HARINGEY Council has been accused of failing to enforce its conservation policies as two protected areas are found at risk of losing their unique character.

Scotland Green and Clyde Circus, both in Tottenham, are listed on the English Heritage At Risk (HAR) register published on Tuesday.

A survey conducted by the conservation charity found they had deteriorated over the last three years, or will to do so over the next three years.

Plastic windows and doors, poorly maintained roads and pavements, loss of front garden walls, fences and hedges were some of the main reasons standards in conservation areas had dropped so low, the charity said.

But unsympathetic redevelopments was also cited as a major threat to conservation areas.

English Heritage also highlighted a fight by the Noel Park residents, and recently-formed Conservation Area Committee (CAAC), to preserve the character of their community.

Designated a conservation area in 1983, the purpose-built estate has suffered from extensive "piecemeal" alterations that have eroded its distinctiveness.

The development was greatly influenced by the garden suburb movement and helped set the tone in the development of quality council housing.

Properties were designed with both front and back gardens and laid out in a broad grid with tree-lined avenues.

Rachella Sinclair, CAAC chairman, said: “Noel Park is a really great place to live and is of real historical and architectural importance. So much more needs to be done to preserve and protect this, and that’s why it is such good news that the area has been picked out by English Heritage for special attention.

“Hopefully, more local residents will get involved with the Noel Park Conservation Group as a result, so that we can look after this unique part of London.”

Conservationists have pointed the finger at local authorities for not doing more to protect the special areas and not rigorously enforcing its own policies.

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said: “The council has very clear policies for the protection and promotion of the borough’s heritage and provides guidance to property owners and occupiers.

“However, areas such as Noel Park have suffered from many years of unauthorised alteration and modification. We know this means the heritage and conservation value of these areas is under considerable threat and we are doing all we can to find funding to support conservation work.”