Lib Dem councillors Lynne Featherstone and Melanie Simpson have expressed their concern following recent reports that three local police stations out of the five in the borough may face closure to make way for a police super station.

For many years the Lib Dems have worked closely with local police on a number of issues, most recently the prominent campaign to reopen Muswell Hill Police Station’s front desk. However the two Councillors, who both sit on the Council’s Crime and Community Safety Committee, were shocked by the news that three of the five stations in the borough could be closed to accommodate the super station.

Cllr. Featherstone, who is also a member of Met Police Authority, commented:

“I am quite disturbed by this report. I think that it would be a big mistake to close down three of our stations in the borough. Residents already find it hard enough to get to the existing stations as it is. To remove them would make a bad situation worse for many vulnerable sections in our community.

“Moreover at an MPA full authority meeting today I listened to Chief Commissioner John Stevens talk of ‘Local solutions for local people’. The kind of proposal we are hearing for Haringey flies in the face of this commitment.”

Cllr. Simpson added that no plans had been finalised yet:

“As a Met Police Estates Spokesman said, there is no blue print as yet. However it is important that we express the concerns of our local residents to the Met. Police before any final plans are drawn up.”

Commenting on the decision of Haringey’s two Labour MPs to vote in favour of George Bush and Tony Blair’s drive for war in Parliament last night, Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson, said:

“Yesterday’s vote shows that Barbra Roche and David Lammy are woefully out of step with the concerns of people in Haringey, who do not believe a case for war has been made.

“Mrs Roche in particular, should note that while nearly all our neighbouring Labour MPs voted against war, she has backed George Bush’s war agenda.

“Our local MPs should join calls to allow inspectors to have sufficient time to do their job. Instead they have fed the drive towards war in Iraq.”

Interactive road signs could be the way to reduce speeding and accidents in Haringey according to Liberal Democrat Cllr. Lynne Featherstone. The Lib Dem councillor and GLA member was speaking after visiting a site in Kentish Town where a sign had been erected.

The signs, which flash up a warning if the vehicle approaching is over the speed limit, were piloted in South West England last year and have had rave reviews with road safety officers claiming that some speed cameras are now hardly needed in areas where the signs have been erected.

Cllr. Featherstone comments:

“It was clear that drivers paid attention to speed warning that the signs gave and reduced their speed.

“There are parts of Haringey, such as Cranley Gardens and Muswell Hill, where drivers often fail to observe the speed limit. A sign that reminds them that they are going too fast could reduce the number of accidents as well improving the quality of life for residents in the area. This is one way forward and I will continue to press the council over this issue.”

Lib Dems in Highgate have expressed alarm that two post offices on the Archway Road have been earmarked for closure as a result of post office restructuring plans for the area. One of the post offices, at 180 Archway Road, is in the Lib Dem held ward of Highgate, and local councillor Neil Williams says he is concerned over the future of postal services in the Highgate and Archway area.

The Lib Dems have been warning of possible post office closures, and say that the development does not bode well for the future of local post office services.

Neil Williams comments:

“This is a not a welcome development.While there are other post offices in the Highgate area, the sub post office at 180 Archway Road will be sorely missed.

“Royal Mail mustn’t forget that there are a lot of elderly residents in the Highgate and Archway areas who rely on the local post office. They should also remember that Highgate is a hilly part of London and the walk up to the village can be a major trek for some residents.”

Lynne Featherstone, who recently presented a petition from Haringey residents against post office closures to Vincent Cable MP, adds:

“These plans show how important it is for us to keep up the pressure on both the Post Office and the Government on this issue. It would be a disaster if they continue with their present policies which would see the closure of a third of urban post offices.”

Residents wishing to express their concern at the closure can do so by sending an email to: PostOffices@haringeylibdems.org

Note – the Post Office release reads as follows:

TwoPostOffice branches in London could close this year as part of local changes designed to safeguard the future of urban Post Office branches in the area.

PostOfficeLtdannounced last year that it intended to undertake a programme to restructureandmoderniseitsnationalnetworkofmore than 9,000 urban Post Officesbranches.Inmanycitiesandtownsthere are simply too many outlets competingfor too little business. Along with increased running costs and concerns aboutfutureincomeincludingchangesto the way benefits are paid, many subpostmasters will no longer have viable businesses unless changes are made.

Now, following a preference exercise during which subpostmasters across the country were asked to indicate their wishes for the future, the business has agreed with the subpostmasters of 21 Archway Road branch and 180 Archway Road branch, that his branch should close permanently in May 2003.

George Hooper, Head of Area, said this week: “Proposals to close Post Office branches are not made without considerable research and discussion so we are anxiousthat customers and all relevant organisations understand our rationale and have the opportunity to give us their views.

“We have a responsibility to ensuring that customers in London will continue to have reasonable access to local Post Office products and services. Even after any changes are made, well over 95% of customers will still live within a mile of a Post Office branch.

“Having met with the subpostmasters from 21 Archway Road, 180 Archway Road Post Office branches and also with other local subpostmasters, we have concluded that if these branches were to close, it would improve the long-term prospects of the other branches in the area. In particular, we have made sure that Highgate High Street branch, 7 Highgate Street, Highgate Near Station branch, Archway Road and Upper Holloway branch would be fully geared up to cope with extra customers should the closures go ahead.

