The Lib Dem councillors for Stroud Green have demanded urgent action from Haringey Council to fix the blocked drains in and around Stroud Green Road which have been flooding for several months.

There are several sites where the drains are severely blocked, causing flooding every time it rains. The problem is particularly bad on Marquis and Perth Road, perpendicular to Stroud Green Road.

Councillor Ed Butcher says:

“After a heavy rainfall, I regularly see people getting soaked by passing cars as they wait to cross. Recently I saw one poor old lady who had to dodge the traffic on Stroud Green Road trying to circumnavigate the puddle on Perth Road.”

“Action needs to be taken now before these floods become Biblical in proportion or someone gets hurt.”

Councillor Wilson adds:

“There is obviously a serious drainage problem that needs urgent investigation and repair by the Council. The puddles are surprisingly large and deep:when I investigated the water in Perth Road it went several inches up my wellies.But Stroud Green residents shouldn’t need to wear wellies just to use the local shops!

“Stroud Green residents often feel a bit neglected by Haringey Council as we’re at the end of the borough, and the Council not taking any action for months on end only adds to their suspicions.”

Labour-run Haringey Council’s budget shows that they planned to have at least two CPZs in place by January, and the two ‘Stop-and-Shop schemes up and running by September this year.

They are being criticised for having budgeted before ensuring that local people wanted the schemes to go ahead, a decision which has led to the service responsible predicting an overspend of half a million pounds by the end of the financial year.

A report to the Council’s executive shows a projected overspend by the Environment Services of £500,000, and explains “This projected shortfall is in parking income and is the estimated impact of the recent changes in the CPZ plan.” Through enquiries to the Council, Lib Dem councillor Robert Gorrie has been able to confirm that the Haringey Council budget had been drawn up with an assumption that the parking schemes would bring in at least £265,000 in this financial year.

The remaining quarter of a million pounds’ difference is likely to be due to the Council being forced to carry out further stages of consultation following the overwhelming opposition to the schemes.

The Council’s response shows that Labour had planned to have the Stop-and-Shop schemes in place by September, and the CPZs up and running by January 1st 2007. The Liberal Democrats are criticising Labour for having made financial assumptions before knowing the outcomes of the consultations with residents.

Councillor Gorrie comments:

“It is incredibly disappointing, but not surprising, to discover that Labour are counting their chickens before they’ve hatched. To have actually made financial assumptions that the CPZs were going to be in place shows a worrying lack of financial prudence, and it is arrogant to have assumed that local opposition to the schemes would not be an issue. This is just one more stain on the record of a Labour administration that simply cannot run the finances of the borough effectively.”

Councillor Martin Newton, Lib Dem Spokesperson for the Environment, comments:

“Labour have budgeted for these schemes before finding out whether local people want them or not. In many cases, as we have seen in Muswell Hill and Crouch End, local people are deeply unimpressed with Labour’s proposals. They should have taken the trouble to properly consult the residents before going ahead and making assumptions about how much money these schemes were going to bring in.”

Lordship Lane is the most lucrative road for any council in Britain, bringing in £3.2 million a year through parking and bus lane fines and other penalties. A freedom of information request by Channel 4 News online revealed that nearly 32,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued on the road in a year, bringing in a large proportion of the £18 million raised annually for Haringey through fines across the borough.

Councillor Martin Newton, Lib Dem Spokesperson for the Environment, comments:

“Traffic calming measures are very important when they are being used to increase road safety, but when a single road is bringing in this much cash for the Council, questions need to be asked. The figures show that almost 90 penalties a day are being issued, making Lordship Lane drivers the most penalised in the entire country.

“The Labour-run council’s reliance on penalty fines to balance its books is concerning. There is a feeling amongst motorists in the borough that they are not being treated fairly by the Council, and that there is a spirit of trying to catch them out. If rules are broken, then people should have to pay, but the Council should not be treating this as a cash cow to be exploited – it should be hoping to change people’s behaviour on the road.”

Councillor Wayne Hoban, Tottenham Lib Dem spokesperson, states:

“Obviously there is a need to curb irresponsible parking and driving for the greater good, but this is yet another hidden tax introduced by a Labour council not only bankrupt of ideas, but also incapable of balancing its books. It is nothing short of scandalous that Labour Haringey should hit Tottenham motorists with such heavy-handed penalties designed to plug gaping holes in their budgets rather than improve traffic management.”

