I am a resident living near the tube station and local library in Burnt Oak, Edgware, England. The development of our area is personal to me and many others who call this place home. It is time that our voices are heard when it comes to shaping the future of our community.

Burnt Oak was built by London County Council 100 years ago to give a more healthy environment to the urban poor and was made a conservation area with garden city principles that should be preserved and enhanced through thoughtful development. Many of the homes are made from experimental materials and are low-rise in keeping with the landscape, a mixture of 1, 2 and 3-bed homes built to Parker Morris Standards.  However, recent cuts in maintenance and slow development of new council homes combined with a neglect of the West of the Borough by the previous administration, has made the area ripe for top-down planning decisions that do not relate to the people's priorities of access to green space, better transport through the high street, tackling antisocial behaviour, and giving the community a say. This approach risks eroding the very essence of what makes Burnt Oak special: its community.

We believe that involving local residents in decision-making processes will lead to more sustainable, inclusive and beneficial outcomes for everyone. After all, we are the ones who live here day-to-day; we understand the needs of our community best.  That will make our suburb a model for community engagement.

Therefore, we call on the London Borough of Barnet to ensure that any future developments within Burnt Oak provide ample opportunities for residents' involvement. We want a say in how our area is built - because this isn't just about bricks and mortar; it's about preserving our shared heritage while creating a vibrant future for generations to come.

Please sign this petition if you believe in giving power back to communities like ours when it comes to shaping their own neighbourhoods.