Islington Lib Dems have launched a survey to get residents’ views about what the priorities for Islington should be.

With local elections this May it is time for residents to decide who they want to run the council - the Lib Dems who have a record of success in making Islington better or Labour, whose shameful record includes:

• plans to cut the Whittington Hospital
• voting against Lib Dem plans to put more police on our streets
• and the Iraq war

The Lib Dem have launched 4 pledges. We want you to tell us which of our pledges are most important to you or add your own. You can do this on-line here.
1. We will cut crime

Everyone has the right to live in a safe, clean environment. That’s why local Lib Dems are pledging to cut crime. We will provide more late-night policing on top of regular police patrols provided by the Mayor of London. We will crack down on late licences for bars and clubs. Tougher action will be taken against those who do not clear up after their dogs. Vote now.

2. A better start for our young people
Local Lib Dems on the Council have worked hard to help deliver the best ever school exam results in Islington.
We pledge to build on this success and get better exam results this year too. We also pledge to give local young people more housing points. We will deliver more apprenticeships for our young people to ensure they get the best start in life. Vote now.

3. A greener Islington
Combating climate change and global warming is the single biggest challenge we face. Local Lib Dems are pledging to make Islington greener. One of the ways we will do this is through more local energy generation. This will lower people’s energy bills and create new green, local jobs. Vote now.

4. We will lower taxes
Gordon Brown’s recession means that everyone’s had to tighten their belts. Local Lib Dems believe that money is better off in your pocket rather than in council coffers. Labour councillors voted to raise council tax this year. We’re pledging to keep your council tax among the lowest 10 councils in all of London. Vote now.

5. Or add your own - we want your views too. You can do that by clicking here.

Click here to tell us your priorities for Islington

As your local councillors its important we know what you think, so as well as telling you what’s going on in Highbury, we would like you to tell us what you want changed or what could be done better. So here you will find our Highbury East Residents Survey.

This survey is just one way of communicating with your ward councillors. By filling it in you will help us make Highbury East a better place and help set us some priorities to improve things for you.

To fill it in just CLICK HERE

A new orchard of apple trees has been planted on the site of the proposed new runway at Heathrow Airport by Greenpeace and London councils. Islington, part of the ‘2M Group’ of councils opposed to the runway, sponsored an apple tree on the site.

This new apple tree in Sipson, on the runway site, plated by the campaigning group of 24 councils means that if BAA Airports and the Government try to build a new runway they will have to uproot an orchard owned by millions of Londoners.

Council leader Terry Stacy planted a new ornamental apple tree on Witherington Road in Highbury, to mark the protest 20 miles away at Heathrow Airport.

Islington’s Lib Dem Council Leader Terry Stacy commented:

“We joined the 2M Group of councils fighting Heathrow Expansion because it would be a climate catastrophe. But increasing numbers of flights has a direct impact on Islington residents. More flights mean more aircraft flying over our borough, which means more noise. Only this week we had a resident write to us asking what the council can do about the noise from passing planes in the night and mornings, and we had to say that we can do nothing– except fight against the Labour Government’s misguided policy of airport expansion.”

Liberal Democrat councillors for Highbury East are calling on the Government to support a new bid for funding to make Drayton Park railway station safer, smarter, and more accessible for disabled people.

Islington Council and First Capital Connect, the train operator, have submitted a joint bid to the Department for Transport to give the station step-free access.  Access to both platforms at Drayton Park Station is currently via a steep set of stairs.  The funding would also improve safety and comfort for passengers, with new lighting and new benches.

Funding for Drayton Park station was rejected by the Government last year, so the local councillors are demanding that the Government don’t overlook it this time around.

Councillor John Gilbert represented Highbury East residents in a meeting with First Capital Connect to discuss the station earlier this year, after Highbury East’s Lib Dem councillors had a huge response to a petition they ran asking First Capital Connect to keep the ticket office open at the station.  John commented:

“Drayton Park station really needs improvements, and we’re writing to the Secretary of State to try and make sure that our local station isn’t overlooked yet again by the Government.

“In our meeting with First Capital Connect earlier this year, we also discussed opening a shop or café in the station to sell tickets from.  At the time they seemed positive about the idea, so we are going to be raising this again with the train company to try and really improve the station for local commuters.”

Highbury Resident Julie Horten said:

“There are many people living around here with mobility problems or who use wheelchairs, and Drayton Park School has teaching facilities for pupils with physical disabilities. Step-free disabled access to our local station would be a godsend for all those people as well as parents with pushchairs.”

Many thanks to all the residents of Highbury East who took part in our recent tree survey.  As a result Terry, Laura and John will be plantning new trees in 27 locations around the ward this winter, including the following roads:  Aberdeen Road, Arvon Road, Balfour Road, Canning Road, Highbury Grange, Horsell Road, Kelross Road, Stradbroke Road and Witherington Road.  In adddition the council will be replacing trees that have died or bcome diseased in the following roads this winter: Arvon Road, Canning Road, Green Lanes, Horsell Road, Ronalds Road and Green Lanes

You voted for more trees - now tell us where to put them

You voted overwhelmingly in our on-line poll for more trees in Highbury East. Now you decide where you would like to see new trees in your patch. Tell us your locations by email: Laura, Terry and John by clicking here or in the form below. You can also tell us where you want to see new bins!

