Pinkham Way – one step closer to victory!

Posted on 30th Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

I have just sent the below comment to the local papers regarding the North London Waste Authority’s (NLWA) decision to end their procurement process for long term waste management services.

In short – they have decided to keep using the waste facility in Edmonton and keep waste management under control of the local authority (rather than contract them out to a private bidder).

There are now no current plans to use the Pinkham Way site for waste management. I’d like to echo the words of the Pinkham Way Alliance: ‘This is very good news!’

Here’s what I’ve told the local papers:

“The decision to end the procurement for long-term waste management in North London marks a great victory for the Pinkham Way Alliance, the local Liberal Democrats and local residents, who have campaigned hard against the NLWA’s plans.

“From day one, the whole process has been a farce and the strategy deeply flawed. The plan to use Pinkham Way for a waste plant, for instance, was simply inappropriate. They should have been looking at ways to reduce wastage – not thinking of building huge incinerators in unsuitable places.

“It’s all very well the NLWA saying they’re saving us money now by keeping waste management services ‘in house’ – but what about the public money wasted to date on their flawed plans?

“I am of course glad that the NLWA has finally seen sense – but it shouldn’t have taken this long to realise their existing Edmonton site would be suitable.

“We must remain vigilant, though. Although there are now no immediate plans to use the Pinkham Way site, it is still an asset of the NLWA, and different plans to use the site may surface in the future.

“The local Lib Dems and I will be sure to keep residents updated as and when we receive information.”

Lynne Featherstone MP backs Pinkham Way Alliance petition

Posted on 26th Jul 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has encouraged local residents to sign the Pinkham Way Alliance’s current petition to halt the £3 billion waste contract for North London.

The North London Waste Authority is intending to award a 30 year waste contract worth £3 billion for the management of waste across all seven of its member boroughs – including Haringey.

The Alliance assert that the contract is deeply flawed, as it is based on waste predictions for 30 years ahead – absurdly far in advance and already shown to be inaccurate and based on guesstimates.

The new contract could also see renewed plans for a waste facility on Pinkham Way.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green and the PWA have teamed up before, and successfully stopped the building of a massive waste plant on the Pinkham Way site.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Last year, we successfully prevented the building of a completely unsuitable waste plant – but the fight goes on.

“The Haringey Lib Dems and I are now supporting the PWA’s latest petition – and encouraging residents to do the same.”

MP Lynne talks to Greek school students in Wood Green

Posted on 21st May 2012 by Lynne Featherstone

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone visited a local Greek Secondary School in Wood Green on Friday, to talk to students about politics and life as a minister.

The Member of Parliament took questions from students between 12 and 18, and teachers.

She discussed important issues relevant to young people, including the body confidence campaign, staying safe online, and the Home Office campaign, “This is Abuse,” which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of abuse and rape amongst teenagers and young people.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented,

“I always enjoy visiting local schools, and I was delighted to visit such a unique school. The students recently went to visit Parliament, and it’s clear that many of them are really engaged with politics.”

Local MP visits an urban oasis

Posted on 1st Feb 2012 by Lynne Featherstone

An award winning project in Bounds Green, which has transformed a derelict piece of land into a green community hub, has been praised by local MP Lynne Featherstone.

The MP visited Imperial Road, to see how the £140,000 has been invested by housing group Places for People, and the benefit it has had on local residents.

The project is part of a £15.6 million Big Lottery project which has seen Places for People transform public space in 80 communities across the UK. The Group has worked with 30,000 people to introduce parks and community gardens as well as the creation of sports facilities, play areas, wildlife habitats, sensory gardens and green social enterprises.

The green spaces project at Imperial Road provides:

A community garden with colourful play equipment for smaller children
A ball games area for young people
Improved lighting, a notice board, new railings and lockable gates ensuring better security for residents.
Seating areas, planting and shelter creating an attractive environment where residents can socialise.
Shrubs and wild flower meadow where residents can get involved in gardening.

Including residents in both the design and management of the spaces has helped to create a sense of ownership and pride within the community. As Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I’m amazed at how this area has been transformed, into a colourful, fun, welcoming community area where neighbours, old and young, can socialise and play. Having met quite a few local people here today, it’s clear that this small project has made a big difference to residents’ lives.”

David Hooper, Regional Manager at Places for People said:

“Good quality green spaces are essential to the well-being of our towns and cities and this exciting programme has delivered environmental and social improvement by providing the local residents with new places to play and relax.”

