Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, is joining celebrities including Graham Norton, David Jason, Esther Rantzen and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen to lend her support to this years Carers Week (June 13-19).

Carers Week is an annual event that raises awareness of carerspeople who look after a sick or disabled friend, partner or relativeand issues that affect them. During this years event thousands of events will be taking place up and down the country to give carers a break and highlight the support available to them.

“I know from first hand experience in my own family that it’s not easy being a carer,” says Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. “It can be physically, emotionally and financially draining which is why it’s so vital that carers get the support they need to take a break from it and spend time doing their own thing – whether it’s relaxing, working or pursuing hobbies.”

There are an estimated six million carers in Britain today, many of whom dont recognise themselves as carers and arent aware of the support and services available to them.

Carers make an invaluable contribution to our society both here in Hornsey and Wood Green and nationally and save the Treasury a staggering 57 billion every year, says Lynne Featherstone MP. Its vital that carers receive the support they need to continue caring while leading fulfilling lives of their own. There is help and support available for carers so I would urge anyone in this constituency who looks after a friend, relative or partner to contact their local carers group as soon as possible.

Paul Matz, Carers Week Manager, says:

“We’re delighted that Lynne Featherstone MP is supporting Carers Week 2005. If it helps even one carer get access to the support they need, it will have been worthwhile.”

2005 is the eleventh annual Carers Week. It is jointly organised by seven UK-wide charities; Carers UK, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Help the Aged, Macmillan Cancer Relief, MS Society, Rethink and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

Lib Dem councillor Martin Newton has expressed his concern with the reporton library strategy, due to go before the Executive tonight (14th June).

Cllr Newton, who sits on Haringey Council’s Library Advisory Committee, says thata key concern regarding how funding is to be given to two separate librariesfor expansion – Muswell Hill and Coombs Croft- had been raised andminuted, but in the final report it has been omitted.

At the meeting of the Library Advisory Committee, members requested, “thatfeasibility studies for improvements at Muswell Hill and Coombs Croftlibraries should go ahead without conditions so that all options areinvestigated.”

This was in response to the initial recommendations in the report that setout the conditions to make improvements on the libraries. Muswell Hill’simprovements were to be self-financed from the value of land to the rear.Lib Dem councillors said that this would be ridiculous given that many ofthe plans included expanding onto the land which would leave very little tosell-off.

However, for Coombs Croft Library the primaryrecommendation to the committee was to identify capital funds for theimprovements, with no mention of the library funding itself.

Cllr Newton has written to Haringey Council expressing his concern at the finalreport that, he says, does not reflect the points made and minuted at themeeting.

Cllr Newton (Fortis Green):

“I am appalled that decisions agreed by membersof the Library Advisory Committee are being ignored and find it whollyunacceptable that the Executive will be voting on recommendations that havenot been endorsed.

“The value of the Council owned land behind Muswell Hill library, needed toexpand the library, should not be the primary consideration of anyfeasibility study.”

Highgate’s Lib Dem councillors are calling on Haringey Council to put pressure on Camden to reverse its unpopular decision to close the public toilets in Pond Square.

Cllr Bob Hare has written to the new Lead Member for the Environment urging him to make the reopening of the toilets a top priority.

Cllr Hare says that Camden closed the toilets without public consultation and without properly considering the needs of the local community. However, while Camden cite cost reasons for the closure, Cllr Hare says that because the building is listed, Camden will have to maintain it regardless.

Cllr Hare says the village has many visitors, especially during the summer. In addition to the pubs, bars and restaurants, the toilets are needed for people walking to the Kenwood concerts, Hampstead Heath and Highgate cemetery. In addition, Pond Square is a bus terminus and interchange, and both drivers and many people waiting may need toilet facilities.

Highgate Lib Dems say the two local councils should consider sharing the cost with the local bus company.

Cllr Hare comments:

“Haringey needs to push Camden much harder to restore the public toilets. Using the shops in the village is an everyday activity for very large numbers of Haringey residents, and a lot of people come to Highgate from much farther afield – especially in the summer.The toilets had at least 60,000 visits per year, probably many more, and the closure is not good for business in the village.”

Highgate’s Lib Dem councillors are calling for urgent action from Haringey Council to sort out the delayed suicide prevention works on the Archway Bridge.

Cllr Bob Hare says that the last meeting to address the issue was cancelled in March, and nothing has happened since. The steering group overseeing the works has not met since before Christmas.

