Lib Dem Councillor for Crouch End Cllr Ron Aitken has welcomed action by Haringey Council to investigate the growth of an unofficial builder’s yard on the site of the covered Thames Water Reservoir at the top of Mount View Road and Ferme Park Road.

Cllr Aitken referred the matter to the Council’s enforcement team after local residents expressed concern about a fire on the site and the erection of various temporary structures.

Cllr Ron Aitken comments:

“It is good news that the Council intends to act over this site, which has become an instant eyesore for passers-by in general but particularly the residents living nearby.

“It is a concern that such an activity can spring up on a sensitive green site without hindrance.”

Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Ron Aitken has challenged Labour to explain differences in what it has told different people over the controversial closure of the Red Gables family health centre in Crouch End.

Under pressure over the cuts, the Labour lead members for Social Services told residents campaigning to protect services at the site that there are no plans to sell it. However, Cllr Ron Aitken points out that in a letter dated 28 Jan2005 , Kate Wynne, Lead Member for Social Services , wrote:

“The use of the Red Gables Home will be phased out over the two year period, with money from the building directed into the new assessment team.”

Cllr Wynne has since admitted that the centre will indeed be closed.

Cllr Aitken comments:

“This letter shows Labour has been playing politics over the future of Red Gables. Where was this money coming from if the Red Gables site isn’t being sold? Residents will rightly suspect that Labour were really planning to sell the site despite their public claims to the contrary. We need a full and honest explanation, as residents were clearly led to believe there was hope for the future of the site. They do not want a virtual service as proposed by Labour.”

Liberal Democrats have vowed to press for improvements to a much-loved local library that Haringey Labour once tried to close.

This follows a useful consultation meeting last night on the future of the Muswell Hill library site, where local Lib Dem councillors, library campaigners and Haringey Council officials gave their views.

Lib Dem Cllr Gail Engert says the idea to expand the site to the rear of the building (into an existing car park owned by the council) is very popular with her constituents. Building at the rear of the existing site will almost double the footprint of the building. It will also allow for installation of a lift, bringing the upper floor into use for disabled residents.

Haringey Council reckons the scheme would cost at least £355,000, and spending is also needed to bring the existing building up to standard. The ideas will now go before the Labour-controlled Council Executive.

Lib Dem councillor Gail Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“This was a useful consultation exercise, as there is clearly a wide consensus among councillors and library campaigners that improvements should be made on the existing site if at all possible, as the library ismuch loved and very centrally located.

“Muswell Hill gets few resources from the Council and this is one relatively small project that would really benefit the area. The Council must therefore do all it can to secure the necessary funding.”

Lib Dem councillors in Highgate have welcomed moves by the Met to beef up neighbourhood policing in the area following growing concern about the crime rate.

However, Lib Dem leader and local councillor Neil Williams warns that Highgate must have its full complement of community police officers if the problem is to be fully addressed.

Cllr Williams says he has had increased complaints from local residents in recent weeks about burglary and car crime in the area and has raised the issue of Highgate policing at Haringey Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee and with Chief Supt Stephen Bloomfield, Haringey’s police boss.

Mr Bloomfield has agreed to increase uniformed police patrols in the area “with immediate effect” and has promised to look at other measures, which he will set out shortly.

Cllr Neil Williams comments:

“I am pleased that Haringey police has agreed to boost police patrols in Highgate, but I look forward to a wide programme of future action from the police.

“Highgate, along with Muswell Hill, has been without a beat officer for several months now, and this is very worrying. We also have a commitment that the Met will look at policing in the wider Highgate area, as because of its position on the edge of three boroughs, Highgate is often last to benefit from initiatives such as neighbourhood policing.

“Lynne Featherstone, who sits on the Metropolitan Police Authority, has a commitment from the MPA that this will now be addressed.”