Meeting with local residents, Matthew was concerned to see the state of an open piece of land in Burnt Oak, used by residents of the North End Road estate. The estate is connected by a cut- through from Burnt Oak Fields to the Watling Market Car Park site. For many local residents using the passage is not a problem but the amount of rubbish is.
At a recent meeting with the Environment Agency Matthew sought an assurance that rubbish would be cleared along the Silkstream. However, the Environment Agency will only undertake rubbish clearance if the refuse was a possible flooding obstruction. Matthew has written to Barnet Council urging them to use the Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (2005) to insist that the Environment Agency clean up the river bank.
Matthew said “At this location there is rubbish everywhere and also a tree that is restricting the flow of water. As such the EA need to clear this location as a priority. In addition to that at Burnt Oak Fields itself the grass is littered with glass and bottles. This is an area where people exercise their dogs and is having a really negative impact locally. I will also be seeking that Barnet Council clean up this piece of land of behalf of local residents.”
Photo: Matthew is pictured at Burnt Oak Fields with North End Road Community Centre co-ordinator Angela Moore and North End Road Community Chair Elizabeth Chambers