Welcome to my September e-newsletter.
I have encouraging news on Barnet police station. I received a letter today from Deputy Mayor, Sophie Linden, which acknowledges that "there is an increased likelihood that the Metropolitan Police Service will need to retain more buildings that previously thought." This provides further hope that the Mayor may change his decision to sell-off our local police station.
I have been fighting to save the police station since 2017 when the Mayor first announced it was to be closed. This campaign is an important part of “My Plan for Barnet” which you can read here. I’m running a survey on my plan. Please consider completing it here. It would be great to hear your views. Thank you to everyone who filled in the hard copy version of the survey delivered through doors over the summer.
Can I also encourage you all to take part in the consultation underway on building a caravan park on a field in Arkley (potentially for use as a traveller site)? This would be completely contrary to the strict rules which protect green belt land from residential use and it would set a disastrous precedent if the planning application to do this was to go ahead. Details on how to send an objection to Barnet council are on my website here.
I went straight back into action when the House of Commons returned from its summer recess. Issues I have raised in Parliament this month include apprenticeships in green industries; religious freedom; economic benefits provided by the events sector; regulatory reform; the Probation Service; making internet-enabled household items more resilient to cyber attacks; justice for people suffering injury as a result of hormone pregnancy tests; access to veterinary medicines; and support for disabled people within the benefits system.
I also reiterated my call that Ministers bring back legislation to end the live export of animals for slaughter, the latest intervention in a long campaign to stop this trade. Lastly I highlighted security risks from China both in a question in the House of Commons and in a speech to a conference attended by Parliamentarians from a number of countries.
I was delighted to be able to take two veterans living in Barnet to a reception at Ten Downing Street to honour the service of our armed forces. Other entries in a busy diary included a discussion of the workforce needs of the childcare and early years education sector; an event to mark the one-year anniversary of the start of pro-democracy protests in Iran following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini; the Janmashtami festival at the Hari Krishna centre in Aldenham; and attending a “Visit My Mosque” event at North Finchley Mosque.
I was delighted to send my Jewish constituents greetings for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot which have been taking place over recent weeks. I had a helpful meeting with the Board of Deputies of British Jews on matters of importance to the Jewish community. I also had a chance to meet Foreign Secretary James Cleverley to discuss the Middle East in advance of his visit to Israel.
Lastly, I am keeping up my campaign to cancel Ulez in the suburbs. I and a number of MP colleagues spoke directly to the Prime Minister on the crucial importance of pushing back against Ulez expansion and other anti-car measures in London.
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
Success in campaign to bring back the 84 bus to Barnet
Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers, was amongst many who gathered at Potters Bar station to celebrate the introduction of a new 84B bus route to Barnet Hospital on its first day in operation. This part of the 84 service was discontinued last year and Theresa has been campaigning ever since to restore it. Read more….
Campaign to stop plan for caravan park on the green belt
Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has come out strongly against a plan to build a caravan park on green belt land in her constituency. A planning application has been submitted to Barnet Council to open a caravan park for residential use in a field next to Mays Lane, near Whitings Hill Open Space. The land is currently used to graze horses. Read more….
Fight to save Barnet police station takes a step forward
Theresa Villiers has welcomed a change in direction on police stations signalled by Deputy Mayor, Sophie Linden. The Barnet MP has been fighting for years to save Barnet police station. In a letter to Ms Villiers, the Deputy Mayor for policing says: "…the Mayor has acknowledged that there is an increased likelihood that the MPS will need to retain more buildings that previously thought." Read more….
Villiers joins campaign against Edgware tower blocks
Theresa Villiers has joined the fight against proposals by the Mayor of London to build massive tower blocks in Edgware town centre, including thirteen which would be over 20 storeys. Following visits to Edgware Broadwalk and nearby Edgwarebury, Theresa Villiers said "This plan for 25 high-rise buildings is insane. It would include a block of 29 storeys and 12 others in excess of 20 storeys." Read more….
Villiers calls for action to save Cypriot religious heritage
In a debate on religious freedom, Theresa Villiers MP, called on the UK Government to work with international partners to protect the Christian cultural heritage which is in jeopardy in the Turkish controlled area in the north of Cyprus. Read more….
Barnet MP speaks up for Hindus attacked for their faith
Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has expressed grave concern about the treatment of Hindu and Christian women in Pakistan. Ms Villiers has a track record going back many years of campaigning for freedom of religion and spoke on this issue in the Westminster Hall debating Chamber in Parliament. 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 Saturday 7th October 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.
