Residents living in Church Crescent could see an ice-free winter on their road after local Lib Dem councillor for Muswell Hill, Jonathan Bloch secured the road’s inclusion on Haringey Council’s gritting schedule. He has also had assurances that the road will also have a grit box installed.

The issue was brought to the attention of Cllr Bloch by local residents living on the steep-side of the road off Muswell Hill. They have complained that because the road is narrow the lorries never grit the southern end. Furthermore, the road had a grit box until 12 years ago when the old one was removed but never replaced.

Cllr Bloch is pleased that the road is to be included on the gritting schedule. However along with fellow Muswell Hill councillor Gail Engert, he is pressing Haringey Council to ensure the grit box is installed as soon as possible in preparation for the harsh winter predicted.

Cllr Bloch (Muswell Hill) comments:

“I am pleased that we have secured this road much needed winter gritting. However the Council must ensure a gritting box is installed immediately to make it easier to keep the pathways and road ice-free this winter.”

Bounds Green Liberal Democrats are demanding that Labour-controlled Haringey Council scraps the plans to merge Bounds Green’s Infant and Junior schools and are calling for an urgent review of this decision.

The Lib Dems claim that because the two schools currently spend more than Haringey Council allocates the merger has been proposed.

The schools are also to be further penalised by removing the merger “dowries” that other schools have been given.

John Oakes, Liberal Democrat Focus Editor for Bounds Green ward, said:

“Haringey Council officers say that the overspend can be rectified after a few years. But amalgamation won’t change the basic facts, so it can’t save money.We just don’t believe their projections.

“And there’s no indication that a combined school will deliver better education than the present two-school system – so we are calling for the merger plans to be scrapped.”

Haringey’s merger-proposal financial forecasts are suspect; the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has even offered to pay for an independent study.Haringey’s figures still show the combined school in deficit even when all the “benefits” of merger-mainly a reduction to two-form entry and the loss of one head teacher – have been taken into account. This is because problems 2,3 and 4 above will still remain.

The disruption of merger could well “encourage” some experienced and expensive members of staff to move on, to be replaced by younger, cheaper teachers. But this would not necessarily benefit the pupils and their attainment.

Haringey Liberal Democrats, led by Lynne Featherstone MP, this morning registered their interest to speak in the Public Inquiry into the planning application by London Concrete.

Lynne Featherstone MP was joined this morning by Lib Dem Councillor for Stroud Green, Laura Edge, Lib Dem Focus Editor for Stroud Green Ed Butcher and Lib Dem Focus Editor for Harringay, David Schmitz.

Lynne Featherstone MP and Stroud Green Councillor Laura Edge have campaigned against the Concrete factory plans since the initial application back in 2004 when they both expressed their renewed concerns over plans to build a concrete factory in the residential area surrounding Cranford Way, N8.

Laura Edge said:

“Under the current proposals we would see an additional 56 lorry movements a day, including three to four cement tankers, which are essentially the same size as petrol tankers. Each one of these lorries will be forced to take a left turn onto Tottenham Lane owing to the one-way system and from there either continue down Tottenham Lane or turn sharp right into Church Lane.”

Lynne Featherstone MP added:

“We have fought this application since day one with local residents group GreenN8, and will continue to do so.

“I hope I get the opportunity to speak so I can speak on behalf of the voters of Hornsey and Wood Green.

“I also want to ensure the Planning Inspectorate allows some time in an evening or at the weekend for those people who work during the day to have their voice heard.”

Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition on Haringey Council, Cllr Neil Williams, has expressed his concern after the Lib Dems uncovered figures that show the annual cost of producing the Haringey Council’s magazine, Haringey People, is in excess of £450,000.

The Council figures were revealed to the Liberal democrats following an enquiry into current costs after Haringey Council proposed an additional increase of £165,000 to cover the postage cost of the monthly publication.

The Council disclosed that budget cost for design, print and distribution of Haringey People is £294,600. With the additional cost of postage pushes the final figure to £458,400. It is unclear whether this cost includes staffing, and the Lib Dems are investigating.

