Lynne Featherstone MP exposes New River Village shame

Posted on 9th Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP and local Liberal Democrat campaigners have launched a petition demanding better living conditions for residents in the social housing apartments at New River Village.

In contrast to the pristine private apartment blocks, the social housing blocks –to the rear of the development – are suffering from damp walls, graffiti, overflowing bins and general litter and mess in the corridors.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP recently visited an apartment in the block. Resident Kristine Gravelsina showed the local MP the effect of the problems on her apartment – including severe damp in the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms.

Following the visit, the Liberal Democrat MP wrote to the Housing Association Circle 33 (who are responsible for managing the social housing) and demanded a meeting.

At the meeting, a petition with residents’ signatures – calling on Circle 33 to sort out the problems – will be presented.

Local resident Kristine Gravelsina said:

“Residents in Colorado apartments have to put up with leaks, damp walls and sometimes floods. The shared areas like the corridors and bin stores are in a terrible state.

“We have been trying to get Circle 33 to help us, but they are slow and no proper repairs have been made. I am glad Lynne and the Lib Dems have stepped in and I hope that it finally makes Circle 33 take action.”

Dawn Barnes, Hornsey Liberal Democrat campaigner, said:

“I was shocked and upset when I visited the New River Village and saw how poorly maintained the communal areas were.

“I spoke to residents on the ground floor and they showed me that their homes were badly affected with damp and mould. These homes aren’t good enough for families to live in and, with winter approaching, the problems need to be fixed quickly.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“As Kristine’s MP, I will fight hard on her behalf for better living conditions. What I saw on my visit to her apartment block was simply unacceptable.

“I have demanded a meeting with Circle 33. With the backing of residents, I will be asking that they make the necessary repairs as soon as possible, and for a commitment to provide a better service in the future.”

More apprenticeships created in Haringey!

Posted on 4th Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

New apprenticeships have been created in Haringey, following an apprenticeship event hosted by Lynne Featherstone MP.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green hosted the event on the 14^th August at Haringey Civic Centre, so that Haringey youngsters could meet companies with apprenticeship vacancies and find out more about how to apply.

The event was attended by around 20 employers (with over 500 opportunities between them) and 130 young people looking for apprenticeships.

Since the event, the companies have confirmed that they have taken on some of Haringey’s young people as apprentices. The North London Garages group, who offer apprenticeships in the motor industry, enrolled one of the people who attended the event onto their programme the day after.

Youth unemployment in the Liberal Democrat MP’s constituency has fallen from 7.1% in May 2010 to 4.9% as of July 2013.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone said:

“This is fantastic news. These new apprentices have kick-started their career, and are getting paid to learn a trade. They will also get qualifications too – an advanced level apprenticeship is equivalent to two A-level passes, and others can lead to the attainment of a Foundation Degree.

“Many local residents have been emailing me since the event asking for more information. I am happy to provide more info on apprenticeships – and the companies offering them. I will also certainly be holding similar events in the future and will keep everyone informed.”

Community Haringey!

Posted on 2nd Sep 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Here’s my latest Ham and High column, about some of the organisations I have caught up with over summer recess. You can also read it here.

Haringey is full of wonderful, vibrant and successful voluntary and charitable organisations. They benefit our local area and add such value to our community. I’ve been lucky, as the local MP, to have visited the vast majority of them!

During parliamentary summer recess, I have even more time to revisit these organisations, catch up with them and hear about their plans – and to offer any advice or support.

It started with a visit to Action for Kids – a local charity which helps disabled children and young people towards independence. It was fantastic to join in with some of the activities and see a group of youngsters ready to go on a trip together – all facilitated by this great organisation. It was inspirational to sit with the new chief executive and hear his plans for the future.

A visit to Hornsey Vale community centre was also a great example of how volunteers are contributing much to their local community – by running fashion shows, fitness classes and providing a wheelchair accessible gym. I was so impressed by their outreach programme and the positive impact they are having.

I also popped in to the Tagore Centre – which is based above Alexandra Park Library. Here, a group of volunteers are dedicated to promoting the work of India’s Nobel laureate poet, writer and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore. They manage a vast collection of materials, including hundreds of books, songs and paintings, and hold regular social events to celebrate Tagore’s life and work.

