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.”

Lynne Featherstone MP holds advice surgery at Wood Green Mosque

Posted on 7th May 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Local MP Lynne Featherstone last week visited Fatih Mosque, a branch of Suleymaniye, in Wood Green to talk to members of the congregation about local issues.

The Liberal Democrat MP entered the Mosque after prayers and was given a tour of the Women’s area. Following the tour, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green sat outside the Mosque and met with members of the congregation.

Along with two of her caseworkers, the MP spoke to dozens of people, and offered them assistance with their local issues.

Lynne Featherstone and her team process around 400 pieces of casework on behalf of local residents per week.

The event was organised by Dr Turhan Ozen, the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary Elections Candidate for London.

Following the surgery, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I would like to thank Turhan for organising this event, and thank the congregation for welcoming me to the Mosque. It was great to take advantage of the nice weather and hold an advice surgery outside.

“My team and I spoke with dozens of people and gave them advice on their local issues. We will be making numerous representations to the Council and other authorities on their behalf this week.

“I hope this will be the first of many advice surgeries at the local Mosques in my constituency.”

Lib Dems formally criticise Mayor's decision on police stations

Posted on 4th Apr 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

The Lib Dem opposition in Haringey have slammed the decision by the Mayor to close the front counter in Muswell Hill and reduce opening hours at Hornsey and Wood Green police stations.

Lib Dem councillor and crime spokesperson, Martin Newton has written to the Deputy Mayor of London objecting to the decision and calling on him to change his mind.

The Lib Dems have argued that having a contact point in Muswell Hill Library instead of the police counter is unacceptable because it will only be open for a short time and will be based in Muswell Hill Library. The library does not have disabled access so will not be usable for disabled people who would be forced to travel across the borough to report a crime.

Haringey Lib Dems have been campaigning for a local base for the Safer Neighbourhood Team on, or near, Muswell Hill Broadway with an accessible front counter for the public to report crimes.

Local Lib Dem MP, Lynne Featherstone, is also fighting the decision and has stated her opposition to the closure of Muswell Hill volunteer counter and the reduction of opening hours at Hornsey and Wood Green stations.

Martin Newton, Lib Dem crime spokesperson and councillor for Fortis Green, Muswell Hill, comments:

“This decision by the Mayor is unacceptable. We need to keep a front counter and safer neighbourhood police base in the Muswell Hill area and to keep Hornsey and Wood Green open twenty-four hours a day.

“The contact point in Muswell Hill Library, open three hours a week is completely unsuitable and will not have disabled access.

“We will continue the fight to keep a police presence in Muswell Hill and keep Hornsey and Wood Green police stations open twenty-four hours.

“I have written to the Deputy Mayor calling on him to change his mind, protect our twenty-four police stations and keep a proper police base in Muswell Hill. I hope he sees sense and listens to us and the pleas of local residents.”

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“I am deeply disappointed with the Mayor’s crime plan for Haringey, which leaves the whole of the west of the borough without any nearby police station open twenty-four hours.

“In the past, I was promised that the Muswell Hill counter would never close without a suitable replacement service. The current alternative presented by the Mayor is certainly not suitable, and I will continue to campaign for an equal or better replacement in the Muswell Hill area. I will also continue to oppose the downgrading of front counters in Wood Green and Hornsey Police Stations.

“I encourage residents with views on the plans to also make themselves heard by contacting the Mayor directly.”

Read the full letter here.

Lynne Featherstone MP takes part in Wood Green Hunger Banquet

Posted on 21st Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week took part in the Wood Green Hunger Banquet, organised by Oxfam volunteer Katrina Gajevska.

The event is part of the ‘Enough Food for All – If’ campaign – which aims to visualise the unfair distribution of food around the world.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green opened the banquet by speaking about the role of UK aid in combating hunger.

The Liberal Democrat MP – who is also a minister in the Department of International Development – spoke further about her recent visits to Ethiopia and South Sudan, where she witnessed the effects of uneven distribution of food and hunger.

The attendees then ate different meals, depending on whether they had drawn a rich, middle or poor ticket. The rich received the best meal, the poor ate only a modest portion of rice, and the middle-class got a slightly better menu.

Food for the banquet was donated by the following local businesses: Jai Shri Krishna from Turnpike Lane; Qui from Crouch End; Zer from Crouch End; Dolly’s Delightfuls; Bakes Cakes and Treats from Turnpike Lane; BG Foodtwist from The Harringay Market.

After the event, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I’d like to thank Katrina for organising this fantastic local event, which was a great way of illustrating some of the issues faced by the world’s poorest. It was a pleasure to take part and speak at the event.

“I was very happy yesterday when the Chancellor reaffirmed our commitment to spend 0.7% of GDP on overseas aid – so we can continue to help the world’s poorest and contribute to ending hunger in the developing world.”

Lynne Featherstone MP meets Banksy building owners

Posted on 18th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last Friday met the owners of Wood Green Investments Ltd. The company owns the property on which street artist Banksy painted his ‘bunting boy’ piece last year.

During the meeting, the representatives of Wood Green Investments said that the piece was taken without their knowledge, yet they would not be reporting the incident as a crime.

The representatives also said that they would allow their wall to be used for street art, provided that the Council protected the wall from now on.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green contacted the property owners in February after the Banksy piece disappeared from the wall, and ended up at an auction house in Miami.

The auction, however, was pulled at the last minute, and the exact whereabouts and current ‘owner’ of the piece remains unknown.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It is deeply disappointing that the property owners have chosen not to report this as a crime. If they really did not know anything until after the piece disappeared – then the person who currently has the Banksy piece is getting away with theft.

