Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has welcomed the conclusion of the North London Waste Plan (NWLP) Examination, which effectively puts a stop to the proposed Pinkham Way development.

The inspector found that the submitted NLWP was not legally compliant, and therefore he could not continue any further with the Examination. The decision was based on the fact that there had not been constructive, active and ongoing engagement during the NLWP’s preparation between the North London Councils (including Haringey) and other affected planning authorities.

The issue arose in June 2011, when the North London Waste Authority submitted plans to Labour-run Haringey Council. Despite strong opposition from residents, Liberal Democrat councillors and the Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, the Council did not oppose the NLWP and Pinkham Way development.

The conclusions of the Examination mean that the Council can now either recommend non-adoption of the NLWP and Pinkham Way development, or withdraw the plan and start again from scratch.

Commenting on the examination, Lynne Featherstone said:

“I warmly welcome the conclusions of the Examination. For well over a year now, the Pinkham Way Alliance, together with Liberal Democrat Councillors and myself, have been standing up for residents and campaigning against the Pinkham Way development. It has been a tough fight, especially with the Labour-run Council failing to implement a proper consultation, and their refusal to oppose the North London Waste Plan.

“The Council’s carelessness throughout the application has wasted time and money, and has caused an unnecessary amount of stress and concern among residents.

“I am so very glad that the inspector has recognised the incompetence of the Council, and therefore decided not to continue with this examination. I hope that now, finally, the Council will do the right thing and recommend non-adoption of the plan – as they should have done from first instance last year.”

Liberal Democrats have welcomed the suspension of the public inquiry on the North London Waste Plan as a further step in the campaign to stop the development of a huge waste processing plant at Pinkham Way.

The examination in public of the North London Waste Plan (NLWP) was suspended just two hours into a hearing that was due to take two weeks. Liberal Democrats strongly oppose the plans for the Pinkham Way plant, which is part of the 10 year plan.

Liberal Democrat councillor Juliet Solomon (Alexandra ward) comments:

“Today’s suspension is a result of colossal carelessness in the waste plan, especially when one thinks of the time and money that has been spent to get here. The North London Waste planners have been told to think again. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will continue to fight, along with the Pinkham Way Alliance, to knock the plans out for good.”

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green comments:

“Haringey Labour’s representatives on the NLWA have been determined to force the waste plant upon local people, despite massive opposition. It’s yet another sign of Haringey Labour’s arrogance and failure to listen.”

The Pinkham Way plant is designed to process non-recyclable refuse from the seven boroughs of the North London waste authority, but has met with fierce opposition from local people following concerns about harmful toxins, increased traffic levels and the impact on the local environment.

The inquiry was due to take place at Camden Town Hall for two weeks, but was swiftly halted by the independent Inspector following objections to the Plan raised by other local authorities, who are concerned about the impact the Plan will have on them.

The news will slow down any progress on the existing Pinkham Way plans, which have been backed by seven boroughs, including the Labour-run council in Haringey. 

Local Liberal Democrats have branded the re-run of a consultation on a Council strategy a sham after a report published last week showed that the Council has disregarded the responses of many local residents. Despite voicing their strong opposition to the changes which pave the way for the waste plant at Pinkham Way sixty responses from local residents were rejected.

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.”

Lynne Featherstone MP is today contacting thousands of constituents, in order to ensure that local people get the best chance to respond to a consultation that could have major effects on the plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP is keen to ensure that local residents are aware of and get some advice on how to best respond to a consultation on the designation of land at the Pinkham Way site.

Labour-run Haringey Council has been forced to re-run the consultation that paved the way for the plans for a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way, after being reprimanded by the planning inspectorate. The initial consultation, which changed the land designation from employment to industrial land, was so poorly run that Haringey has been shamed into re-running it.

Liberal Democrats, who are fighting the plans at Pinkham Way, are keen to make sure no one misses out on the chance to respond this time. As well as leafleting thousands of homes close to Pinkham Way, Liberal Democrat MP Lynne is today also contacting thousands of residents, to urge them to respond before the 3^rd November deadline.

Any residents who want more information about how to respond should contact Lynne’s office on 020 8340 5459 or email onlynne@lynnefeatherstone.org.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The way Labour ran the consultation last year was disgraceful, and I’m glad that the Planning Inspector agrees with us and has forced Labour to do a re-run.

“The change in the designation of land from employment to industrial paved the way for the North London Waste Authority to submit plans for Pinkham Way. Anyone who is worried about Pinkham Way should take them time to respond to this consultation and object to the change of land designation – we have everything to gain from a strong response from local residents!”

Alexandra Councillor Juliet Solomon adds:

“The change in land designation and the way the consultation was carried out last year was one of my main points of concern when I stood up to the Labour Council on this in July.

