Discover this morning that this blog has been shortlisted for blog of the year by the Guardian.
(By the way – in the interests of public information of course – details are at the Guardian website and voting closes on Monday 9 February).
Chair’s briefing – this is my weekly meeting with Transport Scrutiny officers at the Assembly to plan work program, discuss content of sessions, etc.
Tim O’Toole (TfL’s Director of London Underground – sharp American lawyer) has agreed a date to come to Transport Committee to update us on the tube situation. And there’s quite a list to update – three disasters, poor performance and why Central Line trains may have to go! (My interpretation of what’s happening – nothing they will admit to).
That having been said, I like Tim. He is one smart cookie.
We share a life experience that few do.
A little known incident last year is that I fell down the gap at Embankment tube on the Northern Line. I had always wondered if I could really scream. That day I found out I could. I had been running for a tube train and leapt on board – only to have the doors shut on me. When they reopened I stepped back off the train into the gap. My papers fell into the train, the passengers standing in the doorway space looked horrified, my bag fell on the platform – and I fell down the gap.
My whole life didn’t pass before me – but I did think quickly and made sure that I threw my arms across the doorway so the doors couldn’t close. If the train had moved out I would have been a goner. The guard hauled me out in a flash. (There is one stationed by that gap permanently) and sat me down, gave me water, took my details, etc. Then I went home. Much bruised and battered – but fine.
In telling Tim about this incident he confided in me that a similar thing had happened to him in Chicago. It was an outside train sitting in the station on an icy winter day. The platform was extremely icy and he slipped and slid over the edge of the platform, just by a set of the trains wheels. Half his torso was thus on the platform and the other hanging over the edge. The whistle blew and the train was just moving off when passengers walking by on the platform dragged him clear.
Stays with you a bit – an experience like that.
LYNNE IN THE RUNNING FOR WEBSITE PRIZE
Local councillor and Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson Lynne Featherstone has been shortlisted for a prestigious award for her online musings on politics and life.
The nomination for Lynne’s popular local ‘blog’ [weblog] comes from the Guardian Unlimited, which has shortlisted 12 website diaries nation-wide for a prize.
Lynne Featherstone comments:
“I enjoy writing the blog about the Greater London Authority and the council, and it is nice to see that readers appreciate it. I’ll be watching the final results of the Guardian’s competition with interest.”
The blog is at www.lynnefeatherstone.org/blog.htm.
The nomination quoted by the Guardian reads:
“How about Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem councillor in Haringey and London Assembly member? She manages to combine critical coverage of Livingstone’s London with pointed comments about the inadequacies of Labour’s administration in Haringey, at the same time actively promoting Lib Dem values and policies. She seems a very active and honest person, and I am sure her blog will help her to success at the next general election.”
LIB DEMS SEEK ASSURANCES ABOUT CROUCH END POST OFFICE
As the controversy surrounding post office closures in Haringey continues, Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone is urgently seeking assurances from the Post Office over the future of major post office branch in Crouch End, N8.
The request comes after Ms Featherstone received information about a press release issued last week by supermarket chain Tesco regarding the opening of their new store in Crouch End, indicating that the company wishes to provide post office services within the store.
Local residents and Lib Dem councillors are concerned that Tesco’s new service may be a threat to the existing post office counter rather than an additional one to the area. Cllr Featherstone has written to George Hooper, Area Head of the Post Office Limited and requested the following:
·confirmation that the Crouch End Branch post office on Topsfield Parade, N8 will not close
·guarantee that other arrangements by the Post Office with local small vendors of stamps etc will remain in place
·guarantee that the Tesco provision of the post office services will be an expansion of existing services in the area
Cllr Featherstone comments:
“Lib Dems have been fighting closures all over the borough of these much valued services. We must ensure that local post office services in Crouch End remain, regardless of plans by Tesco.”
Lib Dem regeneration spokesperson and Crouch End councillor, David Winskill adds:
“The existing post office is much valued by local residents, and we need to know how this proposed service will affect the local branch.We will be following this issue closely.”
MUSWELL HILL – LIB DEM GAIL ENGERT DEMANDS ACTION ON SPEEDING
The Lib Dem prospective candidate in the Muswell Hill by-election is calling on Haringey Council to end years of inaction on the speeding problem on Muswell Hill. Gail Engert says that in the last couple of months there have been three accidents at the bottom of the hill, with vehicles entering front gardens and putting pedestrians in danger.
