Louise Walters
Haringey Council took down the hoops in Priory Park in February.

Residents of Crouch End have been left frustrated by the ongoing closure of the basketball court in Priory Park, both Haringey Council and Thames Water deny responsibility for repairs.

For over a year, the basketball hoops in Priory Park have been out of use due to fencing blocking off the area, with no indication of when it will be removed. Haringey Council has told residents that the site is blocked off due to issues with a tank under the courts which holds floodwater.

Alice Tringham, Chair of Friends of Priory Park, said on Facebook that neither Haringey Council or Thames Water are taking responsibility for repairs needed to the tarmac over the tank. “Thames Water are now taking the stance that they gifted the area to Haringey in the 1980s and that Haringey should know they are the owner of this land,” she said.

Residents say fencing with Thames Water signage appeared in the park in November 2022 without explanation from Thames Water or Haringey Council.

Resident concerns

Naďa Stanková lives across from the park. She said, “Fences were being toppled and pushed away for a couple of months, and people still played basketball. [In February 2023] there was some commotion there at night, and in the morning, we saw the hoops were gone, and more fencing was put up.”

Crouch End resident Rachel Stojevic says that Thames Water had no knowledge of the fencing when she emailed them about the barriers last October. They subsequently asked her to send photos and a link to the location on Google Maps. In February 2023, she received a reply saying the company had no knowledge of any work the project would relate to.

Stojevic says losing the basketball court is a massive blow to the community: “Crouch End is typically middle-class, but it has its deprived areas, and basketball was a thing that included everyone.” She believes the council needs to take responsibility for the repairs: It’s the kids and the community losing out, and that speaks volumes about Haringey [Council].”

Thames Water and Haringey Council were both unable to provide a statement.