Tag Archives: stroud-green

Christmas cheer for Stroud Green after snub from Haringey Council scrooges

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Despite the annual refusal by Haringey Council to fund Christmas lights, Stroud Green Road and Finsbury Park will, once again, be dazzling with Christmas cheer this year thanks to neighbouring Islington Council.

The Liberal Democrat Leader of Islington Council announced that Stroud Green Road and Finsbury Park would receive funding for Christmas lights – marking the second consecutive year when Haringey Council have failed to contribute to the area’s festivities.

Local Liberal Democrats have warmly welcomed the move by Islington Council and have pointed out that this is further evidence of Labour’s neglect for the Finsbury Park area.

Earlier this year it was revealed that Labour Cllr Gina Adamou had failed to attend any meetings of a board set up to regenerate the Finsbury Park area and Haringey Council slashed budgets for street sweeping.

Cllr Ed Butcher (Stroud Green) comments:

“This Christmas is going to be difficult enough for shops and restaurants on Stroud Green Road without more wilful neglect from Haringey Council. We are pleased to have secured a bit of festive cheer to encourage customers and raise our area’s status. We are determined to do all that we can to help local businesses through this recession.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Stroud Green is one of the most vibrant areas in Haringey yet it is neglected year after year by this Labour administration. I’m glad that once again Islington have made Stroud Green‘s Christmas wishes come true.”

Local Democracy Week – Alexandra Park School

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Lynne Featherstone at Alexandra Park SchoolIf I ruled the world I would ………….. that’s the challenge I have set local children in Hornsey & Wood Green schools to tell me in 200 words for Local Democracy Week.

I launched my mini-writing competition today at Alexandra Park School – where the amazing Jo (Citizenship teacher extraordinaire) had agreed to set up to undertake this project with the Citizenship and the English classes working together. So today I was attending the Citizenship class where Jo was brainstorming with the children to get them involved and engaged in beginning to think what sort of things might need changing or what worried them – and then – how that might be changed.

The first round of ideas were just brilliant – from the young girl who wanted to make life better for young carers, to world peace and beyond. I’m not going to go through the list – but suffice to say – that it is completely fascinating to to listen to the ideas they had about what worried them – and recognise where the input came from. Some clearly came from school work, much from television and newscasts  – but Jo was really clever – and as well as those sort of universal issues tried to move them onto a more personal level of what worried or concerned them in their own lives.

So I am greatly looking forward to reading all the submissions when they come in. I always feel very uplifted when I come out of a school visit like that.

Labour do not care about Finsbury Park residents say Liberal Democrats

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Liberal Democrats have demanded that a Labour councillor stand down from a local regeneration board after it was revealed that the councillor has not attended for nearly two years.

Cllr Gina Adamou, who is councillor for Harringay ward, has not attended a meeting of the FinFuture board, which aims to improve the Finsbury Park area, since early 2008. This has prompted local Liberal Democrats to say that Labour do not care about improving the area and that she should make way for a Liberal Democrat councillor to attend the meetings.

Figures show that since 2007 Cllr Adamou has only attended four of the twenty board meetings that have taken place. This news comes on top of the announcement from Haringey Council earlier this year that they would scrap funding to improve the area.

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) comments:

‘It clear that Labour does not care about the Finsbury Park area. It is time that Cllr Adamou stood down from the FinFuture board and let a Liberal Democrat stand up for the residents of the Finsbury Park area.

‘The area around Finsbury Park is used by thousands of Haringey residents, and is in desperate need of regeneration. It beggars belief that Labour thinks that this is such a low priority.’

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

‘In June this year Labour pulled funding for anti-dumping officers for streets around Finsbury Park. Now we have a Labour councillor who is either unable or unwilling to be Haringey’s voice on an organisation that helps to regenerate the local area. This is totally unacceptable and a symptom of Labour’s neglect in this area.’

Notes

In June 2009 it was revealed in a message from the Chief Executive of FinFuture that despite problems with fly-tipping, littering and graffiti in the area, Haringey Council has ceased funding that funding for two environmental officers from 1st April 2009. Hackney and Islington Councils, who also support Finfutures financially, continues to fund one officer.

Full details of Cllr Admaou’s attendance at FinFuture board meetings:

  • In 2007/08 there were 13 Board Meetings, of which, Cllr Adamou attended 4
  • In 2008/09 there were 6 Board Meetings, of which, Cllr. Adamou attended 0
  • In 2009/10 there has been one scheduled Board Meeting so far and Cllr Adamou gave her apologies.

Stroud Green parking survey

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My Lib Dem council colleagues from Stroud Green ward (Ed Butcher, Laura Edge and Richard Wilson) have launched their parking survey on the internet to gain further views from local residents.

They’d already begun a door-to-door survey in response to news that Haringey Council were delaying plans to review the Finsbury Park Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) until at least 2010. Curses on the dreaded Haringey Council – can they do nothing right? When you go door-to-door, not everyone is in etc, so hopefully this online survey will reach out further

If you’d like to take part in the survey, go to http://survey.libdems.org.uk/take/611.

Online launch for Stroud Green parking survey

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Local Liberal Democrats have launched a parking survey on the internet to gain further views from local residents.

Last month Stroud Green councillors began their door-to-door survey in response to news that Haringey Council were delaying plans to review the Finsbury Park Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) until at least 2010. Liberal Democrats hope that the online survey will reach out further to get more people to respond in a quick and easy way.

Residents in Stroud Green ward who would like to take part in the survey can participate at http://survey.libdems.org.uk/take/611.

