Alexandra Palace has been leased to the Firoka Group for 125 years, as Labour councillors voted to ‘sign off’ the draft lease and agree to hand over Ally Pally to the private sector. Liberal Democrat councillors abstained on the vote, saying that while they were not in principle opposed to the leasing of the palace, Labour had ignored serious concerns that they had raised, meaning they could not support the lease terms proposed.

The current process of selling the Palace began just over a year ago, and early on, Lib Dems were asking questions about the protection of the historical assets of the building. More recently they have voiced their serious concerns over the long-term protection for the world’s first public broadcast TV studios and the CUFOS community centre, as well as concerns that the Palace building is poorly protected against the demolition of its internal structures.

Councillor Bob Hare, Lib Dem Spokesperson on Alexandra Palace, said:

“We are not opposed to the principle of leasing the Palace, as long as it achieves a good result for the Palace and the people of north London. However, we have numerous concerns about the deal that has been negotiated which we feel have not been adequately answered. We shall be putting our concerns to the Charity Commission during the 30 day period for representations that will be starting now.”

Liberal Democrat Alexandra Palace and Park Board Member Councillor Sheila Rainger adds:

“Our concerns lead us to believe the deal on offer does not protect some of the key elements of the charitable trust, moreover, we have some doubts about the processes leading to the lease. The Charity Commission must look closely at the details of the proposed sale before it approves this lease. We will be making representations to the Charity Commission, and would encourage anyone else who has concerns to do so.”

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Everyone, particular the Haringey taxpayer will be relieved to be no longer burdened with the cost of the Palace. That said, the future of the Palace now rests in the hands of the Firoka group for the next 125 years. I wish this new endeavour every success. However, this success still needs to incorporate the aspirations of local people and the preservation of the unique birthplace of television. I will be keeping a keen eye on progress as this take shape.”

Councillor Ron Aitken is calling for Arriva Buses and a local school to take action after having no choice but to intervene in a fight between two girls on the W3 bus. A girl from Hornsey School for Girls was left with injuries to her nose and face during a violent incident involving four older pupils from the school.

After being given first aid the pupil was accompanied by friends and Cllr Aitken to her normal getting off stop in Wood Green.

Councillor Aitken comments:

I was quite shocked by the incident – there was blood all over the bus. The young lady was very shaken up, and bleeding heavily from her nose. My understanding is that her head had been slammed against the bus window.

“I was on the W3 bus travelling towards Alexandra Palace when the incident occurred near Priory Park at about 3.30pm. Something like fifty school children were very animated, as children are, but some of them seemed particularly excited, and before I knew it they were fighting.

“Although recent efforts by the Neighbourhood Policing Teams at bus stops during school leaving time are welcome, there are clearly issues of bullying and intimidation which need to be addressed by the schools and London Buses”.

In a previous incident on a W3 bus Cllr Aitken and another Lib Dem councillor had to bundle a violent and abusive male out of the doors before someone was injured.

Alexandra councillor Wayne Hoban has this week persuaded Haringey Council to put in place waiting restrictions and yellow lines on the junction of Alexandra Park Road and Albert Road. Cars parking too close to the junction were causing concern over the safety of children walking to Rhodes Avenue and Alexandra Park schools, and causing major problems for buses which use the route.

Residents contacted Councillor Hoban, who comments:

“I am very pleased that the Council have agreed to make these necessary changes a priority. Parked cars were causing problems for buses using the roads, but more importantly, were restricting visibility for other cars, making the junction more hazardous. A great many children use the area as a pedestrian thoroughfare, and I am very pleased that the Council have agreed that these works must be a priority.”

Note:

The Statutory Consultation for the proposed restrictions will commence on 9 November 2006. This is the legal part of the process before Haringey Council installs the parking restrictions and takes the form of a Public Notice, which is published in the local press setting out the Council’s intention to install parking restrictions.The Notice has a 21-day Statutory Consultation period which will be completed by 30th November 2006. If no objections are received by the Council during this period, the yellow lines should be implemented in December/January.

At last night’s meeting of the Full Council, Labour councillors rejected the opportunity to set a firm target for reducing greenhouse gas emission for Haringey, citing the costs of the measures as the reason for doing so. Lib Dem councillors have strongly criticised the move.

