Liberal Democrats urge local people to fight plans that paved the way for Pinkham Way

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Lynne Featherstone MP is today contacting thousands of constituents, in order to ensure that local people get the best chance to respond to a consultation that could have major effects on the plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP is keen to ensure that local residents are aware of and get some advice on how to best respond to a consultation on the designation of land at the Pinkham Way site.

Labour-run Haringey Council has been forced to re-run the consultation that paved the way for the plans for a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way, after being reprimanded by the planning inspectorate. The initial consultation, which changed the land designation from employment to industrial land, was so poorly run that Haringey has been shamed into re-running it.

Liberal Democrats, who are fighting the plans at Pinkham Way, are keen to make sure no one misses out on the chance to respond this time. As well as leafleting thousands of homes close to Pinkham Way, Liberal Democrat MP Lynne is today also contacting thousands of residents, to urge them to respond before the 3rd November deadline.

Any residents who want more information about how to respond should contact Lynne’s office on 020 8340 5459 or email onlynne@lynnefeatherstone.org.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The way Labour ran the consultation last year was disgraceful, and I’m glad that the Planning Inspector agrees with us and has forced Labour to do a re-run.

“The change in the designation of land from employment to industrial paved the way for the North London Waste Authority to submit plans for Pinkham Way. Anyone who is worried about Pinkham Way should take them time to respond to this consultation and object to the change of land designation – we have everything to gain from a strong response from local residents!”

Alexandra Councillor Juliet Solomon adds:

“The change in land designation and the way the consultation was carried out last year was one of my main points of concern when I stood up to the Labour Council on this in July.

“The last consultation was carried out in a shoddy way, with not enough local people being consulted. It’s good that this sneaky behaviour has not gone unpunished, and now it’s down to all of us to respond – please get in touch with Lynne’s office for details on how to do so.”

MP joins forces with Olympics organisers for this year’s Christmas card competition

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Lynne with 2010 Christmas card winner

In celebration of the upcoming year of sport with London hosting the 2012 Games, Lynne Featherstone MP has this year joined forces with the Olympic organisers to launch her annual Christmas card competition.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP is making the theme of this year’s Christmas card competition, which she has been running since 2005, ‘an Olympic Christmas’. She is inviting primary school students from all local schools to join in by drawing pictures that are Olympics or Paralympics and Christmas themed.

As always, the winning entry will feature on the cover of her Christmas card, to go out to thousands of people across the area, and the winner will this year also go on a special tour of the Olympic park with the Liberal Democrat MP. The winner’s class will also get 2012 Games memorabilia, and the chance to win tickets for the Games.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“2012 will be something really special with London hosting the Games. I thought making this year’s competition Olympics themed was a wonderful opportunity to get primary school students excited about the Olympics and Paralympics.

“Schools are also being encouraged to join the 2012 organisers’ Get Set programme, where they will all get the chance to win tickets for both of the Games.

“I look forward to seeing some fun sporty entries this year, and taking the winner on an Olympic tour!”

Local MP supports impressive community project at Alexandra Palace Allotments

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With project team at AllotmentTo support an impressive lottery winning project that will make the world of difference to green-fingered allotment users, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday officially opened Haringey’s first green composting toilet at Alexandra Palace allotments.

The project, funded by a £4,000 lottery grant, came into being thanks to allotment faithfuls Colin Roberts and John Wilkinson, who came up with the idea and secured the funding. Thanks to an impressive team of allotment users who built the disability-friendly facility from scratch, users from all walks of life can now spend more time tending to their plots, without cutting their visits short.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“This is an impressive example of the community coming together to realise a long-held wish. Having to cut your visit to your plot short because of lack of facilities has been the case for many allotment users for years. Now that will all change thanks to the inspiration of Colin, John, Mike and Anne and their team of constructors.

“It’s something so simple, but it took someone with vision and the efforts of many to make it happen. I’m hugely impressed – well done all at Alexandra Palace allotments!”

Alexandra Palace allotments Chairman (also Highgate Lib Dem Councillor) Bob Hare adds:

“I know just how much work it was to dig the large hole over the 3 month period, and then to build the project around the composter unit, but I also know just how much the unit is appreciated by everyone.

“Allotment culture has changed, and many families are spending more time on their plots perhaps eating lunch or supper, which makes having a facility like this a really fantastic benefit.”

Liberal Democrats join FoodCycle 1st birthday celebrations

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Liberal Democrats join FoodCycle 1st birthday celebrations

To mark one year of serving good healthy food to the people of Stroud Green, Lynne Featherstone MP and Councillor Richard Wilson joined in the festivities and visited FoodCycle Cafe to celebrate their 1st birthday on Friday.

The Cafe, in the MIND Centre in Station House on Stapleton Hall Road, which opened its doors to the people of Haringey one year ago, serves affordable vegetarian food to local residents using unwanted produced from local supermarkets.

