It looks like the formidable campaign by my LibDem colleague Cllr Matt Davies, the Leaseholders’ forum, various local campaigners (and me) will succeed. You can read the full story here. Haringey Council wanted to charge astronomical charges to their council blocks for digital switchover – £1000 to each home – way over the odds. After a long battle it looks like this will now be reduced to £400. That’s not as low as it could go – but it’s a hell of a lot better than before. Fingers crossed for the meeting next week where this will/should go through.
Tag Archives: haringey council
Haringey Council wastes further taxpayers’ money after delivery error
Local Liberal Democrats have demanded that Haringey Council comes clean on extra costs, after it emerged that the most recent edition of ‘Haringey People’ may have been incorrectly delivered to thousands of homes. Reports suggest that many residents, living in Alexandra ward,received the St. Ann’s and Seven Sisters editions, rather than the normal Muswell Hill edition. Similar delivery errors were found throughout Haringey.
This new revelation puts into further doubt Haringey Council’s use of resources for communication. Last year, the council used £3million of local taxpayers’ money on communication with local residents.
Liberal Democrats have asked the council how many copies of ‘Haringey People’ have been delivered to incorrect areas and how much the error has cost Haringey Council.
Cllr Gail Engert (Muswell Hill) Area Assembly Chair, comments:
“Local residents contacted me, to say that they had not received the correct editions – it is just another example of Haringey Labour failing to get even simple things right.”
Cllr Ed Butcher, Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson, adds:
“This is another nail in the coffin of ‘Haringey People’. For years, local Liberal Democrats have said that this publication is not worth the paper it is written on and that Haringey Council should think of more innovative and up-to-date ways of contacting local residents.
“Now, after this latest mess, Haringey Council has to come clean on how much this will cost local taxpayers.”
Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, adds:
“Haringey residents will be appalled that their money continues to be wasted in this way.”
Local MP steps in to fill information gap on Freedom Pass renewal
Having found out that some older local residents are unaware that they need to renew their Freedom Pass by the end of March, Lynne Featherstone MP is now stepping in and sending out to local residents the necessary information.
The poor information campaign by Haringey Council, who are the local Freedom Pass providers, was brought to the Liberal Democrat MP’s attention by local resident Betty Cairns. Mrs Cairns had spent three hours trying to find out how to renew the pass after spotting a small ad in the local paper about the need for renewal.
The Hornsey and Wood Green MP has now written to local residents to let them know how to renew their passes.
Residents who want to find out more about how to renew the pass can go to: http://www.haringey.gov.uk/older_persons_freedom_pass.
Residents who want to get an application form can either pick one up from their local post office, download it from http://www.haringey.gov.uk/older_persons_freedom_pass.pdf, or call Lynne Featherstone’s office for a copy on 020 8340 5459.
Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, comments:
“It’s appalling that there’s been such a poor effort to let residents know that they need to renew their passes. For those who might not read the local paper regularly, or use the internet, there is very little information out there about the need for renewal, not least since they closed down so many sub-post offices.
“This risks leaving some of our least mobile residents stranded on 1st April – and that is not acceptable.
“Haringey Council should have written to all current Freedom Pass holders to let them know what steps they need to take to avoid being left without a pass. But as that hasn’t been done, I felt the need to step in.”
Haringey Labour falling apart
So – another one bites the dust.
Cllr Sheik Thomson, who was Mayor of Haringey for Labour only the year before last, has resigned from the Labour party and become an independent. Last week Cllr Brian Haley resigned from Labour and joined the LibDems. Just before that, Labour Cllr Alan Dobbie resigned from Labour to become a Tory.
They are dropping like flies. With votes now on the casting vote of the Mayor – that would explain why Labour suddenly cancelled the budget meeting that was set for next Monday.
Roll on the local elections of May 6!
Stroud Green house left empty for three years by Haringey Council
A large three-storey terrace house, which has been empty for nearly a year in Stroud Green ward, is a stark reminder of the failure by Haringey Council to tackle the housing crisis in the borough, local Liberal Democrats said this week.
Latest figures show that 370 council-owned homes are currently empty, whilst over 16,000 families are on the housing waiting lists and 566 families are waiting for properties with more than three bedrooms.
Last week, Liberal Democrats announced a national policy to bring 250,000 empty homes back into use, as part of their economic stimulus and job creation plans.
Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) comments:
“Large families wait for years on waiting lists and in overcrowded temporary accommodation, until homes of this size become available. It’s scandalous that Haringey Council is happy to let this house, which could be a wonderful family home, lie empty for nearly a year.
“No wonder we have such long housing waiting lists in Haringey, when our Labour-run council is so wasteful with its own housing stock.”
Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:
“Week after week I have local families come to me in desperate need of family-sized homes. It makes me so mad to see these properties lie empty, whilst thousands of local residents need homes.
“This is another example of Labour’s failure, locally and nationally, to tackle our housing problem.”
Where did the gritters go?
Here’s my latest column for the Muswell Hill Flyer and the Highgate Handbook:
By the time you read this, I am assuming (hopefully rightly) that the snow has melted and gone and life has returned to normal. But all did not go that well during the two snowfalls – the ones before and after Christmas.
