Lib Dem councillors in Muswell Hill and Highgate have called on Haringey Council and the Metropolitan Police to take action over speeding in Wood Lane and Wood Vale, which connects the two areas. In a survey of residents carried out last year by the Lib Dems, there was widespread dissatisfaction over the lack of action to deal with the speeding of motorists down the two roads.

The move comes following last week’s full Council meeting, when in a response to a question from the Liberal Democrats the Labour Executive Member for the Environment said that Wood Lane/Wood Vale did not meet the criteria for future funding for traffic calming. He said that the Council would therefore not be taking any action.

The Lib Dems say that residents feel endangered by motorists using Wood Lane and Wood Vale as short cuts to miss the road humps in Muswell Hill Road, and argue that the Council should not wait until a serious accident occurs before action is taken.

The Lib Dems say that a large number of measures could be considered, such as lowering the speed limit, speed cushions, interactive road signs, road narrowing or other road junction features.

Muswell Hill councillor Lynne Featherstone comments:

“It is incredibly insensitive for the Council to dismiss local residents’ concerns out of hand by saying that the area does not meet funding criteria. The Council should listen to the residents by instituting a consultation process as to what traffic calming measures are desired by the majority of residents.”

Unsightly railings at the foot of Alexandra Park Way will be removed and replaced in the coming year, according to Lib Dem councillor Ross Laird.

The move comes after complaints from Lib Dem councillors and local residents in Buckingham Court, at the foot of Muswell Hill.

Cllr Laird commented:

“I am pleased the Council has now agreed to take action, as these railings are in a disgraceful state and do no credit to such an excellent venue as Alexandra Palace.

“I am glad that the Council has agreed to find funds this year to replace or repair the railings, further improving the area around Park and Priory Village.”

Cllr Ross Laird, Leader of the Opposition, has accused Haringey Council of overlooking many pressing road repair schemes in the west of the borough. The move follows the publication of the Council’s proposed road repairs schedule for the coming year – ignoring many urgent requirements for work in the west of Haringey.

Cllr Laird says he is disappointed that the Council has ignored pleas from Lib Dem councillors on behalf of local residents to improve road safety at a whole series of dangerous junctions and roads. He has written to the Council to express his disappointment and concern.

Ross Laird comments:

“I have talked informally with the Lead Member of the Environment and have written to the Council to express our worries. We have fought hard for traffic calming along Cranley Gardens, Muswell Hill and Priory Road to name but a few. We hope that the Council will take the concerns of local residents very seriously and identify the necessary funds.”

In the battle to save the Archway Road Post Office, local Lib Dem councillor Neil Williams has welcomed the backing given at last week’s full council meeting to oppose the closure. Council leader George Meehan was responding to oral questions from Cllr Williams, who is campaigning with local residents on the issue.

The Council also agreed to tighten up the Council’s procedure for letting local councillors know about proposed closures, as the Labour leader was forced to admit that he had not been aware of the closure plans until written to by Highgate’s Lib Dem councillors.The Lib Dems say they fear that other Post Offices in the area will face the axe as a result of the Labour government’s and the Post Office’s urban closure programme. Mr Meehan agreed he would ensure that councillors were made aware as soon as possible of any approaches from the post office over their controversial branch closure plans.

Cllr Neil Williams comments:

“I am pleased that Haringey Council has offered their support to save the Archway Road Post Office, albeit that it is a Labour government that is responsible for what could turn out to be decimation of Post Offices in the area.”

Cllr Lynne Featherstone, who recently presented a petition from residents against Post Office closures to Vincent Cable MP, adds:

“We will be making sure that the Council keeps its promise of briefing local councillors as soon as possible of any future proposed closures. Sadly, there may be several in the coming months as these planned cuts bite deeper and deeper.”

Local Lib Dem councillors are investigating claims of double charging for residents of a block of flats in Muswell Hill over the collection of waste from wheelie bins

A block of flats on Colney Hatch Lane N10, managed by JS Estates, have a contract with Haringey Accord for the hire of four large wheelie bins to contain the residents’ waste. The cost of this hire is passed on to the residents, who also pay for refuse collection through their Council Tax bills.

The residents wonder why Accord charges for the hire of bins intended for domestic refuse. The Lib Dems says the flats are not commercial premises but residential, and as such, should not be charged for the waste collection – particularly as all other residents in the borough are now being provided with wheelie bins paid for through their Council Tax.

Cllr Lynne Featherstone (Muswell Hill) comments:

“I am investigating these charges from Haringey Accord. It does seem unfair that there is a charge at all, as it means that the residents are, in effect, paying twice.”

Haringey’s running Labour group has been condemned by the Lib Dem opposition for using their majority on the Council to block discussion of major concerns surrounding moves to alter leases at the Alexandra Palace at yesterdays’ full council meeting.

The Labour group prevented Ally Pally issues being raised by Lib Dem Spokesman Cllr Bob Hare (Highgate) and then passed a vote which cut-off any discussion – despite the advice from the Borough Solicitor during the meeting that the Lib Dems were acting entirely appropriately in raising the issue at Council.

