Lib Dem councillors in Alexandra ward are calling for greater consultation over plans to build a new sixth form block at Alexandra Park School.

The planned expansion, which the Lib Dems fully support, will provide two extra forms on entry, a sixth form and increase the size of the popular new school. However, local Lib Dem councillors want to ensure that disruption to the widely used Albert Road recreation ground, which may be caused by a temporary access road created for construction vehicles to access the site, is kept to an absolute minimum.

Many residents have expressed alarm that a temporary access road may be made permanent after the completion of building works. Lib Dem councillors are seeking written confirmation that this will not be the case. The councillors are also looking at a number of other issues regarding adequate on-site catering facilities to cope with school expansion, road safety around the premises and alternatives to the access road running through the recreation ground.

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Alexandra councillor and deputy leader of Haringey Lib Dems, comments: “It is essential that Alexandra Park School expands. However it is equally important that the concerns of local residents are fully addressed.

“The recreation ground is a valued facility to the local residents and we will be seeking written assurances from the Council and the school that there will be no attempts to transfer or develop this land as a result of these works.”

Fellow Alexandra councillor, Susan Oatway added: “We want to ensure that all options have been thoroughly looked at regarding the road. We must ensure that the recreation ground remains an accessible and safe environment for those who use it throughout the construction of this essential building.”

Note:The councillors’ detailed concerns are as follows: “As Alexandra ward councillors, we are aware that many residents have expressed considerable concern regarding aspects of the school development plan.

“Firstly, we wish to place on record that we fully support expansion of the school to provide two extra forms of entry and a sixth form. Alexandra Park School is an excellent school, which was confirmed through a glowing Ofsted report.

“We do have significant concerns however regarding certain aspects of the development plan, which need to be addressed before we can give this planning application our full support, which are as follows:

1. The Alexandra Park School – New Sixth Form Centre Planning

The Application Design Statement – 28 March 2003, stated that the existing site, if addressed in isolation, would be below current DfES guidelines on site area and that the design has been developed on a strategy based on the proximity of adjacent open land and the established relationship between the school and Recreation Ground. It is also stated that ‘in recognition of the increased pupil numbers on the existing site, the school is developing a strategy to allow responsible pupils and sixth form students to go off-site at break times…which will allow for the use of …other off-site facilities, such as the local shops.’

2. Alexandra Park School Development Transport Assessment – March 2003

Alternative site access options were examined in this. It is stated that of the 5 options examined, Option A was preferred. This option provided an improved access road adjacent to the existing footpath along the Western boundary of the Recreation Ground. It was proposed that the new access road would enter the site via a new main entrance.

3. Technical Note – produced by Faber Maunsell – Temporary Construction Access via Bidwell Gardens – 23 April 2003

This identified that use of Bidwell Gardens as the main access for construction traffic would be an advantage in that it was relatively low cost and would utilise an existing road. Among disadvantages outlined was an effective road width of approximately 3.5 metres, which would be insufficient to allow two heavy goods vehicles to pass safely, the nominal width of a standard HGV being 2.5 metres. It would therefore not be possible to maintain two-way working along the road for construction traffic.

In the light of the above information, this is what we’re working to achieve to get the best for our community:

1. We would require a clear statement from both the school and Haringey council that no part of the existing Recreation Ground will be transferred to the school as a consequence of this development. Any land used for temporary access during the development phase will be fully returned to public use on completion. Planning consent should be subject to a written confirmation of this.

2. We are particularly concerned that pupils will be encouraged to go off-site for their breaks, particularly during winter months where they would be required to cross a very busy road to gain access to shops. Is it suggested that on-site catering facilities will be inadequate to meet the demand from increased pupil numbers? What arrangements will be put in place to ensure that pupils are not put at risk on a daily basis through crossing the busy junction at Alexandra Park Road and the Avenue/Grosvenor Road?

3. Although Option A as outlined in the Transport Assessment document has been subsequently dropped due to lack of support from Haringey Planning, there is still a real concern that the original objective of securing a new access road to the school across the Recreation Ground will be achieved by other means, i.e., conversion of the proposed temporary road across the Recreation Ground into a permanent access road on completion of the development. We would require written assurances that permission to install a permanent road would not be sought or approved within this planning application.

4. We are particularly concerned that the feasibility study produced by Faber Maunsell regarding temporary construction access via Bidwell Gardens is flawed, for the following reasons:

(a) There is insufficient space to allow two ordinary vehicles to pass at present, so the fact that it is claimed that two vehicles would not be able to pass during the development phase is irrelevant.

(b) The proposed access road through the park will not be wide enough to allow two HGV vehicles to pass, so the argument that Bidwell Gardens does not allow that option is irrelevant.

