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.

This would mean that in the next General Election residents in Stroud Green ward would not have a say in who is MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, but would instead vote for who represents Tottenham. Local elections would remain the same, with Stroud Green remaining in the London Borough of Haringey.

The proposals in the Commission’s report would divide our area from Crouch End and Hornsey.  Streets such as Weston Park, Nelson Road, Inderwick Road, Ferme Park Road and Mount View Road would be spilt, with one half in Hornsey Constituency and the other in Tottenham. However, this proposal is not set in stone, and could change if residents in Stroud Green argue against moving to Tottenham constituency.  The Commission’s proposals are supposed to protect local community ties, and not divide areas where communities are strongly connected.

We want know what residents think of this proposal and have therefore set up a survey to find out your views.  Please fill out this survey to help us put residents’ views to the Boundary Commission.

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.

However, even more depressing was the actions of the ruling Labour Group who voted down our proposals to reduce back office IT, communications and management costs, instead of making front line cuts. They even ignored last-minute pleas from a delegation of young people who spoke to the meeting about how much they benefit from youth clubs.  Astonishingly, Labour councillors cheered and clapped as they voted down our amendments and pushed through the cuts, and seemed more interested in making party political points than making the best choices for Haringey residents.  But you can judge for yourself by watching the webcast of the meeting here.

We plan to continue the fight to save services like the Abyssinia Court older people’s luncheon club, and to persuade the Labour Council to think again.  Officially the Council is still consulting on the closures and so there is still time to make the case for services that really help vulnerable people in our communities.  Many local people have signed our paper and online petition to save the older people’s lunch clubs.  If you haven’t done so yet please sign up to the campaign.

Obviously this is a really tough year for local authorities, with central grants falling as Government focuses on reducing the deficit. In these tough times it is even more vital that Haringey spends its remaining £280 million budget on the most important priorities, and cuts spending on back office costs.

Obviously, this is a really tough and horrible year for local government spending, as central government cuts grants to deal with its massive budget deficit. But Haringey will still have £280 million to spend next year (excluding ring-fenced housing and schools budgets) and it is vital that money is spent in the best possible way.

As deputy leader of the opposition Lib Dem group I have seconded our amendments to the ruling Labour Party’s cuts. You can read our full amendments here, but in summary we propose:

• To reduce Haringey’s £16.5 million a year IT budget by 3%, rather than cutting vital youth services by 75%.
• Reducing the number of trade union official posts funded by Haringey, rather than cutting drop in centres, luncheon clubs and day centres for older people.
• Limiting spending on Council communications to £1 million a year, to help create a £700,ooo a year fund to protect Haringey’s voluntary sector from cuts.
• To cut the costs of senior managers (currently £20 million a year)  by a further 6%, to save volunteering and anti-crime projects in the Borough.

These are probably the most important decisions that Haringey Councillors have taken for many years, and I really hope the Council leadership can set politics aside and be persuaded to accept our amendments, in order to save some of these vital services. Last month, Lynne Featherstone MP and my colleague Katherine Reece visited the Abyssinia Court lunch club (see picture), and started a petition to save it and the other clubs and centres.  We’ve now launched an online version of the petition, which anyone can sign to support the campaign to save these services.

According to the notification the work to implement the extension (new signs and road markings) will begin on 14 February, and the zone will go live from 4 April.  My understanding is that in the first week the zone will be enforced with warnings but no fines.

Obviously, this news will alarm many Stroud Green residents who now risk being effected by cars and vans displaced from inside this zone.  The Council’s consultation on extending the Finsbury Park CPZ as far north as Ridge Road has finished, and I hope to see the results in a couple of weeks time.  If the consultation shows support from residents then the process of extending the Finsbury Park CPZ will begin later this year.

I’ve helped organise a second focus group of residents to look at the consultation results and help the officers decide on what action to take as a result.  If you’d like to be involved please get in touch.  I’m very keen that everyone has their say – whether pro or anti the CPZ.

Katherine and I launched the survey in Weston Park in Stroud Green ward, speaking to a number of shopkeepers about the issues they face.   In Stroud Green sustaining and improving our local shopping parades is a big priority.  Weston Park has already been hit by the Labour Government closing the Post Office a few years ago.

And now our bigger shopping areas such as Crouch End Broadway face a new threat with Council plans to double pay-and-display parking charges for shoppers.  This charge hike risks an exodus of shoppers from our town centres to places like Brent Cross.  The increases are being put forward by the Council without any assessment on the impact on local town centres or discussion with traders.  Lib Dem councillors have called for the proposal to be reviewed, and have succeeded in calling a special council meeting to scrutinise the charges.