Haringey’s Lib Dem councillors have welcomed news from the Council that this year’s school admissions problems have been significantly less severe than last year.

Nevertheless, the Lib Dems have voiced their concerns about the number of cases where children have not been admitted into the school of their choice and many schools remain massively over-subscribed.

Figures released by Haringey Council this week show that only some 20 Haringey residents do not have a place for their children in the borough’s schools. The situation in primary schools has also been improved by changes to the admissions criteria and increases to the reception classes at Rokesly primary school, Crouch End.

As well as the problems over first choice admissions, great concern continues to exist over the new Greig City Academy, which has been shunned by many parents.

Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Ross Laird comments:

“This year’s admission figures are an improvement on last year’s, but there is no escaping the fact that severe pressures remain on many schools in Muswell Hill and Crouch End.

“Fortismere had almost 550 children chasing 243 places as their first preference, while the situation was not much better at nearby Muswell Hill Primary School, with over 100 children chasing 60 available places.

“We are also seriously concerned about the poor performance of the Greig Academy and the pressure this may be putting on surrounding secondary schools. We will also await with interest the release of figures on the estimated number of pupils who have been sent to private education instead – a growing factor in the west of the Borough.

“While this year has seen improvements, we believe that there is still a strong case for an additional primary school in the area to relieve the pressures on Muswell Hill and Crouch End primaries.”

Following the controversy at Monday’s Full Council meeting, Lib Dems in Haringey have condemned the Council’s ruling Labour Group as “uncaring” after they voted not to hear a deputation of users from the Canning Crescent and Kate Marsden mental health hospitals. As well as refusing to hear residents’ concerns over the threatened closure of the two centres, residents protesting over cutbacks in classes at Park Road Pool also failed to get a hearing.

The decision to accept the deputation was supported by all the Lib Dem councillors present. However it was voted down by Labour members who viewed the closure of the hospitals as a “non-urgent” issue and argued that it could be discussed after the Council’s recess in September. This was met with anger from the public gallery, with residents saying that September would be too late.

Lib Dem health and social services spokesperson, Ron Aitken is disappointed by the Council’s lack of interest in a service that has provided help to many of the most vulnerable people in Haringey.

Cllr Aitken (Crouch End) comments:

“Labour say they care, but they wouldn’t even listen to the pleas of mental health users and carers against the looming closure of these vital services. People are very angry that Labour chose to snub a vulnerable group like this. They could quite easily have agreed to give the groups a hearing. This was a heartless decision.”

A meeting organised for residents by Lib Dem councillor Wayne Hoban over the controversial use of Bidwell Gardens as a works access road for the Alexandra Park School development went ahead on 10th July. This was despite the non-attendance of council traffic management and safety officers, following the decision by Labour councillors to advise them not to attend. However, representatives of the developers and the school were present to field questions and concerns from the residents in attendance.

The residents and representatives produced a highly productive meeting with many concerns and issues resolved over the course of the evening. These centre on resident access to the road and parking during the construction period. The following decisions were made:

• A weekly meeting will be held between Bidwell Gardens residents and the constructors to allow residents to be briefed on forthcoming developments and to report back their concerns
• Although the pedestrian entrance to the park at the West end of Bidwell Gardens will be closed from 09.00 to 18.00 hours during the construction period, residents would be given keys to allow access within an agreed scheme.
• Assurance from developers and the school that the Bidwell Gardens entrance to the school would definitely be locked following the development and used for emergency vehicle access only.

Following concerns about the introduction of parking restrictions for the duration of the construction period, the Project Manager agreed to discuss the introduction of a temporary residents’ parking scheme with the Council. The contractor also confirmed that his employees would not be authorised to park in Bidwell Gardens.

Cllr Hoban is pleased with the progress made at the meeting. However he is disappointed that the Council advised against the participation of officers in what was an encouraging meeting.

Councillor Hoban (Alexandra ward) comments:

“Bidwell Gardens residents have every right to feel that they have not been properly consulted over this development. However, as a result of the meeting, a dialogue has been established between residents and the developers which hopefully will allow us to move forward in a spirit of consultation rather than confrontation.”

A Highgate councillor has welcomed moves by Haringey Council to change the ‘silly’ parking rules it has put in place for a grossly underused local car park.

