Hundreds sign Lib Dem petition for free parking on Haringey’s high streets

Posted on 15th Jan 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

The Haringey Liberal Democrats and Lynne Featherstone MP last week launched a petition for 30 minutes of free parking on Haringey’s High Streets. The petition has already been signed by 399 people with another 105 people liking the campaign on Facebook.

The campaign has also attracted the support of traders in Muswell Hill who recently gathered a petition with over 5,000 signatures, calling for lower parking charges.

The campaign for 30 minutes of free parking was sparked by the Labour-run Council’s decision to double parking charges in Muswell Hill, Crouch End and Green Lanes from £1.40 to £3 per hour.

So far the Council has refused to bow to pressure from traders, residents and Haringey Lib Dems on the issue.

The Lib Dems believe that 30 minutes of free parking would boost trade on local high streets and support the independent shops that make Haringey’s high streets unique.

Lynne Featherstone MP and Haringey Lib Dems are calling on local shoppers to add their support to the campaign and sign the petition here.

Jim Jenks, Muswell Hill councillor and Lib Dem spokesperson on parking comments:

“The council must do more to support local businesses. Independent traders are struggling and 30 minutes of free parking would encourage more people to shop on our high streets and boost local trade.”

“I encourage anyone who lives in Haringey or shops locally to sign our petition and put pressure on the council to introduce 30 minutes of free parking on high streets.”

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green comments:

“I’m delighted that our petition has already got the support of hundreds of people!

“Haringey Lib Dems and I will continue to campaign to get the Labour Council to make the change and introduce 30 minutes of free parking.

“It will benefit local residents and help to keep small independent shops on our local high streets.”

Peter Drummond, local resident and President of the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC), comments:

“I support the campaign to lower parking charges on high streets. In my view, it is absolutely critical that high streets are not put under even greater pressure, and that local councils do not simply see parking charges as a revenue earner. If they do, retailers will fail, rents and rates will reduce and in the long run the council will be worse off.”

Lib Dems call for 30 minutes free High Street parking in Haringey

Posted on 8th Jan 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP and the Haringey Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign for 30 minutes of free parking on Haringey’s High Streets.

Last year, retailers on Muswell Hill Broadway reported months of poor trade after the parking charges were increased from £1.40 to £3 per hour.

The traders started a petition to lower the charges – which attracted over 5,200 signatures – and presented it to Haringey Council. Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone also wrote to the Labour-run Council and requested that the charges be lowered. Despite this, the Council refused to reduce the charges.

Lynne Featherstone MP and the Haringey Liberal Democrats are now calling for 30 minutes of free parking on Haringey’s High Streets, to encourage people to stop and ‘drop in’ to the Borough’s independent shops, and boost their trade.

Jim Jenks, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Muswell Hill said:

“Haringey retailers need our support. But the Haringey Labour Council has, as usual, a ‘one size fits all’ approach with high parking charges throughout the Borough. We need local parking solutions that help get more people into our shops.

“We need as many people as possible to support our campaign, so we’re encouraging our supporters and residents to sign our petition and let their friends and families know about it, too.”

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

“In my constituency, the high streets in places like Muswell Hill and Crouch End are packed with independent retailers. It sets us apart from other places which are full of bland chain stores.

“I’m afraid this refusal to listen to trader’s concerns is typical of the Labour-run Council – more interested in making a quick buck on parking fees than preserving our community assets.

“I urge anyone who wants to support independent shops – and would like to enjoy 30 minutes free parking – to sign our petition.”

Sign the petition here.

Lynne Featherstone MP takes part in ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’

Posted on 2nd Oct 2012 by Lynne Featherstone

On Friday last week, Lynne Featherstone MP visited two coffee mornings which were being hosted in Hornsey and Wood Green. The Liberal Democrat MP firstly dropped in on residents at Minster Walk in Hornsey, and then visited a local Barclays Branch in Wood Green.

The coffee morning at Minster Walk was hosted by local resident Phyliss Grant. The MP spoke with residents at Minster Walk about their own experiences with Cancer, and also took the opportunity to discuss a mixture of local and national issues. At Barclays, Lynne Featherstone spoke to staff about the coffee morning, which they take part in every year.

Both coffee mornings were being held as part of Macmillan’s ‘world’s biggest coffee morning’ event. Macmillan runs the event every year as a fundraiser. They ask people across the UK – and sometimes further afield – to hold a coffee morning, and collect donations. This year, over £10million has been raised to assist Macmillan in helping people with Cancer.

Following the event, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“I was delighted to take part in the coffee morning fundraiser. Macmillan is a fantastic organisation, providing invaluable help and support to cancer sufferers.

