Local Liberal Democrats ask residents for help to win battle for accessible bus stop

Posted on 22nd Oct 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

In the latest stage in the long-running battle to get an inaccessible Muswell Hill bus stop on the only bus route to Hornsey Central Health Centre moved from a steep hill, Liberal Democrats have today written to local residents, urging them to respond to a consultation.

This most recent bid to get the W7 bus stop, located on the steep Muswell Hill, moved to Muswell Hill roundabout is the latest stage in a long-running campaign by Lynne Featherstone MP and local Liberal Democrats. Despite numerous site visits, and agreement from both Transport for London and Haringey Council that something should be done about the bus stop, neither authority has agreed to move it.

With the Council consulting on transport priorities for the next few years, the Liberal Democrat MP and Fortis Green Councillor Martin Newton are taking the battle to the people, by asking them to help push for the bus stop to finally be moved.

Residents who want to respond to the consultation into Haringey’s Transport Strategy 2011-14 and in particular improving public transport and bus stop accessibility should email frontline.consultation@haringey.gov.uk by 8th November. Please put LIP in the subject line of your email message.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The bus stop with the only route to Hornsey Central from Muswell Hill is inaccessible, and residents keep writing to me about the need for the bus stop to be moved.

“Despite site visits, and agreement from TfL that moving the bus stop to the roundabout would be a good solution, the authorities keep passing the buck and that’s got to stop.”

Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat Fortis Green Councillor adds:

“With the Council setting their transport priorities for the next three years, and specifically looking at accessible bus stops, this is a rare opportunity to really press for the bus stop to be moved.

“But to make this happen, local residents need to help us make the case. So please write in to Haringey with your response to the consultation. Together we can finally make this happen.”

Apply now! One week to sign up to be a London 2012 Games Maker

Posted on 22nd Oct 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP is encouraging residents in Hornsey and Wood Green to hurry up and apply to be an Olympic Games Maker before the deadline on Wednesday the 27th October. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is looking for up to 70,000 passionate and dedicated volunteers for the London 2012 Games. They will make the difference between a good and a great Games for thousands of athletes, media and spectators alike.

There is now less than one week left in the six week application window for the London 2012 volunteering programme so interested applicants are urged to apply now to avoid missing out on their last chance to be a Games Maker.

The application portal which can be found at www.london2012.com/get-involved/volunteer/volunteering-landing.php closes at midnight on Wednesday 27th October.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said:

“The London 2012 Games simply could not happen without volunteers. Whenever I have spoken to previous volunteers, they’ve all said what a fantastic experience it was. Whatever your role, you will help welcome the world and show what the UK has to offer. So don’t miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime. You’ve got one week left to fill-in your application form – don’t miss the deadline of October 27.”

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“London 2012 are looking to recruit volunteers from all across London and the UK from all communities. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for residents from Hornsey and Wood Green residents to play their part in the Games and I am urging everyone to visit the London 2012 website to see if they have got what it takes to be a Games Maker!”

LOCOG are recruiting two types of London 2012 Games Makers – generalist and specialist. Both will be vital to the success of the Games. Generalists won’t need any specialists skills or qualifications but instead a passion and enthusiasm for the Games. Roles range from steward to radio operator or athlete escort. Specialist Games Makers will have specialist skills or qualifications like doctors, nurses, sports specialists, anti-doping officers and press operations staff.

All Games Makers will need to be available to volunteer for a minimum of 10 days during either the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games and for at least three days of training, which will be led and provided LOCOG.

Applicants will need to be 18 years of age or over on 1 January 2012, but there will be a Young Games Maker programme which will be announced next year. LOCOG is especially keen to recruit disabled people to volunteer for the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games and will support disabled candidates through application, selection and as well as at Games-time.

Lynne Featherstone MP plants trees at local pre-school after fight for garden funding

Posted on 18th Oct 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

After joining the fight to ensure a pre-school in Muswell Hill got funding for a wildlife garden, Lynne Featherstone MP on Saturday had the honour of planting one of the garden’s first new trees.

