Weekly Round-Up

This week we saw further proof of this Government’s shameful record on protecting rape victims, with 98.4% of reported rape cases resulting in no charges.

It is the first duty of Government to keep citizens safe and following the tragic case of Sarah Everard earlier this year, that duty has never been more pressing.

The Government have failed in that duty, and it has failed victims of rape on every front by pushing the justice system to the brink of collapse through a decade of cuts to police, courts and the CPS.

The Government’s review of rape convictions was a real opportunity to improve the criminal justice system for victims of rape, and it has missed that opportunity.

There is a real lack of urgency in the timescales put forward for a lot of the proposals, and lack of reference to how implementation of any recommendations would be resourced.

The Government should urgently introduce Labour's root and branch reforms to support rape victims as set out in our Green Paper for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls instead of piecemeal pilots and tinkering that will not do enough to fix the government’s failure to support rape victims.

I’ve questioned the Home Secretary to see what her department has been doing to improve investigations of rape allegations (https://bit.ly/RapeConvictionsPQ) and will continue to do everything I can to fight for justice for rape victims.

The Tories’ “Developer’s Charter”

This week’s Opposition Day debate on Planning saw Labour take the Tories to task on their shameful pursuit of a “Developer’s Charter”, new planning legislation which would see powers stripped away from local communities and given to wealthy developers who are increasingly bankrolling the Conservative Party.

These changes will lead to local people no longer having the ability to formally object to inappropriate developments in their own street or neighbourhood with participation limited to consultation on the area’s local plan every few years.

Here in Enfield, we have seen how wealthy developers will happily ride rough shod over our communities, throwing aside our heritage and tradition.

With developments such as the one proposed to replace the Palace Gardens & Exchange Shopping Centre, which includes a 26-story building and zero affordable homes, the power of communities to speak up and make their voices heard is vital for ensuring the needs of residents and businesses are at the heart of planning decisions.

You can read my thoughts in full here: https://bit.ly/DevelopersCharter


Southbury Road Gambling Centre Rejected

I was delighted to see this week that Enfield Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee have rejected the application for an Adult Gaming Centre on Southbury Road, and I want to thank all the residents who joined with me in voicing their objections.

We know these venues drive up anti-social behaviour, show a lack of care and responsibility to neighbours, encourage crime, and only serve to compound problems for those suffering from financial difficulties and addictions.

Gambling venues pray on the vulnerable, and the provision of yet another in our town centre will draw in ever more people who struggle with addiction of all sorts and turn to gambling as a solution, causing severe personal difficulty, as well as the additional anti-social behaviour and crime such issues can generate.

I will continue to join with residents and vigorously oppose any such venues opening in our community.

Chase Farm Development

This week I received a response from the Department for Education, the owners of the Chase Farm Development site, regarding the ongoing issues around transport infrastructure at the site that several local residents have voiced with me.

The DfE’s proposals seek to deliver two new schools and up to 362 new homes which will lead to an increase of over 2,500 residents and school children in the area.

This does not include the number of school staff who will also travel to and from the area. In line with the increase in the number of residents, pupils and staff in the area, the development will lead to an increased demand for public transport in the area.

I remain concerned that not enough consideration has been made of how transport infrastructure at the site needs to be developed to cope with the development, and I will continue to press for the best outcome for residents.

You can view the Minister’s response here: https://bit.ly/ChaseFarmResponse

Enfield Council’s Local Plan Consultation

This week saw Enfield Council opened consultation on their Local Plan, which sets out key growth and development plans for our community.

This document will be critical in shaping the future of our borough, so it’s vital that local residents make their voices heard.

The consultation is open here, and residents have until the 13th of September to share their views: Let's Talk: Enfield Local Plan | Let's Talk Enfield.