Ally Pally progress – and conditional cautions

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First – another update on Ally Pally. I’ve had a call to say can I meet Firoz Kassam (the new owner) and Cllr Charles Adje (Labour councillor and Chair of the Ally Pally Board) this Thursday (more quickly than I had suggested last Saturday when I met them at the Ally Pally firework display). The reason give is that the contract will be signed next week.

There is provision for a museum of television in the contract – but it doesn’t preserve the studios. So my proposal is to offer them a draft clause to be inserted in the contract which will save the historical parts of the old BBC studios – though with flexibility as to exactly what the rooms are used for.

I’ve got a couple of experts on the case to draw up the draft clause for me to offer to the Firoka Group and the Ally Pally Board. I hope their bringing forward of the meeting means that they want to show willing prior to the Charity Commission consultation and appear good altruists.

We will see. I gather that the Firoka Group’s current view is that they don’t feel they should spend money on it when the BBC hasn’t. A completely spurious argument as the BBC is hard pressed to spend public money in a building that isn’t theirs and has had a cloud over its future – and has a debt ridden history. And, Firoka are going to have to spend money on the building anyway.

(UPDATE: I’ve put the text of the Early Day Motion I’ve put down in Parliament up on in the news section of my website).

Hopefully, I will be able to persuade Mr Kassam to see the preservation of the directors’ gallery and the other fine parts of the structure as an asset (which it is) rather than a nuisance.

Later – the Police Justice Bill came back to the Commons in the ping pong it is having with the Lords. Ping pong is when the Commons and Lords vote for different wording to be in the Bill – so it goes back and forth until agreement is reached. The last two issues being battled out are extradition to the USA and conditional cautions.

I lead on the cautions – and the Government had tabled some improving amendments in the Lords which the noble Lords had accepted. So my job in my speech was to accept them but flag up all the remaining problems – of which there are many. However, the battle continued on extradition – and it may well be that this goes to the Lords and returns again on Tuesday to the Commons. We will have to see.

More pong than ping – I should say!

MP TAKES ON FIGHT TO SAVE ALLY PALLY TV STUDIOS

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Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, has stepped in to take up the fight to save the world’s first television studios at Alexandra Palace. The proposed sale of a 125-year lease of the palace is putting the studios, the site of the world’s first public TV broadcasts, in jeopardy as Haringey Council confirmed recently that there is no long-term protection for the studios in the proposed lease.

The television studios at Alexandra Palace were occupied in 1935 by the BBC, and in 1936 the first television broadcasts were made from the site. The lease that could be signed with the Firoka group only requires that the group provide a space for a museum somewhere within the building, not the maintenance of the original studios.

Ms. Featherstone has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament to raise awareness of the issue, and has written to the Culture Minister Tessa Jowell MP, the BBC Heritage Department and the Royal Television Society to ask assistance in saving the studios.

Ms. Featherstone comments: “The historic TV studios are a piece of history – not just for people who live near and love Alexandra Palace, but for our country, and indeed the world. The first ever public television broadcasts are a milestone that need to be commemorated, and I was shocked to discover that no thought has been given to the preservation of the original studios.

“As one of our Lib Dem councillors here said, providing only “a space for a museum” is like ‘preserving’ Stonehenge by demolishing it and putting up a fibre-glass replica. I sincerely hope that a solution can be found. The Labour council have spent a long time trying to push this sale through, and my concern is that since there is only now one potential buyer, important issues such as saving the studios might take second place to the rush to secure a quick sale.”

Note – text of Early Day Motion 2884:

ALEXANDRA PALACE AND THE BBC

That this House notes with concern the lack of provision for the protection of the original television studios at Alexandra Palace contained in the proposed lease for the sale of the palace by Haringey Council; recognises the heritage of the studios as the site of the world’s first public television broadcast and the birthplace of the BBC’s television service; believes that this heritage should be properly preserved and conserved, with sensitive re-use, as part of our national and international history; and urges the Government to take steps to ensure the continued existence of the original studios in any regeneration initiatives that might take place at Alexandra Palace.

