Tag Archives: Noel Park

Trees destroyed on Hornsey Park Road: Lynne Featherstone MP demands action following Council’s error

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Lynne Featherstone MP today demanded answers from Haringey Council, following public reports from the Parkside Malvern Residents Association that a number of young trees had been destroyed. The Association recently informed its followers on the social networking site, Twitter, that 150 tree saplings planted by residents had been destroyed.

The residents speculated that Council workers were responsible for the mowing down of the recently planted saplings. This speculation appears to have been confirmed – as the group further tweeted that the Council had apologised and agreed to replant the trees.

This prompted the Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green to contact the Council, asking who was at fault, and whether an official apology to the residents had been made. The MP also asked when and where the saplings would be replanted.

Commenting on the situation, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“I was concerned to hear that the saplings, planted by hard working residents, had been so arbitrarily destroyed. Whilst I realise that accidents can happen, it is vital that, if responsible, the Council make amends for this mistake and replants these trees in the same location.

Haringey Council are hopeless at fulfilling the promises they make to residents, which is why I contacted them and demanded they commit to a time, date and location for the replanting of these saplings.”

Local MP Secures Crucial Repair Following Sandlings Visit

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Lynne visits the SandlingsLynne Featherstone MP visited the Sandlings estate in Wood Green recently to hold an advice surgery, where she met and discussed various issues with local residents.

During the Surgery, the MP used an external staircase to visit a resident’s flat. On the way back down the staircase, the MP noticed a small warning sign. The sign was written on paper, which had been ripped, with a handwritten message:“please use other staircase until further notice – please do not use this staircase, ceiling unsafe.” There was a crumbling section of ceiling above the first set of steps.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green promptly contacted Homes for Haringey, and today received a response. The response confirmed that a specialist concrete repair was required and an external contractor would be used to carry out the work.  The works are scheduled to start this week.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I was shocked and concerned at the state of the ceiling – which was highly dangerous and a hazard to all users of the stair case. The written sign was an insufficient warning – neither my assistant nor I noticed it when we first went up the stairs. A hazard like this should have been cordoned off, and repaired as soon as possible.

I am very glad that, following my intervention, the necessary repairs will now take place.’

Wood Green ‘open for business’ hears local MP

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Photo of Rehanaz Noor with Lynne Featherstone MPLynne Featherstone visited the Noel Park, Wood Green branch of Barclays Bank on Friday 11th May and heard from staff how they are supporting local businesses. She urged the bank to engage with the community to ensure that local people who want to set up a business have every chance to succeed.

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

“It is encouraging to hear about businesses in Wood Green that are succeeding and growing despite the difficult economic climate. Banks need to give the right support to local businesses and that is why talking to them is so important. Cash flow is clearly a problem for many businesses and that is where high-street banks can make a real difference if they offer the right support.

“The coalition government has delivered lower taxes and less red tape. They will help get business moving again.

“Vince Cable’s government department also announced last week that the government-backed Angel Co-fund has made its first investment in new businesses. The £50million fund aims to support new small businesses in partnership with private investors.”

Rehanaz Noor, Barclays Bank manager of the Noel Park branch commented:

“Our commitment to the area is demonstrated by the fact that we have made a major investment in refurbishing the Noel Park branch. Our small business customers have remained resilient throughout the downturn with many adapting and diversifying to ensure they remain successful and most have survived and are starting to look at growth opportunities now. The start up market has been vibrant with many people taking the opportunity to start their own businesses using the skills they have.”

Local MP opens colourful dance showcase in Wood Green

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Lynne with Irish Dancers at Haringey Dance ShowcaseTo help celebrate the amazing dance skills on offer in multicultural Haringey, Lynne Featherstone MP, on Friday, opened Haringey’s Big Dance Showcase at the Asian Centre in Wood Green.

The Liberal Democrat MP kicked off the fast moving, colourful display of talent, that saw dancers from all walks of life and corners of Haringey show off their best moves, including Irish dancing, Indian chair dancing and African-Caribbean street dancing.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Wow, I’ve been blown away by the talented dancers here today, from young to old, from slow, gentle dance to explosions of energy!

“I’m really proud to be representing such diversity and energy. What a fantastic way to celebrate multicultural Haringey, in this colourful collaboration between our Asian, African-Caribbean and Irish cultural centres.”

Local MP on special blindfolded guide dog walk in Noel Park

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Lynne Featherstone walking ZeusTo better understand the challenges blind and partially sighted local residents face walking on Haringey’s busy streets, Lynne Featherstone MP did a blindfolded walk with guide dog Zeus on the streets of Noel Park.

After the walk, arranged by Guide Dog UK, the Liberal Democrat MP also met local residents Julie, Annette and David and their dogs Merlin, Connie and Raffles, to hear of the special challenges of having a guide dog in a busy urban area like Haringey.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Walking blindfolded with Zeus really brought it home to me how difficult it is to manage with a guide dog in a busy area like Noel Park.

“Things like bins and boards outside shops are really major obstacles to negotiate when you can’t see them.

“I think everyone should try this out, and then help spread awareness about small things, like making sure roads are clear and obstacle free, to make everyday life easier for people like Julie, Annette and David.”

Local MP reads with local school children for World Book Day

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To mark World Book Day and to share the joy of reading a good book with local school children, Lynne Featherstone MP visited a special story- telling session at Noel Park Primary.

