Liberal Democrats are urging residents in Haringey to make recycling top of their New Year resolutions and do their bit to tackle climate change locally.

Cllr Monica Whyte, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hornsey Ward and Lib Dem candidate for the London Assembly, is encouraging residents to recycle their Christmas cards to help make a contribution to tackling waste and climate change. In addition to the kerb side collection scheme and the Reuse and Recycling Centres at Hornsey and Tottenham, the conservation charity Woodland Trust is providing collection bins in WH Smith, Tesco, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer’s until January 31st.

Cllr Whyte comments:

“Christmas is a time when a lot of waste is created so it is important that we try our best to recycle as much as we can, ensuring that our old cards do not add to demands on landfill.

“I would encourage all residents to not only recycle their Christmas cards, but to make recycling a day-to-day habit practiced throughout the year. Everybody can do their bit, however small, to reduce the effects of climate change.”

The flooding of a local children’s playground could have been prevented if Haringey Council acted sooner say Haringey’s Liberal Democrat councillors.

Families were unable to use Albert Road playground during the Christmas break after water from a burst water main engulfed poorly maintained drains. Local Lib Dem councillor Wayne Hoban has criticised Labour-run Haringey Council for failing to improve drainage in the playground during recent improvements and has urged Haringey Council and utility companies to repair the damage swiftly and prevent future flooding problems.

Over the last two years, old play equipment has been replaced and the playground was re-landscaped after successful funding bids by the Friends of Albert Road Recreation Ground. No work was carried out to improve much needed drainage despite calls from Lib Dems.

Cllr Wayne Hoban (Alexandra ward) comments:

“I am extremely disappointed that children and families have been unable to use their local playground over the Christmas period. I have strongly urged Haringey Council and utility companies to work effectively together to ensure that the leak is repaired at the earliest opportunity.

“I am very disappointed that Haringey Council failed to take the opportunity to tackle the long-standing drainage problem during the recent playground upgrade programme, despite frequent representations from myself and others over many years for effective action to address this problem.”

Residents in Haringey face yet more delays in urgently needed funding to bring its housing up to basic standards.

Last week it was announced that Homes for Haringey, Haringey Council’s Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO), would not receive a confirmed place on the Decent Homes programme. As a result tenants will now miss out on £230 million of funding intended to increase to standard of housing.

The news comes after Homes for Haringey received the required two-star rating in a recent inspection. Lib Dems have written to the Chief Executive of Homes for Haringey and Haringey Council to express their concern at the continued delay and to seek immediate reassurances that the ALMO is doing everything to ensure that residents in Haringey will receive the funding.

The ‘Decent Homes by 2010 Programme’ was a key election pledge in Haringey Labour’s 2006 manifesto.

Cllr Carolyn Baker, Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson, comments:

“The ALMO seem to have taken a back seat in their approach to acquiring the Decent Homes money.

“The result is that residents of Haringey who have been living in substandard accommodation for years are going to have to continue as they are for the foreseeable future.

“As Decent Homes investment includes installation of central heating, it is certain that older people and children Haringey Council accommodation in Haringey are going to have to pass a number more winters without proper heating that they shouldn’t have needed to. This is particularly shocking when you consider that in many parts of London Decent Homes work has now been completed.”

Lynne Featherstone, who has tabled a Parliamentary Question demanding a timetable for the delivery of Decent Homes money, adds:

“This money is not about penthouse upgrades, but the very basic housing standard that every family in the borough has been promised and deserves. Every moment of delay is another moment where thousands of people locally are sentenced to another night of substandard accommodation.”

Hornsey & Wood Green MP, Lynne Featherstone, has today been appointed as Lib Dem Youth and Equalities Spokesperson in Nick Clegg’s Shadow Cabinet.

The newly upgraded Shadow Cabinet post is part of the new leader’s drive to move away from the ‘broken politics of Westminster’ and to reconnect the party with issues of genuine concern to ordinary people.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Now more than ever do young people and those who face discrimination need a strong champion.I look forward to fighting for their corner on the national stage using the skills I have learnt in sticking up for the people of Hornsey & Wood Green.

“Young people are all too often forgotten in this government’s priorities and sadly we have seen the results locally with gang violence on the streets of Haringey and cuts in youth services.

“More alarmingly, in spite of decades of legislation on equalities, there are still areas of our society that are deeply unequal.Men still earn more than women, a black man is still more likely to go to prison than to university and there are still countless obstacles for many who just want to be treated like anyone else.

“I can’t wait to get stuck into these issues in the New Year.”

Nick Clegg, newly elected leader of the Liberal Democrats added:

“Lynne is a fantastic campaigner and I am pleased to have her on board my team to fight for these important issues where Labour has seriously failed to deliver for so long.

“I have no doubt she will use the formidable skills she has gained standing up for the people of Hornsey & Wood Green to be a real champion for young people and those who face discrimination in our society.”

The race for Lib Dem leader will today reach its climax in Hornsey & Wood Green where the count is taking place. The Electoral Reform Services, which is based in Clarendon Road, N8 is the independent counting service for the election.

With 64,727 ballot papers sent out and a close contest, it is likely to be a nail-biting finish for all.