345 Pre-school at the Friends Meeting House in Church Crescent had its funding for a wildlife garden threatened in the summer, but following representation by the Hornsey and Wood Green MP, the money was reinstated. The Liberal Democrat MP on Saturday did the honours of planting a tree, as part of the centenary celebration of the Muswell Hill Quakers, who house the pre-school.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It was a real blow to the children when the promised funding was taken away, but it’s great that the council has finally stepped up to make sure the planting could go ahead.

“It’s a real honour to be planting one the first trees in what will hopefully be a wonderful green space for the children to learn, explore and have fun in.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits award winning youth charities on Big Lottery Fund tour

Posted on 12th Oct 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

To see how Lottery funding has helped transform the lives of local young people with mental health issues and learning difficulties, Lynne Featherstone MP, visited charities Exposure and Action for Kids, as part of a Big Lottery Fund tour on Friday.

At Muswell Hill based Exposure Magazine, the Hornsey and Wood Green MP and Big Lottery Fund Head of London Region Alison Rowe were shown three powerful films produced by young people, focusing on mental health. The films are part of Exposure’s wider Lottery-funded ‘Mind’ initiative, enabling young people to use the media to explore and recount their mental health journeys, come to terms with their experiences as well as raise awareness for peers and the wider community.

At Action for Kids, a Hornsey-based charity for young people with learning difficulties, the Liberal Democrat MP was shown the Big Lottery-funded computer equipment, tailor-made for each student’s unique needs, to help the students participate in the charity’s decision-making and learn new skills for independent living.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“These two unique charities do amazing work with young people in Hornsey and Wood Green, and it’s so wonderful to see their fantastic work continued and expanded, thanks to grants from the Big Lottery Fund.”

“It was great to meet some of the young people who have found the courage to speak about their mental health issues through Exposure’s ‘Mind’ initiative. This Lottery-funded project has really done wonders for the young people who have shared their experiences, but it has also helped raise awareness of mental health problems amongst youth more widely, and that’s just fantastic.

“Thanks to the generous Lottery grant, young people at Action for Kids have got new ways of expressing themselves, with the help of tailor-made computers. This has done wonders for their independence and their chance to have a say in how Action for Kids is run – really inspiring!

Lynne Featherstone MP holds special class on Government at local school

Posted on 4th Oct 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

To give students from Coleridge Primary, studying the UK political system, a chance to hear first-hand experience of life in Government, Lynne Featherstone, Home Office Minister and MP for Hornsey and Wood Green on Friday held a special class with years five and six.

The Crouch End students got to hear about the challenges of being in coalition, of how a bill goes through Parliament, asked questions about local campaigning, about becoming an MP, and meeting David Cameron and the Queen.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The Coleridge kids are an impressive lot! Not only have they already learnt loads about the UK political system and the coalition – they also came really well prepared with clever questions and a genuine hunger for learning about the world we live in.

“It’s fantastic to see such enthusiasm and outstanding teaching. I’m sure these kids are in for great things, and who knows, maybe some will even be future MPs!”

Lynne Featherstone MP joins Muswell Hill residents for Macmillan Coffee Morning

Posted on 28th Sep 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

To help support the important work of Macmillan, on Friday Lynne Featherstone MP joined local residents at a special coffee morning in Muswell Hill that helped raise over £500 for the cancer charity.

The Liberal Democrat MP joined Muswell Hill resident Emma Glover, who was hosting the fundraising garden party for the second year running, with generous help from neighbours and local businesses who donated coffee and prizes for a raffle.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Most of us have, in one way or another, been affected by cancer. Macmillan is there to help make the trauma easier to bear, with invaluable advice and support.

“It’s so heart-warming to see the local community come together to help make sure Macmillan can continue their important work. It’s been great to see local residents like Emma, and local businesses step up to the mark and donate so generously.”