The dedication and passion of the volunteers was evident from the moment I stepped in. They are working hard to promote Tagore and keep his work relevant in the modern day – and I highly commend them for it.

There have been many others – including some more private meetings with organisations like Victim Support, the North London Samaritans and other counselling services. It’s fantastic to see the amount of time given by volunteers to support vulnerable members of the community.

There is, unfortunately, not space to mention all of the organisations – but suffice to say that the voluntary and community sector is alive and kicking in Haringey – I see it first hand all the time! And this really is a great achievement, given the financial difficulties many are experiencing.

I wish all these invaluable local organisations the very best for the future and hope they will continue to come to me for support and advice when they need it.

As an end note – I’d also like to thank everyone who attended the apprenticeship event I organised two weeks ago. It was a fantastic day and already the companies there have been in touch to say they have taken on some of the young people who attended.

Lynne Featherstone MP calls on rail bidders to protect local services

Posted on 28th Aug 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week met with some of the rail companies who are currently bidding to run the new Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern Franchise – which covers rail stations in Haringey Borough.

Funded by Government investment, the new Franchise aims to improve services by installing longer, more regular, and more reliable trains in and out of London.

However, concern arose that smaller local stations, such as Hornsey and Harringay, could get fewer services as a result of the new Franchise – as the newer trains would be too long to stop at their platforms.

The Liberal Democrat MP last year began a campaign against any losses of service at the smaller stations. A survey showed that 98% of people agreed with this campaign – though a high percentage also wanted newer, longer trains.

During the meetings, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green – along with local Liberal Democrat Councillors David Schmitz and Richard Wilson – put forward the views of constituents, and argued strongly for no losses of service at any local station.

The local MP suggested platform extensions at the smaller stations as a means to ensure the newer, longer trains could stop just as regularly.

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“The Thameslink services currently suffer from reliability problems, overcrowding, and dated trains, so I do very much welcome the huge investment in the Thameslink Franchise.

“However, it is vital that there are no service reductions at our smaller local station – particularly Hornsey and Harringay. Residents have shown that they agree by overwhelmingly supporting this campaign.

“Rest assured that the local Lib Dems and I are pushing both the bidders and the Department for Transport, to ensure that no services are lost at these stations as a result of the new Franchise.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits Hornsey Vale Community Centre

Posted on 16th Aug 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP today visited the Hornsey Vale Community Centre, a ‘village hall’ near Crouch End.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green was given a brief tour of the Centre, before talking about how the Centre runs, and the services they provide.

The Centre has been run by the Hornsey Vale Community Association since 1991 and is staffed by volunteers. It plays host to a range of community activities from martial arts and zumba, to ‘fun football’ and fashion shows. Its wheelchair accessible gym is also used by autism and respiratory groups.

The centre recently organised a training and apprenticeship event to help young people gain training and employment. It also works with sports and education organisation ‘Let Me Play’ to offer sports qualifications to young people.

After the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It’s fantastic to visit the Hornsey Vale Centre – they continue to do great work with people of all ages in the Hornsey Vale area.

“It was a pleasure to see the positive impact being made by the centre’s volunteers.

“I was particularly impressed by their outreach programme, which is helping people to return to work. I wish them all the very best for future.”

Lynne Featherstone MP hosts packed Apprenticeship Event

Posted on 16th Aug 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

View the photo album here.

Lynne Featherstone MP on Wednesday hosted a packed apprenticeships event at Haringey Civic Centre, in tandem with Wood Green Jobcentre Plus.

The event was attended by 18 organisations and over 130 of Haringey’s young people, who were keen to find out more about the hundreds of apprenticeship opportunities on offer.

Many took part in workshops with the London Apprenticeship Company, the National Apprenticeship Service and Barclays – to get specific advice on making applications.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green opened the event with a speech – highlighting that youth unemployment in her constituency was down, and that 530 new apprenticeships have been created since 2010.

Gordon Birtwistle MP – the Government Apprenticeship Ambassador – was also present to discuss the value of apprenticeships and to meet the young people and companies.

