Forum topic: FLDRA and the Quieter Neighbourhood

To me, a large issue emerging from Adrian’s post is that FDRLA is a long established, important, civic voice with a large membership on whose behalf it should speak. Consider “traffic”, in its widest sense, and the issue of balance Colin raises as important:

If we firstly take the point, “I wonder by the way what the evidence is that the committee is misrepresenting the entire area?” and spin it on its head, then in correctly representing the area, the committee should be able to produce an adequate level of evidence of the views it promotes on this very long standing subject in a trice. Matter resolved (?).

But on balance, and particularly the risks of imbalance: until quite recently the committee included a large number, possibly a majority of, mostly high profile, Save our Green Lanes members. This is the group where a leading light talked of the “nonsensical Quieter Neighbourhoods”.

One member being so SOGL supportive she is named twice as a paid up supporter, or alternatively that may be a family membership; two others were highly and very publically partisan on the matter, ultimately standing electorally on a broadly anti-active travel / pro-freedom-for-traffic platform (at which stage they were, rightly, not on the committee).

Of course all this may not affect committee decisions at all with personal opinion being left at the door and only member’s views being considered in the round. Yet when a significantly negative active-travel input is made to FERAA as the FLDRA position, having ignored seeking residents’ input because there was “not enough time to consult” one is left to wonder. (We should recall that LBE seem to have taken more time with QN’s than HMG has with Brexit, so making “urgency” a somewhat questionable position).
If we then overlay a totally disgraceful approach to the traffic controlling intent, area and high street enhancing, child freedom promoting opportunities raised by this place being chosen as the sole winner to become London’s pilot Play Quarter and, as I said in my earlier post, people will begin to wonder.

I know from an awful lot of years engaging in the matter to some considerable depth that there is no consensus on “traffic” within Fox Lane, but from the same work I also know pretty much where the “balance” lies. It certainly isn’t the status quo.

Karl, I totally agree. My issue with FLDRA (of which I am a fully paid up member) is that they do not canvas members’ views before pertaining to represent them. I have raised this issue before with them – “Don’t say, “Our members say….” When you have asked all members if they agree”. Too often FLDRA represents minority views as if they are a majority one and, if in line with the committee, does not question or open up to the group.

According to the list here: saveourgreenlanes.co.uk/about/

Both Christine CLARK and Susan YOUNGER are double represented on SOGL, latter of whom also a committee member on FLDRA.

Don Arthur is also an FLDRA committee member and SOGL supporter.
Laraine Feldman is also an FLDRA committee member and SOGL supporter.

Therefore 3 of FLDRA committee are SOGL members/supporters.

At the time I would say the damage to credibility was most evident, I would add Paul Mandell, and while not a listed SOGL member, the very high profile anti-Cycle Enfield candidate, Gonul Daniels. That’s five as I would count it.

Hopefully the present approach is in line with what Colin indicates, rather than previous committee correspondence such as: “It is strange that just at a time when the wider world is reacting against this enforced elitist culture, they should be imposing it upon us in Palmers Green. Keep it in N1. Leave it out of N13.”

I didn’t really find such output either balanced or in keeping with an approach I wished to be paying to support, or be seen to be contributing towards in any way. I know I wasn’t alone.

Are Gonul and Paul both drivers behind FLDRA too then?

I know Paul and have debated with him many a time on Twitter, often good fun, can rarely substantiate anything he says.