Haringey Council has told the Lib Dems that they will be taking action to enforce planning restrictions over the controversial Gaudi-style, shop-front that has suddenly appeared in Muswell Hill Broadway.

Lib Dems say that the shop front is totally out of keeping with the character of the Edwardian town centre and conservation area, and should never have been installed. Haringey Council has agreed that they will pursue an enforcement order against the changes.

Councillor Stephen Gilbert (Lib Dem, Fortis Green) who represents the area comments:

“The previous occupants had removed an-old style shop-front, but the situation has now gone from bad to worse and action really must be taken.

“This shop front would look all right in parts of Barcelona, but it simply doesn’t work at all in Muswell Hill.

“I am pleased the Council has agreed to take action as the planing guidelines in the conservation area really must be enforced or this sort of mish-mash will be the inevitable result.”

Lib Dems have welcomed London Underground’s decision to agree to their suggestions of a further consultation in the Autumn to review the controversial fence that has been installed at Highgate Tube station. The move follows a meeting with key residents and Tube bosses this morning at the station.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I am pleased that Transport for London have agreed that there is a need to look at this issue again, to ensure that a fair solution is found.”

Cllr Bob Hare adds:

“As a result of this morning’s meeting, TfL have also agreed to look at ways in which the fence could be altered to provide a solution that could be acceptable to everyone. I think this is a reasonable and sensible way forward.”

Liberal Democrat councillors in Muswell Hill are redoubling their efforts in pressing Haringey Council to improve road safety in Priory Road following another accident involving a pedestrian on Wednesday afternoon (4th August).

The accident which is believed to have involved an elderly man has highlighted the concerns of local councillors and residents who have demanded crossings for pedestrians, particularly for the many school children who have to cross the treacherous road during term time.

Earlier this year the Labour-run Council controversially rejected proposals by the Lib Dems to obtain funding for two new crossings on the road following two incidents involving child pedestrians within eight days. The proposal was rejected despite the Warner Road Residents’ Association presenting a petition with 841 signatures supporting the proposals for new crossings.

Lib Dem Councillor Gail Engert says that urgent action needs to be taken for the safety of pedestrians.

Cllr Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“News of yet another accident only reaffirms that this is a very serious situation and Haringey Council need to take immediate action to ensure that this busy road is made safe.

Cllr Lynne Featherstone adds:

“We will be contacting Haringey Council again and pressing them to seek funding for these essential crossings. There have been too many accidents and action must be taken.”

Haringey Councillor and GLA member Lynne Featherstone’s award winning website has been praised again, this time by users of BBC online who have named the site as one of the best political websites in the country.

The site was one of only two personal websites named in the BBC’s favourite political website section and was highlighted for its ‘excellent mix of local and regional news’. This latest recognition from users of the site follows a couple of high profile shortlistings for awards by the New Statesman magazine and The Guardian newspaper earlier this year.

Lynne Featherstone is delighted that people are using her site and finding it so informative.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“I am delighted that Haringey and London residents find my site such a useful resource. Communicating with the electorate is so important and I enjoy being able to engage with so many people through my site.”

Note:The BBC’s story is here.

The local Liberal Democrats had to call in the police yesterday after the local party received a suspect package at their Hornsey FREEPOST address. Lib Dem Leader Cllr Neil Williams was looking through the party’s mail yesterday morning, when he spotted the home-made envelope, which was offensively addressed and contained a loose and suspicious item.

Specialist staff from Scotland Yard came and dealt with the package, which turned out to be a hoax.

Cllr Williams, who has also been assisting the local CID investigation into the crime, comments:

“This is a rather nasty and stupid crime by someone who appears to have a grudge against the Lib Dems locally. I’m appalled that anyone would send such an item designed to cause fear and also to waste so much police time.

“For both these reasons, I am pleased to see that the police are taking it seriously, and I have been helping them in the hope that the culprit will be caught.

“I can also say that the police response was incredibly swift and thorough. The unfortunate fact, for them, is that all such incidents have to be investigated, and such deliberate hoaxes are an utter waste of their valuable resources.”

The Liberal Democrats have welcomed London Underground’s decision to agree to a meeting of key residents’ groups and local representatives in an attempt to resolve the controversy surrounding the new seven-foot fence erected near Highgate Tube station on the Archway Road.

London Underground have agreed to a meeting after a storm of criticism in Highgate from local Lib Dems and residents over their decision to press ahead with a controversial seven-foot wooden fence along the embankment near the Tube station.

The swift erection of the fence this week followed a public meeting organised by Lib Dem councillors and requests, not granted, that the LU stop work so that a more acceptable option could be found.

Councillor Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I am pleased that London Underground have now agreed to a meeting, as we need to discuss a solution that is acceptable to all. We need to look at alternative options which should prove acceptable to residents and businesses, on both sides of the road, as well local amenity groups.”

London Underground (LU) are today facing a storm of criticism in Highgate from local Lib Dems and residents over their decision to press ahead with a controversial seven-foot wooden fence along the embankment near the Tube station. The swift erection of the fence in the last two days follows requests this week that the LU stop work so that a more acceptable option could be discussed.

Councillor and GLA member Lynne Featherstone, who had asked for the works to be stopped and chaired a public meeting in Highgate on the issue last week, is writing to Tube bosses and the London Mayor to express her dismay and to urge the company to think again.

Lynne Featherstone, who inspected the site with local councillors Neil Williams and Bob Hare this morning, comments:

“It is extremely disappointing that London Underground have gone ahead with this fence, when they have been asked by so many to call a halt to the project so that a more acceptable solution can be found. This is not the end of the matter.”