(c) It is suggested that the two proposed pedestrian crossing points along the temporary road would be supervised to facilitate traffic movements and reduce risk to pedestrians. There appears to be no reason why this arrangement could not be transferred to Bidwell Gardens – the required manpower would be the same.

(d) There is likely to be considerable more pedestrian movements across the Recreation Ground than is usual in Bidwell Gardens, therefore the risk to pedestrians would be considerably reduced if Bidwell Gardens was used for site access rather than an increasingly popular and well used Recreation Ground.

These are some, but by no means all, of our concerns regarding the proposed development. We will continue to meet with all interested parties to address these concerns and hopefully find a way to allow successful expansion school to the ultimate benefit of the whole community.”

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone, has attacked the Government’s controversial backing for foundation hospitals, and has criticised Haringey’s two local Labour MPs for backing the measure.

Ms Featherstone says there should be more local control over the health service, but that foundation hospitals are not the answer. Ms Featherstone says that local hospitals which are not granted foundation status in the first tranche would suffer as resources poured into foundation hospitals.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“We need real local decision making in the NHS. However, with the present government plan, we risk a two-tier health service – and many Labour MPs have agreed. But once again Haringey’s Labour MPs have instead toed the party line and have not voted to put the interests of residents first in Parliament.”

Commenting on the Haringey Labour council group’s internal election results, Lib Dem Leader Cllr Ross Laird, said:

“These results show that Haringey’s Labour councillors are utterly divided, and unable to provide new ideas for the borough.

“In sticking to the old leadership, despite the intense criticism from the Climbie Inquiry, Labour councillors have rejected a fresh start for the Council.

“And with such a close vote for leader, Labour is clearly split down the middle. Such a totally divided and inward-looking Labour group is unlikely to provide the clear leadership needed to deal with Haringey’s many pressing problems.

Cllr Lynne Featherstone adds:

“It seems that those Labour councillors who are frank enough to admit the Council’s failings will be removed from their positions by the Labour machine.

“Cllr Gideon Bull, who has owned up to the Council’s dreadful record on consulting local people, has been purged from the Labour executive. On the other hand, Ray Dodds, who has presided over several botched consultations, has been promoted. It is a very depressing spectacle.”

Opposition Liberal Democrats have today warned that Haringey’s ruling Labour councillors are in danger of turning the borough into a ‘pariah’ local council after Labour councillors have once again moved to ensure that the Labour group chairs all of the Council’s vital watchdog committees for the next year.

The Lib Dems say that the Council’s new scrutiny committees were intended to operate on a ‘non-party’ basis – as they do in most other councils.Lib Dems say that Labours grip on the system means that the committees’ watchdog role on behalf of local residents is now in a state of crisis, as Labour seeks to control the agenda of all committees.

In a further move, the Labour group are also forcing through changes to the Borough’s constitution which will curb the right of councillors to ask questions in Council.Lib Dems says that cutting back their right to ask questions is further bad news for local residents, as it is often the only way that councillors can force answers out of a reluctant council.The changes being forced through by Labour, fearful of questioning from Lib Dem councillors, will also reduce the number of Council meetings.

Cllr Ross Laird, Leader of the Opposition, comments:

“Once again, Labour has shown that they are not willing to respect the democratic process and be held properly to account.It is no accident that such a bad council is guilty of such bad practice. They have battened down the hatches and are ignoring the views of others.As usual, it will be local people and local services that will suffer as a result of this abuse of power.”

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Lynne Featherstone has met the senior manager in charge of the North Middlesex anti-coagulant clinic, Ms Angela Gallagher, to discuss the hospital’s plans to reduce the appalling conditions for patients waiting at the clinic.

The meeting followed an earlier visit by Ms Featherstone following patient complaints about crowds of the ill and elderly waiting to be seen. On her previous visit, Ms Featherstone found that the clinic waiting room has roughly 40 seats, and has been told that as many as 160 patients can be waiting for treatment and are forced to stand. At the Wednesday morning anti-coagulant clinic, most patients are waiting for blood tests, and many are elderly or have heart problems.

Ms Featherstone’s earlier, and unannounced, visit had turned the spotlight on a previously unhurried approach to finding ways to alleviate the situation. At the meeting Ms Gallagher laid out plans to reduce the levels of people attending by a slow and carefully monitored change to Primary Care with some patients being able to attend a GP surgery or a pharmacist rather than the clinic.

Patients would also be able to attend clinics to have blood tests on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons too rather than all on a Wednesday morning. In this way, the hospital hopes to bring order to what has until now been a chaotic situation.

Commenting Lynne Featherstone says:

“I am pleased that moves are at last being made to alleviate the patients’ situation at this very important clinic. It is hard to believe that such a stressful experience for patients was allowed to go on for such a long time. I hope by focusing attention on this issue and continuing to be involved, that the improvements promised to me last week will be on a fast track. The sooner the better.”

