Lib Dem GLA member and chair of the Greater London Authority’s Transport Committee, Lynne Featherstone, is calling on London Buses to look at providing a direct bus link between the centres of Highgate and Crouch End. Ms Featherstone says that the lack of a direct bus link between the two centres is a constant issue in her mailbag and has launched a local campaign to get London Buses to consider the issue.

Ms Featherstone says that such a service would fill in a significant ‘missing link’ in the local bus network. Many local people have mentioned their wish to see a direct bus service.The W5 service from Crouch End only takes passengers half way up the hill to Highgate before it heads for Archway.Similarly, taking the 210 from Highgate leaves you the other side of the hill from Crouch End.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I have written to the Head of Surface Transport at London Buses asking for this issue to be properly considered when local bus services are reviewed. This is a vital missing link in Haringey and I hope they will now respond.”

You can download a petition sheet to sign and collect more signatures (pdf format).

Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone has secured a commitment for extra street sweeping in Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey, following complaints from local residents.

Local residents had complained that the street, which joins Hornsey High Street, suffered from litter blowing down the road which was not cleared often enough. The Council has now agreed to increase the schedule for sweeping the first 30 metres of the road in an effort to address the problem. This will now be done twice daily on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, with a daily sweeping on the weekends.This regime should commence from the beginning of April.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I am pleased that action is being taken, as roads adjoining busy High Streets in Haringey often have inadequate sweeping. Once a week is not enough in these locations, and the Council should keep this under review. Giving the first part of the road the same sweeping times as Hornsey High Street should improve the situation in the coming weeks.”

In the tightly fought battle for the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency, the Liberal Democrats have received the support of prominent writer and film maker Tariq Ali, who says he will be backing the party in the forthcoming General Election. Mr Ali, who lives in the constituency, is a long-time critic of the Government over the war in Iraq.

The move will come as a blow to the local Labour party as it battles to hold on to the seat. Writing in the Guardian on Saturday, Mr Ali says:

“Those who opposed the war must think carefully before they cast their votes. Abstention is not a serious option. The aim should be to return an anti-war majority to the House of Commons. This requires tactical/intelligent voting in every constituency.”

He is also highly critical of the local Labour MP’s record:

“In the warmonger constituencies we should vote tactically. In my north London constituency, the MP is Barbara Roche: pro-war and pro everything else this wretched government has done. I don’t simply want to vote against her. I want her to be defeated. That is why I will vote Liberal Democrat.”

Local Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Lynne Featherstone comments:

“This is yet another sign that more and more people are moving towards the Liberal Democrats in this election. With many websites urging people to defeat pro-war Labour candidates such as our sitting Labour MP, this is a welcome boost from a very prominent campaigner.”

Crouch End’s Lib Dem councillors are objecting to plans to build a new block of flats in Crouch End. Cllr David Winskill says the proposed five-storey block for Waverley Road is another example of overdevelopment in the area.

The plans require the controversial demolition of a Victorian house at number 9 Waverley Road. The proposed new five-storey block would have 17 flats and would be significantly taller than surrounding buildings.

Cllr Winskill says that the existing building is in a conservation area and contributes much to its character and is in good condition. Furthermore, the current use of the building is for temporary accommodation, with little such accommodation in the local area.

Cllr David Winskill comments:

“This building would put even more pressure on local services. There is already a significant shortage of primary school places in the Crouch End area, and this would only make the situation worse. This is another bad example of overdevelopment, and we will be pressing the Council’s Planning Committee to reject this proposal.”

Council Tax payers in Haringey face a post-election tax bombshell, Liberal Democrats warned today.

Liberal Democrats brought their Axe the Tax campaign bus to Haringey to warn voters that Council Tax bills will rise by 200% or more because house prices have risen so fast in the area.

Council Tax is currently based on property values in April 1991 but the government is updating its valuation figures to take account of changes in property prices since then.

The whole of Haringey will be hard hit because house prices have gone up 243%, according to the latest research from the Halifax House Price Index. Homes could move up two, three or even more bands.

Property prices at the end of March will be the basis for Council Tax bills for the next 10 years.

Anyone whose home has gone up more than the national average since 1991 will be moved into a higher tax band. That means bills will rise by up to 22%.

In Wales, where revaluation has already happened, some families will see their council tax bill TREBLE. That could be repeated across Haringey, because of house price inflation.

Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green Lynne Featherstone said:

“Council Tax is unfair, and revaluation is going to make it much worse for the people of Hornsey and Wood Green.

“Just because house prices have risen, local people will have to struggle to afford hundreds of pounds extra in Council Tax.”

Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Edward Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, added:

“Both the other parties try and deny it, but they simply have no solutions to the ticking time-bomb of spiralling Council Tax bills.

“The whole Council Tax system is bust, and it is time to scrap it. Liberal Democrat plans to replace it with a fair system based on ability to pay would cut the typical family’s bill by around £450 a year.”

Notes:

1. The whole of London will be hit by revaluation, but Haringey in particular because house prices have risen by 243%, above average even for London.

2. Current council tax bills are based on property value 1 April 1991. Council Tax bills from April 2007 will be based on property value 1 April 2005.

3. Areas where house prices have risen faster than the national average (175%) are likely to have homes moved into higher tax bands.

4. Labour and Conservatives are committed to revaluation.Caroline Spelman, Conservative local government spokesman: ‘Of course we understand that a property based tax has to take account of changes in the value of property.’ (Hansard, 2 March, col 992)

5. In Wales, where revaluation has happened, 33% of homes were moved into higher bands, 8% of homes moved down a band. 3 homes were moved up 8 bands, trebling their council tax bill.