“Therefore we are proposing to close these branches permanently. But before we make a final decision we want to hear of any concerns customers and others might have about the closure and about the services provided by our nearest, alternative branches no final decisions will be taken until we have considered all views.

Lib Dem councillors are pressing Haringey Council to guarantee funds for maintaining and repairing two libraries in Haringey. The move follows written answers from the council last week that failed to give a clear commitment for much needed library repairs in Alexandra and Highgate branches.

Cllr. Barbara Fabian, Shadow Education Spokesperson and Wayne Hoban, Lib Dem Deputy Leader, are planning a lobby of council following revelations that there is no funding outlined in this year’s budget for maintaining and repairing the libraries. Alexandra and Highgate Libraries are in need of £20,000 – £50,000 of work to their exterior, much of it having been recognised almost three years ago.

Cllr. Hoban comments:

“I recently asked the council if they were planning to carry out any of the repairs that were recommended in June 2000 following a condition survey to Alexandra Library or from the access audit in April 2002. I have been told that repairs will be implemented ‘as soon as feasible.'”

“This is isn’t good enough we want a clear date as to when our residents will be able to access a library that is clean, welcoming and safe.”

Cllr. Fabian adds:

“It is essential we have modern and well equipped libraries in the borough. Only if they are looked after will libraries become such a central part of a community. I am working closely with Cllr. Hoban to ensure that the council make this a priority.”

Haringey’s Liberal Democrats have urged the Council to take heed of the moving speeches made by Mr and Mrs Climbie in the Haringey Council chamber.

The parents of Victoria said repeatedly that during their time in the UK, they had met all the agencies involve in their daughter’s case, with the exception of Haringey.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Climbie told the council meeting that the only way to learn from the mistakes was to acknowledge fault, and that they had failed to hear this acknowledged by Haringey. Without this acknowledgement, said Mr Climbie, he could not have any hope that the Council would improve its dealings with children.

Mr Climbie said the couple had met many agencies, even the Secretary of State, who had apologised directly to them. It had meant a lot, he said, that so many had taken the time to meet them, and Haringey should have done the same. This was sad, he said.

Ron Aitken, Lib Dem Social Services Spokesman, who invited the Climbies to address the Council, comments:

“As on all occasions during their time in the UK, Mr and Mrs Climbie showed great dignity and courage in addressing the council last night. Let us hope that the Council will heed their words and try to put right their failures to address the family directly over Victoria’s death. Not enough has been done, and it is time to put that right.”

Haringey’s Liberal Democrats expressed regret last night that four Labour councillors, including two directly criticised in the Climbie report, refused to resign their positions.

The Council ruled out of order Lib Dem request for the resignation of Cllrs Adamou, Council Leader Meehan, Deputy Leader Irwin, and Social Services lead member Sulaiman.

Despite the conclusions of Lord Laming, and the moving comments of Victoria Climbie’s parents at the start of the meeting that the council had failed to acknowledge their responsibility, all Labour councillors present voted their confidence in the four councillors.

During the meeting, members of the public walked out when Labour councillor Dennis Dillon said that the council should not “distract ourselves from picking away at the past.” Amidst shout of “go away” by another Labour councillor, the local residents left the council gallery.

Lib Dem Social services spokesman Ron Aitken comments:

“Despite the words of Mr and Mrs Climbie, it is very disappointing that these four councillors have not acknowledged the need for them to step down. Managers have gone, but not a single elected politician has resigned. While we will try to work constructively with Labour to improve children’s services, it makes a fresh start more difficult.”

Liberal Democrat Councillors and residents are celebrating after the council set a deadline of 10th March for Clear Channel International Ltd to remove the illegally constructed hoardings from the Hornsey waterworks site.

The council served notice under Section 11 of the London Local Authorities Act 1995. This means that if Clear Channel fail to remove the hoardings by the set date then the council will enter the premises and remove them themselves.

This action has pleased Lib Dem councillors who have worked with residents and council officers for months to have the hoardings removed.

Cllr. Bob Hare comments:

“I am delighted that we have managed to achieve this result for residents. I am grateful that council officers have taken a firm stance on this issue and not let Clear Channel get away with constructing these eyesores.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats launched their wheelie bin fact sheet this week following numerous queries, concerns and comments from local residents who claimed that the council had not supplied adequate information on the new bins.

The two page fact sheet, put together by Cllr. Lynne Featherstone and Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Cllr. Bob Hare, is being sent to all residents who wrote to the Liberal Democrats regarding this issue. It is also available on request by ringing (020) 8340 5459 as well as online. It contains information regarding bin size and how to change your bin, how to get an ‘assisted collection’ as well as how to appeal against having a wheelie bin.

Cllr. Hare commented:

“I think that we have put together a very useful piece of public information. I hope that the residents of Haringey who felt badly informed over the new bins now feel that they have the relevant information to raise any issues with Haringey Council and Haringey Accord.”

Cllr. Featherstone added:

“It is sad that the opposition has to provide information because the council has failed to supply adequate information to the residents. However I am pleased that this fact sheet will end a lot of worry and misery for local residents concerned by the new bins.”