Crouch End Lib Dem Councillor Ron Aitken is backing local residents who have complained to Haringey Council about film crews using their street to park their trucks, causing noise, litter and inconvenience in Hurst Avenue and the surrounding streets.

“It seems Crouch End is a Mecca for film crews which seem to like the tolerant atmosphere and the look of local buildings,” says Cllr Aitken. “However, some of the residents are a little fed up that they always seem to park in the same street – Hurst Avenue opposite the playing fields.”

Cllr Aitken raised the issue with the BBC, who recently filmed their Inspector Linley Mysteries in the area. The BBC said that places to park were either being used by other film crews or had been booked well in advance, but they did offer to make a donation to a local charity to compensate for the inconvenience to local residents.

Nevertheless, Cllr Aitken has asked Haringey Council to try to lessen the impact of filming on local residents. In a letter to Cllr Aitken the Council says that between April 2002 and March 2003 nine film shoots took place in Crouch End, and that from March to July there were a further eight shoots.

“Perhaps Crouch End is the new Hollywood?” says Cllr Aitken. “It is nice to be popular, but I will be monitoring the impact of this issue and reporting back to residents.”

As the period for consultation on the Government’s Green paper on children at risk ends on 1st December, local Liberal Democrats have warned that the Government’s own policies risk undermining the progress made since the death of Victoria Climbie. In a letter to the Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Children, Paul Burstow, local councillor Ron Aitken has highlighted several areas of concern:

* Budgetary pressures – the Green Paper contains no new funding proposals and Haringey has been given one of the worst budget allowances in the country. The Council’s Social Services Department is already £4m in the red. The Lib Dems favour scrapping the unfair Council Tax.

* Home Secretary David Blunkett’s proposal to take into care the children of asylum seekers whose claims are refused is described by Cllr Aitken as ‘barbaric’. Not only would it destroy families, local authorities would be faced with massive costs and would be open to legal challenge under the Children and Human Rights Acts. The Children Act specifically states that ‘the welfare of the child’ is paramount’ – how could this be ensured by taking asylum children into care?

* Rules making it compulsory for General Practitioners to inform Government Departments about asylum seekers seeking medical attention threaten to undermine a key recommendation of Lord Laming, that children should be registered with a GP and be properly examined when they are registered. These rules will deter people from registering with a GP or going to a hospital if there are concerns about abuse, driving the problem underground.

* The use of temporary accommodation and hostels, and the removal of asylum seekers’ children from mainstream schools puts them at risk of abuse and should be ended immediately.

Cllr Ron Aitken comments:

“The Government’s own policies are undermining the protection of children and these issues must be addressed. In a borough such as Haringey, with such pressing social services issues, it is vital that we get these policies right.”

Haringey Council has said it will try to improve pedestrian safety at the roundabout at the top of Muswell Hill following concerns of residents and local Lib Dem councillors that a serious accident is about to happen as local people struggle to cross the road at the recently redesigned junction.

At a site visit with council officials, local Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone told council staff that the addition of a third traffic lane at the top of Muswell Hill was making the crossing extremely treacherous for pedestrians. The Council agreed that a pelican crossing was needed near the top of the hill, and the traffic island should be extended.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Safety action needs to be taken. The situation is all the more disturbing, given that we were told before the alterations that the road at the top of the hill would be confined to two lanes and not three. Because of this, the Council should take swift action to make this very dangerous crossing much safer.”

Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for Haringey Council to drop its bulky rubbish charges after the Labour run Council admitted that demand for collections of bulky rubbish have declined by almost 75% since the introduction of the charges. The admission came at last week’s Council following a question from Lib Dem councillor Susan Oatway.

Lib Dems say that the fee of £15 for the bulk collection has seen demand for the service drop to one quarter of what it was prior to the introduction of the charge. The Lib Dems, who have strongly opposed the charge from the start, are concerned that around 30,000 bulky items remain uncollected or are dumped around the borough – with the Council having to pick up the bill for their collection.

The Lib Dems continue to urge the Council to reverse its stance over charges and decide whether the revenue made from charging outweighs the negative impact that the policy has had on Haringey’s environment in the form of extra fly-tipping.

Cllr Oatway (Alexandra) comments:

“The current charge means that many people can’t afford bulk collections or resent paying extra for a service they believe they already pay for through their Council taxes. As a result, fly-tipping flourishes in every part of the borough.”

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Lynne Featherstone adds:

“The Council should end the charge. It has simply added to Haringey’s problem of fly-tipping. We will continue to press the Council to swallow its pride and drop the charges.”

Liberal Democrat councillors in Haringey are calling for the borough’s MPs to oppose the Government proposal for University top-up fees confirmed in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday. They are concerned that the plans will put off many school leavers and add to the burden of student debt of those that choose to attend.

The Lib Dems have highlighted figures from a survey recently released by Barclays Bank indicating that top-up fees would lead to student debts trebling, soaring over £30,000 by 2010. They believe that the size of potential debt would deter even more school leavers from going to University.

Lib Dem leader Ross Laird is concerned about the long-term impact top up fees could have on the local economy. With fewer school leavers attending university the skill level of the workforce is likely to decline, which would have a detrimental effect on the development of Haringey’s fragile economy.

Cllr Laird will be lobbying the Council as well as both local MPs to vote against any plans for top-up fees. Ross Laird comments:

“Charging people to go to University is very short-sighted of this Labour Government. The fear of debt is deterring many bright young people from attending; top-up fees will merely compound this problem.

“Creating an education system closed to all but a privileged elite would be disastrous to the long-term development of the national and local economy. We will be strongly urging local MPs not simply to object in the media but attend any vote and register their opposition to Labour’s destructive plans.”