Liberal Democrat councillor Lynne Featherstone has attacked the council for failing to deal with a graffiti problem in the borough for over ten years after having discovered anti-poll tax graffiti on the bridge of Stapleton Hall Road, Hornsey which is dated ‘1990’.

Cllr. Featherstone, who has campaigned hard on the issue for the past few years, was disappointed to find that no-one had taken responsibility for it.

“After initial calls to Environmental Services they seemed to have no idea who was responsible for the up keep of the bridge and as a consequence no one took any responsibility for it. However, persistence has now paid off: the council has apologised and promised a site visit will take place very soon to inspect the problem.

“As low priority as it may be, it is still an eyesore. For this piece of graffiti to remain for over ten years is a disgrace. I will be keeping a close eye to ensure that action is taken quickly to remove this graffiti that has long over stayed its welcome.”

The Liberal Democrats say this case highlights the problems with Haringey’s chronic underspending on graffiti with the Labour-run council having spent only £15,000 a year compared with a London average of over £200,00 per year. Following their campaigns on the issue last year, Haringey Council is now budgeting to increase its spending on graffiti fighting.

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone joined party leader Charles Kennedy and other prominent Lib Dems on the peace march in central London on Saturday. The march was also joined by local celebrity Andy Kershaw of Crouch End

Ms Featherstone says that people in Haringey support the Lib Dem approach of giving peace a chance, and that the case for war against war has not been made. She says that the present climate is damaging to community cohesion in a diverse borough such as Haringey, and wants the Government to pursue every avenue at the United Nations, and to give the UN weapons inspectors more time to do their job.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“The huge number of people demonstrating on Saturday, including large numbers from Haringey, should send an unequivocal message to the Government that we must to give peace a chance.

“People from all parties and all walks of life were present. We know in Haringey from our own experience that the threat of international terror is real. That will not be solved by an attack on Iraq without UN approval. We must show the government and Tony Blair that we do not accept the inevitability of this war.”

Highgate’s Liberal Democrat councillors have described as very constructive the first consultation meeting over the proposed controlled parking zone (CPZ) for the area.

Councillors Melanie Simpson, Bob Hare and Neil Williams, who all attended the first consultation meeting last week with local resident groups, received strong support for their proposal that a steering group of representatives from local residents’ associations should be set up to oversee the process.

The Lib Dems say this is vital, as they want Highgate residents and businesses to know that they are the ones in charge of deciding on any parking scheme that is put forward, and to ensure that the maximum number of Highgate residents participate in the process.

Lib Dem councillor Bob Hare comments:

“This was a very good meeting. We are delighted that our suggestion of a steering group received strong support from local residents groups.Residents should rightly be in charge of the process.

“Having covered the area around the tube station, in the coming weeks there will now be similar meetings with residents groups from Highgate village, and with local businesses who have a vital role to play.

“We will continue to work together in a sensible way and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.Resident’s must themselves make the key decisions on parking controls in Highgate.”

Wayne Hoban, Lib Dem councillor for Alexandra ward, has succeeding in securing a site meeting with council officers to examine options for upgrading the site known as the ‘Triangle’ situated at the junction of Palace Gates Road and Crescent Road.

Following a local survey he conducted last year which showed that many residents consider the site to be an eyesore, graffiti stained, and generally uncared-for, Cllr Hoban has been urging the council to take action to improve the site.

Cllr Hoban commented:

“I am pleased that the council have at last responded to my call for action. This site has been neglected for far too long. Local residents continue to send a clear message that they both want and expect action.”

Liberal Democrats are calling for action from Haringey Council over traffic problems in Alexandra ward after a key meeting with Derek Turner, Managing Director of Transport for London (TfL), held in an attempt to break the deadlock.

Liberal Democrats secured an agreement from TfL to provide up to £100,000 towards traffic calming in Alexandra, provided that Haringey Council produced sensible and detailed plans. However, despite the offer first being made in November 2001, the money is still unspent as Haringey Council has repeatedly failed to produce the necessary plans and information to free up the money.

Muswell Hill ward councillor and London Assembly Transport Policy Committee member Lynne Featherstone met with Derek Turner last week to try to break the deadlock. Mr Turner confirmed that the money was still available if Haringey Council presented appropriate plans and supplied the technical details required by Transport for London, but he warned that if appropriate plans and detailed information were not presented the money might even be lost to Haringey: “it was an unlikely but potential risk.”

Following the meeting, she has written to Peter Norton at Haringey Council urging the council to get a move on. Alexandra ward councillor, and Muswell Hill Area Assembly chair, Susan Oatway has also been pressing for action, and has now secured agreement for the much-delayed “focus group” consultation process to restart.

