Richard Wilson

Just before Christmas, I was sent a spreadsheet setting out how much ‘Pupil Premium’ will be received by local schools next year.  The Pupil Premium is a Lib Dem initiative to target extra money at schools in the most disadvantaged areas. Next year each school will receive£600 for each pupil in receipt of free school meals.  The money can be spent however the headteacher thinks best – and will benefit the whole school.

According to the Government data, our three local primary schools are are due to receive significant sums:

• Weston Park Primary School on Denton Road will get £18,000
• St Aidan’s Primary School on Albany Road will get £23,400
• Stroud Green Primary School on Woodstock Road will get £107,400

Because of the way the Pupil Premium is targeted, Haringey is a massive beneficiary - with £8.8 million planned to go to our schools in 2012-13.   Nearby High Schools used by Stroud Green children will also get large sums – for instance Hornsey Girls School is getting £385,000, Highgate Wood £270,000 and the Grieg City Academy £378,600. Schools in the east of Haringey, where over two thirds of pupils can be on free school meals, will quite rightly receive very large amounts of Premium.

For five years I was a governor at Weston Park Primary School, and chair of the schools resources committee – so I know that this money will make a big difference and will be put to good use in our local schools.  It’s great to have some good news about school funding amongst all the gloom in these very difficult times.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Friends of Stationers Park have organised  a public meeting with the Council’s new bin contractor Veolia, to discuss the ugly fenced depot they have been allowed to build in the middle of Stationers Park.  The meeting will be this Tuesday evening (15th) at 7.30pm in the Hornsey Vale Community Centre on Mayfield Road and is open to all members of the public.

The Friends have listed four concerns they want to present to Veolia:

1. erecting an imposing and aggressive fence in our green space to protect their litter trolleys.
2. the fact that they don’t pick up the plethora of litter in our park, adding insult to injury.
3. the fact that they haven’t paid a penny in rent to support the parks dept in all the months they have been there.
4. their staff are very noisy entering the park in the early hours of morning, disturbing residents of Mayfield and Denton roads.

I share resident’s concern about this ugly imposition on the Park.  I first posted about this issue back in May and have written about it in our local Focus leaflet.  Since then there has been work to improve the shed with a mural – but I hope that on Tuesday we can make progress on sorting out the rest of the mess.  My preference would be to get rid of the depot completely, but failing that it needs substantial work to make it fit in with our beautiful park.

I’ve now been informed about the Council’s timeline for expanding the Stroud Green Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) north from Ridge Road into Nelson, Inderwick, Mayfield, Denton and Uplands Roads as well as the remaining part of Weston Park.  Below is what I’ve received from the Council officers in charge of the project:

Programme of implementation for Crouch End A and Stroud Green CPZ

I am writing to inform you that Councillor Canver has approved the attached delegated report recommending the extension of the Crouch End A and Stroud Green CPZ to the agreed roads within your wards, as per statutory notification.

Please refer to the following key milestones for the delivery of these extensions.

• Drafting and printing of works notice: Finalised by 1 November
• Distribution of works notices to community: 1-3  November
• Publication of Notice of Making: 3 November
• Start of site works: 7 November
• Go live date for extensions: 12 December

I’ve been pressing the Council to implement the extension as quickly as possible – because many residents are telling me that the parking situation is getting worse and worse, and making life increasingly difficult.

Programme of implementation for Crouch End A and Stroud Green CPZ

I am writing to inform you that Councillor Canver has approved the attached delegated report recommending the extension of the Crouch End A and Stroud Green CPZ to the agreed roads within your wards, as per statutory notification.

Please refer to the following key milestones for the delivery of these extensions.

Drafting and printing of works notice                      Finalised by 1 November

Distribution of works notices to community            1-3  November

Publication of Notice of Making-                             3 November

Start of site works-                                                    7 November

Go live date for extensions                                      12 December

Council officers have revealed the results of the consultation to extend the Stroud Green Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) into the vale roads north of Ridge Road.   54% of respondents were in favour of the expansion with 42% against (and 4% unsure).  There were 186 responses.

The parking officials have now recommended to Cllr Canver, the Labour Councillor in charge of parking in Haringey, that the Stroud Green CPZ is extended to cover the entire consultation zone (Nelson, Inderwick, Mayfeild, Denton and Uplands Road and Weston Park).  Although there were strong pockets of objections in some streets, the officers believe they have ‘broad support’ to implement the CPZ expansion.  The decision is now with Cllr Canver.

