Category Archives: News releases

More time to have your say on the future of Haringey’s rail services

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Haringey Liberal Democrats and Lynne Featherstone MP have welcomed news that a Government consultation on the future of local rail services will be extended due to high public interest.

The consultation, asks for views on the future of the “Thameslink” franchise, and will directly affect railway services at Bowes Park, Alexandra Palace, Hornsey, Harringay and Finsbury Park. Due to high public demand, the consultation has now been extended until September 14th.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, has been leading efforts to ensure that local stations do not miss out on £6 billion of Government money. The investment will be welcome news for London rail users, but there is a danger that some stations in the borough may miss out due to shorter platforms. Lynne has written to thousands of local households informing them of the consultation, and will be meeting with Transport Ministers to discuss the changes.

Lynne comments, “Local people are very concerned that stations like Hornsey and Harringay could miss out on vital investment in future services.”

“I urge all local rail users to respond to our consultation at my website. I will pass on your views to Ministers when I meet with them after the consultation closes.”

Richard Wilson, Leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats comments, “I am delighted that the Government has chosen to extend this consultation. Our campaign to raise awareness of the consultation is clearly working, and I’m glad that the Government has responded to this.”

Trees destroyed on Hornsey Park Road: Lynne Featherstone MP demands action following Council’s error

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Lynne Featherstone MP today demanded answers from Haringey Council, following public reports from the Parkside Malvern Residents Association that a number of young trees had been destroyed. The Association recently informed its followers on the social networking site, Twitter, that 150 tree saplings planted by residents had been destroyed.

The residents speculated that Council workers were responsible for the mowing down of the recently planted saplings. This speculation appears to have been confirmed – as the group further tweeted that the Council had apologised and agreed to replant the trees.

This prompted the Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green to contact the Council, asking who was at fault, and whether an official apology to the residents had been made. The MP also asked when and where the saplings would be replanted.

Commenting on the situation, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“I was concerned to hear that the saplings, planted by hard working residents, had been so arbitrarily destroyed. Whilst I realise that accidents can happen, it is vital that, if responsible, the Council make amends for this mistake and replants these trees in the same location.

Haringey Council are hopeless at fulfilling the promises they make to residents, which is why I contacted them and demanded they commit to a time, date and location for the replanting of these saplings.”

Local MP Secures Crucial Repair Following Sandlings Visit

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Lynne visits the SandlingsLynne Featherstone MP visited the Sandlings estate in Wood Green recently to hold an advice surgery, where she met and discussed various issues with local residents.

During the Surgery, the MP used an external staircase to visit a resident’s flat. On the way back down the staircase, the MP noticed a small warning sign. The sign was written on paper, which had been ripped, with a handwritten message:“please use other staircase until further notice – please do not use this staircase, ceiling unsafe.” There was a crumbling section of ceiling above the first set of steps.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green promptly contacted Homes for Haringey, and today received a response. The response confirmed that a specialist concrete repair was required and an external contractor would be used to carry out the work.  The works are scheduled to start this week.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I was shocked and concerned at the state of the ceiling – which was highly dangerous and a hazard to all users of the stair case. The written sign was an insufficient warning – neither my assistant nor I noticed it when we first went up the stairs. A hazard like this should have been cordoned off, and repaired as soon as possible.

I am very glad that, following my intervention, the necessary repairs will now take place.’

MP Lynne Featherstone Behind the Counter at Independent Chemists

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Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green, visited Greenwoods Pharmacy, in Wood Green to mark Independent Retailers Month. The MP met with the Manager, Shaumit Saglani and Raul Mancera, the Federation of Small Businesses Chairman for the North London Branch. Lynne also took a turn behind the counter serving customers along with other members of the staff team.

Lynne Featherstone MP, commented:

“Independent retailers are a vital part of our community. I ran a business myself before I was elected to Parliament and I know that innovation, excellence and customer service are essential to the success of small businesses. The team at Greenwoods are doing a great job and I was thrilled to have the chance to see them in action.”

Local MP Attends Breathe Easy Launch

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Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, attended the formal launch of Breathe Easy Haringey, a self financing group who help people suffering with lung conditions.

The group’s activities range from holding exercise classes with physiotherapists to researching medical developments in the area.

Before her speech, Lynne Featherstone took the opportunity to talk to group members. The members spoke with the MP about their ‘Breathe Easy’ week in June, which aimed to raise awareness of the risks associated with exposure to asbestos dust and the lung diseases it can cause.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented,

“I always enjoy visiting local community groups and seeing firsthand the great work they do. I was delighted that the Breathe Easy group have formally launched and that they can now start fundraising for such a good cause. Many of the members suffer from chronic lung disease, which makes their achievements and activity even more impressive. I wish them the best of luck for the future.”

Bus accessibility for the W7 in jeopardy

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Concerns have been raised with the Council after it was revealed that a bus stop in Muswell Hill used by residents to get to local health facilities may not be moved, jeopardising efforts to make it more accessible for elderly and disabled users.