Councillor Oatway comments,

“The local residents have worked tirelessly on this issue for months and I find it frustrating that the council has yet to come up with any viable plans. The council keeps on changing the goalposts for the consultation process and all the time the months tick away without the £100,000 being used.”

Councillor Featherstone comments,

“The council has in the past claimed that the money can’t be spent until issues related to the North Circular are resolved – but TfL has made it clear that this isn’t the case. If the council carries on delaying and trying to tie this money in to other projects, people will inevitably suspect that the real motive is the Labour-run council attempting to take the money away from Alexandra and spend it in other wards.”

Lib Dem Councillor Lynne Featherstone is lobbying Haringey Council to invest in restoring a green verge that runs along Bounds Green Road from the North Circular to the end of Tewkesbury Terrace. The verge is particularly used by residents who walk to school and work.

Cllr. Featherstone has been in correspondence with senior managers in Environmental Services, expressing residents’ concerns over the state of the area. She has highlighted a shortage of litter and dog litter bins as well as problems with the state of the pathways.

“The green lies on the border of Enfield and as a result the council seems to have forgotten about it. I have highlighted many possible improvements that residents have raised with me – from extra litter bins to the installation of benches so that people can sit down there.

“As yet I have had no firm promises. However, the council has told me that they will look into the need for extra bins and consider placing dog litter bins on the verge too.

“I am not expecting overnight change to the verge, but I am asking the council to install the basics now, such as bins and to ensure that other more costly improvements are budgeted for in the next financial year.”

Lib Dem Councillor Ross Laird, who has been campaigning over the past six months to improve conditions at Connaught House, Muswell Hill, has welcomed news that Haringey Council is now in dialogue with the Metropolitan Police and Housing 21, which manages the property.

He has also received assurances from the Metropolitan Police that they are seeking to extend the current contract for some months.

Cllr Laird commented:

“I welcome the Council’s response to my urgent demands and those of local residents. Until we know the likely outcome of the termination of the contract with the housing association, Housing 21, we need to be in a position whereby the Council can react swiftly to either rehouse residents or assist in finding a suitable housing association to run the building.

“The delayed termination of the contract which is currently being discussed by the Metropolitan Police would certainly help buy us all time, but still does not solve the issue. I look forward to further meetings on this issue.”

Lib Dem councillors representing Muswell Hill pledged to residents to do all they can to lobby Haringey Council for much needed resources to clean up and improve the environment around the parade of shops at Priory Road and Park Road.

Cllr Ross Laird addressed a packed meeting at St George’s church, Cranley Gardens, organised by local trader Mario Petru on 10th February. He said that he would take forward a range of issues and that he had already had meetings with council officers to try and clean up and improve the car park at the entrance to Alexandra Park.

Cllr Laird commented:

“This parade of shops is vital to the local community. Local traders are to be congratulated on their efforts to raise awareness of the problems in the area. I am working with officers to try and improve the car park opposite the shops, which over the past few months has become a favourite dumping ground. In addition, we will be taking forward a range of issues, from blocked drains to speeding traffic in the area and seeking additional Council resources to deal with these issues.

“I look forward to continuing to work with local residents and traders to safeguard this site and the vital services it provides to the local community.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats have voiced there concerns about the council’s failure to protect vulnerable children following the publication of statistics showing that many children on the child protection register are not receiving sufficient visits from social services.

Children placed on the register should expect six weekly visits from a social worker. However the latest figures released this month show that in November 2002, 8.7% had not been taking place. More disturbingly is the fact that this figure had been steadily increasing during the second half of 2002.

Cllr. Ron Aitken, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Social Services, commented:

“This is unacceptable. These visits are meant to ensure that children are not being mistreated. Missing a visit is a serious matter.

“Since the publication of the Laming Report the council has argued that it has changed and services have improved. These latest figures demonstrate that no amount of spin can hide the reality of this council’s failures and it is time they faced up to them.”

Source: November 2002 performance data for children’s services, paragraph 6.3.4, presented to Executive 04/02/03

Lib Dem councillors and activists have been working closely with council officers to remove billboards erected illegally on the site of the Hornsey Waterworks development.

Councillors Bob Hare and Dave Winskill, supported by local activist David Burridge, have been working closely with council officers since they received complaints from residents of the St. James’ area eight months ago.

Local Lib Dem activist David Burridge commented:

“The billboards are grotesque, they should not have been erected and the residents want them down. We are working closely with council officers to ensure that this happens as soon as possible.”

Cllr. Bob Hare, Lib Dem environment spokesperson was keen to praise the hard work of council officers, while expressing his anger at Thames Water:

“The council are trying to find a fast solution to the problem whilst Thames Water continue to take advantage of the site and local residents for a ride. Notice was served in November for the removal of the signs but they are still there. We will continue to press the council to take firmer action on this issue and rid Hornsey of these eyesores.”