NLWA boss refuses to attend public meeting on Pinkham Way

Posted on 19th May 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Local Liberal Democrats have demanded that Haringey Council intervenes after the top boss at the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) this week refused to attend a public meeting on the controversial plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way.

In April 2011, Lynne Featherstone MP asked David Beadle, the managing director of the NLWA to speak at a meeting to raise awareness about proposals to build the waste plant and to listen to local concerns before the NLWA submitted the planning application to Haringey Council.

Following the rebuff by NLWA Lynne Featherstone MP has today written to the Labour representatives who sit on the publicly funded NLWA board, Councillors Nilgun Canver and George Meehan, asking that they personally intervene by asking the top boss to reconsider the invitation.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The consultation into plans to build a huge waste plant at Pinkham Way to date has been shambolic. I’m really disappointed that the waste authority has refused to address these concerns by attending a public meeting.

“Being at the meeting and being prepared to listen to local residents, before submitting the plans, would have gone some way towards giving residents assurances that their concerns will be heard.

“The NLWA is a public body funded by local tax payers – they should feel duty bound to attend a meeting and engage with residents over these major plans. I have today therefore written to councillors Meehan and Canver, asking them encourage Mr Beadle to reconsider.

“I share many residents’ fears about the plans to build this huge waste plant in a residential area and right next to local schools. The area already suffers from bad traffic, and over 330 lorries entering and exiting the site each day will make a bad situation worse. Rest assured, I will stand alongside residents in fighting these plans.”

Local Liberal Democrats meet Pinkham Way bosses to raise residents' concerns

Posted on 15th Apr 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

To make sure that the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) is aware of local concern over plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way, local Liberal Democrats yesterday presented the authority’s top boss with views from hundreds of local residents who had responded to a Liberal Democrat survey.

Lynne Featherstone MP and Alexandra ward councillor Juliet Solomon met with David Beadle following serious concerns about a lack of consultation of residents living close to the proposed site. To ensure local residents could have their say, Liberal Democrats earlier in April sought the views of thousands of local people in Alexandra and Bounds Green wards.

At the meeting, residents’ top concerns were raised, such as the size of the development and levels of traffic and pollution. The Waste Authority also promised to write to local residents in early May to explain the plans in more detail.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The plan to build a waste plant at Pinkham Way will have a big effect on people in Bounds Green and Alexandra wards – yet 97% of people who responded to our survey felt they had not been adequately consulted. That’s just not good enough when we’re talking about such a major development.

“So I was glad to be able to raise residents’ concerns. People are mainly worried about the size of the development, the volume of traffic, noise and odour. I hope the NLWA will consider these views closely before putting in their planning application later in the spring. And I hope that from now on, local residents will get a chance to have a say at every step of the way.”

Alexandra councillor Juliet Solomon adds:

“It’s good to see that the NLWA is doing something about the lack of information for local residents – and they are now planning to write to everyone living close to the site, to set the plans out in more detail.

“It’s crucial that local people know what’s going on so that they are in a good place to respond to the planning application later on in the spring. In the meantime, residents can of course write to both Lynne and me with their concerns, and we will communicate them to the NLWA. We’re here to support you, so don’t hesitate to get in touch”.

Bounds Green residents outraged at lack of consultation on Pinkham Way

Posted on 7th Apr 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

A group of local mothers have this week confirmed fears about the lack of consultation of the local community over plans to build a new waste plant at Pinkham Way.

Lynne Featherstone MP met with mums who live close to the site on Friday (1st April 2011) to listen to their concerns and find out what consultation has taken place to date on the controversial plans. One local mother, Sakina Chenot, said she was “outraged” at the lack of consultation.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP arranged the meeting after being contacted by worried residents who feel they have not been informed or consulted about plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way in Bounds Green. At the meeting, local residents Sakina, Lisa, Tara and Parveen questioned Haringey Council and the Waste Authority’s claim that local people had received letters about the plans in February. Whilst Barnet Council, who own the land, have made efforts to inform residents about the plans, Haringey Council have been quiet on the issue, leaving local residents unsure of what is happening.

To make sure people affected by the plans get a chance to have a say, Lynne Featherstone MP last week wrote to thousands of local residents asking for their views before she meets with the Waste Authority on the 14th April. Residents who want to write to Lynne about the plans, should either email her on lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org or write to her at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I’m really worried about the plans for Pinkham Way and their knock-on effect on people living in the Bounds Green and Alexandra Area. And a lot of local residents share my concern.

