Haringey Liberal Democrats have warmly welcomed a new initiative established by residents and community organisations to highlight and tackle environmental issues. Lib Dems believe that the ‘Sustainable Haringey Network’ will go a long way to provide increased community involvement in environmental issues.

The launch conference unanimously agreed to set up a network between groups to work with each other towards the changes needed to ensure Haringey faces up to the challenges of global climate change caused by modern industrial practices and lifestyles heavily reliant on fossil fuel sources.

Neil Williams, leader of the Liberal Democrats comments:

“This is exactly the type of initiative needed to ensure the local community is involved to help shape and influence the changes that are needed. Environmental crises such as global warming affect everyone. The more people involved in building a sustainable community the better.”

Cllr Bob Hare (Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Green Issues) comments:

“We all need to look at our lifestyles. Our travel, shopping and working habits, our homes and energy use all need to be sustainable to ensure less effect on the environment. I welcome this initiative. It will help to increase awareness and promote action to make Haringey more sustainable.”

Haringey Liberal Democrat members of the Alexandra Park Board have expressed concern in a letter to the management of the Park after vehicles for an event had been parked perilously close to newly-planted trees.

Ten to twelve lorries that transported the Chinese State Circus equipment to the Palace before the Easter Weekend have been parked around the young trees, and the others on the ‘carriage drive’ road inside the west entrance of Alexandra Palace Park. Lib Dems say that the lack of thought and planning is likely to damage the growth of the trees and are alarmed that more care has not been taken.

Cllr Bob Hare (Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Green Issues) comments:

“These very large and heavy vehicles have been parked within inches of trees planted just a few months ago. In several cases, the vehicles are actually touching them. Wheels have been driven over the root zones of the new trees – something that will have compressed the soil, almost certainly affecting growth.

“These trees were planted as part of the Heritage Lottery-funded restoration works in Alexandra Park. While the lorry drivers have performed some driving that reached circus-trick standards in managing to squeeze their vehicles into the ridiculously tight gaps between the trees, they should never have been allowed to do so when there are hard-surfaced car parks lit at night for security just a few metres away.”

A complete disregard for public safety – that is how local Lib Dems are describing a delay in replacing a missing drain cover outside Broadwater Farm primary school in Adams Road.The delay has angered local Liberal Democrat councillors, as a report was made to Haringey Council’s emergency repair line on 8th April 2007. However, the drain cover still has not been replaced.

Haringey Lib Dems are astonished at the disregard of public safety, especially in light of its location outside a busy school. Liberal Democrats have taken this issue up with the Council’s highways department as a matter of urgency.

Harringay ward councillor Carolyn Baker comments:

“It is hard to believe that a drain cover outside a primary school has been uncovered for so long. This is an accident waiting to happen. I am concerned that children could be injured falling into it, not to mention the hygiene risks from having a litter and stagnant water trap open so close to the school. It is unacceptable.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats have criticised the failure of Homes for Haringey to repair a leak that has resulted in 450,000 litres of water being wasted over an eighteen month period.

Residents of Garton House (Hornsey Lane) have continually complained to Homes for Haringey that a leak from a faulty boiler valve overflow continued to waste precious clean water. Liberal Democrat councillors have supported residents’ complaints and have stressed that this example is only a symptom of a wider problem of uncompleted repairs.

Crouch End Councillor Lyn Weber comments:

“This is just one item on a long list of unfinished jobs or shoddy workmanship.A regular estate visit threw up all sorts of unfinished work and I am still awaiting a response as to when works will be completed. Glass bricks in the stairwells are broken and need replacing; the corridors are filthy after decorating and the replacement lighting scheme has not been finished. There are other issues too.

“This is not the first estate where I have encountered unhappy tenants and leaseholders. I have raised questions, and the answers when I get them, are simply not satisfactory. I urge all tenants and leaseholders not to give up.If you give up on broken guttering or poor paintwork it will cost you even more in the long run so keep on reporting the issues.

“Leaseholders pay a service charge and tenants pay rent; they have a right to decent standards of response and workmanship. Homes for Haringey is simply not delivering. There are many more examples – metal window frames being painted over, scaffolding been erected and taken down several times before work is completed – the list just goes on.”

Cllr Catherine Harris (Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson) adds:

“This is just the kind of ongoing repair issue that we encounter all the time. It is worrying when you consider that Homes for Haringey need a two star rating in their next inspection.”

The announcement that Haringey Primary Care Trust (PCT) has been successful in its bid for capital funds to build a new community hospital in the borough has been welcomed by the Liberal Democrats. However, the party has warned that the large £5.5 million shortfall will have a have a big impact on the Trust’s finances as it is forced to finance more of the Hospital building through the private sector.

The Department of Health unveiled a £1.5 million cash injection on 11th April 2007 that will be used to build the new Hornsey Central Hospital. Lib Dems estimate the PCT will have to find at least £93,500 more per year to finance the hospital. The worst-case scenario would see the PCT having to find an extra £357,000 per year.

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green comments:

“After such a long campaign, it is a relief that this £1.5 million will go some way to get this long awaited project off the ground. Whilst many hospitals such as Chase Farm are threatened with closure, we can at least start the redevelopment of Hornsey Hospital.

“I am, however, very disappointed that the Government hasn’t provided the full £7 million requested. The Health Trust will now have to rely more on private finance to build the new facility, and experience shows this can be very costly in the long run.”

