Lib Dems in Haringey have called on Haringey Council to detail what action it is taking to address the problem of soaring numbers of serious injuries and deaths on Haringey’s roads.

The calls come following the publication of the Council’s Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP) in which for the third year running deaths and serious injuries have risen – this time to 191 (provisional figures).

The figure is eleven more than 2003/04 and 31 more than the 2002/03 figure.

The Lib Dems have successfully campaigned for greater road safety measures in the borough for many years. In recent times they have successfully lobbied for parking restrictions on the junctions of various accident blackspots to improve driver and pedestrian visibility and supported and assisted successful bids for Safer Routes to Schools money that has contributed to the fall in traffic accidents involving children.

Lib Dem traffic spokesperson, Cllr Susan Oatway, has this week written to Haringey Council expressing concern at the continuing rise in the figures and requesting details of what work they are doing to curb this worrying trend.

Cllr Susan Oatway comments:

“These figures are worrying. Road safety issues must be addressed in Haringey and we will, along with Lynne Featherstone MP, be pressing the Council to do so.”

Lib Dem councillor for Crouch End Ron Aitken has welcomed the news that Park Road swimming pool will receive almost GBP 2 million over the next two financial years.

The money comes as welcome news to local users and Liberal Democrat councillors in Crouch End and Muswell Hill who have campaigned for the pool to be refurbished.

Cllr Aitken is pleased that finally after a difficult two years for the pool it has finally has had its future secured with the investment.

Cllr Aitken (Crouch End) comments: “A number of years ago I campaigned with the local press for the open-air lido to be reopened.

“Now we need the indoor pool brought up to standard and the roof and other facilities upgraded.”

Urgent road repairs to the surface of Wellfield Avenue (N10) are to be carried out within the next seven days, following a request from local Lib Dem councillor Matt Davies (Fortis Green ward).

Walking along Wellfield Avenue recently, Cllr Davies noticed numerous cracks and small potholes which made the surface very uneven, especially likely to cause problems for cyclists. He asked Haringey Council to address the poor quality of the surface of this road and has now been told that repairs will be made to the worst potholes immediately.

Following Cllr Davies’ request and a subsequent road inspection, Wellfield Avenue is also being recommended for inclusion in the programme of road resurfacing for the next financial year.

Cllr Matt Davies comments:

“I am happy that the Council has dealt with my request swiftly and will carry out urgent repairs to the road surface this week. This will doubtless please residents and is a necessary first step to improving the quality of the road.

“Hopefully motorists and cyclists alike will find the repairs helpful in having a smooth journey and I am glad that Wellfield Avenue has now been recommended for full resurfacing in the next financial year.”

Lib Dem councillors in Crouch End have expressed concern at the decision by Labour councillors to reject a bid for GBP 300,000 for Hornsey Library for rewiring and external repairs.

The news came after Lib Dem councillor for Crouch End Ron Aitken wrote to Haringey Council requesting clarification on the funding bid.

Haringey Council has said a bid for funding would be made next year, but Cllr Aitken is concerned that the much needed funds have not been made available now and anyway there is no guarantee the bid will succeed next year either.

Cllr Aitken comments:

“Haringey has an appalling record on management of key buildings. Hornsey Library must not be allowed to deteriorate any further.

“It took a campaign by library users and Lib Dem councillors just to get the heating boilers replaced two years ago.”

Liberal Democrats in Haringey have expressed deep concerns about the impact on public safety of the new 24-hour licensing system. Earlier this month Lynne Featherstone MP (Hornsey and Wood Green) uncovered figures showing an 18% increase nationally in alcohol related deaths.

An analysis of the applications made in Haringey to extend opening hours by the Lib Dem Spokesperson on Policing and Community Safety Cllr Ron Aitken has revealed that over 70 of the borough’s pubs are applying to increase their hours.

Alexandra Palace has applied to sell alcohol 24 hrs a day for functions and many other clubs, shops, restaurant, nightclubs and cinemas have applied to extend their hours.

According to information supplied to Cllr Aitken by Haringey Council a total of 657 applications have been made, of which over half of them are current licensees having to re-apply for their current licence following new legislation.

Cllr Aitken says that the governments new licensing laws has created a huge amount of paperwork for local councils and extra red-tape for businesses who are both renewing and extending current licences. He is also deeply concerned at the extra strain that extended hours will put on police in London.

Cllr Aitken (Crouch End) comments:

“These applications will be controversial and local residents will be very concerned about off-licences selling alcohol 24 hours a day.

“There will be a danger of people who have already consumed a lot of alcohol in a pub or club gravitating to small family-run off licences. There are also a large number of applications to extend existing pub and bar hours and the overall picture is worrying in terms of police resources at a time when the Met is already stretched.”

