Cllr Alan Strickland denied there had been a lack of support for traders from Haringey Council.

Jubilee party for Tottenham hindered by ‘lack of council support’

by Tim Lamden Thursday, May 31, 2012
7:00 AM

Traders have slammed the council for failing to support Jubilee celebrations aimed at bringing back “confidence and fun” to the people of Tottenham following last year’s riots.

Tottenham Traders Partnership (TTP) are urging residents to honour Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne by joining shop owners in Union Jack-coloured costumes for a celebration along High Road on Saturday.

But Moaz Nanjuwany, chairman of TTP, told the Journal that “red tape” and bureaucracy from Haringey Council had hindered plans to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and “let Tottenham have a party”.

He explained: “We need a feel-good factor back in Tottenham. We should be using any opportunities that we can get to promote Tottenham. We owe it to the people to bring back confidence and fun.”

Last month, Mr Nanjuwany contacted the council seeking their support for this Saturday’s event, which will involve bunting throughout High Road and promotional offers from traders, including free food and drink giveaways.

However, he said suggestions from organisers for stalls outside shops and dance performances along the street were met with requests for licences from the council, leaving him to conclude that there “seemed to be a fear of putting anything on in Tottenham”.

Referring to his work as owner of Hammonds Eye Practice, he said: “I see patients every day who don’t have a smile on their face and I ask them if there is anything happening in Tottenham and they say ‘no’.”

Cllr Alan Strickland, cabinet member for economic development and social inclusion, insisted it was “not true” to suggest there had been a “lack of support from the council for Tottenham traders”.

He pointed to council funding for the I Love Tottenham campaign, as well as a £10,000 grant to support the Tottenham Carnival next month, as examples of this support.

Cllr Strickland also insisted that whilst many traders had played a “very positive part” in helping to improve Tottenham, there were others that “still need to rise to the challenge.”