Hornsey and Wood Green Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone has claimed victory for local residents after Gordon Brown performed an astonishing u-turn in the House of Commons on Monday.

Following pressure from Liberal Democrat MPs, Mr Brown admitted defeat and changed the rules relating to Self Invested Pension Plans (SIPPS) which, if left untouched, could have led to rocketing house prices in Hornsey and Wood Green as wealthy investors purchased buy-to-let homes with pension tax breaks.

In 2004 the Government relaxed the rules on SIPPS which meant that people could purchase a property, put it into a pension product known as a SIPP, and then receive a generous 40 per cent tax break. The rules were meant to start in April 2006, but have now been scrapped in line with Liberal Democrat proposals tabled in June.

Commenting Lynne Featherstone said:

“This is great news for those wishing to climb on to the housing ladder in London boroughs such as Haringey. We all know that flats and houses in Haringey are an extremely attractive prospect for wealthy investors so I am delighted our campaign has forced the Government’s hand.

“Offering investors a 40 per cent tax break to buy a rental home here could have priced ordinary people in Hornsey and Wood Green out of the market completely. What we need in Hornsey and Wood Green is good quality, affordable housing that is available to those who live and work in the community.

“I am delighted that concerted Liberal Democrat pressure has shown the Government the error of their ways. Of course this just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to securing affordable housing, but at least the Chancellor’s u-turn offers people in urban areas like Hornsey and Wood Green some protection.”

Lib Dem Haringey Education Spokesperson Cllr Gail Engert has called on Haringey Council to help children to play games at break-times by painting game markings on a local school’s playground. The calls come after children raised the issue during one of Cllr Engert’s regular visits to the school earlier this month.

They informed Cllr Engert that the School Council had written to Haringey Council to request a range of markings on the playground from football to hopscotch. Cllr Engert offered to put her weight behind the campaign and wrote to the Council asking them to address the children’s request.

Cllr Engert was impressed at the children’s initiative in seeking these playground improvements. She says she will be pressing for action as it is essential that kids are encouraged to be active at break-times and anything that helps them should be done.

Cllr Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“I am delighted to see young people using their initiative and writing to the Council about this issue and I am more than happy to assist them.

“With the cross-party interest in keeping children healthy, I hope that Haringey Council assist the school in helping the kids keep active!”

Haringey Lib Dems have responded to the Haringey Council’s statutory consultation on future plans for Coleridge School, calling for full and transparent consultation, robust planning and risk assessment, as well as a traffic assessment that addresses all safety concerns.

Lib Dem councillor for Crouch End, Ron Aitken made the response to the consultation following meetings with a number of local residents and parent groups from both sides of the argument along with Lynne Featherstone MP

In the response Cllr Aitken expresses the Lib Dems’ deep concern at Haringey Council’s failure to plan for future demographic growth in Crouch End and the surrounding area.

He highlights that as recently as 1988 the Labour-controlled Council closed a perfectly adequate School in Crouch End (Highgate Wood Lower School in Park Road/Wolseley Road) and attempted, unsuccessfully, to sell it to Waitrose. It was eventually sold for housing following a fire at the site.

The Lib Dems acknowledge the importance of resolving this situation, particularly for the parents of the children expecting a place on the Coleridge/ TUC site for 2006, and have asked the Council to ensure provisions are made for this year.

However, the Lib Dems emphasise that the long-term solution must be reached with a thorough consultation and the full results and comments published so that parents can see how the decision was made.

Both Cllr Aitken and Lynne Featherstone MP acknowledge that the conclusion reached by the Council may not please everyone, but they say that the Lib Dems will fight to ensure that the Council addresses and investigates the concerns of all interested parties thoroughly.

Cllr Aitken (Crouch End) comments:

“Haringey Council has a poor record on consultation and I think this is adding to the concerns of local parents. The Lib Dems aim to ensure that all sides are heard and that a solution is achieved which involves the community as a whole and addresses the long-term needs of children in Haringey.”

Cllr Lynne Featherstone, MP adds:

“If parents and local residents are properly consulted and the best solution put forward as a result – then we can all unite around that solution. If parents and local residents feel that the consultation is not genuine or rushed – then the risk will be a divided community. Haringey must do this properly so that the vital school places that everyone wants are provided in the best possible way.”

Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition on Haringey Council, Cllr Neil Williams, has expressed his concern after the Lib Dems uncovered figures that show the annual cost of producing the Haringey Council’s magazine, Haringey People, is in excess of £450,000.

The Council figures were revealed to the Liberal democrats following an enquiry into current costs after Haringey Council proposed an additional increase of £165,000 to cover the postage cost of the monthly publication.

The Council disclosed that budget cost for design, print and distribution of Haringey People is £294,600. With the additional cost of postage pushes the final figure to £458,400. It is unclear whether this cost includes staffing, and the Lib Dems are investigating.

The Lib Dems feel that with Haringey Council under pressure on many vital services, they have little excuse to spend almost £500,000 of local taxpayers’ money on a glossy campaigning magazine.

Cllr Williams says that the magazine should not be about Labour Councillors and David Lammy, but should solely be a publication that gives useful information to residents about issues that concern them.

Cllr Williams (Highgate) comments:

“I am very concerned that local people are having to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds on what the Council sometimes uses as a Labour campaigning tool.

“If the Lib Dems take control we will be looking to overhaul the magazine and make it into something that gives better value and is more useful to local residents.”

Lib Dem councillor for Stroud Green Laura Edge has joined with local residents in Chettle Court and the surrounding area to object to plans by London Buses to reroute the W5 bus to take out the loop past Harringay Station, N4.

Cllr Edge delivered a letter to London Buses along with a petition signed by over one hundred bus users and people living on the loop which was arranged by a resident in Chettle Court assisted by Cllr Edge and local Lib Dem activists.

The loop diverts the bus off Oakfield Road via Stapleton Hall Road, past Harringay Station before rejoining Oakfield Road. London Buses believe there is little demand for the loop and removing it will make the route faster.

However in her letter Cllr Edge expresses her deep concern at the poor quality of consultation carried out by London Buses and says that they are overlooking the value of the service to local residents in the area, many of whom are elderly, disabled or have young children and rely on the hail and ride service as it provides easier access to local amenities and the Whittington Hospital.

She is also concerned that many of the W5 bus drivers are already missing the loop out if no-one on the bus requires any of the stops – leaving those on the loop waiting for longer periods.

Cllr Edge (Stroud Green) comments:

“At a time when Londoners are being told to use public transport it seems counter-productive to break this valuable link. I hope that this letter and petition demonstrate the clear opposition to the plans and makes London Buses reconsider.”