Saturday, 09 February 2019 08:49

Barnet Beyond Brexit

Written by
For our spring public forum, the Barnet Society has arranged for an expert panel to answer questions of local interest on key issues such as the future of education and training, prospects for local employment, plans for new housing and future safeguards for the Green Belt.

Join us for Barnet Beyond Brexit on Thursday 7 March at Christ Church, St Albans Road, Barnet, from 6:45-9:00pm. Admission is free.

Our line-up includes two head teachers, speakers with specialist knowledge of housing, planning, the environment and employment, together with the Chipping Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers.

Questions about local schooling and the future direction of education will be answered by Violet Walker, head teacher of Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School since 2015, and Chris Fairbairn, who was appointed Principal of Totteridge Academy in 2016.

We hope representatives of local traders and businesses will join the discussion on youth employment and future job prospects.

Among those attending will be Bob Burstow, secretary of the Chipping Barnet Town Team, who has had a career in education and training, and who last year instigated Barnet’s Teenage Market.

Our two experts on housing, planning and the environment are Ross Houston, Barnet Council’s Labour spokesperson on housing, and Richard Knox-Johnston, chair of the London Green Belt Council.

Mr Houston, who represents West Finchley, has had a considerable experience of housing management and is a Council member of Barnet Homes. Mr Knox-Johnston is a long-standing member of the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

It will be a timely opportunity to discuss Mayor of London’s London Plan and Barnet’s draft Local Plan, due out in February, which could significantly increase housing densities in our neighbourhood and will set out the Council’s latest employment policies.

As MP for Chipping Barnet, Theresa Villiers will be asked for her response as the various issues are discussed – and her many interests include the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for London’s Green Belt, of which she is treasurer.    

We intend to allow ample time for our sessions on education, training and employment, and housing and the environment, while ensuring an opportunity for debate and for our speakers to round up our discussion.

We would welcome as many questions in advance, via email please to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by post to Robin Bishop, Chair of the Barnet Society, 46 Fitzjohn Avenue, Barnet, Herts EN5 2HW

Please arrive in good time as light refreshments will be available from 6.30pm.

We will carry a full report of the proceedings on the Barnet Society’s website  www.barnetsociety.org.uk where further comments can be made.

3 comments

  • Comment Link Sunday, 10 February 2019 18:38 posted by Barnet Gremlin

    I notice the image of the union flag in the headline illustration, is shown upside-down, - a symbol of distress!

    Report
  • Comment Link Thursday, 28 February 2019 17:40 posted by Jan

    I notice MP Theresa Villiers is mentioned here while it promises an expert panel. Surely somebody who lied to us about ‘taking back control’ and 300 mln for the NHS cannot be called an expert.

    Report
  • Comment Link Thursday, 28 February 2019 18:43 posted by Robin Bishop

    Your strong feelings are understandable, Jan - but please don't use the Barnet Society website for personal abuse. Thanks.

    Report

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published
All comments are moderated so there is a delay before you see them on the site
The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Barnet Society