Welcome to my February e-newsletter.
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch to express their deep concerns about the tragic situation in Ukraine. It is truly shocking that a European country has been subjected to this war of aggression and I pay tribute to the bravery and determination of the people resisting the Russian invasion. The UK Government was the first to provide lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine and this is being stepped up.
Turning to events back home, I have secured a concession from the Mayor of London about Barnet police station. He has promised that the building will not be sold off before alternative premises are found nearby for local ward police teams. I continue to fight to save the station and to prevent the sell-off, but knowing we will not be left entirely without a base for officers in the constituency is a significant step forward.
Planning and development have been a big issue for me over this past month. I attended the Barnet planning committee to speak against the plans for seven storey blocks of flats at Victoria Quarter. The committee rejected these proposals, along with an attempt to add two extra stories to Barnet House in Whetstone and convert it into flats. Sadly, the outcome was different at the Enfield planning committee earlier in the month where they gave permission for tower blocks to be built over Cockfosters station car park. I will continue to fight against those proposals.
In Parliament, I convened and chaired a large meeting of backbench MPs with Housing Secretary, Michael Gove, to express our grave concerns about overdevelopment. He indicated to us that he has dropped key aspects of the controversial planning reforms proposed by his predecessor, Robert Jenrick.
Other issues I have raised in Parliament include the importance of allowing people to visit elderly relatives in hospital; ensuring pensioners benefit from the package of help the Government is offering on energy bills; reforming the EU Solvency II regulation to promote investment in start-up businesses and infrastructure; tackling delays in criminal trials for terrorist offences; and various matter relevant to India.
I was also part of a group of MPs to establish a new All Party Parliamentary group on preventing global deforestation. This is a crucial issue for protecting nature and addressing climate change, and I hope the new group will be effective in highlighting it in Parliament.
Lastly, I had the opportunity to appear on BBC Politics Live to debate topics including sanctions on Russia and how we support the NHS to clear the Covid backlog. You can watch here.
Further information on my campaigns and activities is available in the links below to articles on my website. Please forward this email to anyone you think would be interested to read it or might like to join this mailing list.
Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers
Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet
Villiers welcomes partial reprieve for Barnet police station
MP Theresa Villiers has welcomed news that the Met will provide new premises for neighbourhood police teams currently located in Barnet police station if the Mayor persists with his plan to sell off the building. The Chipping Barnet MP, who opposes the closure of the station, had previously urged the Mayor not to leave local officers without premises in her constituency. Read more…
Another victory in the campaign against overdevelopment in New Barnet
Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has welcomed planners refusing another attempt to place high-rise housing at the Victoria Quarter development.
Barnet Council’s Strategic Planning Committee said no to One Housing and Fairview’s amended proposals for seven-storey buildings at the old gasworks site in New Barnet. The developers had put in another application following unanimous refusal by the planning committee in 2020 for blocks ten storeys high. Read more…
Villiers calls for compassion on hospital visits
In a question and answer session with the Prime Minister in Parliament on lifting remaining Covid rules, Theresa pointed out that many hospitals continue to place severe restrictions on hospital visits, even with significant improvement in the Covid situation. Theresa said “It is especially important to allow visits to someone who is frail and elderly or who may have cognitive impairments.” Read more…
Condemnation of Enfield Council's decision to approve tower blocks for Cockfosters
Theresa Villiers has accused Enfield Council of wrecking the suburbs and badly letting down residents after it approved 351 high-rise flats at Cockfosters tube station car park, despite 3000 objections. Theresa said the plan would ruin the suburban identity of the Cockfosters area, with the four tower blocks between five and 14 storeys to be built right next to Trent Park. Read more…
Delivering a deposit return scheme to encourage recycling
Your local MP has met with representatives of the soft drinks industry to discuss how to deliver a successful deposit return scheme. Theresa Villiers championed this scheme when she was as Environment Secretary and brought forward the legislation needed to make it happen. Now the details are being worked out, Theresa held meetings with Coca Cola and with the British Soft Drinks Federation to understand what is needed to get the scheme up and running successfully. Read more…
"Growth Zone" planning reforms dropped by the Government
At a meeting in Parliament organised by Theresa Villiers MP, Housing Secretary Michael Gove signalled a change of approach from the Government in planning reform. The Secretary of State told the meeting of MPs that the idea of “growth zones” in which building would be permitted without planning permission being needed had been dropped. Read more…
How to contact Theresa
The best way to get help from Theresa is to email her on [email protected], ring her constituency office on 020 8449 7345, or write to her at 163 High Street, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5SU.
Theresa’s next diarised surgery takes place from 1030 to 1200 on Saturday 5th March at her constituency office at 163 High Street. Constituents wishing to see Theresa or her staff will need to make an appointment in advance. You will NOT be seen if you turn up without a pre-booked appointment. Bookings for face-to-face meetings or Zoom calls can be made using the contact details set out in the preceding paragraph.