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) comments:

“We hope that by launching our parking survey online we will be able to reach out further to the local residents of Stroud Green who have been let down by Haringey Council. For years they have been promised a review of the local CPZ, but Haringey Council will take no action until at least next year. Now that we have the Crouch End CPZ it is even more urgent that Haringey Council acts to help residents in Stroud Green who have parking problems.

“I hope that local residents will take part in our survey so we can show the Council the support we have for action now.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“This is another great example of how local Liberal Democrats are leading the way with new technology, and helping local residents raise their voice in the consultation void left by Haringey Council.With Stroud Green residents getting this excellent chance to express their parking worries, Haringey Council will soon have to sit up and listen.”

Stroud Green: Parking Survey survey launched

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In response to the lack of consultation from Haringey Council, local Liberal Democrat councillors in Stroud Green have launched their own survey to ask residents about the future of parking in their area.

The launch of the survey comes after news that Haringey Council are stalling over plans to review the Finsbury Park Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). This means that residents in roads such as Granville Road and Mountview Road, that have been affected by parking pressure created by the new Crouch End CPZ extension, will have you wait up to two years for any action.

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) comments:

“Local residents were promised four years ago that the local CPZ would be reviewed. Now that the Crouch End CPZ is causing further parking problems in the area it is even more urgent. Yet Haringey Council has said this is not a priority and we will have to wait until 2010/11 before any action is taken.

“I hope that local residents will take part in our survey so we can show Haringey Council the support we have for action now.Anyone wanting an extra copy should contact me or Lynne Featherstone directly.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“This is another example of Labour Haringey Council ignoring local residents. Luckily, Stroud Green has active Liberal Democrat councillors who are stepping in to consult on parking problems.

“If local people get involved in the survey, it will be something the the Council can ignore no longer.”

To get a copy of the survey ring 020 8340 5459 or email lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org.

Lap dancing in Crouch End

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Met on Saturday with the local campaigners from Crouch End who are motivated to take up arms against the application for a ‘gentlemen’s club’ (i.e. lap dancing) at the Music Palace – and after listening to them I don’t blame them.

As a liberal I don’t knee-jerk against the varying tastes and occupations of folk – unless they do harm to others. On this one I have to agree that the potential for harm, nuisance, noise and detrimental impact is high. Plonking such an establishment in a local buzzing busy high street means that it is not ‘out of the way’, it can’t be avoided and women, young girls and children will have to pass it – no choice. Whether or not is is true that men will emerge in a roused state – who knows – but if they do then that could have potential for danger and even if they don’t – women feel vulnerable in the near vicinity.

As to specific worries – well in the immediate area we have Hornsey School for Girls, Action for Kids (charity for vulnerable young people with learning disabilities), Rokesly Junior and Infants School and the YMCA. But even without these particularly vulnerable groups – there are issues for anyone made uncomfortable or concerned or even frightened to walk past. People shouldn’t have to feel intimidated or worried on their own high street.

There is a Bill (am finding out the details) on the licensing of lap-dancing clubs about to go through Parliament where it is widely rumoured that instead of only requiring a normal license – same as clubs and pubs – lap dancing clubs will become for the first time ‘sex encounter establishments’ which would require a different sort of license – same as the sex industry places. I expect that is why there is a shifty on to get licensed before the change in the law – so as the local MP I will be seeking to make any changes in the Bill retrospective too.

The campaigners want me to try and ensure there is a grandfather clause – so that it is not only new lap dancing clubs in the future that have to be licensed for sexual encounter – but that those already in existence (as this one will be if it gets its license) will have to apply for the new type of license which is much stricter on a number of fronts.

So – anyone interested in joining the campaign should contact me, stating you give me permission for me to pass on your name and email address to Alison Lillystone, who is leading the campaign group.

Richard Wilson demands urgent action on dangerous electricity sub-station

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Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) is demanding urgent action after a seven-year-old boy climbed into a dangerous electricity sub-station on a Stroud Green housing estate.

The sub-station at Chettle Court, Ridge Road has no roof and is next to an area where children play football.Residents had planted prickly bushes around the walls to discourage children from climbing in – but these were ripped out by Haringey Council.

The incident happened in August when the seven-year-old climbed into the sub-station to collect a football that had been kicked over the wall.Not only did the child risk electrocution, but he could have been trapped – as it is much harder to climb out than in.

Chettle Court residents want Homes for Haringey and EDF Energy (who own the sub-station) to take urgent action to make the site safe. Cllr Wilson contacted Homes for Haringey on 31 August, but despite promises from them and EDF, almost a month later the site remains dangerous.

Cllr Richard Wilson comments:

“I am angry that EDF Energy and Homes for Haringey have failed to act.I contacted Homes for Haringey as soon as residents told me about this frightening incident. A child could quite easily have been killed, and all the residents are obviously very anxious for the sub-station to be made safe.All it needs is a roof, so that footballs cannot be kicked over the wall, and children cannot climb in.

“This site needs to be made safe as soon as possible. It has been over one month since I raised this serious issue with Haringey, yet the substation remains dangerously unprotected. It is totally unacceptable.”

Cranford Way Concrete Factory

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My colleagues have been demanding a public meeting for local residents to have their say on a new planning application for the Concrete Factory in Cranford Way, N8.

London Concrete – who despite massive local campaigns against their planning application to create a plant right in the middle of a residential area – succeeded. But they only succeeded on appeal with the planning inspector imposing a significant number of conditions.

The new application seems to be trying to get modifications to those conditions – so plenty of reason for the whole community to be on its toes to make sure that having got the factory the firm now doesn’t get to change the rules it agreed to.