The MP visited Imperial Road, to see how the £140,000 has been invested by housing group Places for People, and the benefit it has had on local residents.

The project is part of a £15.6 million Big Lottery project which has seen Places for People transform public space in 80 communities across the UK. The Group has worked with 30,000 people to introduce parks and community gardens as well as the creation of sports facilities, play areas, wildlife habitats, sensory gardens and green social enterprises.

The green spaces project at Imperial Road provides:

• A community garden with colourful play equipment for smaller children
• A ball games area for young people
• Improved lighting, a notice board, new railings and lockable gates ensuring better security for residents.
• Seating areas, planting and shelter creating an attractive environment where residents can socialise.
• Shrubs and wild flower meadow where residents can get involved in gardening.

Including residents in both the design and management of the spaces has helped to create a sense of ownership and pride within the community. As Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I’m amazed at how this area has been transformed, into a colourful, fun, welcoming community area where neighbours, old and young, can socialise and play. Having met quite a few local people here today, it’s clear that this small project has made a big difference to residents’ lives.”

David Hooper, Regional Manager at Places for People said:

“Good quality green spaces are essential to the well-being of our towns and cities and this exciting programme has delivered environmental and social improvement by providing the local residents with new places to play and relax.”

This welcome news, which will help to create a sustainable future for Post Offices across the borough, means that the area will avoid future mass closures, like the one seen in 2008, when Post Offices in Alexandra Park Road, Weston Park, Ferme Park Road, Salisbury Road and Highgate Village were shut.

After ending the shameful Post Office closure programme, which nationally saw more than 7,100 Post Offices disappear in Labour’s 13 years in office, Ed Davey has announce that a ten-year deal has now been reached between Royal Mail and the Post Office. The deal gives additional certainty to subpostmasters in Haringey and covers the full range of Royal Mail products available at Post Offices, such as first and second class post, parcels, air mail, recorded and special deliveries.

The deal adds to other recent progress for the Post Office, with extra Government cash kicking in, new national and local government contracts won, successful piloting of new models to transform many local Post Offices and improvements in financial services offered.

Commenting, Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone said:

“After years of Post Office closures under the Labour Government, it is excellent news that Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing by ensuring that the Post Office has a sustainable future ahead of it through investment and by brokering this deal with Royal Mail.

“Labour left Royal Mail in a terrible mess and it is Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government who have stopped closures and put Royal Mail and the Post Office on a secure footing. Our plans mean that we will not see the kind of planned closures that devastated local communities under the previous Government, when treasured Post Offices in Alexandra, Highgate, Wood Green and Stroud Green were closed.”

Local Liberal Democrat Communities spokesperson Cllr Nigel Scott adds:

“Post Offices are a vital part of our communities, and residents were rightly outraged at Labour’s massacre of post offices in Haringey back in 2008.

“Our post offices locally are well used and much loved, and I’m delighted that Liberal Democrats in Government are supporting and investing in the Post Office, to transform its future.

“This is great news for Haringey and for local residents who treasure their local post offices.”

Shamir Sidhu, from MoreFit personal training studio, started the weekly FreeFit training sessions in Finsbury Park in June to help local residents get in shape for free. The trainer and his team run the classes, aimed at all levels of fitness, every Saturday at 2:30pm.

All local residents are welcome to join; they just need to show up at the Stroud Green Road entrance to Finsbury Park.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s so important to exercise regularly, but for many, joining a gym is just too expensive when the budget is tight.

“It’s fantastic to meet someone like Shamir, who is really driven to help get people in shape, has a lot of expertise, and who now wants to offer that to more local residents.

“If you want to swap an hour in front of the TV for a free training session in the park, why not join FreeFit, and see if it works for you?”

Liberal Democrats who, at the Committee section of meeting, voiced their current opposition to the change to fortnightly collections, say that the lack of consultation shows that Labour have failed to get the buy-in of local residents on a change to a basic Council service.

In another development, that Liberal Democrats believe shows the Labour-run Council’s lack of consideration for residents, local people will not have a say on the size of the new wheelie bin for recyclable waste. Instead the Council will provide the largest 240 litre bin to all designated households in the new scheme.

Cllr Jim Jenks, Haringey Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, comments:

“The Council have finally admitted that residents in Haringey were not given the opportunity to have a say on this fundamental change to rubbish collection.

“Liberal Democrats are 100% committed to increasing recycling but a change on this scale without consultation is unacceptable.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:

“Not only are the Labour Council ignoring the views of local residents on the service but they are also failing to give local people any say on what size of bin they can have. Some households do not need a large 240 litre bin yet Labour are giving them no choice.”

