The Coalition Government has today announced that Haringey will get over £3.5 million to deliver 15 hours a week free early years education for the poorest two-year olds by 2014.

The Coalition Government is already ensuring that the poorest 20% of two-year olds are able to receive early education from September 2013, which means nearly 900 two-year-olds in Haringey will benefit. This will rise to include the poorest 40% by 2014.

At Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg also announced an extra £100m this year, intended to go into capital spending, such as converting part of an existing building into extra nursery space.

In Haringey, that means an extra £736,659. The money will help prepare children for school and help the most hard-pressed families with childcare costs.

In total, local authorities will receive more than half a billion pounds to fund two-year-olds’ places next year.

Following the announcement, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It is unfair that today, you can still predict how well they will do in school based on where someone is born. Children from poorer backgrounds often fall behind their wealthier classmates before they even set foot in school. That gap only gets bigger over time.

“Liberal Democrats believe in a fair society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.  That’s why Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have prioritised supporting two-year olds so they can get the best start in life.

“Today’s news on how much money our area will get to make this ambition a reality is a welcome boost for hard-pressed families and will help to create a fairer society.”

Lynne Featherstone MP and the Haringey Lib Dems have ramped up the pressure on the Labour-run Council following the revelation that Haringey Council has been successful in a bid for Government funding to support weekly bin collections.

When the fortnightly collection scheme was introduced by Labour-run Haringey, the Liberal Democrat MP and Haringey Lib Dems raised serious concerns about whether local people had been properly informed, and whether fortnightly collections would work in all parts of the Borough. Senior Council officials then admitted that residents had not been properly consulted.

Hundreds of Hornsey and Wood Green residents complained to Lynne Featherstone MP about rotting rubbish, increase in vermin, the outlook of their street being ruined and having the wrong size bins. Lynne Featherstone MP and the Haringey Lib Dems have since been lobbying hard for the Labour Administration to change its one size fits all policy, to recognise that different areas have different collection requirements, and to reintroduce weekly collections where appropriate.

Last week, Labour Cllr Gideon Bull admitted that the scheme has not been universally popular, and that the Council need to get smarter with dealing with bin collections.

Leader of the Haringey Lib Dems, Cllr Richard Wilson said:

“Ever since this disastrous scheme started, we have told the Labour administration that the scheme wouldn’t work in certain areas and that they should have consulted residents – but they blindly carried on with their flawed policy and did not listen to reason.

“Now we find out that Haringey Labour had bid for Government money to fund a return to weekly collections months ago. They obviously knew the policy wasn’t working and they would need to go back to weekly collections. They could have saved residents a lot of stress and hassle instead they chose to behave as if nothing was wrong.

“What makes it worse is there is money in the council coffers to pay for this even without the Government’s help; the publicity budget alone is a whopping £2.5 million.

“It’s a disgrace, even by Haringey Labour’s standards.”

Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone commented:

“The Coalition has ditched the previous Labour Government’s policy of imposing fortnightly rubbish collections for all. As promised a year ago, we have delivered a quarter of a billion pound fund which will help councils support weekly collections.

“I am just appalled that Haringey Labour has waited this long. Now I fully expect them to collect rubbish weekly in areas like the Miltons – and other areas where fortnightly collections and one bin size doesn’t fit all!

“We’re issuing our final call, and I hope that they finally listen to the Haringey Lib Dems and residents – as they should have done in the first place.”

Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited local resident Jonny Rogers at his new Art Gallery and Shop, on Hornsey High Street.

Mr Rogers is the founder of a group called Brand New Start. The group has set up this venue – comprising an art gallery and versatile workshop & performance space – in order to provide a platform for the local community to showcase and celebrate their work, and enjoy freedom of expression and collaboration.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green visited the venue and met a group of young people, who were at the Gallery setting up for a theatre production later in the evening.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It is great to see something so unique and original on our local high streets – and it’s fantastic to see a business involving the community and encouraging creativity. I encourage everyone to visit the Gallery and look at the wonderful items and activities offered.

“I wish Jonny the very best, with the Gallery and with the Brand New Start project.”

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, has today welcomed a deal that will see the Post Office continue to deliver tax disc and driving licence services.

The deal – which means that Motorists will be able to tax their cars and apply for or renew driving licences at the Post Office for at least seven more years – was announced today by the Coalition Government.

After the announcement, Lynne Featherstone commented:

“I’ve had many letters from constituents who were worried that their Post Office was in danger of losing this vital service, so I am extremely pleased that the Post Office bid has been successful.

“Post Offices are a vital part of our communities here in Hornsey and Wood Green. We lost 5 Offices under Labour’s ruthless and shameful closure programme. But this news, along with the Coalition’s commitment to invest £1bn in the Post Office network, helps to protect the Offices we have left, and put them on a more sustainable footing for the future.

“This news also furthers the Coalition’s aim to see Post Offices as a front office for Government and I am pleased that this contract means that the Post Offices will be able to bid for other services in the future.”

Haringey’s parks could do with the rubbish collection services of the Wombles of Wimbledon Common after it disclosed that no fines have been issued for littering or dog mess in any of Haringey’s parks for the last five years.

As a result of the Labour council’s failure to act, litterbugs and irresponsible dog owners have been given a free pass to make Haringey’s parks a mess.