“The last consultation was carried out in a shoddy way, with not enough local people being consulted. It’s good that this sneaky behaviour has not gone unpunished, and now it’s down to all of us to respond – please get in touch with Lynne’s office for details on how to do so.”

Three North London MPs have combined forces to help residents defeat plans to build a waste treatment plant at Pinkham Way.

Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey and Wood Green), Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) and David Burrowes (Enfield Southgate) met last week to discuss the plans, which they say would fundamentally change the nature of the area.

The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has submitted plans to Haringey Council to build a massive waste treatment factory on woodland adjacent to the North Circular Road’s junction with Colney Hatch Lane. Included in the plan is the relocation of Barnet Council’s vehicle depot onto the site, which is in the borough of Haringey.

The plant would treat 300,000 tonnes of black bin waste from at least four London boroughs and the site would generate more than 1,100 vehicle journeys a day through one of the busiest junctions in London.

Residents are concerned about the overall effects of introducing an enormous factory into their community, and especially about the effects of the traffic fumes, the noise and the smells from the factory, which will be working 24 hours a day.

Local parents are particularly worried about the health of their children, especially those with respiratory problems such as asthma.

Ms Featherstone MP, whose Hornsey and Wood Green constituency includes Pinkham Way where the plant is planned, said:

‘I know how worried local residents are about the plans. I think it’s fantastic that we have come together, MPs and residents, from different parties and from different walks of life, to fight the waste plant the NLWA is planning to shoehorn into our local community. Together we will be stronger.’

Ms Villiers MP, whose Chipping Barnet constituency includes the access roads to the proposed site, said:

‘I remain convinced that Pinkham Wood is simply the wrong location for a waste disposal plant. A major worry is the potential impact of hundreds of extra lorry journeys into and out of the site each day at an already congested section of the North Circular. I am also concerned about worsening air quality as a result.

‘I am campaigning alongside my constituents against the plans and would encourage them to make their views known to Haringey Planning Department, when the plans are made available for comment.”

Mr Burrowes, whose Enfield Southgate constituency is adjacent to the site, said:

‘This is the first time MPs have come together across the three constituencies to campaign on an issue. This cross-party unity of purpose, to stop the Pinkham Way plans, is an exceptional demonstration of the widespread opposition to the proposal. The primary issue of the impact on the local environment – air quality and traffic – is rightly a matter of huge importance for all of our constituents.’

Local people have formed the Pinkham Way Alliance to focus their opposition to the plans and ensure that their voices are heard.

Speaking on behalf of the Alliance, local resident Colin Parish said:

‘The fact that our MPs have got together to fight these plans is further evidence of just how inappropriate they are. We are now calling on councillors in the three boroughs to unite to throw out these plans and come up with something more acceptable.

‘You can’t put a massive waste factory in the middle of a community – the nearest flat is just 85 metres from the site, the nearest primary school is only 308 metres away. It would be madness to go ahead with this scheme and we hope our MPs will be able to influence the outcome and help the NLWA to find a more suitable venue.’

Local Liberal Democrats have demanded that Haringey Council intervenes after the top boss at the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) this week refused to attend a public meeting on the controversial plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way.
 
In April 2011, Lynne Featherstone MP asked David Beadle, the managing director of the NLWA to speak at a meeting to raise awareness about proposals to build the waste plant and to listen to local concerns before the NLWA submitted the planning application to Haringey Council.
 
Following the rebuff by NLWA Lynne Featherstone MP has today written to the Labour representatives who sit on the publicly funded NLWA board, Councillors Nilgun Canver and George Meehan, asking that they personally intervene by asking the top boss to reconsider the invitation.
 
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
 
“The consultation into plans to build a huge waste plant at Pinkham Way to date has been shambolic. I’m really disappointed that the waste authority has refused to address these concerns by attending a public meeting.
 
“Being at the meeting and being prepared to listen to local residents, before submitting the plans, would have gone some way towards giving residents assurances that their concerns will be heard.
 
“The NLWA is a public body funded by local tax payers – they should feel duty bound to attend a meeting and engage with residents over these major plans. I have today therefore written to councillors Meehan and Canver, asking them encourage Mr Beadle to reconsider.
 
“I share many residents’ fears about the plans to build this huge waste plant in a residential area and right next to local schools. The area already suffers from bad traffic, and over 330 lorries entering and exiting the site each day will make a bad situation worse. Rest assured, I will stand alongside residents in fighting these plans.”

To make sure that the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) is aware of local concern over plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way, local Liberal Democrats yesterday presented the authority’s top boss with views from hundreds of local residents who had responded to a Liberal Democrat survey.