Cllr Richard Wilson, Haringey Lib Dem Health spokesperson adds:

“While this money is welcomed by the Lib Dems the fact that only £1.5 million rather than the £7 million has been awarded will mean that in the long term the PCT will have to find extra money to fill the shortfall. The Health Trust’s own figure’s show that raising the missing £5.5m through the private sector could increase the costs of the Hornsey Hospital project by up to £350,000 a year. This means less money to spend on vital health services in the new hospital and elsewhere in the borough.”

Money from central government designed to be used to promote enterprise is not being properly targeted by the Labour-run Haringey Council to help Haringey businesses, it has been revealed by the Liberal Democrats. Haringey’s £1.5 million allocation from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme (LABGI) has not been earmarked in the Council 2007/08 budget in any specific way to promote, assist or support business.

The news comes on top of revelations at a council committee last week that many of Haringey’s services to support business are still not up to standard. Telephone messages left with business support agencies are not returned and information on websites not regularly updated. Liberal Democrat councillors say these issues raise huge concerns about the way Haringey promotes enterprise in the borough.

Haringey Liberal Democrats believe that this huge amount of money should be clearly and solely used to support and promote business. They say that the Government press release trumpets the award of “Over £300 million to encourage business growth”; however, this is misleading and incorrect if the council is not using this for business promotion at a local level.

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Lib Dem Regeneration spokesperson, comments:

“Despite their claims to the contrary, we know that Labour-run Haringey only provides a ‘fragmented’ business support system. How can this system get any better if money designed to promote business is only used as a plug to fill holes in the budget?”

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Deputy Finance spokesperson, adds:

“When the Liberal Democrats brought the issue of promoting local business to Haringey Council in February, Labour talked about their “focus on promoting enterprise” and promised a “charter with local businesses”. But when given the opportunity to actually do something tangible with funds provided under this scheme Labour are again failing to deliver.

“Surely Haringey Council should use the funds to support the positive impact that a vibrant business community can have in the borough. This could include a campaign to put neighbourhood business managers in place with a particular focus on encouraging the employment and training by local business of local young people.”

The Liberal Democrats have expressed anger at Haringey’s inflation-busting care charge hike for older residents, which will massively outstrip next week’s State Pension increase.

Labour-run Haringey Council plans to increase charges for domiciliary care (care in your own home) by 15%, and residential charges will rocket by over a third (35%). Meanwhile, on 9 April pensioners will receive only a 3.6% increase in their State Pension and 4.4% increase in their Pension Credit from the Labour Government.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem spokesperson on Health and Social Services comments:

“These outrageous increases are unacceptable.Labour’s residential care charge increase is nine times higher than the Labour Government’s pension increases.How can a pensioner afford to pay up to more than a third more for Haringey’s care services, when their pension is increasing by less than 4%?

“I expect many of Haringey’s most vulnerable pensioners will have to cut back on the care they receive because of this hike in charges by Labour.

“Government inspectors found that the care services Haringey are providing to pensioners are amongst the worst in the country, and gave them only a one star rating.Why should pensioners pay so much more for services that Government inspectors say are getting worse rather than better?”

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Neil Williams said:

“Despite the almost audible fanfare from the Labour Council, this does not mean that the Charity Commission has ruled that that everything in the lease is good – only that the Council had completed the process in a correct fashion.

“While it does mean that the objective of “transferring the financial risk” of Ally Pally has been achieved, the question remains: at what cost to some of the precious heritage in the building?”

To help publicise the coming into force on Friday 6th April of the new Animal Welfare Act which gives new protection to pets Lynne Featherstone MP visited Wood Green Animal Shelter last Friday.

The new law makes it a legal requirement for pet owners to give their animals a proper diet, suitable living arrangement and greater protection against abuse and neglect and was backed by Ms Featherstone in Parliament.

Ms. Featherstone comments:

“This law is a mile stone in animal welfare and I hope will make a real difference in reducing the number of cases shelters like Wood Green Animal Shelter will have to deal with.

“We are lucky to have such an excellent animal rescue facility locally with such a dedicated team and I look forward to visiting again after their forthcoming refit.

“Most people locally wouldn’t even need to think twice about whether they are meeting the needs of their pet – in terms of this law – as I am sure they far exceed the law with the love and attention they give their pets.But in those sorry cases where animals are being subjected to neglect and abuse, the law which I supported will make it easier for action to be taken.”

Liberal Democrats are again questioning the management Haringey Council services following a further delay in the installation of ‘Welcome to Hornsey’ signs. This follows a catalogue of missed deadlines, which has infuriated Liberal Democrat councillors in Hornsey. The issue was first raised by Cllr Monica Whyte in July 2006.

On two occasions deadlines laid down by the Haringey Council department responsible for highways maintenance, have been broken. A first promise was made on 8th January 2007, that the signs would be installed by 26th February and another made on 27th March 2007 that they would be installed by 31st March 2007.

Cllr Whyte has again written to Streetscene to demand that these signs should be fitted as a matter of urgency.

Cllr Whyte (Hornsey ward) comments:

“This is just unacceptable. This issue has been going on for nine months and still the Council have not got their act together. It would be great to see these signs installed to give Hornsey its place on the map – as has been long promised.”