You can complete the locations you want to see by clicking here and completing the locations here

The campaign by Highbury East LibDem councillors, Laura Willoughby, Terry Stacy and John Gilbert to save the ticket office at Drayton Park station has resulted in success.  At a meeting with LibDem councillors on 25 March, the train operator, First Capital Connect, agreed to abandon their plans to close the ticket office and will now to keep it open from 6am to 10am on weekdays.  First Capital Connect also confirmed that they would investigate converting part of the inside of the station building into a retail shop/cafe which would be open during normal trading hours and where travellers could also buy a full range of rail tickets.  If this proves feasible the shop could be open by the end of this year.

The reprieve for the ticket office is one of a series of improvements at Drayton Park promised by First Capital Connect during the meeting.  Others included running more 6-carriage trains to relieve overcrowding from later in 2009, a face-lift for the station building and improved access to the platform.

Local LibDem councillor, John Gilbert, who represented Highbury East at the meeting with First Capital Connect, said “I’m delighted that our campaign on behalf of local residents has been such a success.  There is more to be done at Drayton Park to improve the frequency of the service and the comfort and reliability of the trains.  This will take longer to achieve but I’m really pleased that First Capital Connect recognise the issues commuters face at the station and are listening to their concerns”

As you know, every year each councillor in Islington is allocated £6,666 to spend on projects in their ward. Here in Highbury East we pool ours, making a £20,000 fund to maximise the benefit to our neighbourhood and the local community.

So far we have supported a wide range of projects across the area, which have included:

New bike stands installed across the neighbourhood and secure bike parking at Taverner Sq & Peckett Sq

We have provided equipment for youth and OAP clubs in Highbury, including a new bingo machine for the Highbury Roundhouse OAP club and new sports equipment for the Roundhouse Youth Club. The Sotheby Mews Day Centre also benefited from new equipment.

But we need to to help us decide what to spend it on this year. Suggestions are listed below, but we are up for any idea you may have - so vote by using the poll to the left of this story or emailing by clicking here :

Local Lib Dem Councillors were shocked to learn that First are planning to close the ticket office at Drayton Park. The plans were revealed when First started asking people who use the station for their views on the potential closure of the ticket office. Local Lib Dem councillors have launched a petition against the closure of the ticket office.

In response they have set up an online petition: to sign it click here

Laura Willoughby, Councillor for Highbury East comments:
“I’m concerned about the impact this will have on the use of the station, this can’t be good security and will make the station less safe for travellers. The closure of this ticket office is the thin end of the wedge and could be the first step towards closing the station. That’s why I will be raising this issue at the East Area Committee meeting.”“This is outrageous, its’ bad enough that the ticket office is only open until lunch time on weekdays, now they want to close it altogether! People pay a lot of money to travel on First trains they should at least be able to have somewhere to buy their tickets instead of having to rely on machines which aren’t always reliable and can break down.”Currently the ticket office is open from 06.30 to 13.00 Monday to Friday.

Below is the letter Terry Stacy sent to Lord Adonis. Please write as well.

Lord Adonis
Minister of State for Transport
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DR

Lord Adonis,

I am writing to draw your attention to the recent decision by First Capital Connect to consult on the closure of the ticket office at Drayton Park station in Islington. Currently the ticket office is open from 06.30 to 13.00 Monday to Friday and closed on weekends, First Capital Connect have said that they plan to stop opening the ticket office during these hours effectively closing the ticket office altogether.

I am very concerned about the implications of the ticket office closing and the impact that this could have on security and safety at the station. If the ticket office is closed down this will leave the station unmanned. Local residents and rail users have also raised concerns with me about the closure the reliability of the ticket machines.

Passengers pay First Capital Connect a lot of money to travel on their trains it is unacceptable that they should have to rely on ticket machines which are likely to break down.

I understand that you recently ordered South West Trains to reduce their planned cuts to ticket office opening hours. I urge to make a similar order requiring First Capital Connect to keep the current opening hours at Drayton Park.

Terry Stacy
Councillor for Highbury East

Local Lib Dem Councillors were shocked to learn that First are planning to close the ticket office at Drayton Park. The plans were revealed when First started asking people who use the station for their views on the potential closure of the ticket office. Local Lib Dem councillors have launched a petition against the closure of the ticket office.

In response they have set up an online petition: to sign it click here

Laura Willoughby, Councillor for Highbury East comments:
“I’m concerned about the impact this will have on the use of the station, this can’t be good security and will make the station less safe for travellers. The closure of this ticket office is the thin end of the wedge and could be the first step towards closing the station. That’s why I will be raising this issue at the East Area Committee meeting.”

“This is outrageous, its’ bad enough that the ticket office is only open until lunch time on weekdays, now they want to close it altogether! People pay a lot of money to travel on First trains they should at least be able to have somewhere to buy their tickets instead of having to rely on machines which aren’t always reliable and can break down.”

Currently the ticket office is open from 06.30 to 13.00 Monday to Friday.