3. HARINGEY RESPONSE UPDATE
3.1 Pavement widening being added to more high streets & further suggestions invited
Last week we confirmed that pavement widening measures were coming to Crouch End Broadway, Muswell Hill Broadway, Fortis Green, Highgate High Street, Lordship Lane and Turnpike Lane in a second tranche of work following similar measures on Hornsey High Street, amongst others.
The full list of locations is as follows, and many of these measures have already been implemented: - Crouch End
- Outside M&S
- Outside Waitrose / Crouch Hall Road
- Outside the Post Office
- Highgate
- Outside Tesco Express, Highgate High Street
- Lordship Lane
- Outside Tesco Express, 646 Lordship Lane
- Muswell Hill
- Outside M&S / LLoyds Bank
- Outside Greens of Highgate
- Outside The Hampstead Butcher / HSBC
- Outside Waitrose / Post Office / Poundland
- Turnpike Lane
- Outside the Post Office
These measures have been introduced in areas where queueing outside shops meant that social distancing was problematic given existing pavement widths.
Haringey Council were also wanting to introduce the same measures outside Tesco Express / Greggs on Crouch End Broadway, but had been unable to do so as TfL have indicated that this would have too great an impact on the bus network.
Additional measures have also been brought in for the Finsbury Park entrance at Endymion Road for those entering and exiting Finsbury park.
If you have any suggestions for other areas that may benefit from pavements being widened by extension into parking bays to aid social distancing please email our transport spokesperson Cllr Luke Cawley-Harrison (luke.cawley-harrison@haringey.gov.uk) with your suggestion so we can submit these to the council.
3.2 Update on business grant payments, inc info for those that aren't the business rate payer
Paying existing business grant payments
We remain very concerned about the level of business support grants that Haringey Council have paid to businesses in the borough. Last week it was reported that Haringey has the worst performance in London for paying the grants.
Last week we held urgent talks with Haringey Council over the grant payment process, which has led to a large number of grants finally getting paid, however a significant number remain outstanding with little or no communication being provided by the council to desperate business owners.
We have helped a significant number of businesses across the borough to receive their payments from the council so please get in touch with our Business Spokesperson, Cllr Paul Dennison at paul.dennison@haringey.gov.uk if you are a business having trouble with accessing you grant payment.
You can also request an update on the status of your grant by emailing the council's business grants team at COVIDsmallbusinessgrant@haringey.gov.uk. We have had a huge number of business report that emails to this address have gone unanswered - if that has happened for you we also want to know.
We have called for the Cabinet Member to make an unreserved apology to every enterprise which has suffered delays in grant payments, and have called for an independent review into why the delivery of the grant payments process has lagged so badly - to commence as soon as internal council business returns to normal (more info on that here).
28% of eligible business have yet to receive their grant - are you one?
There are still businesses out there eligible for grants that the council has been unable to get in contact with or they still need supporting information from. If you are one of the 28% of businesses who haven’t received their grant funding yet, please contact the council at COVIDsmallbusinessgrant@haringey.gov.uk, or if you have not filled in the grant application form do so here.
Applying for a grant when you are not the person currently registered for business rates
If you are not the person currently registered for business rates but have been operating in a rateable premises since 11 March 2020, the council have to make you liable for business rates before they can pay you any grant.
You will need to fill in the Business Grants Form and also complete an Occupation Form. To download the forms and for more information on the requirements visit: https://www.haringey.gov.uk/news-and-events/haringey-coronavirus-covid-19-updates/coronavirus-covid-19-business-update#Not-registered-BR
3.3 Lib Dems continue to press for improved walking and cycling infrastructure
It is anticipated that even when bus and tube services are back running at full capacity, due to social distancing measures that will be enforced on services, they will only be able to carry 13-15% of the usual passenger numbers.
It is therefore crucial that commuters and other public transport users are able to find safe alternative methods of transport, such as walking and cycling. Whilst car use is being recommended by the government ahead of public transport use, this will increase congestion on our roads leading to even greater levels of pollution and greater dangers from vehicles to pedestrians and other road users.
We are pushing Haringey Council to urgently roll out temporary pop-up cycle lanes in line with new government legislation to create new safe cycle routes, and to add temporary filters to roads that experience rat-running so that vehicles can drive to, not through, residential roads where cars are a danger.