Labour tabled a motion asking Haringey Council to sign up to the Nottingham Declaration, a voluntary pledge signed by many councils across the country to actively tackle climate change at a local level.

The Liberal Democrats tabled an amendment to the motion, committing Haringey Council to setting a target in the next three months, and saying that the Council could and should go much further in its pledge. Labour Councillor Brian Haley told his fellow Labour councillors that they should not support the amendment, as the costs of doing so could be too high, in spite of the recent publication of the Stern Report indicating that climate change is going to be cheaper to tackle now than in the future.

Councillor Ed Butcher, Lib Dem Deputy Spokesperson for the Environment, comments:

“This is a very disappointing decision from Labour. We explained in advance that we were fully supportive of their motion, and that we would vote for it in the chamber, as we did. It’s a shame that Labour were not able to do the same and put principal before politics. We expected that Labour might be willing to go further and add some real meat to the bones of the declaration, but they were not bold enough to do so.”

Cllr Bob Hare, Haringey Lib Dem Environment’s spokesperson adds:

“Climate change is an issue in which we all have to play a part. At every level, those in government should be leading the fight, and the Lib Dems believe that this is especially true at a local level. I hope very much that we will find a way to persuade Labour to take this message on board, but I suspect that the only way that we will see real progress here in Haringey is under a Liberal Democrat administration.”

Haringey Lib Dems have expressed surprise and anger that Haringey Primary Care Trust has suddenly put the Fortis Green Health Clinic up for sale. Local councillors had previously been assured by the Trust that it would not be sold until after the Hornsey Hospital site was redeveloped. Local GPs had expressed an interest in moving in to the Clinic, allowing it to be kept for health use.

Health Spokesperson Cllr Richard Wilson comments:

“The local Health Trust are counting their chickens before they are hatched. They should not be selling off any health related land or facilities in Muswell Hill until they are certain the Hornsey Hospital redevelopment is going ahead.Many attempts to replace the Hospital have already fallen through, and the risk for residents is we could end up with neither a hospital nor a clinic.

“We are told the NHS is improving, but all we see locally are more cuts and closures.The Trust must halt this sale straight away.”

Fortis Green ward councillor Martin Newton adds:

“We were told that the Fortis Green Clinic was safe until a better facility was provided. I am angry that the Trust has suddenly changed its mind and is now rushing to make to sell the site.

“Local GPs were keen to move into the clinic when it became free, but it seems the Trust has closed the door to this option and want to sell of the land to developers. I urge the PCT to halt the Clinic sale and start exploring the options of turning it into a GP surgery.”

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, has stepped in to take up the fight to save the world’s first television studios at Alexandra Palace. The proposed sale of a 125-year lease of the palace is putting the studios, the site of the world’s first public TV broadcasts, in jeopardy as Haringey Council confirmed recently that there is no long-term protection for the studios in the proposed lease.

The television studios at Alexandra Palace were occupied in 1935 by the BBC, and in 1936 the first television broadcasts were made from the site. The lease that could be signed with the Firoka group only requires that the group provide a space for a museum somewhere within the building, not the maintenance of the original studios.

Ms. Featherstone has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament to raise awareness of the issue, and has written to the Culture Minister Tessa Jowell MP, the BBC Heritage Department and the Royal Television Society to ask assistance in saving the studios.

Ms. Featherstone comments: “The historic TV studios are a piece of history – not just for people who live near and love Alexandra Palace, but for our country, and indeed the world. The first ever public television broadcasts are a milestone that need to be commemorated, and I was shocked to discover that no thought has been given to the preservation of the original studios.

“As one of our Lib Dem councillors here said, providing only “a space for a museum” is like ‘preserving’ Stonehenge by demolishing it and putting up a fibre-glass replica. I sincerely hope that a solution can be found. The Labour council have spent a long time trying to push this sale through, and my concern is that since there is only now one potential buyer, important issues such as saving the studios might take second place to the rush to secure a quick sale.”

