Residents Kept in Dark on CPZ Consultation

10.54.00am GMT Mon 21st Aug 2006

Haringey Residents and councillors alike are calling for Councillor Brian Haley to come clean on the CPZ consultations. Lib Dem councillors claim that they are being stonewalled by Labour over the CPZ consultation proposals, and that the people deserve answers.

Labour's lead councillor on the controversial parking plans, Cllr. Brian Haley, has not responded to requests to provide specific information on the "second stage of communication" he promised residents in late July.

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Neil Williams wrote to Cllr. Haley on the 9th August, asking that he "set out clearly and precisely what form any further consultation on the CPZ/stop and shop schemes will take place, including a detailed time line that takes us through to the Executive decision making process." Cllr. Williams pointed out that "There is considerable confusion about what you intend." The Lib Dems have received no response.

Councillor Williams comments: "Councillor Haley really must make clear his plans. It is clear he had no idea how to proceed when he made his promise. We worry that Councillor Haley is floundering on this issue. If plans have not yet been drawn up, then residents will rightly draw the conclusion that Labour are still not capable of conducting a meaningful consultation, and that they have no intention of listening to the people of the borough."

Councillor John Oakes, Lib Dem spokesperson for Community Involvement, adds: "Once again, Labour are dodging the bullet and failing the people of Haringey. Residents are beginning to believe that Cllr. Haley promised further consultation simply to save his skin and buy himself some time, following his descriptions of residents as 'selfish, abusive bullies'. He must come clean and present his plans as soon as possible."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Below is the communication from Cllr. Williams to Cllr. Haley, which as of the 18th August has received no response.

9 August 2006

Dear Brian

Can you set out clearly and precisely what form any further consultation on the CPZ/stop and shop schemes will take place, including a detailed time line that takes us through to the Executive decision making process. There is considerable confusion about what you intend.

At the recent public meeting, you told residents that the current consultation will extended - can you clarify exactly what this means in practice please - people should be able to respond using the current forms after the deadline and that their views will be taken into account, because that is what residents understand.

As you know, we have attempted to have the current flawed consultation process suspended, but want to ensure that any further consultation you undertake ensures that residents views are properly heard. It must not be a rubber stamping exercise as per a minimum "statutory consultation", and that the extra time is used to gauge the real views of residents.

Best

Cllr Neil Williams

Lib Dem, Highgate

Leader of the Opposition