LIB DEM CONCERN AT MULTIPLE MOBILE PHONE MAST APPLICATIONS

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Lib Dem Deputy Leader Cllr Wayne Hoban has expressed shock and anger in response to applications from mobile phone companies to install two separate mobile masts and base stations on Durnsford Road and Albert Road, N22.

The two ten-metre high masts would, if approved, be sited within half a mile of each other, on the same stretch of road.The sites would also be adjacent to Rhodes Avenue Junior and Alexandra Park Schools, a local park which is used extensively by children for school access and recreation, and a popular garden centre.

O2 installed a mobile mast in Albert Road last year against the wishes of the local community, and there has also been an attempt by Vodafone to install a mast and base station by a pocket park in Durnsford Road, which is still being resisted by Cllr Hoban and local residents.Cllr Hoban has contacted Haringey Council to express his opposition to these applications.

Cllr Wayne Hoban comments:

“Council Executive members in the past have assured me that where mobile masts adversely affect the environment, they would be opposed. It is clear that on this basis, these applications should be refused. Mobile masts and base stations should be subject to the full planning process. I will continue in my efforts to persuade the Council to back this policy in the interests of all residents.”

HORNSEY WATER MAINS WORKS – THAMES WATER LISTENS TO CONCERNS

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Water bosses in charge of the major mains renewal project in Hornsey have undertaken to communicate better with local residents and look at ways of clearing up their works more effectively following a meeting with council officials attended by Lib Dem councillors Neil Williams and David Winskill.

The works, due to finish in August six weeks behind schedule, are one of the largest water mains replacements projects currently taking place in London. For many months considerable disruption has been caused to local residents as Thames Water replaces once of the leakiest parts of its London network.

Lib Dems raised many concerns over the works, including leaks, plant and equipment left unattended, inadequate repairs to roads, and poor communication with residents throughout the scheme. Thames Water undertook to come back with a number of improvements in the final weeks of the project and make residents more aware of the works.

Crouch End councillor David Winskill comments:

“This was a useful meeting, and Thames Water did listen to our concerns. Some residents in the area have put up with holes that have been left in their streets for many months, and this and other issues must be tackled before the mains renewal programme moves to Crouch End in the future.”

Cllr Neil Williams adds:

“With a very big and long lasting project such as this it is vital that Thames Water keeps in regular contact with local people so they know on a regular basis how works are progressing and how this will effect their street.One or two letters at the start of the process is not enough. We have undertaken to work with the company to ensure that residents are kept better informed.”

SPECIAL COUNCIL – ANGER AND DISMAY AS LABOUR VOTE THROUGH CONTROVERSIAL PACKAGE

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There was anger and dismay in Haringey’s council chamber as Labour councillors voted through the controversial retirement package for the Council’s Chief Executive. Labour moved to keep the proceedings a secret – but Lib Dem councillors secured a named vote on the issue, in which two Labour councillors abstained on the controversial deal.

In a further move, a vote on whether to appoint an interim Chief Executive was pulled at the last minute by Labour.

The special meeting, scheduled at the last minute without any consultation with Lib Dem councillors, agreed the package despite an admission that the Chief Executive will remain in the employment of the Council until September – when earlier misleading statements said that he would be leaving in July. The Council has admitted that in addition to the secret retirement deal, the cost of hiring an interim Chief Executive for this period is likely to cost Haringey’s hard pressed tax payers £110,000.

Lib Dem councillors, who voted against the deal, have been threatened with disciplinary proceedings if they reveal its contents to the public.

Lib Dem Leader Neil Williams comments:

“Labour members will be held to account for voting in favour of this deal – and their support for keeping it all a secret. Haringey taxpayers are entitled to know how their money is being spent. Haringey Labour has become a shambles, and could not even persuade all their own members to vote in favour. They even tried to keep their own voting on the issue a secret from the public – but failed. Local people will no doubt express their verdict on this whole sorry episode at the ballot box in the local election next May.”

Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill

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Arrive City Hall to take part in ceremonious signing of Book of Condolences following last Thursday’s terrorist attack on London.

A rabbi comes up to me and started to harangue me suggesting that I (presumably as a Liberal Democrat) should go to Jenny Tonge and ask her to make the same statement she made about understanding suicide bombers now to our home-grown suicide bombers.

I understand the point he was making – but felt it totally inappropriate moment to raise it. I generally end up with both Israeli and Palestinian being cross with me whatever I say in such cases – as I passionately believe that only a solution which gives enough of what each side needs (a two-state or an equally shared one-state) will ever work and cannot bear the repeated calls on history which can stretch back centuries with the old rights and wrongs paraded endlessly – getting nowhere. Only moving forward together will ever create peace.

OK – rant over.

We go upstairs to the chamber. One by one various people come forward to sign – Bob Kiley (Commissioner of Transport), Tony McNulty (Minister), Trevor Phillips (Chair of the CRE), Peter Hendy (Director Surface Transport, TfL), Tim O’Toole (Managing Director of Surface Transport TfL) and on.

It was very moving – very silent – very appropriate.

When the main group had finished, everyone else lines up to sign. I don’t know what others wrote – I wrote something like ‘Love is stronger than hate. Love will triumph’.

Then off to Westminster for the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill. I sit through the debate as having taken this bill through committee stage with my colleague from the Home Affairs team, Alistair Carmichael, I want to support him and also speak if I can get called.

Prior to the debate – there is a statement by the Prime Minister. I don’t agree with him on many issues – but he is head and shoulders above the others in Labour in performance terms. Maybe it goes with the territory. For sure – Gordon doesn’t have it in that same way. The statement updates us on the situation with regard to the attacks and progress made. There is this time more of a debate and Charles K does dare to raise the issue of Iraq – which all steered clear of last time which Charles Clarke made his emergency statement on the day of the attack.

At 4.30pm-ish we begin the debate on religious hatred. During the debate I pop out to the lobby where I have received a green card from – slipped into me in the chamber. A green card is filled in with the details of someone (a constituent usually) who has come to Central Lobby to lobby their MP. By the time I can get out – about 40 minutes after receiving the card – the person is nowhere to be found. However, I do bump into Pastor Nims (who leads the Peace Alliance) and he tells me that about 3-4,000 black religious leaders are outside Parliament to lobby against the Labour Government’s Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill.

Hurrah I say – about time everyone realised that the people that Labour set out to help by trying to stop incitement to hatred on religious grounds – will be exactly those who find they cannot practise their religion freely any longer.

Many of the arguments during the debate were repeats of, by now, well-rehearsed points. But I felt moved to intervene on Chris Bryant who was making a point (I think) about the difference between the belief and the believer – because Labour believe it is possible to hate a religion without hating the person who believes in that religion. Chris kindly lets me intervene to make the point that if you have love in your heart – then you may well be able to hate the belief not the believer – but if you have hatred in your heart – then the niceties of that distinction fly out the window. Basically – thugs and creeps likely to have religious hatred stirred up in them won’t give a toss about that very academic difference!

The debate is scheduled to finish at 10.00pm sharp – at which point Mr Speaker rises to his feet to call the vote. I am called finally at 9.58pm.

‘I’ll be brief, Mr Speaker’ makes the House laugh – sadly removing precious seconds. With little time – I make the point about the unintended consequences of this bill rebounding on those it sought to help – hence the presence of the thousands outside fearing loss of their freedom to practise their religion freely and simply state that legislation can’t stop hatred.

The LibDem amendment (supported by the Tories) fell – and so I voted against the bill – which I think will be a disaster.

LIB DEMS CALL ON COUNCIL TO OPPOSE GOVERNMENT'S ID CARD PROPOSALS

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Lib Dem councillors will be calling on Haringey Council to unite in opposition against the Government’s plans to introduce compulsory ID cards in the UK.

