What changes would you like to see in Haringey?

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Here’s my latest Muswell Flyer article – on the changes I want to see in our borough this year. Also available here. 

The Christmas festivities are over and I hope everyone had a great time welcoming in the New Year. Alongside my usual resolutions, there is something specific I want to see in 2014.

This year, I want to see a change in how our local services are run and how our council tax money is spent. And with a local election taking place in May – change is a real possibility!

Our borough has so much potential – it is a truly vibrant and diverse area. But, like many Haringey residents who contact me, I am fed up of paying one of the highest rates of Council Tax in London and receiving a poor service in return.

Last year, Haringey Council (which is currently run by Labour) failed to deliver on many key local services.

On housing, the Council allowed £3.7 million to be spent on bonuses for housing staff while cancelling vital and long-overdue repair works for local homes. I receive so many complaints from local residents in social housing about the lack of repairs – and I just cannot believe that millions have been spent on bonuses for failure.

Our local streets are also not up to scratch. A survey I ran last year on rubbish collections turned up over 400 complaints about missed collections, bins in the wrong place, and piles of rotting rubbish.

Another survey revealed hundreds of complaints about potholes and lighting, too – despite the Council promising a ‘pothole blitz’ earlier in the year.

And also – the Labour-run Council is still refusing Lib Dem calls for an independent review into Children’s Services, despite further shocking failures to protect some of the borough’s most vulnerable children.

This is a small summary of the problems we have in Haringey. Labour has had 40 years in charge of Haringey Council, and I think it’s about time that changed.

In contrast to Labour, the local Lib Dems are constantly campaigning for improved local services. They’ve been instrumental in saving our parcel collection points and local train services, alongside pushing the Council into action on numerous issues – forcing them to consult on 20mph roads and to build new homes to ease the housing crisis, for instance.

The local Lib Dems are also committed to continuing the fight against development on Pinkham Way, and to improving the state of our streets. We’ve fought hard for independent shops by campaigning for thirty minutes free parking, and free parking over the entire Christmas period. And, the Lib Dems are committed to supporting our local Credit Union as an alternative to payday loan shops.

For me, the choice is easy. What we need is a Council that listens to residents and works for them. I will be campaigning hard to help the Lib Dems take control of the Council so that we can see real, positive changes to Haringey in 2014. Now, that really would be a happy new year!

Lib Dem action on tax helps to ease the cost of living

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Here’s my latest Ham and High column – also available on Lib Dem Voice.

There are so many perks of living in Haringey – vibrant high streets, good transport links, wonderful parks and views – to name but a few!

But on the downside, our bin collections, roads and other public services are notoriously bad. Haringey Council – which is run by Labour – has been rated the worst in London.

Week in, week out, Haringey Labour seem to lurch from one crisis to another. They failed to meet their own targets for making our local roads safe, and allowed £3.7 million to be spent on bonuses which could have been spent on repairs to local homes.

This just isn’t fair on local residents or the hard working officials and frontline workers at the Council. We all deserve a Council that is run efficiently, and directed to spend taxpayers money on the things that matter most.

Despite the poor services, under the previous Labour Government the average Council Tax bill in Haringey increased by a whopping £474. Year on year, Council Tax for Haringey residents increased way above the rate of inflation.

Constantly rising Council Tax did not help individuals and families with the cost of living – particularly after the recession began.

The Liberal Democrats, however, are taking steps to help with the cost of living. Addressing spiralling Council Tax bills is one of these steps.

Since the Liberal Democrats entered Government in 2010 – Council Tax for Haringey residents has been frozen. This is due to successful local Liberal Democrat campaigning, and the Government giving extra cash to any Council if they do not increase Council Tax.

This protects residents from the kind of arbitrary tax rises we saw under Labour.  A typical Band D Council Tax bill in Haringey will be £229.63 less from April 2014 than if Labour’s increases carried on as before.

The Liberal Democrats in Government have also secured a £700 tax cut for all workers.

In April, the personal tax allowance (the amount of your salary you can keep before being taxed) will rise to £10,000.

This means that almost 90,000 residents will get to keep an extra £700 of their pay-packet this year. This is a flagship Lib Dem policy – it was on the front of our 2010 manifesto and it has been delivered in Government. We’re now campaigning to make it an £800 tax cut.

This is real Lib Dem action to bring the cost of living down for local residents. The Tories alone would not have done this. In 2010, David Cameron said ‘we couldn’t afford it.’ Labour had 13 years in Government to bring in policies like this – and they failed to do so.

There is still so much work to do. The economic crisis has taken its toll on many in Haringey, and we are only just beginning to see signs of recovery.

But these measures, Council Tax freezes and the £700 tax cut for all workers are designed to help with the cost of living, and they wouldn’t be happening without the Lib Dems in Government.