The Council’s efforts follow pressure from Highgate’s Lib Dem councillors and local residents. The move, says Cllr Neil Williams, will also ease fears that the Council could attempt to build a ‘backland’ style development on the site at Tudor Close, off the Archway Road.

The car park, which serves council flats off Tudor Close, has a great excess of parking spaces, which used to be available for general local use. That was until Haringey introduced a residents’ only parking scheme at the flats, which resulted in the majority of the spaces lying empty while local residents struggled to park their cars in neighbouring Hornsey Lane Gardens and Langdon Park Road. On a typical day, says Neil Williams, there might be ten cars in the car park, with three times as many empty spaces.

Now the Council has told Cllr Williams it is to consult over the renting out of a number of spaces on Tudor Close to local residents who do not live on the estate. The Council plans a weekly charge. Neil Williams is writing to Haringey Council to say that he welcomes the move forward, and is seeking assurances on how much sought after parking will be allocated, and that residents who participate will be guaranteed a space. Mr Williams also wants money set aside to provide a garden for young children and parents on the estate, so that residents will directly benefit from the scheme.

Highgate councillor Neil Williams comments:

“This is a welcome step forward. I am optimistic that we can make better use of much needed parking, improve the Tudor Close estate, and knock on the head the possibility of new buildings on the site. We will need to look at the detail of the scheme, and I have put to the Council the need for a small amenity area so that residents at Tudor Close have an immediate benefit. I am keen to take this forward.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats will today call for the Leader of the Council to press the Labour Government for an urgent review of the current system of financing state education after this year’s schools cash crisis in the borough. The move comes in a motion to tonight’s Full Council.

Although the Government has announced an £800 million stop-gap to Local Education Authorities (LEAs) for next year, there is concern from the Lib Dems that this short term solution will not be followed up with long term plans to resolve the under funding for local schools.

Lib Dem Leader, Ross Laird, who is proposing the motion tonight, comments:

“The problem of under funding of schools in Haringey is a problem that has to be addressed and I hope that all councillors will support this motion.

“Teachers and pupils in the borough have worked under difficult conditions for far too long. As a community we cannot afford to let the Government treat education as another service that can be cut back. We must make it clear that enough is enough.”

Embattled Wood Green residents living around Haringey Civic Centre may stand a better chance of finding a parking space outside their home after the Council decided to clamp down on ‘Essential Service Permits’ in a number of Wood Green roads. The cut back on the parking permits issued to council staff comes after local residents, supported by Lib Dem transport spokesperson Lynne Featherstone, expressed their annoyance at the council employees parking in their streets.

Ms Featherstone’s intervention follows heavy criticism of Labour council leader George Meehan at a recent meeting of the Avenue Gardens Residents’ Association, an area situated between Wood Green tube and Haringey’s Civic Centre. Residents said they had repeatedly complained that council employees routinely took up the parking spaces of local residents in the Controlled Parking Zone. They had complained to Mr Meehan, their local councillor as well as Council Leader, but the problem had continued.

The decision by the Council means that ten roads between the Civic Centre and Wood Green tube station will now be out-of-bounds to council staff holding ‘Essential Service Permits’. A penalty charge will now be issued if staff are found to have parked in these roads. However, those providing much needed home services to residents of the roads listed will not be penalised.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Hopefully this will ease parking stress in these streets, although the Council should have done something sooner. It is all the more surprising as the leader of the Council represents the area. However, I am pleased this issue may now be resolved.”

Liberal Democrats have welcomed a lively and constructive meeting with concerned local residents and community representatives regarding the proposed Haringey Heartlands Development Framework at the Afro Caribbean Centre, Clarendon Road, Wood Green on 15th July. However, Lib Dems have also said there are still many concerns over the huge development, regarding traffic, housing and green spaces, that must be addressed.

At the meeting, Haringey Council fielded questions and concerns from the audience over a number of issues, including:

• Concern over increased traffic from the proposed Central Spine road running North to South through the development.
• Up to 14,000 houses on new development meaning a greater strain on educational and health services.
• Calls for a guarantee from developers to protect Wood Green Common for use by local residents.
• Need for a clear and fair framework for residents and businesses displaced through the development.
• Concern that the new development will block views of Alexandra Park to existing local residents.
• Need for assurances that waste management services for the large number of flats being built will be better than the poor level of service currently offered in the borough.

