250 people plus attend Mill Hill Residents Association Open Meeting

A wet and windy evening in Mill Hill and the committee of the newly reformed Mill Hill Resident’s Association were unsure about just how many people would turn up at their inaugural open meeting at St Pauls’ School on the Ridgeway on Tuesday 29^th January. Leaflets had been distributed and Chairman Richard Logue spent two hours on Saturday speaking to people at Waitrose supermarket, trying to garner support for the meeting, yet still the committee was slightly unprepared and very pleasantly overwhelmed by the numbers who showed up in force to hear about the Association’s plans and to air their own views and issues.

The Mill Hill Resident’s Association was first established in 1909 and served the community in an effort to help the area retain much of the charm and heritage that still exists today. Longstanding Chairlady Joan Ellis recently retired from her very active role as head of the association and has taken on the role of President, handing the baton of chairmanship to Hammers Lane resident Richard Logue. The Association has identified certain key areas for concern including specific issues such as the unpopular pay by phone parking system, the chaotic Mill Hill Circus road works, parking problems on Saracens match days, the future of Mill Hill Fire Station and the redevelopment of Inglis Barracks, together with general issues such as crime and anti-social behaviour and public transport. There were presented to an attentive audience which squeezed in to the school hall, where there was standing room only. 

Councillors John Hart and Suri Khatri were both in attendance, as were residents representing all areas of Mill Hill. During an open floor session residents expressed their concerns for the erosion of our greenbelt, for the lack of public transport to Barnet Hospital and the lack of disabled access at Mill Hill Broadway Station, not to mention the difficulty getting up two flights of stairs for the elderly and those with heavy suitcases. Other issues included concern over the ongoing uncertainty at Belmont Farm, ......

One lady suggested that the Association might also like to focus on the positive aspect of uniting the community and creating a network where we can help each other and try to be more community spirited. This was met with much approval by the committee and the room in general. Commenting on the extraordinary success of the meeting, Chairman Richard Logue said: “I think it is very significant that 250 people care sufficiently enough about Mill Hill to come out on such a dreadful night to attend this meeting and contribute to what was a very positive event. I am absolutely delighted with how the meeting went and the committee and I very much look forward to following up on the suggestions and actions we have taken away from it.”

At the end of the evening the committee received over 50 household membership applications. Annual membership has been set at £10 per household or £5 per household for over 65s.

The Association welcomes the views and concerns of residents and anyone with issues they would like explored by the Association should address them by email to: millhillresidents@gmail.com or visit the website at www.millhillresidents.org.uk

For further information please contact: Richard Logue on 07771 507325

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This blog is a press  release from the Mill Hill Residents Association