The Lib Dems feel that with Haringey Council under pressure on many vital services, they have little excuse to spend almost £500,000 of local taxpayers’ money on a glossy campaigning magazine.

Cllr Williams says that the magazine should not be about Labour Councillors and David Lammy, but should solely be a publication that gives useful information to residents about issues that concern them.

Cllr Williams (Highgate) comments:

“I am very concerned that local people are having to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds on what the Council sometimes uses as a Labour campaigning tool.

“If the Lib Dems take control we will be looking to overhaul the magazine and make it into something that gives better value and is more useful to local residents.”

Haringey Lib Dems have responded to the Haringey Council’s statutory consultation on future plans for Coleridge School, calling for full and transparent consultation, robust planning and risk assessment, as well as a traffic assessment that addresses all safety concerns.

Lib Dem councillor for Crouch End, Ron Aitken made the response to the consultation following meetings with a number of local residents and parent groups from both sides of the argument along with Lynne Featherstone MP

In the response Cllr Aitken expresses the Lib Dems’ deep concern at Haringey Council’s failure to plan for future demographic growth in Crouch End and the surrounding area.

He highlights that as recently as 1988 the Labour-controlled Council closed a perfectly adequate School in Crouch End (Highgate Wood Lower School in Park Road/Wolseley Road) and attempted, unsuccessfully, to sell it to Waitrose. It was eventually sold for housing following a fire at the site.

The Lib Dems acknowledge the importance of resolving this situation, particularly for the parents of the children expecting a place on the Coleridge/ TUC site for 2006, and have asked the Council to ensure provisions are made for this year.

However, the Lib Dems emphasise that the long-term solution must be reached with a thorough consultation and the full results and comments published so that parents can see how the decision was made.

Both Cllr Aitken and Lynne Featherstone MP acknowledge that the conclusion reached by the Council may not please everyone, but they say that the Lib Dems will fight to ensure that the Council addresses and investigates the concerns of all interested parties thoroughly.

Cllr Aitken (Crouch End) comments:

“Haringey Council has a poor record on consultation and I think this is adding to the concerns of local parents. The Lib Dems aim to ensure that all sides are heard and that a solution is achieved which involves the community as a whole and addresses the long-term needs of children in Haringey.”

Cllr Lynne Featherstone, MP adds:

“If parents and local residents are properly consulted and the best solution put forward as a result – then we can all unite around that solution. If parents and local residents feel that the consultation is not genuine or rushed – then the risk will be a divided community. Haringey must do this properly so that the vital school places that everyone wants are provided in the best possible way.”

Lib Dem Haringey Education Spokesperson Cllr Gail Engert has called on Haringey Council to help children to play games at break-times by painting game markings on a local school’s playground. The calls come after children raised the issue during one of Cllr Engert’s regular visits to the school earlier this month.

They informed Cllr Engert that the School Council had written to Haringey Council to request a range of markings on the playground from football to hopscotch. Cllr Engert offered to put her weight behind the campaign and wrote to the Council asking them to address the children’s request.

Cllr Engert was impressed at the children’s initiative in seeking these playground improvements. She says she will be pressing for action as it is essential that kids are encouraged to be active at break-times and anything that helps them should be done.

Cllr Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“I am delighted to see young people using their initiative and writing to the Council about this issue and I am more than happy to assist them.

“With the cross-party interest in keeping children healthy, I hope that Haringey Council assist the school in helping the kids keep active!”

Hornsey and Wood Green Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone has claimed victory for local residents after Gordon Brown performed an astonishing u-turn in the House of Commons on Monday.

Following pressure from Liberal Democrat MPs, Mr Brown admitted defeat and changed the rules relating to Self Invested Pension Plans (SIPPS) which, if left untouched, could have led to rocketing house prices in Hornsey and Wood Green as wealthy investors purchased buy-to-let homes with pension tax breaks.

In 2004 the Government relaxed the rules on SIPPS which meant that people could purchase a property, put it into a pension product known as a SIPP, and then receive a generous 40 per cent tax break. The rules were meant to start in April 2006, but have now been scrapped in line with Liberal Democrat proposals tabled in June.

