Lynne Featherstone MP welcomes further fall in unemployment

Posted on 19th Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has today welcomed news that unemployment in her constituency has fallen again.

In Hornsey and Wood Green, there are now 800 less people claiming Job Seekers Allowance than when the Liberal Democrats entered Government in 2010.

Youth unemployment in the constituency has also plummeted – down from 7.8% in May 2010 to 4.8% now.

Creating jobs is a Liberal Democrat priority. Since 2010, the Liberal Democrats in Government have helped businesses create over 1 million private sector jobs, and have helped create 1.2 million apprenticeships. There are now more apprentices than ever before and 86% more than under Labour.

Locally, Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has helped create new apprenticeships, by organising an event for local young people to meet companies offering apprenticeships.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Work is so important to individuals and families. It pays the bills, gives us purpose and fulfilment, and provides security for our long term futures.

“That’s why I’m so pleased to see unemployment falling – particularly in Hornsey and Wood Green! For two years now, unemployment has fallen month after month here, including a massive drop in youth unemployment.

“In Government and locally the Lib Dems will keep working hard to reduce unemployment, which in turn will help build a stronger economy and create a fairer society – enabling everyone to get on in life.”

Lynne Featherstone MP joins the fight against breast cancer

Posted on 19th Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, has again joined the fight against breast cancer by taking part in Breast Cancer Campaign’s biggest fundraiser, ‘wear it pink’ day.

Over the last 10 years, ‘wear it pink’ has raised £23 million, and on Friday 25 October 2013 people will come together in schools, colleges and businesses throughout the country to raise funds for Breast Cancer Campaign’s lifesaving research.

The Breast Cancer Campaign will use the money raised from ‘wear it pink’ for its researchers, so they have the best possible chance to find the cure.

Fundraising packs, information and registration for ‘wear it pink’ are available here.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Every year in the UK around 50,000 women and around 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer.

“In the past, I have fought hard to ensure all women in Haringey and North London have access to breast cancer screening.

“Sadly though, 12,000 women and 80 men die from this disease. This is why we need to support the Breast Cancer Campaign’s fundraising efforts – so they can continue to fund research which will one day lead to a cure. So join me, wear something pink and donate £2, it’s really as simple as that.

Lynne Featherstone MP exposes New River Village shame

Posted on 9th Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP and local Liberal Democrat campaigners have launched a petition demanding better living conditions for residents in the social housing apartments at New River Village.

In contrast to the pristine private apartment blocks, the social housing blocks –to the rear of the development – are suffering from damp walls, graffiti, overflowing bins and general litter and mess in the corridors.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP recently visited an apartment in the block. Resident Kristine Gravelsina showed the local MP the effect of the problems on her apartment – including severe damp in the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms.

Following the visit, the Liberal Democrat MP wrote to the Housing Association Circle 33 (who are responsible for managing the social housing) and demanded a meeting.

At the meeting, a petition with residents’ signatures – calling on Circle 33 to sort out the problems – will be presented.

Local resident Kristine Gravelsina said:

“Residents in Colorado apartments have to put up with leaks, damp walls and sometimes floods. The shared areas like the corridors and bin stores are in a terrible state.

“We have been trying to get Circle 33 to help us, but they are slow and no proper repairs have been made. I am glad Lynne and the Lib Dems have stepped in and I hope that it finally makes Circle 33 take action.”

Dawn Barnes, Hornsey Liberal Democrat campaigner, said:

“I was shocked and upset when I visited the New River Village and saw how poorly maintained the communal areas were.

“I spoke to residents on the ground floor and they showed me that their homes were badly affected with damp and mould. These homes aren’t good enough for families to live in and, with winter approaching, the problems need to be fixed quickly.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“As Kristine’s MP, I will fight hard on her behalf for better living conditions. What I saw on my visit to her apartment block was simply unacceptable.

“I have demanded a meeting with Circle 33. With the backing of residents, I will be asking that they make the necessary repairs as soon as possible, and for a commitment to provide a better service in the future.”

No fines for waste contractors by ‘out of touch’ Haringey Council

Posted on 9th Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP expressed her shock today, as she revealed that Haringey Council has never fined waste contractor Veolia for poor performance.

Complaints about the rubbish collection service in the borough – which range from unpredictable and patchy collections, difficulties with bin sizes, mess being left behind after collections and a poor follow up service when complaints are made – have been common since the Labour-run Council introduced fortnightly collections two years ago.

The Liberal Democrat MP received a spike of complaints from residents over summer, expressing further dissatisfaction with local rubbish collections. Lack of collections meant rotting piles of stinking rubbish were building up across the borough.

The complaints, documented in local press and on twitter, led the Hornsey and Wood Green MP to contact the Council and ask whether there was any plan to hold waste contractors Veolia to account for poor performance.

Haringey Council confirmed that the contract ‘provides for financial deductions to be made if targets are not met’ – but also admitted that ‘there have been no deductions to date.’

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Many residents have serious complaints. Disabled residents have been unable to get out of their driveways due to misplaced bins and built up rubbish. Some residents have had to deal with maggots and rat infestations. This has been going on for two years, and enough is enough.

“To discover that the Labour-run Council hasn’t even bothered fining their waste contractors Veolia for poor performance really shows how out of touch they are with what’s happening on our streets.

“It is simply unacceptable. We pay one of the highest rates of Council tax in London – and we deserve better.”