Cllr Bob Hare adds:

“This unacceptable fence will probably be the only example in the country of this sort of sound barrier being used to reflect sound back at the people who live and run businesses right beside a main arterial road. It could so easily have been altered along one of the lines recommended by councillors and residents last week.

“The London Mayor must intervene. His noise strategy includes a map showing that the Archway Road is one of London’s worst in terms of noise. This really is not a fair solution and the visual blight of such a high fence will be bad news for residents and for the businesses trying to make a living in the area.”

Liberal Democrats in Crouch End are calling for residents to report their worries about speeding traffic in the area. This comes after a number of residents contacted Lib Dem councillors and expressed their concern over speeding and rat running in the Crouch Hill and Ferme Park Road area.

The Lib Dems are writing to residents in the roads worst affected by traffic cutting through from Crouch Hill to Ferme Park Road, which include Tregaron Avenue, Elm Grove, Womersley Road and Dashwood Road. There is particular concern because many of the routes are near primary schools, increasing the risk to children during term time.

Crouch End Councillors David Winskill and Ron Aitken are urging Haringey Council to look at ways of improving road safety in the area. However they want to engage local people in the lobbying process and will be acting on the feedback they receive from residents.

Cllr David Winskill comments: “We are concerned about the speeding problem that has been reported by many residents in the area. It is important that residents respond to the letter so that we can put forward a proposal that will be of most benefit.”

Cllr Ron Aitken adds: “We have a number of ideas which include seeking money from the ‘safer routes to school’ scheme or talking to police about enforcing speed limits. Ultimately, we need to find a solution that is most suitable to this area and that is why we are keen to hear from all residents.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats have expressed concern at the disturbing findings of a report into Haringey Council published this week by the Audit Commission. The preliminary feedback from Haringey Council’s annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) highlights Haringey’s failings in no less than 19 different areas.

The Lib Dems are particularly concerned at the criticism that, ‘the Council’s engagement with the west of the Borough is less thorough than that in the east’. Lib Dems say that this statement puts in the spotlight concerns raised by both residents and Lib Dem councillors in the past. Residents feel that issues of real concern to residents in the area are of little interest to Haringey Labour.

Additionally Haringey Council is criticised for its failure to undertake scrutiny, the process used to hold the Council to account, in accordance with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s best practice guidelines.

The Lib Dems, who are the Council’s official opposition, have been critical of the Council’s current arrangement of ‘jobs for the boys’ that has meant Labour councillors hold all executive positions as well as all scrutiny chairs – a practice strongly criticised independent bodies. The Lib Dems argue that this is unhealthy for local democracy and is in marked contrast to practice in Lib Dem run Islington.

Haringey Council’s failings are summed up with the citing of a Mori Poll that shows ‘satisfaction levels related to quality of life are low in comparison with London Authorities’.

Lib Dem leader, Cllr Neil Williams comments:

“These worrying findings confirm many of the concerns we have been expressing about the way Labour runs Haringey Council. Unless changes are made, Haringey will not see substantial improvements in its performance or reputation and will be unable to attract the brightest and best people to work for the Haringey.

“Many of the criticisms that are damaging the borough’s reputation could be avoided and quickly put right, but there is little willingness on the part of Labour to do so.”

Parliamentary spokesperson Cllr Lynne Featherstone adds:

“This is an extremely disappointing preliminary report, which confirms that over thirty years of Labour control has left a long list of problems in Haringey. The lack of engagement in the west of the borough is a huge concern, and will only cost Labour more seats in the area if they do not seek to put this right.”

Highgate residents and local groups are demanding that work stops on the controversial plans for a solid six foot high acoustic fence along the top of the Highgate station cutting.

The move follows a public meeting last Friday organised by Lib Dem Councillors Bob Hare and Lynne Featherstone, at which residents backed three alternative proposals which would be fairer to all, and avoid the environmental impact of a motorway style fence in the highly sensitive area.

Local groups and residents at the meeting backed three alternatives – a low acoustic fence with wire fencing above, along with planting of native species on the slope; a ‘wire-only’ fence as previously installed, with intensive planting behind; or a wooden slatted (picket style) fence also with planting.

Cllr Bob Hare comments: “We must have a solution that is fair to all. This meeting has come up with some very flexible alternatives. I do hope that Transport for London and Tubelines will see sense and acknowledge the concerns of local groups and residents.”

Cllr Lynne Featherstone adds: “I have written to Transport for London putting the views of the meeting to them and asking them to think again. They must respond positively and back an alternative proposal.”

Notes:

Under the current plan, the fence, which is designed to reflect sound, will stretch from the top of the escalator (beside the Woodman pub on the corner of Muswell Hill Road) all the way to Shepherds Hill.

It would be six feet high for much of its length, although lower at the Shepherds Hill end (where there is no ‘drop’ behind it). It would block views of the greenery alongside Highgate Station. It will look rather like a fence around a building site, but would be permanent.

Acoustic fences are often used alongside motorways where sound protection is needed for residents. It is designed to reflect traffic noise, in this case, back towards the shops and the pavements.

The acoustic report was only sent to Cllr Bob Hare and distributed by him to others after an earlier meeting where the decision for a six foot fence was made. This report says: “There has been no significant effect on traffic noise levels at residential properties around Highgate Station as a result of the removal of vegetation for the embankment stabilisation works.”