The lack of fines follows the Labour council’s decision to cut the parks’ police in 2008. The Parks’ Police used to patrol the borough’s green spaces and stop littering. Instead the council have tried to rely on local Safer Neighbourhood Teams to patrol the parks.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem Leader of the opposition, comments:

“Residents will be outraged to learn that nobody has been fined for littering in Haringey’s parks and open spaces for at least 5 years.  No wonder our parks are often left covered in rubbish and dog mess when Haringey Council can’t be bothered to enforce its own rules on littering and dog fouling.  By failing to stop people spoiling our parks the Council is letting down the vast majority of responsible park users who don’t drop litter.

“As well as making sure our green spaces are cleaned and bins are emptied, the Council has duty to stop irresponsible people littering and allowing their dogs to foul our parks.  But ever since the Labour council axed the Parks’ Police in 2008 its clear nothing has been done to challenge the unacceptable behaviour of those few idiots who wreck our parks.

“The council need to clean up our precious green spaces, and put in place parks staff who have the power to stop people littering.”

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:

“We were furious when Haringey Council disbanded the Parks’ Police. They said they would be introducing replacement services, but that clearly hasn’t happened.

“Now, our parks can be littered and vandalised without consequence, spoiling it for the majority of people who want to enjoy our open spaces.

“The Labour administration needs to get their act together and sort this out – before our parks are ruined for good.”

Lynne Featherstone MP has today slammed Labour-run Haringey Council for leaving properties empty for years, whilst also having one of the longest social housing waiting lists in London.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green was recently contacted by a resident of Truro Road in Wood Green, Ms Parveen Johal. Ms Johal reported a Council property on her road, which had been empty for over six years. Ms Johal contacted the Council about the property in 2010, but to date, the property remains empty and derelict.

Lynne Featherstone MP has now contacted Haringey Council and asked for an explanation, and a firm commitment as to when the house will be refurbished and let to residents on the Council’s waiting list.

Commenting, local resident Ms Parveen Johal said:

“Residents have been complaining for years about this, but the Council has just left the property empty, despite assurances that something would be done.

“There have been squatters and the house has fallen into complete disrepair. I can’t believe how neglectful they’ve been – of the house and of local residents.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“This is just typical of Labour Haringey – so many vulnerable families in Haringey are in desperate need of housing, but are constantly told that there’s none available, yet the Council is leaving properties like this empty.  It makes you wonder how many more empty properties there are in the borough.

“I have now called on them to explain themselves and commit to refurbishing and letting this property – and I hope they listen!”

Two important issues will be discussed at a meeting of Haringey Council next week on Monday 19th November at 19.30 at Haringey Civic Centre in Wood Green.

The Labour-run council decided to double the parking charges in Muswell Hill and other local shopping areas last year and traders have seen business fall as a result of these extra charges.

Local traders in Muswell Hill have submitted a petition asking the council to lower parking charges in Muswell Hill. The petition has been signed by over 5,200 people and because the petition is so large it will be debated at the council meeting on Monday the 19th November.

The Liberal Democrats have been supporting the traders with their campaign and we have submitted a motion to the council meeting calling for 30 minutes of free parking on local high streets in the borough, such as Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Green Lanes to encourage people to shop locally and support local businesses.

The Liberal Democrats have also decided to debate waste disposal and recycling in Haringey and a delegation of local residents concerned about the plans for a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way will be making a presentation of their case. This is an important opportunity for local residents and the Pinkham Way Alliance to have their say.

If you are interested in either of these issues come along to the meeting and watch the debate.

Cllr Jim Jenks, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on parking and Muswell Hill councillor, comments:

“The Labour Council could be doing a lot more to support local businesses. 30 minutes of free parking on high streets would boost local traders and allow residents to go for a quick Christmas shopping trip without worrying about the cost of parking.

“It is about time they did something positive to help businesses. The council should be helping to save our high streets.”

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, comments:

“I’m delighted that two of our community organisations – the Pinkham Way Alliance and Muswell Hill Traders – are finally getting an audience with Haringey Council.

“With the Pinkham Way situation uncertain and high street parking charges sky rocketing, it’s so important that their voices are heard and that the Labour administration listen!

“That’s why these organisations need support – I encourage as many residents as possible go to the council meeting to see the debate on waste disposal and to support our local traders with their parking petition.”

Lynne Featherstone MP today welcomed Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg’s announcement of reforms to parental leave, allowing both parents to share up to a year’s leave to look after their new-born children.

The changes will deliver a long held Liberal Democrat commitment to make parental leave more flexible. They will allow fathers to play a greater role in raising their child, help mothers to return to work at a time that’s right for them and also create more flexible workplaces to boost the economy.

New proposals are also announced today extending the right to request flexible working to all employees, which will give greater choice and freedom to workers and businesses.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone said:

“Liberal Democrats have long supported more flexible working and parental leave and I’m incredibly proud that the Coalition Government has delivered these revolutionary reforms.

“Shared parental leave is about fairness for women in the workplace and equality for men and women as they plan their families and careers.

“It will signal one of the greatest advances for equality in recent years as gradually employers will get used to more men taking time off after their child is born, and more women returning to work, removing that often unspoken consideration that an employer has: if I hire this woman, or if I promote her, will she leave to have a child?

“It will also help employers to attract and retain women in their organisations and prevent women dropping out of the workforce once they start a family.”