Haringey Council say that they have ‘agreed priorities’ with their contractors on what gritting should happen when it snows. However, those priorities don’t seem to have been met judging by the picture painted by local residents.
I’d been expecting that – as with previous years – Haringey Council would say they had done a good job and residents would say otherwise. So this time round I made sure lots of evidence was gathered in – by emailing out during the first snow fall asking for reports from the people on my email list. (Let me know if you want to sign up to similar emails in future by contacting me on lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org).
I received over 200 emails back with details of each person’s personal experience in their road and they painted a very bleak picture.
Many priority roads (those roads designated to be treated first) were untouched; even where the road surface was done, the pavements of many priority roads were untouched; the side roads were frequently impassable and the majority of the grit bins checked by local councillors Gail Engert and Martin Newton were empty.
It’s a good thing I asked – and people kindly provided so much evidence – because from Haringey Council’s initial response to me it sounded as if Haringey thought all was fine, the contractors had done their job and there was no need to worry. Certainly not – as I was able to point with lists of specific road names where their contractors had not done the work.
It seems to me that if the ‘agreed priorities’ are not actually delivered as agreed then that is a breach of contract. And it would be reassuring to know that Haringey is checking on this rather than me.
Also, although no one expects a local council to be able to grit all the side roads in its area, it should make sure grit supplies are available near residents to grit their own frontages and roads. After all, however clear the main roads are, if you can’t reach them – you’re stuck.
We look enviously at other countries such as the USA and Canada, where each household takes responsibility for clearing their own bit of curb and road. But how can we do that here if there is no supply of grit or salt (even in a pile) in your road? How can you get to the very sparse grit/salt bins that are provided if they are not near where you live and what is the point if they are empty if you do manage to get to them?
And what about the pavements? So many people have accidents during this period. I was in email correspondence with a consultant at the Whittington who said they had 100 snow injured people in just one day.
Surely it must be cost efficient, as well as somewhat more human and considerate, to enable people to help themselves when the weather dumps on us?
So let’s hope that the information provided to Haringey Council enables them to ensure that next time we get a much better service – one where they know what their contractors are really up to and one where residents are given help.
Revealed: the 26 "priority one" roads that Haringey Council failed to grit
As the cold snap tightens its grip, local MP Lynne Featherstone has sent Haringey Council bosses a list of 26 “priority one” roads and a further 64 “priority two” roads in Haringey that were not gritted during December’s snowfall. Local Liberal Democrats have said that this calls into question Haringey Council’s ability to cope with the severe weather and have demanded that HaringeyCouncil is better equipped.
The lists, which were put together after over 200 residents responded to Lynne Featherstone’s call for evidence, shows how widespread dissatisfaction with gritting of local roads has been. The list shows that 26 of the roads reported are “priority one” roads, despite Haringey Council saying that these are supposed to be gritted first as they are major thoroughfares and bus routes.
Earlier in the week, Lynne Featherstone and Cllr Robert Gorrie contacted Haringey Council, demanding that more grit be made available so local residents can grit untreated pavements after reports that grit bins were empty.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“It’s deeply worrying that so many roads which Haringey Council said would be prioritised were not treated properly after the first heavy snowfall in December. Now that the cold weather is continuing I hope that Haringey Council learns from its mistakes and ensures that these major routes are clear and safe.
“It’s clear that better preparations are needed to protect residents from the major risk of accidents and falls that come with the icy roads and pavements.”
Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson, adds:
“Having seen how poorly stocked the grit bins in Muswell Hill and in many other places throughout the borough are, I really worry that residents, especially the elderly and vulnerable, are put at risk every time they leave their homes.
“The pavements are so icy and residents need to have the opportunity to treat the surface themselves if Haringey Council is not doing it for them.”
