Wards Corner: Time to talk to traders, say Liberal Democrats

11.23.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Jul 2008

Commenting on the decision by Grainger PLC to defer its planning application for the redevelopment of Wards Corner in Seven Sisters, Cllr John Oakes, Liberal Democrat Community Involvement Spokesperson, commented:

"Right from the beginning, Liberal Democrats backed the Wards Corner Community Coalition (WCCC) of residents and traders, by forcing Haringey and the NDC to debate Wards Corner in public, and face the logic of their approach. WCCC's sustained campaigning has forced this delay. Now we want the Council to cost WCCC's alternative plans, which have already cost the Coalition £8,000, and to be open with traders about their legal rights."

Cllr Rachel Allison, Liberal Democrat Regeneration Spokesperson, adds:

"The battle has been won but the war to protect the heritage of the Wards Corner site is not over. The Ward Corner Community Coalition represents the very heart of Seven Sisters - both traders and residents. No one understands more what the site needs than the people who actually live and work there. All they have asked for is that their ideas should be heard and I hope this deferral by Grainger means that finally this will happen. Anything less would be a betrayal."

David Schmitz, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Tottenham, added:

"We are proud that, in backing the Wards Corner Coalition, the other parties have finally decided to follow where we have led.

"We are even prouder that for the past year, we have been following where the coalition has been leading. This is because as Liberal Democrats, we believe that the purpose of government is to celebrate community enterprise and civic pride not to stifle it."