Category Archives: News releases

Haringey Council attacked for lack of aspiration over new homes

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Haringey Council has today come under attack by Haringey Liberal Democrats for its lack of ambition for new council housing in the borough after it was revealed that it failed to apply for extra funding to build new council houses.

The revelation came in the response to a direct plea for Haringey from local MP, Lynne Featherstone, to the Housing minister as soon as it was discovered Haringey was omitted from the September announcement.

Under the scheme six London boroughs shared grants worth £28.5m to build 322 homes – money Haringey had no chance of winning because of its not applying for the scheme.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP says:

“Haringey obviously meets the need threshold, it’s a shame its leaders do not meet the aspiration threshold.

“Time and time again this Labour-run council fails to make the case to its own Government for Haringey. We see this with unfair funding for schools and now with housing.

“I desperately hope they will get their act together to apply for the second round of funding before it is too late.”

Cllr Matt Davies, Haringey Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, adds:

“This news comes as a bitter blow in the fight for better housing for our borough. It is sad to learn that Haringey Council is not seizing every opportunity to address the chronic housing shortage in our area.”

University uptake stalls in Haringey

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The Government’s Universities Minister and Haringey MP, David Lammy, has been forced to admit that university uptake in Haringey is growing at one of the slowest rates in London.

Official statistics requested in Parliament by the Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone, reveal that only 10 more 18-year-olds from Haringey started undergraduate courses in 2007 compared to 2005.

Across London the average increase in university uptake was 6.7% between 2005/06 and 2007/08 whereas in Haringey the number only increased by 1.7%

This year Haringey schools received £1,183 less per pupil than neighbouring boroughs. Local Liberal Democrats argue this under-attainment in education is further evidence of the negative impact of continual under funding.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Across the capital more and more young people are going to university, but not from Haringey.

“Locally the ongoing funding crisis in our schools means teachers have scant resources to offer the extra time and support needed to help boost the chances of our pupils getting into uni.

“The Government cannot ignore the mounting evidence that Haringey desperately needs a fair funding deal for our children so they can reach their full potential.”

Calls for Housing Cabinet member to apologise as auditors sent in

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Labour’s Cabinet member for Housing, Cllr John Bevan, is facing growing pressure to make a public apology for misrepresenting leaseholders in the ongoing issue of £1000+ bills for the installation of digital aerials.

At last week’s Annual General Meeting of the Haringey Leaseholders’ Association (HLA) it was confirmed that the HLA had never voted in favour of Haringey Council’s expensive digital aerials scheme despite Cllr Bevan saying publicly that they had.

Cllr Bevan publicly stated, at Full Council on 19th October 2009 and at the special meeting of the Council’s ‘watchdog’ committee on 1st October 2009, that leaseholders in fact voted for the scheme. Cllr Bevan was not at the AGM, but attended a previous HLA meeting in February 2009 where leaseholders voted in favour of an opt-out from the digital aerials scheme.

Local Liberal Democrats are calling for a public apology from Cllr Bevan to set the record straight.

Opposition housing spokesperson Cllr Matt Davies, who attended the HLA meeting on Thursday 22nd October 2009, comments:

“The Chair of the HLA asked the meeting to agree the minutes from February, which clearly state that leaseholders voted for an opt-out from the digital aerial scheme. She also asked all those present who had been at the previous meeting to confirm that this was an accurate recollection and not one single person has the same memory of the meeting as Cllr Bevan.

“Cllr Bevan must now apologise to the HLA as he was clearly mistaken. It is not surprising leaseholders get such a raw deal from Haringey if even when Labour try to listen they only hear what they want to hear.”

With the huge cost of digital aerials not the only complaints being raised by leaseholders with Councillors and Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone, further questions are being asked about how Haringey bills leaseholders.

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

“It is unbelievable that Cllr Bevan has so far refused to correct his statements or apologise. He must do so immediately. It is typical of Haringey Labour that they feel they can just say what they like and ignore leaseholders – treating them like a piggy-bank they can just smash open whenever they want.

“After personally hearing so many serious concerns raised individually by leaseholders, I have asked the auditors to look at how Haringey gets money from leaseholders. I will also be meeting with the HLA to discuss their concerns as a group and would encourage any other leaseholders who have complaints about their bills to contact me. We will not be letting this drop.”

Two thousand families hit by benefit change

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Over two thousand families on low incomes in Haringey will be £780 poorer per year from next April when the Labour government’s benefit changes take effect, it has been revealed. In a response to an enquiry by Cllr Richard Wilson, Haringey Council confirmed that 2,016 residents will be affected when changes are made to the Local Housing Allowance rule which takes away £15 per week extra for families to spend on better housing.

Changes to the Local Housing Allowance were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, in the April 2009 Budget report. In total, £1.5million will be taken away from the poorest families in the borough.

