Monthly Archives: Oct 2014

Update on New River Village repairs

Posted on by

Lynne Featherstone MP and a local resident make demands to the Circle 33 Managing Director outside the New River Village Colorado apartments. Lynne Featherstone MP has met with Circle 33’s Managing Director for an update on the ongoing problems with social housing at New River Village.

Residents at the Colorado apartments remain unhappy with living conditions, reporting ongoing damp and problems with the lift and roof.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green brought the issue to light last year, with a video showing the extent of the problem. Some repairs have been made and many residents have been relocated, but the situation remains unacceptable for the remaining residents.

Circle 33 have been involved in ongoing discussions with developers St James, as studies have now revealed problems with the way the apartments were built by the developers.

Circle 33 hope to reach an agreement with St James about how to make, and fund, the complete repairs as soon as possible and to minimise disruption to residents.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I have long raised concerns about the quality of development of the Colorado apartments. Residents have suffered for years with leaks, damp and broken lifts and doors.

“Circle have reacted to the problems and have relocated residents – but it seems that more substantial repairs are needed to the building itself.

“If the problems do lie in the way the building was built, St James must act without delay to rectify them – even if that does mean stripping everything back and rebuilding. I won’t let this issue drop – and will carry on pushing for better living standards for my constituents.”

Lynne Featherstone MP nominated for Politician of the Year award

Posted on by

Lynne Featherstone MP on this year’s pride march – celebrating equal marriageLynne Featherstone MP has been nominated for Stonewall’s ‘Politician of the Year’ award.

The 25th Anniversary Awards, which will take place in the Raphael Gallery of the Victoria & Albert Museum, celebrate the outstanding contribution of individuals and groups towards equality over the past year.

In her former role as Equalities Minister, Lynne Featherstone MP was the architect of the Equal Marriage consultation and Bill – which has now become law.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It’s a huge honour to be nominated for this award – thank you very much to Stonewall! I look forward to attending the awards.

“In the UK, we have made incredible progress with equal marriage. Words can’t really describe the overwhelming joy I felt attending two beautiful wedding ceremonies on that historic day in March, when finally love became equal before the law.

“I still get very emotional when people thank me for my work on same-sex marriage. Often when I speak at an event someone, usually a young man, will approach me and say ‘thank you’ – it’s incredibly heart-warming.”

Campaign success as Network Rail land in Bounds Green finally cleared

Posted on by

The Network Rail land alongside the alleyway, now clear of rubbish thanks to a campaign by Lynne Featherstone MP and local residents. Network Rail land in Bounds Green has finally been cleared of rubbish and weeds, following a campaign by Lynne Featherstone MP and local residents.

The land runs alongside a much-used alleyway, which connects Bounds Green Road with Bowes Park station, and then extends into Enfield towards the North Circular.

Residents approached the Liberal Democrat MP earlier this year to complain about the state of the alleyway. Since then, the local MP has made numerous representations to the council and held a residents meeting on site with Network Rail.

The council responded and cut back overgrowing vegetation on the northern side of the alley. In the last few days, Network Rail also finally cleared their land of the rubbish that had built up, and trimmed back the vegetation.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green has now called a further meeting with both the council and Network Rail, to talk about maintaining the alleyway in the future, including any possible improvements.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“For the last few months, I have been working with local residents to get the council and Network Rail to clear up the alleyway and surrounding land.

“Firstly, the council responded and cut back overgrowing vegetation on the northern side of the alley. Now, following a meeting with residents and me, Network Rail have finally cleared their land of the rubbish.

“This is great news – but we must stay vigilant. I have called a meeting with both the council and Network Rail, to talk about the future of the alleyway – and to make sure it doesn’t fall back to its previous state.”

 

Lib Dems introduce new mental health waiting time standards

Posted on by

On World Mental Health Day, Lynne Featherstone MP has welcomed Nick Clegg’s ground-breaking announcement on mental health treatment in the UK.

At the Liberal Democrat conference on Wednesday, the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed that treatment for mental health conditions will finally be brought into line with other NHS services, with the introduction of the first ever waiting time standards.

For the first time, from April 2015, most patients needing talking therapies – for conditions like depression – will be guaranteed the treatment they need in as little as six weeks, with a maximum wait of 18 weeks.

For many patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis, the NHS will start to provide treatment within two weeks of referral – bringing it into line with consultations for cancer.

Evidence shows that treating psychosis rapidly can dramatically improve patients’ chances of recovery and potentially save £44 million each year in hospital admissions.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Finally, thanks to the Liberal Democrats in Government, people with a mental health condition will receive the same standards of care as they would for a physical health problem.

“And it’s about time – given that at least one in four people will experience a mental health problem throughout the course of our lives.

“Mental Health treatment is rightly making its way up the agenda. I am so happy to also hear that one of our great local mental health charities, Open Door, has just been awarded two major new grants to support its work.

“We really are getting closer to equality between mental and physical health treatment!”

Lynne Featherstone MP named most influential Lib Dem woman

Posted on by

TimesLynne Featherstone MP has climbed nine places in the Times’ ‘red box power list’ this year. The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green is listed as the seventh most influential Lib Dem – and is the highest ranked woman in the list.

The Times explained the decision by saying: ‘The equal marriage legislation was her baby and she pushed the scandal of Female Genital Mutilation to the top of the agenda. If she keeps her seat she will be a major player.’

The Liberal Democrat MP is currently a minister in the Department for International Development – where she leads the campaign to tackle FGM, and to promote disability rights in the developing world.

In her previous role at the Home Office, Lynne Featherstone was the architect of Equal Marriage, and a strong advocate of LGBT+ rights.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“By being part of the Government, I have been able to push campaigns on Equal Marriage, on tackling FGM and many more – like promoting disability rights and tackling all forms of violence against women and girls abroad.

“These are all issues which have been on the back burner for far too long – and I’m so glad that we have seen change. But there is still a long way to go.

“With the strong support from the Lib Dem party, hardworking civil servants, the media and most importantly from the people in my constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green, I hope to continue working on these issues and others for many years to come.”