Labour Council reject deputations from the people of Haringey

2.45.45pm GMT Tue 21st Mar 2006

The Labour-led Haringey Council convened for the monthly Full Council meeting last night, refusing to allow three deputations from groups of Haringey residents to be heard. The deputations were instead referred to various executive bodies, leaving the Labour group wide open to criticism that they were refusing people the right to be heard by their Council.

One of the three deputations was the Alexandra Palace Television Group, concerned over the Council's rushed lease of the palace to the Firoka group after a very short period of consultation. The Group were hoping to make representations to Council to explain that despite their being the custodians of the birthplace of television, Firoka have included just a tiny space in their plans in which to house the museum.

Rather than allowing the group's deputation to be heard at the public Council meeting, the Labour-led Council executive preferred to refer the matter to the Alexandra Park and Palace board. Unfortunately, the meeting is scheduled for two weeks after the board will have decided on the final terms of the lease.

Councillor Bob Hare, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Alexandra Palace, comments: "I was extremely disappointed that the Labour Council decided not to permit the Television Group to speak at this meeting. The group have the backing of all of Britain's TV heritage experts and the BBC. This is an extremely significant piece of Haringey's history, and it has enormous potential both in terms of its prestige and as a visitor draw for the borough. Labour have pushed this important group off to a meeting which will take place as far as possible out of the glare of publicity and long after the terms of the lease will have been decided."