Bill Gates opened the DFID building on Friday.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a real force for good. The work that is being done to vaccinate children in the developing world thanks to the Foundation is phenomenal.
And the new (well – adapted and refurbished) No 22 Whitehall is a much better and more modern environment in which to work. Not only that – the move is nearer to parliament and is a great deal cheaper than the building we moved from.
Lynne Featherstone MP last week took part in an Oxfam campaign stunt to highlight the issue of land grabs, organised by local Oxfam volunteer Katrina Gajevska.
The event was to raise public awareness about land grabs, and to give constituents and Oxfam supporters a chance to voice concerns about the practice to the local MP – who is also a minister in the Department of International Development.
During the event an auctioneer pretended to sell off local Haringey land marks, including Lynne Featherstone’s constituency office.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green spoke to local residents and campaigners and answered questions about the issue.
Earlier this year the Prime Minister announced that land grabs are one of the issues that will be discussed at the G8 Summit this month. It is hoped that making the ownership and usage of land transparent will be achieved by advancing trade, ensuring tax compliance and promoting greater transparency.
After the event, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:
“It was a pleasure to take part in this fantastic local event. The auction was a fun way of attracting attention to a serious issue and I was very glad to be able to speak to local people about their concerns over land grabs. I’d like to thank Katrina for her hard work in organising the event.
“I very much hope that the Prime Minister’s commitment to focus on this issue at the G8 Summit will push forward the UK’s ambition to secure more transparency on land ownership.”
Hurrah! For years we (Liberal Democrats) have been campaigning for 20mph zones in Haringey – and now it’s paid off.
I guess Labour finally realised the level of support we had on this issue – and hence this massive u-turn – when for so long they refused to even consider it.
Campaigning works!
So thanks to everyone for supporting this campaign to date. We very much want to now know local peoples’ views on the detail so please fill in this survey.
I have written an urgent email to the Chief Executive of Homes for Haringey today calling for answers over the halting of a scheme to bring local council homes up to standard.
The Decent Homes scheme, meant to improve council homes across the Borough, has been suspended by the Labour-run Council, affecting a number of Hornsey and Wood Green residents.
Homes for Haringey say this relates to a failure by the council to secure an appropriate contractor for the 2013/2014 Decent Homes programme. I wonder why they failed to secure an appropriate contractor? Could it be that they messed up the process?
Strangely work will continue in Tottenham – though work to improve council blocks will be halted in Wood Green, Bounds Green, Crouch End, Highgate and Stroud Green.
Causing further concern, the Council have as yet not confirmed that the suspended works will be carried out next year, only that those homes not receiving attention this year will be recommended for inclusion in the Decent Homes programme in 2014/2015.
It’s just one disaster after another – but sadly – it’s local people who suffer for Haringey’s mess ups.
Lynne Featherstone MP has spoken of her sadness at the news that the Coppetts Road Community Centre was destroyed by fire this morning.
According to reports, the base for the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre and the Bravanese Centre was badly damaged in the early hours of this morning, resulting in the partial collapse of the building.
The cause of the fire is not yet clear but is currently under investigation by the Police.
Lynne Featherstone MP said:
“I am so sad to hear that the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre and the Bravanese Centre was destroyed by fire this morning. Reports the fire was started in a hate attack are extremely disturbing. If true, this constitutes an attack on the entire community.
“The Centre has been a valuable source of advice, education and support, among other things, for the Somali Bravanese community in the local area. I would like to praise the Fire Brigade for their brave work in controlling the fire.
“Although the building was not in my constituency, I know that it is used by a number of Hornsey and Wood Green residents and, on their behalf, I would like to express my sorrow.”
Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone has expressed her disappointment at learning that the missing Banksy from Wood Green has been sold at auction.
Reports suggest that the piece has sold for more than £750,000. This is despite a direct plea from the Liberal Democrat MP last week, calling on the owners of the piece to “do the right thing” and return it to its original home. The mural was removed from the wall of Poundland in Wood Green in February.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“Local people have been dismayed by the removal of the Banksy piece, so of course I’m disappointed that it has been sold.
“At this time, we don’t know who the piece has been sold to, but I now call upon the buyer of the artwork to make this piece of work public, so we can all enjoy it again, or return it to its rightful place in Wood Green.”
Since starting as UK International Development Minister with responsibility for Africa, I have been struck by the strong growth rates and enormous economic potential of many African countries. But a key block to further growth is the difficulty of trading within Africa due to tariffs, red tape and a lack of infrastructure to connect countries and peoples. Multi-country infrastructure projects – like roads, ports and regional power plants – are complex and expensive. They require political cross-border agreements and policy reforms.
This is one of the areas where the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) mandate and expertise can help to turn Africa’s economic potential into reality. The AfDB – Africa’s premier economic development institution – focuses on driving inclusive growth through the private sector and improving governance, as well as breaking down trade barriers. It provided $4.4 billion financial flows to Africa in 2011.
