1. HARINGEY & LONDON RESPONSE UPDATE
1.1 Fighting racial inequality and supporting Black Lives Matter - Our Statement
Yesterday Haringey Lib Dems released a statement on fighting racial inequality and supporting Black Lives Matter. You can read it here.
1.2 Controlled Parking Zone Enforcement update
There have been a number of reports on social media that parking enforcement for Haringey Controlled Parking Zones have either already recommenced, or will recommence from Mon 8th June. These reports are false.
The council has yet to announce a date for when parking enforcement will resume (although the intention is by the end of June), however sufficient notice will be given to residents, and we will provide an update here as soon as we have firm details.
Traffic enforcement officers continue to operate across Haringey as they have done throughout the lockdown for infringements such as parking on double yellow lines, zebra crossings, corners etc so you may continue to see them about before enforcement resumes.
1.3 Beware of bogus callers
We’ve received reports that some Haringey residents have been visited at home by people falsely claiming to be Connected Communities staff, who say they've been sent to check on residents' wellbeing.
Please be aware that the council's Connected Communities team do not knock on doors randomly. If you receive a visit from anyone claiming to be from the council, please be wary and ask for ID. If you believe you have received a bogus visit then please contact the police.
If you are vulnerable, require assistance or if you know someone else who does, please see Haringey Council’s Connected Communities pages https://www.haringey.gov.uk/community/connected-communitiesor call their Connected Communities line on 020 8489 4431. The line is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm.
1.4 One-off green waste collection
With residents still urged to stay at home as much as possible, Haringey Council are now offering a limited one-off green waste collection service, directly from your home.
Until the end of June, Veolia will take up to 15 bags of garden waste away for a one-off fee of £20. You can add other bulky waste items to the collection too, although there are a few things you will need to know first. More details are available on the Veolia website: https://www.veolia.co.uk/haringey/services-facilities/garden-waste-and-other-recycling). To book a collection, contact the Veolia Contact Centre on 020 8885 7700.
Please note that garden waste collected via this service will not be able to be sent for composting.
Alternatively, if you regularly have garden waste that you need to dispose of, you can sign up to the council's weekly green waste collection service for £55 or £75 a year, depending on your requirements, or you can take green waste to the Reuse and Recycling Centre on Western Road (booking must be made in advance here).
1.5 Safer Streets for walking and cycling could be coming to Haringey - Have your say!
You will recall that in previous editions of our newsletter we have reported on our calls to the council for safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists through reduction in speed limits, pavement widening, temporary cycle lanes and filtering roads so cars can travel to, but not through, busy rat-runs. This will aid social distancing and create safe spaces for travel, with public transport capacity severely reduced.
After weeks of pressure, Haringey have finally announced that they are considering these recommendations, and have launched an online map for residents to submit their suggestions for improvements. Please do take the time to engage with this by adding your recommendations here: https://haringeystreetspaces.commonplace.is/
If you are unable to operate the map successfully please submit your comments to us with the exact location and we will upload these comments for you. For more information on what Haringey are considering please see here.
1.6 Haringey businesses - discretionary grant fund update
We have previously provided details on a follow-up government funding scheme for some small businesses that were not eligible for the initial grant scheme. Originally called top-up grants, this is now called the discretionary grant scheme and is primarily aimed at the following businesses with fewer than 50 employees:
- Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces
- Regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment
- Bed & Breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates
- Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief
The Government have now provided further guidance on how local authorities should run the scheme, however as the funds provided by the government are just 5% of the original grant scheme, Haringey council are having to work through a system of how businesses will be prioritised, and who will be considered eligible. We expect further information on this in coming weeks and will provide further updates as we have them.
To learn more, and for the latest info please see the business grants page on the Haringey Council website here: https://www.haringey.gov.uk/news-and-events/coronavirus-covid-19-haringey-together/business-support/business-grants
1.7 Changes to the Freedom Pass
From Monday 15 June passengers with an Older Person’s Freedom Pass, 60+ Oyster photocard or English National Concessionary Scheme pass will not be able to use those passes during morning peak hours (4.30am – 9am)
https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedom-pass/using-pass/bus
Older Person’s Freedom Pass, 60+ Oyster photocard or English National Concessionary Scheme passes will continue to be valid from 9am on weekdays and all day on weekends and Bank Holidays.
Passengers with a Disabled Freedom Pass are unaffected and will, as usual, still be able to travel at all times using their Freedom Pass, if they have to use public transport for their journey.
These temporary arrangements are designed to reduce the risk of crowding at the busiest times, which would make social distancing more difficult to maintain. All passengers are reminded to only use public transport if absolutely essential and maintain two metres social distancing wherever possible
1.8 Restore Free Travel for Under 18s in London
In a previous newsletter we informed you that free travel for under 18s in London would be suspended indefinitely following the government bail-out agreement of TfL.
The Lib Dems have launched a campaign to reverse this decision, which will impact the capitals poorest families most. Lib Dem Mayoral candidate, Siobhan Benita, in a letter to the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Many young Londoners rely on free travel to attend school in a safe and environmentally responsible way. In normal times, around 1.5 million journeys made in the capital are for educational purposes. These journeys are essential and removing this concession will be a disaster for our capital’s poorest families."
If you would like to support the campaign to reverse this decision please click the image below to sign the petition:
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1.9 Celebrating Haringey’s unsung Heroes
Do you know someone making a difference in the community during the coronavirus pandemic?
The Mayor of Haringey, Sheila Peacock has announced a new ‘Haringey Heroes Awards’ to celebrate Haringey’s unsung heroes. To find out more or make your nomination, click here.
1.10 Haringey in Bloom competition
To adhere to social distancing rules, Homes for Haringey's annual Haringey in Bloom competition is changing. Instead of visiting the gardens, this year Homes for Haringey are asking entrants to submit photographs of their fabulous flowers and foliage.
To enter, simply send Homes for Haringey your name, address, contact details including email and phone number and return it with two pictures of the garden by Friday 24 July 2020 to resident.involvement@homesforharingey.org or speak to your Community Relations Officer. Alternatively, contact Homes for Haringey on 020 8489 4463 to enter or for further information.
Winners will be promoted and invited to a celebration in September (subject to social distancing guidance). The competition is open to all residents, residents’ associations, schools, and communities across the borough.
1.11 Support for those with learning disabilities during COVID-19
The coronavirus outbreak can be confusing and difficult to understand. The outbreak can also cause increased stress and anxiety at this difficult time.
Haringey Council has an easy read guide to support those with learning difficulties in our community: Advice for Groups with Learning Disabilities and Autism - COVID-19. The guide has useful information about the coronavirus, what symptoms to look out for and how to get help if someone becomes unwell.
NHS England has released new guidance on Looking After Your Feelings and Your Body, which provides useful information to help support mental health and wellbeing.
Mencap is also able to provide accessible support and resources for the people in our community who have a learning disability.
If you have a learning disability, and you’re worried about paying your bills, get in touch with the Haringey Learning Disabilities Team who can offer support and advice to help you. They can be reached on 0208 489 1384 - the line is open Monday - Friday, 9am - 4.30pm. Find out more on Haringey Council's Adult Social Care Support and Services page.
1.12 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
1.13 Volunteering opportunities for local residents
Our voluntary organisations are working under huge pressure and looking for more help from the community:
1.14 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 |
