A significant level of unreported crime in Haringey has been uncovered in a snapshot survey conducted by Metropolitan Police Authority member and Haringey councillor Lynne Featherstone, to be presented to the MPA tomorrow.

Over 38% of respondents who experienced or witnessed a crime in the last year did not report the crime to the police – and over half of those said they did not do so because they did not think the police would act or because they could not get hold of the police.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“This survey of Haringey residents is a small yet significant snapshot of the extent of non-reporting of crime in London. If these results are replicated across London, over a third of the capital’s crime may go unreported.”

She added: “This issue must be tackled. We have to know the true level of crime in London.

“The survey also shows an alarming lack of trust and confidence in the police. Too many Londoners think ‘there’s no point contacting the police because they won’t do anything about it’.”

Ms Featherstone is calling on the Metropolitan Police Service to take steps to address the low level of public confidence in their accessibility, response to calls for help and the quality of service they provide in response.

Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed strong disappointment over the Labour party’s decision to block an inquiry into the controversial collapse of the Queen’s Lodge in Muswell Hill.

There was dismay from residents groups who also addressed the meeting, with Labour councillors saying Haringey Council’s planning department was not at fault and that the Liberal Democrats were “trying to exploit a very small issue.”

Despite the Lib Dem motion being voted out by Labour members, local Lib Dem councillors in Muswell Hill and Fortis Green vowed to press on with their bid to force the Labour-run council to hold an inquiry. During the meeting, Labour Lead member Ray Dodds said: “I have no problem with an inquiry at the end of the legal process.” However other Labour members rose to contradict his offer, and the Labour position is now mired in confusion.

Lib Dem councillor Stephen Gilbert comments:

“I’m extremely disappointed that Labour did not heed residents call for an inquiry into whole issue. We were more than willing to accommodate them on the timing of such an inquiry, but this offer was rather cynically turned down.”

Cllr Lynne Featherstone who seconded the motion, adds:

“We will keep up the pressure on Ray Dodds and hold him to his commitment to an inquiry at the end of the current legal process, However with Labour councillors flatly contradicting each other, it may well take a prolonged campaign to hold them to this pledge.”

Comments from Labour councillors during the debaite:

“I have no problem with an inquiry at the end of the legal process”
Ray Dodds – Lead member for the Environment

“I do not feel that the planning department can be said to be at fault”
Cllr James Dawson, Labour

“Trying to exploit a small issue”
Cllr Isidoros Diakides, Lead Member for Housing on the Lib Dem motion

In addition, Cllr Narendra Makanji, Labour Leadership contender and Labour Lead Member, opposed calls for an inquiry.

Liberal Democrat councillors are calling on Haringey’s education authority to urgently address the issue of primary school places in the Muswell Hill area as they continue to try to uncover the extent of the problem in the west of the borough.

Harnigey Council has now confirmed to the Lib Dems that 35 children in the area failed to get their first, second or third choices for primary school for this September – the equivalent of more than one reception class.

The problem came to a head last week at a meeting with aggrieved parents and local councillors. Liberal Democrat and Muswell Hill Councillor Lynne Featherstone is concerned that Haringey Council and LEA have failed to prepare themselves adequately for the baby boom of 2000. The result is that many residents living in the wards that make up the Muswell Hill area will have to drive their children to and from schools outside the immediate area, such as Bounds Green.

The Lib Dems are now calling for Haringey Council to take urgent action to relieve the situation.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“The west of the borough has had a problem for many years with a shortage of school places. It has not been addressed and no plans were made in advance to cater for the baby boom we saw in 2000. Haringey Council has only just started to address the problem that means that serious improvements are at least three years away.

“This is totally unacceptable and we are insisting that a temporary classroom is provided at one of the local schools as a stop gap, so parents and children can be accommodated whilst Haringey sorts out the mess they have got themselves into, because of a lack of forward planning.”

Muswell Hill Councillor Gail Engert shares her colleagues concerns. She fears that the current situation could be exacerbated by new housing developments, increasing the number of family homes in the area. Although acknowledging the need for more homes in London she is concerned that Haringey is not matching the increase in homes with an increase in school places.

