Following pressure form the Liberal Democrats, Haringey Council has acted to impose Tree Preservation Orders on a large number of much valued trees at the controversial Strathlene House site off Creighton Avenue.

The site, adjacent to Fortismere School, has been the subject of a controversial planning application in recent months, and bitter criticism from residents and local councillors over damage to the trees at the rear of the site.

When Liberal Democrats grew concerned about the fate of trees at the front of the site in recent weeks, they pressed Haringey Council for Tree Preservation Orders.

These were introduced by the Council’s Planning Committee last week, and give protection to six English oaks, one beech, one robinia, one sycamore, as well as a group of Scots pines.

Councillor Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I welcome the action to protect these trees. I visited the site recently and met local residents, and was extremely concerned about damage to surrounding trees.

“Many residents are understandably unaware that trees just outside the borough’s conservation areas are not protected unless they are subject to a Tree Preservation Order. I hope this serves as a useful reminder, and if people have concerns over the fate of local trees, they should contact the Lib Dems or the Council direct.”

Lib Dem London Assembly member Lynne Featherstone has welcomed assurances from Transport for London that it will seek to work with Islington and Haringey councils to keep buses and other traffic moving in Stroud Green Road N4.

The route is a busy bus route for residents in Crouch End and Muswell Hill travelling to the Tube at Finsbury Park and is often congested with parked vehicles.

Ms Featherstone has been pressing TfL for action, and says that the attention of the London authorities on the road, which forms the borough boundary between Islington and Haringey, is much needed.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I am pleased that TfL has decided to work with the two local councils over the issue. While Islington is generally better than Haringey at enforcement measures along the road, more action is needed to keep the road clear for buses and remove illegally parked cars. It is a vital bus corridor for this part of London.”

Highgate councillor and Lib Dem Leader Neil Williams has called for action from Haringey Council over its chaotic collection of waste from green recycling boxes in parts of the village area.

Cllr Williams says that collections on the wrong days for the past three weeks are putting local people off recycling.

Residents in North Hill N6 were initially pleased when Haringey Council informed them that the collection day for recyclables was being moved to a Wednesday – the same day as for the refuse collection service. However for each of the past three weeks the boxes have not been emptied on Wednesdays, and have been left until as long as Saturday.

Cllr Neil Williams comments:

“The Council should not have told residents that there would be a change of day if their systems are plainly not ready for the change. It is a shame, as the change gives people the opportunity of recycling a great variety of items, and the unpredictable collections are also causing residents to overfill their boxes. Haringey must sort this problem out.”

Haringey Council is arranging for the installation of much needed anti-slip paving slabs on a busy and steep stretch of footpath on Muswell Hill following a request from the Liberal Democrats.

The new surface will be installed in the next few weeks, following concerns that the pathway, on the approach to the busy bus stop on Muswell Hill, could be unsafe for pedestrians.

A team from Haringey Council’s Highways department has visited the site and contractors and have given the go-ahead to replace existing paving slabs with special anti-slip ones in the next three weeks.

Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone comments:

“With winter ice and rain, we must keep the busy and extremely steep footpath along Muswell Hill as safe as possible. I welcome the Council’s decision to take action, and hope that the works will be done as soon as possible, given the present wintry weather.”

Lib Dem councillors Lynne Featherstone and Bob Hare have stepped up their calls for a full environmental impact assessment of the controversial new Tube Control Centre project in Highgate. The move comes following a letter to local residents from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, suggesting such an assessment is necessary – despite Haringey Council having accepted Tubelines’ suggestion that this was not needed.

Cllrs Bob Hare (Highgate) and Lynne Featherstone (Muswell Hill) say this latest development shows Tubelines must conduct an impact study on the scheme – and Haringey Council should insist that the company does so.Lib Dems say that an impact assessment will ensure that measures are taken to help protect nearby habitats as well as local people. Local bat populations for example, and the willow warblers which inhabit the woodland edge could be affected by the scheme.

Bob Hare comments:

“I have argued all along that an environmental impact assessment is necessary for such a sensitive site on the edge of Highgate Wood. Local people living nearby, and indeed the wider Highgate community, are entitled to know that the impact of such a major building is being fully assessed.

“It is time Tubelines bowed to this pressure and agreed to a full study.”

Lib Dem councillor for Muswell Hill, Lynne Featherstone has successfully secured the clean-up of a graffiti hotspot around Park Road and Priory Road, N8.