Lib Dems believe that funding has been secured from Transport for London (TfL) to look at solutions, and this money needs to put to good use immediately.

Cllr Bob Hare comments:

“This issue must not be allowed to be pushed into the long grass by Haringey.

“It is vital that this work goes ahead as soon as possible. Lots of other agencies, such as the local health authority, emergency services, the police, and the local residents’ association are only to happy to co-operate and give their time to help sort out the problem. It is the Council’s job to make this happen, and Haringey should be taking urgent steps to bring all these groups together now.”

Local Lib Dem Social Services spokesperson Cllr Wayne Hoban and Education spokesperson Cllr Gail Engert have welcomed calls from educationist Baroness Warnock for the Government to scrap its policy on mainstream schooling for all children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

The independent life peer, who was one of the original thinkers behind inclusive schooling, is due to have her report published later this month in a pamphlet by the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain.

In it she warns of the “wasteful and bureaucratic” statementing of SEN pupils and says that pressure on mainstream schools to provide support would leave a “disastrous legacy” if left un-addressed.

Councillors Hoban and Engert have been meeting regularly with concerned parents and the local action group, Haringey Autism, who have raised similar concerns. They say that mainstream schools struggle to provide the additional classroom support that many children with autism need. They say this often leads to behavioural issues that can cause the child to be excluded from school.

Haringey Autism have also highlighted the stress involved in getting a child assessed and issued with a statement of education needs as well as ensuring that the school meets those needs.

Both councillors say that the stress levels for many parents have been further compounded by threats to the future of Red Gables family centre which has provided high quality support for many years.

Cllr Engert comments:

“I am delighted that Baroness Warnock is pressing for a radical review of the current situation, which the Lib Dems fully support. It is clear that many parents do not have the confidence that mainstream schools can provide the same level of support for all types of SENs that specialist schools can.”

Cllr Hoban adds:

“It is important that the Government faces up to its misjudgement over this policy. Many children with SENs can benefit from being in a mainstream environment and that should be welcomed, but there is a need for choice, so those who want to remain in a special school environment can do so.”

Muswell Hill Lib Dem Councillor Gail Engert has secured a controlled parking zone (CPZ) for the small estate of Beattock Rise, off St. James Lane N10.

The action is to prevent cars from outside the estate parking on the small entrance road and blocking access to an estate which contains sheltered housing.

In correspondence received this week, Haringey Council confirmed that it had consulted residents and had received eight responses, all in favour of a CPZ, with one parking permit per household being issued.

This is welcome news to both local residents and Cllr Engert who has worked hard since her election last year to ensure that the residents, some of whom are elderly and disabled, are able to park their vehicles close to their homes.

Cllr Engert hopes that this will end years of parking misery for residents in the small road.

Cllr Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“Since I became a councillor last year I have campaigned for controlled parking for these residents. As some of the residents are elderly and disabled it is essential that they have easy access to their vehicles so they can live independent lives, and also any emergency vehicles like ambulances can gain entrance to the estate. I am delighted that the Council has finally acted and I will be eagerly awaiting the completion of the work.”

Hornsey and Wood Green MP, Lynne Featherstone, supported the British Lung Foundation’s 20th birthday campaign by getting breathless on an exercise bike at the House of Commons during lung heath awareness day.

The Get Breathless! campaign encourages everyone of all ages and abilities to get breathless in aid of the British Lung Foundation, while thinking about their own lung health.

The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working to help people with all 43 lung diseases.It provides information and support to patients and their families, funds world class medical research to find solutions to lung disease and campaigns for improved treatments and services.

Ms Featherstone said:

“I am delighted to be getting breathless to support the British Lung Foundation in its 20th birthday year. One person in every seven in the UK is affected by a lung disease and has to live with breathlessness all the time. It is vital that people look after their lungs and taking part in this campaign is a great way to start!”

Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said:

“We are thrilled that Lynne Featherstone MP is taking part in the Get Breathless! campaign.The 8 million plus people in the UK living with a lung condition will know how hard it is to do day to day tasks when you are fighting for breath. By supporting our campaign Ms Featherstone was able to find out just what that is like.”

Note: Anyone who wants more information about the British Lung Foundation, Breathe Easy or Get Breathless! should visit www.lunguk.org or call the BLF Helpline on 08458 50 20 20.