Lynne Featherstone MP addresses AGM of Crouch End Open Spaces (CREOS)

Posted on 28th May 2012 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, will speak to members of the Crouch End Open Spaces campaign group tonight (24^th May).

The MP for Hornsey & Wood Green will tell members of the group that London’s green spaces are vitally important and that Liberal Democrats in the coalition government have won new powers for local people to shape their local community.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“CREOS has done a fantastic job over more than twenty five years, helping to protect and improve open spaces in Crouch End and Muswell Hill. They have shown what can be achieved when people come together to work for their own local community.

“Our green spaces are hugely valued and vitally important parts of our communities. In London, over 50 hectares of protected open space – equivalent to more than twice the size of St James’s Park – has been lost in planning approvals since 2008 when Boris Johnson became mayor.

“The new Localism Act will give people the power to nominate community assets that can then be given extra protection from the threat of development. Crouch End playing field is one of the places that people have told the local Liberal Democrat team should be included as a community asset. Councillors will be pressing Haringey Borough Council to include it in the list for extra protection.”

Residents ignored on phone mast plans

Posted on 12th Mar 2012 by Lynne Featherstone

Local people should be consulted on plans put forward by a mobile phone operator to install a new mobile phone mast on a sheltered housing block in Muswell Hill, Liberal Democrats have demanded.

Since early February local councillors have battled with representatives acting on behalf of Vodafone and Haringey Council to get details on how they will engage with local residents on their plans to build a mobile phone base station on the top of The Priory on Priory Road.

However, this week the Council stated that the mast can be put up without the need for a planning application as it is ‘permitted development’.

Cllr Jim Jenks has written an urgent letter to the Council and Homes for Haringey urging them to say what they are doing about consultation.

Cllr Jim Jenks (Muswell Hill) comments:

“Residents living in this sheltered accommodation block not only will have no say on these plans but it seems they have no idea that a new mobile phone mast will be built. It is unacceptable.

“I have urgently written to the Council and Homes for Haringey to ask what they will do about consulting with residents”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“I have fought many long battles alongside local residents about mobile phone masts and this is another example of the Council and distant mobile phone companies riding roughshod over local people and ignoring them.”

Local Liberal Democrats celebrate refurbished children’s library after successful campaign

Posted on 20th Jul 2010 by Lynne Featherstone

Local Liberal Democrats were on Friday celebrating the transformation of Muswell Hill Children’s Library after a successful four year battle to get it refurbished.

Lynne Featherstone MP and Councillors Gail Engert, Jim Jenks, and Martin Newton were chatting with excited children and parents at Friday’s special opening of the new space, which now has a medieval theme to go with a beautifully restored mural.

The children’s section, which until recently was in a sad state, with peeling wallpaper and cracked walls, finally got it’s much needed refurbishment after a successful campaign by local Liberal Democrats.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“This place is just magical! And what a transformation from the rather sorry state it was in before, with peeling wallpaper and cracked walls.

“They have really done a fantastic job, and the kids who are here today clearly love it – and surely that’s what it’s all about!”

Muswell Hill Councillor Gail Engert adds:

“It’s been a long, hard battle, but I’m so proud to say it’s been successfully fought.

“This space, where I am sure hundreds and hundreds of local children will discover magical worlds and the joy of reading, will be treasured for years to come. What a success!”