Cllr Lynne Featherstone and her Lib Dem council colleagues have taken up complaints from local residents that Haringey Council has failed to consult them on a number of issues regarding developments on the Fortismere School site.

Ms Featherstone, along with Lib Dem councillors in Fortis Green, has received numerous complaints from residents in Burlington Road on issues such as light pollution, the treatment of trees and damage to road surfaces as a result of work carried out on the site by both the Council and contractors.

Although the Lib Dems acknowledge that many of the improvements have been necessary to the school, they are concerned that the lack of consultation has meant much unnecessary distress for residents in the area. Complaints include:

* Light pollution from high-level security lighting that overlooks the new parts of the school. Although ‘photocell’ lighting, they do not go on and off with movement.
* The thinning of two protected trees without consultation which has made the bright white sports hall visible as opposed to being hidden before.
* Badly potholed road and damaged pavements from developer’s vehicles using the road as an access site.
* Despite assurances, the failure of the Council to fence off a gate that is not meant to be in use but is used as a short cut to and from the school.

“Following our meeting with council officials, I am hopeful we can now have positive action to improve the situation. Residents’ concerns must be addressed,” says Lynne Featherstone.

Fortis Green councillor Stephen Gilbert adds:

“Residents in Burlington Road have suffered unnecessarily because the Council failed to consult them on a number of issues. I hope this episode is firmly on the way to being resolved and that Haringey Council will learn from its mistakes.”