The 26 “priority one” roads:
Albert Road, N22
Alexandra Park Road, N22
The Avenue, N8
Cranley Gardens, N10
Crouch End Hill, N8
Crouch Hill, N8
Dukes Avenue, N10
Elmfield Avenue, N8
Ferme Park Road, N4, N8
Fortis Green, N10
Fortis Green Road, N10
Inderwick Road, N8
Middle Lane, N8
Mount View Road, N4
Muswell Hill Broadway, N10
Muswell Hill Road, N6
North Hill, N6
Oakfield Road, N4
Ridge Road, N8
Rokesly Avenue, N8
Shepherds Hill, N6
Station Road, N22
Weston Park, N8
Woodside Avenue, N6
Woodland Rise, N10
Southwood Lane, N6
The 64 “priority two” roads:
Beech Drive, N22
Avenue Road, N15
Arcadian Gardens, N22
Berners Road, N22
Birkbeck Road, N17
Blake Road, N11
Bloomfield Road, N6
Causton Road, N6
Cecile Park, N8
Causton Road, N6
Cavendish Road, N4
The Chine, N10
Cholmeley Crescent, N6
Cholmeley Park, N6
Claremont Road, N6
Coolhurst Road, N8
Cranbrook Park, N22
Crescent Road, N8
Cromwell Avenue, N6
Crouch Hall Road, N8
Earlham Grove, N22
Etheldene Avenue, N10
Farrer Road, N8
Florence Road, N4
Gathorne Road, N22
Gisburn Road, N8
Gladwell Road, N8
Glasslyn Road, N8
Granville Road, N4
Grasmere Road, N10
Grosvenor Gardens, N10
Grove Avenue, N10
Grove House Road, N8
Haringey Road, N8
Hermiston Avenue, N8
Highgate Avenue, N6
Langdon Park Road, N6
Lascotts Road, N22
Lyndhurst Road, N22
Montenotte Road, N8
Muswell Avenue, N10
Myddleton Rd, N22
Nightingale Road, N22
Onslow Gardens, N10
Palmerston Road, N22
Park Avenue South, N8
Parkhurst Road, N17
Roseberry Road, N10
Southwood Avenue, N6
Southwood Lawn Road, N22
Stanhope Gardens, N6
St Albans Crescent, N22
St James’s Lane, N10
Sylvan Avenue, N22
Talbot Road, N22
Tivoli Road, N8
Twyford Avenue, N2
Western Road, N22
Wolseley Road, N8
Womersley Road, N8
Woodfield Way, N11
Woodside Road, N22
Woodstock Road, N4
Vallance Road, N22
Haringey's answer to my plea
As previously blogged – emailed Haringey CEO to ask for grit for pavements on priority roads and supply of pile of grit to each side road so we can help ourselves. This is the response I just received:
Dear Ms Featherstone and Councillor Gorrie
Thank you for your email and I share your concern about the welfare of residents in the borough, and I hope you will appreciate that our staff are working extremely hard to keep the borough moving. I know you will also recognise that the cold weather has been prolonged and shows no sign of abating, so we are planning carefully to achieve optimum effect of existing and future stocks.
The council’s contractor Enterprise are working to an agreed set of priorities, that we review continually as we receive weather warnings. This does include publicly accessible grit bins across the borough where the need is greatest – for example in areas with steep slopes where footing is likely to be particularly treacherous.
Yours sincerely
Dr Ita O’Donovan
Chief Executive
So – that’s a no then!
Also – note the ‘agreed priorities’ but clearly from the 26 Priority 1 roads ungritted last time and the 63 ungritted Priority 2 roads – even the ‘agreed priorities’ are not being delivered. As I am sending Ms Donovan the named list of these roads – I look forward to seeing what action she and the Council will be taking.
And – reading between the lines – is she saying they haven’t got enough salt or grit?
Has Haringey gritted your road?
Well – it’s time to see if the deluge of complaints after Haringey Council’s (non-)gritting during the last snow have made an impact on London’s worst council!
In the snow before Christmas I emailed (in my Christmas message to my email list – if you would like to be on it let me know) for people to let me know the status of their road – and the result was that people reported (with road name, time and date) 26 Priority 1 roads ungritted; 63 Priority 2 roads ungritted and 50 non-priority roads remained untouched. I am sending the CEO this information.
Yesterday (with snow expected) I emailed Haringey’s Chief Exec to ask that the Council grit the pavements for Priority 1 and 2 roads as well as the roadway – and to beg that a pile of grit or salt be delivered to all the side roads as soon as is possible – as Haringey don’t appear to clear them even when the cold snap is an extended one.
I know that it is a tough job to get everywhere on the first day – but this looks like it is set to last – and if you are in a side road, however clear the main roads are kept, you may not be able to get to one.
So – once again as the snow falls thick and fast – I could trust what Haringey Council tells me … or I could use you to help be my eyes and ears. Please comment below with road name, the ice/snow situation on the road and what if any gritting and clearing it has had. You can also let me know via Twitter (please include @lfeatherstone so I’ll get all the messages appear in my replies list). Photos would be really helpful too – either via Twitter or put a link in your comment. Thanks!
Concern raised over empty grit bins as snow set to return
Local Liberal Democrats have raised concerns for the safety of local residents during the ongoing cold snap after it was found that local grit bins are empty – just as more snow and icy conditions are set to return. Local councillor, Richard Wilson, has demanded action from Haringey Council after a spot inspection in Stroud Green ward yesterday (Monday) found that all grit bins were empty.
MP Lynne Featherstone and Cllr Robert Gorrie have today also urgently demanded that Haringey Council takes extra measures to grit priority roads, and ensure there is salt or grit available for non-priority roads.
Cllr Richard Wilson, Stroud Green, comments:
“Given the chaos caused by the snow before Christmas, I’m surprised that the grit bins in Stroud Green are empty. This denies local residents the opportunity to grit treacherous sections of pavement. I’ve demanded that Haringey Council fill these bins as soon as possible.”
Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:
“From the many emails and phone calls from local residents following the last snowfall, where many told me of priority roads not being gritted or salted, I’m really concerned that we might see a repeat this week.
“But with more advance warning this time, I certainly hope Haringey Council ensures that Haringey’s roads and pavements are safer.”
Lynne Featherstone 