Alexandra Palace: BBC cover story too

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Rather Interviewed by the BBC about the threat to Alexandra Palace's historic TV studiosappropriately, I was interviewed by the BBC earlier today about the threat to the historic TV studios at Alexandra Palace. The media coverage of the issue is hotting up – hopefully enough to add to the pressure on the local council to take action to save the studios. (And don’t forget, you can lobby too to help save them – see my earlier blog posting for details).

MP RECEIVES 3,400 SIGNATURE PETITION CALLING FOR A FEW FREE PARKING BAYS

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Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, has received a petition signed by over 3,400 local residents calling for a few more free short-term parking bays along one section of Muswell Hill Broadway.

The signatures were collected before the recent Stop and Shop schemes were dreamt up by the Council, and in which the Council’s “big idea” in response to these calls from local people was to swamp the area with Pay and Display.

Virtually no one wants the Pay and Display schemes the Council is proposing, as shown by the Lib Dem revelation that of 724 responses to the Stop and Shop consultation in Muswell Hill, just nine were in favour of the proposals.

All Haringey Council had to do to satisfy all these people was to install a few more free parking bays along one section of the Broadway and to provide clear warning that CCTV was being used to enforce parking, which was also being requested.

Ms. Featherstone comments:

“The size of this petition shows the shear strength of feeling locally on this issue and I will be passing this petition to the Chief Executive of Haringey Council asking her to make sure the views of these people are fully taken into account.

“Local residents and traders have been virtually unanimous in rejecting what the Council is offering, so I simply don’t see how they can go ahead with such a clear majority against.”

Councillor Martin Newton, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Traffic Issues adds:

“It would make a mockery of the democratic process if they went ahead with these pay and display schemes in the face of such obvious opposition.It would also make you question the considerable sums of money Haringey Council have spent on consultation if they proceed and continue to ignore what local people say.”

MP HONOURS LOCAL VETERAN

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Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, this week presented local veteran and Crouch End resident, Mr. Patrick Davies, with a Veteran’s Lapel Badge to mark his service in the Royal Air Force.

Mr. Davies completed National Service from 1953 to 1955 and served at RAF St. Athans in South Wales.

Ms Featherstone comments:

“It was a real pleasure to meet Mr. Davies and hear about his service in the RAF.His story was a timely reminder of all people who have served our country, not only in war but also in peace.

“Poppy Day is opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of service personnel who lost their lives in wars as well as salute the brave souls who have served so gallantly to preserve peace.”

Prolonging the agony for the mutts of this world

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It On the climate change march with colleagues from Haringeywas the climate change (against!) march yesterday (Saturday) – and off I went with Lib Dem colleagues from Haringey and every part of London. Much hanging around with march organisers marshalling us into position – with other contingents put in their places too. I think it was University College London in front of us – who had a theatrical troupe and loud drums, which livened it up a bit.

For a couple of hours in clear but freezing sunshine we waited for the off. Then indeed we were off – and marching. There is something fantastic about the activity of marching for a cause (and they don’t come more worthwhile than saving the planet). My first ever march was about 30-odd years ago when I marched against ‘Maggie Thatcher, Union Snatcher’ when the then Education Minister wanted to take power away from student unions. I threw flour bags at her effigy. (Street cred or what?).

But there really is something very fulfilling about marching and stating publicly what you are fighting for – what you stand for. As London Spokesperson, I was pleased to see a good turnout – and Chris Huhne (our Environment Spokesperson) was there too – along with Jo Swinson and Ed Davey MPs. As we came into Trafalgar Square the sun was streaming down on us and it was a truly gorgeous day.

In the evening it was Ally Pally fireworks. Funnily enough, having been invited for the last nine or ten years – I have never managed to go as it has always been on the same night as my daughter’s school firework night – and for this sort of thing, it’s children rule OK!

But this year, for the first time, her firework night is next Saturday – so off we went. Sods law, having been on my feet virtually all day for the march – I then had a long hike up to the Pally as there is no other way to access it on firework night. But what a great display it was. Though – every year around this time I just feel so sorry for pets. My dog is petrified by fireworks and every one that goes off sees her running madly around barking with fear. Whilst I accept a couple of weekends around the 5th of November – the fireworks seem to extend for four weeks or so – and not just weekends – prolonging the agony for the mutts of this world.