The Council was made to repeat the consultation on the re-designation of land in its Core Strategy, which included the site that is proposed to be a new waste facility at Pinkham Way, due to concerns raised by the Planning Inspector that the Council failed to consult widely enough first time.

Liberal Democrats say that the council’s rejection of 60 responses shows Labour’s contempt for public opinion and reveals that the consultation was a ‘tick-box’ exercise rather than a chance for the Council to listen to the community. Liberal Democrats have written to the Chief Executive of Haringey Council and the Planning Inspector to voice their concern of the way in which residents’ views have been disregarded.

Despite the large number of consultation responses from residents raising concerns the Council has decided to make almost no changes to its plans in advance of the Examination in Public in February.

Residents will have a further say on the proposals for Pinkham Way after the North London Waste Authority said recently that it will consider further representations in the summer when its North London Waste Plan is consulted upon.

Cllr Juliet Solomon (Alexandra Ward) comments:

“It is clear from how the Council has replied to local residents who have taken the time and effort to submit responses to the consultation that the Council had already made up their mind. This consultation was a mere tick box exercise for the ruling group who seem adamant to push through proposals and steamroller public opinion to ensure the Pinkham Way plans get through to the next stage.

“Let’s hope the delay in further consultation gives the Council an opportunity to start to really listen to local people. Residents do not want the waste plant and it is time the Council started to sit up and take note.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“It’s really worrying that local residents’ views have been utterly ignored by the Labour Council in this way. They had to re-run this consultation because it was so poorly handled last time, and now they are more or less doing the same thing again.

“This shows utter contempt for local residents’ views’ and local democracy. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will continue to fight the waste plant at Pinkham Way every step of the way, and do our best to make sure local people’s concerns are heard and heeded. The fight is not over.”

Help is at hand through Big Energy Week (16-21 January 2012) which is being run by Citizens Advice – and has received support from local MP Lynne Featherstone.

During Big Energy Week you can get practical advice on cutting your fuel bills and help to see if you are getting all of the financial support you are entitled to.  You can pick up a leaflet with tips and advice on cutting your fuel bills at your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Haringey CAB is also this week running an event in the constituency to help local residents with advice and support, one on Friday 20th January at Noel Park Children’s Centre between 11:30am and 1:00pm.

A new website – www.bigenergyweek.org.uk – is full of tips on how to cut your energy bills.

Citizens Advice, Chief Executive, Gillian Guy said:

“We know hikes in prices have put extra pressure on people’s budgets at a time when money is already tight. Day in day out our Bureaux is helping people who can’t afford their fuel bills.”

Markos Chrysostomou, Chief Executive for Haringey CAB added:

“We’re worried that some people in Haringey are struggling unnecessarily because they’re not on the best deal; live in homes that haemorrhage heat or are not getting all of the financial help available to them. Please come along to one of our events this week or call us for help and advice.”

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Fuel bills are a big worry for many people at the moment.  I am pleased to support Big Energy Week and hope it will make a big difference to my constituents by saving them money on their bills.”

Big Energy Week is helping people save money on their bills by encouraging them to:

Contact your supplier to check you are you are on the best tariff and payment method for you.  Monthly direct debit is on average £100 cheaper per year than paying by cash or cheque.

Visit an accredited switching website to see if you could get your energy cheaper elsewhere. You may be able to save up to £200 off your annual bill by shopping around for a different supplier, particularly if you have never changed energy firm.

Insulate the walls and the loft of your home and you could save on average around £120 per year.  All major gas and electricity suppliers are giving away free or discounted insulation to any household, not just their own customers. Ask if you’re eligible so you don’t miss out.  That goes for heating oil customers too.

Check you are not missing out on any benefits or tax credits that could up your income; your local Citizens Advice Bureaux can help you with this.

Using less energy could save you money, just by doing simple things like turning off lights and switching appliances off at the wall. Turning your thermostat down 1°C alone could cut your heating bill by £60 on average.

If you are unable to pay your bills you should contact your energy supplier immediately as they have to help you manage your bills in a way that you can afford.

If you use heating oil or liquid petroleum gas to heat your home, shop around and compare prices from different oil suppliers.  You could also save money by buying in bulk with your neighbours; check if there is an oil club you can join or start one up.

Added Gillian: “More and more people are coming to us for advice on how they can save money on their energy bills.  Through Big Energy Week we hope to help lots of people cut their fuel bills and ease their money worries.”

Liberal Democrat pressure in government has ensured that the funding can be used to access various preventative services such as Home care support, crisis response teams and services providing specialist equipment for older people in Haringey.

Local Liberal Democrats have sought assurances that this funding will not be diverted to fill Council budget shortfalls elsewhere but will be used to support older residents leaving hospital.

