As the Arts Council continues to consult on its controversial threat to axe a vital grant to Jacksons Lane Arts and Community Centre in Highgate, local Liberal Democrats are urging as many people as possible to sign a petition demanding that they reconsider the decision.

Lib Dem Leader and local councillor Neil Williams says that responses from Highgate and Archway residents have been flooding in at an astonishing rate to the party’s headquarters. The party has also been out collecting signatures and has set up an on-line petition.

Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone is to meet official from the Arts Council and Lib Dem councillors are to discuss the issue with Haringey Council tomorrow, where they will show the strength of feeling on the issue.

Lib Dem Leader and Highgate councillor Neil Williams comments:

“The more people I speak to about the issue, the clearer it is to me how strongly local residents feel – and it’s also clear how wide an area the Centre serves, going well beyond Highgate and Archway. There are very few such community based arts facilities in this part of Haringey and beyond. ”

Local Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone adds:

“Cutting the grant is absolutely indefensible. We need to show them that Haringey is fully behind the Centre, and we need as many local people to respond as possible.”

Local residents can sign the Lib Dems’ petition at www.ourcampaign.org.uk/jacksons. People can also write to express their views to Haringey Lib Dems, FREEPOST LON11153, 100 Uplands Road, London N8 9BR, and these will be passed on the Art’s Council.