Note – text of Early Day Motion 2884:

ALEXANDRA PALACE AND THE BBC

That this House notes with concern the lack of provision for the protection of the original television studios at Alexandra Palace contained in the proposed lease for the sale of the palace by Haringey Council; recognises the heritage of the studios as the site of the world’s first public television broadcast and the birthplace of the BBC’s television service; believes that this heritage should be properly preserved and conserved, with sensitive re-use, as part of our national and international history; and urges the Government to take steps to ensure the continued existence of the original studios in any regeneration initiatives that might take place at Alexandra Palace.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, this week presented local veteran and Crouch End resident, Mr. Patrick Davies, with a Veteran’s Lapel Badge to mark his service in the Royal Air Force.

Mr. Davies completed National Service from 1953 to 1955 and served at RAF St. Athans in South Wales.

Ms Featherstone comments:

“It was a real pleasure to meet Mr. Davies and hear about his service in the RAF.His story was a timely reminder of all people who have served our country, not only in war but also in peace.

“Poppy Day is opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of service personnel who lost their lives in wars as well as salute the brave souls who have served so gallantly to preserve peace.”

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, has received a petition signed by over 3,400 local residents calling for a few more free short-term parking bays along one section of Muswell Hill Broadway.

The signatures were collected before the recent Stop and Shop schemes were dreamt up by the Council, and in which the Council’s “big idea” in response to these calls from local people was to swamp the area with Pay and Display.

Virtually no one wants the Pay and Display schemes the Council is proposing, as shown by the Lib Dem revelation that of 724 responses to the Stop and Shop consultation in Muswell Hill, just nine were in favour of the proposals.

All Haringey Council had to do to satisfy all these people was to install a few more free parking bays along one section of the Broadway and to provide clear warning that CCTV was being used to enforce parking, which was also being requested.

Ms. Featherstone comments:

“The size of this petition shows the shear strength of feeling locally on this issue and I will be passing this petition to the Chief Executive of Haringey Council asking her to make sure the views of these people are fully taken into account.

“Local residents and traders have been virtually unanimous in rejecting what the Council is offering, so I simply don’t see how they can go ahead with such a clear majority against.”

Councillor Martin Newton, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Traffic Issues adds:

“It would make a mockery of the democratic process if they went ahead with these pay and display schemes in the face of such obvious opposition.It would also make you question the considerable sums of money Haringey Council have spent on consultation if they proceed and continue to ignore what local people say.”

Councillors sitting on Haringey Council’s Overview and Scrutiny panel looking into the health of the borough have written to the Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt MP, to ask for a commitment to fairer funding for local health services. They expressed their anger and concern over the way in which the Primary Care Trust’s budget was being raided to support other trusts in London.

Liberal Democrat councillors proposed the letter following the recent announcement that £600,000 was to be taken from the budget of Haringey’s Teaching Primary Care Trust, the body responsible for primary health care in the borough, by London’s Strategic Health Authority. The ‘top-slice’ follows a beginning of year request for 3% of the PCT’s budget, some £11 million.

Councillors expressed their concerns to Ms. Hewitt, pointing out that the original top-slice had led to cuts in front-line services, and that the latest request for more cash was bound to have the same effect. The committee explained that it found it very hard to understand why funds were being diverted away from a borough where there was such high demand for local services, and felt that the measure unfairly penalised the Trust after it had managed its finances with prudence.

In addition, councillors were dismayed with the way in which the funds were taken, part of the way through the financial year, and with little warning. They explained that it was impossible to expect the Trust to be able to plan efficiently when sudden demands for funds could be made at any time. The committee asked the Health Secretary for a commitment that no further similar measures would be taken.

Councillor David Winskill, Liberal Democrat Overview and Scrutiny member, comments:

“I am very pleased that we have been able to gain the support of Labour councillors on this issue. We have heard much from Tony Blair about how much money is being pumped into the NHS, but all we are seeing here in Haringey is cuts, cuts, cuts. Cuts in budgets, cuts in numbers of beds, cuts to sexual health clinics, cuts in X-ray services.

“The latest cuts were unfair – Haringey PCT has been asked to pay because it has managed its budget well enough to be able to pay. The trust and its staff work very hard to provide care to those who need it, and they are being undermined by the Government’s poor management. Labour need to understand that this borough has some of the most deprived wards in the country, and that demand for local health services is very high. We must fight to stop the erosion of health provision in our borough.”