Haringey’s Liberal Democrat opposition has expressed strong concern over the lack of residents’ involvement in the current and vitally important consultation on Haringey’s new Unitary Development Plan (UDP). Cllr Bob Hare, Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson, has requested that the consultation period for this highly important document, which will shape the borough for decades to come, is extended to 12 weeks, but this has been rejected by the Labour council. The consultation period on the draft UDP is due to end on 6th November, and Lib Dems say that the short time scales are being exacerbated by the postal strike.

“The UDP identifies areas for housing, shopping, industry, and other uses, and sets out the policies that the Council will apply in deciding planning applications for developments of all kinds. It is crucial that the Council should make every effort to involve residents in the consultation process,” explained Cllr Hare.

“But despite this importance, a large number of residents have told us that they have not received the leaflet that was supposed to be delivered to every household. The leaflet, and the article in the council’s magazine, also both failed to explain that residents can purchase the document as well as viewing it online,” he said.

“It is essential that Haringey Council gets the UDP right – it has a major impact on all residents’ lives. First of all this means doing a thorough consultation and including as much input from local residents as possible. Unfortunately the Council is failing at the first hurdle,” said Cllr Hare.

At the recent Crouch End Area Assembly, only around four of the 70 residents present had received any information about the UDP consultation through their letter box, reports Cllr David Winskill (Lib Dem, Crouch End).

“The UDP of any borough is perhaps the most important document where local residents have a right to a say. Once again Haringey’s consultation process has let us all down,” said Cllr Winskill, Lib Dem Planning Spokesperson.

“Haringey must extend the consultation period to make the process a success and not take cover behind the flimsy excuse of bureaucratic rules,” he added.

The local Government watchdog, the Audit Commission, has branded Haringey Council’s plans to improve libraries in the borough as “unambitious” and despite awarding a ‘two-star’ rating has questioned the scope for further improvement. The comments were made in the Commission’s library service re-inspection published last week.

The report follows the presentation of the Libraries Service Position Statement last week at the Council’s Executive meeting which highlighted the failure of the Council to attain 14 of the 28 Public Library Standards (PLS).

Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Ross Laird, although pleased with some of the improvements that have been made to the service, shares the Commission’s concerns that issues regarding Haringey’s library services are not being clearly and openly discussed – nor does Labour-run Haringey have a long term strategy for improvements.

“Despite some improvements, the Audit Commission highlights concerns that the Lib Dems have brought many times to the attention of the Council. Although they have adopted some of the Lib Dem policies such as piloting Sunday opening, a Lib Dem manifesto pledge, they have failed to listen to our concerns with regard to long term plans.

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson, Cllr Lynne Featherstone, adds:

“I hope that this report will serve as a wake up call to Labour Haringey. The best way to provide the best service for the people of Haringey is to consult them fully. Until they do that ideas of being the ‘best service in London’ will remain a pipe dream.”

Local Liberal Democrats are questioning plans to sell off treasured ‘metropolitan open space’ at the Hornsey Central Hospital site for the construction of an all weather football pitch, with high floodlighting columns, for use by Highgate Wood School.

Lib Dem councillors for Muswell Hill, Highgate and Crouch End say that the facility will be no substitute for the loss of green space in the area. The scheme is also out of step with current planning guidelines in the Unitary Development Plan, which states that “…development which harms the open character of the land or which compromises its value to London’s green setting will not be permitted.” The Lib Dems have made their views clear in a letter to the local health trust, which is consulting on the sale of the site.

Crouch End councillor and planing spokesperson, Cllr Dave Winskill comments:

“I don’t believe that the change in use of this green space would befit the area. The playing of football, with floodlights, possibly until 10.00 at night would not compensate for the loss of the green belt character of the land.

“The Primary Care Trust should look at ways of using the space to enhance the peacefulness that it currently enjoys, as well as considering how the land might benefit users of the new Hornsey Central Hospital.”

Local councillor and Lib Dem Leader Ross Laird adds:

“Other uses of this site might include providing laid out gardens for the use of residents, or possibly offering some of the space as allotments so that local people could work in conjunction with the HCH residents. The land could have real therapeutic value for the residents. I hope that the Trust shares my concerns about these plans.”

Commenting on the human chain protest this Sunday over the controversial siting of a mobile phone mast at Albert Road, N22, Local councillor and Lib Dem Deputy leader, Cllr Wayne Hoban, said:

“The strength of this protest this morning shows that this mast is totally unacceptable. It is not surprising that local people are out in force, as they have legitimate concerns about the mast, and they have not been properly consulted. The lack of proper planning controls over schemes such as this is ludicrous.”

Liberal Democrats are outraged following news from the Treasury that the Government has set aside £3 billion for the operations in Iraq. The information was given in a letter dated 13th October to Lib Dem finance spokesperson Jonathan Bloch after he had written to them requesting information on the cost of the war.

Cllr Bloch says that the huge £3 billion costs mean that Haringey residents are contributing approximately £9 million to a war that over 70% of people were against. The Liberal Democrats are furious that while the borough’s schools have gone into the red and crime remains high, the Government can afford to spend this sort of money on the war in Iraq.

Cllr Bloch (Muswell Hill) claims that the money would fund the building of six new schools (£1.5 million each), or pay for extra teachers (£21,500) to reduce class sizes and extra police officers (£25,000) in every ward of the borough.

