Welcome to my e-newsletter for the month of May!
I stepped up my campaign against Ulez in Barnet when I tabled a Bill in Parliament to overturn the Mayor of London’s decision to expand the zone. Sadly, Bills tabled by backbench MPs rarely make it on to the statute book. But this was an important opportunity to express the strong opposition to Ulez extension felt by so many of my constituents. I also organised a Ulez protest next to the A1000 in New Barnet. There was a big turn out and we received many of beeps of support from passing motorists!
I have continued to fight to bring back 84 bus services between Potters Bar and Barnet after they were discontinued last year. I lobbied Bus Minister, Richard Holden, and representatives of Herts CC and TfL to make the case for a return of this important route.
I took my campaign to stop the sell-off of Barnet police station to the top, with meetings with Met Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, and acting borough police commander for Barnet, Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles. As well as pressing the case to keep the station in police hands, I highlighted the need for action against car crime and burglary in Barnet to these senior officers.
In Parliament I raised points on food prices, litter, updating the Official Secrets Act 1989, reform of retained EU law; and restoring power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, as well as on Ulez. I also expressed disappointment that the Government has withdrawn the Kept Animals Bill which would have ended live export of animals for slaughter. I have backed a ban for many years because of the suffering faced by animals transported over long distances. Ministers have promised to get this reform on the statute book with a new single-issue Bill, and I will keep up the pressure for that to happen. You can read my article on this here.
I had a very busy programme over the Coronation weekend supporting community events and street parties around the constituency. What a wonderful occasion it was for the whole nation!
Other events in my diary have included a lobby of Parliament on Acquired Brain Injury, where I heard first hand from a constituent who has battled with such a condition; attending the APPG for Nursery Schools AGM; meeting apprentices working for Amazon; discussing Government proposals for a new land-use framework with Environment Minister Trudy Harrison; various events to mark Tamil Remembrance Day for victims of the Sri Lankan civil war; and a discussion with Housing Minister, Rachel MacLean, on the Renters Reform Bill.
It has also been a busy month for media, with appearances on BBC Radio Four PM; the 5 Live/BBC News Channel MP panel; the ITV Late Debate; BBC London Politics Live; and BBC Radio Four Westminster Hour; as well as an interview with the Sunday Times property supplement. Planning and development featured in almost all of these and they therefore provided an important opportunity to speak up against building on the green belt.
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.
All the best
Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers
Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet
Villiers proposes new law to allow Government to stop ULEZ expansion
MP Theresa Villiers will introduce a Ten-Minute rule Bill to Parliament tomorrow giving the Transport Secretary powers to overturn the London Mayor’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion. The Bill will look to amend the Greater London Authority Act 1999, so Mark Harper can review and overturn decisions made by the Mayor relating to transport and to air quality. Read more….
Barnet MP fights the war against litter!
MP Theresa Villiers has urged that the country’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras (ANPR) to be used to catch people throwing rubbish from vehicles. Speaking in a debate on litter which she put on the agenda in Parliament, the former Environment Secretary said “There is a strong case for greater use of cameras in enforcement”. Read more….
Big turn-out for Stop Ulez protest in New Barnet!
Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has staged a protest against the London Mayor’s plan to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)) across Greater London. Theresa and around 50 protestors gathered next to the A1000 Great North Road in New Barnet for the demonstration on Saturday. Read more….
Villiers keeps up the fight to save Barnet police station
MP Theresa Villiers has received an assurance from the Met Commissioner that the force is looking again on whether to keep Barnet Police Station in police hands. The MP and many of her constituents have long campaigned for the police station to continue as an operational base for officers, after the Mayor of London decided he would close the front desk and sell off the building for development. Read more….
Bus Minister wades into row over 84 bus
The campaign to bring back the 84 bus has been taken to the top, after Theresa Villiers held a high level meeting with Richard Holden MP, the Transport Minister responsible for buses.
The Barnet MP and the Minister discussed the 84 in Westminster, and Mr Holden indicated that recent Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding given by the Government to Hertfordshire County Council could be used for bringing back services like the 84, if the council chooses to do that. 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 on the afternoon of Friday 9th June 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.