Liberal Democrats have criticised the Government and have likened the changes to the abolition of the 10p tax rate last year that similarly hit the poorest and resulted in an embarrassing u-turn by the Labour government.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Deputy Leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats, comments:

“I am appalled that, at a time of recession, the Labour Government are raiding the pockets of some of the poorest families in Haringey. There are over 2,000 families across Haringey relying on this money. £15 might not seem much to Labour Ministers but is a huge amount to someone on the poverty line.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“This is as bad as the abolition of the 10p tax rate and yet another example of how out of touch Labour are with the least well off.

“I will be contacting the Minister at the Department for Work and Pensions to ask why local residents are being hit by the government at this hard time.”

Local MP meets Youth Mark assessors on mission for better young people's services

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Y-gen assessors in Crouch EndTo support the impressive achievements and dedication of a group of young people who in their spare time help to improve services for young people in Haringey, Lynne Featherstone MP on Thursday met up with Y-gen’s Youth Mark assessors at the charity’s office in Crouch End.

Y-gen train young people to go in and do large-scale assessments of services for their age group to make sure they are of a high quality and put young people first. Since last April, 19 Youth Mark assessors have spent over 600 hours assessing services, such as Exposure magazine and Wood Green Library.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s so amazingly inspirational to see how hard these young people work to help improve local services for their peers.

“In return they develop fantastic skills and do their bit to make Haringey a better place for young people.”

Carolina Motta Mejia, Youth Mark assessor aged 17, adds:

“I have really learnt a lot from being a youth assessor – it’s such a big commitment for us, and has really helped me mature.”

Shiyam Madam, Youth Mark assessor aged 17, adds:

“This really helped my coursework at college because we have to do a project management module and Youth Mark is a bit like project management.”

Success as Liberal Democrat campaign forces Mayor to consider one hour bus ticket

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After a successful campaign by Liberal Democrats Lynne Featherstone MP and London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon to get a one hour ticket on London’s buses, the London Assembly last week unanimously voted in favour of the proposal, ensuring the Mayor of London will have to seriously consider the idea.

The cross-party agreement in the London Assembly for a one-hour ticket contrasted with Labour councillors in Haringey who last week blocked a motion supporting the same idea.

The suggestion, which would enable passengers to use more than one bus during a 60-minute period without paying more than £1.00, would be more affordable and convenient for Londoners who use public transport.

The unanimous vote in the London Assembly on Wednesday came after GLA Member Caroline Pidgeon presented the Mayor with a Liberal Democrat petition signed by 2000 Londoners.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Travelling from one end of my constituency to the other is not only tricky, but can also get expensive if you use Oyster pay-as-you-go, as you have to change bus at least twice. Having a one-hour bus ticket is a brilliant idea and really makes sense, not least from a green point of view.

“But it is very disappointing that, unlike their Labour colleagues in the London assembly, Haringey Labour can’t put politics aside and support such a sensible, green idea that would really benefit local residents.”

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson in the London Assembly adds:

“You can already switch from tube to tube on the same ticket, so it makes real sense to allow people to do the same with buses. It really is unfair that people who use Oyster pay-as-you-go have to pay a new fare every time they change buses.

“One hour bus tickets already operate successfully in Paris, Rome and Brussels. It is now time London caught up and gave bus users a fair deal.”

Labour Leader's brush-off for Tottenham road safety campaign

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Local Liberal Democrats have expressed concern at the refusal by the Labour leadership of the Haringey Council to support a petition to improve a dangerous crossing in Green Lanes, Tottenham, near Ducketts Common.

A question put by Cllr Karen Alexander (Harringay Ward) to the leader of the Council last week asked whether the Council would support the petition. In answer, Cllr Claire Kober replied at the Full Council meeting, “I find the request the most perplexing question I’ve been asked all night, you know, no, this is not about petitions, this is grown-up.”

Cllr Alexander (Harringay ward) comments:

“There is nothing childish about local residents working to get Haringey Council to remove a death-trap to which hundreds of children are exposed every day when they go to school. It would have been helpful if Haringey Council had supported our campaign. We would stand a better chance of receiving funding, that Haringey Council says it has applied for, if we can show the level of local support for the necessary works.”

Tottenham Liberal Democrat chairman, David Schmitz, who lives near to the junction and who has spearheaded the campaign, adds:

“This petition has gained enormous support from people of all political parties. We now have about 250 signatures, and the number is constantly rising. It is disappointing that Cllr Kober is mocking a campaign that people in her own party have supported in the past.”

Cllr Carolyn Baker (Harringay Ward) adds:

“Petitions are the traditional way of showing just how strongly local people feel about an issue. For the Labour leadership to be so dismissive of the campaign shows just how hopelessly out of touch they are.”