“We face huge health inequalities in Haringey, and it is reassuring to know that organisations like Macmillan are there to support those in need, regardless of where they’re from.

“I wish the organisation the very best for all of their future activities.”

Local MP backs resident on Icelandic fundraising trek to find cure for eye disorder

Posted on 4th Jul 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week met up with local resident Joe Churcher who has a genetic eye disease, to hear of his plans for a challenging trek across Iceland’s volcanic interior in a bid to raise urgently needed funds for research into a cure.

The Hornsey resident is one of an eight-strong team of people with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) putting their limited vision to the test as they pick their way between spouting geysers, lava-filled chasms and the ash clouds that have of course become all too familiar here in the UK.

Damage to the retina caused by the faulty genes behind RP leads to a gradual loss of sight – first tunnel vision and night blindness and then difficulties with reading and seeing colours – sometimes combined with other symptoms such as profound deafness.

But with the help of fully-sighted guides – and the bonus of little darkness to cope with in “the land of the midnight sun” – Joe and his fellow trekkers are determined to complete the mission and help prevent future generations suffering the same problems.

As many as 20,000 people in the UK are affected by RP, which is one of the most significant causes of blindness in children and people of working age, but there is at present no known cure or proven treatment to stop the symptoms worsening with age.

Anyone who wants to sponsor Joe can do so by visiting: www.justgiving.com/Joe-Churcher.

Joe Churcher comments:

“Iceland’s been a bit of a dirty word in this country recently, what with the collapse of the banks and the ash clouds causing flight chaos but we’re hoping it will prove a winning location for people with RP, especially the millions who will inherit the condition in future,”

“My eye disorder causes me only relatively minor problems, but for many other sufferers, RP has a devastating effect on their everyday lives and I’m doing this for them.”

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I am really chuffed to be backing Joe. RP is a really common eye disease, yet few people have heard of it.

“Having worked closely with local organisations that support blind and partially sighted residents, like the Haringey Phoenix group, who are also backing Joe, I know how life-changing and difficult having eye diseases like RP can be.

“Hats off to Joe for a fantastic awareness raising and fundraising effort, and try and avoid those spouting geysers!”

Liberal Democrats back local residents in fight to stop Hornsey train shed

Posted on 17th Jun 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrats have this week backed local residents in their fight to stop a giant train depot being built at Coronation Sidings in Hornsey. A strong consultation response to Haringey Council was made by Hornsey Councillor Robert Gorrie, backed by local Liberal Democrats and Lynne Featherstone MP, following a meeting last week between Network Rail, Residents’ Association chairs and Liberal Democrats.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Local residents are enraged at the plans to build this huge train shed right next to New River Village, and I was delighted to be able to help residents put their concerns directly to Network Rail bosses in the meeting last week.

“I firmly back local residents, the Residents’ Association chairs who came to the meeting, as well as my colleague Councillor Gorrie in their submissions to the consultation. I hope that with such a resounding ‘no’ from the local community, the council will throw out this application, and Network Rail will have to look elsewhere to build their shed.”

Hornsey Councillor Robert Gorrie adds:

“I have been working very closely with residents for the past two years to help them fight these plans. Residents’ Association chairs from the neighbouring area have been very thorough in their review of this huge and complex application. They have worked tirelessly to identify the shortcomings in the plans and I wholeheartedly back them in their opposition.

“My main concerns, which I have made very clear to the Council, are about the lack of transparency in the Network Rail consultants’ selection of Hornsey as the location of the depot, the lack of mitigation proposed for the impact this massive operation would have on local residents, and the lack of information of how the shed would be run by whatever unidentified subcontractor is picked for the job. I hope that the Council will listen to local people and stop this monstrosity.”

Team Featherstone hold cake fundraiser for homeless charity

Posted on 22nd Mar 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

To fundraise for Shelter, the charity that works to alleviate the distress caused by homelessness, Lynne Featherstone MP and staff on Friday hosted a Cake Time party at their office in Hornsey.

The keen bakers whipped up a range of yummy treats like brownies, cinnamon buns and banana cake to sell to councillors and activists to help raise money to support the charity’s important work in giving help and advice to people with housing problems.

Residents who want to host their own Shelter Cake Time party, can visit the Shelter website to order a fundraising pack on http://england.shelter.org.uk

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Homelessness is a major problem here in Haringey – I see it every week in my advice surgery with local residents who have waited years for permanent housing. Shelter is a great charity, and I often refer constituents to their helpline, to get expert advice on their best housing options.

