Nick Clegg backs Haringey Lib Dems to end local Labour waste

Posted on 6th May 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg visited Wood Green today, to visit the local Cypriot Community Centre and to back the Haringey Lib Dems in their local election campaign.

The Deputy Prime Minister was greeted by local MP Lynne Featherstone, before having a tour of the centre and talking to the residents who use it. He also discussed the management of the centre with the team.

Nick Clegg then joined some of Haringey’s local Liberal Democrat candidates, to discuss the upcoming local elections. The local Lib Dem team want to take control of Haringey Council on May 22^nd, to stop Labour’s wasteful spending and implement their own, positive six-point plan.

aringey Liberal Democrat leader Richard Wilson, Lynne Featherstone MP, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Sarah London MEP – along with local Liberal Democrat candidates – back the campaign against Haringey Labour’s bonuses, yacht trips and waste.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg MP said:

“It was fantastic to come to Haringey and meet the wonderful people at the Cypriot Centre. It’s a great example of a community centre which does so much good for so many people, but could use a little extra support to keep it going.

“I am backing the local Liberal Democrat campaign to take control of Haringey Council on May 22^nd, after 40 years of Labour misrule. It’s appalling that Haringey Labour has wasted so much money here, on bonuses and a trip to the South of France. Local residents deserve better than that.

“A Liberal Democrat led council in Haringey would stop this kind of awful waste, and provide more support to centres like the one I visited today.”

Haringey Lib Dem leader Richard Wilson said:

“I’d like to thank Nick Clegg for backing our campaign and doing all he can to highlight Haringey Labour’s waste.

“Haringey Labour like to hide from their local record, whereas the local Lib Dems are very proud of ours. We will keep working all year round for local residents and, if we take control of the Council on May 22^nd, we will be working hard to implement our positive six point plan, too.”

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome Nick Clegg to Haringey, and to show him one of the best run community centres the borough has to offer. I’d also like to thank Chris and Susie for hosting us.

“Like Nick, I am fully behind the local Liberal Democrat campaign. For years I have battled to hold Labour to account – and it has become clearer and clearer that change is needed. The Liberal Democrat team have a positive, six point plan to fix our borough, and I hope residents will back them.”

Ringslade rat-run issue brought to City Hall

Posted on 28th Apr 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week met with Transport for London at City Hall, to discuss the ongoing issues with the Ringslade Road rat-run. The local MP was joined by the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly, Caroline Pidgeon, to argue the local residents’ case together.

Residents on the small Ringslade Road currently have to put up with over 3,000 vehicles using their road everyday – making it noisy and unsafe. They would like to see the road closed.

During the meeting, representatives from TfL did not reject the possibility of closing the road, but were cautious of how this would affect traffic on surrounding roads. TfL said they would speak to Haringey Council and look at the impact of traffic on surrounding roads. Traffic modelling will be carried out in the next 4 to 5 weeks.

Haringey Council representatives were invited to attend the meeting, but declined the invitation to do so. The final decision on what to do with the road is down to Haringey Council.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Residents in Ringslade Road have been living with the problems caused by this rat run for too long. Yet Haringey Council has refused to listen, and has always tried to shift the blame onto TfL for the lack of action.

“Now we have met with TfL – we know that they are open to change, and will carry out traffic modelling to find a way forward.

“The final decision on what action to take rests with Haringey Council. I very much hope they finally listen to residents, and work with TfL to find a suitable solution.”

Haringey Council does it again

Posted on 15th Apr 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Another day, another mess up by Labour-run Haringey Council. In the past we’ve seen yellow lines painted days before the entire road was dug up and potholes filled days before resurfacing work. And they still haven’t learnt. This new roundabout below might look fine at first glance (apart from the cones) but take a closer look at the arrows and which way they point.

Wrong way roundabout - Stapleton Hall Road, Stroud Green

It is, unfortunately, what we have come to expect from the Council. But there is a serious point here about both road safety, first and foremost, and about taxpayers money, too. All of these mistakes add up – and it’s the taxpayer that ultimately pays.