Our transport spokesperson Cllr Luke Cawley-Harrison has written to the Cabinet Member, Cllr Hearn, setting out a nine-point plan for what is required to implement these emergency measures, including school streets and reducing any remaining 30mph roads down to 20mph (view here). Cllr Cawley-Harrison has also identified and suggested 5 key routes to Haringey Council based on walking, cycling and traffic data, that require rapid infrastructure improvements to prevent them being clogged with cars due to the reduction in public transport availability. These are: - Alexandra Palace Way > Park Road > Crouch End Broadway > Crouch End Hill &
Tottenham Lane > Crouch End Broadway > Crouch End Hill - Wightman Road
- Green Lanes
- Tottenham High Road
- Seven Sisters Road
If you support these measures, or have recommendations for additional roads you would like to see filtered or routes or stretches of roads that would benefit from pop-up cycle lanes or segregation for existing cycling infrastructure to aid social distancing and improve safety during the pandemic, please email: luke.cawley-harrison@haringey.gov.uk
3.4 Reuse and Recycling Centres (RRCs) now opening - booking required
Last week we confirmed that North London recycling centres would shortly be reopening. This has now happened, and the centres are now accepting waste from those at risk of harm from waste stored at home (no details on what this constitutes though).
Opening times vary but for Western Road, Haringey, it will be open seven days a week, 10am to 6pm.
Booking is required and access will be prevented if you haven't done so. Booking can be made online here: https://vello.fi/londonenergy/
Every site will have restrictions in place. This is to ensure the safety of site staff and visitors and to meet social distancing requirements. The conditions of entry for all sites are below:
- Visitors will need a valid booking before they leave home, or entry will be refused
- A limited number of cars will be allowed on site at one time
- Vans, trailers and pick-up trucks will not be allowed to enter - there is no pedestrian access to RRC sites
- Only one person should leave the car (unless you have a Blue Badge) while on site
- Visitors should keep 2m from other people when on site - site staff will not be available to help with unloading – please make sure you can carry your items by yourself
- Please treat staff with respect and follow staff instructions at all times
- Only household waste (including small electrical appliances) and garden waste that can’t be stored safely at home will be accepted
- Check the latest information for the site you want to visit before you leave home
Visitors will only be accepted by car (no pedestrians/cyclists). More information available here: http://wiseuptowaste.org.uk/recycle/information-on-reuse-and-recycling-centres-covid-19/ Answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions available here: http://wiseuptowaste.org.uk/recycle/information-on-reuse-and-recycling-centres-covid-19/reopening-of-rrcs-faqs/
3.5 Local Food Banks still require urgent donations
Food banks continue to support residents across the borough and are seeing supplies running desperately low. If you are able to support them please consider doing so.
Muswell Hill Foodbank (The Trussell Trust) - If you need food
- The Muswell Hill Foodbank on Pembroke Road is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You will need to get a voucher from one of the Referral Agencies (Citizens Advice, Social Services, Job Centres, some schools and doctors surgeries and other local charities) before going to the foodbank. Strict social distancing is in place to ensure the safety of clients and volunteers.
- The foodbank urgently needs donations
The Holy Trinity Food Bank Stroud Green - Open every Sunday from 1.30pm – 3.30pm.
- Please drop off donations at the food bank between 1.30pm - 3.30pm on Sundays. Alternatively there are dedicated collection bins at:
- Sainsbury’s, 175-179 Stroud Green Road, N4 3PZ
- Londis, 9-11 Ferme Park Road, N4 4DS
If you would like to make a monetary donation please email: htfoodbank@gmail.com and for more information visit: http://www.holytrinityfoodbank.org.uk/
The Gospel Centre Food Bank corner of Raleigh Road / Wightman Road, N8 OLT - Open Tuesday 6.30-8.30pm or Sunday 11.30-1pm.
- Requires donations of non perishable food
- Supporting those in need, especially from N8, N4 and N22 – no referral required
Enquiries to gospelcfoodbank@gmail.com
Other Local Foodbanks
3.6 Volunteering opportunities for local residents
Our voluntary organisations are working under huge pressure and looking for more help from the community:
3.7 Telephone befriending service
Staying at home can be lonely and it can be difficult to connect socially. As the lockdown continues this become ever more difficult for some of our residents.
Haringey Reach and Connect offer free calls to people in Haringey who would like to receive regular weekly calls from a friendly and supportive volunteer. The calls last approximately 30 minutes, and take place on the same day, at the same time, each week.
They match older people and volunteers carefully, to ensure they have some common interests and friendships are reviewed regularly, to ensure that both parties find them enjoyable.
If you would be interested in becoming or having a telephone befriender, please contact Reach and Connect who are running a special expanded service to respond to COVID-19, using this link: https://reachandconnect.net/get-support/telephone-friendship |
