Top chemistry prize-winning students at Highgate School were last week congratulated by local MP Lynne Featherstone as she tabled a parliamentary motion (EDM 1810) in their honour.

The winning team, consisting of students Charlie Bruce, Jack Saville, David Ooi and Max Jamilly won the national ‘Top of the Bench’ competition run by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The students excelled in the final at the Science Museum in April after proving themselves in both theory, research and a practical test.

Lynne Featherstone commented as she met up with the winners on Friday:

“I’m so impressed with these bright boys, it really is a fantastic achievement to win Top of the Bench; I know the competition was fierce.

“It’s also great to see how keen and interested the students are in chemistry. It’s such an important subject, but less and less students take it. That’s why competitions like Top of the Bench are so important, and I’m delighted to be able to do my bit by tabling this EDM. Well done guys!”

Fortis Green will not be hearing cries of ‘Anyone for tennis?’, with unwelcome restrictions on a local tennis court.

Following the closure of the tennis club on Twyford Avenue in Fortis Green, local residents fought and won access to one tennis court through an agreement between Haringey Council and the developers. However, houses in the development are now being advertised with a ‘private’ tennis court, which has alarmed the local residents who were looking forward to playing tennis again.

After investigation by Liberal Democrat councillor Matt Davies, it has been revealed that although the original permission included wider access to a tennis court, a second agreement with Haringey Council failed to have a similar clause – which means local tennis players face exclusion.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Matt Davies (Fortis Green) comments:

“With Wimbledon getting into full swing, more people are interested in being involved in tennis. The loss of the tennis club was very unfortunate and something that we fought against. But the single court being available to residents in the area was a crumb of comfort – it now seems as if even that crumb is disappearing.

“It looks like we may now need to rely on the developers keeping their word, which they gave at the Committee hearing. But having to rely on that, rather than Haringey Council ensuring effective legal back-up, doesn’t seem to be a very satisfactory situation.”

FAITH Plant centre, a Wood Green based garden centre where adults with learning difficulties volunteer and gain essential life skills, was on Friday visited by Local MP Lynne Featherstone and Cllr Richard Wilson, Health and Adult Social Services spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats following news that the centre might have to close.

Ms Featherstone and Cllr Wilson joined concerned volunteers, staff and parents in protest as news emerged that Livability, the charity which runs the centre, has been unable to find new funding. The Liberal Democrats are now calling on Haringey Council to step in with temporary funding whilst searching for new permanent solutions to keep the much loved and treasured centre open.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“This centre is clearly a unique place. The people who use the centre gain skills that will really help them in life.It is clear from talking to the users and volunteers how important the services are and how much they love coming here. These are vital services that Haringey Council should be really interested in preserving. Labour needs to urgently think how to save this service.”

Richard Wilson adds:

“This centre plays a vital role in the local community, provides education for school children, and grows many of the plants for parks all over the Borough. As Haringey Council owns the centre, and has council staff working in the nursery and cafe, it really does have a duty to step in and make sure this centre doesn’t close.”

The most recent initiative to make Hornsey and Wood Green shoppers go green was launched on Saturday with the ‘Highgate Shopper’ bag for life. The initiative was warmly welcomed by Local MP and Highgate residents Lynne Featherstone who queued up to buy the unique shopping bag as it was launched at the Highgate Fair by Michelle Collins, the former East Enders actress.

The ‘Highgate Shopper’, introduced by the Highgate Society, follows other successful green initiatives such as the Crouch End Bag-for-life.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I think it’s a brilliant initiative to make Highgate shoppers go green. Hats off to the Highgate society for making the idea come to life.

“With this new addition to the growing range of local bags for life, I can continue shopping in style!”

Local Liberal Democrats have demanded that Haringey Council puts its money where its mouth is to save Haringey’s beleaguered Post Office network. Following the closure of Ferme Park Road and Weston Park Road Post Office this week, Liberal Democrats have urged Haringey Council to honour its promises to help.

In March 2008, Haringey Council leader George Meehan promised he would consider options to save Post Offices but since then Haringey Council has been silent on the issue.

With more Post Offices set to close, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Haringey, Cllr Robert Gorrie, has written an open letter to Cllr Meehan to demand action from Haringey Council to save the vital community resource for the residents of Haringey.

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Leader of Haringey Liberal Democrat Group, comments:

“The Council promised residents that they would do everything to ensure no Post Office would close in Haringey. The silence since then has been deafening. It is time for them to put their money where their mouth is.”

Lynne Featherstone MP added:

“With Post Offices closing as we speak, the Leader of the Council urgently needs to let the people of Haringey know what he is going to do to save these vital services.There have been plenty of fine words, now is the time for action.”