Tracey Longhurst from the Barclays Early Careers team said:

“This was a great event with dozens of young people talking to us about opportunities within the Barclays Apprenticeship Programme.

“There was genuine surprise from some of them when they heard that we don’t ask for formal qualifications and are simply looking for the right attitude and potential. Others could not believe that Barclays paid for you to work and study for a degree through our school leaver, Barclays Degree Programme.

“I am confident that some of the people who we spoke to will be applying for jobs with us.”

Government Apprenticeship Ambassador Gordon Birtwistle MP said:

“I was absolutely delighted to be able to go along to this fantastic event that focused on apprenticeships. It was well organised with some fantastic companies there and it was good to see so many people there making the most of the information available.

“Apprenticeships are the way forward. They provide on-the-job training and offer a wage with a career at the end of it. There are a lot of young people under pressure to go to university and study subjects for which there is a shortage of jobs.

“The careers fair in Haringey was a fantastic idea to show young people that there are alternatives and many opportunities that out there and how to apply for them. It was wonderful to see my colleague Lynne reaching out to all these young people in her constituency with this great apprenticeship fair.”

James Snelling, Acting Jobcentre Operations Manager for the London Boroughs of Haringey and Islington

“We were thrilled to be able to partner with the Local MP and providers to co-deliver this successful Apprenticeship event and showcase to Haringey’s young people the wide range of opportunities available from our partners and employers.”

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It’s fantastic that so many of Haringey’s youngsters came to the event to find out more about the great apprenticeship opportunities available to them.

“The organisations did a great job exhibiting their apprenticeships, and I’d also like to thank Gordon Birtwistle MP for coming along and offering his expertise on apprenticeships and their benefits to everyone.

“I will be keeping in touch with the people and organisations who attended so we can track how many apprenticeships have been created as a result of the event.”

A Busy Start to Summer!

Posted on 12th Aug 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Here is my latest Muswell Flyer article – about the start of summer in late June / July….

What a whirlwind the last few weeks have been. It has been so busy, but full of great events and finally some good weather too!

Thankfully, the weather picked up just in time for the grand finale of the independent shops competition. What a great day that was – celebrating our best local independent stores outside Hornsey Town Hall with a live band, hot food and free local beer! Congratulations again to the worthy winners: Brand New Start, Big Green Bookshop and Owen’s Food Store.

The week after, I had the great honour of being reselected as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green. There was a huge turnout, and it was so heart-warming when the great Lib Dem members of this constituency put their faith in me again. And what a bonus to have my political heroine Shirley Williams at the event, supporting me and giving a fantastic speech.

But there was no time for extended celebrations – the day after the reselection, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg come to visit Highgate Wood, a school in the constituency.

Nick was here to see how the school is using its Pupil Premium money. The Pupil Premium is a Liberal Democrat flagship policy that is being delivered by the Coalition Government. It targets extra money to schools depending on the number of children from disadvantaged backgrounds they have.

Schools will receive £900 per eligible pupil. For Highgate Wood, this means a whopping £413,100 in extra funding for 2013/14.

Nick and me talking to Food Tech students!

Shortly after Nick’s visit – there was also good news about the Whittington Hospital. The Board released their revised strategy for the future of the hospital. They have u-turned on their plan to sell off buildings without consultation.

This is very welcome news. Whilst we recognise that some changes will have to be made to secure the future of the hospital – consulting with the public and protecting services is paramount. That’s why we launched a petition calling on the Whittington Board to consult local residents and guarantee that there will be no loss of services until equal or better were in place.

I’d like to thank all 3000 residents who signed the Lib Dem petition. Because of you, the Whittington Board agreed to the listening exercise and has consequently changed their plans.

This is why I’m so delighted to be reselected as the Lib Dem candidate for this area. I want to carry on campaigning with residents on the issues that matter – like Pinkham Way, the Whittington, and securing fairer funding for Haringey’s health and education services. I also want to run more competitions like the independent shops one – promoting and supporting our cherished local amenities.