Cllr Bloch comments:

“The average household in Haringey is contributing approximately £100 of their taxes to the war in Iraq. This is a disgrace considering the opposition to this war and the lack of funding available for education and crime prevention, both nationally and locally.

“Lib Dems will continue to press the Government to stop pandering to George Bush and start looking at what its own country wants and needs – investment in public services.”

Following months of pressure from Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone, a new bus shelter on Bounds Green Road has been erected, just in time for the winter weather. The new shelter, which replaces one demolished in a traffic accident several months ago, has been installed by Transport for London after Cllr Featherstone brought it to their attention back in July.

Cllr Featherstone had responded to complaints by local residents who had said they had written to TfL and asked them to replace the shelter, but had never received a response.

Ms Featherstone says that many of the users are elderly residents who had been left exposed to the elements since the shelter’s demolition. TfL have apologised for the delay and said it was due to the fact that they did not have the right bus shelters in stock following the crash.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“I am delighted that the bus shelter has now been replaced, and local passengers have their shelter back. Transport bosses need to act quickly to keep bus shelters in good shape, as this adds to the appeal of using local bus services and provides much needed shelter in the winter. We had been without one on this site for several months.”

Residents in Fortis Green are delighted that two green open spaces are to receive a long overdue facelift, following intervention by local Lib Dem councillor Matt Davies. The two greens are found near the parade of shops on Fortis Green, at the end of Midhurst Avenue.

Local residents had a successful meeting at the site to discuss the much needed regeneration with council officers. The meeting was instigated by Cllr Davies, who has been pressing Haringey Council to inspect and repair the greens for some time. As a result, Area Manager Tony Healey has confirmed that repairs will be made to the pathway and wall, with work starting within four weeks.

“I am delighted that the Council is now taking action,” said Cllr Davies. “The paths through these greens have raised and cracked paving stones throughout – so the problem is not just aesthetic but a serious safety issue, especially with icy months ahead to add to the hazard.

“With the paths in their current state, there is a serious chance that someone could fall and potentially cause themselves a nasty injury. I am glad that the Council’s team has carried out an inspection and listened to local residents’ concerns, and we will now see improvements being made. The greens will then be a safer and more attractive place for all local residents to enjoy.”

An urgent meeting attended by all three Lib Dem Alexandra ward Councillors saw Jim Stephenson, O2 Representative, face angry questioning from residents following the mobile phone company’s decision to go ahead with installing a mobile phone mast on the site of a disused factory in Albert Road, N22. This was despite O2 having dropped their plans early in 2002 following a successful local residents’ campaign against the mast.

The meeting was called after local residents awoke last Sunday morning to find a huge mobile crane arriving at the site in Albert Road. It was subsequently discovered that O2 Telecommunications were preparing to install a mobile mast on site.

Wayne Hoban, Alexandra ward councillor, informed residents that there is no requirement for telecom companies to seek planning permission from the local authority for installation of such masts, thereby excluding local residents from the decision making process. This was confirmed by the Council.

However Cllr Hoban has branded O2’s actions “totally unacceptable” and believes there remains legitimate health concerns regarding mobile phone mast emissions, which makes it even more important that the widest possible consultation should take place before they are installed, particularly in residential areas such as Albert Road.

O2 was asked to stop all work on the installation for a period of up to a month to allow proper consultation, which the company agreed to ‘look at’. It was also agreed that another public meeting should be held next week to which the Chief Executive of O2, council officers, and local councillors, would be invited. In the meantime, further action is being considered by local residents to reinforce their strong opposition to this development.

Cllr Wayne Hoban (Alexandra) comments:

“We are very concerned with the way the erection of this telephone mast has come about. The Council seems powerless to do anything to stop it due to the Government’s lack of legislation protecting residents.

“The lack of consultation has been unacceptable and we must make the most of the month that we have to gather comments and opinion from those who will be affected by this installation.”

A Lib Dem councillor has asked Haringey council for an urgent report of the damage to the road surface of Bidwell Gardens N22, following the decision to route works traffic for the Alexandra Park School extension through the road against the advice of council officers and contractors. The concerns follow a meeting held last week with the local residents’ action group and the school’s head teacher to discuss the concerns of local people about the impact of the school expansion project.

As the works will not be completed until late 2004, Alexandra Lib Dem councillor Wayne Hoban has written to the Council asking for an urgent assessment of the damage to the road, and what action will be taken to carry out repairs and avoid future damage.

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Lib Dem Deputy Leader and Alexandra councillor, comments:

“There are worrying signs of damage to the road in Bidwell Gardens, and steps must be taken to ensure the road is kept in good repair. I have asked for an urgent assessment of the present damage and I will be pressing the Council to ensure that action it taken.”

Bus stops are set to be re-sited around Alexandra Palace following complaints from local residents and Lib Dem councillors that the stops were too close together. London Bus bosses have confirmed the plans to move the stops on Alexandra Park Road, which are barely 150 yards apart, in a letter to Cllr Lynne Featherstone after the Lib Dems brought the issue to Transport for London’s attention.

Cllr Featherstone, who sits on the Transport for London committee at the GLA is pleased that London Buses are listening to those who use the service:

“I am glad to see that London Buses are willing to adapt their service to suit the users. We Lib Dems have passed on comments from the service users that the stops are too close together and London Buses appear to be acting on this.”

Lib Dem and Alexandra ward councillor, Susan Oatway adds:

“This is a busy road at peak times and buses stopping less than 150 yards apart merely adds to the congestion problem. It seems to make sense to listen to the users and review the current locations.”