Tottenham’s leading Liberal Democrat joined a delegation of local residents to City Hall on 26th November to demand that the London Mayor call a halt to the controversial Wards Corner Development at Seven Sisters. Tough barrister and Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate David Schmitz has been giving free legal advice to the Wards Corner campaign for the past year.

David Schmitz says the Mayor has powers to halt to the development. He warned London Deputy Mayor Simon Milton of the inadequacy of the developer’s assurances that the popular Latin American market would be protected, along with the livelihoods of those who depend on it, once the present structure is torn down.

David Schmitz, Liberal Democrat PPC for Tottenham, comments:

“The developer’s offer of help to the traders just isn’t good enough. They have said they will pay compensation to the traders which they can then pool together to keep the market going while the development is underway.But we have no idea where the market can find a temporary home, and we have no way of knowing whether the money will turn out to be enough, when it is needed.

“It is clear that the Mayor has the powers to take action against the arrogance of Haringey Council – but is he willing to use them? Not only does the Mayor have planning powers; through London Underground, he controls much of the land that is to be built on. If he says no, the scheme simply cannot happen.

“I hope the Mayor will listen to the pleas of residents and take action. Anything less would be a huge let down.”

Haringey Labour Council’s plan to scrap 10 dedicated members of the Parks Constabulary will face further examination after Liberal Democrats successfully forced a special ‘watchdog’ committee to discuss the issue.

Labour’s plan for a new parks force would mean the scrapping of the parks constabulary, made up of fully-qualified police people who are currently responsible for maintaining order in the borough’s parks. Haringey Liberal Democrats are worried that this move will result in reduced safety for Haringey residents.

Cllr Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Crime, Policing and Community Safety said:

“This plan needs to be looked at again. I’m not convinced that the removal of the Parks Constabulary, who provide such a reassuring presence throughout the borough, will result in our parks becoming safer places.

“Parks provide an oasis for people in built-up areas and I believe the Parks Constabulary still has a vital role to play in ensuring that everyone is able to enjoy Haringey’s parks free from the fear of crime and harassment.”

Six year-old Louisa Owen, from St. Aidan’s primary school, was this week announced as the proud winner of Lynne Featherstone MP’s Christmas Card Competition. On Monday, Lynne presented the Stroud Green student with book vouchers and a certificate for her fun and imaginative interpretation of this year’s theme, ‘I’m dreaming of a green Christmas’.

This year Lynne received hundreds of entries from schools all over the constituency. In addition to Louisa, four runners-up were selected whose designs will appear on the back of Lynne’s Christmas card. These are: Raheam Watts, Nightingale Primary; Pasha Patel, Alexandra Primary; Lila-Rose Marcuson, Highgate Primary and Regina Gul, Nightingale Primary.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I’m really impressed by the way Louisa has interpreted this year’s theme, she has really captured the theme of recycling at Christmas with her vibrant and colourful recycling sleigh.

“Each year I’m struck by the outstanding designs of the local students – they certainly are a talented bunch and I’m very proud of them all.

“I’m really starting to get that Christmas feeling now. I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined in this year. It’s been so much fun.”

Official figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show that Haringey Council has the highest number of children living in temporary accommodation out of all local authorities in England.

In 2007 there were 7,918 children living in short-term and often unsuitable housing, 1,500 more than the next highest council, Brent.

Local MP and opposition councillors on Haringey Council are calling for a fundamental review in the way housing is allocated to address the London Borough of Haringey’s apparent failure to adequately prioritise the needs of children living in temporary accommodation.

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, says:

“Living with the uncertainty of not knowing when you might have to change school or leave your friends is terribly disruptive for child and family stability.

“Again Haringey is at the top of the worst type of league table. These terrible statistics confirm the sad stories I see week in and week out in my surgery. These families are being let down by Haringey Council’s housing system.

“We need an urgent rethink on the borough’s housing policy, not weak assurances.”

Councillor Laura Edge, Haringey Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, adds:

“Children should be the heart of housing decisions, not an afterthought. There seems to be an annual closed door review of the housing allocation policy, but nothing seems to change.

“Enough is enough, we cannot continue with a housing allocation policy that so obviously fails the people it is supposed to help.”

In celebration of Islam Awareness Week, Lynne Featherstone MP on Thursday engaged in lively debates with local worshippers at Wightman Road Mosque in Harringay. The Hornsey and Wood Green MP was taking questions from locals at a very well attended Haringey Muslim Network and Safety Forum. The discussions touched on issues ranging from war in Iraq, to what can be done about the negative portrayal of Muslims in the media, to how to set up a political forum for young people. The local mosque has long been hailed as a ‘model mosque’ for its engagement with the local community through public forums, open days and celebrated youth work.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It’s great to be back at Wightman Road Mosque and especially to mark this year’s Islam Awareness Week. This year’s theme is ‘the Best of British’, and this mosque really epitomises that with its outstanding youth work and real effort to engage with the local community.

