It seems that the activation of the Oyster Card machines at Highams Park hasn’t delivered on all fronts, despite the promise of Mayor Boris Johnson.

Although the machine readers are working, you can’t actually buy an Oyster Card or top one up at the station! Passengers are having to go to the local shop, which doesn’t take credit cards. We’re frustrated with this as we’ve been pushing Boris to get the readers up and running properly.

Lib Dem councillors Nick Bason, Jan Morgan and Sheila Smith-Pryor are pushing the Mayor and National Rail to make sure local residents are able to buy Oyster products at the station as soon as possible. We’ll let you know when it’s working properly.

Your local Lib Dem councillors are pleased to see a new addition to the ward! An information board can be found at the junction of Hale End Road and Oak Hill, opposite the Royal Oak pub. It’s on the original village green of Hale End, the first settlement in the area.

The board outlines the area’s history and shows Beech Hall which was was demolished in 1964 and the Oak cottages where the ‘Tottenham Outrage’ robbery ended. Councillor Jane Morgan helped to get the board put in. Read the rest of this entry.

Residents in and around Belle Vue Road and Forest Road in Hale End will remember that they were recently consulted by the council about ideas to change the local roads. There were various proposals including new parking restrictions, moving pedestrian crossings on Forest Road and altering the width of Forest Road.

Following the consultation, you Lib Dem Focus Team have heard that the council’s proposals have changed and they may consult residents again. We are hoping to meet council officers next week (week of 18 Jan) to hear more about the changes.

Once we’ve got details confirmed about what has changed and why, we will let you know. In the meantime, if any residents living around Belle Vue Road or the Hale End part of Forest Road have got concerns or questions about the original proposals, please contact me via this website, and I’ll make sure the issues are raised with officers.

Cllrs Jane Morgan and Nick Bason recently visited Thorpe Hall Primary School to talk to parents about the dangerous traffic situation outside the school:

Parents we spoke to voiced concerns about traffic speeding along Hale End Road and had encountered problems with parking regulations not being enforced. This means that it is dangerous for parents and children crossing the road to school.

We got the council to ensure the parking enforcement team regularly visit the area to tackle the problem. We want to hear from parents still experiencing problems as it helps us get the council to take action.

After months of campaigning, the Oyster Card readers at Highams Park station were finally activated on 2 January 2010.

Although they were installed months and months ago, the weren’t activated, meaning people using the station were having to pay higher rail fares.

The Lib Dem Focus Team have been as frustrated as anyone that the readers weren’t working - as my picture shows! We’ve been campaigning with the Lib Dem group in the Greater London Authority to get the readers working. Now travelcard and Pay As You Go customers can use the machines.

We appreciate the pressure residents have been putting on the Mayor’s office, TfL and the national rail operators to get the readers working. It is long overdue, but still good news.

Council officers have advised us that they are looking into putting yellow lines on the corner of Beverley Road, E4. They are consulting residents living adjacent and opposite the proposed lines.

Your Lib Dem Focus Team are seeking information as to why these lines are being proposed. In the meantime, if residents have a view or concerns about these lines, please drop me a line via the contact form on this website.