Straight on to the Hornsey Horticultural Show at the Moravian Church. Well – what a show – and incredibly well attended. On this occasion I am just looking (no prizes for me to give out this time) so able to meander and admire.
What fantastic exhibits and what a lot of work goes into organising a show like this. Well done to the organisers and to my colleague Cllr Bob Hare (pictured, Liberal Democrat councillor for Highgate) who got a first prize for his golden pears!
Hawthorn Road Street Party was wonderfully organised and a real get together for neighbours who don’t always know each other. Did you know that the crime rate falls directly in correlation to how many people know each other within a fifteen minute walk to their house? The better the sense of community in an area – the better people behave and the safer it is. That’s why I am recommending in my chapter in the new book on Social Liberalism – Reinventing the State that more is done to encourage the spread of more streets parties around the country. They are a great way of people starting to know each other in an area – something that is often so difficult for people to do – even if they are willing – and especially if they don’t have kids.
I met the guy who was the manager of the Waterstone’s that closed in Wood Green Shame that the Waterstone’s managers who made the decision never seem to have come to the store or asked the manager about his ideas on how to make it more profitable – because talking to him yesterday – he had lots. Anyway – he is now going on to try and get funding to set up his own bookshop. Wood Green needs a good bookshop more than another clothes store. So – as he put it – if you have got £100,000 you want to invest – get in touch!
I am pictured with a brave firefighter and fire engine – a must have at all street parties for the kids who absolutely love hooting and honking (very loudly)!
So a high profile judge has come out and said that the whole country should be on the DNA database (and visitors to our country). Well – it’s more logical than the serendipity we have at the moment where if the police arrest you, regardless of innocence or guilt – your DNA is taken and kept on record. However, it’s nuts. Outside of the rights and wrongs of civil liberties and the onset of a police state – the practicalities should see that idea murdered at birth.
Only last week I blogged about the answer to my parliamentary question on the accuracy of the current 4,000,000 strong DNA database – to receive a reply admitting that something like 500,000 of the entries are inaccurate – with wrong name or wrong address.
Why oh why oh why are the government (and judges) so keen on spending zillions keeping track of the innocent rather than tracking down the criminal? Guys – spend the money on police – and on helping to prevent crime through education and youth services.
Yes – DNA is a fantastic detection tool and provides the corroborating evidence required for a conviction. But DNA isn’t the Holy Grail – and the more everyone holds it up as such – the less likely we are to have the proper professionalism applied to detecting crime. Eggs and one basket are the words that come to mind.
Local Liberal Democrats in Crouch End have secured a meeting with parking boss, Labour councillor Brian Haley, in the wake of dozens of inquiries from angry residents embroiled in parking misery. Last week Lib Dem councillors and Lynne Featherstone MP visited residents affected by the parking chaos in Crouch End, caused by the introduction of several new parking zones, to listen to their problems. Lib Dems have notified residents that a meeting between Haringey Council, residents’ associations and representatives of groups from Crouch End will be arranged soon but have vowed to keep up the pressure on Haringey Council to act immediately.
Liberal Democrats remain concerned that adequate funding for parking controls has not been allocated by Haringey Council in this financial year and continue to demand immediate action to alleviate the parking debacle and for Cllr Haley to visit the residents affected.
Cllr Lyn Weber (Crouch End) comments:
“Haringey Council needs to see further than their own noses when implementing parking restrictions. I hope that this meeting will go some way to helping Haringey Council really engage residents’ views to enable the best solution. The Lib Dems are always updating residents with developments, perhaps Haringey Council should too.”
Cllr David Winskill (Crouch End) adds:
“In the meantime, Lib Dem councillors are continuing to demand immediate action and press for CPZ permits for local residents to park in adjacent CPZ zones to help alleviate the pressure in Crouch End’s residential streets.”
Residents of Colwick Road and Hannay Lane, Crouch End, have been given the opportunity to speak out about issues affecting their lives at a joint meeting with local councillors and the police.
Local Lib Dem councillor Lyn Weber and Crouch End Safer Neighbourhood Team Manager, John McGrath, held a joint surgery session on Tuesday 4th September, 6.30pm – 7.00pm in Colwick Close and at 7.30pm – 8.00pm in Hannay Lane.
Residents raised a number of issues including safety concerns, parking, trees, Parkland Walk, fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour. Residents and all involved remarked that the joint surgery was a resounding success.
