeting with the highways department to oversee the logistics of the structural removal. We will monitor the site until the perimeter fencing is fully installed.
June 19, 2013
Final supporters
This petition is in the information sharing stage, meant to alert people to the ongoing risks of the alley and invite contributions of their experiences of it.
Rape Alley
A narrow, stepped walkway between Seven Sisters and Tewkesbury Road in South Tottenham, due to it's steep and narrow layout and blind spots at each end, has long been the site of attempted muggings and sexual assaults, some reported as during daytime hours.
The crime statistics for the immediate area continue to document "Violence against the Person" as the most reported crime, (anecdotal evidence suggests these to be underreported).
The problem is longstanding and enduring
The alley enjoys a popular function as open public toilet, seemingly on a "24/7" basis, it is additionally used as a short-cut by children attending the two primary schools within a 150m radius.
Why not knock it down?
A problem is the number of stakeholders involved - LBH Council departments such as highways, environment etc, private landowners.
What might help?
Other alley initiatives appear to have obtained some success, Alley Links
Brightening up the walkways apperas to have changed people's perceptions and even behaviours and this is an approach we suggest here.
Having previously collated and passed on information to the authorities, we are now wanting to capture people's experiences of the alley, raise awareness of risk and petition The London Borough of Haringey for cooperation in a 2 stage plan of measures.
1 IMMEDIATE - such as CCTV, mirrors on the blind corners and adequate lighting, these may have a deterrent effect yet are documented as being relatively ineffective, the layout of the alley would in all probability still render it dangerous.
2 A beautification, using the talents of the creative community at the foot of the alley.
We also wish to brighten, repaint and energise, in "claiming" this forgotten place we hope to shift it's energy and impact positively on peoples' behaviour.
Lopcal examples such as "Rainbow Alley" in Tottenham testify to the benefits of simply beautifying spaces to change people's behaviours.
3 An eventual redesign, e.g. widening the alley, opening the blind spots, rerouting, whatever it takes to finally secure the walkway.
The petition therefore is for WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FINALLY SECURE THE ALLEY.
In the meantime please sign, comment and also forward to raise awareness of the risks.
Thanks for your time.
Ingo Pless
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 2, 2013
March 6, 2013
The volume of new reports regarding incidents in Tewkesbury Alley has increased significantly since the petition launched. I am currently compiling this data to present to the local council highways department and private stakeholders to demand a formal safety review.
Reached 100 supporters
October 5, 2012
October 3, 2012
We are approaching one hundred signatures which serves as the threshold required to trigger a formal response from the local council. Please ensure your networks are aware of this petition before I deliver the documentation to the planning department next week.
8 Comments
I live just at the bottom of this alley, have for five years, and am worried about the recent reports from my neighbours of an increase in dangerous antisocial behaviour happening there.
THATS MY STREET. Need lights in there ASAP it is pitch black at night.
Its filthy and honestly just depressing to walk past. Always feel like someone is watching from the top of the stairs.
My kids walk past this alley to get to school and I hate it. The council needs to wake up and look at the state of it before something bad happens.
I used to walk through there on my way to work but stopped because of the smell and the dodgy people hanging around. It really needs to be gated off or sorted out.
It's so dangerous I feel scared walking down those steps
needed !!!!!!
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The council confirmed today that they have approved the permanent closure of the alleyway. I have scheduled a final meeting with the highways department to oversee the logistics of the structural removal. We will monitor the site until the perimeter fencing is fully installed.
June 19, 2013
Final supporters
This petition is in the information sharing stage, meant to alert people to the ongoing risks of the alley and invite contributions of their experiences of it.
Rape Alley
A narrow, stepped walkway between Seven Sisters and Tewkesbury Road in South Tottenham, due to it's steep and narrow layout and blind spots at each end, has long been the site of attempted muggings and sexual assaults, some reported as during daytime hours.
The crime statistics for the immediate area continue to document "Violence against the Person" as the most reported crime, (anecdotal evidence suggests these to be underreported).
The problem is longstanding and enduring
The alley enjoys a popular function as open public toilet, seemingly on a "24/7" basis, it is additionally used as a short-cut by children attending the two primary schools within a 150m radius.
Why not knock it down?
A problem is the number of stakeholders involved - LBH Council departments such as highways, environment etc, private landowners.
What might help?
Other alley initiatives appear to have obtained some success, Alley Links
Brightening up the walkways apperas to have changed people's perceptions and even behaviours and this is an approach we suggest here.
Having previously collated and passed on information to the authorities, we are now wanting to capture people's experiences of the alley, raise awareness of risk and petition The London Borough of Haringey for cooperation in a 2 stage plan of measures.
1 IMMEDIATE - such as CCTV, mirrors on the blind corners and adequate lighting, these may have a deterrent effect yet are documented as being relatively ineffective, the layout of the alley would in all probability still render it dangerous.
2 A beautification, using the talents of the creative community at the foot of the alley.
We also wish to brighten, repaint and energise, in "claiming" this forgotten place we hope to shift it's energy and impact positively on peoples' behaviour.
Lopcal examples such as "Rainbow Alley" in Tottenham testify to the benefits of simply beautifying spaces to change people's behaviours.
3 An eventual redesign, e.g. widening the alley, opening the blind spots, rerouting, whatever it takes to finally secure the walkway.
The petition therefore is for WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FINALLY SECURE THE ALLEY.
In the meantime please sign, comment and also forward to raise awareness of the risks.
Thanks for your time.
Ingo Pless
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 2, 2013
March 6, 2013
The volume of new reports regarding incidents in Tewkesbury Alley has increased significantly since the petition launched. I am currently compiling this data to present to the local council highways department and private stakeholders to demand a formal safety review.
Reached 100 supporters
October 5, 2012
October 3, 2012
We are approaching one hundred signatures which serves as the threshold required to trigger a formal response from the local council. Please ensure your networks are aware of this petition before I deliver the documentation to the planning department next week.
8 Comments
Muggings are being reported in this ally more and more frequently making this ally and the neighbourhood in general feel less safe.
I live just at the bottom of this alley, have for five years, and am worried about the recent reports from my neighbours of an increase in dangerous antisocial behaviour happening there.
THATS MY STREET. Need lights in there ASAP it is pitch black at night.
Its filthy and honestly just depressing to walk past. Always feel like someone is watching from the top of the stairs.
My kids walk past this alley to get to school and I hate it. The council needs to wake up and look at the state of it before something bad happens.
I used to walk through there on my way to work but stopped because of the smell and the dodgy people hanging around. It really needs to be gated off or sorted out.
It's so dangerous I feel scared walking down those steps
needed !!!!!!
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Muggings are being reported in this ally more and more frequently making this ally and the neighbourhood in general feel less safe.