Breakdown of licence applications in Haringey so far:

330-shops and off-licenses converting existing licence
40-shop and off licences varying their licence
24 pubs converting existing licence
74 pubs varying their licence
114 restaurants converting
12 restaurants varying
21 club premises converting
16 club premises varying
1 nightclub converting
19 nightclub varying
2 cinemas converting
1 cinema varying

The Labour Leader of Haringey Council refused to answer an urgent question put by Cllr Wayne Hoban, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems, at the Full Council meeting on Monday night.

Cllr Hoban had asked him to explain, “what advice he had received from the outgoing Chief Executive about potential conflicts of interest in his role as a Council representative on the board of the Haringey Business Development Agency (HBDA), and will he publish this advice?”

Despite repeated requests, Cllr Adje refused to disclose this information, claiming that he had been legally advised not to do so, but adding that the Liberal Democrat Leader, Cllr Neil Williams, would receive confidential briefing papers which he must not make public or share with his council colleagues.

The question was asked because the Liberal Democrats have serious concerns about this issue. These relate to Cllr Adje’s position on the board of HBDA – which had submitted a funding bid to the Council and thereby created a potential conflict of interest.

Allegations have been circulating that the Labour Leader was advised by the outgoing Chief Executive that retaining his seat on the HBDA board was a clear and extremely serious conflict of interest. Subsequent to giving this advice, the Chief Executive has announced his surprise departure from his post. Cllr Adje has since resigned his position on the HBDA board.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“This is a serious issue which must be addressed. It is clearly unacceptable that the Council Leader continues to refuse to answer this important question. Cllr Adje has been advised he does not have to make this information public, but there is nothing to stop him doing so if he is interested in openness and transparency. Councillors must address this matter with all the facts before them, in the interests of this Council’s reputation which has taken a battering from Labour over recent years.”

New figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats reveal the shocking extent of under age drunken anti-social behaviour across England.

The number of under-18 year olds prosecuted for being drunk and disorderly in England and Wales rose to 31,343 in 2003 (the most recent year for which figures are available). This was a rise of 2% in that year.

Since Labour came to power some areas have seen a massive rise in the numbers of youths arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour. Surrey has seen massive 111% rise and neighbouring Kent a 98% jump. In London, the increase has been 72%.

Commenting on the findings Lynne Featherstone MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Police, Crime and Disorder, said:

“These figures confirm that drunk and disorderly behaviour amongst under-18’s is still a significant problem.

“Many of our town centres are becoming no-go zones on Friday and Saturday nights. While the majority of young people behave responsibly the fact that over 31,000 under 18’s were prosecuted for being drunk and disorderly will be a major worry for parents everywhere.

“Binge drinking can cause significant health problems for young people and it is now clear it is a major social problem in our communities.”

New figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that since Labour came to power less than 200 under-18s (10-17) have been prosecuted for buying alcohol illegally.

In the period 1997-2003 (the last year for which figures are available) only 198 under-18s were prosecuted for buying, attempting to buy or consuming alcohol on licensed premises.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Police, Crime and Disorder, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It is clear that Labour has failed to get a grip with the drinking culture that exists amongst some teenagers.

“Teenagers know that they are unlikely to be prosecuted for trying to buy alcohol. Without a deterrent some young people will continue to abuse alcohol, damage their own health and contribute to the anti social behaviour we see on our streets.

“Most young people behave responsibly but there is a small minority who pay no regard to the dangers of alcohol.”

Lib Dem councillors for Alexandra ward have written to the new Chief Executive of Haringey Council to express deep concern and dissatisfaction with the council’s decision to block the recent Lib Dem call-in of the Council Executive’s decision to allow the installation of traffic humps in the Dukes Avenue area.

The Lib Dems were informed by a representative of the Council’s Monitoring Officer that the call-in was not valid because it does not give adequate reasons for the call-in or outline an alternative course of action.

However, the reasons for the call-in had been clearly specified, namely that the Executive had not fully considered or adequately addressed the reasons why traffic humps were installed illegally prior to the required consultation process. In addition the Executive had decided to accept an officer’s assurance that the emergency services had been adequately consulted, where the only evidence submitted to the Executive was that the Ambulance Service had expressed no concerns through a third party.

No evidence was submitted relating to the views of other emergency services. Lib Dem deputy leader Cllr Hoban, who proposed the call-in had suggested as an alternative course of action that the decision be referred back to the Executive for reconsideration of their original decision in the light of the reasons given in the call-in.

Lib Dem traffic spokesperson and Alexandra ward councillor Susan Oatway has written to the Chief Executive to raise concerns over the blocking of the Lib Dem call-in.

Cllr Oatway comments:

“The Council has blocked a call-in that was designed to allow both the Council and affected local residents an opportunity to review the original decision and ensure that appropriate consideration was given to issues that had not been adequately addressed at the original meeting.

“This Council has once again prevented the official opposition from bringing the Council to account over a controversial decision. We are deeply concerned that the Council appears to be protecting itself from public scrutiny of another flawed decision.”