And, I want to be in a position to keep implementing policies like the Pupil Premium – which is directly benefitting children in this area – and across the UK.

The road to the 2015 election starts here – and I will be keeping myself, and fellow Lib Dem activists and supporters, very busy!

Lynne Featherstone MP visits Action for Kids

Posted on 6th Aug 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP today visited ‘Action For Kids’, a local charity based in Hornsey. The organisation aims to help disabled children and young people towards independence, through the provision of mobility equipment, learning, training and support.

The Liberal Democrat MP was given a tour of the charity’s building before meeting some of the children and taking part in their activities, such as painting. The local MP also got to see a group of children heading off on a trip – facilitated by the charity.

In a meeting with the new Chief Executive, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green was told more about the services offered by the charity, and how they are now focussing on getting some of the young adults into jobs.

Following the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It was fantastic to join in with some of the activities and see a group of youngsters ready to go on a trip together – all facilitated by this great organisation.

“The new Chief Executive is doing great things – particularly trying to help these young people into paid jobs. I will certainly keep in touch and up to date with the work they’re doing, and I wish them all the best for the future.”

Lynne Featherstone MP and Jobcentre Plus announce local apprenticeship event

Posted on 29th Jul 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Local MP Lynne Featherstone has teamed up with Jobcentre Plus to run an apprenticeship event in her constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green.

The event will introduce young people to a range of apprenticeships and companies that are offering these opportunities. Companies will be giving out information on their apprenticeship opportunities at the event, and also holding free workshops to give people advice with their applications.

The Government Apprenticeship Ambassador to Business, Gordon Birtwistle MP, will be present at the event and will make speech.

Since 2010, 530 new apprenticeships have been created in Hornsey and Wood Green, and youth unemployment has fallen by over a quarter. The Liberal Democrat MP and Jobcentre Plus both want to help reduce unemployment further, and continue to increase the number of young people entering apprenticeships.

The event will take place on Wednesday 14^th August, between 2pm – 6pm at Haringey Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8LE.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Creating more jobs and opportunities – particularly for young people – is currently top of the Lib Dem’s list of priorities.

“Any young or unemployed person in Haringey who would like an apprenticeship, or more information on what they involve, should come along to the Civic Centre on the 14^th and find out more.

“It will be a great opportunity for people to get advice, make some contacts, and even secure apprenticeships that will kick start their future career.”

Jessica Hodgson, Operations Manager for Haringey & Islington, Jobcentre Plus commented:

“Apprenticeships are a great way for our local young people to begin their careers and this event is a perfect chance for them to meet employers who have opportunities now.”

Lynne Featherstone MP welcomes £500,000 refurbishment of Hornsey station

Posted on 17th Jul 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has today welcomed the announcement of a £500,000 refurbishment of Hornsey station.

The work, which will begin on 22^nd July, includes a refurbishment of the Tottenham Lane entrance, the ticket office and booking hall. The connecting footbridges will be repaired and resurfaced and the platform canopies will be restored and improved. Bright LED lighting will be fitted throughout the station, including over the footbridges.

The station will remain open during its usual hours throughout the refurbishment.

Local MP Lynne Featherstone, Hornsey Lib Dem Councillors and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the GLA Caroline Pidgeon have been working together and calling on First Capital Connect to make these improvements to Hornsey Station for years. They will be continuing to push, however, for First Capital Connect to lengthen the platforms at Hornsey station and for better disabled access.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Hornsey, Errol Reid commented:

“We welcome this much needed investment but it will still leave Hornsey with shorter platforms meaning it will miss out on some of the services other local stations will get.

“I have also been calling on First Capital Connect for improved disabled access at the station, which so far they have not agreed to.

“The Lib Dems will continue to work with Caroline Pidgeon on this and put pressure on First Capital Connect to lengthen the platforms at Hornsey so local residents and commuters get a better service.”

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

“This is wonderful news for customers and for Hornsey station – which is long overdue a refurbishment. I’d like to thank the local residents and our Hornsey Lib Dem councillors and activists, who have worked so hard to push for these improvements.

“We will continue to push for longer platforms at the station so that Hornsey can enjoy the same services as other stations in the area.”