The Lib Dems say that to date Haringey has been slow to act, and has only agreed to some speeding signs on the route. Gail Engert says that more measures are needed.The Lib Dems want to see speed cameras on the busy road or, at the very least, interactive speed signs. The Lib Dems had also requested that bollards are installed at the narrow section where Park Road joins Muswell Hill and where the three accidents happened, to protect pedestrians and residents living nearby. This has been agreed by the Council.
Local Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone has recently written to the Council stressing the seriousness of the situation, and has also asked for a site meeting. Gail Engert says she will make action a priority.
Gail Engert comments:
“The dangerous situation on Muswell Hill has gone on long enough. Traffic speeds down the hill, and this causes a serious hazard, especially near the junction at the foot of the hill. Measures must be taken to improve safety, and I will be working with Lynne Featherstone to press the Council to take the problem more seriously.”
Need new shoes
Debriefing and campaign meeting following Stroud Green by-election success. Lessons to be learned – buy mountain climbing shoes for next time we have a by-election on a day (the only day) where ward is covered in ice and snow and on nothing but hills!
Hutton
To devastate the BBC, the judiciary and the government in one fell swoop is quite an achievement. Who says Labour doesn’t deliver?
Off to the Chocolate Factory
Off to the Chocolate Factory – no nothing to do with confectionery! It’s an artists’ colony in Haringey – studios for artists, illustrators, performing arts etc with low rents and a real community. Absolutely fantastic – there should be one in every borough.
However, this is nothing to do with work. My nephews are rock musicians (nocturnal animals) and they have done up one of the spaces as a recording studio and practice space. Tonight was the opening!
I think they will really flourish with lots of interaction with other artists in the ‘colony’. They get quite a lot of work – but the elusive record contract remains elusive so far!
Muswell Hill's police station
Meeting with Haringey police commander to discuss progress on opening Muswell Hill police station’s front counter to the public.
Haven’t really believed 100% up ’til now that his heart was in it – but I come out from the meeting convinced that it is firmly on the road to re-opening. Hurrah. I expect it may take until the autumn before we cut the ribbon.
Landslide in Stroud Green
Off early to the Met Police Authority for full authority meeting and pre-meeting interview with London Today. Today was the day that cannabis would be declassified from a B to C drug.
I had issued a news release about asking the Met Police Commissioner how he was going to make sure that the confusion surrounding the new law was clarified for all officers so that people would not be subject to ‘postcode policing’. Whatever you think of this move – it is clear that you simply cannot have people treated differently in different boroughs or simply by different police officers. Nightmare scenarios.
I did the interview and tackled Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair in the meeting. He tried to reassure the Authority that there would be equal treatment and that the guidelines and training were in place. I still think confusion will reign and that this move by the government is neither fish nor fowl – but a step in the right direction.
I then rush back to Stroud Green to stomp the icy streets knocking up to try and get our supporters to go out and vote. Stomp around to 9pm when polls close – except for one minor disaster. Get a phonecall on my mobile from youngest daughter to say she has arrived home from school and forgotten her key and is freezing on doorstep. Panic – as don’t have any means to get home and let her in and don’t want to lose any time on the door steps.
Luckily, another activist was just going home by car and offered to take me to Highgate where I live.
Found daughter shivering and nasty colour – let her in and fumed off. Dug my car out (hate driving at best of times let alone in icy conditions and my road was pure ice) and drove back to Stroud Green Committee Room.
I was waiting there when the polls closed to take anyone straggling back to the Town Hall for the count. Simon Hughes turned up at about 9.10pm, having been babysitting for a woman whose door he had knocked on and who had said she couldn’t vote because of the baby. So he had said he would sit with the babe while she voted. Which he did! Typical Simon!
Then I drove a car load to the Civic Centre for the count. I was up in the gallery watching as were the other parties who were not actually down in the chamber itself as counting agents. Very soon after the first ballot box was emptied it was clear we had a landslide victory – but I was in shock.
Had not really felt this astonishing result looming on the doorstep. At about 6pm I had begun to feel we might possibly just win – but we won hugely with a swing of 29%. Massive – delivering a real body blow to Labour and for that matter, the Greens who had this as one of their top targets in London.
Laura Edge, our LibDem candidate got 1135, Labour 408, Greens 403 and Tories 166.
An amazing result – so we all skidaddled back to my house for some champagne. It was a really happy night!