Local MP demands hazardous bus stop on route to health centre must move

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The bus stop on Muswell HillFollowing a successful Liberal Democrat campaign where Transport for London (TfL) agreed to consult on moving a poorly located stop on the only bus route to Hornsey Central, Lynne Featherstone MP has now submitted her and local residents’ responses to the consultation.

Local Liberal Democrats have long been campaigning for the first bus stop on the W7 route in Muswell Hill, the only direct bus to the Park Road Health Centre, to be moved up to Muswell Hill Broadway. In the summer, Ms Featherstone and Cllr Martin Newton met with TfL representatives at the bus stop to highlight the hazard of getting down the steep slope for less mobile and elderly residents. As TfL agreed to look into the issue, MP Lynne Featherstone wrote to local residents to get their views on moving the bus stop, and included all responses in her submission to the consultation.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“This bus stop is very poorly located, and it’s great to have been able to make such a strong case for moving it up the Broadway thanks to the many responses from local residents.

“One letter in particular paints a very stark picture. A woman in her seventies, trying to push her husband in a wheelchair down the steep slope, and literally having to bend over backwards not to lose control. The bus stop needs to be moved before anyone gets seriously injured; otherwise I fear it is only a matter of time.”

Councillor Martin Newton, Lib Dem Transport spokesperson adds:

“It’s great to see that so many people have written to us with their stories. TfL is bound to sit up and take notice – and rest assured we’ll keep a close eye on this one.”

You can watch more about this story in this YouTube clip:

The video is also available on the YouTube website.

Lynne Featherstone demands better deal for commuters as local residents feel effect of ticket office cuts

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As residents tell of difficulties buying tickets after this summer’s cut in ticket office hours at local train stations, local MP Lynne Featherstone demanded a better deal for commuters in a meeting with the train company boss on Monday.

Following a campaign earlier in the year to stop First Capital Connect cutting office hours at local train stations, Liberal Democrats this summer managed to get a better deal for commuters, as the train company agreed to cut ticket office hours by 69 hrs per week, instead of the originally proposed 115 hrs.

But the cuts, which came into force in August, have already caused difficulties for local residents travelling at night and on weekends. Following tip-offs from commuters, Lynne this weekend went on a fact-finding mission at Harringay and Alexandra Palace stations, before meeting the First Capital Connect boss Jim Morgan on Monday.

Lynne Featherstone found the only ticket machine at Harringay station to be out of order, and signage at Alexandra station either pointing in the wrong direction, or missing altogether:

You can also watch the film here on YouTube.

Ms Featherstone has now asked for the train company to monitor how often ticket machines break down and ensure swift action is taken to repair them. She has also called for all stations to be fully sign-posted so residents know where to get their tickets.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I’m still deeply disappointed that First Capital Connect decided to go ahead and cut ticket office hours at our local train stations.

“And clearly, residents are feeling the effects, signs telling you where the ticket machines are located are really poor, and with machines breaking down there is no-one to ask for help. Not to mention the safety aspect of standing alone on a dark platform now that winter’s coming.

“I hope that the train company will wake up and do their bit by making the machines more accessible, improve the signage and ensure engineers are sent out swiftly if a machine breaks down – that’s certainly the least they can do. And if local residents have any other issues they want me to raise, please get in touch.”

“Enough is enough” on betting shops say Liberal Democrats

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Horse racingHaringey Council should take swift and firm action to halt the surge in betting shops in the Wood Green area to limit crime and anti-social behaviour, local Liberal Democrats have said .

Speaking out against applications to Haringey Council for three new betting shops in Wood Green High Road and Green Lanes, Cllr Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat Crime spokesperson, has said that Haringey Council needs to urgently lobby the Government to change the law to enable councils to limit the number amount of betting shops in an area.

Recent statistics revealed by the Liberal Democrats show that 735 incidents of criminal damage occurred in Haringey’s betting shops in the past two years as well drug related and public order offences.

Cllr Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat Crime Spokesperson, comments:

“Statistics indicate that Haringey’s betting shops are a source of significant crime and antisocial behaviour, as well as being a nuisance to local residents.

“We are not against people having a flutter but enough is enough. Haringey Council needs the power to declare that no more betting shops should be allowed in Wood Green or Green Lanes.

“Labour need to lobby their own Government to give local communities the power to curb the ever increasing numbers of betting shops.”

Cllr Fiyaz Mughal (Noel Park) adds:

“The explosion of gambling and gaming venues blight Wood Green’s main shopping street and they do little to support the local economy

“It is time to call a time out and say that enough is enough. Such venues cannot be allowed to grow exponentially whilst the local authority is virtually powerless to stop them. I would be delighted to hear from any Noel Park residents who would like to help us take this campaign forward.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“I will be contacting the Government Minister responsible for the planning laws that leave Haringey Council and local residents powerless to stop betting shops taking over our high streets.”