Residents of Warberry and Cumberland Road, N22 have this week seen full compensation from Thames Water for damages to their homes, after personal intervention from local Liberal Democrat MP, Lynne Featherstone.

Many homes on the Wood Green streets were flooded after the water pressure was increased to industrial levels following replacement of the Victorian water mains. A burst boiler even caused the ceiling over a baby’s cot to collapse, which was thankfully not in use.

Initial claims for full compensation from local residents were denied by Thames Water, who instead told residents to claim on their insurance. But after repeated intervention by Ms. Featherstone, Thames Water has slowly caved in.

Any residents who have experienced similar problems as a result of the replacement work should contact Lynne Featherstone’s office on 020 8340 5459.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It is a complete outrage that Thames Water has been so slow in compensating these residents for obvious damage caused by them. After turning up the pressure myself, I’m pleased to have got a result for local residents.

“Clearly Thames Water should have warned people of the increase in pressure so precautions could have been taken – it would have saved local residents and Thames Water a lot of time, money and hassle.”

Jacqueline Howley, Warberry Road resident, added:

“I’m appalled that with no warning Thames doubled our normal water pressure level. Thames then told us they were not surprised when we experienced floods and leaks because everyone’s plumbing was so old, yet they had not even told us they were changing the pressure.

“To add insult to injury they then told us to go to our insurers to claim for the cost of the repairs.Where does this leave other London households who will suffer these problems in the future?”

Stroud Green Liberal Democrats have called for action on long term vacant commercial property owned by Haringey Council after it was revealed that two shops in prime locations on Stroud Green Road (N4) owned by Haringey Council have remained vacant for several years.

The Stroud Green councillors have written to the Labour leader of Haringey Council demanding an action plan to bring these buildings back into community service.

The properties concerned are 80 Stroud Road which has been empty since it was vacated by the Mental Health Trust over 12 months ago, and Shop 20, Charter Court on Stroud Green Road, which has been empty for several years.

Commenting, Cllr Ed Butcher said:

“Vacant shops are a blight and give completely the wrong impression to shoppers and other potential business.We have long known that Labour-run Haringey Council has all but given up on Stroud Green Road, but I was shocked to learn that it has sat on its hands for so long.”

Cllr Laura Edge added:

“Our Safer Neighbourhood team is based in Crouch End and we know many local residents desperately struggle to find a GP.If Haringey Council cannot find a commercial tenant why is it not working with these important frontline service providers to provide better services for Stroud Green and Finsbury Park residents?It is surely better that these properties are brought into community use rather than just left empty year after year.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats have given the London Mayor’s plans for small shops a big thumbs down, describing his new policy as potentially damaging to the future of the borough’s shopping parades.

On 31st July 2008, Mayor of London Boris Johnson outlined measures to ensure that more affordable small shops are provided for in new retail developments. But local councillors feel that the plan fails to promote the use of local high streets and could indeed make things worse.

Under the new measures developers will enter into legally binding agreements to provide an agreed number of affordable small shop units when major retail schemes are proposed. Liberal Democrats have criticised the Mayor’s plan for encouraging small shops to move to large ‘out-of-town’ developments rather than helping local shopping areas.

In Crouch End alone there are sixteen empty shop units with many other traders reporting hard times.

Cllr Rachel Allison, Liberal Democrat Regeneration Spokesperson, commented:

“There is nothing in these proposals to offer a crumb of hope for small shops struggling on our high streets with massive rent increases and poor council support. Boris seems intent on killing them off. Encouraging people to visit massive out of town shopping developments is against all green thinking.”

Cllr David Winskill, who is campaigning for the small retail sector in Crouch End, added:

“All this does is to make big malls and out of town centres more attractive and will divert trade from places like Crouch End and Muswell Hill. At least the initiative is consistent with his anti-environment policies. What our high streets need are support, better public transport infrastructure and a local council that works with traders. This is very disappointing.”

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone added:

“Many of the shopping parades in our borough are unique and are under threat from big out of town developments. This plan would spell disaster for traders who are already struggling. The proposals are simply ludicrous and London’s new mayor must think again.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats have given the London Mayor’s plans for small shops a big thumbs down, describing his new policy as potentially damaging to the future of the borough’s shopping parades.

On 31st July 2008, Mayor of London Boris Johnson outlined measures to ensure that more affordable small shops are provided for in new retail developments. But local councillors feel that the plan fails to promote the use of local high streets and could indeed make things worse.

Under the new measures developers will enter into legally binding agreements to provide an agreed number of affordable small shop units when major retail schemes are proposed. Liberal Democrats have criticised the Mayor’s plan for encouraging small shops to move to large ‘out-of-town’ developments rather than helping local shopping areas.

In Crouch End alone there are sixteen empty shop units with many other traders reporting hard times.

Cllr Rachel Allison, Liberal Democrat Regeneration Spokesperson, commented:

“There is nothing in these proposals to offer a crumb of hope for small shops struggling on our high streets with massive rent increases and poor council support. Boris seems intent on killing them off. Encouraging people to visit massive out of town shopping developments is against all green thinking.”

Cllr David Winskill, who is campaigning for the small retail sector in Crouch End, added:

“All this does is to make big malls and out of town centres more attractive and will divert trade from places like Crouch End and Muswell Hill. At least the initiative is consistent with his anti-environment policies. What our high streets need are support, better public transport infrastructure and a local council that works with traders. This is very disappointing.”

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone added:

“Many of the shopping parades in our borough are unique and are under threat from big out of town developments. This plan would spell disaster for traders who are already struggling. The proposals are simply ludicrous and London’s new mayor must think again.”

Commenting on Haringey ‘A-level’ result day, Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, said:

“Well done to all our local students. I always feel hugely sorry for the young people sitting exams as each year so much of the coverage isn’t about celebrating their success, but about knocking the results.

“There’s a time and a place for debate over exam standards, but there’s also a time and a place for celebrating success.So a big ‘well done’ to our local students from me.”

Hornsey & Wood Green MP,, Lynne Featherstone this week was voted top female frontbencher in poll to find the best performing Liberal Democrat shadow cabinet member.

In an online survey of Liberal Democrat members comparing all the member of the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet, Lynne Featherstone was ranked top woman and number five overall for her role as the party’s spokesperson for Youth & Equalities.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It is always nice to get a vote of confidence, but the real victory comes in challenging the Government to do more help young people rather than just demonising them.

“I am really looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into the Equality Bill which is due in the next session of Parliament.It will be such fantastic chance to improve the opportunities of the millions of people who face discrimination in their everyday life.

“But no matter what path Parliament takes me down, my real passion always remains Hornsey and Wood Green.”