Muswell Hill councillor Lynne Featherstone has called for action to be taken to improve one the most hazardous and complicated road junctions in the borough. Her calls come following a site visit with Council officers to highlight many of the safety concerns local residents have with the hazardous junction at the bottom of Muswell Hill, which joins the hill with Priory Road, Park Road and Alexandra Palace Way.

Cllr Featherstone has been in contact with many residents who are concerned with the danger to drivers and pedestrians alike due the confusing design and poor sight lines. Council officials acknowledge that if they could start again it would not be designed in its present form.

However, Council Featherstone is pressing the Council for a clear plan for how they intend to increase safety at the junction. The Council has suggested constructing bollards in parts to stop vehicles parking on the junction as well as protecting pedestrians from cars mounting the pavement. Replanting shrubs and trees to improve sight lines was also a suggestion put forward but Cllr Featherstone is pressing for more substantial changes.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“This dangerous junction needs a root and branch sorting out. Haringey must get to grips with it so that traffic and pedestrians are clear who has right of way. Oncoming traffic is a danger at the junction and we must protect pedestrians – both on the pavements where they are narrow and crossing where they can’t always be seen.”

Liberal Democrats have condemned another ‘stealth closure’ by the Post Office of a much valued Haringey branch, and have accused the Post Office of keeping the area in the dark over their closure plans. The Post Office has announced its intention to close its branch in Crescent Road, N22, giving local residents only a short time to organise their opposition to the plans.

Local councillors Wayne Hoban and David Beacham (Alexandra Ward) joined Lynne Featherstone and local residents at the weekend to protest about the closure. The loss of the Crescent Road post office, the third in the west of Haringey to face the axe, will mean a long walk for pensioners to the nearest branch. Lib Dems also say the closure will hurt the other shops in this small but vital shopping parade.

The party has also condemned the Post Office for failing to notify them of the plans, despite requests from Councillor Featherstone that the post office should notify her of all closure plans in the area.

Local councillor Wayne Hoban comments:

“This closure is very bad news for residents and for the shopping area around Crescent Road and the Triangle. The Post Office must think again about its plans.”

Lynne Featherstone adds:

“This third planned Post Office closure in the west of the borough is appalling. All our worst fears about the future of the local branch network appear to be materialising, and I am dismayed by what is a grossly flawed consultation process.”

Commenting on the resignation of Labour councillor Josie Irwin from both Haringey Council and the Labour Party, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson and local councillor Lynne Featherstone said:

“Josie Irwin made a valuable personal contribution to the Council and we wish her well. However, her resignation will provide an excellent opportunity for the Lib Dem Opposition to increase our representation on the Council and we look forward to that, as local people are even more fed up with the Labour council than Josie Irwin has become.

“In her damning criticisms, Josie Irwin has delivered a telling verdict on both the Labour party and the Labour Council. It is clear that Haringey Labour is in total turmoil with some of its most staunch supporters unable to continue to serve in such an enfeebled organisation.

“On the national stage, it is also clear that the local MPs’ cosying up to new Labour and lack of responsiveness to grass roots members has alienated many local members and supporters. Josie Irwin’s decision to leave not only the Labour group but the Labour party demonstrates this to the full.”

“Her resignation is the tip of a large iceberg of frustration at the way Labour are not delivering either at the national or local level. The Lib Dems are looking forward to the coming by-election when the voters in Stroud Green will be eager to give their verdict on the shambles that Labour have become.”

Crouch End Lib Dem Councillor Ron Aitken is backing local residents who have complained to Haringey Council about film crews using their street to park their trucks, causing noise, litter and inconvenience in Hurst Avenue and the surrounding streets.

“It seems Crouch End is a Mecca for film crews which seem to like the tolerant atmosphere and the look of local buildings,” says Cllr Aitken. “However, some of the residents are a little fed up that they always seem to park in the same street – Hurst Avenue opposite the playing fields.”

Cllr Aitken raised the issue with the BBC, who recently filmed their Inspector Linley Mysteries in the area. The BBC said that places to park were either being used by other film crews or had been booked well in advance, but they did offer to make a donation to a local charity to compensate for the inconvenience to local residents.

Nevertheless, Cllr Aitken has asked Haringey Council to try to lessen the impact of filming on local residents. In a letter to Cllr Aitken the Council says that between April 2002 and March 2003 nine film shoots took place in Crouch End, and that from March to July there were a further eight shoots.

“Perhaps Crouch End is the new Hollywood?” says Cllr Aitken. “It is nice to be popular, but I will be monitoring the impact of this issue and reporting back to residents.”

Liberal Democrat councillors in Alexandra ward have secured assurances from the Council that Bidwell Gardens, N22 will be fully repaired after the completion of site works at Alexandra Park School in 2004.

The road is currently used as an access route for heavy vehicles being used in the construction of the new sixth form block at Alexandra Park School, due for completion in late 2004. Cllr Wayne Hoban, who shares residents’ concerns about the damage to the road caused by the vehicles, has sought assurances from the Council that the road will be monitored and road damage caused to it will be repaired.

Last week the Council confirmed that they would be carry out ‘all necessary repairs after the completion of the site works’. Cllr Hoban, who has worked closely with local residents in Bidwell Gardens for many months, is pleased by the news, but warned the Council that he would be keeping a close eye to ensure its promises are kept.

Cllr Wayne Hoban comments:

“I am encouraged by the assurances that repairs will be carried out on completion of work on the site. This will come as a relief to many concerned local residents.

“I will certainly continue to monitor the situation and ensure that the Council fulfils its promise to fully repair the road.”