Wayne Hoban, Lib Dem deputy leader, attended the meeting and is positive about the discussions that took place. However he is aware that the Council must consult fully and investigate issues such as the implications of a housing development the size of the one proposed and the strain it will put on education and health services if they are not properly resourced.

Cllr Hoban (Alexandra ward) comments:

“We welcome the opportunity for increased employment in the borough through this proposed development. However we will be looking for full and meaningful consultation with local residents, businesses and other interested parties, to ensure that it becomes an asset to the borough and not another wasted opportunity.”

Lib Dem regeneration spokesperson Cllr David Winskill added:

“We are really pleased to be getting closer to a firm proposal for the brownfield sites. For eight years, since the Heartlands development was initiated, there has been a great deal of uncertainty surrounding plans and the lack of strong political leadership to bring together the land owners and regeneration agencies.

“Those of us with long memories will remember the devastating affect that the development of Wood Green Shopping City had on smaller shopping centres in the borough. With the Haringey Heartlands we must make sure we get it right and not be robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

In a further move to assist recycling in the borough, a local Lib Dem councillor has demonstrated how residents can turn their old dustbins into useful compost bins by drilling ventilation holes in the bottom.

Highgate councillor Bob Hare, Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson, says that as well as cutting down the amount of household waste, old bins can be used to make useful compost, and gives dustbins which would otherwise be dumped a new lease of life. About a dozen holes of two to three centimetres (one inch) in diameter are needed in a typical dustbin.

Local Lib Dem supporters have offered their help to anyone who would like this done but who cannot do the job themselves.

Cllr Bob Hare comments:

“Old dustbins can be put to good use with a few simple holes. Composting is a great way of recycling waste in your own household, and is very good for your garden.”

• Whittington and North Mid stay with two stars, as elite band of three-star hospitals grows
• Haringey patients set to lose out through bogus figures, say Lib Dems
• A&E services given poor scores at both hospitals

Haringey hospitals are in danger of being left behind as other London NHS Trusts reap the benefits of ‘foundation’ status, according to the local Liberal Democrats. The comment comes as the Whittington and North Middlesex hospitals today retained their ‘two-star’ status from the CHI (Commission for Health Improvement) the Government’s NHS star ratings ‘watchdog’.

Across the country, the number of three-star trusts has leapt from 52 to 63. These hospitals will now be able to join the controversial queue for ‘Foundation’ status, attracting the best staff and resources. As a result of the Government’s narrowly defined and much criticised starring system, the Whittington and the North Mid will not be among them.

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone, has also expressed concern about Accident and Emergency Services at both local hospitals, after both have today been rated poorly in the CHI findings.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“These results are a blow to acute health care in the borough, because the key services at the Whittington and the North Mid are in increasing danger of finding themselves on the wrong tier in Labour’s new, two-tier health system.

“Labour’s unfair league tables do not properly measure patient care, and patients in Haringey, as well as local doctors, nurses, and NHS staff, are losing out in this arbitrary system.”

Lib Dem Cllr Bob Hare has secured a promise from Haringey Council that it will promote the availability of smaller wheelie bins in a forthcoming letter to residents that will be accompanying new green boxes when the borough’s recycling scheme is expanded.

The promise, made at this week’s Muswell Hill Area Assembly, comes after Cllr Hare expressed his extreme disappointment that despite previous commitments from the Council, a new wheelie bin leaflet to be distributed to all residents only offers residents even bigger bins as an alternative to the standard size.

Instead of pushing the big bins, the Lib Dems believe that promoting the alternative smaller size will encourage more people to recycle their rubbish and as a result lead to a less waste. Lib Dems say that residents are being kept in the dark about the smaller bins, which are still much bigger than a dustbin, but take up less space and are easier for elderly and disabled residents to manoeuvre than the standard wheelie bin.

Cllr Hare comments:

“It is a great pity the Council has missed the opportunity to give all the borough’s residents full information on wheelie bin sizes in its new leaflet. Nevertheless, we are pleased it has promised to include information on smaller wheelie bin sizes in its letter to residents on the new green box rounds, although this will only cover a small proportion of the borough’s residents.”

“It is important that the issues of more recycling and minimizing waste are taken seriously and promoted by the Council. I will be working hard to ensure that the Council looks at other measures that will help. There are many extra things that can be done, such as encouragement for composting.”