“Allowing the wall to be used for future street art is a nice gesture from Wood Green Investments – but what we really want is our Banksy back.

“I will continue to try and find out who has our Banksy, and hope that the property owners change their mind about reporting this as a crime.”

Lynne Featherstone MP steps up investigation into missing Banksy

Posted on 19th Feb 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone is continuing her efforts to get to the bottom of the mysterious disappearance of Turnpike Lane’s famous Banksy piece.

On Saturday, the artwork was unexpectedly removed from the wall of the Poundland shop on Wood Green High Road. The authentic Banksy piece has subsequently appeared for auction in the United States with an estimated value of £320,000-£452,000.

The Liberal Democrat MP has already taken the following actions:

Contacted Poundland to ascertain whether they had any part in or knowledge of the removal. The retailer has insisted that they are not responsible, but they are expected to shed some light on the course of events.
Used the land registry office to track down the building owners, Wood Green Investments. The MP then asked the company for an explanation, and to identify the collector to whom the artwork was sold.
Contacted the auctioneers, Fine Art Auctions Miami, to ask that the artwork be withdrawn from auction pending further investigation.

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

“I share my constituents’ great strength of feeling on this issue. It is clear that the Banksy piece was much loved by locals and visitors alike, and a community asset that was an important part of the fabric of the Turnpike Lane area.

“So far, Poundland have denied all knowledge and responsibility. The auction house has confirmed that a well known collector brought the piece to them, and said they see nothing untoward about how the piece ended up with them. I am now focussing my attention on the building owners, and the identity of the collector.

“It is totally unethical that something so valued should be torn without warning from its community context.

“I will continue doing all I can to investigate, with the hope that our Banksy piece might be returned to its rightful home.”

Lynne Featherstone MP demands answers as Banksy piece disappears from Turnpike Lane

Posted on 18th Feb 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP is making investigations into the disappearance of a Banksy piece from the side of a building in Turnpike Lane.

The piece, which was confirmed as genuine, appeared on the side of a Poundland store just before the Jubilee last year, and depicted a young boy using a sewing machine to make Jubilee bunting.

The piece is now up for auction in the United States, with an estimated value between £320,000 – £452,000.

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

“The Banksy piece added something different to Turnpike Lane and attracted many people to the area. It’s certainly a shame to have the piece ripped from the building and bizarrely put up for auction in the States – for hundreds of thousands of pounds. This just isn’t right.

“Poundland have said that they are not responsible, but I want to find out who is. I will be making enquiries today to Poundland and the building owners and will keep residents updated. I will also make sure that the company auctioning the piece are aware of the situation.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits Asian Centre in Wood Green

Posted on 17th Jan 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited the Asian Centre in Wood Green to see the services it offers to the local community.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green was given a tour of the Centre and told more about the Centre’s activities, which range from yoga classes to computer skills lessons. There is also a focus on health, with numerous talks taking place on diabetes, cancer and general well-being. The classes and talks are either free or heavily subsidised.

After meeting elderly visitors in the day centre and visiting the lunch cafe, the Liberal Democrat MP went to the function room, and answered questions about a mix of national and local political issues.

Following the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“The Centre is an invaluable asset to Wood Green, providing a huge variety of services to the local community. I was delighted to visit and see this excellent work first hand.

“It is vital that these community centres, run by voluntary organisations, are given the support they need to carry on. I have now written to my colleagues in Government to ask what further funding the Centre could benefit from.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits local Oxfam shop

Posted on 16th Jan 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week met with Oxfam volunteers, local school children and community organisations at the Oxfam shop in Wood Green.

The Liberal Democrat MP was invited by local Oxfam campaigner Katrina Gajevska to discuss some of the issues affecting her constituency, Hornsey and Wood Green, and to comment on Oxfam’s GROW campaign.

The MP made a speech about youth unemployment and job creation in areas like Wood Green, coupled with the importance of volunteering as a means to combat poverty and disadvantage in a community.

And the end of the visit, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green was presented with a poster, made by the local school children.

After the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It was a great event, and I’d like to thank Katrina very much for organising it. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the participants – particularly the school children, who we’re very polite and interested in the issues discussed.

“Wood Green is a busy, diverse and great part of London – but there are also many residents from disadvantaged backgrounds. Community organisations and volunteers play a vital role in tackling poverty.

“The Lib Dems in Government are also working hard to address the problems faced by young people from these backgrounds. Since 2010, 2,550 new apprenticeships have been created in Haringey thanks to a Government funding boost. This year, Haringey schools will receive an extra £13million to help disadvantaged pupils, as part of the Lib Dem’s pupil premium plan.”

Lynne Featherstone MP successful in securing parking sign changes

Posted on 14th Jan 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has criticized Haringey Council for misleading residents and wasting tax payers’ money. Throughout December, old parking signs in the inner Wood Green CPZ were not removed – and were wrongly informing motorists that Sunday parking was permitted in the area.

The issue was brought to the attention of Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone via the social networking site Twitter, where residents reported inadvertently receiving parking tickets after following the information on the signs. A number of costly and time-consuming appeals have now resulted.

Labour-run Haringey Council was notified of the problem early in December, but only rectified the problem last week, following the Liberal Democrat MP’s intervention.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“True to form, Haringey Council seems to be unable to properly implement its own parking policy. Unfortunate motorists were being ambushed with unfair parking tickets through no fault of their own. Where there is no Sunday parking, the signs should state that there is no Sunday parking!

“This is typical of the kind of mismanagement we have come to expect from Labour run Haringey.

“Thankfully, following my letter to the new Chief Executive, the correct signs are now in place. I encourage all residents who were affected to appeal their tickets.”