The request for the clean-up, made earlier this month, came after residents reported litter bins and bus stop ticket machines covered in graffiti around the area.

Last week, in response to Cllr Featherstone’s request, Haringey Council removed a total of 37 square metres of graffiti from Park Road and a further 18 square metres from Priory Road, with some further removals taking place at a later date.

Cllr Featherstone has welcomed the clean-up but says that more needs to be done to deter those creating the graffiti.

Cllr Featherstone (Muswell Hill) comments: “I am pleased that this graffiti has been removed, as a constant effort is needed to clear up the effects of this sort of vandalism.”

Haringey Lib Dems are calling on the Labour-run Haringey Council to take action to improve facilities for residents on the Campsbourne Estate in Hornsey.The call follows a site visit by Cllrs Neil Williams and Lynne Featherstone, who have tabled a detailed Council question to be answered at the next Council meeting on Monday (21st February) regarding the need for improvements on the estate.

The Lib Dems say the lack of resources for improvements on the Campsbourne in recent years is a serious concern, given the amount of money coming into the area as a result of the large development at the nearby New River.

The two councillors say that the Section 106 funding acquired from developers to improve the borough should be poured into urgent improvements to the estate, including the reopening of the estate’s community centre and children’s playground.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“A lot of work needs to be done to improve facilities at the Campsbourne for local residents.

“There can be no excuse, given the amount of money coming into the borough as a result of the nearby major new developments. A playground which has disappeared needs to be reinstated, and the residents would like the Council to look at the possibility of allotments on one part of the site. Action from the Council is needed.”

Commenting on the European Court of Human Rights judgement in the McDonalds libel case, Haringey Lib Dem Group Leader Neil Williams comments:

“I am very pleased for Helen Steel and David Morris. People in their situation, in court and up against a huge multinational corporation, should undoubtedly be in a position to mount a proper defence case.

“They have fought a lengthy and exhausting campaign and I am sure that many people in Haringey will be pleased for them today.”

In a further boost to the Liberal Democrats in the area, a new website aimed at disgruntled Labour supporters is urging locals to back the Lib Dems in the forthcoming general election in Hornsey and Wood Green.

The site, www.strategicvoter.org.uk, is the second such site in recent weeks to urge a vote for the Lib Dems, and predicts the election will be a closely fought battle between the Lib Dems and Labour, with the Tories a very distant third. Strategic Voter describes the Hornsey and Wood Green seat as a “vital battleground constituency”, andsays:

“Vote for the best-placed candidate from an anti-war party, which in this seat means Lib Dem.There is a pro-war party in the lead, challenged by an anti-war party. The MP seeking re-election failed to vote against the illegal invasion of Iraq in the crucial final Division 118 on March 18, 2003.”

The move follows a surprisingly frank admission to a local newspaper in January by the newly selected Tory Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the seat that he is out of the race and that the constituency is a straight fight between the Lib Dems and Labour.

Lib Dem Leader Neil Williams comments:

“The election will be interesting, particularly with the growing number of websites urging people to vote Lib Dem to defeat Labour in this seat. The Tory candidate’s own admission that he cannot win has certainly been a boost in recent weeks.”

Lib Dem Environment spokesperson Bob Hare has called on Haringey Council to remove fly-tipped junk from a garden in Alexandra Park Road that has remained there for nine months. The junk includes a trolley and armchair which have been sitting in the front garden of a small block of flats at 349 Alexandra Park Road.

Despite nine months of pressure from the Palace Neighbourhood Watch, the Council has taken no action. A representative from the Group contacted Cllr Hare earlier this week and requested his help in resolving the problem.

On the visit by Cllr Hare on Thursday (10th February), the representative confirmed that the Council did visit the site some time ago and assured the representative that they would be passing the information onto the Council’s waste contractors, Haringey Accord, to remove it. However, nothing happened and the group is still waiting, unable to get hold of anyone in charge.

Cllr Hare has contacted the Council and asked them to take urgent action to remove the waste. He is deeply concerned that after nine months of calling and writing, residents have been unable to get the rubbish removed.

Cllr Hare comments:

“This is completely unacceptable and I have asked the Council to deal effectively with the owners of the property who have permitted this unsightly accumulation of household waste to build up.

“I will also be pressing the Council to find out what action it will be taking against its contractor, Accord, over its failure to carry out the duties that residents pay such high Council Tax for.”