Cllr Engert comments:

“Haringey’s lack of foresight is likely to compound this already desperate situation. Demand for housing is huge in this area, however it must be matched by extra provision of services, and this includes increasing the number of school places.”

Cllr Lynne Featherstone has called for urgent action to be taken to resolve the fly-tipping problem at the former Lynx Depot in Coppetts Road, N10. The Muswell Hill councillor’s calls come following reports from residents that the dumped rubbish has become so bad that it had even started encroaching on to the busy road and causing a hazard.

The depot has been a fly-tipping blackspot in the west of the borough since it closed last year and the Lib Dems have previously urged Haringey Council to take action over this issue with little progress made.

However in response to Ms Featherstone’s request, Haringey has confirmed that its waste management contractor Haringey Accord is going to clear the site. They also added that a CCTV camera would be installed on the site soon as Coppetts Road has now been outlined for targeting in the initial phase of the CCTV at dumping sites initiative.

Cllr Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Both my Fortis Green colleagues and I are pleased with this news and I’m hopeful that this will alleviate the problem. However, Haringey should heed calls to scrap its bulky rubbish collection charges, which are contributing to so many fly-tipping problems across the borough.”

Residents of Alexandra Park Road are to have a bus stop moved after the capital’s transport bosses agreed with residents and local Lib Dems that the gap between the first and second stops going downhill are too close, leaving a long gap before the third stop at the bottom.

On routes 102 and 299, the bus stop near the junction with Muswell Road is to be moved 162 metres to outside Alexandra Parish Church. It is also likely that a new shelter will be installed.

Parliamentary Spokesperson and GLA member Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Hopefully, it will not be too long before London Buses install the new bus stop, which should shorten the walks for many pedestrians using the service.”

Local councillor Susan Oatway (Lib Dem, Alexandra ward) adds:

“This is good news, as all measures that encourage people to take the bus are to be welcomed and I am pleased London Buses has responded to this request.”

Liberal Democrat councillor and Environment Spokesperson Bob Hare has condemned the actions of those who set fire to brushwood in Alexandra Park and he has made a number of suggestions to prevent future hazards arising.

While walking near the park recently, Cllr Hare saw flames shooting into the sky, called the fire brigade and rushed to investigate. He found that some youths had set a large pile of brushwood alight. This irresponsible act also threatened several young trees that were right beside the fire.

“When I asked the youths what they were doing, one of them explained that it was his birthday,” says Cllr Hare. “Why setting fire to brushwood should be seen as a birthday treat is beyond me. These youths were aware of the danger of the fire spreading and potentially serious damage to the trees, but did not care.” The youths ran off when they heard fire brigade sirens and the fire was successfully extinguished.

Cllr Hare has now asked the park’s manager to ensure that piles of twiggy brushwood are not left standing around as they are easily ignited, and that log piles – which are good for wildlife – are of large branches only, which are harder to light. He made a number of suggestions for their safe, environmental storage.

Cllr Hare subsequently received clarification from the Alexandra Park Manager that the small piles of brushwood regularly seen in the Sea Scouts area of the park are collected by a member of the public who likes to help keep the area tidy.

“I understand the enthusiasm to help in the park, but this fire illuminates the potential danger of accumulating too much twiggy material.

“I am pleased to hear that some of the big logs from the trees felled as part of the park restoration work will be used for log piles, which will be good for wildlife without creating a fire risk.”

Stroud Green councillor Laura Edge is calling for Haringey Council to find a way to remove prominent graffiti from above the laundrette in Ferme Park, Stroud Green. Ms Edge started pressing for Haringey to remove the graffiti four months ago during the Stroud Green by-election when a number of local residents raised the issue with her.

Haringey Council recently visited the site and ascertained that it would be too dangerous to climb on to the roof of the laundrette to remove the graffiti. However Cllr Edge is keen to ensure that problem is not forgotten and is calling for another method of removing it to be found as soon as possible.