The Stroud Green Cafe, one of only two in London, aims to recycle unwanted produce from large and small supermarkets, providing good value healthy food where it’s needed most.

Lynne Featherstone MP was recently instrumental in persuading Tesco to join the other major supermarket chains in donating unwanted food to FoodCycle.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments

“We live in a society of waste. FoodCycle is working hard to turn waste into nutrition for people who need it most. That is admirable and well worth celebrating in itself.

“Here today we are celebrating a whole year of doing this and going from strength to strength, with more people volunteering and more residents taking advantage of the yummy food on offer.

“I’m delighted to be here today and celebrate such an important occasion. I am hoping for many more good years to come!”

Cllr Richard Wilson adds:

“The Station House Cafe has proved hugely popular with local Stroud Green residents, both as customers and volunteers.  Local people have really bought into the FoodCycle concept of reducing waste, protecting the environment and providing nutritious food.

“It is also fantastic to see Stroud Green’s historic Station House being used by the community for such an important cause.  The Cafe has become a really busy and vibrant place for local people.”

Mayoral Candidate and local residents back Lynne in battle for fair funding

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London Lib dems demand Fair funding now!

London Liberal Democrats led by Brian Paddick on Friday gave their firm backing to Lynne Featherstone MP’s long-running campaign for fair funding for the Borough’s schools.

The mayoral candidate joined the fight for better school funding as the second leg in a consultation to simplify the school funding system came to a close on 11th October. This round of consultation has seen an even stronger backing by residents, with close to 130 local people, teachers and schools making personal submissions to the consultation.

Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick, GLA Liberal Democrat member Caroline Pidgeon and GLA candidate Dawn Barnes on Friday jointly backed the campaign during a visit to Haringey.

In addition to fighting for local schools to get fairer funding in a new funding formula, Liberal Democrats are already delivering more funding for local schools, through the pupil premium. It was last week announced that this year, schools will get close to £500 per deprived pupil, an increase on the £430 promised earlier in the year, adding up to an extra £2.2 million for schools in Hornsey and Wood Green. For the Borough, that adds up to a boost of £5.3 million this school year alone.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I’m delighted to have such a strong backing in the battle for fair funding, both from Brian and his team and from local residents who really have come out in force to respond to the consultation. Thank you all.

“I am sure that this strong support will make a world of difference and hopefully tip the balance in favour of our children.

“But local schools are already reaping the benefits of Liberal Democrats in government, by getting an extra £5.3 million to support deprived pupils this year alone. I’m proud to see us delivering for local schools already and I look forward to hearing the outcome of this consultation in the next few months.”

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate, Brian Paddick, adds:

“I was appalled to hear of the long-standing unfairness in the way Haringey schools have been funded over the years.

“But it’s great to see the new government taking strong action to simplify the school funding system and looking specifically at the case of Haringey. I am 100 per cent behind Lynne in her long-running battle for this injustice to end. Give Haringey’s children fair funding now!”

Male primogeniture

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Having long campaigned for the ending of male primogeniture – I am delighted to see the Prime Minister take up the cudgels so forcefully. I am equally delighted that (according to press reports) the Queen is in agreement. Her Majesty’s views are hugely important and will undoubtedly help the cause at the meeting of Commonwealth Heads of State coming shortly.

There was a view expressed by one senior politician – one of the times I raised this issue on the floor of the House a couple of years ago – that it obviously should happen but that it wasn’t a priority. The problem for ending male primogeniture is that it has never been a priority in that way – but it should have been – long before now.

The symbolic resonance of females being pushed out of the way of the line of accession says it all – gives permission to the world (and I do mean the world) to discriminate against women. It’s importance cannot be underestimated.

So I hope and trust that this most basic of examples of discrimination will be set right in the not to distant future.

 

MP visits inspiring housing development in Crouch End

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To see how a housing estate in Crouch End has been transformed into high quality new homes, Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited Saxon Chase on Dickenson Road.

The original homes were purchased by housing association L&Q in 1987 and leased to Haringey Council to provide accommodation for their residents. With the end of the lease approaching and the homes nearing the end of their lifespan, the decision was made to seek planning approval to redevelop the site.

The new plans, which were completed towards the end of 2009, offer a mix of high quality homes for people on a range of incomes. This includes homes for outright sale, shared ownership and rent. Residents have benefited from improvements in building and design standards, energy efficiency, security and landscaping following previous issues with anti social behaviour, fly tipping and squatting.

A key theme of the development was the level of consultation between L&Q and the returning residents. A steering group of returning residents was involved from the outset and was given the chance to have input on fundamental design decisions. Even the name of the scheme was chosen by residents to reflect the area’s historical links with Saxon activity.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Housing is one of the biggest issues that local people raise with me, anything from the state of social housing and antisocial behaviour to having waited years for housing.

 

“That’s why it’s especially heart-warming to see this shining new example of what can be done with good design and by having local residents on board.