Commenting Lynne Featherstone said:

“This is great news for those wishing to climb on to the housing ladder in London boroughs such as Haringey. We all know that flats and houses in Haringey are an extremely attractive prospect for wealthy investors so I am delighted our campaign has forced the Government’s hand.

“Offering investors a 40 per cent tax break to buy a rental home here could have priced ordinary people in Hornsey and Wood Green out of the market completely. What we need in Hornsey and Wood Green is good quality, affordable housing that is available to those who live and work in the community.

“I am delighted that concerted Liberal Democrat pressure has shown the Government the error of their ways. Of course this just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to securing affordable housing, but at least the Chancellor’s u-turn offers people in urban areas like Hornsey and Wood Green some protection.”

Liberal Democrat councillor for Fortis Green Martin Newton has been supporting the residents of Lauradale Road N10, in their campaign for trees to be planted.

Haringey Council has surveyed and identified 18 potential sites and are now going to plant 5 of these sites in the next few months.

Some residents were prepared to contribute to the cost to have more trees planted and had been offered the choice of paying (sponsoring) additional trees at a cost of £50 per planted tree. However by the time residents were told that Haringey Council were going to start planting, the offer had run-out and been increased to £170 per tree.

Cllr Newton has since intervened and successfully demanded that the Council honour the original cost of £50 per tree.

Cllr Newton (Fortis Green) comments:

“I am pleased that local residents and local Lib Dems are continuing to work so productively for improvements like this.

“The Lib Dems are dedicated to continue to improve the borough and maintain its greenery and I am delighted that we have secured this planting.”

Lib Dem councillor for Stroud Green Laura Edge has joined with local residents in Chettle Court and the surrounding area to object to plans by London Buses to reroute the W5 bus to take out the loop past Harringay Station, N4.

Cllr Edge delivered a letter to London Buses along with a petition signed by over one hundred bus users and people living on the loop which was arranged by a resident in Chettle Court assisted by Cllr Edge and local Lib Dem activists.

The loop diverts the bus off Oakfield Road via Stapleton Hall Road, past Harringay Station before rejoining Oakfield Road. London Buses believe there is little demand for the loop and removing it will make the route faster.

However in her letter Cllr Edge expresses her deep concern at the poor quality of consultation carried out by London Buses and says that they are overlooking the value of the service to local residents in the area, many of whom are elderly, disabled or have young children and rely on the hail and ride service as it provides easier access to local amenities and the Whittington Hospital.

She is also concerned that many of the W5 bus drivers are already missing the loop out if no-one on the bus requires any of the stops – leaving those on the loop waiting for longer periods.

Cllr Edge (Stroud Green) comments:

“At a time when Londoners are being told to use public transport it seems counter-productive to break this valuable link. I hope that this letter and petition demonstrate the clear opposition to the plans and makes London Buses reconsider.”

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Opposition on Haringey Council, has denounced as ‘unacceptable’ the fact that Labour led Haringey Council pays out the second highest compensation payments in London in terms of cash compensation per claim.

This information was highlighted in a recent report by the Evening Standard (November 24th), which confirmed that a total of 2,040,968 has been paid out by Haringey Council over the last five years to 553 claimants – an average of 3,690 per claim, 50% more than the average of other councils.

The compensation payments arise through claims made for injuries incurred through poorly maintained streets, footpaths and pavements.

The Lib Dems have lobbied Haringey Council for many years to improve its cleaning and repairs on streets and receive hundreds of pieces of casework each year regarding pot-holes, damaged pavements and blocked drains via their annual resident’s survey.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“These claims would not be so high if Labour led Haringey Council took its responsibility for maintaining local streets, footpaths and pavements to an acceptable standard seriously.Too often, we see repairs deferred until the last possible minute, rather than attended to under a regular maintenance and repair programme.This is not only expensive for the council, but it also places residents, particularly the more frail and vulnerable, at higher risk to injury.

“The two million paid out in cash compensation claims would be better spent on maintaining our footpaths and roads to a satisfactory standard.”