Note: for more information, see www.channel4.com/news/foi/2006/parking/parking_fines_by_london_borough.html

The allotments in Noel Park have this week been saved from developers by a successful campaign by local residents and Liberal Democrat councillors. Haringey Council had been planning to sell the plot of land behind Salisbury Road in order to make way for six houses to be built, but Labour Council leader George Meehan bowed to pressure from Noel Park ward councillors and the Noel Park Residents Association and cancelled the sale at the eleventh hour.

The allotments are one of the very few remaining green spaces in Noel Park.Residents and councillors Catherine Harris and Fiyaz Mughal are angry that the decision was going to be taken without any consultation with local people.

Councillor Harris comments:

“Local residents have come to me astounded that Labour-run Haringey Council could have the cheek to sell off the local allotments without consulting them. This is a fantastic victory for local people who are concerned about preserving the few remaining green spaces close to where they live.”

Councillor Mughal comments:

“The proposal to build six houses on these allotments is totally against the wishes of residents and raises huge questions as to which other green field sites are being sold off by Labour under residents’ noses. Our victory here in getting the sale stopped shows that, when exposed to public scrutiny, Labour can be forced to act properly.”

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, has challenged the Minister responsible for Royal Mail on the state of postal services in her local constituency.

Seizing on the opportunity to grill the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, Ms. Featherstone raised the plight of the many residents who responded to her postal service complaining about local services.

Ms Featherstone comments:

“The Minister’s response was completely inadequate. It’s not just dealing with the individual complaints – it’s systemic problems of lost, stolen, misdelivered and late post that is driving people mad.

“I should send him the 1,000 plus responses I got – maybe when the tip of the iceberg is plonked on his desk he will stop quoting mantras and start taking action.”

Note: for details of Ms. Featherstone’s question to the minister see http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm061019/debtext/61019-0001.htm#06101926002273

The Lib Dems are again issuing warnings to Labour over the performance of the Housing Service as reports come in of delays in delivering the new housing allocation scheme called ‘Home Connections’ and confusion over the handling of the mass update of the housing register. Lib Dem councillors are concerned that the service may not be ready for an Audit Commission inspection of the Housing Service in April which will determine whether or not the borough receives £228 million in central government funding, money that is sorely needed to improve Haringey Council’s housing stock.

It was revealed at a public meeting last week that the launch of Haringey Council’s new housing scheme ‘Home Connections’, originally due to be launched in October, is now to be delayed until an unknown time in the new year. Home Connections is being promoted as a major initiative by Haringey Council’s Housing Service. The new system – by which home seekers are to bid for properties by phone, text messages or over the internet – was due to come online this October, but setbacks have led officers to admit that they are not sure when the new system will be ready to be launched.

Labour are also struggling to solve problems with the re-registration process designed to update the Council’s Housing Register, which has not been updated since 2001. Of 24,000 people contacted, only 12,000 have responded. Conflicting information has been sent to residents – one letter informed them that if they didn’t respond, they would be struck off the register, while another explained that they would simply have their application for housing frozen in the queue. Many who are already council tenants have been written to unnecessarily, and it is not clear how Labour intend to resolve the problems.

Lib Dem councillors are demanding answers, saying that their fears over Labour’s management of housing are being borne out.

Councillor Catherine Harris, Lib Dem Spokespersons for Housing, comments:

“As the Audit Commission report looms in April and £228 million of investment destined for the Decent Homes improvements lies in the balance, we are deeply shocked to hear that improvements are being delayed. Most worrying of all is the lack of any detailed estimates as to when the new scheme will now come online.

“Labour continues to display a lack of ability to successfully manage the work necessary. The Council’s staff are working extremely hard to deliver what the borough needs. If there is anything that the Scrutiny Review has shown, it is that staff are committed to implementing change and improving their service for the people of Haringey.

“What is lacking is the vision and drive that should be coming from the top level. We have said before that we believe that, unfortunately, Councillor Diakides is not the right person to oversee this vital process. He must stand aside and let someone else take over before it is too late.”

Lynne Featherstone was unanimously reselected this week as Hornsey & Wood Green Lib Dems candidate for the next General Election by the party’s AGM.

