How do you stop developers in your neighbourhood?

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Congratulations to Benji Lesser and co for putting paid to developers trying to bung non-social housing in the space between the back gardens around Priory Road. They have seen off planning applications in the past, but this time – the surrounding residents have clubbed together and bought a plot of land – saving it from development. Well done!

The bigger picture issue remains – the fact that developers still virtually have a charter for development, with the presumption being so strongly in favour of development – and the developer has right of reply against a refusal whereas poor old residents have no right of appeal if things go the developer’s way. I continue to campaign to right this wrong!

Appearing on 18 Doughty Street

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It was off to 18 Doughty Street on Thursday night to do the two hour stint from 10 – midnight. Haven’t done this particular slot before. My co-panel comprise Steve Richards (The Independent), Julian Glover (Guardian leader writer) and Phil Hendren (Dizzy Thinks blog) and of course Iain Dale.

Really enjoyable session. Great to hear Steve graciously concede that this new media era is the way forward – him having previously been a doubter. What Steve said was right – the old, format-weary, predictable diet of mainstream politics programs is looking very tired by comparison.

We roamed over bullying Catholics to not vote for politicians who support abortion; the ethics of the media campaign around Madeleine McCann; the Tory grammar school debacle, and the size of men’s private parts – yes – blame Iain! Anyway – hugely enjoyable!

London selection results

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Well – what to make of the results of the party’s selection of our GLA (London Assembly) list candidates for next year?

This time round I wasn’t standing (I finished third and top in the selections for 2000 and 2004, but stood down from the GLA when I became an MP), so it’s been interesting to see the process from the outside.

I’m glad that the overall list is so well balanced in terms of men and women – good progress there – and with a good mix of people used to taking on not just the Tories but also Labour! It is also clear that those who (like myself previously!) started their selection campaigns well in advance of the process officially starting generally did well – Jeremy Ambache and Caroline Pidgeon particularly. Good to see hard work and campaigning bringing benefits.

Is it all good news then? Well with nine out of the eleven being white, there’s bound to be some talk about the ethnic make-up of the list. There was a good range of candidates to choose from, so I hope those who weren’t successful at getting on this list this time treat the result as a stepping stone to the future rather than as a permanent rebuff.

Finally, congrats to Monica for getting on the list, and best of luck to Wayne and Ajmal – the other two candidates from Haringey – for other selections.

Council's secret bid for Parkland Walk cycling speedway revealed

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The Liberal Democrats have urged Labour to come clean over the funding for works on Parkland Walk after documentation unearthed by Lynne Featherstone revealed the intention is to increase cycling speeds on the Parkland Walk through “decreasing journey times for cyclists” and to “increase in the number of people cycling”, despite assurances to the contrary from officials at the recent Area Assembly.

The revelation is made Haringey Council’s bid submission to Transport for London obtained by Lynne Featherstone in a Freedom of Information request.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Hundreds of local residents were completely and deliberately misled at the recent Area Assembly as Labour councillors sat watching and saying nothing.Haringey Council clearly have been given this money to turn the Parkland Walk into a cycle track.

“I could point to a hundred roads in the borough where the cycling provision is poor to dangerous and where money to improve cycling could be well spent – and yet £400,000 is being spent on cycling for the Palkland Walk nature reserve.

“The Council should have consulted residents before they entered into a Faustian pact with Transport for London.Labour must come clean and reassure us that they will not prostitute the Parkland Walk in their bid for cash.”

Councillor Laura Edge, Crouch End, Hornsey & Stroud Green Area Assembly Chair adds:

“The Parkland Walk is first and foremost a nature reserve.Money is needed improve drainage and enhance facilities, but not at any cost.”

Note: Lynne Featherstone is running an online survey on the future of Parkland Walk.

Visting Abyssinia Court

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Visit Lynne Feathestone MP visiting Abyssinia Court to meet the residents and see the excellent luncheon club and drop-in centreto Abyssinia Court today – a housing scheme (extra care and sheltered) – to meet with both the tenants and also those attending the drop-in centre and luncheon club. It’s a really well run scheme – but if only Haringey would create more, or let the Hornsey Trust who run and manage the scheme create more. Mind you – Haringey Council have tried twice since I’ve been around to close luncheon clubs in the borough. Each time, local people and the Lib Dems campaign against the closure. Labour get frightened politically and then back off – until the next time. But several of the elderly residents and drop-in users told me that the luncheon club is their reason for getting up each day. Without the social interchange they find there it would be very empty and pointless. One man whose wife died four years ago after a 50-year marriage really puts his life down to the drop-in centre. And they do good things. They organise trips and bingo and events and socials.

