Liberal Democrat councillors in Alexandra have met with local residents, traders and Haringey Council officers to establish a working group to secure much needed improvements to The Triangle, N22.

The Triangle, sited at the junction of Palace Gate Road and Crescent Road in Alexandra ward, is a small open space that has been badly neglected by Haringey Council over the years. Ward councillors have been working hard with residents and traders for some time to convince Haringey to invest in improving the area.

Following a successful bid for funding from the Muswell Hill Area Assembly’s community project fund last year, draft consultation plans have been drawn up, largely based on feedback received through previous consultation processes undertaken by ward councillors.

The plans, displayed previously at the recent Muswell Hill Area Assembly meeting, include proposals to upgrade the site in two phases over a 2 year period to include planting of new trees, resurfacing of the area, introduction of hanging baskets, flower tubs, etc. The working group will work closely with all interested parties to ensure that the final plans meet with widespread support.

Lib Dem ward councillors David Beacham and Wayne Hoban have welcomed the establishment of the working group. They are hopeful that strong community support for the project will transform the Triangle.

Cllr Beacham comments:

“The meeting was highly productive and I am delighted that we have established a working group that draws upon all interested parties within the local community.”

Cllr Hoban adds:

“This is the first step but the project is so much easier with the full support of so many parts of the community.”

Liberal Democrat Social Services spokesperson Councillor Wayne Hoban has expressed deep concern at Haringey Council’s decision to stop discussions with the Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT) to develop an elderly care home on the Hornsey Hospital site.

At the Executive meeting held on 26 July, dissatisfaction was expressed regarding the TPCTs decision to reconsider funding and time scales for both phases of the Hornsey Central Hospital site development, which would mean that it would be unlikely that the care home would be built before 2009.

The planned development was supposed to replace the many places lost for elderly care in the borough following the Council’s decision to close Cooperscroft and Trentfield care homes, which is opposed by families of the homes’ residents along with Lib Dem councillors and Lynne Featherstone MP.

Cllr Hoban has written to the TPCT to ask for an explanation as to why they have revised their original plans. He has also contacted Haringey Council asking them to reconsider its decision to close Cooperscroft and Trentfield care homes, which is currently under judicial review.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“We were assured that the decision to close Cooperscroft and Trentfield care homes would not adversely effect provision of care home beds in the borough on the basis that alternative provision would be provided on the Hornsey Hospital site. That plan has now been blown out of the water by this decision. It is clear that the planned closures must not proceed until alternative provision is in place.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green added:

“It is bad enough that the Council are to close Cooperscroft and Trentfield care homes and now the local Teaching Primary Care Trust are backing out of their plans.Haringey Council now need to make some important decisions about the provision of elderly care in the local area.

“Older people in Haringey deserve better than this.”