Category Archives: News releases

Labour propose to cut transport funding for old and vulnerable

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Following the recent secret announcement that the Labour Government is proposing to cut funding for the popular freedom pass, Lynne Featherstone MP has now written to the Transport Minister to demand a re-think. Local Liberal Democrats are also encouraging residents to sign an online petition, demanding the proposal be halted.

Labour plan to take £1.8 million from the concession Haringey Council receives to finance the freedom pass for the elderly and disabled, and give it to other parts of England to plug the gaps in the cost of the scheme that they have rolled out nationally.

Outside London, most concessionary fare schemes are fully funded by Government grant, but in Haringey the scheme is only 66% funded by the concession.

Residents who want to sign the petition should go to http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/freedompass

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Other parts of the country already get 100% of the costs of the free travel scheme covered. Here local residents pay a third. The Labour Government cuts would reduce that support to 50%. It is a sly and unfair move.

“This is not acceptable and I urge all local residents to sign the online petition calling for this ridiculous idea to be dropped.”

Robert Gorrie, leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats adds:

“Haringey Labour are already responsible for residents having to pay one of the highest Council Tax rates in London. Now the Labour government wants to make a change that could add almost £20 to those bills.

“I hope the government will think twice before burdening local residents with even higher charges when so many are suffering from the recession. This idea couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

Haringey Council to investigate digital aerial 'opt out' after action by Liberal Democrats

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Haringey Council will now investigate the feasibility of an ‘opt out’ from the installation of new digital aerials scheme for local leaseholders. The success for the campaign led by leaseholder groups and Liberal Democrats came after a special meeting of Haringey Council’s ‘watchdog’ committee last week (1st October 2009) to hear concerns raised by Liberal Democrats.

The committee agreed that Homes for Haringey should report back on the possibility of an opt-out for leaseholders who do not want the new aerial system installed. Since Haringey Council started the scheme, many leaseholders have paid more than £1,000 for installation.

Liberal Democrats have welcomed the feasibility report but have said that they will not stop the campaign to get a better deal for local leaseholders and will continue to closely scrutinise the financial management of the Decent Homes project, which has come under increasing criticism.

Cllr Richard Wilson, who presented the Liberal Democrat ‘call-in’ last week, comments:

“Whilst we welcome this small step in the right direction it was disappointing that the Labour councillors, once again, rubberstamped this dubious cabinet decision.

“The Decent Homes programme and budget continues to be out of control. Agreed standards of work have been exceeded without finance in place, leaseholders have been ignored, and consultation has been non-existent.”

David Winskill, Liberal Democrat lead on the Overview and Scrutiny committee, adds:

“I was shocked at the lack of understanding of how this £198 million scheme has changed so much. Nobody seemed to know how Homes for Haringey had veered away from the specifications agreed by Haringey Council in 2005 and, more worryingly, nobody seemed to grasp that this may have an effect on the standard or amount of homes that will be renovated under Decent Homes.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:

“The way in which leaseholders have been treated is a symptom of the failure by Haringey Council to get value for money from this project. I’m glad efforts from local leaseholders and my Liberal Democrat colleagues are making progress, but we will not stop there.”

Note: Local Liberal Democrats have set up a petition at http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/aerialscampaign

Online petition launched in digital aerial campaign

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The ongoing fight against Haringey Council’s extortionate digital aerial costs that have been imposed on leaseholders continued this week as local Liberal Democrats launched their online petition.

Charges to install the Integrated Receiving System (IRS) have exceeded £1000 despite many local leaseholders saying they neither want nor need the new service.

The petition demands that Haringey Council reduces costs (neighbouring Islington Council established leaseholder digital access for only £75 per leaseholder) and to give leaseholders the ability to ‘opt out’ if they do not wish to have the aerials installed.

Local residents and leaseholders can sign the petition by visiting http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/aerialscampaign

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Local leaseholders have had a rough deal from Haringey Council and continue to be ignored. It is time that we all came together to show how much opposition there is to this scheme – £1,000 to watch TV is ridiculous and leaseholders must get the chance to opt-out if they want to.

“I hope local leaseholders and residents will sign the petition so that we can show that the extortionate prices for aerials, that many do not want or need, will be fought all the way.”

Cllr Matt Davies, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, adds:

“We will continue to listen to the concerns of local leaseholders and press any way we can to ensure they get a better deal.”

Local MP gets to test-drive special broadband on trial in Muswell Hill

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Lynne Featherstone trying out super-fast broadband in Muswell HillTo see first hand the extra benefits local businesses and residents can enjoy this autumn, Lynne Featherstone MP last week got to test-drive BT’s super-fast broadband as they exclusively trial the system in Muswell Hill.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP got the chance to see how fast the 100 meg broadband could download and upload files, as well as stream films and video conferences. Muswell Hill is one of two areas in the UK being used as a trial area to test the new technology, and during the autumn local residents will be able to use the super-fast broad band for free.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I know that a lot of my constituents work from home, and this extra fast broadband can really help them get ahead, both in work and play!

“Coming out of a recession is all about finding new solutions, and hopefully innovations like these will help both local residents and businesses get the best possible service in the future.

“I hope too, that BT will work on making any extra boxes that have to be installed on our streets as unobtrusive and tasteful as possible.”

'Politician of the Year' nomination for MP Lynne Featherstone

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Local MP Lynne Featherstone has been nominated for the award of ‘Politician of the Year’ by Stonewall, the national lesbian and gay rights lobby group.

Lynne has been a champion of gay rights in Parliament and outspoken critic of the Government’s Equality Bill, which fails to explicitly outlaw harassment of young people in schools because of their sexuality – gay bullying. She has also fought for greater protection against discrimination for transgendered people in the new law.

