Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has welcomed two pieces of good news on her campaigns to support Barnet High Street. The first is that the William Pears planning application to improve the Spires shopping centre and retain its historic two spires has been approved by Barnet Council. In a separate development, an attempt to set up a gaming centre in the former Mothercare shop at 127-129 High Street now looks to have been shelved with the withdrawal of the appeal on change of use for the premises.
In response to this news, Theresa Villiers said "My constituents told me clearly that they wanted the historic spires at the front of the Spires shopping centre to be retained so I campaigned for this to happen. I welcome the approval of the planning application which retains the spires and also provides for a new Carluccio's restaurant in the shopping centre. I hope this new outlet will help regenerate and revive the Spires shopping centre and help bring people back to the High Street."
"I was strongly opposed to the thinly disguised proposal to set up a gaming centre on Barnet High Street by the owners of the former Mothercare shop. That would have been completely wrong for our family oriented high street. I therefore very much welcome victory in the campaign against the proposed change of use which could have led the gaming centre being established."
"I have been enthusiastically involved in both of these campaigns, along with Conservative ward councillors, but I want to pay tribute to local residents such as Chris Smith and Gail Laser and everyone involved in the Anti-Gaming Centre Group and Friends of Barnet Market who have played such a crucial role in delivering this latest good news for the high street."