“That’s why I jumped at the chance to help give something back to the charity by joining this year’s Cake Time fundraiser. Hopefully in a small way, we have helped more people in the UK get support with their housing issues – not a bad result for an afternoon’s cake party!”

Lynne on special tour of super-green low carbon house in the heart of Hornsey

Posted on 18th Jan 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

To see the future of low carbon housing, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday visited a super–green refurbished Victorian terrace in the heart of Hornsey.

The previously fire-damaged property on Hawthorn Road, owned by Metropolitan Housing Trust, has been done up according to the Passivhaus model. With high levels of insulation, air-tightness and triple-glazing, the house will drastically cut its carbon footprint by using 80% less energy than its neighbours.

The home will need almost no extra heating, using solar gain from windows, people themselves, and their electrical goods, to keep warm. The house also has a heat-recovery system for fresh air in the winter without opening windows, and solar panels to heat 60% of the hot water.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“This warm, comfortable house has been done up beautifully, and is a great example of what can be done to cut energy in Haringey’s many Victorian properties.

“Many local residents really want to be green and cut their carbon-footprint, but don’t know where to start. I’m delighted that the Hawthorn Road house will stand as a shining example of how it can be done.

“I’m sure that Angela, the new tenant, will be very happy here. Well done to Metropolitan Housing and Anne Thorne, the architect, for doing such an amazing job!”

Haringey Liberal Democrats standing up for local businesses this Christmas

Posted on 29th Nov 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

To see how they can best support local businesses through the difficult financial times and in the run-up to Christmas, Local Liberal Democrats have today launched a business survey to go out to businesses across Haringey.

The business survey, part of the ‘be local’ campaign, intended to encourage volunteering and support for local shops, was today launched by Lynne Featherstone MP and Councillor Robert Gorrie on Hornsey High Street. The Liberal Democrats are also writing to local residents in December to encourage them to support their local shops this Christmas.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The tough economic climate has been hard on our local businesses, and as the run-up to Christmas is so important for local shop, we’re today launching a survey to hear what matters to traders.

“We want to know about the top issues to tackle, and will be speaking to businesses up and down the borough in the coming month.”

Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson Cllr Robert Gorrie adds:

“There are many spectacular businesses in our community. They are the life-blood of our local town centres and local economy.

“We want to know what more can be done to encourage people to use our High Street and ‘be local’ this winter, and that’s why we are also writing to residents, encouraging them to do their Christmas shopping locally this year.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits award winning youth charities on Big Lottery Fund tour

Posted on 12th Oct 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

To see how Lottery funding has helped transform the lives of local young people with mental health issues and learning difficulties, Lynne Featherstone MP, visited charities Exposure and Action for Kids, as part of a Big Lottery Fund tour on Friday.

At Muswell Hill based Exposure Magazine, the Hornsey and Wood Green MP and Big Lottery Fund Head of London Region Alison Rowe were shown three powerful films produced by young people, focusing on mental health. The films are part of Exposure’s wider Lottery-funded ‘Mind’ initiative, enabling young people to use the media to explore and recount their mental health journeys, come to terms with their experiences as well as raise awareness for peers and the wider community.

At Action for Kids, a Hornsey-based charity for young people with learning difficulties, the Liberal Democrat MP was shown the Big Lottery-funded computer equipment, tailor-made for each student’s unique needs, to help the students participate in the charity’s decision-making and learn new skills for independent living.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“These two unique charities do amazing work with young people in Hornsey and Wood Green, and it’s so wonderful to see their fantastic work continued and expanded, thanks to grants from the Big Lottery Fund.”

“It was great to meet some of the young people who have found the courage to speak about their mental health issues through Exposure’s ‘Mind’ initiative. This Lottery-funded project has really done wonders for the young people who have shared their experiences, but it has also helped raise awareness of mental health problems amongst youth more widely, and that’s just fantastic.

“Thanks to the generous Lottery grant, young people at Action for Kids have got new ways of expressing themselves, with the help of tailor-made computers. This has done wonders for their independence and their chance to have a say in how Action for Kids is run – really inspiring!

Local MP celebrates Proud of Pubs Week

Posted on 26th Jul 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

To mark proud of pubs week and highlight the valuable role pubs play in the local community, Lynne Featherstone MP was chatting with landlord Nigel Oxford and pulling a few pints at the Three Compasses Pub in Hornsey.

The Hornsey based pub has been widely recognised for the role it plays in the community and in 2008 won an award for best community pub.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I’m really proud to be backing pubs in Hornsey and Wood Green this week.

“Places like the Three Compasses become even more important in times of hardship, as places to meet and keep the local community together. So here’s to all the great community pubs in Haringey – cheers!”