Dear Supporters, A lot has been going on behind the scenes in the run-up to the Mayoral and London Assembly elections. But more on that shortly...... First, I need to ask all residents and supporters to spread an important message. Too many people think that Fairview’s withdrawal from the proposed development means that the fields on Enfield Road are safe. That is unfortunately far from the truth. Please forward this email, post the message on Facebook, Tweet, ask your children to use their social media skills or just talk to your friends and family about it, because the fields are still very much under threat! Here’s why: • Wren Enfield Academy is still focusing all its efforts on these fields being its primary site for their new school and continues to state that the land is available for development. We are very concerned that the Government’s Education Funding Agency (which is responsible for finding a site) will purchase this land. • Enfield Council’s Green Belt Boundary review will start very soon and we are sure that some sites will be targeted to take away their Green Belt ‘protected’ status, including the Enfield Road fields. • Fairview has categorically denied us access to the fields for independent ecological and other surveys. What are they hiding? • The London Diocesan Board for Schools continues to show disregard for the impact of the proposed new school on the community. How far will they go to get their own way? With all that in mind, Enfield RoadWatch has been contacting Mayoral candidates for a specific commitment to prohibit the use of the ‘very special circumstances’ test to release protected land [Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land] for school buildings. These candidates have a powerful voice in the planning process and what happens on Green Belt land. Without wishing to influence anyone’s vote in the forthcoming elections, we thought it was important for you to see their responses: Zac Goldsmith [Conservative] - We received an individual response in which he states: “It is up to the boroughs to decide what ‘special circumstances’ are, and this discretion has allowed for increasing encroachment on irreplaceable green space…..As Mayor, I will issue new planning guidance, making it unambiguously clear that protected means protected.” We also heard from Conservative Assembly candidate Linda Kelly, who stated: “Please be aware I support Zac's commitment to protect the Green Belt and will support him in all his efforts and fight for the constituents in Enfield should anyone try to develop it, without 100% consent of the Constituents of Enfield”. Sadiq Kahn [Labour] - We have not as yet received a response but his manifesto says he will protect the Green Belt. He recently visited Sutton and Bexley where the councils plan to de-designate protected land and he proclaimed the idea a disgrace. Caroline Pidgeon [Liberal Democrat] - We received an individual response from Ms. Pidgeon who stated: “I agree with you that the Green Belt should be protected. There are enough brown field sites to build new schools if it's not possible to provide sufficient places through the expansion of current schools. As you say, schools should not be permitted to circumvent planning controls”. We also heard from Liberal Democrat Assembly candidate, Nicholas da Costa, who stated that they consider school building on greenspace a last resort: “If current expansion or brownfield sites are not an option, and Green Belt development is considered the only option available, then this must be done sensibly; with full consultation of all stakeholders and consideration of the impact on the Local Plan.” Sian Berry [Green Party] - We have not as yet received a response from Sian Berry, but Assembly candidate Caroline Russell replied: “If I am elected as a member of the London Assembly I will certainly resist all attempts to build on the Green Belt and other protected land; whoever may be behind them. There is plenty of land in London that can be used before we have to even consider building on the Green Belt.” We are also supported by our local Green Party, with David Flint saying that “the current situation in which a private property developer has, in effect, decided that public money should be spent on a new church school is absurd and indefensible.” The candidates’ responses can be seen in their entirety on the Enfield RoadWatch website at: http://enfieldroadwatch.co.uk/uncategorized/april-update/ Our local MPs have also been helping our campaign: • Joan Ryan has written to Fairview and the Diocese to lend her authority to our request for access to the fields. • David Burrowes has written to the Secretary of State asking him to issue a statement, similar to the one he issued about housing, clarifying that the need for new school places cannot be deemed to be more important than Green Belt protection. We appreciate their support and will post any responses we receive. Other work is also under way and we will report on that in the next update. If you know of anyone that can offer specialist help (planning, road traffic surveys, ecology) or if you have time to deliver leaflets for us, then please contact us at enfieldroadwatch@googlemail.co.uk Please let us know if these updates are helpful or if we could communicate in more effective ways. We will be back in touch soon. Thank you again for your continued support Together we are stronger! Kind Regards Ian D’Souza Enfield RoadWatch E: enfieldroadwatch@googlemail.co.uk W: www.enfieldroadwatch.co.uk Twitter: @Save_Green_Belt FB: www.facebook.com/enfieldroadwatch