Lib Dem politicians welcome decision to defer Hornsey Depot plan

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Lynne Featherstone MP outside Hornsey DepotThe Hornsey Depot application – which would see a Sainburys and over 400 new homes built on Hornsey High Street – has been deferred. This decision was made despite Labour-run Haringey Council’s planning officers saying planning permission should be granted.

At the meeting in Wood Green, Lib Dem Cllr Monica Whyte argued that the developers needed to make changes to the planned development on Hornsey High Street to address local residents’ concerns.

Local Lib Dem councillors and Lynne Featherstone MP had already formally lodged objections to the plans before the meeting – which included concerns about the quality and management of flats in the neighbouring New River site, which were built by the same developer.

Other issues raised by residents and politicians include:

  • The height of the proposed buildings
  • The density of the development
  • Limited play areas for children
  • The size of the Sainsbury’s store and its impact on local traders.

As a result of the Liberal Democrat and local resident concerns, the Committee deferred the decision and requested that the developers come back with revised plans taking into account residents’ views.

Monica Whyte, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Hornsey, comments:

“I welcome the decision to defer the application for the development of the Hornsey Depot site. We want the site developed but the concerns of residents must be taken into account. The developers need to revise their plans and do more to address the concerns of local residents.

“We want to see the right development on Hornsey High Street, which brings benefits to the local community. The plans put forward last night were just not good enough.”

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

“This is good news for local residents. I hope the delay will mean that the developers take heed and listen to the concerns that the Haringey Lib Dems and residents have raised, and revise their plans accordingly.

“The problems at the New River Village, which I am still campaigning on, can’t be ignored. The developer must also show that lessons have been learnt from that before any further changes are made to our community.”

Hornsey Post Office to be refurbished

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Lynne Featherstone MP at Hornsey Post OfficeLynne Featherstone MP has today welcomed news that Hornsey Post Office will soon be modernised, into a ‘main style’ Post Office branch.

This will mean a newly refurbished branch with longer opening hours for local residents. The Post Office will offer the same products and services, with the addition of Car Tax.

The Post Office on Hornsey High Street will close for refurbishment on Thursday 20th February, and will reopen on Friday 28th.

Five post offices were lost in Hornsey and Wood Green under the previous Labour Government. Nationally, 7,100 Post Offices disappeared in Labour’s 13 years in office.

The Liberal Democrats in Government have provided £640 million in additional funding to modernise and protect Post Offices, on top of the no involuntary closure programme and £1.34 billion funding to ensure the Post Office network maintains its 11,500 branches.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It’s great to hear that Hornsey Post Office will be modernised and have longer opening hours – providing a better service for local residents.

“Since entering Government, the Lib Dems have made Post Offices a priority – stopping the kind of involuntary closures we saw under Labour, and providing over £1billion in funding to help modernise and maintain existing offices.

“Local Post Offices are vital parts of our communities, and thanks to hard working post masters and the Lib Dems in Government, they’re now here to stay!”

Local Lib Dem campaigner Dawn Barnes said:

“Many local people use Hornsey Post Office and really value the service it provides, so I am delighted that its long-term future has been secured.

“This great news follows the successful local Lib Dem campaign to keep Hornsey Sorting Office open – meaning residents here will now have great postal services all around.

“It is also great news for residents that the Post Office will be refurbished and open later on Saturdays.”

Meeting with Haringey Housing Chiefs to demand vital repairs

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Lynne Featherstone MP and Cllr Richard Wilson last week met with Haringey Council and Homes for Haringey to request that vital repairs are made to the Noel Park estate in Wood Green.

Last year, Labour-run Haringey Council announced that no ‘Decent Homes’ repair work would be made to the entire Noel Park Estate – despite previous promises to complete the work, and despite receiving an extra £25million grant from the Coalition Government.

This prompted outrage from residents, local MP Lynne Featherstone and the Haringey Liberal Democrats – who have since been robustly campaigning for the Decent Homes work (which includes fitting new kitchens, bathrooms and other repairs) to take place as scheduled.

At the meeting, the Council representatives committed to make urgent repairs to properties if necessary, and to consult with residents of the estate about the more extensive Decent Homes work.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Many homes on the Noel Park estate are in urgent need of repair and modernisation, and residents have been promised just that for years. Noel Park should be a priority, but instead the Labour-run Council is turning their backs on residents.

“It’s Haringey Council’s job to provide tenants with a decent standard of living – and the Government has given the Council extra money to do so.

“It’s no wonder residents are so outraged by the cancellation of the work – particularly following revelations that the Labour-run Council allowed £3.7million to be dished out on bonuses for repairs staff!

“The Council have committed to make urgent repairs and consult residents – which is a step in the right direction but not good enough. The local Noel Park Lib Dem team and I will keep campaigning for full repairs for residents on the Noel Park estate.”