Caught a very odd part of President Bush talking at the Global Leaders Conference. He was talking about the need for America to help those countries in the developing world and that by helping them they would be helping themselves – and opening up markets. It was kind of – the truth! But he explained it over and over and over again – as if talking to babies. I did wonder if this is how his advisers brief him!?

Hornsey Central Hospital: what's going to be built on the site?

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Met yesterday with the developers (Acorn) who bought the bit of land that Haringey Primary Care Trust controversially sold off at the Hornsey Hospital site. The land shouldn’t have been sold off, but it was (regardless of local residents’ views). We haven’t even yet had in black and white that the monies will go on Hornsey Hospital – but as it has been sold off, I wanted to find out what the plans are now for it.

So – this meeting was with the buyers of said land. Undoubtedly they are approaching us locals with a softly softly approach to say their development means us no harm. It would be true to say that they are clearly professional and very keen not to run into trouble – and therefore appear to have gone to some lengths to meet possible concerns over planning issues. They are lucky that the vast majority of the site is not overlooked by residential properties and that Haringey Planning Department seems to have forewarned them of the likely list of objections. With their plans involving a good proportion of social housing – at least this isn’t one of the awful ‘ram expensive houses in the space where back gardens meet’ set of proposals.

As I said to them – the most important people in this are those directly affected, so when the application goes in we will see what they say. We desperately need social housing – but existing residents must first make sure they are happy with the proposals.

School partnerships – Minister's comments a 'green light' for pioneering proposals, say local Liberal Democrats

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Local Lib Dems are urging Haringey Council to listen to their own Government Minister to ensure that Haringey’s young people can benefit from facilities at local independent schools. The party, which has already asked the Labour Council to investigate the matter, says recent well-publicised comments by Labour Minister and Deputy Leadership candidate Alan Johnson should be taken up by Haringey Council.

Lib Dem councillor Martin Newton says that Alan Johnson is highlighting a policy already pioneered by local Lib Dems. Local councillors have already met with independent schools in Haringey to help to forge new links with community schools in the borough.

Liberal Democrat councillors working on a scrutiny report into the ‘extended services’ provided by local schools proposed that the Council should seek links and partnerships with independent schools. Councillors discussed their ideas with the Masters and Bursars of both Channing and Highgate schools, who responded very positively to this pioneering proposal.

A number of possible pilot projects were discussed, with the Council being asked to follow this up with urgent discussions with the schools to get these exciting projects off the ground – for the benefit of pupils from both the state and independent sectors.

Cllr Martin Newton, comments:

“We raised the issue of private schools providing extended services to the state sector in early March with positive feedback from both Channing and Highgate and the Council in subsequent meetings.

“There are lots of opportunities here. We should look also at the provision of university entrance tuition, sporting activities, and tuition in subjects not provided in other local schools.”

Cllr Gail Engert, Lib Dem spokesperson for Children and Young People adds:

“It is vital that we keep looking for innovative ideas to ensure that all Haringey’s children receive a better education. This pioneering idea is a great example and one that if taken forward should provide real benefits for the children of Haringey. Lib Dems welcome renewed pressure from the minister, and we hope it does not fall on deaf ears with the local Labour council – they must be pushed into taking action.”

Should Robert Zoellick head up the World Bank?

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As I’ve said to the media today, following the news the George Bush has picked Robert Zoellick to be the next World Bank President (and the US nominee has always got the job in the past):

No offence to Mr Zoellick, but this is another American and another Bush appointee.

The World Bank has fallen into disrepute through political appointments.

It is not credible for the World Bank to preach good governance to developing nations when its own governance is based on such an outdated and patriarchal world view.

The President of the World Bank should be chosen according to a transparent process on the basis of merit and qualification.

It is a shame that the British Government has done nothing to push for an open and meritocratic selection process for the World Bank presidency.