And if they can’t be trusted to get something as simple as this right – it makes you wonder about what else they’re messing up! Haringey needs fixing – and Labour clearly aren’t capable of doing it!

Labour’s control of Haringey Council must end!

Posted on 14th Apr 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Here’s my latest Ham and High column – on why Haringey Council needs to change.

A few weeks ago, the Broadway exposed the cost of Haringey Council’s trip to Cannes in South France. It was three times more than the council originally stated. So, not only did they use taxpayers’ money for the jaunt, they didn’t tell us the truth about the cost, either.

This is just one of the reasons why I believe that Labour’s control of Haringey Council needs to end.

Those on the trip were two senior council officials and one Labour councillor – who is responsible for housing in the borough. They went to meet organisations like Tottenham Hotspur.

Residents are rightly angry – if Haringey has wanted to meet with Tottenham, they could have got on a W3 from outside the civic centre and saved the taxpayer thousands.

But despite the controversy and reaction, the Labour council leader (who authorised it all) is still defending the whole trip, and its cost to the public purse.

Unfortunately this kind of behaviour is what we have come to expect from Labour-run Haringey Council – ignoring residents, whilst providing bad services and wasting money.

Just a few months ago, we discovered that the council had authorised £3.7million in bonuses for housing staff at Homes for Haringey. At the same time, hundreds of residents were contacting me, and asking for help with getting decent repairs.

On the Noel Park estate – the area ‘represented’ by the Labour councillor who went on the trip – residents are in such desperate need, that I called a public meeting so that Haringey Council and Homes for Haringey could hear the problems first hand.

The Labour councillor declined the invitation to attend the public meeting – another let down for local residents he is supposed to represent.

The waste is not just confined to the housing sector. On our local roads, we’ve seen yellow lines repainted days before the entire road was dug up for resurfacing. Just last week the Labour-run council introduced a new roundabout, with the arrows painted the wrong way round. All of these mistakes add up – and it’s the taxpayer who ultimately pays.

There is another way. Labour’s control of the council is not absolute. And on May 22 this year, Haringey residents get the chance to vote Labour out.

The Haringey Lib Dems have been working hard all year round for residents, and will shortly be releasing their manifesto. It’s packed full of great proposals which would greatly improve our local services, our local area and our borough as a whole! And all of these would be funded by cutting Haringey Labour’s waste.

For me the choice – between a Labour party who have mismanaged our borough for 40 years, and the local Lib Dems, who want to work with residents to fix Haringey – is easy. I know who I’ll be voting for on May 22!

Urgent repairs and improvements needed at Sky City

Posted on 7th Apr 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited Sky City– a housing complex above the Mall in Wood Green – to help the residents secure vital improvements to their living conditions.

Residents of Sky City contacted the Hornsey and Wood Green MP recently, to express their frustration and anger at Metropolitan Housing, the company that manages Sky City.

On the site visit, the MP saw piles of uncollected rubbish, broken lighting and problems with drainage in communal areas.

Residents also reported problems with vermin, with disability access because of broken lifts, and with antisocial behaviour and crime.

Residents have sent a petition to Metropolitan, demanding a meeting and detailed plan for repairs and improvements. The meeting has been agreed to, but no date has been set. The Liberal Democrat MP has now also contacted Metropolitan on behalf of the residents, to pile on the pressure for action.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Metropolitan need to take action, and fast. What I saw on my visit to Sky City was just appalling – there was uncollected rubbish strewn everywhere. The broken lighting is not helping the situation with crime and antisocial behaviour – and there should always be easy access for disabled and elderly residents.

“Residents should not have to live like this. I am fully behind them and will support them every step of the way to secure the vital repairs they need. I have already contacted Metropolitan, and will continue to do so until we see results.”

Joining the CrossSafe campaign for road safety

Posted on 11th Mar 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week met with CrossSafe N10 campaigners to discuss the problems with the junction on Alexandra Park Road, Colney Hatch Lane, and Pages Lane.

The residents have long been campaigning for better safety on and around the junction.