Sign the petition for money to be spend on homes, rather than on bonuses for failure, here.

Taking part in local school project on homelessness

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Lynne Featherstone MP with students at Greig City AcademyLynne Featherstone MP last week visited Greig City Academy in Hornsey, to take part in a student’s citizenship project on homelessness.

Along with a volunteer from the Haringey Winter Shelter, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green participated in a discussion with a group of year 11 students about how to raise awareness of homelessness.

The group also discussed the help available to young people affected by homelessness.

The Coalition Government has invested over £470 million to tackle homelessness, with the bulk of this being spent on homeless prevention funding.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I was very glad to see young students tackling the subject of homelessness. The issue should be on the agenda – not pushed to one side and forgotten.

“There are so many wonderful charities and soup kitchens helping homeless people on a daily basis. And the Government is helping, too, with £470 million of funding being used to try and prevent homelessness.

“£3.5 million has been used to extend the ‘No Second Night Out’ programme beyond the London pilot to eight new areas – and only two out of 683 people being helped by the scheme in Merseyside have returned to the streets since February 2012.”

Holocaust Memorial Day events in Haringey

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With fighting, hated and discrimination still present in the world, it is vital that we never forget some of the horrors of the past, and keep working to prevent them occurring again.

Holocaust Memorial Day is an annual event (27th January) dedicated to the remembrance of Holocaust victims.

This year, there are three events in Haringey to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.

There is the annual multi faith commemorative gathering, taking place on the 26th January at Bruce Castle Museum.

There will also be an exhibition at libraries across Haringey about the role of the Righteous Muslims in the 2nd World War. The exhibition starts at Highgate Library on Monday 13 January for 2 weeks and then moves to the libraries at Muswell Hill, Alexandra Park, Coombes Croft, St Ann’s and Stroud Green & Harringay.

And on the 4th Feb, Muswell Hill is hosting a one woman performance of Etty – a play about Etty Hillesum before she is first deported to Westerbork and later Auschwitz.

All events are free. For further info about the events and bookings, please see the poster here.

Lynne Featherstone MP responds to Hornsey Depot application

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Lynne Featherstone MP outside Hornsey DepotLynne Featherstone MP has submitted a response to the application to build a Sainsbury’s supermarket, a car park, and over 400 flats on the old Depot site on Hornsey High Street.

The application was submitted by Sainsbury’s and the developers St James’ last year, and will be discussed by Haringey Council – who will make the final decision on the application – on the 20th January.

In the response, the Liberal Democrat MP outlined concerns about the impact of the development of local businesses and high street, along with concerns about increased traffic, the height of the development, quality of housing and impact on local services such as schools and doctors surgeries.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green held a public meeting to discuss the development in November, and together with the Haringey Lib Dems, asked thousands of residents for their views about the plans. Residents’ views arising from the meeting and survey have been used to inform the response.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Nobody wants this site to remain derelict, but the consequences of over-development or pushing ahead with plans against the will and advice of local residents could harm our local area.

“Concerns remain about the impact on local traders, the increased traffic, the quality of housing and the increased demand on local schools and GPs a surge in population will cause.  These concerns and more are outlined in detail in my response.

“These considerations must be addressed before local residents and I can fully support the planned development.”

Haringey Council Tax

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Did you know that the average Council Tax bill in Haringey increased by a whopping £474 under the previous Labour Government?

That’s right – under Labour, year on year Council Tax for Haringey residents increased way above the rate of inflation.

Constantly rising Council Tax did not help individuals and families with the cost of living – particularly after the recession began.

That’s why the local Liberal Democrats and I campaign for a local Council Tax freeze year on year in Haringey. And since the Lib Dems entered Government in 2010, Council Tax in Haringey hasn’t risen at all.

In short – local authorities like Haringey Council are now being given extra money from the Government if they do not raise Council Tax. And with the pressure from local Lib Dem campaigning, Labour-run Haringey Council have had no choice but to accept.

Lib Dem action locally and in Government is protecting people from the kind of Council Tax increases we saw under Labour. That’s something to be proud of!

You can read more about Haringey’s Council Tax here.

If you need any help with your Council Tax or are having problems with Haringey Council – you can contact me here.

Could you rock or film the House?

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Rock the HouseEvery year Parliament runs competitions to reward and promote the UK’s creatives.

Entrants will have their work judged by the leading lights of industry and win prizes ranging from festival slots, studio time, equipment, and the opportunity to have your work premiered in London’s West End to name a few!

Rock the House is open to musicians, and its patrons include Alice Cooper and Brian May.

Film the House seeks to help celebrate the best up-and-coming amateur film producers, directors and script-writers.

I encourage all local musicians and film makers to find out more by clicking on the links above, and get involved in the competition.

The deadline for entrants is the 31st March – Good luck!