Ms Featherstone reselection was a formality given her accomplishments in first year and half of being a MP and the success she has achieved in championing the cause of her constituents, such as forcing Hornsey Hospital redevelopment up the agenda and making sure residents do not suffer in police estate reorganisation.

The Haringey party will now be turning its attention to selecting an equally first-class candidate for the winnable Tottenham seat.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The last eighteen months have certainly been a steep learning curve and it is a great honour to represent all my constituents.As the vote took place and every hand in the room was up, I was completely overwhelmed with a sense of pride.

“And it was without a moment’s hesitation that I put myself forward again for the opportunity to continue fighting for what’s right for the people of Hornsey & Wood Green.”

Cllr Richard Wilson, Chair of Hornsey & Wood Green Lib Dems added:

“Hot on the heels of our Council election success this summer, Lynne’s reselection is one of those milestones that shows how far the Lib Dems have come in Haringey.

“We are fortunate to be able to put someone forward with such energy and commitment to the local area and its people.Lynne has certainly proved herself as a first class parliamentarian as well as a local champion – long may she continue.”

A local councillor and a group of Northumberland Park students joined together to take part in Local Democracy Week on Wednesday 18th October. Lib Dem councillor Matt Davies visited the Vale School, at Northumberland Park Community School in Tottenham, to talk to students and answer their questions about how local democracy works.

The Vale base at the school is for students with physical disabilities and associated special educational needs, from ages 11-19, and currently has approximately 80 students.

Cllr Matt Davies (Lib Dem, Fortis Green) comments:

“It was a pleasure to talk to the students about what their local council does. The staff and students were very welcoming and the school is clearly a vital community asset.

“The students seemed to be very interested in how local democracy works, so it was a good opportunity to answer all their questions. They gave me a good grilling on issues ranging from antisocial behaviour and rubbish dumping to what my favourite school subject was and where my mum lives!”

Marina Zaidi, Senior Teacher, comments:

“This is the first time that we have had a local councillor to visit our school to talk with students. It proved to be a valuable experience for them, most of whom did not understand what the role of a councillor involves. It was also a great opportunity for students who are studying about local government this term.”

A student, Max Tosun commented:

“It was really interesting. I never knew how much work a councillor has to do.”

Labour-run Haringey Council is being criticised for building an ‘unnecessary’ pedestrian crossing on Hornsey High Street, resulting in the felling of a mature tree and the covering of a historic piece of common green land with tarmac. There are now three such pedestrian crossings within 150 metres of each other at the east end of the road.

The idea behind the crossing was to facilitate a cycle route which Lib Dem councillors argue could very easily have been diverted to one of the existing two crossings.

Hornsey Ward Councillor Robert Gorrie comments:

“Labour are busy installing an expensive crossing, whilst at the same time building on historic green land and showing a complete disregard for the grassland – parking construction vehicles and equipment all over it, rather than on the street.

“The new crossing leads to a lane with no safe crossing – a perfect ‘rat-run’ for drivers who will want to skip the new traffic lights we are getting here, and there is no evidence that there has been thought given to the safety of pedestrians.

“It has been built in the wrong place, is badly designed and potentially dangerous. I am not aware of any consultation with residents on this project, which has shown no respect for the local environment. It seems to me to be completely unnecessary, and I have asked the council to stop the construction and rethink their plans.”

Local MP, Lynne Featherstone and Lib Dem councillors were out in force last Saturday to help launch their Green Tax Switch Campaign.The proposals would see personal income tax reduced in favour of pollution taxes on aviation and large cars.

The Lib Dems were inviting Crouch Enders to sign up for the Green Tax Switch that would see families on average incomes up to £1,000 better off as well as a significant reduction in Carbon Dioxide emissions by changing people’s behaviour

Lynne Featherstone MP says:

“It was fantastic to meet so many local residents who were so enthusiastic about tackling climate change, even on a wet October morning.

“I voted for these tax changes and now I am promoting them locally because this is the biggest issue of our age.Week-in, week out, my inbox is full of letters and emails from residents in our area who desperately want firm action.

“This is a comprehensive package of measuresthat will have direct effect in reducing carbon dioxide emission and kerbing the behaviour that is making the situation worse.”

For more information about the plans visit www.greentaxswitch.org.