Lib Dem councillors in Crouch End and Stroud Green have expressed disappointment and concern at Haringey Council’s decision to renege on plans to carry out independent reports on noise, dust and traffic implications of the proposed concrete batching plant in Cranford Way, N8.

The original assurance of three independent reports was made at a meeting in February facilitated by Stroud Green Lib Dem Cllr Laura Edge, between council officers and members of local environmental pressure group Green N8. However, at a further meeting last week Haringey Council proposed very different plans, with reports on potential noise and traffic implications to be commissioned.

Furthermore, the consultants who will carry out these reports will not take their own ‘independent’ measurements of current noise and traffic levels to assess the potential problems. Instead they will use the reports compiled by the applicant and merely comment on whether these are likely to be accurate.

Cllr Edge has written to the Labour-run Council expressing her dismay at the news and has requested that the Council sanction all three promised independent assessments, including the dust survey. She says that given the huge local opposition to the plant a thorough assessment must take place.

In addition she has asked that representatives from Green N8 are given the opportunity to speak to consultants compiling the reports and that all interested parties have an opportunity to respond to the reports prior to 12th September, when the Councils Planning Application Sub-Committee will consider the application.

Councillor Laura Edge says that she will continue to work closely with local residents, Lib Dem colleagues, Lynne Featherstone MP and the Council to ensure that a proper assessment takes place.

Cllr Edge (Stroud Green) comments:

“I facilitated the meeting in February at which the Council gave a clear undertaking to commission independent reports, including assessments, into noise, dust and traffic implications of this proposal. Now we find that these independent reports will only be a review of the applicants own assessments which is simply not good enough. If this had been made clear at that meeting I am sure that Green N8 would not have been satisfied either and would have wanted to commission their own reports. Now there is no time to do so. Residents acted in good faith and this is their disgraceful reward.”

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Haringey Council cannot be allowed to get away with misleading residents in this way. There is enormous public concern over this application and the Council must commission full and independent reports to establish a true picture of the likely impact on the local community.”