There are a host of controversial issues on the agenda, including an update on the boundary review and on the parking controls, as well as discussion of the Council’s plans to change our waste collections. Haringey controversially plan to cut weekly collections of non-recyclable waste later this year, with black bin waste only collected once a fortnight.

If you want to find out more about whats going on in your local area please come along on Tuesday.

As a result of pressure from residents and local councillors the Council were forced to extend the deadline for people to stop using the old permits by two weeks.  However this extended deadline has now run out – and visitors using old permits now face fines.

It is so frustrating that the Council didn’t listen to our warnings last month and have pressed ahead in creating this predictable chaos.  Ed and I think that this two week amnesty is not enough and have urged the Council to not make the switch until 2012 – allowing residents to use up more old permits, and reducing the risk of visitors being fined.

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

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.

I was joined by local Stroud Green resident Diana Buckley, who contacted me after she queued for three hours for parking permits, and fellow councillor Jim Jenks.

Whilst conducting the survey we met lots of other people with experiences of long waits or being turned away at the door because the queue was too long.  On the day we were there people had to queue for 45 minutes just to get to the reception desk to be given a ticket to join the proper queue!   We also discovered that the centre closes an hour early most days and saw people being turned away at 4pm when the advertised closing time is 5pm.

I’ve now written to Haringey’s Chief Executive to say this is completely unacceptable, and to demand that action is taken to improve the centre, reduce waits and make it more efficient.  The Council have recently closed other customer services centres and changed the system – and this has clearly had a disastrous result.  Many people said how helpful staff were when they eventually got to the front of the queue – and its a great shame that busy residents and hardworking frontline staff are being let down by poor decision-making at a senior level and bureaucratic and inflexible systems.

My colleague Ed Butcher has been demanding urgent action from Haringey Council to prevent parking voucher chaos following the imminent changes to the Finsbury Park

The Finsbury Park CPZ is being divided into three separate zones following a consultation with residents.  Haringey Council has informed residents of the need to change the vouchers in an un-addressed letter to households, however it has been pointed out that many of the properties in Stroud Green are flats and such letters are often overlooked.

Ed has set out changes that would stop the predicted chaos – firstly that the Council abolishes the strict cut off for new parking vouchers and secondly that residents who mistakenly use old vouchers are treated leniently.  I agree that Haringey’s inflexible approach will mean a major headache for residents who find themselves accidentally on the wrong side of the Council’s parking controls, and that they should listen to Ed’s two demands.

Ed said, “Given the hassle of getting the vouchers, some residents will hold a considerable stock.  I can only imagine how annoyed they will be to find them completely worthless, or worse, one of their guests getting a parking ticket for using an old voucher.  This lack of common sense only feeds the cynicism that parking restrictions are just a Council money earner.  The Council must act to make new arrangements fair.”

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.

The proposed extension of the Finsbury Park CPZ up to Ridge Road in September could make the situation much worse, which is why since at least October 2010, I have been calling for the Council to hold a parking consultation in the ‘Hornsey Vale’ roads (Nelson, Inderwick, Mayfield, Denton and Uplands Roads and the eastern section of Weston Park).  The consultation should find out if residents now want a CPZ or not.  I get the sense that although many people are not natural supporters of CPZs they are now reluctantly coming to the view they are unavoidable.

The Council did initially give the impression that they would prioritise a consultation in these roads in this financial year.  But they are now saying that they will only take action if enough residents complain.  Therefore Ed, Katherine and I are writing to everyone in the area to encourage them to complain to the Council if they want action on parking.  We have also encouraged residents to get together petitions if they are in favour of a parking consultation.  This public meeting is another excellent way of mobilising action.

Ed, Katherine and I have also formally written to the Labour Cabinet Member in charge of parking saying we are in favour of an urgent consultation in these roads.  We have asked the Council to explain if the area can be ‘fast tracked’ into either of the nearby CPZs or not.  Along with councillors from the nearby Hornsey Ward, I’ll be attending this public meeting to find out what the Council’s response is.

I raised these concerns at the meeting, and Council officers have now agreed to revise the timetable, and think they could have the new CPZ extension up and running in the new roads by September.  This would mean having the final statutory consultation in April/May, and if no big issues are raised during the consultation, the signs and road markings could be put in place during August.  Obviously this still leaves a long gap – but its great news that we’ve been able to reduce it by 2 months.

However, on the hours of the CPZ officers continue to believe that 12pm – 2pm is the best slot, as this fits in-between other CPZs (the Crouch End ones are 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm) and will make it easy to patrol.  They aren’t convinced that people moving their cars between CPZs will be a big problem as this hasn’t happened in noticeable numbers in other areas.

I also raised a whole range of other issues, such as the need for visitor parking and loading bays for our local shopping parades, the Stroud Green Library and the two churches on Stapleton Hall Road.  I’ll keep scrutinising their proposals as they are developed – so please contact me if you have any concerns.