Last Wednesday we joined Sweets Way Resists to deliver our 200,000 strong housing petition at the Barnet Council AGM. Upon arrival we were shocked to find police vans and stacks of metal barricades waiting for us. We tried to join the AGM but were prevented from entering the town hall altogether. No reason was given but security guards and police blocked our entrance. Through the course of the evening it became clear that select invites had gone out and the 'public' filling the galleries had been pre-chosen. Cllr Richard Cornellius, the head of the council offered to accept our petitions but would only see two members from each campaign group (see attached picture). He failed to then present this to the AGM meaning that our petitions went unrecognised and undiscussed by our elected councillors. Our West Hendon petition alone represents the largest petition in the history of Barnet, along with Sweets way, over 200,000 peoples views went unheard and unrecognised that evening. Is this what constitutes democracy and accountability in 2015? Whilst we waited outside the Barnet Town Hall, frustrated and understandably angry and upset Barnet's head of PR came out to advise us that we were unable to enter the building due to 'public disorder' and a 'broken window'. It should go without saying that no windows were harmed in the process of this petition hand in. Shamefully, media portrayals of the evening lack any factual information, backed up by spurious statements made by Barnet PR department and although the BBC scantily covered the event they failed to even mention the presence of Our West Hendon. Inside, the new Mayor said “This is a tremendous honour and I am very much looking forward to meeting lots of Barnet residents, and I do hope that I will be able to encourage and inspire people to get involved in community matters.” Outside those very constituents were doing just that, getting involved in community matters and trying to fight for a better and fairer outcome for their communities whilst inside, the councillors voted in to listen and represent them remained oblivious. We will not give up! We are continually encouraged and inspired by the growing number of housing campaign groups, occupations and individuals that are taking action. Together we are spreading like wildfire across London. We know that it is only a matter of time before we are so large in number that they can no longer choose to ignore us. #homesbeforeprofit #sweetswayresists #ourwesthendon Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/ourwesthendon Like us on FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Our-West-Hendon/1476545849228072?fref=ts