Cllr Brian Haley, cabinet member for environment and conservation, and chair of the forum said:
“The enthusiastic response to this forum demonstrates that transport is a key issue in Haringey.
“Topics up for discussion included 20mph zones and speed limits generally, policy on motorcycles and electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak line.”
I'm going to feel pretty bad punishing our Labour MEPs for our local council's failings... in fact, I'm trying to be a good boy and think "Europe" not "Westminster/Haringey".
The cabinet member for Community Cohesion and Involvement is:
kaushika.amin@haringey.gov.uk
They moved Matt Cooke before he could cause problems. I suggest she receive plenty of email about this especially following the way the 'Special Area Assembly' was conducted and the absence of feedback subsequently. I've emailed the MP's office today on this theme and await a response.
'You may be unaware of the issues surrounding traffic and traffic consultation around Green Lanes/Harringay. I would, therefore, like to elaborate a little on the concerns of many local residents, particularly those living on Wightman and Alroy Roads.
The core issues are traffic volume, speed and safety together with the condition of pavements and the presence, or otherwise, of safe crossing points. The collateral issues which have emerged, as the Community has attempted to engage with Councillors and Officials to express concerns and initiate a constructive dialogue, relate to the processes of consultation, their operation and the potential for decisions to be made which fail to address the core concerns of residents in the Green Lanes/Harringay area.
Specific dissatisfaction exists with the conduct and subsequent absence of feedback relating to the ‘Special Area Assembly – Traffic’ which was held at the Cyprus Kitchen on Green Lanes. In particular: the chairing of the meeting – and interference with the chairing by other panel members, the evasive, patronising and dismissive nature of the answers received to some questions put, the failure to commit even to a timescale for feedback and the subsequent absence of feedback at the next Area Assembly or otherwise. Compounding these inadequacies, we now find:
to which, to my knowledge after investigating with many of the parties who are concerned, no invitations were extended. We note that these Fora are by selective invitation, as was the membership of the Green Lanes/Harringay Food Festival Committee with the consequence that there has been no representation of the opinions of residents of Wightman Road which will be faced with saturation traffic when Green Lanes is closed on September the 20th.
A repetitious theme in these, and other, ‘consultations’ is the selective and inadequate radius of consultation. In short, we believe these are exercises being undertaken to tick the boxes but with no meaningful intention to listen to and, more importantly, hear the opinions of residents.'
"Haringey Council successfully held its inaugural Transport Forum on Wednesday 20 May at the Civic Centre, N22" (emphasis added) – this wouldn't be self-congratulation, would it?
I was invited as a representative of Haringey Cycling Campaign - unfortunately I couldn't make this meeting as it clashed with a Duckett's Common meeting,. I intend to go to the next meeting.