Haringey schools receive £13m Pupil Premium boost

Posted on 5th Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

This academic year, schools in Haringey will benefit from an extra £13 million on top of their usual budgets, thanks to the Liberal Democrat Pupil Premium.

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has welcomed the boost – which will see some schools in her constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green receive over half a million pounds in extra funding.

The Pupil Premium targets extra money to schools depending on the number of children from disadvantaged backgrounds they have. Each primary or secondary school receives an extra £900 per pupil that has been registered for free school meals in the past six years.

This year, the Premium will be worth £1.65bn in total.

Schools can use this money to fund extra members of staff, after school clubs, and school trips, for instance.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Here in Haringey we have some truly fantastic schools, teachers and students. Recording breaking A-level and GCSE results this year proves it!

“This extra money is even more good news for local schools. My old primary school – Highgate Primary – will get an extra £99,900 this year! I can’t wait to see what they spend it on.

“The Liberal Democrats aim to build a fairer society where everyone can get on in life. That’s why targeted extra funding for schools is one of our key policies being implemented in Government.”

See how much your child’s school received here.

All local schools are listed in a table here.

More apprenticeships created in Haringey!

Posted on 4th Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

New apprenticeships have been created in Haringey, following an apprenticeship event hosted by Lynne Featherstone MP.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green hosted the event on the 14^th August at Haringey Civic Centre, so that Haringey youngsters could meet companies with apprenticeship vacancies and find out more about how to apply.

The event was attended by around 20 employers (with over 500 opportunities between them) and 130 young people looking for apprenticeships.

Since the event, the companies have confirmed that they have taken on some of Haringey’s young people as apprentices. The North London Garages group, who offer apprenticeships in the motor industry, enrolled one of the people who attended the event onto their programme the day after.

Youth unemployment in the Liberal Democrat MP’s constituency has fallen from 7.1% in May 2010 to 4.9% as of July 2013.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone said:

“This is fantastic news. These new apprentices have kick-started their career, and are getting paid to learn a trade. They will also get qualifications too – an advanced level apprenticeship is equivalent to two A-level passes, and others can lead to the attainment of a Foundation Degree.

“Many local residents have been emailing me since the event asking for more information. I am happy to provide more info on apprenticeships – and the companies offering them. I will also certainly be holding similar events in the future and will keep everyone informed.”

Lynne Featherstone MP calls on rail bidders to protect local services

Posted on 28th Aug 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week met with some of the rail companies who are currently bidding to run the new Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern Franchise – which covers rail stations in Haringey Borough.

Funded by Government investment, the new Franchise aims to improve services by installing longer, more regular, and more reliable trains in and out of London.

However, concern arose that smaller local stations, such as Hornsey and Harringay, could get fewer services as a result of the new Franchise – as the newer trains would be too long to stop at their platforms.

The Liberal Democrat MP last year began a campaign against any losses of service at the smaller stations. A survey showed that 98% of people agreed with this campaign – though a high percentage also wanted newer, longer trains.

During the meetings, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green – along with local Liberal Democrat Councillors David Schmitz and Richard Wilson – put forward the views of constituents, and argued strongly for no losses of service at any local station.

The local MP suggested platform extensions at the smaller stations as a means to ensure the newer, longer trains could stop just as regularly.

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“The Thameslink services currently suffer from reliability problems, overcrowding, and dated trains, so I do very much welcome the huge investment in the Thameslink Franchise.

“However, it is vital that there are no service reductions at our smaller local station – particularly Hornsey and Harringay. Residents have shown that they agree by overwhelmingly supporting this campaign.

“Rest assured that the local Lib Dems and I are pushing both the bidders and the Department for Transport, to ensure that no services are lost at these stations as a result of the new Franchise.”

Lynne Featherstone MP praises work of Court volunteers

Posted on 27th Aug 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited Wood Green Crown Court, to hear about the work of Victim and Witness Support volunteers in Haringey.

The Liberal Democrat MP met with three volunteers and discussed how Victim and Witness Support is actively helping Haringey residents – by providing a safe and supportive place for victims and witnesses to feel comfortable, and be given advice and information.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green also had a tour of the court, including the court room, witness box and the video link room.

After the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It was a pleasure to meet the volunteers, who provide an invaluable service to victims and witnesses of crime in Haringey.

“Of course – no one want to be in the witness box giving evidence. However, it is at least comforting to know that there is a dedicated support service there who can give advice and information on options like having a screen between victim and defendant, and giving video evidence.”

Lynne Featherstone MP meets branch manager at local Halifax

Posted on 27th Aug 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week met the branch manager and local area manager at Wood Green Halifax.

The Liberal Democrat MP was given a brief tour of the bank before sitting down to discuss some of the bank’s current schemes. The local MP heard how the bank are issuing mortgages to first time buyers – enabling young people to move onto the housing ladder.

Halifax supports the Government’s new Help to Buy scheme, which aims to help both first time buyers and home movers who have deposits of at least 5% to buy a new build home.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green also spoke to other members of staff – including a mortgage advisor and another working with Halifax’s bright sparks charity scheme.

After the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It was great to see how Halifax is using the Government’s new scheme to help people get on the housing ladder. This is particularly helpful for young people and those unable to save for huge deposits.

“I wish Halifax in my constituency the best in getting this information out to the people in Haringey who want to buy property.”