Bob Hare had wished to raise concerns about two decisions by the Alexandra Palace and Park Board, which he wanted to argue broke the terms of the Act of Parliament governing the Palace because the Statutory Advisory Committee comprising local representatives was not consulted on the controversial changes.

The issue concerns a change in the lease for the garden centre at the Pally, which Councillor Hare says could lead to unwelcome commercial development on the site. Cllr Hare says the Advisory Board should also have been consulted on the issue of another new lease granted inside the building: the former BBC social club (known as the ‘Boxing Club’) has just been leased, without being advertised, to an outside organisation.

Bob Hare comments:

“I am dismayed that Haringey Labour ignored legal advice and engaged in blatant gagging of the Council when I tried to raise these important issues yesterday.

“It is further proof, if proof were needed, that the Council needs a set of independent trustees, not bullying Labour councillors who attempt to block a discussion of these important issues.

“I will not be letting the matter rest, and we are considering what further legal advice and action we should take.”

Local Lib Dems welcomed Ed Davey, one of the party’s leading MPs, to the borough. The MP for Kingston and Surbiton joined Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Lynne Featherstone in the party’s campaign for a £100 reduction in Council Tax bills, just as the local Labour-run Haringey Council issued its Council Tax bills, with their shocking 19% rise in local charges.

The Lib Dems say that Haringey’s Council Tax payers would see their bills cut by £100 under national proposals outlined in their Alternative Budget by the Liberal Democrats. The local Lib Dems believe the policy will be popular with Haringey residents, who have just suffered a massive 19.4% increase in their Council Tax bills.

At the same time, Haringey Council was forced to issue a correction notice to its bills, which incorrectly showed the charge increasing by 29%.

Lib Dem Cllr Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I was delighted to welcome Ed to Haringey. He has been key to developing our Council Tax refund policy. If Haringey can’t get even their own figures right in their bills, it will not exactly inspire confidence. It is all too typical of the Council.”

Ed Davey MP comments:

“With the Liberal Democrats’ national budget plans, we would be able to cut £100 off every Council Tax bill this year, in the run up to replacing it with a fair tax related to people’s ability to pay. Gordon Brown could do this now, if he adopted national Liberal Democrat plans.”

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson and GLA member Lynne Featherstone has called for urgent action to sort out problems at an outpatients clinic at the North Middlesex hospital.Ms Featherstone, who made a visit last week at the request of local patients, has called for an end to the appalling situation of crowds of ill and elderly patients waiting to be seen.

Ms Featherstone found that the clinic waiting room has roughly 40 seats, and has been told that as many as 160 patients can be waiting for treatment and are forced to stand. At the Wednesday morning anti-coagulant clinic, most patients are waiting for blood tests, and many are elderly or have heart problems.

During the visit, Ms Featherstone says the room was stuffy and overcrowded and there was no system for queuing.The clinic claims it is aware of the problem, and is looking for solutions such as making facilities available in pharmacies and doctors surgeries to reduce the problem, as well as altering times. Ms Featherstone is requesting a meeting with hospital bosses to discuss the issue.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“There are clearly really serious problems at the North Mid. Whilst the hospital has acknowledged the problem and is thinking about how to reduce the load, the time frame is far too long. An urgent solution is needed to reduce the overcrowding in the waiting room.

Lib Dem Enfield and Haringey GLA spokesperson, Cllr Wayne Hoban, adds:

“We can’t have people being treated in this way any longer. At the very least, patients should be able to sit down and have a prior queuing system, and this should be introduced as a matter of urgency.”

Local councillor Lynne Featherstone has been celebrating with local residents in Muswell Hill Road after a new sapling has been planted to replace a tree that was removed by the Council.Residents in Muswell Hill Road were left fuming after Haringey Council removed a London plane tree from outside number 46.

Local Councillor Lynne Featherstone took up the issue with the Council on behalf of the residents. The Council agreed to replace the tree after the intervention and a campaign by the locals.

Cllr Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I am delighted that the Council has now replaced the tree with a new sapling. We do not want to lose trees unnecessarily along our roads in Muswell Hill or anywhere in Haringey. I am sure the residents will enjoy the replacement for many years.”

Liberal Democrat Councillors for Muswell Hill have backed residents from Dale Court, Park Road, in their plea for urgent repairs to their Council block.

They have secured immediate action from Council officers to investigate the worst problems immediately.

Lib Dem Cllr Ross Laird spent last Wednesday evening examining the interior of several flats and the back garden. Following the meeting with residents, he commented:

“The state of some of the flats at Dale Court is a disgrace. There are numerous problems and if something is not done urgently, some of the flats will become uninhabitable. I have secured a commitment from the Council that they will look urgently into improved security and repairs to the roof of the block.

Fellow Muswell Hill Councillor Lynne Featherstone added:

“Residents are suffering from noise, dampness, fear of crime and damaged windows. The Council must act now to improve their situation. While I am pleased the Council has identified funding for repairs and window replacement, I fear it is all far too slow to prevent another winter of misery for the residents.”