I am currently at the AfDB Group’s annual meetings. The theme this year is ‘Africa’s structural transformation’. The UK, along with other donors, will decide later this year on our contribution to the next cycle of the AfDB’s concessional lending fund (2014-2017).
In advance of our decision, I have been pressing the AfDB President, Governors and senior staff for the Bank to focus on: supporting economic growth for all, not just the elites; leveraging much-needed finance from the private sector; ensuring investments are resilient to climate change; supporting the economic empowerment of women and girls; and responding more effectively in fragile and unstable states. I have urged the Bank to deliver and demonstrate results and value for money. And I have emphasised strong UK support for their plans to help transform Africa’s infrastructure and economic integration.
The UK’s priorities for the G8 this year complement strongly this agenda by focusing on global economic growth – advancing trade, ensuring tax compliance and promoting greater transparency. This agenda has particular relevance for Africa. The AfDB is in a unique position to lead Africa’s economic transformation – increasing jobs, improving governance and raising living standards for all.
Local MP Lynne Featherstone has today formally presented a 3,600 strong petition to the Whittington Board, as their ‘listening exercise’ comes to an end.
The petition calls for Whittington Hospital to ensure that no hospital services are lost and no property sold without first conducting proper public consultation and putting equal or better local replacement services in place.
The MP for Hornsey and Green launched the petition in January, after the Hospital Board announced that they would be selling off buildings in the north of the site and reinvesting money in existing services. The Board were heavily criticised for their lack of consultation on the plans.
Following pressure from local residents and the Liberal Democrats, the Hospital Board paused their plans and entered into a period of public engagement. The Board will now consider the responses before rereleasing their plans for the future of the hospital.
Lynne Featherstone MP said:
“3,600 residents have made their voices loud and clear – there should be no property sold or services lost without equal or better services being in place.
“Ever since the Board announced changes, the Haringey Lib Dems and I have been out on the doorstep, communicating with residents and asking for their support.
“We do not oppose change that will improve the hospital and secure its future – but it is vital that no services are lost and that residents get to have their say.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone who signed our petition. I will be keeping a close eye on the Whittington and let residents know as and when I get any updates.”
Local MP Lynne Featherstone and the Haringey Liberal Democrats are continuing to call for 30 minutes of free parking on the Borough’s High Streets, as a way to help local independent shops.
The long running Liberal Democrat campaign highlights the problems faced by independent shops, as a result of the Council’s decision to raise High Street parking charges to £3 an hour. This has had a negative effect on trade, as shoppers are put off by the high rates.
The Liberal Democrats argue that 30 minutes free parking would encourage people to ‘pop in’ to local independent retailers, rather than driving to superstores with free or cheap car parks.
To keep the issue on the agenda, pictures and quotes of local residents and retailers are being put together and shared via social media, particularly on the facebook campaign page.
Haringey Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr Richard Wilson, said:
“There is clearly a demand from the public to lower parking charges, over 5,000 people signed the Muswell Hill Traders petition calling for lower parking charges and many people have joined our campaign for 30 minutes of free parking on local high streets.
“What traders need now is support from the Labour council, they can make life easier for traders and boost local high streets in the borough but so far they have chosen not to do this. We need as many local people and shoppers as possible to join our campaign and put even more pressure on the council to introduce 30 minutes of free parking on our high streets.”
Commenting, Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone said:
“During these tough economic times, local retailers need help, not hindrance. It is just outrageous that Haringey Council has raised the parking charge to £3 an hour, driving trade away from our high streets.
“Despite presenting our petitions, requesting that they lower the charges, and asking them to implement 30 minutes free parking, the Labour Administration will not listen.
“But, we won’t give up. I encourage as many residents as possible to join our campaign and share our photos and quotes. The bigger the campaign, the more pressure on the Council!”
Lynne Featherstone MP has today expressed concern over Haringey Council’s strategy for repairing the Borough’s roads – by identifying numerous potholes in a road that the Council believe to be in ‘good condition.’
The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green and the Haringey Lib Dems ran a long campaign, frequently consulting residents on their road surfaces and repeatedly asking the Council for repairs.
The Labour-run Council then recently admitted that there is a major problem with potholes in the Borough, and indicated that they would take action on bad roads.
However, the Liberal Democrat MP today exposed a document, from the Council, which indicates the conditions of each road in the Borough. One road that the Council marked as being in ‘general good condition’ – Cecile Park – is in fact riddled with potholes.
Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:
“If the Council think that Cecile Park is in good condition, then I’m very skeptical about their plans for a ‘pothole blitz.’
“The Labour-run Council have neglected our roads for years, leaving them unsafe for both drivers and pedestrians. It’s about time they started taking this seriously, and conducted a new road survey to identify the areas that really need repair.
“The Lib Dems and I have contacted residents directly and asking them where the worst potholes are. We’ve compiled a list and we’re sending the info on to the Council, to try to ensure that all the dangerous roads are repaired.”
Lynne Featherstone 