Lynne Featherstone MP exposes holes in Haringey Council’s road strategy

Posted on 29th May 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has today expressed concern over Haringey Council’s strategy for repairing the Borough’s roads – by identifying numerous potholes in a road that the Council believe to be in ‘good condition.’

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green and the Haringey Lib Dems ran a long campaign, frequently consulting residents on their road surfaces and repeatedly asking the Council for repairs.

The Labour-run Council then recently admitted that there is a major problem with potholes in the Borough, and indicated that they would take action on bad roads.

However, the Liberal Democrat MP today exposed a document, from the Council, which indicates the conditions of each road in the Borough. One road that the Council marked as being in ‘general good condition’ – Cecile Park – is in fact riddled with potholes.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“If the Council think that Cecile Park is in good condition, then I’m very skeptical about their plans for a ‘pothole blitz.’

“The Labour-run Council have neglected our roads for years, leaving them unsafe for both drivers and pedestrians. It’s about time they started taking this seriously, and conducted a new road survey to identify the areas that really need repair.

“The Lib Dems and I have contacted residents directly and asking them where the worst potholes are. We’ve compiled a list and we’re sending the info on to the Council, to try to ensure that all the dangerous roads are repaired.”

How bad is your road surface?

Posted on 28th May 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Have you noticed an increase in the number of potholes in your road recently? Or are the ones that have been there for years getting worse?

Every month, I receive emails from constituents who are concerned about the state of their roads.

And it really is no wonder. Labour-run Haringey Council have neglected our roads for years and years, preferring to pay out compensation for terrible accidents, than actually investing in our road surfaces.

Just now, after years of pressure from the Local Lib Dems, the Council have said that they will take action on our roads.

I thought this was good news. But then, I saw this map. It highlights the roads which the Council think are in good or bad condition. Here is a picture of a road that they think is in good condition (Cecile Park)

Cecile Park

This doesn’t fill me with confidence in the Labour-run Council’s road repair blitz. The Haringey Lib Dems and I have been collecting information separately, directly from residents, about the condition of our local roads.

Step by step, we are presenting the results to the Council and asking that they make the necessary repairs.

Residents of Haringey – take a look at the map and see what you think about the Council’s assessment of your road. If you don’t agree, or if you know of a dangerous pothole / stretch of road in Haringey that needs repair, just let me know, and I will add it to our list.

Haringey Labour criticise the consequences of their own housing policies…

Posted on 20th May 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Last week, the Labour leader of Haringey Council, Claire Kober, took to the local newspapers to complain about the shortage of housing for Council tenants.

She has a point. Here in Haringey there are well over 10,000 individuals and families on the waiting list for a council property – and most will have to wait for years before they are even considered. This poses a terrible problem for vulnerable individuals and overcrowded families, who are in desperate need of social housing.

It is all well and good to sit and complain about this – what we really need from our Council leader is action. The blunt fact of the matter is that Labour-run Haringey Council hasn’t built any new Council homes for almost 25 years!

Yes, that’s right. In 1989 the Council built six new flats – and nothing thereafter. It is no wonder that 10,000 individuals and families are now languishing on the waiting list.

And it’s not like the funding hasn’t been available. The Government have rewritten rules to allow Councils to build more homes, and borrow the money to do so. Leicester Council, for instance, were awarded £7 million in Government funding for new housing. They will now build 146 new homes.

In February, the Leader of the Lib Dems put down an amendment to the budget and suggested Haringey did the same as Leicester. The ruling Labour group – led by Claire Kober – rejected this amendment, turning down the opportunity to build more houses.

The Council also have a terrible record on bringing empty homes back into use. Late last year I exposed figures revealing that over 1,700 homes were left empty in Haringey, while the Labour group again spurned a Government grant, which was offered to Councils to help do up empty homes.

So there you have it. The Haringey Labour leader is perfectly happy to complain about the lack of housing, but won’t take action to make a difference – even when the funds are available.

Unfortunately, this is what we have come to expect from the Labour-run Council – all talk and no action. Haringey residents – particularly all those vulnerable and overcrowded people on the waiting list – deserve better.

Lynne Featherstone MP steps in as Council tries to close Community Centre

Posted on 9th May 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has today made urgent contact with Labour-run Haringey Council, after a resident informed her of the pending closure of the Burghley Road under 5’s Community Centre.