Cllr David Winskill, Haringey Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, comments:

“This is substantial sum of money and will go a long way making the transition for older people from hospital to home that much easier, safer and more comfortable.  It will also free beds up in our acute hospitals and hence release resources for other patients.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“By reinvesting these savings in social care we can offer more support for older people leaving hospital.

“It is absolutely crucial that Haringey NHS and the Council work together to help people leave hospital when they are ready. The benefits are on all sides – patients get to go home with the support they and their families need, and hospital beds are freed up.

“This money will help cut the delays in getting the equipment and adaptations that people may need to enable them to live independently at home – saving them from an unnecessary stay in hospital or going into residential care.”

Liberal Democrats have said that the information is evidence that the Council has handed out so many parking fines that it can not cope with the amount of appeals that are subsequently lodged. The Council has a duty to respond to an appeal contesting a parking fine within 56 days or the fine is written off.

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) who unearthed the information, comments:

“It’s quite worrying that the Council is so keen to ticket residents that they can’t keep up with the appeals workload and enforce parking restrictions properly.

“Not only does this waste local residents’ time, energy and provide undue worry, local taxpayers may have lost out too due to the Council’s failure to respond in time.

“Some of the tickets that were automatically cancelled after 56 days may well have been legitimate, losing the council much-needed funds.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“This is another example of the fact that this Labour-run council is not on top of its finances, adding to an already long list with botched Ally Pally deals, and expensive new computers equipment, costing Haringey tax payers millions of pounds.

“In these tough times, when the Council is closing valued services like older people’s drop-in clubs and children centres, they need to take extra care with every penny, not waste it on mistakes like this.”

Liberal Democrats have renewed their call on Labour-run Haringey Council to freeze Council Tax in 2012/13 after the Council’s latest financial reports show Labour is considering a tax rise of 2.5% meaning the average Band D bills would top £1500 a year.

Liberal Democrats have said that, at a time when many families across the borough are struggling to make ends meet, an increase in Council Tax will hit the worst-off hardest. Haringey’s Council Tax is already one of the highest in London with only four other boroughs charging more.

Haringey Liberal Democrats understand that it is a tough time for many and have vowed to continue to put pressure on Labour to do the right thing to freeze Council Tax.

Councillor Paul Strang, Haringey Liberal Democrats Finance Spokesperson comments:

“It is shocking that the Council is even considering a Council Tax increase when the government has said that it will provide the funds to freeze it.

“Council Tax is the only direct tax that the Council has control over and Labour wants to increase it despite it hitting poorer residents, struggling to make ends meet, hardest.

“Liberal Democrats understand that, with family budgets under pressure, small measures like a freeze in Council Tax can make a big difference and we will fight Labour’s Council Tax increase.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:

“The Council should be helping residents and not as Labour seem to want to do, increase an unfair tax which will hit the poorest more.”

Mr and Mrs Obeng are participating in the Carbon Emissions Reductions Target (CERT) programme, a Government scheme that enables people in draughty homes up and down the country to get free or heavily subsidised insulation.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP was invited by national energy saving installer, Mark Group to see an installation in action.

Mr and Mrs Obeng had booked to have loft insulation professionally installed, knowing that thanks to CERT funding they would only have to pay £150. For this, Mark Group would insulate their loft to the recommended level (270mm), lag any pipes, insulate hot water tanks and seal around the loft hatch. In return, Mr and Mrs Obeng would enjoy the comfort of a warmer home, save up to £155 a year on their heating bills and help to cut carbon emissions. The scheme, run by the Government, also enables free insulation for households that are receiving qualifying benefits and some residents over the age of 70.

Mrs Obeng said: “You can’t really escape the messages in the media and from utility companies about making sure your home is properly insulated, but I don’t think many people realise how little it costs. There is always the option of insulating your loft yourself but, by getting the professionals in, we know they’ll do the job in half the time it would have taken us and with a lot less hassle.”

Ms Featherstone, added: “We have some of the draughtiest homes in Europe, and many people are losing money by the minute by not having the right level of insulation. The CERT scheme is a great way to help people save money and stay warm this winter.

“I’m sure Mr and Mrs Obeng will have a snugger, warmer Christmas thanks to their decision to insulate their home. And thanks to the CERT scheme, it is free or much cheaper than expected to follow in their footsteps.

“I would encourage all residents to do so, and help make Hornsey and Wood Green’s homes warmer, cheaper and greener.”

Mark Group installs over 200 cavity wall or loft insulation projects in the North London area every week, contributing to a total of around 250,000 installations nationwide, each year. Insulation is installed following a comprehensive survey of a property and agreement with the householder and can take as little as two hours to install. For further information or to arrange a survey call 0800 616 302 or visit www.markgroup.co.uk