There was disappointment as last night not one single Haringey Labour councillor voted against the Government’s ID card proposals in a debate at the council.

In a motion proposed by Liberal Democrat councillor Laura Edge, Haringey Council was urged to signal strong opposition to ID cards on behalf of local residents. Haringey Labour chose to ignore this opportunity to stand up for the borough’s residents and instead played party politics – amending the motion to talk only about one aspect of the debate, that of the huge financial cost of the ID cards scheme.

Cllr Edge (Lib Dem, Stroud Green) comments:

“The cost is a significant and worrying part of the Government’s flawed scheme to force ID cards on Haringey residents. However, the cards will also erode civil liberties and have a discriminatory effect on ethnic minorities and vulnerable communities. It is disappointing that Haringey Labour have failed to take the opportunity to fight the introduction of ID cards. Local residents will once again feel let down by Labour and I find it hard to believe that not one single Labour councillor here in Haringey will be campaigning against ID cards on their behalf.”

Cllr Matt Davies (Lib Dem, Fortis Green) seconded the motion and said:

“Haringey Labour’s amendment is no more than an apology for their Government’s intention to force through ID cards.

“ID cards are the wrong answer to the wrong problem. They would be another layer of bureaucracy, another opportunity for fraud and another opportunity for discrimination – all with the added bonus of the theft of our civil liberties”

In a shocking u-turn by Labour-run Haringey Council, responsibility for the management of Alexandra Park has been offered to developers along with the Palace.

Last week the leasehold of the Palace was advertised for sale for up to 125 years with no restrictions on its potential uses. Anything from a casino to a nightclub could be proposed by developers.

However, Haringey residents have always argued that Alexandra Park should be entirely separate from the Palace.

Haringey Labour Council have effectively broken their commitment to Haringey people on Alexandra Park by offering developers the option of also managing the nearly 200 acres of park.

Haringey Council always promised to consult fully with local people. This major change in policy has been kept as quiet as possible until the advertising brochure was released.

Alexandra Park is extremely popular with local residents and is classified as both Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and a conservation area.

The planning rules for MOL allow any developments that can be argued to “enhance the use of the open space”. This means that new clubhouses or intensive leisure buildings could be introduced. Existing facilities could be managed more intensively; for example, flood-lighting could be introduced for pitches.

Lib Dem spokesperson on Alexandra Palace, Councillor Bob Hare comments:

“The Liberal Democrats are absolutely opposed to commercial control of Alexandra Park. This is a crucially important local resource, that is as valued by residents from the east as by those from the west of Haringey. On this, the borough must not be divided. The management of this Park must remain under local democratic control, and not become another part of the Palace commercial opportunity.

“The pressure on open spaces over 125 years is likely to increase beyond anything we know now. The restrictions of Metropolitan Open Land and conservation area status offer some protection, but there is an open door here for changes that local people will not want.

“The ‘fire sale’ of Alexandra Palace is bad enough, but to hand over the management of Alexandra Park as well is a complete dereliction of the Council’s duties. The Labour Council are desperate to do this deal long before next May’s elections – another skeleton buried. The whole nature of Alexandra Park as people know and love it is up for grabs.”

Lib Dem councillor for Highgate Bob Hare has called on Haringey Council to review its online planning system after residents complained that it was taking them hours to review planning applications.

The concerns have been raised by residents about the usability of the online service both in public at the last planning committee meeting and to Bob Hare directly.

Cllr Hare investigated these complaints by attempting to access a current planning application that comprises 52 pages, all made available as PDF files online.

During an afternoon it took between 4 and 6 minutes to download each page using a broadband connection. With 52 pages of information, just obtaining all the details for this application could take nearly five hours, let alone read them.

This slow delivery means that even from the west of Cllr Hare’s ward of Highgate, on the most westerly edge of Haringey, it would be quicker to walk to the planning office in Tottenham in the east of the borough, where you would have time to look at the plans, do some shopping, have a coffee and walk back.

Cllr Hare, who is a Lib Dem member of the Council’s Planning Committee said:

“Haringey’s online planning could be really helpful. Unfortunately, it is very slow, which seriously reduces its usability for larger applications. Given that these are the very ones that will be of greatest public interest and concern, and with the greatest number of people wanting to see the details, this is a serious problem.

“Haringey Council’s planning service should be applying pressure on the company providing the present service to speed up the delivery rate of information, as well as considering its longer-term strategy for planning information.”

Notes:

The full details of the application are: rear of 60-88 Cecile Park, HGY/2005/1086. This application is for the demolition of existing garages and the erection of part single, part two storey houses, together with six replacement garages (duplicate of HGY/2005/1084) (amended drawings), application received 16/06/2005.

Bob Hare looked at the details of the application on Tue 27/09/05 at various times during the afternoon at times between 2.30 and 4pm.

At last night’s full council meeting, Haringey Lib Dems slammed Haringey Council for dragging its feet following a decision taken in July to amend the flat top humps in Rosebery Road, Dukes Avenue and Grove Avenue, N10.