Residents around Priory Gardens, N6 are hoping that they will not have to watch where they step after the Council finally erected dog fouling notices, a year after promising Lib Dem Cllr Lynne Featherstone that they would be installed.

The notices that were erected at 3pm last Tuesday (22nd April) following recent correspondence from Cllr Featherstone to the Council expressing her concern over the length of time it had taken for the Council to act on its promise.

It is hoped the signs will deter local dog owners from allowing their dogs to foul the streets by reminding them of the penalty they may incur if they do.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“I am pleased that the Council finally put these signs up and I am hopeful that this will reduce the problem of dog fouling in the area. However, ultimately it is the responsibility of every dog owner to ensure that they scoop the poop.”

Local Lib Dem Councillors from Crouch End and Muswell Hill held a meeting on Thursday (1st May) with local residents, council officials and social housing managers to discuss the controversial proposed development of 40 flats on Park Road, N8.

At the meeting, concerned local residents voiced their concerns about the likely noise and dust that may be caused by 18 months of construction at the site. They also informed the Council about their desire for improved road safety along Park Road.

Cllr Ross Laird (Muswell Hill), who chaired the meeting, comments:

“This was a very useful meeting, giving residents an opportunity to meet with representatives of the developer and convey their concerns about traffic management to the Council.

“I will endeavour to try and get double glazing put into sheltered housing at The Grove to minimise disruption to residents. Council officers will also now take away concerns voiced by residents about making Park Road safer for pedestrians and residents alike.”

Highgate residents risk car damage and injury because of ‘unacceptable’ pot-holes in and around the Southwood Lawn Road area according to Lib Dem councillor, Lynne Featherstone.

Cllr Featherstone, who has written to the Council on numerous occasions regarding these pot-holes, visited the site and was angered to see that months after contractors had marked around the holes with chalk, they had still not been filled in.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“I am angered by the failure of Haringey Council to rectify this problem. I measured a pot-hole at the top of Southwood Lawn Road and it was three inches deep. The contractors were ordered to repair it but since marking it a few months ago they have done nothing. “

Highgate councillor Neil Williams adds:

“This is not an isolated problem. I have had complaints from residents in surrounding roads such as Southwood Avenue where pot-holes have remained unrepaired for months on end. The Council must speed up these kinds of repair works to local roads.”

Lib Dem Cllr Lynne Featherstone has voiced concerns over state of Finsbury Park. Ms Featherstone has pledged to work closely with Friends of Finsbury Park (FFP) and local residents to help them restore and rejuvenate the park, following a visit there last week.

Cllr Featherstone was accompanied on the visit by local Lib Dem campaigners, Dr Francis Oparaji and Laura Edge on the visit, after local residents and FFP members expressed their concerns regarding the state of parts of the park and the effects of the summer concerts on the park and the local residents.

The Lib Dems are now looking to work with local groups to ensure that Haringey Council addresses some of the issues that have been raised.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“I think it is a great shame that such a wonderful piece of local parkland is being neglected. There are immediate issues regarding litter and fly-tipping that must be resolved as well as the more complex issues regarding the summer concerts and how these are run.

“The current situation is unacceptable and I will be contacting the FFP and looking at ways for us to make the Park a more pleasant place for residents.”

Local Lib Dem campaigner Laura Edge added:

“I think it is important that we listen to the residents especially on the issue of concerts. The state that the Park is left in after these events and the disruption they cause in setting them up is unacceptable. The event organisers would not get away with it in Hyde Park, so why should they get away with it here?”

Lib Dem Social Services Spokesperson Cllr Ron Aitken, has written to the head of the local strategic health authority to urge the immediate publication of the finding of the inquiry into the conviction of Dr Timothy Healy, convicted on indecency charges last September.

Mr Aitken said it is now seven moths since Dr Healy’s conviction and removal from the list of General Practitioners. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, reduced on appeal to eight. Ron Aitken says the speedy publication of the health authority’s inquiry is of concern to Haringey residents.

Although Dr Healy was a Barnet GP, his home, at which he treated patients, was in Haringey, and he had also worked at the Whittington Hospital which treats many Haringey patients.

Ron Aitken comments:

“I am extremely concerned to see the prompt publication of this report and all its findings. Seven months have passed and it is essential that any victims in Haringey can be given support and advice about what would certainly have been a devastating experience for others in Barnet.

“Delays are not acceptable, and I have asked Marcia Saunders, Chair of the North Central London Health authority, to publish the report. All the agencies involved, as well as the victims whose lives have been affected, need the greatest possible confidence that such a tragedy never happens again.”