The latest news on the London tube strikes

Posted on 4th Feb 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

As you may have heard on the news, an ongoing dispute between the Mayor of London and RMT /TSSA Unions has led to a tube strike starting this evening at 9:30pm.

In my experience, tube strikes also affect buses, trains and roads as people use alternative transport for their commute.

The strike will start at 9.30pm today until the morning of Friday 7^th. Another strike is planned between 11^th – 14^th as well, depending on further developments.

There are a number of tools you can use to plan an alternative route, including TFL Journey Planner and Google Maps. TFL has also released an advice document, outlining which lines will be affected, here.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch via email, phone, or post if I can be of any other assistance as your MP.

Lib Dem success as 20mph consultation launched in Haringey

Posted on 22nd Jul 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has welcomed the consultation on a Borough-wide 20mph speed limit for Haringey.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green and the Haringey Liberal Democrats have campaigned for residents to have their say on the introduction of a borough wide 20mph limit since 2010.

Hundreds of local residents have also signed a Lib Dem petition calling for the introduction of a 20mph zone, and others have filled in a survey with their views on the proposal.

The launch of the consultation represents a u-turn by the Labour-run Council, who have previously refused to consult on a 20mph limit – rejecting the proposal outright as recently as October 2012.

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone commented:

“I am glad that the Council have finally caved in to pressure and agreed to consult on whether Haringey should become a 20mph borough.

“It is vital that residents get to have their say – and this is what the local Lib Dems and I have campaigned for since 2010. Thank you to all who took part in our campaign and have helped us get this far.

“I must say, it seems bizarre – and dare I say cynical – that Haringey Labour are only now campaigning for a speed limit – having rejected and delayed the proposal for years to date!”

How bad is your road surface?

Posted on 28th May 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Have you noticed an increase in the number of potholes in your road recently? Or are the ones that have been there for years getting worse?

Every month, I receive emails from constituents who are concerned about the state of their roads.

And it really is no wonder. Labour-run Haringey Council have neglected our roads for years and years, preferring to pay out compensation for terrible accidents, than actually investing in our road surfaces.

Just now, after years of pressure from the Local Lib Dems, the Council have said that they will take action on our roads.

I thought this was good news. But then, I saw this map. It highlights the roads which the Council think are in good or bad condition. Here is a picture of a road that they think is in good condition (Cecile Park)

Cecile Park

This doesn’t fill me with confidence in the Labour-run Council’s road repair blitz. The Haringey Lib Dems and I have been collecting information separately, directly from residents, about the condition of our local roads.

Step by step, we are presenting the results to the Council and asking that they make the necessary repairs.

Residents of Haringey – take a look at the map and see what you think about the Council’s assessment of your road. If you don’t agree, or if you know of a dangerous pothole / stretch of road in Haringey that needs repair, just let me know, and I will add it to our list.

£53 million unclaimed Oyster refunds – are you missing out?

Posted on 23rd May 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Last month, Lib Dem London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon revealed shocking figures regarding unclaimed Oyster refunds. A whopping £53 million currently lies dormant in the system – waiting to be reclaimed.

TfL are not very good at letting people know about this. But, like Caroline, I think TfL service users should easily be able to reclaim money owed to them.

You can read the full story on Lib Dem Voice here: http://www.libdemvoice.org/caroline-pidgeon-reveals-53-million-unclaimed-refunds-on-oyster-cards-34128.html

If you have an old or unused Oyster card lying around, you should be able to claim the money back at ticket offices across the Capital.

There have, however, been problems with getting refunds at ticket offices. Transport for London have now given a phone number for people to call if they are having problems getting a refund. It is 0343 222 1234.

Liberal Democrats demand action on inaccessible crossings for blind and partially sighted residents

Posted on 19th Dec 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Local Liberal Democrats have today demanded that London’s Mayor takes urgent action to improve Haringey’s 15 pedestrian crossings which are not accessible to blind or partially sighted residents.

The demand comes after Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon unearthed information that shows 347 pedestrian crossings in London have no facilities to help blind and partially sighted people to safely cross the road, with 15 of these located in Haringey. This is despite there being long standing national accessibility standard to ensure every pedestrian crossing has either an audible sound and/or a rotating cone to assist blind and partially sighted people.

In addition to widespread poor access for blind and partially sighted people, Liberal Democrats have also found that Haringey has seven crossings that also fail national safety standards by not providing the minimum amount of time for pedestrians to safely cross the road.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s a disgrace that Haringey has fifteen crossings that are not accessible to blind and partially sighted local residents, and seven that do not leave residents enough time to cross.

“The Mayor has a responsibility to make sure that all crossings in London are accessible, but this poor record shows that blind and partially sighted residents, in particular, and pedestrians more widely, are not getting the priority they deserve. This needs action and it needs action now.”

Liberal Democrat Transport and Environment spokesperson Cllr Jim Jenks adds:

“Blind and partially sighted residents already face a whole range of obstacles when they walk on our local streets, be it advertising boards or other items strewn across our high streets.

“It should be safe for all to cross at pedestrian crossings. By their very nature they meant to help pedestrians cross busy roads safely. It is just not good enough that fifteen crossings in Haringey fail to meet basic safety standards for blind and partially sighted people even though guidelines have been around for over 15 years. I hope that the Mayor will now sit up and change this disgraceful record once and for all.”