“I have spoken to many Saxon Close residents here today, and they are all proud of their new homes; they care about them and look after them. And who wouldn’t?   These flats are amazing. Really inspiring stuff!”

L&Q Chief Executive David Montague described the development as:

“A perfect example of the benefits of partnership working. By using a collaborative approach with Haringey Council, our contractor and the Returning Residents Group, we have been able to successfully deliver high quality homes that fully meet the needs of the residents. It was great to be able to discuss this with Ms Featherstone today and how housing associations can play a big part in delivering more much needed affordable homes in the future.”

Liberal Democrats applaud fantastic work at Highgate Primary Family centre

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Lynne making a cake with twins at the centre

Despite Haringey council’s drastic cuts, Highgate Children’s Centre continues to provide an outstanding service to local parents and children. Liberal Democrats Lynne Featherstone MP and Highgate Cllr Rachel Allison dropped in at Wednesday’s parent and toddler session to see what changes have been made.

Haringey’s initial decision to slash funding and close the centre was modified at a special committee hearing forced by local Liberal Democrats. However, funding is now in place for just three days, and supplemented by small charges of £2-£3 per session for parents.

The upside is that the Centre is now open for community use two days a week. So far the space has been used by various local organisations such as residents’ associations. Highgate Primary head teacher William Dean is actively exploring other possibilities, such as hosting the older people’s luncheon club which is no longer held at Jackson’s Lane since funding was cut earlier this year.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I’m so proud of the family centre, of Highgate Primary head teacher William Dean and centre manager Kate Imerson for continuing this invaluable service despite the tough financial situation.

“Thanks to my Liberal Democrat colleagues on the Council, the staff at Highgate Primary and local residents, the decision to cut their funding completely was reversed at the council’s watchdog committee and the small sum of money promised by the council this year has meant they can keep up their admirable work.”

Highgate Councillor Rachel Allison adds:

“Being a new parent can be very isolating, and places like Highgate Primary Family Centre are absolutely invaluable.

“The Highgate Primary Family Centre has set the benchmark for other Children’s Centres. To be able to continue to offer services despite the cuts and expand into community use is fantastic news for everyone in Highgate. I look forward to seeing their amazing work go from strength to strength – long may this continue!”

Carol Morley's film – Dreams of a Life

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Joyce Vincent was found dead in her flat in Wood Green Sky City. She had been dead three years. The TV was on and there were Christmas presents still wrapped on the floor.

This was a case that completely mystified me – and the rest of the world – when it went public. How could a woman lie dead for three years in her flat with no one – absolutely no one – knowing or caring? Outside of her personal life – for you never know why someone will retreat from the world for their own personal reasons – what about the rent, the gas, the council tax, the caretaker and the neighbours?

I pursued all of this for a very long time. The Housing Association made changes so that anyone living in their premises on their own had to be visited in person each year. Everyone had a reason why no one had pursued entry to the flat. Out of desperation, having found out that Joyce had been in a women’s refuge a few years earlier – I even tracked the refuge down and visited on my own one evening. A young woman let me in and we talked about the existence there. She said even there – although safe – no one cared if you lived or died. I pursued it with the refuge charity – who said – no they didn’t follow up with women who left. All my efforts – with all of the agencies who should have entered the flat – in the end led to a few small changes but no further enlightenment on the mystery that was Joyce Vincent.

Some while later – a film maker – Carol Morley contacted me. She had been absorbed by this case – as had I – and was hoping to make a film about it. I met her and we talked. Some time later – she contacted me again as she now was making the film – and I agreed to do a piece to camera answering questions. There is a good article today about this here.

When I went to where she was filming – I was gobsmacked at what she had found out about Joyce’s life. How had Carol managed all of this – when the police, the journalists, the media had not? It’s an astonishing story.

Dreams of a Life will be shown at the 2011 BFI London Film Festival. The film has been shortlisted for the Grierson award for best documentary at the LFF. It will go on general release in March 2012. www.dreamsofalife.com

 

UPDATE: Film will now be released on December 16th!

Priory road safety – pedestrian crossing success after seven-year battle

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This week work has started on a zebra crossing to improve the safety of Priory Road in Muswell Hill following a successful campaign by local Liberal Democrats which started over seven years ago.

Cllr Gail Engert and Lynne Featherstone MP, whilst a councillor, started a campaign in 2004 following a series of accidents on Priory Road. Now a pedestrian crossing will be installed on Priory Road and there will be associated works including raised entry tables at the junctions of Park Avenue North and Park Avenue South to improve safety for pedestrians.


Cllr Gail Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“I’m glad that local residents will soon have the much-needed zebra crossing to improve safety on this busy road. It is a testament to local residents persistence that we have continued with our campaign for so long.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Such a relief that seven years of campaigning for road safety has finally paid off, it’s fantastic to deliver this great solution for local people.”