Lynne Featherstone reading at Noel Park Primary School

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP started off by reading ‘The Great Kapok Tree’, about the Amazon rainforest, to a year 6 class, and ended the special visit by reading ‘Funnybones’ with the nursery class children.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s just been an enchanted morning. There are few things as enjoyable as sharing a good story with children – they are so wonderfully enthusiastic and honest.

“It’s great to get the chance to read with the kids – and so important to help them develop an interest in reading, which will really serve them well in the future – both for work and pleasure.”

Wood Green police station: latest plans

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Wood Green police station film screenshotHere’s my latest column for the Ham & High:

The police are planning to expand their presence in Wood Green – keeping the existing police station in use but also moving the front counter to the Fishmongers Arms (right next to the Civic Centre, closer to the centre of Wood Green, closer to where people congregate and closer to the crime hotspots).

I was impressed with the new front counter – not yet in use – when I went with Cllr Robert Gorrie (Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Haringey Council) to see it and meet the local Commander, Dave Grant.

Having staffed and open police stations in the heart of our community is central to the fight against crime and the fear of crime. It gives us a police service that knows its community and whose community knows it. That’s why I fought for so longer to get the Muswell Hill front counter reopened.

The new front counter in Wood Green is much better equipped and located than the current one. It’s all ready to go – brand, spanking new – and has the advantage that local people would be able to use the front counter to report their problems in a much more peaceful and calm atmosphere – no longer needing to mix with the less salubrious side of station life with those who have to report to the police station, and so on.

If the existing building is also kept in use for police services, such as cells and a base for patrol cars etc, then this means overall a bigger and better police presence in Wood Green. Hurrah!

If!

We need to be sure that moving the front counter doesn’t become an excuse to cut back, sell off property – and leave us with fewer services. That has to be the concern in these times of economic uncertainty.

And then there’s still the question of exactly what policing will be done from the existing police station building. The police have promised a public consultation on that – including the possibility of moving the front counter back from the Fishmongers Arms, if it isn’t a success in its new location and local people want it moved back.

We also need to make sure that any building work on the old police station preserves its historic front, which is a real architectural gem that adds to our community. Last time the police made proposals for the station the local community was rightly up in arms at the insensitive architectural designs. That planning application was withdrawn and we await a new one, due to be submitted in the autumn.

So we should be due two chances to have our say – the public consultation on police services in the area and also the planning application for the Victorian police station building.

But ahead of that the police want to try out starting to use the new facilities at the Fishmongers Arms – moving their front counter service from the existing police station to the new location.

I know some people have been skeptical about this, worried that it’s a way for the police to preempt those two chances for us to have our say later in the year.

But if it is a genuine trial, making use of new expanded premises and with a commitment written in blood that the final decisions will only come after we’ve been consulted – then it means we get to try out the new services sooner and it makes for a better decision in the end if there’s some practical experience to draw on.

So this is a debate which will run for some time – and do let me know your own views.

You can also watch my latest film about Wood Green police station:

Liberal Democrats welcome news of 24 hour Wood Green police station

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Following a successful campaign by Liberal Democrats to improve police services in Wood Green, the local police have agreed to re-open Wood Green police station 24 hours a day. The news was revealed in a question to Liberal Democrat crime spokesperson, Councillor Ron Aitken, in this week’s Full Council, after Lib Dems expressed concern about the High Road police station front counter only being open until 9 pm.

Lynne Featherstone MP and the Liberal Democrat team have been campaigning for better police services for Wood Green residents and launched a survey in the Autumn to understand residents’ priorities on policing in the area.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“This is fantastic news for Wood Green residents. A lot of crime happens at night, but for some time now, local people have been poorly served by a barely operational police station.

“It’s so important just to know that the police will be there for you at any time, day or night, if something should happen. I think this will make a huge difference.”

Cllr Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat crime spokesperson, adds:

“Being out on the streets, talking to local people, it’s clear having a 24 hour police station is high up on the wish list, so I really welcome this terrific news!”

Traffic calming scheme for “death trap” road welcomed

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Fiyaz Mughal and Lynne Featherstone - Westbury AvenueA road that was branded a “death trap” by a local councillor will now receive funding to make it safer after a sustained campaign by local Liberal Democrats. In February this year Cllr Fiyaz Mughal revealed that Westbury Avenue, in Noel Park ward, had been the scene of 14 serious accidents. He demanded that Haringey Council investigated speed restrictions and measures that would improve safety for local residents.

Last week Haringey Council announced that new crossings for pedestrians, slow road markings, vehicle activated slow down signs and raised entries to roads off Westbury Avenue will be installed. Local Liberal Democrats welcomed the progress but said that a 20mph speed limit still needed to be introduced in the area.

Cllr Fiyaz Mughal, Noel Park, comments:

“Looking at the evidence showing how many accidents had occurred on this road and after speaking to local residents it was clear we needed to campaign to make this road safer for pedestrians.

“I am glad that the pressure that local Lib Dems and residents have put on the Council has provided results. But we will not stop there – we still believe that to ensure safety we need to reduce the speed limit to 20mph on this road.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:

“Hopefully now that plans are afoot to reduce the speed of vehicles on this road the accident rate will fall.”