Local MP, Lynne Featherstone, who is attending the count as an official observer comments:

“With two such strong candidates, it really is a win-win situation.There has certainly been a lot of interest in the contest locally and my inbox has been inundated with members and supporters sharing their thoughts and aspirations for the future leader.

“I am absolutely certain the new leader will be a real national champion for liberal values and will continue the electoral success that has seen that greatest number of Lib Dem MP in a generation.”

Local Lib Dems have uncovered an alarming ‘black hole’ in Haringey Council’s finances, which would hit residents with significant cuts in services or rises in Council Tax next year.

The £6 million funding gap, estimated as a further £60 increase in Council Tax per household, was revealed at meetings of Haringey Council’s ‘watchdog’ Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday and Thursday last week.

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Lib Dem Finance spokesperson, says that the Labour Council’s £2 million efficiency savings, identified last year, have not been delivered and Haringey Council is currently overspending by £3million. The Council has also failed to remedy a £2 million shortfall in next year’s savings. Furthermore, and despite persistent requests from Cllr Gorrie, HaringeyCouncil has failed to show how they plan to make a further savings next year under the ‘achieving excellence’ programme except that this will only achieve £1million reduction in cost – leaving another £2 million funding gap.

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson, comments:

“How can Haringey residents have confidence in the people running their council when they can’t get the figures right? The Council’s failure to make efficiency savings this year is going to have a direct impact on Council Tax bills. It is Haringey’s residents that will bare the brunt of the inability of the Council to balance the books.”

Despite a proposed £3 million increase in Council Tax next April and rises in charges for leisure facilities, parking and the crematorium, Labour-run Haringey Council has thus far failed to balance the books.

Lib Dems also fear that the unfolding financial disaster at Ally Pally, where Labour bosses have allowed the development partner, Firoka, to pocket the Pally’s profits for months, is another blank cheque that will end up hitting residents’ pocket’s hard.

Cllr Neil Williams, Leader of the Lib Dem Opposition, adds:

“Over the past ten years Council Tax in Haringey has doubled and residents face another swingeing increase this year. It is pensioners that will have to pay for Labour’s blunders. It shows that Labour cannot be trusted with running an effective budget and high time that this unfair tax is scrapped.”

Liberal Democrats in Haringey have called for a temporary reprieve for residents using the Muswell Hill and Crouch End ‘Stop and Shop’ parking scheme, in order to give time for Haringey Council to amend confusing signage and to restore public confidence in the system.

In October 2007, the Department for Transport branded signs used to indicate restricted parking times as ‘unsatisfactory’ as they indicated that waiting is simultaneously both prohibited and permitted.

Lib Dems have criticised the inaction by Labour-run Haringey Council, who proposed to add stickers to pay-and-display machines to end confusion – a promise they have failed to carry out, leaving many visitors to the shopping centres of Muswell Hill and Crouch End being unwittingly ticketed or towed away.

Cllr Martin Newton, Lib Dem spokesperson for Transport and Highways comments:

“The Labour Council needs to stop this confusion now. They are well aware of the questions around the enforceability of their signage but have failed to act. Not only do they need to make it clear on the pay-and-display machines, they need to get the signage right in the first place and one has to question why Labour are so reluctant to put this right.

“In the run up to Christmas Haringey Council should, at the very least, offer an amnesty on enforcing outside the hours for pay-and-display to help both visitors and traders enjoy this festive season.”

Commenting on the news that Britain is to provide the World Bank with more than £2bn over the next three years Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“I hope that this news will herald a real change in lending policy. The World Bank will no longer be America’s piggy bank where it can peddle harsh economic reforms that do little to help the world’s poor.

“Real progress is needed on removing bad conditions on loans that have little if nothing to do with development.”

Local MP Lynne Featherstone paid a special early morning visit to Hornsey’s Royal Mail sorting depot to wish local staff a very merry Christmas and thank them ahead of the Christmas post rush.

Ms. Featherstone, who has been a campaigner for better postal services in her constituency, took a small present and card for postmen and women to show her appreciation for their hard work in making sure local residents get their cards and presents on time.

Commenting Ms. Featherstone MP says:

“Whilst for some, Christmas is a slow time of year with parties and festive frolics, for our local postal staff it is the busiest time of year. I am sure many will share my gratitude for the hard work they do in spreading the Christmas cheer – particular to families and friend that can’t be together.They really are an army of Santa’s helpers.

“As to all my constituents, I wish our postmen and women of Hornsey and Wood Green a very Merry Christmas and the best for the New Year.”

Up to 50 people will die in Hornsey and Wood Green this winter because of fuel poverty says energy charity National Energy Action (NEA).

Last Friday, Lynne Featherstone showed her support for a campaign launched by the NEA to inform people about the Warm Fronts Scheme. Ms Featherstone visited the home of Mr Oswald Smith in Wood Green, who has benefited from new central heating and insulation under the scheme.

Ms Featherstone says:

“This is a shocking statistic released by the NEA. It is very worrying that people may die this winter because of fuel poverty. In the 21st century it should be every man’s right to have a warm home.

“The Government should do everything in their power to eradicate fuel poverty. Recent figures obtained by the Lib Dems however show that the Winter Fuel Allowance has not increased at the same rate as energy prices and people will suffer as a consequence.

“I would urge anyone eligible for the Warm Front Scheme to come forward and apply.”