Highgate Lib Dem councillor Justin Portess has announced that he is stepping down from Haringey Council, with immediate effect. In a letter to the Council’s Chief Executive, Justin has written that he and his wife had made the decision as they are expecting their first child and will be moving out of the Highgate area shortly.

In his letter, Justin Portess writes:

“It is with great regret that I write to inform you of my resignation as a Highgate Ward Councillor, with immediate effect.

“My wife and I are expecting our first child in the Spring and we have taken the decision to move out of Haringey in February. This major change of circumstances, coupled with increased and changing work commitments, means I feel I may be unable to give the role of Highgate Councillor the time that it deserves in the coming period.

“I would like to take this opportunity to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed being a Councillor in Highgate. It has been a privilege to serve such a vibrant and articulate community, working on the many issues that are raised with us as Liberal Democrat Councillors for the area.”

Lib Dem Leader and fellow Highgate ward councillor, Neil Williams, comments:

“I’m extremely sorry to lose Justin from the Council and as ward colleague. He has been a fantastic colleague in Highgate, and I have hugely enjoyed working with him on Highgate issues, not least, most recently, over the future of Jackson’s Lane. He will be very much missed by the whole of the Lib Dem Group, and we all wish Justin and his family well.”

Local Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has demanded an urgent meeting with Arts Council London bosses to make a direct plea to secure the funding of a much-loved community centre.

Organisers at Jacksons Lane, based in Highgate, were told in December that its annual £125,000 grant may be cut this year. Without funding the centre, which has endured nearly a year of closure, may have to close permanently. Lib Dems have launched a petition for residents to support a campaign to safeguard the future of Jackson’s Lane for the community. This has been distributed to thousands of residents in the Highgate area.

In January 2006 the centre was closed after high winds damaged the roof. Labour-run Haringey Council was criticised by Liberal Democrats for delaying funding for repairs and failing to provide the centre with a long lease, preventing the centre from applying for a £1 million grant. Now Arts Council London has questioned the commitment of Haringey Council to the centre. Lib Dems are urging Haringey Council to do all it can to reverse its neglect to save the much needed community asset.

Cllr Neil Williams (Highgate) comments:

“Jacksons Lane is a wonderful community asset for Highgate, providing classes and a space for meetings that is really valued by local people – but it has been badly neglected by the Labour Council. It is no wonder the Arts Council says that it feels that Haringey Council are not committed to the Centre, but they must be persuaded otherwise.

“The Council need to do more to show that they will not let Jacksons Lane close.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“This funding is absolutely vital to the future of the centre and I will not see it disappear without a fight.”

TAKE ACTION: sign the petition to save Jacksons Lane.

Highgate Lib Dems have welcomed Haringey Council’s decision to take action over the pursuit of vital grant funding for the much loved Jackson’s Lane Centre. The development, which follows pressure from the Centre and local Lib Dem councillors to grant a long lease, means that grant funding can be pursued from the Government’s Community Asset Fund.

In an email to local Lib Dem councillor Bob Hare, Haringey Council has agreed in principle to the long lease that is needed to pursue the funding. This means a funding bid from the Centre can go ahead. The Community Asset fund, which is a lottery fund, offers up to £1 million for each of up to two venues per borough. It is aimed at community buildings owned by councils, and applications are intended to support refurbishment and upgrading.

Lib Dem councillors have been pointing out that the Highgate venue is an ideal applicant for funding, as it is in dire need of investment and it would not readily qualify under other schemes designed to help areas with high levels of deprivation.

Lib Dem Councillor Bob Hare comments:

“It is a relief that Haringey Council has taken action that will remove a barrier to this source of funding for the Centre. Haringey does owe the Centre more attention, given that the Labour Council has been allowed the structure of the building to become run down. Major investment is needed to give the centre the boost, and give Highgate residents the facility they deserve.

“Now this barrier has been removed, we all wish Jacksons Lane every success with their application for refurbishment funding.”

A Highgate councillor has urged a rethink from Haringey Council after it refused to install traffic calming measures in one of Highgate’s worst speeding black-spots.

Lib Dem councillor Neil Williams was commenting on the pressing need for action to kerb speeding in Sheldon Avenue, after receiving an answer to a question he had tabled at last week’s full council demanding action on the issue.

The Lib Dem councillor says that the long, wide and very straight run of Sheldon Avenue is an open invitation to motorists to speed. However, the council argues that there are not enough accidents on the route to merit action.

Cllr Williams comments:

“This is disappointing, but it is not the end of the matter, as the residents in Sheldon Avenue deserve a break from speeding cars. Better signage, for example, is something that could be done almost straight away. Haringey often forgets the far west of the borough and I will continue to press for action.”