The decision to install humps was illegal because Haringey Council had failed to undertake consultation in accordance with section 90C of the Highways Act 1980. Specifically, the proposal had not been advertised in the local press or on the highway.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“It is clear that this whole process was botched from start to finish. Haringey ran a comprehensive formal consultation process in 2004 that did not include the installation of humps as an option. Despite this, on the basis of a single petition from a single road asking for humps, they went ahead and installed humps illegally almost overnight without consultation.”

Alexandra ward councillors have received many complaints from concerned local residents over the unusually steep incline of the humps, which are particularly hazardous for cyclists. In light of these public concerns, Cllr Hoban expressed anger at Haringey Council’s failure to take prompt action to amend them following the Executives decision to do so in July:

“The Council moved like greased lightning to install the humps in the first place, but seem to be in no hurry to amend them to a more sensible gradient.This is yet another example of a Labour-run council which is clearly out of touch with and contemptuous of local opinion.”

Lib Dem transport spokesperson Cllr Susan Oatway (Alexandra ward) adds:

“This botched process has also set a dangerous precedent. This Council has now sent a clear signal to residents that a comprehensive consultation exercise counts for nothing under this Labour administration. As ward councillors we have been left to pick up the pieces.This is clearly no way to run a council.”

The latest planning application for the controversial site at the rear of Lauradale Road (N10) is to be recommended for refusal.

Local Liberal Democrats and residents last year successfully campaigned against proposals to build up to eight houses on the site and also objected strongly to the current plans. The site at 85-87 Woodside Avenue is reached by a narrow route at the rear of Lauradale Road and the developers’ original plans failed at their appeal to an Independent Planning Inspector, which was heard in September 2004.

The current application is just for No.87, to replace a bungalow originally built for use by an employee of the water board with two four-bedroom houses.

Cllr Matt Davies (Lib Dem, Fortis Green) has actively opposed development of this site, meeting with residents and council officers on a range of issues and getting the plans made available in Muswell Hill Library.

Cllr Davies comments:

“I am delighted that Haringey Council officers have agreed with residents that these plans are not acceptable for the site. If we have land in Haringey designated as Significant Local Open Land then we must reject applications that threaten or detract from its quality. If we do not act according to policy on open space then the policy is worthless.

“Original problems with the access route to this site remain – and are exacerbated by the planned expansion of Tetherdown School. This site is not suitable for development of this scale and the area is a valuable asset for all local residents.

“This is good news for local residents and further proof that a coordinated approach from residents and ward councillors is the best way to get results.”

The application is now likely to be refused by the Planning Sub-Committee. The plans may be withdrawn, new and amended plans may be submitted or the applicants may appeal against refusal.

Lib Dem councillors in Muswell Hill have called for an explanation from Haringey Council as to why they have not been consulted over the skateboard provision in Priory Park, N8.

The calls come after Lib Dems learned from an outside source on Thursday (29th September) that the decision to approve the development of a new skateboarding facility in Priory Park is being sent to the Executive on Tuesday night (4th October). This is despite persistent requests from Lib Dems, who represent the area, to be informed and involved in this project.

This is the latest in a six-month catalogue of failures by the Council to inform ward councillors, and involve them in meetings regarding this planned development and its progress.

Lib Dem councillor for Muswell Hill, Gail Engert and Cllr Dave Winskill of the neighbouring Crouch End ward have been inundated with letters, emails and phone calls from residents wanting to know what is going on.

They say that despite meeting with the Council and successfully seeking assurances that they would be kept informed the Labour-run Council has failed to honour this and for the last week have simply failed to respond to phone calls from councillors requesting information on the planned development.

Councillors Engert and Winskill say that with over 70% of residents bordering the park being against the scheme it is simply another example of a worthless consultation exercise by the Council. They say that by shutting-out ward councillors the Council have shown their desire to play politics rather than carry-out a meaningful consultation.

Cllr Engert comments:

“Yet again the Council has failed to take community consultation seriously, even choosing to exclude ward councillors whilst making important decisions affecting their wards.”

Cllr Winskill adds:

“Labour have adopted the mantra of “consultation” without really understanding what it means or how to actually do it. I offered to serve on the working party over two years ago and was met with a flat ‘no’ by Councillor Quincy Prescott. Many of these problems could have been avoided if Labour were prepared to listen – but we can’t really expect that from a control-freak council like Haringey.”

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that Haringey Council will propose to reject the application to build a concrete batching factory in Cranford Way, Hornsey, following fierce opposition from local residents, local environmental group Green N8, and local Lib Dems.

The news comes after months of pressure from Green N8 and Cllr Laura Edge (Lib Dem, Stroud Green), who demanded that Haringey Council address concerns regarding the environmental impact of the site via a full and independent investigation.

Despite the Council’s recommendation to turn down the concrete batching plant application, Cllr Edge is still deeply concerned at the failures of the Council to properly consult residents who would be affected by this development, particularly those living in the Harringay Ladder.