Council neglect has contributed to making pedestrian crossings unusable in the London Borough of Haringey say local Liberal Democrats. Many residents using crossings face the prospect of wading through ponds created by the collection of water due to lack of drainage.

Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Newton has called on Haringey Council to take action to resolve the drainage problem and has criticised Haringey Council for their lack of care for pedestrians especially visually impaired users.

Cllr Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Transport and Highways, comments:

“Many of these crossing points have raised paving to alert visually impaired pedestrians to the change between pavements and the road, but bad engineering means that they are led into a large pond. Anyone pushing a buggy or shopping trolley will also struggle to negotiate these crossings and remain dry.”

Haringey Council has now agreed that work to repair drainage problems is needed and some minor work has started but Liberal Democrats say that the borough-wide problem needs action and will be writing to the director responsible to demand further repairs.

“This is typical Haringey Labour muddle – not thinking through a job properly leaving residents in deep water. The Council must take action to make existing pedestrian crossing points fit for purpose and designed so water drains away and also ensure that this is thought about in future for any new crossing points.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Many local residents depend on these crossing to get them across our roads safely.It might surprise Haringey Council to learn that people like to go out on wet days too.The Council must take action now.”

Liberal Democrat councillors have attacked Haringey Council for failing the children of Fortis Green after it was revealed that the area will not have access to a new Children’s Centre.

New plans unveiled by Haringey Council on Tuesday (17 June 2008) showed that proposals for building phase three of the borough’s Children’s Centres failed to provide a centre for the parents and children in Fortis Green as well as Alexandra and Crouch End – the only three wards in Haringey without one.

In February Cllr Engert, at a meeting of Haringey Council’s ‘watchdog’ committee, asked for details of Haringey Council’s children’s centre plans in which it replied that Haringey Council were “committed to a children’s centre provision in Fortis Green”.

Cllr Gail Engert, Liberal Democrat Children, Schools and Families spokesperson comments:

“Clearly Haringey Council has gone back on their word. In February they said that they were committed to a Children’s centre but now they have let down the children and parents of Fortis Green. I am also extremely concerned that Crouch End and Alexandra are being left out and fully expect these wards to be included in the proposals on Children’s Centres in December.”

Cllr Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat (Fortis Green) adds:

“Fortis Green is a ward that contains pockets of deprivation and an increasing population. Liberal Democrats have continually identified the need in Fortis Green for a new children’s centre and will continue to press Haringey Council.”

After forceful backing by local MP Lynne Featherstone, Mrs Bennett, a disabled Highgate resident, on Friday received the fantastic news that her £604 parking fine is going to be fully refunded by Transport for London (TfL).

The fine was incurred after the blue badge holder parked in a disabled bay with a concreted sign facing the wrong way, making it impossible for her to see that she was parked outside the allowed time. Responding to a letter from Ms Featherstone, TfL also promised to urgently review the current high level of clamping and towing, and guaranteed that no blue badge holders in the future would have their cars immobilised.

Elizabeth Bennett comments:

“I’m so relieved, this is such a weight off my mind, and my previous attempts to get the issue resolved were futile until Lynne stepped in. It’s a real relief to know that you can turn to your MP when you have issues with the authorities.”

Lynne Featherstone adds:

“I’m absolutely thrilled that TfL have come to their senses and refunded this huge fine – some disabled people are completely dependent on their cars and such an honest mistake should not be so heavily penalised. It’s also great that they have promised not to clamp or tow away any car with a blue badge, it’s common sense – and I am delighted to see that TfL agrees!”

Liberal Democrat councillors in Highgate have expressed concern at the slippage of land on an embankment at a prestigious stretch of Highgate Hill, and have called for immediate action from Haringey Council.

Cllr Bob Hare says he is worried about the potential collapse of The Bank, which runs parallel to Highgate Hill. He says the rate of movement in the past week, and large cracks opening, indicates the high section has become unstable, and fears pedestrians could be at risk on the well-used pavement on Highgate Hill underneath.

On this stretch, there is a bus stop used by large numbers of children from nearby Channing School. This means that people, including many children are not just passing by, but kept in the danger zone under the wall and road, which are some seven feet above.

Cllr Bob Hare comments:

“It is very unfortunate, but in my view, the pavement needs to be closed, and the bus stop moved, at least on a temporary basis while a solution is properly looked at. Whether heavy, or even any, vehicles can continue to use The Bank needs to be considered.

“I have asked Haringey Council to keep the school and local residents fully informed, and given as much notice as possible of any road closures. It will be a real nuisance, but safety must come before convenience.”