On the site visit, the residents described the problems faced on a daily basis – including drivers not realising that there is a second red light and driving through, pedestrians not being able to see oncoming traffic, poor phasing of traffic lights, and no ‘green man’ signalling to guide pedestrians.

Campaigners say that these problems pose a safety risk – and that they have seen many near misses.

The Liberal Democrat MP – who has previously made representations on this issue – has now written again to both Transport for London and Haringey Council (who share management of the junction) and requested a site visit with them and the local residents.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“These residents have done a fantastic job of raising awareness of this issue and campaigning for better road safety at this dangerous junction.

“I am happy to get involved to support their cause. I have now written again to both TfL and Haringey Council, demanding a meeting with them on site so they can see the problems for themselves.

“I hope this will lead to action – vast improvements on this junction may well be necessary to prevent a serious accident here in the future.”

5 ways Haringey Labour gets us high taxes and poor services

Posted on 10th Feb 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

It’s the worst of all worlds – high Council Tax yet poor services:

5 ways Haringey Council gives us poor services yet high taxes

Public Meeting called on the Noel Park estate

Posted on 7th Feb 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP and local campaigners have called a public meeting to discuss Labour-run Haringey Council’s ongoing failure to repair and improve homes on the Noel Park estate.

The Liberal Democrat MP has long campaigned for repair work on the estate, and met recently with housing chiefs to put forward the case.

Local campaigners say the meeting will give residents a chance to have their voices heard, and discuss the problems they have with repairs to their homes.

The Labour councillor for Noel Park, who is also responsible for housing in the borough, has been invited to attend.

The meeting will take place on Monday the 17^th February – 7:15pm, at Shropshire Hall (Gladstone Avenue, N22 6LD).

Local Noel Park campaigner Roberto Robles said:

“My colleague Colin Heinink and I think the Labour-run Council’s failure to do vital works to homes on the Noel Park Estate is outrageous. Many homes on the estate are in desperate need of repair.

“Shockingly, at the same time homes on the Noel Park Estate have been left to crumble, Labour-run Haringey allowed £3.7 million to be spent on bonuses for home repairs staff.

“Enough is enough. The Lib Dems have already started a petition and met with local housing chiefs. Now, we’re calling a public meeting so residents can have their say too.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It’s about time residents were given a proper say on the repairs their homes need. For too long their own Labour Councillor, who is responsible for housing in the borough, has ignored them.

“It’s Haringey Council’s job to provide tenants with a decent standard of living – and the Government has given the Council extra money to do so.

“The Council have committed to make urgent repairs and consult residents – which is a step in the right direction but not good enough. This public meeting is the next step in our campaign to secure full repairs for residents on the Noel Park estate.”

Outrage as Labour councillors waive through flawed Hornsey High Street application

Posted on 4th Feb 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Local residents and Liberal Democrats have expressed their outrage today, after Haringey Labour councillors forced through the Hornsey High Street planning application without crucial amendments being made.

The developers can now push ahead with plans to build a Sainsbury’s, a car park, and housing on the old Hornsey Depot site.

The Liberal Democrats have long supported local residents’ demands to amend the application – echoing their concerns about the quality and density of housing, the effect on local trade, and traffic implications.

Liberal Democrat councillors on the planning committee voted for the application to be refused permission, because changes to the plans were needed. But Labour voted to go ahead with the plans and forced the application through on the Labour Chair’s casting vote.

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone commented:

“The vast majority of people want to see development on this site – but it must benefit the local area, and be approved by local people.

“The Labour-run Council obviously don’t see it like this – and have instead waived through a flawed application. I am furious – and so are local residents.”

Hornsey campaigner Dawn Barnes commented:

“My colleagues and I are outraged that the application has been waived through by Labour councillors. What a slap in the face for Hornsey residents who so convincingly argued for amendments to be made.

“Labour have proved once again that they cannot be trusted to look after the interests of local people – they prefer to please their developer friends and Town Hall bosses instead.

“Here in Hornsey, I will continue to work with your local MP and councillors Lynne Featherstone, Robert Gorrie, Errol Reid and Monica Whyte to get the best deal possible for local people.”