Cllr Lyn Weber (Crouch End) comments:
“This surgery was a great success and I’m pleased that residents took time to meet us. It is vital that residents feel as though their local representatives and the police are working closely together and available to them.”
Sgt John McGrath adds:
“I see it as very important for the police to reach out with our partners to local people and speak to them, on their doorsteps, about the issues that affect them.The first outing was very successful and I look forward to further opportunities to meet more of our residents in the near future.”
Hurrah! A victory for local people in Muswell Hill and their campaigning Lib Dem councillor – Martin Newton.
After Martin exposed the hideous mess that parking signage is in Muswell Hilll following the introduction of the Council’s Stop & Shop scheme’s – Labour Haringey has finally caved in and are doing (or appear to be beginning to do) the right thing. At least Cllr Brian Haley (Labour’s parking supremo) had the sense to respond to our pressure and come and see for himself. And having seen – he clearly had to act.
Well done Martin! As Martin puts it, “We have been campaigning for months to get parking signage not only legally compliant but also clear. We will have to wait to see if the proposals will be enough to put an end to the current confusion which has left motorists feeling that the Labour Council are deliberately setting out to confuse in order to slap a ticket on the windscreen.”
I am one of the judges at this year’s Lib Dem Blogger Awards. After Stephen Tall’s tremendous win last year (this year he’s a judge) Lib Dem blogs have now exploded to mega proportions – and a veritable army posts on a regular basis.
We now have the short lists (which I am judging as well – so I’m not allowed to enter! – along with three others) and there is a category for you to take part – judging the Best Designed Blog. So if you go to Liberal Democrat Voice you can put your oar in!
The exclusion of residents from planning site visits introduced by Haringey’s Labour Council has been criticised by the Liberal Democrats. Local Lib Dem councillors have again expressed their opposition to the new measures at last night’s (3 rd September) planning committee meeting saying that barring residents is unacceptable and detrimental to the transparency of decision making. Lib Dems have called for a reinstatement of resident attendance and will continue to pressurise Haringey Council for this.
Cllr Bob Hare, Lib Dem planning committee member, comments:
“Planning site visits have always been an opportunity for residents affected by planning applications in their area to be involved in the process. The ban imposed by Labour is totally unacceptable.”
Cllr Jonathan Bloch, Lib Dem Planning Spokesperson, adds:
“Properly managed involvement of residents in planning decisions is fundamental. The ‘gold standard’ is the way the government’s planning inspectors carry out their site visits, where residents are given full opportunity to explain their concerns. Haringey Labour’s exclusion of residents is anti- democratic and will only serve to put more people off getting involved in local issues. The decision flies in the face of Council efforts to involve the local communities in area assemblies and I can only wonder how the council squares these two contradictory policies.
“We will continue to press Haringey Council to have these appalling rules withdrawn.”
The future of a vital bus route should be in the hands of local residents says local MP Lynne Featherstone. She has called upon Peter Hendy, the Commissioner for Transport for London (TfL), to widen consultation on the future of the 603 bus route so users of the route can have their say.
The route, which was established following a successful campaign by local residents and the Liberal Democrats, is ‘under review’.TfL has given no commitment whatsoever to engage users and local residents.
Lynne Featherstone has expressed her concern that without any meaningful pledge to engage residents and the route users, the 603 may be under threat.
The 603 route runs from Muswell Hill via Highgate to Swiss Cottage at school run times.
Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP:
“It took the mother of campaigns to get Transport for London to address the need for this route.Now we have to make sure people are given full opportunity to have their say.
“I have contacted many of the people who were involved in the original 603 campaign and they are completely aghast that TfL would consider any changes without getting them involved.”
Bad new on planning applications locally – Haringey Council are not letting residents come to site visits by the Planning Committee. This is ludicrous. What better way of understanding objections than to hear from people on site what their case is and why they are objecting? Now – of course residents mustn’t intimidate or bully, nor must the Planning Committee members be partisan in their comments – but for heavens sake let the people come!
As my colleague, Bob Hare (Highgate ward councillor) says, the gold standard for site visits is those conducted by Planning Inspectors at appeals. VERY tightly chaired with a strict protocol. The inspector makes sure everyone is clear on what is proposed, where buildings will come out to, how high etc. Both sides (developer and residents) have a chance to say something. Councillors can ask questions. There is no arguing between developer and residents.That’s the way to promote better planning decisions – not keeping the people most affected away.
Lynne Featherstone 