Lynne Featherstone MP and Alexandra ward councillor Juliet Solomon met with David Beadle following serious concerns about a lack of consultation of residents living close to the proposed site. To ensure local residents could have their say, Liberal Democrats earlier in April sought the views of thousands of local people in Alexandra and Bounds Green wards.

At the meeting, residents’ top concerns were raised, such as the size of the development and levels of traffic and pollution. The Waste Authority also promised to write to local residents in early May to explain the plans in more detail.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The plan to build a waste plant at Pinkham Way will have a big effect on people in Bounds Green and Alexandra wards – yet 97% of people who responded to our survey felt they had not been adequately consulted. That’s just not good enough when we’re talking about such a major development.

“So I was glad to be able to raise residents’ concerns. People are mainly worried about the size of the development, the volume of traffic, noise and odour. I hope the NLWA will consider these views closely before putting in their planning application later in the spring. And I hope that from now on, local residents will get a chance to have a say at every step of the way.”

Alexandra councillor Juliet Solomon adds:

“It’s good to see that the NLWA is doing something about the lack of information for local residents – and they are now planning to write to everyone living close to the site, to set the plans out in more detail.

“It’s crucial that local people know what’s going on so that they are in a good place to respond to the planning application later on in the spring. In the meantime, residents can of course write to both Lynne and me with their concerns, and we will communicate them to the NLWA. We’re here to support you, so don’t hesitate to get in touch”.

A group of local mothers have this week confirmed fears about the lack of consultation of the local community over plans to build a new waste plant at Pinkham Way.

Lynne Featherstone MP met with mums who live close to the site on Friday (1st April 2011) to listen to their concerns and find out what consultation has taken place to date on the controversial plans. One local mother, Sakina Chenot, said she was “outraged” at the lack of consultation.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP arranged the meeting after being contacted by worried residents who feel they have not been informed or consulted about plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way in Bounds Green. At the meeting, local residents Sakina, Lisa, Tara and Parveen questioned Haringey Council and the Waste Authority’s claim that local people had received letters about the plans in February. Whilst Barnet Council, who own the land, have made efforts to inform residents about the plans, Haringey Council have been quiet on the issue, leaving local residents unsure of what is happening.
 
To make sure people affected by the plans get a chance to have a say, Lynne Featherstone MP last week wrote to thousands of local residents asking for their views before she meets with the Waste Authority on the 14th April. Residents who want to write to Lynne about the plans, should either email her on lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org or write to her at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.
 
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
 
“I’m really worried about the plans for Pinkham Way and their knock-on effect on people living in the Bounds Green and Alexandra Area. And a lot of local residents share my concern.
 
“With any such major plans, it’s essential that local people have a say. It’s really worrying that local people feel they have not been informed or consulted.
 
“That’s why I wrote to thousands of local residents last week, asking for their views. I’ll make sure the Waste Authority hear of them when we meet up. And there is still time. If you are worried, do get in touch.”
 
Bounds Green resident Sakina Chenot adds:
 
“The waste authority is planning to build a waste plant very close to my house, but no one from either the NLWA or Haringey have contacted me about the plans. I’m very surprised at claims that we have all received letters about this. All four of us here today live within close proximity to Pinkham Way, and none of us have had anything through our letterbox.
 
“As a local resident who will be directly affected, I am outraged that I haven’t had a say yet. I want to make my voice heard on this development, which I fear will have a real detrimental effect on the local neighbourhood – consult me now!”

Liberal Democrats have renewed their calls for consultation with local residents on the controversial plans for a depot and new waste processing facilities at Pinkham Way.
 
Earlier this month local councillor, Juliet Solomon, met with Council bosses to highlight the complete lack of any consultation with residents in Alexandra ward and to raise a number of their concerns, in particular the impact of the additional lorry traffic on an already busy area.
 
Cllr. Solomon and Lynne Featherstone MP are now asking for all local residents’ views on the proposals so they can ensure that these concerns are clearly taken into account when they meet in a few weeks’ with top bosses at the North London Waste Authority (NLWA).
 
Last week residents in Bounds Green met to discuss the issue and agreed to fight the plans, highlighting their concerns over the size of the development, the noise and traffic created by the 24-hour facility and the potential storage of methane gas.
 
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
 
“It’s clear from the many residents’ meetings over the past week that many people think they are being left out of a massive decision that will affect their community greatly.
 
“Liberal Democrats want local residents’ voices to be heard and that is why we will be going to NLWA armed with concerns from local people. I ask that anybody who is concerned get in touch and we will make sure that NLWA sit up and listen.”
 
Cllr Juliet Solomon (Alexandra ward) adds:
 
“I am still not convinced that council bosses fully understand that local people deserve to be consulted. This is the largest development in this area for years yet many people feel that their concerns are being ignored.”