It was agreed to contact again those who were known to the members at the meeting with phone or e mail trees and word of mouth. It was decided to legitimise the acting committee by holding a wider general meeting on 16th April. This has now happened and the organisation is now properly constituted and has a committee of 11. Its financial reserves are being restructured.

Some of the acting committee attended the second Haringey / Mayer Brown working meeting on 28th March at Haringey Park (Hornsey Library) and used the following principles to guide its advice to the Council and consultants.

The following key principles were discussed:

* General agreement that the Walk needs investment. Friends group needs to be a 'critical friend' to that programme. It should be inclusive but the original exclusion of horses and motorbikes supported. The wettest bits need the attention and drainage of low points and raising the path surface is the main priority for investment. This will benefit all users.

* Conflict between speeding cyclists and other users a management concern that will need careful handling after improvement. Priorities may have to be spelt out at entrances and City of London style speed guidance as on Hampstead Heath may be necessary.

* Maintenance of its character is important and that it must not be urbanised. It is first and foremost a Walk, a park like asset and a nature reserve, but it is also a recreational amenity and trafic free route, so it needs to feel safe and not appear derelict. All aspects must be fit-for-purpose.

* Need to develop awareness of the Walk and its amenities, sponsoring summer walks and events / fun days important for raising its profile.

* Need to include those interested in the Muswell Hill section so all parts are represented. Where the path width is excessive, the margins need to be reclaimed for wildlife habitat. Bramble needs to be controlled where it encroaches.

* Subtle design and engineering is needed to avoid it looking like an ordinary path. Agreed that tarmac is inappropriate and recycled material welcome. Balance needed between amenity and wildlife issues. A slightly serpentine arrangement was desirable to avoid giving too much confidence to speeding cyclists.

* Friends will investigate the duties of the owning authorities under Environmental Protection Legislation and Disability Discrimination Law to ensure duties are being carried out.

* Some areas are sponsored for artwork and others are problem areas. Need to deal with negative image of the Walk where this exists.

* Presence of children cycling to school welcomed provided speed is considerate.

* Greater liaison with the Police required to understand problems and be more useful as eyes and ears.

The Friends need to offer a balanced and considered response to counter some hysterical inaccurate and misleading posters that have been placed on the Walk by partly-informed people. Advice needs to be based on best practice and studied research. Notices from the Friends will always carry our logo and will be endorsed by the officers of the organisation.

The matter drew a significant and concerned audience to the Crouch End Area Assembly Meeting at Coleridge School Thursday 3rd May. The topic took the majority of the meeting and a wide ranging debate was had. Some wanted it left alone, others noted the need for the neglect of many years to be addressed in respect of drainage and decayed entrances. All agreed that anti-social behaviour must be addressed and that education is part of this change. Some felt other cycling needs in Haringey needed the money frtom TfL more than this site. There is no doubt that the site needs these key issues to be attended to, but it must not be forgotten that Haringey has a new duty (from December 2006) to make sure any decision it makes, or has made does not discriminate against people with impairments. The Friends will continue to press for, and facilitate, sensitive management, subtle investment and most of all to retain the character as a country lane in the city and the 'green lung' of our neighbourhoods.