The motion has been proposed by Lib Dem councillor for Stroud Green, Laura Edge, who along with her Lib Dem colleagues is deeply concerned at the Government’s proposals.

In the motion which has been tabled for the Full Council meeting next Monday (18th July) the Lib Dems raise concerns over the cost, to both citizens and local authorities, the infringements on civil liberties and the detrimental effect upon community relations of the cards.

The motion will call on Haringey Council:

To submit objections to the legislation to the Home Secretary

To investigate future costs and future risks to the Council as a result of ID cards coming into operation

To ask Haringey’s two MPs to oppose the ID Card Scheme

Cllr Edge is hopeful that Council members will support the important motion. She has already received the support of Hornsey & Wood Green MP, Lynne Featherstone who will be voting against the Government’s Bill in Parliament.

Cllr Edge (Stroud Green) comments:

“The ID card proposal would have a negative impact on citizens of Haringey and we need to make the Government aware that we as a borough oppose these plans. I hope that Council members put their political allegiances to one side and support the motion on Monday.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Haringey needs to take a stand on ID cards, especially given the enormous sums involved.”

LIB DEMS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER JOINT PLANNING APPLICATION

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Local Liberal Democrats have expressed concern over an expected joint planning application made by Haringey Council and a housing developer.

At this week’s Overview & Scrutiny meeting, the Executive Member for Children’s Services revealed that the Council’s plans to build a new 6th form centre for the London Borough of Haringey on land in White Hart Lane purchased from North Middlesex University had fallen through. The university is now planning to sell the land to a housing developer instead.

He then explained that Haringey Council had agreed in principle to purchase part of this land from the new buyer, to enable plans for a 6th form centre to go ahead. However, the agreement with the developer is that a joint planning application for the housing and 6th form centre will be submitted.

Cllr Matt Davies (Lib Dem, Fortis Green), a member of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, questioned whether such a deal was appropriate:

“The provision of educational facilities and housing are two of the key challenges facing Haringey, and hopefully these two projects will prove to be a success on both fronts,” says Cllr Davies. “However, these should not be inextricably linked. But Haringey Council has agreed to purchase land from the new owner on the basis of a joint planning application and one will not happen without the other.

“I am worried that this will not be seen to be an open and fair process. The need for the Council to provide new educational facilities is such that councillors could feel themselves under pressure to accept this joint application – even if they feel there are problems with the housing part.

“With luck, plans for both the centre and the housing will be perfect and a problem will not arise. But if objections to the housing are made then I am concerned that because of this arrangement the public will see it as a stitch-up, rightly or wrongly.”

FORTIS GREEN: LIB DEMS WELCOME CONSULTATION ON TRAFFIC CALMING

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Lib Dem councillors for Fortis Green today met with Haringey Council traffic chiefs to discuss proposals for traffic calming in Woodside Avenue, N10. The meeting follows the securing of £120,000 from Transport for London (TfL) through the Safer Routes to Schools scheme to fund safety measures around St James’s Primary School last month.

Residents living in and around the Woodside Avenue area are to receive a consultation letter later this month offering them two traffic calming options:

1. Priority Give-Way – featuring raised entry treatment, 20mph signed zone, raised intersection, mini-roundabout, priority give-way build-outs, zebra crossing and waiting restrictions

2. Refuge Islands – Same as option 1 except the build-outs are replaced with refuge islands

Fortis Green councillor Martin Newton, who has campaigned with Lynne Featherstone MP on the issue of safety in and around Woodside Avenue, is pleased that residents are being given the opportunity to comment on the proposals.

Cllr Newton comments:

“Whilst broadly welcoming these measures to slow down traffic along Woodside Avenue, I would have preferred more options on the table rather than essentially just one scheme with alternative build-outs or refuge islands.

“However Hairngey Council has said that some changes may be made depending on the feedback from the consultation. I would encourage all residents to take this opportunity to respond to the consultation.”

