Haringey Liberal Democrats have criticised a Labour unanimous vote to defer a decision on the fate of the Haringey Development Vehicle until after May’s local elections.

The political party say that Labour’s failure to stop the HDV is ‘unforgivable’ and ‘local residents will be appalled’.

They claim that a failure to stop the project will give the Claire Kober administration the opportunity to sign off on the project in the three weeks between the local elections on May 3 and new councillors taking their posts on May 24.

A motion to stop the scheme was put forward at an extra-ordinary Haringey Council meeting on Wednesday February 7.

Cllr Gail Engert, Leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats, said: “Labour have put the unity of their party ahead of the right decision for local residents and businesses.

“I just do not know how the Labour councillors will be able to look their constituents in the eye and explain why they failed to vote to end this reckless scheme.

“It is unforgivable.

“Labour had the opportunity to stop the HDV – they have said they want to stop the HDV, yet they have not had the guts to do it.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats have promised to fight on for the project to be stopped.

Cllr Liz Morris, Liberal Democrat deputy leader, added: “Sadly, when push came to shove, the Labour councillors left their principles at the door, and toed the party line, leaving the lives of thousands of local residents in limbo and the door open for the HDV to still go ahead.

“We have always said the HDV was a risk too big to take, and we will continue to fight on this.”

The Liberal Democrats have stated their own plans for housing.

They propose to invest an initial £148 million in building new council and affordable homes through a 100 per cent council-owned housing company.

Any profits would be reinvested back into the scheme, they say.