Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary, Lynne Featherstone MP has called on the Government to do more to halt the killing in Darfur.

The comments come ahead of the international Day for Darfur, which includes a demonstration outside Downing Street.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone said:

“It is clear that what we are witnessing in Darfur is genocide.

“The British Government and the international community cannot continue to watch as this catastrophe unfolds in front of them.

“A no fly zone, a proper and extensive arms embargo, targeted travel bans and asset seizures as well as meaningful sanctions are all essential yet the Government has so far done nothing.

“What will it take before this country takes the effective action that is so desperately needed?”

Residents and local Liberal Democrat councillors in Muswell Hill and Fortis Green are angry at an advertising stunt by a mobile phone shop. Parked cars were plastered on 25th April 2007 with ‘Fixed Penalty Notices’ – but when they were taken out of their holders by worried residents they realised they were not what they seemed, containing advertisements for a local phone shop.

Local Lib Dem councillor Martin Newton has condemned the stunt, which took place in area of huge parking controversy, where the Labour council is about to impose its unwanted ‘Stop and Shop’ parking restrictions.

Cllr Martin Newton (Fortis Green), Lib Dem spokesperson for Traffic issues, comments:

“Many residents in Muswell Hill were shocked by this. It is a very silly stunt that has totally backfired. These notices have been slapped on cars without a thought, even to vehicles belonging to both elderly and disabled residents who were understandably annoyed and distressed. It’s an outrageous stunt. I will be pursuing this with the advertisers.”

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Regeneration and Enterprise, has renewed his demand for an urgent independent forensic investigation into the accounts of The Bridge NDC regeneration project in Tottenham.

Cllr Hoban renewed his call on discovery that a ‘flurry’ of large council sponsored NDC banners have been erected across Seven Sisters ward in Tottenham, where the bulk of the huge £50 million allocated to this project is supposed to be spent.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“It is incredible that immediately after losing a High Court case which found them guilty of illegally dismissing two public members from the NDC Board for asking ‘difficult’ questions about the way in which NDC finances are managed and spent, the NDC Board and Haringey Council have brazenly erected huge banners across the ward trumpeting their alleged ‘success’.An internal Haringey Council audit, presented in September 2006, highlighted considerable management and procedural failures, which confirmed that the multi-million pound NDC spending programme was not being effectively managed.

“The NDC Board and Haringey Council must recognise that the serious questions which have been raised about the NDC accounts must be answered, if only to reassure the public and council members that allegations of financial impropriety are unfounded. Nothing less than an independent forensic financial investigation of The Bridge NDC accounts will do, and it must be done now.”

Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary, Lynne Featherstone MP has called for the Government to take action over ‘immoral’ vulture funds that prey on heavily indebted countries.

Her comments come after Donegal International was awarded $15.5m from Zambia in a case at London’s High Court.

Vulture funds buy the debt obligations of poor countries at a fraction of their face value in the hope of enforcing them through the courts at full value.

Lynne Featherstone said:

“Gordon Brown has said this is immoral but so far it’s been all talk and no action.

“The Government needs to take a stand and use its influence in the IMF to help devise an internationally binding system to ensure companies can’t prey on heavily indebted developing countries in this way.

“The Government claims they advise countries to help them avoid being used by vulture funds. That is all well and good – but they must take stronger action to help the countries that are already in this horrible and immoral financial prison.”

The declining state of the Parkland Walk has prompted Liberal Democrat councillor Gail Engert (Muswell Hill) to request that Haringey Council clear up the area as a matter of urgency.

Parkland Walk, which runs from Muswell Hill to Finsbury Park, is a much-loved ‘green lung’ for the area and London’s longest nature reserve.

During the Easter break, Cllr Engert took a series of photographs of the Muswell Hill stretch of Parkland Walk, logging a number of eyesores. She sent them to Haringey Council on 13 April 2007 demanding that improvements should be made to ensure the area does not decline further. To date no action has been taken.

Cllr Gail Engert comments:

“This is such a shame. Parkland Walk is a beautiful local amenity but is being ruined by fly-tipping, graffiti, overflowing dog-bins, litter and poor management. The Council needs to make sure that this valuable green space is properly looked after so that local residents can enjoy it to the full.”

In response to Haringey’s Labour Press Release ‘Council must act responsibly’ regarding the Alexander Litvinenko radiation clear-up situation in Haringey, Cllr Neil Williams, Leader of the Lib Dem Opposition, comments:

“These comments are quite shameful, and Nilgun Canver should apologise to local residents and the Liberal Democrats for her baseless accusations.

“It is complete rubbish to suggest that the Lib Dems are campaigning for residents to pay for a plutonium clean up. The fact is that Haringey Council has now had four months to establish whether or not the costs of clear up can be recovered from the house owner. Quite apart from whether this is fair, given the seriousness of the situation, this should now have been done, as it is only the residents of Osier Crescent that matter, not cheap point scoring by Labour.