The final decision rests with Haringey Council’s Planning Application Committee (PAC), and Cllr Edge urges all concerned residents to attend the meeting at 7pm on October 10th at the Civic Centre to express to the committee their opposition to this application.

Cllr Edge (Stroud Green) comments: “I’m glad that after over a year of campaigning alongside Green N8 and local residents the Council have seen sense and recommended against this development.

“I am still angry that the Council has shown little interest or ability to consult properly, with local Labour councillors pretty anonymous throughout this process.”

Local Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone adds:

“The final decision rests with the Planning Committee. I hope all local residents who are concerned about the development will attend the planning meeting on the 10th October and once again show their opposition.”

MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone and Haringey’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Education Spokesperson, Cllr Gail Engert are shocked that 83 children of secondary school age are still waiting to start their studies at one of the borough’s mainstream schools.

The figures were released last week in response to a question by Lynne Featherstone to Haringey Council regarding places available at primary and secondary schools in the borough.

Whilst there is currently a surplus of 99 places at local primary schools, 83 children of secondary school age are currently attending tuition. Of these, fourteen have been allocated school places and are attending tuition whilst awaiting a school interview and start date.

Another thirteen have accepted places on the new young people’s college scheme at CONEL but are continuing to attend tuition pending a start date being given.

This leaves 67 children still yet to be placed and this, say Cllr Engert and Lynne Featherstone, is completely unacceptable. They believe that while the London Borough of Haringey has a large transient population, which makes it difficult to anticipate numbers, this is not a new phenomenon and that council leaders should have sought advise and financial assistance from central government to address this annual situation.

Cllr Engert is particularly concerned that in a meeting last year she raised the issue of places shortfall and was accused of scaremongering by the Labour Council’s executive member for education.

Cllr Engert comments:

“After the fiasco of poor planning for primary school places in the west of the borough, which left many children without a local place, we now have a borough-wide shortage of secondary places. This Labour-run council seems to lurch from one crisis to another in school place planning.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“I am shocked that this high number of children are still to be placed in our secondary schools and will be following this up with the Council to see if this can avoided with better planning in future years.”

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Policing and Community Safety, Councillor Ron Aitken saw at first hand the effects of guns on the streets of Haringey when he accompanied police officers in the London Borough of Haringey as they worked the night shift on Friday/Saturday 16/17 September. Within minutes of the shift starting, officers were called to a shooting in Tottenham.

“Seeing at first hand the effect of guns on our streets was a real eye-opener,” said Cllr Aitken. “Because of the need to protect the public and recover any weapons used, as well as to apprehend the assailant, these incidents demand a large police presence which may have a knock-on effect on other police work. This is the challenge the police and community face because gun-enabled crime has increased by 50% in Haringey.

“I am extremely grateful to Chief Superintendent Stephen Bloomfield for arranging for me to accompany his officers on the night shift.

“Over the eight hours the police dealt with a wide variety of situations, from a shooting to disorder and burglaries. I was deeply impressed with their professionalism. Political leaders must address the issue of police resources.”

With regard to reports that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has considered the use of soldiers as firearms backup to the police, Cllr Aitken, who worked in Northern Ireland for six years at the height of the troubles, firmly rejected this option:

“The police operate very effectively with the consent of the local community as a protective force. The use of the army on the streets of London is simply not appropriate.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green and Liberal Democrats spokesperson for Police, Crime and Disorder in Parliament said:

“Bringing external people with professional skills into our police force is a good idea – particularly in areas like fraud which are extremely complex..

“However, using ex-soldiers armed on our streets is quite a different matter and would seem to imply we were at war.”

Liberal Democrat councillors Gail Engert (Muswell Hill) and Martin Newton (Fortis Green) have welcomed the completion of the Capital Ring – a programme of fifteen walks, on a 78-mile circular green route, running through 20 London boroughs, devised by London Walking Forum (LWF).

The official launch of the full walk that aims to thread London’s many parks and woods and increase awareness of London’s open spaces, took place this week at a ceremony in Highgate Wood with many Mayors and officials from other London boroughs in attendance. However there was disappointment that the host borough of Haringey did not have any official representatives from the council in attendance.

Cllr Engert and Cllr Newton, who are both keen walkers, believe that the Capital Ring will help everyone appreciate how naturally beautiful London is and how important it is to ensure that it is maintained.

They also hope the added enjoyment that many local residents will get from the two routes that run through parts of Crouch End, Stroud Green, Fortis Green, Muswell Hill and Seven Sisters will put added pressure on London Borough of Haringey to make sure that these routes remain free of fly-tipping and dog mess.

Cllr Newton comments:

“This well-signed and interesting walking route is a wonderful resource for local residents. Lib Dem councillors will be monitoring the Haringey stretch to ensure that the Council maintains it to a proper standard.”

Cllr Engert adds:

“All the Labour Council’s talk about community involvement and the importance of healthy lifestyles are shown to be empty words if, unlike other boroughs, Haringey couldn’t be bothered to send an official representative to support this important facility.”