Chocolate Factory open day

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FinFest! Off to Finsbury Park to celebrate the summer festival on a beautiful, if somewhat sweltering, day.

Arrived early – so sat for half an hour (unheard of) on a chair by the Finsbury Park Trust tent in the sun. Sheer bliss. Then did a round of the stalls – bought a ring but (as with almost all my impulse buys) I probably won’t ever wear it.

At 1.30pm I go over to the newly refurbished tennis courts to perform opening ceremony. It had been advertised as Ian Wright – sadly – they get me as sub!

Then onto the Chocolate Factory Open Day. The Chocolate Factory has nothing to do with chocolate (these days) but houses in its two buildings a colony of visual and performing arts small businesses, studios and artistes. It’s a private operation – but run with a social conscience and some help from the borough and is a very good thing – and a great thing to have in the constituency.

Two of the performers are my nephews (twins) – both rock musicians and both in bands on the verge … of good things.

Jake’s band – ‘Mad Staring Eyes’ – is playing at 2pm before I can get there from FinFest – so miss out on his performance. However, I do manage to get there (dragging younger daughter with) by 5pm in time for Nick’s band ‘The Dirty Feel’. They are fantastic! It’s the first time I have seen them live – and with guitars singing like in the good old days of proper rock bands I am well impressed.

I watch the dance troupe from Mountview Theatre School, some karaoke rappers and then home.

Surgery dangers

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Surgery all morning, adding in an extra Saturday session because of the high demand.

I think it is so high for a combination of factors. Firstly – there is about a five week hiatus where the sitting MP during an election is no longer officially the MP and therefore cannot hold surgeries – so there is a basic gap in service provision.

There are a group of people who were seeing the previous MP and their problems had been unresolved – and would be irresolvable quite frankly by any MP – who think they will have another go.

There is another group who were seeing the previous MP and who were now anxious about what will happen given the MP has changed – and often want to see someone in person to assure themselves that their case will be worked on.

And then there are those who want to give the new MP a try out plus – of course – the regular diet of normal issues which arise. And there are some who just, quite sweetly, come to say hello.

So – since starting – I have been doing anything between 7 and 10 hours surgeries a week. We’ll see how the demand goes, especially now that I have my casework staff in place and so more people can be dealt with more quickly by phone and other means.

Anyway – I had received reams and reams of stuff from a guy who was very angry about a matter. Many agencies had obviously found him very difficult to deal with – and in the correspondence that I had received in advance it was obvious to me that there might be some difficulty.

He didn’t turn up for his appointment at 9am. However, he did turn up about an hour later. I explained that his appointment had been at 9am but said I would try and fit him in – though with everyone else arriving on time it might take a while.

Anyway – at about 11.30 I asked him to come in as the gentleman who had arrived for an appointment at that time had arrived but was clearly unable to talk he was so out of breath – so I asked if he minded waiting for a few minutes.

So – it began badly. Mr X heard nothing I said. Jumped down my throat. Started shouting at me. Called me a liar. Was extremely aggressive. Said that I was basically as bad as everyone else who was against him and so on. I tried to help by explaining that some of the difficulties he was encountering with all the agencies involved in this case might be because of his aggressive approach – and that he might be making it difficult for people to work with him even if they supported him. This did not help. And he stood up shouting and saying he was going to leave. So I opened the door for him. There is nothing you can do in such situations – other than hope it doesn’t escalate into physical violence.

There is a panic button under one of the desks in the room where I do my surgeries – but I don’t know what happens if you press it. I will find out! I haven’t felt until now very threatened – but I know Barbara Roche (my predecessor) had to wrestle someone to stop them setting fire to themselves and a Lib Dem MP was attacked and badly hurt and his assistant killed at a surgery. So these things are no joke and it is why I don’t do surgery alone.

Also today my latest newspaper column comes out – on ID cards. Tragically the issues about terrorism are now very topical, though I had written it a week before. Manage to update the internet version though.