In March, the Trustee of the Centre had written to the Council, expressing a desire to return the building. He did this, however, without consulting the management team.

The team at the Centre acted quickly, putting new trustees in place, securing the Charity Commissions’ consent to continue as a charity, and agreeing a new funding arrangement with Haringey Council’s Childcare and Early Years Department until 2015.

The Community Centre management then received a letter on the 3rd May from Haringey Council’s Property Services department, informing them that they needed to vacate the property by Monday 13th May.

In a strongly worded email, the Liberal Democrat MP has demanded answers from the Council, particularly whether Property Services will withdraw their demand to vacate the property.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“I am shocked at the way this issue has been handled by Haringey Council’s Property Services. There has clearly been no communication with the Early Years Department, who agreed to fund the Centre until 2015. The Centre performs a vital role in the local community, accommodating up to 200 children.

“The stripping of a resource such as this from the local area would constitute a great loss for local residents and create a huge gap in local childcare.

“No consideration seems to have been given regarding the value of the Centre to the local community. And finally, 10 days is a completely unrealistic amount of time for the task of shutting down a Centre that has been in place for a great number of years.

“I have asked some tough questions of the Council and requested that any action against the Centre is suspended until I receive a full response to the questions raised. I will keep residents updated with any further developments.”

Council admits more than half of the borough’s footpaths need to be repaired

Posted on 17th Apr 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Labour-run Haringey council has admitted that more than half of the footpaths in the borough need to be repaired, and there is an £107m backlog of investment required in the boroughs roads and transport infrastructure. The shocking facts were disclosed in a report discussed on Tuesday evening at the council’s Cabinet meeting.

The Lib Dem opposition have previously highlighted the fact that a large number of pavements in Haringey are in a poor state and need to be fixed.

The Lib Dems uncovered figures showing that Haringey Council’s failure to fix broken and uneven pavements has led to hundreds of claims for compensation over the last two years. Between 2010 and 2012 Haringey Council has received 278 claims for compensation for injuries due to broken pavements.

Local Lib Dem councillors have received many complaints from residents about the poor state of local pavements and footways. The opposition politicians are calling on the council to take action and fix the borough’s crumbling pavements.

The call for action comes on top of the Lib Dems recently highlighting more than 40 pothole ridden roads in the borough that need to be resurfaced.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition, comments:

“Pavements in Haringey are crumbling because of decades of underinvestment by the Council. It is astonishing that there is an £107m backlog of work thanks to neglect by the Labour-run authority.

“It is disgraceful that more than half of the footways in the borough need to be repaired. How can the situation have been allowed to get this bad? There is money available to fix the pavements, we know because the Labour run council recently admitted that they had failed to spend £8m on capital projects.

“Labour is failing to lead the council effectively and it is completely unacceptable that local residents are paying one of the highest council taxes in London whilst stumbling over cracked and broken pavements. Haringey can’t even get the basics right.”

Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Lynne Featherstone, comments:

“Instead of proactively fixing the dangerous pavements, Haringey Council are sitting back, letting accidents happen and then having to fork out taxpayers’ money in compensation. The council recently were forced to pay £1m in compensation after a man tripped in a dangerous pothole in Hornsey and suffered severe head injuries, for instance.

“Surely it would be better to use our council tax money to prevent accidents, rather than to compensate for the awful consequences of them.

“Leaving pavements in this state is just typical of Labour-run Haringey Council. Residents deserve better.”

Lynne Featherstone MP calls on Council to fine rubbish contractors

Posted on 11th Apr 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has today contacted the Chief Executive of Haringey Council, and asked whether he would consider fining waste contractors Veolia for poor performance and breach of their service terms.

The Liberal Democrat MP’s intervention comes after further complaints from residents about poor service, two years after Veolia were given the contract by the Council.

In a recent news report, one resident complained that her rubbish had not been collected for eight weeks. Another had to endure having bins left blocking her front drive for more than 9 months.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green has received hundreds of similar complaints over the last two years from her constituents.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“The complaints I receive range from unpredictable and patchy collections, difficulties with getting the correct bins, mess being left behind after collections and a poor follow up service when complaints are made.