Local GPs deliver accessible information for visually impaired patients after visit by MP

Posted on 27th Sep 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

In the latest breakthrough in her fight for equal access to health information for local blind and partially sighted residents, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday had a commitment from Dukes Avenue Practice that they will produce information in accessible formats for their visually impaired patients.

The assurances were given as the Hornsey and Wood Green MP visited the Muswell Hill based surgery with members of the Haringey Phoenix Group in a bid to help advise on the best way of delivering for visually impaired residents. The visit was set up after Lynne wrote to all GP surgeries in her constituency in the summer about their provision of information in formats such as Braille, audio and large print.

This was the latest step in the ‘losing patients’ campaign, which aims to get local providers to adhere to laws that ensure health information is accessible in all formats.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s great to see that our fight for accessible health information is picking up steam, with many local GPs showing a real willingness to develop good systems that deliver for blind and partially sighted residents.

“The visit to Dukes Avenue has been especially encouraging – they are really going the extra mile to make sure they meet their patients’ needs – and today I think we have made great strides for visually impaired residents here in Muswell Hill.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits special dads' playgroup at new Highgate children's centre

Posted on 21st Sep 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

On a tour of the new Highgate Children’s Centre on Gaskell Road today, Lynne Featherstone MP got the chance to chat with fathers who attend the centre’s unique ‘dads club’, a special playgroup for local stay-at-home dads and their kids.

The club, one of only a handful in London, was started by a local dad and has been running twice a week since the centre opened in the spring. The Liberal Democrat MP, who has long been campaigning for special dads’ clubs to help involve dads in their children’s education – so called ‘dads and doughnuts clubs’ – was excited to see such an outstanding example on the site of her old primary school.

The Gaskell Road centre, which has proven highly popular since it opened in May, is also helping local parents with health care, information and general child care.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The club is brilliant! Being a stay-at-home parent can be hard – and the dads club offers a unique chance for Highgate dads to share experiences with people in the same situation. I would love to see similar groups start-up all over the borough.

“Highgate has long been in need of a children’s centre, and this place is a true gem! They run a fantastic range of playgroups and the dedicated staff offer invaluable support to new mums and dads. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Outrage after residents are sidelined on consultation

Posted on 2nd Aug 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrats have demanded an extension to a consultation after local residents were left out by Haringey Council on plans for a controversial development in Stroud Green.

The Council failed to send thirteen residents in Quernmore, Elyne and Stapleton Hall Road key consultation documents on plans to turn a garden into a five-bedroom house that borders their properties.

Local councillor, Richard Wilson, has made a formal complaint to the Council and asked that the consultation, which is due to end on 4 August, is extended for local residents to have their say on the proposals.

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) comments:

“It is vital that all residents have a say on developments affecting their neighbourhood. It is unacceptable that the Council have failed to consult adequately and the consultation should be extended immediately.

“And I can understand why people are so keen to object to this proposal. I don’t think the site is really suitable for development – and certainly not for a house of this size.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“The Council needs to own up to this mistake and do all in their power to make sure residents get the chance to respond. This is frankly quite a large development and neighbours should get the chance to have their say.”

Local MP celebrates twenty years with residents at Passmore Edwards House

Posted on 2nd Aug 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of sheltered housing scheme Passmore Edwards House, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday joined the residents in special birthday festivities.

The Liberal Democrat MP, who has visited the scheme on many occasions, most recently to see an allotment project co-run with Bounds Green school, had the honour of cutting the birthday cake. The MP also got to meet four very special residents, Kiymet Huseyin, Maureen Greene, Audrey Hagger and Rene Contzen, who have all lived at the scheme from the very first day it opened.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Passmore Edwards House is such a warm and welcoming place, and I always have such fun when I come here, be it to check out the allotment, or sing with the residents.

“So it feels very special to be celebrating with such a lovely crowd here today, especially with Kiymet, Maureen, Audrey and Rene who have been here from day one! So happy birthday Passmore Edwards!”