“With any such major plans, it’s essential that local people have a say. It’s really worrying that local people feel they have not been informed or consulted.

“That’s why I wrote to thousands of local residents last week, asking for their views. I’ll make sure the Waste Authority hear of them when we meet up. And there is still time. If you are worried, do get in touch.”

Bounds Green resident Sakina Chenot adds:

“The waste authority is planning to build a waste plant very close to my house, but no one from either the NLWA or Haringey have contacted me about the plans. I’m very surprised at claims that we have all received letters about this. All four of us here today live within close proximity to Pinkham Way, and none of us have had anything through our letterbox.

“As a local resident who will be directly affected, I am outraged that I haven’t had a say yet. I want to make my voice heard on this development, which I fear will have a real detrimental effect on the local neighbourhood – consult me now!”

Haringey Liberal Democrats ask for views on Pinkham Way development

Posted on 28th Mar 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrats have renewed their calls for consultation with local residents on the controversial plans for a depot and new waste processing facilities at Pinkham Way.

Earlier this month local councillor, Juliet Solomon, met with Council bosses to highlight the complete lack of any consultation with residents in Alexandra ward and to raise a number of their concerns, in particular the impact of the additional lorry traffic on an already busy area.

Cllr. Solomon and Lynne Featherstone MP are now asking for all local residents’ views on the proposals so they can ensure that these concerns are clearly taken into account when they meet in a few weeks’ with top bosses at the North London Waste Authority (NLWA).

Last week residents in Bounds Green met to discuss the issue and agreed to fight the plans, highlighting their concerns over the size of the development, the noise and traffic created by the 24-hour facility and the potential storage of methane gas.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s clear from the many residents’ meetings over the past week that many people think they are being left out of a massive decision that will affect their community greatly.

“Liberal Democrats want local residents’ voices to be heard and that is why we will be going to NLWA armed with concerns from local people. I ask that anybody who is concerned get in touch and we will make sure that NLWA sit up and listen.”

Cllr Juliet Solomon (Alexandra ward) adds:

“I am still not convinced that council bosses fully understand that local people deserve to be consulted. This is the largest development in this area for years yet many people feel that their concerns are being ignored.”

Local MP celebrates twenty years with residents at Passmore Edwards House

Posted on 2nd Aug 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of sheltered housing scheme Passmore Edwards House, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday joined the residents in special birthday festivities.

The Liberal Democrat MP, who has visited the scheme on many occasions, most recently to see an allotment project co-run with Bounds Green school, had the honour of cutting the birthday cake. The MP also got to meet four very special residents, Kiymet Huseyin, Maureen Greene, Audrey Hagger and Rene Contzen, who have all lived at the scheme from the very first day it opened.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Passmore Edwards House is such a warm and welcoming place, and I always have such fun when I come here, be it to check out the allotment, or sing with the residents.

“So it feels very special to be celebrating with such a lovely crowd here today, especially with Kiymet, Maureen, Audrey and Rene who have been here from day one! So happy birthday Passmore Edwards!”

Liberal Democrats demand action as CCTV post remains vacant

Posted on 21st Mar 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrat Crime Spokesperson Cllr Ron Aitken has demanded action after it was revealed that a key Haringey Council crime-fighting post has been left vacant for several months.

Minutes from Haringey’s Safer Communities Executive Board (18 February 2010) show that the post of CCTV Manager has been vacant for several months at a time when residents have been demanding measures to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. The funds allocated for the post have been used to provide temporary cover, but the Liberal Democrats say the lack of a permanent post-holder has caused other initiatives to be stalled.

Cllr Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat Crime Spokesperson, comments:

“The lack of a permanent CCTV Manager is affecting other aspects of Haringey Council’s crime-fighting strategy.

“For example, a request by the Queen’s Road Neighbourhood Watch for a CCTV camera, to watch a notorious crime spot near Bowes Park over-ground station, was turned down.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green adds:

“It’s really worrying that for months there has been no permanent staff member in such a crucial post – the effective use of CCTV does not simply depend on the cameras but on the people who manage and monitor them.

“With evidence that other aspects of the crime fighting strategy may be suffering as a result, Haringey Council needs to get its act together and recruit a permanent member of staff as soon as possible.”