Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone is demanding an immediate explanation as to why Haringey Council has backed down from a decision to ban parking at the Tetherdown end of Pages Lane, Muswell Hill.

The call comes after complaints from residents that lorries delivering to a tile centre on the corner have been granted parking permits by Haringey Council. This is despite assurances two years ago, when yellow lines were painted, that the centre would never get permission to use the area as a receiving depot.

The road, which is a busy route for school children, is very narrow and two years ago local residents and Lib Dem councillors successfully lobbied the Council to place parking restrictions on the area because of the hazards caused to drivers and pedestrians by the parking.

Ms Featherstone has contacted Haringey to express her astonishment that the Council has appeared to have a change of heart after two years of successfully enforcing parking restrictions. She is seeking an immediate explanation as to why the Council has gone back on its word.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“I am deeply concerned by this news and I am seeking an immediate explanation as to why the Council has made the road unsafe again for a mere £64 [cost of a permit].

“The return of the lorries has restarted the problems. The Council must take immediate action and reassert the agreement they made with us two years ago.”

Local Lib Dems are demanding that Crescent Road Post Office is included in a review by the Post Office of its controversial branch closure plans. The news follows a campaign and petition by local Lib Dems to keep the branch open.

With five Haringey post offices earmarked for closure, the Government is moving to conduct a review of the Post Office’s controversial method of selecting branches for closure.

Lib Dems fear that the review could come too late to save the Crescent Road branch, and are urging the Post Office to include it in any review plans.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Cllr Lynne Featherstone comments:

“For months, we have had a situation where branches are being closed on an entirely random basis. This is unacceptable and I would welcome any review. However it must cover all branches including the one at Crescent road.”

Alexandra ward councillor and Lib Dem Deputy Leader Wayne Hoban adds:

“The Post Office must include Crescent Road in the review, as many local residents are dismayed at the closure plan, and will have to travel some distance to the nearest alternative branch. Earmarking branches for closure in this way is not acceptable and a full review must be undertaken.”

Commenting on this morning’s collapse of a supporting wall at the former Queen’s Lodge (53 – 55 Queen’s Avenue) which destroyed part of a neighbouring resident’s garden, Liberal Democrat ward Councillor Stephen Gilbert said:

“The developers have been messing the Council around over recent months putting in applications for everything from a hotel to flats, and lastly for a residential care home.

“After representations from my colleague Matt Davies and a site inspection with council officers, the developer and builders were asked to make the site safe – but this clearly did not happen or did not happen quickly enough.

“The Council’s building control and planning departments must now work together to end the uncertainty over this development. I have asked council officers to urgently consider serving a notice to force the developers to get on with building the permissions they have, or to restore the site to its original condition.

“I will also be seeking an urgent meeting with the developer to discuss to damage caused to the neighbouring properties.”

Cllr Lynne Featherstone and her Lib Dem council colleagues have taken up complaints from local residents that Haringey Council has failed to consult them on a number of issues regarding developments on the Fortismere School site.

Ms Featherstone, along with Lib Dem councillors in Fortis Green, has received numerous complaints from residents in Burlington Road on issues such as light pollution, the treatment of trees and damage to road surfaces as a result of work carried out on the site by both the Council and contractors.

Although the Lib Dems acknowledge that many of the improvements have been necessary to the school, they are concerned that the lack of consultation has meant much unnecessary distress for residents in the area. Complaints include:

* Light pollution from high-level security lighting that overlooks the new parts of the school. Although ‘photocell’ lighting, they do not go on and off with movement.
* The thinning of two protected trees without consultation which has made the bright white sports hall visible as opposed to being hidden before.
* Badly potholed road and damaged pavements from developer’s vehicles using the road as an access site.
* Despite assurances, the failure of the Council to fence off a gate that is not meant to be in use but is used as a short cut to and from the school.

“Following our meeting with council officials, I am hopeful we can now have positive action to improve the situation. Residents’ concerns must be addressed,” says Lynne Featherstone.

Fortis Green councillor Stephen Gilbert adds:

“Residents in Burlington Road have suffered unnecessarily because the Council failed to consult them on a number of issues. I hope this episode is firmly on the way to being resolved and that Haringey Council will learn from its mistakes.”