Following the news that L&Q were starting to fell trees and carry out other work on the Old University Campus site in Cat Hill, Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has contacted Enfield Council to urge them to take action to stop this work from continuing. Ms Villiers was alerted to this problem after a visit to Cat Hill on Saturday to meet local campaigner, Kim Coleman.
When planning permission was granted to L&Q to develop the site, a condition was imposed that licenses had to be obtained from Natural England to search the area for newts and bats between March and May before any work on the site began.
Theresa said: “I oppose the proposed redevelopment of the Cat Hill site. I have been backing the campaign against these plans run by Kim Coleman and the Campaign for Cat Hill group. I was disappointed that planning permission was granted to L&Q.”
“The conditions of this planning application state that a permit from Natural England has to be given before work can begin. I do not believe that this has happened. I have urged Richard Laws, Enfield’s Principal Planner, to ensure that these conditions are enforced. Enfield Council should ensure that all activity on the site stops unless all the conditions contained in L&Q’s planning permission have been fully met.”
“I will continue to monitor the situation and keep up the pressure to try to ensure as much is done as possible to protect Cat Hill.”