“And if there is no insurance, does this mean that residents in Osier Crescent should have to live next to a contaminated site? It is totally unacceptable.”

Cllr Martin Newton, Lib Dem Fortis Green ward adds:

“This is not primarily about the cost. It is about Labour doing nothing for months and keeping residents in the dark about continued contamination on Osier Crescent. It was only following questions by Lib Dem councillors that they have even bothered to react now.”

Highgate councillor Bob Hare (Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Green Issues) has requested that neglected planters should be part of Haringey Council led ‘Spring Clean’ of street furniture in his ward.

Along with Liberal Democrat colleagues Justin Portess and Neil Williams, Cllr Hare says that the disgracefully dilapidated planters, which are in the Miltons area, have been allowed to fall into disrepair, with the collection of water obstructing any new growth of plants.

Cllr Hare has asked Haringey Council to ensure that improvements are made to the planters as well as to replace or paint other outworn street furniture to provide a more attractive environment for residents in this part of Highgate.

Cllr Bob Hare comments:

“These planters are in a terrible state. They gather litter and some do not have sufficient drainage, which means they end up as plant-less waterlogged rubbish bins.

Lib Dem councillor Justin Portess adds:

“With a little maintenance from Haringey Council, these planters could easily really help in making the street look good. The Council should put this right.”

A fire at the ‘log cabins’ located between Fairfax and Falklands Road in Harringay ward has prompted Liberal Democrat councillors to point the finger at the Labour Council’s failure to secure the site when requested. Fire engines were called at 7pm on 17th April 2007. Lib Dems say that had the site been secure this incident would have never occurred.

Lib Dems supported demands from residents for to be site to be secured after fears that the ‘log cabins’, that are due to be demolished soon, could be an attraction to vandals. Haringey Council gave assurances that the site was secure but the recent incident has put this promise into question.

Cllr Carolyn Baker (Harringay Ward) comments:

“The Council’s inability to ensure the demolition was carried out promptly and their failure to adequately secure the buildings and the surrounding area has put the public at risk and added to the costs of emergency services that are already stretched.”

Cllr Karen Alexander (Harringay Ward) adds:

“I was surprised at the complete confusion surrounding the fire – Haringey Council did not seem to know what had happened and that does not give me or the local residents much confidence in the Council.”

Two large uncovered holes on a busy path used by cyclists and pedestrians are yet another example of Haringey Council’s complete disregard for public safety, says Lib Dem councillor Bob Hare. The inspection holes located on Penstock Path that runs alongside the eastern side of Alexandra Park were uncovered while resurfacing work was carried out in February 2007.

Penstock Path was recently reopened to residents leaving the dangerous holes still exposed. Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Hare (Environment spokesperson) has requested that the holes should be securely fenced off and suitable covers fitted as soon as possible.

The problem comes on top of other dangers to pedestrians that the Liberal Democrats have uncovered in recent weeks. Lib Dems recently highlighted the problem of a drain cover that remained uncovered outside a primary school for nearly two weeks and the defacing of a new building at Tetherdown School.

Cllr Catherine Harris (Noel Park) comments:

“This is another example of poor working practices. Someone could have a nasty accident. It is a path used regularly by cyclists and pedestrians and it’s unacceptable that they should be faced with large and deep holes in the pavement.

Cllr Bob Hare adds:

“I was shocked when I came across these holes. I cannot believe the path was reopened to the public with the holes left exposed. Haringey Council has shown a complete disregard for public safety.

“Two days after I had requested that these should be covered as a matter of urgency the holes were still unguarded. The hazard has now been aggravated by a broken streetlight leaving the holes in complete darkness and adding to the danger for anyone using the path in the evening.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats have expressed their concern in response to a survey released yesterday showing that Haringey is considered as one of the worst places in the UK to bring up children. Haringey came 404th out of 408 areas surveyed by Reader’s Digest that asked parents to rate the characteristics of a family-friendly environment.

Good state schools and a low crime rate were seen as the most important requirements for a family-friendly area, the poll suggested. These were closely followed by good local hospitals and affordable family housing, the researchers found.

Cllr Gail Engert, Children and Young People Spokesperson comments:

“I am deeply troubled with the results of this survey. Haringey is placed at the bottom of the list for, not only London, but the UK. I am concerned that it shows a widespread failing by those in power in Haringey to provide a safe environment for children. I hope for the sake of children growing up in Haringey that these services can be improved.”

Cllr Neil Williams. Lib Dem Leader adds:

“We all love our area, but this shows the challenges faced by those who rely on public services in the borough – and the family agonies that this can cause. Great cities like London, and wonderful boroughs like Haringey, with its beautiful open spaces and cosmopolitan communities, shouldn’t be difficult places to raise a family. It is the poor performance of Haringey Council over many years, underinvestment, bad planning, and the relative starvation of resources for public services in London generally that cause these problems.”