“Local residents have put up with this eyesore for far too long already. One of the most frustrating things is that, once removed, it is unlikely, given the situation, that it would be replaced with fresh graffiti.

“I am pleased that council officers are looking into the situation, but I am keen to ensure that the momentum is not lost and that an alternative solution is found to quickly removed this blight.”

Liberal Democrat councillors will be demanding a special Full Council meeting if a motion calling for an inquiry into the Queen’s Lodge fiasco is not debated at Haringey Council’s Monday night meeting.

Last month shocked residents watched Labour “talk out” a Liberal Democrat motion that called for an independent enquiry into the controversial collapse of the building. Following the Labour filibuster, Lib Dem councillors re-submitted the motion for the Full Council meeting this coming Monday. But yesterday it was revealed that it has been placed last on the agenda, and so it is unlikely to be reached again.

Lib Dems says that the ruling Labour group have broken an agreement that existed between the two parties since before Christmas to ‘rotate’ motions (ensuring that each party had the chance of getting one of its proposals debated at least every other meeting).

Commenting, Liberal Democrat ward Councillor Stephen Gilbert said:

“Haringey Labour has now tried to stop calls for an inquiry into the collapse of the former Queen’s Lodge for the second month in a row. In doing so they are showing their contempt for local people’s concern and for keeping their agreement to ensure fair play in the Council.

“Residents are already beginning to believe that the Council has something to hide, and the extraordinary efforts that Labour are making to avoid debating this issue is only adding fuel to that speculation.

“Only an independent inquiry into what happened at Queen’s Lodge will address local people’s concerns Should Labour prevent a debate again on Monday, my colleagues and I will be calling a Special Full Council to raise the issue.”

The public must have confidence in the criminal justice system in light of the death in custody of Roger Sylvester, says Lib Dem GLA candidate Wayne Hoban. The Lib Dem Deputy Leader in Haringey, and candidate for Enfield & Haringey in the Greater London Authority election, was speaking on Sunday at a public meeting in Wood Green’s West Indian Cultural Centre organised by the Roger Sylvester Justice Campaign.

Cllr Hoban told the meeting that the police need to gain the respect of the local community by always treating all sections of the community fairly and professionally, regardless of race or class.

Cllr Wayne Hoban comments:

“There are many lessons to be learned from this tragic case. The public must have confidence that the criminal justice system will deal effectively with police officers where they have failed victims and their families. Until this has been achieved, the police will continue to struggle to attract recruits from ethnic minority communities.”

Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone achieved a significant victory in her battle for safer roads this week when Haringey Council gave the green light for a new traffic calming invention to be piloted in Haringey.

The new calming device, known as the ‘intelligent’ road hump, is an inflatable version of its much-reviled predecessor that deflates if a vehicle is travelling at or below the area speed limit. However, it remains inflated if a car is travelling above the limit – thus rewarding drivers who stick to the rules.

Cllr Featherstone, who is also a member of the Greater London Authority, met engineers from Dunlop, the inventors of the ‘intelligent’ road hump, back in January at City Hall. Since then, she has taken a keen interest in the development of the device. New trials at the Transport Research Laboratory recently demonstrated the benefits that the new humps have for emergency vehicles, compared to other traffic-calming measures.

Cllr Featherstone approached Haringey Council earlier last week and asked for permission for the humps to be tested on one of the many traffic blackspots that the Lib Dems have been campaigning to improve.

She is pleased that Haringey has agreed to allow the humps to be tested on one such road (to be decided). She is hopeful that the ‘intelligent’ speed hump will provide the best solution yet to the problem.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“I am delighted that Haringey Council has agreed to allow a test of this great invention in the borough. I have followed the development of this product for some time. The inventors have very cleverly addressed the concerns of considerate motorists and the emergency services, who have been critical of speed humps in the past.

“The inventors of the ‘intelligent hump’ offered me a pilot. I am hopeful that the council’s green light will allow us to solve a speeding problem with this new invention.”