Liberal Democrat councillors in Haringey are calling for the borough’s MPs to oppose the Government proposal for University top-up fees confirmed in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday. They are concerned that the plans will put off many school leavers and add to the burden of student debt of those that choose to attend.

The Lib Dems have highlighted figures from a survey recently released by Barclays Bank indicating that top-up fees would lead to student debts trebling, soaring over £30,000 by 2010. They believe that the size of potential debt would deter even more school leavers from going to University.

Lib Dem leader Ross Laird is concerned about the long-term impact top up fees could have on the local economy. With fewer school leavers attending university the skill level of the workforce is likely to decline, which would have a detrimental effect on the development of Haringey’s fragile economy.

Cllr Laird will be lobbying the Council as well as both local MPs to vote against any plans for top-up fees. Ross Laird comments:

“Charging people to go to University is very short-sighted of this Labour Government. The fear of debt is deterring many bright young people from attending; top-up fees will merely compound this problem.

“Creating an education system closed to all but a privileged elite would be disastrous to the long-term development of the national and local economy. We will be strongly urging local MPs not simply to object in the media but attend any vote and register their opposition to Labour’s destructive plans.”

Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for Haringey Council to drop its bulky rubbish charges after the Labour run Council admitted that demand for collections of bulky rubbish have declined by almost 75% since the introduction of the charges. The admission came at last week’s Council following a question from Lib Dem councillor Susan Oatway.

Lib Dems say that the fee of £15 for the bulk collection has seen demand for the service drop to one quarter of what it was prior to the introduction of the charge. The Lib Dems, who have strongly opposed the charge from the start, are concerned that around 30,000 bulky items remain uncollected or are dumped around the borough – with the Council having to pick up the bill for their collection.

The Lib Dems continue to urge the Council to reverse its stance over charges and decide whether the revenue made from charging outweighs the negative impact that the policy has had on Haringey’s environment in the form of extra fly-tipping.

Cllr Oatway (Alexandra) comments:

“The current charge means that many people can’t afford bulk collections or resent paying extra for a service they believe they already pay for through their Council taxes. As a result, fly-tipping flourishes in every part of the borough.”

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Lynne Featherstone adds:

“The Council should end the charge. It has simply added to Haringey’s problem of fly-tipping. We will continue to press the Council to swallow its pride and drop the charges.”

Haringey Council has said it will try to improve pedestrian safety at the roundabout at the top of Muswell Hill following concerns of residents and local Lib Dem councillors that a serious accident is about to happen as local people struggle to cross the road at the recently redesigned junction.

At a site visit with council officials, local Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone told council staff that the addition of a third traffic lane at the top of Muswell Hill was making the crossing extremely treacherous for pedestrians. The Council agreed that a pelican crossing was needed near the top of the hill, and the traffic island should be extended.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Safety action needs to be taken. The situation is all the more disturbing, given that we were told before the alterations that the road at the top of the hill would be confined to two lanes and not three. Because of this, the Council should take swift action to make this very dangerous crossing much safer.”

As the period for consultation on the Government’s Green paper on children at risk ends on 1st December, local Liberal Democrats have warned that the Government’s own policies risk undermining the progress made since the death of Victoria Climbie. In a letter to the Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Children, Paul Burstow, local councillor Ron Aitken has highlighted several areas of concern:

* Budgetary pressures – the Green Paper contains no new funding proposals and Haringey has been given one of the worst budget allowances in the country. The Council’s Social Services Department is already £4m in the red. The Lib Dems favour scrapping the unfair Council Tax.

* Home Secretary David Blunkett’s proposal to take into care the children of asylum seekers whose claims are refused is described by Cllr Aitken as ‘barbaric’. Not only would it destroy families, local authorities would be faced with massive costs and would be open to legal challenge under the Children and Human Rights Acts. The Children Act specifically states that ‘the welfare of the child’ is paramount’ – how could this be ensured by taking asylum children into care?

* Rules making it compulsory for General Practitioners to inform Government Departments about asylum seekers seeking medical attention threaten to undermine a key recommendation of Lord Laming, that children should be registered with a GP and be properly examined when they are registered. These rules will deter people from registering with a GP or going to a hospital if there are concerns about abuse, driving the problem underground.

* The use of temporary accommodation and hostels, and the removal of asylum seekers’ children from mainstream schools puts them at risk of abuse and should be ended immediately.

Cllr Ron Aitken comments:

“The Government’s own policies are undermining the protection of children and these issues must be addressed. In a borough such as Haringey, with such pressing social services issues, it is vital that we get these policies right.”

A burst water main in Muswell Hill, N10 cut off the water supply to households for 24 hours causing misery for those waking up on Monday morning. This coincided with severe flooding in neighbouring Islington following another burst water main. Liberal Democrats in Haringey are deeply concerned by the incident in Muswell Hill and the slowness of Thames Water to react and resolve the situation.

The water main that burst was situated at the junction of Woodside Avenue and Muswell Hill, N10. Although Thames Water successful diverted water from other sources it left homes in the N6, N8, N10 and parts of N22 area with very low pressure or no water at all. Thames Water is investigating what caused the 16-inch gash in the pipe.

Muswell Hill councillor Lynne Featherstone is keen to seek assurances from Thames Water that the problem of burst water mains will not become a regular occurrence in Haringey as it has in Islington. There, residents have had to endure continuing problems due to poor quality repairs and an ageing water system. She will be requesting detailed plans of what Thames Water is doing to upgrade the water infrastructure in the borough.

Cllr Featherstone comments: “I am writing to Thames Water to find out how such widespread disruption to water supplies has been caused.

“Public utilities, whether privatised or not, are vital public services, and I will be seeking answers to establish that investment and management of the water infrastructure is adequate in our part of north London.”