“Many residents have very serious complaints. Disabled residents have been unable to get out of their driveways, and some residents have had to deal with rat infestations. Enough is enough.

“Before the hot weather kicks in again, I am calling on the Labour-run Council to take action and hold their contractor, Veolia, to account for poor performance.

“I’m sure this would ultimately lead to an improvement in standards and better service for my constituents.”

Haringey Council admits responsibility for destruction of community artwork

Posted on 5th Apr 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has today condemned Haringey Council, after they admitted that missing artwork in Muswell Hill was washed away by one of their contractors. The portraits had mysteriously vanished earlier this week.

The public portrait display was of local traders, who are speaking out in support of local trade as part of a global art project called Inside Out.

The artist, Matt Humphrey, had wanted to ‘give a face’ to the plight that independent local traders, shopkeepers and creatives are currently facing.

The pictures had attracted a lot of attention, from local press and local residents alike. However, they have now disappeared for good, after being washed away by the Council.

The Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green had written directly to the Council two days ago demanding an explanation, as soon as the removal of the art was brought to her attention.

Muswell Hill Liberal Democrat Councillor Gail Engert commneted:

“If officers had simply picked up the phone to the Muswell Hill Councillors, we could have explained the significance of the art to them.

“This would have avoided this incredibly embarrassing situation for the Council, and saved the delightful community portraits.”

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It is a travesty that Haringey Council removed this artwork. They were fantastic portraits of local traders – inspiring a great sense of community cohesion and originality.

“You would think that after the Banksy saga, the Council would have learnt that people simply do not like high quality street art being removed from their area.

“I cannot believe that common sense didn’t kick in at any point before the pictures were washed away. And shockingly, they did not even attempt to contact the artist before they removed them.

“This is unfortunately just typical of Labour-run Haringey Council – no common sense and no connection with the local community. Residents deserve better.”

Lynne Featherstone MP investigates disappearance of portraits in Muswell Hill

Posted on 3rd Apr 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Before

After

Lynne Featherstone MP has today written to Haringey Council, requesting information regarding the disappearance of portrait paintings in Muswell Hill. The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green was alerted to the disappearance via twitter.

The public portrait display was of local traders, who are speaking out in support of local trade as part of a global art project called Inside Out.

The artist, Matt Humphrey, had wanted to ‘give a face’ to the plight that independent local traders, shopkeepers and creatives are currently facing.

The pictures had attracted a lot of attention, from local press and local residents alike. However, they now have been washed away.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Just a few weeks ago I met the artist and saw the portraits of local traders. They were wonderful and it is so sad that they have been lost.

“First, our Turnpike Lane Banksy mysteriously disappeared, and now these wonderful portraits have been washed away.

“More needs to be done to protect high quality public art. It adds vibrancy and originality to our streets and can encourage visitors, which is good news for local businesses.

“The building owners did not remove the art, so I have now contacted Haringey Council to try to find out what has happened.”

Haringey – a Council in Crisis

Posted on 2nd Apr 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

I’ve just read an article by Haringey Liberal Democrat leader Richard Wilson, which details the many failings of Labour-run Haringey Council over the last month. Unfortunately the failings are all to familiar – they’ve been at this for the best part of 40 years.

The article is a must read for all local residents – who deserve much better!

Full link here: http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-haringey-a-council-in-crisis-33896.html

Costly mistakes of a Council in crisis…

Posted on 22nd Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

The Ham and High got it spot on this week, reporting on the costly mistakes of a ‘Council in crisis.’

Haringey Council have always been prone to bad press and terrible errors, but last week this intensified, as the Council quickly lurched from one scandal to another.

The front page article specifically refers to a court case against the Council. A High Court Judge ruled that that the Council acted indefensibly and unlawfully on an anonymous complaint against two parents.

Not only did Haringey Council act unlawfully throughout the investigation, they were also ruled to have also breached the Human Rights Act and will have to pay compensation accordingly.

Compensation following a Judicial Review is very rare, and indicates that the judge feels a real abuse of power has occurred.

This really was a damning verdict against Haringey children’s services, who have again failed the people in this borough.

It’s truly shocking that even after Baby P, they still have not managed to get the department in order.

Haringey Labour have proved themselves incapable of turning around the department. They are truly living up to their reputation as ‘the worst in England.’

Haringey Children, parents and residents deserve better.