The awards ceremony with take place on Thursday, 5th November at the V&A and celebrate “the range of positive contributions being made by the individuals and organisation to the lives of lesbian and gay people in Britain today”.  The judges are Sue Perkins and Evan Davis.

Lynne Featherstone is the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Youth & Equalities.

Commenting, Lynne says:

“I feel greatly honoured to be nominated for an award by such a prestigious and respected organisation.

“Whilst great steps have been made in gay rights; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people still face discrimination in their everyday lives. Whether I win or not I will continue fighting for a fairer society.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commenting on the Crouch End Lap Dancing application

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Commenting on the news that the Music Palace’s application for a lap dancing club was rejected on Friday, Lynne Featherstone MP says:

“This is brilliant news and such a huge relief after months and months of campaigning with the ‘lapoff’ team, local residents and councillors.

“It’s been inspirational to see local residents come together and fight the proposal tooth and nail, and what a result we got in the end!

“This was simply the wrong place for a lap dancing club – and should the Music Palace come back with a new application, we’ll be prepared!”

Lynne Featherstone MP commenting on opening of Hornsey Neighbourhood Health Centre

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Commenting on the grand opening of Hornsey Neighbourhood Health Centre, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It’s been a long journey and a long campaign together with local people, but today we are finally standing here in this brilliant new facility for the west of the borough.

“This will bring wonderful health services to the community for many years to come, and is what local residents need and deserve. Hats off to all who made this come true- it was worth the wait.”

Liberal Democrats urge Alexandra Palace to be considered as new Olympic venue

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Badminton shuttlecockAfter efforts failed this week to move the Olympic boxing events from East London to Wembley, local Liberal Democrats are urging Olympic organisers, the Mayor of London and local councillors to consider Alexandra Palace as a possible alternative venue for boxing, badminton or rhythmic gymnastics.

Liberal Democrats believe moving an Olympic venue to Alexandra Palace, one of most iconic buildings in North London, would be an ideal opportunity for residents in Haringey to benefit from the Olympics, for more young people to be encouraged into sport and for the Olympics to have a lasting legacy in the borough.

Cllr David Winskill, Liberal Democrat Culture and Sport spokesperson, Cllr Robert Gorrie, Haringey Liberal Democrat Leader and Lynne Featherstone MP have written a joint letter to Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee Board, the Mayor of London and the Chair of Trustees at the Alexandra Palace urging them to consider Alexandra Palace.

Cllr David Winskill comments:

“Residents in Haringey are getting little, if any, direct benefit from the Olympics at the moment. News that badminton, boxing or gymnastics events need a new home is a fantastic opportunity for the Council to be proactive and ambitious.

“Alexandra Palace is an iconic building which has a long history of holding large and important events.

“It will not be easy and some investment in the Palace would be needed to get it up to standard. But this would be a great opportunity for the borough to be put on the Olympic map and for Alexandra Palace to get some well overdue investment. It would also ensure that North London would have a legacy of the Olympic post 2012.”

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

“Residents in Haringey deserve to have a slice of the Olympic action. Alexandra Palace is a fabulous venue that has a long history of hosting large events including boxing.

“I really hope that the London 2012 Organising Committee seriously consider Ally Pally as an Olympic venue.”

Hornsey Hospital bus campaign – new success

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Travelling to the new Hornsey Hospital may soon become easier for disabled and elderly residents, after Transport for London last week agreed that they would consider changes to a ‘problem’ bus stop.

It follows a campaign by local Liberal Democrats to move the first stop on the W7 and 144 routes from Muswell Hill, due to the current stop being on a very steep slope and hard for disabled and elderly residents to reach.

The success is part of a wider Liberal Democrat campaign to improve the transport links to the Hornsey Hospital.

Local Liberal Democrats are now encouraging residents to contact Lynne Featherstone MP about the proposal, before she responds to a TFL consultation on the issue. Residents can either email Ms Featherstone on lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org or call the office on 020 8340 5459, before October 13th 2009.

Cllr Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, comments:

“I am very glad that Transport for London has now decided to look into providing a first stop for the W7 and 144 on Muswell Hill roundabout. Local residents with buggies and disabled and elderly people find it hard to access the bus stop on the steep hill.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“This is a great success for our campaign to get more buses and transport for residents to Hornsey Hospital. I’m delighted that Transport for London are looking into moving the bus stop, and I hope many local residents will take the time to contact me in support of the move.”

Anger as Haringey misses out on new council homes

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Haringey Council has failed to win funding for new council homes despite the London Borough of Haringey’s chronic housing shortage, it has been revealed.

Haringey Liberal Democrats have attacked the ruling Labour administration for their failure to successfully lobby their own government for a better housing deal, following an announcement last week that Labour intends to build 2,000 new homes.

The missed opportunity comes on the back of a string of failures to obtain fair funding deals for Haringey’s residents, including equal per pupil funding for the Borough’s school children and inadequate financial assistance to support people seeking asylum.

Liberal Democrat MP, Lynne Featherstone, has written to the Housing Minister, urging him reconsider the failure to include Haringey in this or future waves of the programme.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone says:

“My weekly surgery is packed with families who desperately need new homes today. Yet again, Haringey Labour has failed to stick up for these people.

“Now, not only do our school children not get a fair deal, but neither do people waiting to be housed. The case for Haringey is so strong – the Government must reconsider.”

Councillor Matt Davies, Haringey Liberal Democrat Housing champion, adds:

“This is such a disappointment for the Borough, particularly given the urgent housing needs of local residents. Even though the numbers to be built are small, they would have been a step in the right direction.

“How the Labour-run Council could fail make the case for Haringey is beyond me. The Government must change its mind.”

Note: Haringey currently has approximately 12,000 residents on the housing waiting list and 4403 in temporary accommodation.