“This forum is a brilliant example of the work that takes place here. It’s clear that people feel comfortable raising issues close to their hearts. We had an excellent and lively debate tonight, and I certainly got plenty of food for thought.”

Children at Nightingale Primary will make Christmas very special for orphans in Kenya, as the 24 boxes they have filled with presents go off to Africa this week. The Wood Green children, participating in the Schools for Africa programme sponsored by Lynne Featherstone MP, have spent the autumn learning about poverty in Africa and filling boxes with toys, books and toiletries. This week, DHL will send the 24 boxes to children’s homes for HIV/ AIDS orphans in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP, comments:

“I’m so proud of Nightingale Primary. The kids have been so generous, and the 24 boxes they have sent off today will touch the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most deprived children.

“With 14 million HIV and AIDS orphans in the world – this is really one of the biggest humanitarian challenges of our time. That’s why it’s so fantastic that all the children at Nightingale Primary can say ‘I helped and I have made a difference’.”

Regarding the belated apology by Haringey’s Labour Cabinet Member Liz Santry for the tragic death of Baby P, local Liberal Democrats have revealed an email sent to councillors after his death last August in which Councillor Liz Santry criticised the media for linking the tragedy to the death of Victoria Climbie.

She wrote:

“You will have read the very sad news of a 17 month old child from Tottenham who died on 3 August from serious injuries.

“The press has covered the case this weekend and of course has chosen to link it with events from the past. As you are all aware much has changed since these events.”

Councillor Santry’s response, the first time any notification was made even to local councillors, came ten days after the death of Baby P, after the then Liberal Democrat Leader, who first read about the case in the national newspapers, demanded a response from Haringey Council about the death of Baby P.

Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader Robert Gorrie comments:

“When you consider that this councillor took 48 hours to apologise, and now we read what the leading councillors really thought at the time, you have to question whether they really are willing to learn the lessons.

“This shows more than ever that we need a complete clear out of the Labour councillors in charge. In this terrible situation, we must have confidence in the people at the top. That is why the Cabinet member and the Leader of the Council must resign.”

Further comment on the Baby P case is on Lynne Featherstone’s blog.

Lynne Featherstone MP has hosted an afternoon tea at the House of Commons for The Hornsey Trust to mark two special anniversaries: 45 years of the charity and 20 years of conductive education at its centre and school.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools and Learners, and Douglas Cooke, Managing Director of Principle Cleaning Services Ltd, whose Hornsey-based company has supported the charity over many years, both also spoke at the event.

It was attended by over 100 people, including pupils at the school and their parents.

The Trust outlined its plans to significantly increase the number of children it supports through a variety of different developments such as developing new services aimed at children with cerebral palsy, their families and professionals; the launch of a £3 million capital appeal to rebuild the Trust’s centre and school; and a re-brand to become the London Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Deepa Korea, Chief Executive at The Hornsey Trust, says,

“It is heartening when parents tell us their child has developed physical, emotional and social skills thanks to the dedicated support of our staff. Taking into account parents, carers, professional and others, the lives of an estimated 50,000 people in the London region alone are in some way touched by cerebral palsy. Yet an Audit Commission report on services for children with disabilities noted that a family had to meet with 12 different agencies in order to have the totality of their child’s needs met.”

Commenting on the verdict in the baby P case, involving a 17 month-old child on Haringey Council’s ‘at risk’ register who died on 3rd August 2007, Lynne Featherstone comments:

“This is a shocking tragedy where a small child suffered terrible abuse after falling through safety net after safety net.

“The Children’s Act was borne out of tragedy in Haringey after the death of Victoria Climbié. Yet eight years after her death the law created to stop this happening again has failed to prevent a similar tragedy in the same borough.

“Baby P should have been at the centre of all decision-making.

“We must therefore have a fully independent investigation by the Children’s Commissioner into what went so terribly wrong.”

Councillor Robert Gorrie, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition on Haringey Council, adds:

“The tragic death of Victoria Climbié, and the national reforms that resulted, should have stopped this happening again. Yet the facts revealed during the trial point to similar failings with the same tragic consequences.

“With so many public organisations involved why did one of them not act decisively to save this child? Better communications between agencies and more importantly between people might have prevented Baby P’s death.

“Haringey Council’s role as the leading body responsible for the welfare of toddler was crucial yet under their leadership there seem from the information available to have been significant failings in sharing vital information.

“Closed door reviews by the Council are completely inadequate.The credibility of Haringey’s child protection system has been called into question again. The public need independent reassurance and it is for this reason we need the Children’s Commissioner to carry out a full and independent review of the case.”

Further comment on the Baby P case is on Lynne Featherstone’s blog.