Haringey Liberal Democrats have welcomed the public u-turn of the local Labour Party on calls for a new school to be built as part of the Haringey Heartlands regeneration scheme.

Calls for a new school were a key part of the Liberal Democrat campaign in the council elections, but were attacked by Labour at the time as unrealistic and unnecessary. Since then, however, Labour has performed a U-turn with the MP, Barbara Roche, calling for a new school.

Councillor Ross Laird, Lib Dem Education spokesman, has welcomed the local MP’s new found interest in the local schools problem and her conversion to the need for an additional school in the west of the Borough.

Councillor Laird commented: ” Let’s hope Labour has now finally seen sense and adopted the Lib Dem policy of a new school as part of the Heartlands scheme. We all want to see a solution to these problems and we’re willing to work together to identify solutions.”

Councillor David Winskill (Crouch End) agreed:”Local Lib Dem ward councillors have been swamped with calls for the admissions problem to be sorted out. We will be pressing the case for greater openness and transparency in education and the need to sort out the school admissions crisis – not just for this year, but for forthcoming years.

“In the meantime it is crucial that Capita reveals the scale of the current problem and say how many Crouch End children have not had their primary school place settled for this autumn.

“They should also be preparing contingency plans to cater for the children with an uncertain future. Parents need to be reassured that these issues are being addressed.”