Singer pens concrete factory protest song
 | | Alisha Sufit is in tune with public feeling over the concrete factory plan |
A CROUCH End singer-songwriter has thrown her weight behind the campaign to stop London Concrete building a batching plant in the heart of the area by writing a protest song.
Alisha Sufit, of Ridge Road, Crouch End, wrote the tune a week ago and hopes to distribute and play the song (lyrics below) to help the protest.
Ms Sufit said: "My neighbour said 'Why don't you write a protest song? I wrote it in about an hour or two."
"We are all really nervous about this. I live in Ridge Road but I think it is going to have a knock-on effect on the whole area.
Ms Sufit continued: "They are going to be thundering through our streets. It will increase traffic. They say they are going to start with 50 trucks and apparently they are going to start at 7am and open for 12 hours a day. It's going to turn Crouch End into a concrete mixer! When I went canvassing door to door, just about every house has two or three children in it. There is a high child population in Crouch End and they will be affected."
"I have lived here since 1977. I have seen it develop into a nice family community. I would not want to move anywhere else.
"The latest statistics given to me is a Routemaster bus weighs 14 tons full and these concrete trucks will weigh 32 tons. There are also going to be so many of them. It's vital that people write to the planning inspectorate to object by November 15."
Ms Sufit was in a band during the seventies called Magic Carpet and their one album, of the same name, has since developed a cult following.
She plays acoustic guitar and now writes her own solo tracks.
She will be playing a free gig at Viva Viva bar, Hornsey High Street on November 13, from 9pm to 11pm.
SET IN CONCRETE
by Alisha Sufit
You thought you'd slip it by us
and that nobody would mind.
But I challenge you to try us -
'cause we're not the passive kind.
You won't build your monstrous concrete
plant if we're allowed our say in deciding what we really want - that you should GO AWAY!
Did you really think to save a buck
on petrol and on time
by polluting with your concrete muck,
by spreading dust and grime.
In thousands all the children round
would breathe polluted air,
and all day long the dreadful sound
of trucks along the thoroughfare.
We don't want your heavy concrete
at the rising of the sun
rolling through our quiet streets
disturbing everyone,
just to please the wealthy few
and build your ivory tower.
We know what you're up to
with your hidden friends in power
Why not build it next to your place?
Did I hear you answer no?
Then how dare you even show your face
when you'd abuse us so
by thinking that you can impose
such harm on all our health.
Don't think that we will not oppose
your shallow quest for wealth.
CHORUS:
We're dead against your dirty plan.
Go find yourself another site!
And everybody - while you can,
stand up and fight!
The deadline for objecting to London Concrete's plans for a factory in the heart of Haringey is looming - with a deadline for objections less than a week away.
Over the weekend, Hornsey MP Lynne Featherstone joined the campaign as part of a borough-wide protest, collecting petition signatures outside Hornsey Town Hall.
Tottenham MP David Lammy was invited to take part in the eastern protest outside the Post Office, on the corner of Green Lanes and Warham Road, but Tottenham Green councillor Harry Lister attended in his place.
Objections to the planned concrete factory must be received by November 16. Write to Stephen Lansdowne, Planning Inspectorate, 3/14 Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN, using reference number APP/Y5420/A/05/1189822.
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Hornsey & Crouch End
Journal News |
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