Local Liberal Democrats, who have been campaigning for the W7 and 144 bus stops to both be moved from Muswell Hill to Muswell Hill roundabout for many years, have said that the Council’s reluctance to trial a move for both routes is bad news for local residents.

The Council and Tranport for London (TfL) gave the green light to moving the stop on a trial basis last year.

Cllr Martin Newton (Fortis Green) comments:

“The Council recognises that the current stop on the steep slope of Muswell Hill is unacceptable and inaccessible for older residents and disabled bus users wanting to get to Hornsey Central Health centre.

“It looks like the Council will now only look at moving one route after the Olympics and this is likely to be the 144. There would be a solution to the problem of moving both buses if there was the will to do it.

“Unfortunately for older residents and disabled users wanting to go the health centre the Council seems reluctant to act.

“Liberal Democrats will keep fighting to have both these stops moved.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Last year the Council and TfL agreed that this bus stop should be moved – I am furious that they have now gone back on their word.

“The slope on Muswell Hill hasn’t got less dangerous for older and disabled residents to walk up. The W7 stop must be moved and I will continue to fight for it to happen.”

Ten summer schools open in Haringey

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Ten schools will be opening their doors this summer to help some of the most disadvantaged pupils in Haringey with the big step up from primary to secondary school.

The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg launched the government’s £50million summer school programme yesterday targeted at helping local children who are in care or receive free school meals

Local Liberal Democrats welcomed the scheme saying that this is exactly what is needed to ensure that children who are vulnerable to falling behind are not disadvantaged when moving to secondary education.

Cllr Katherine Reece, Liberal Democrat Children Spokesperson, comments:

“We welcome this government initiative to help some of Haringey’s most disadvantaged children. Summer Schools can be the key to a child’s success in later life. The step from primary to secondary school can be a really daunting one for many children. If your confidence is knocked back at this stage, it is difficult to recover as a child progresses through the school.

“Funding from the coalition government has been rightly targeted to help prevent Haringey’s young people from falling behind rather than trying to help pupils catch-up after the damage has been done.”

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It’s great to see so many local schools throughout the borough opening their doors for two weeks in the summer holidays. This will let local pupils catch up on learning and get to grips with life in secondary school – in short, get in the starting blocks ready for the off in September.

“Those who struggle to make the transition are often among the poorest in society, but two weeks of activities can really help to bridge the gap.

“It’s good news for mums and dads too – no parent wants their child to be left out and fall behind.

“Summer schools will ensure pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds can start secondary school on an equal footing with their peers, setting them up to succeed.“

Media Release: Welcome for improved safety at Archway Road crossing

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photo of Lynne Featherstone MP and Councillor Rachel Allison at the crossing with the newly installed pedestrian count-down.Campaigners have welcomed the installation of a pedestrian count-down at the crossing on Archway Road and Jackson Lane.

Rachel Allison, Liberal Democrat borough councillor for Highgate, and local MP Lynne Featherstone, have pledged to carry on pressing for safety improvements in the area after this latest success in a long campaign.

Councillor Allison commented:

“I first urged Transport for London to do something about the junction five years ago, before I was elected to the local council. I am delighted that the pedestrian count-down has now been installed but I still want to see safety improvements to the lights further down Archway Road outside Richardson’s.”

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green, added:

“I am sure the count-down will make a contribution to safety at the junction but it remains a dangerous area for pedestrians – including many parents with young children. We will keep up the pressure for further action to make the local roads safer.”

Haringey Council advertises in Westminster – MP Lynne Featherstone demands answers

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A Haringey Council poster is on display at Westminster Tube station, prompting local MP Lynne Featherstone to ask why the Council appears to be spending money on advertising its services outside the Borough.

The poster – which asks for comments on the Council’s ‘One Borough, One Future’ fund – was snapped on Monday (26th June) at Westminster Tube station, eight miles from Haringey.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green, commented:

“Haringey Council complains that it has no money for key services yet it seems it can spend money advertising at what must be one of the most expensive sites in London. What is the Council playing at?”

Poll shows Lib Dem support for local MP in government role

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Liberal Democrat party members have given a ringing endorsement to the job Lynne Featherstone is doing as a government minister. A poll carried out by the website ‘Lib Dem Voice’ found that only Vince Cable is more popular among Liberal Democrat ministers.

Lynne Featherstone, Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green, is a minister in the Home Office as part of the Coalition Government. She has played a leading role in several high profile Coalition Government initiatives including plans for Equal Civil Marriage and a new law to ban cowboy wheel clampers. It has also been announced recently that the Home Office will take forward measures to make stalking a criminal offence and to outlaw forced marriage.

The poll of Liberal Democrat members found that 65% were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with Lynne Featherstone as a government minister with just one in ten dissatisfied. That gave her an overall positive rating of +55%. Of Liberal Democrat ministers, only the Business Secretary Vince Cable was given a higher overall rating (+80%) by members of the Liberal Democrats.