As local councillors we worked hard to make sure this consultation took place, and then to try to make sure everyone could have their say – whether for or against parking controls.  We have pressed the Council to listen to residents and go for the decision backed by the most people.  I’ve also said that if they decide to expand the CPZ they should implement the extension as quickly as possible to help residents being effected by displacement parking.

The Council’s consultation on whether or not to extend resident’s parking controls into the Hornsey Vale area closes in the next few days. Therefore, I’m urging all residents on the affected roads to have their say on this controversial issue.

In September, the Stroud Green Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) will be extended up to and including Ridge Road, and will operate 12 noon until 2pm Monday-Friday.  Many residents are concerned that this will make parking more difficult in the roads just to the north, and after pressure from your local councillors and a public meeting organised by local residents, the Council agreed to hold a consultation.

If residents are in favour, then the Stroud Green CPZ will be extended further to Inderwick, Nelson, Mayfield, Denton and Uplands Roads, as well as part of Weston Park.  This extension could happen as early as October this year.

The consultation ends on the 14th September so residents of these roads only have a few more days to have your say. It’s really important that all residents respond – whether you support or object to the proposed CPZ – so that the Council can find out what people want to happen.

If you haven’t received the consultation document then you can call the Council on 020 8489 1326 to get a copy, or it can be found online here.  Please do have your say.

On Tuesday evening I met with the Haringey Council Cabinet Member in charge of parking, and with parking officers, to put the case for residents of roads north Ridge Road to be consulted on parking problems.  I had previously written to the Council demanding a consultation – and residents had held a public meeting in the Hornsey Vale Community Centre to demand action from the Council (see previous post).  Residents’ fear parking problems caused by new Controlled Parking Zone (CPZs) nearby.

The Council had previous said that a consultation was a possibility in January 2012, if enough residents  demanded one.  But at the meeting they agreed to hold a consultation as soon as possible – either in the Summer or September.  This would be a ‘fast track’ consultation to see if there is support for being included in the proposed new Stroud Green CPZ, which would operate weekdays 12noon-2pm.

It is proposed that the consultation covers all of Nelson, Inderwick, Mayfield, Denton and Uplands Roads, and Weston Park (between Ferme Park and Uplands),  If residents are in favour of joining the Stroud Green CPZ then controls could be implemented from November at the earliest.    Of course, if residents are against the proposal then roads can remain outside the CPZ.

I know many residents are not naturally keen on CPZs – but at least this consultation will give everyone in the area their say.  As ward councillors Ed, Katherine and I will do all we can to encourage all residents to respond.  At the meeting I also raised the need for the shops, schools, park, community centre and Abysinnia Court to be considered in any proposal that comes forward.

The Council want to set up a focus group to discuss the proposed consultation and get resident input on the week commencing 20th June.  If you want to join the focus group but haven’t volunteered yet then please get in touch.

Last week I attended an ‘emergency’ meeting of the Friends of Stationers Park to discuss the state of the park, which has declined rapidly since Reg the park keeper retired.  High on residents’ list of concerns is the large metal fence that Veolia (the Council’s new waste contractor) have been allowed to erect round the old maintenance hut.   It is very ugly and visible across large parts of the park.  It seems to have been put up without any warning, consultation or planning permission.

The fenced of area is being used to store Veolia’s street-cleaning handcarts. However, Veolia’s contract does not involve cleaning the park – so residents have to put up with all these street cleaners coming in and out of park, but not actually doing any cleaning in the park.

People are understandably furious, and I’ve got in contact with the Director in charge of the waste contract at Haringey Council, to demand to know who gave Veolia permission to do this.  I’ve asked that a different site be found as soon as possible. I’ve also contacted the Planning Department and asked them to investigate.  I’m sure that a fence of this size must need planning permission – particularly as the facility has nothing to do with the maintenance of the park.

With regards to the upkeep of the park, the council officers at the meeting promised that once their staff re-organisation is complete the park wont be in such a bad state as it has been recently.  The cuts to the park’s department’s budget are disproportionate and I’ve opposed them at Council meetings, but realistically the Council’s budget decision will not be reversed any time soon.  The role of the Friend’s group is going to become even more important in encouraging volunteering and keeping on the Council’s back about problems.  They will need lots of support from residents to keep the Park from declining.  Please get in touch if you want to help out.