Weekly Update
👮 Edmonton Police Front Counter to Remain Open After Local Campaign
Following my letter to the Met Police Commissioner and the Mayor of London, and further lobbying from the Leader of the Council and other Enfield MPs, I’m pleased to confirm that the Edmonton Front Police Counter will now remain open in some capacity, rather than being closed entirely.
This decision marks an important step in keeping local policing accessible for Enfield residents who still rely on face-to-face support and advice.
The front counter will continue to operate, but with reduced hours: Monday to Friday: 10am – 10pm Weekends: 9am – 7pm
While this outcome isn’t ideal, I welcome the fact that both the Met and the Mayor have listened to local concerns and rethought their original proposal, which would have left Enfield without any police front counter at all.
Having at least one accessible point of contact is vital for residents who need to report issues or seek help in person - and I will continue to fight for fair and equal access to policing across Enfield North.
Our community deserves visible, responsive and community-based policing, and I will keep pressing to make sure local people get the service they need and deserve.
🌳 £1.5 Million for Enfield to Upgrade High Streets, Parks, Play Areas and Public Spaces
I’m delighted that Enfield has been awarded £1.5 million from the Government’s new Pride in Place programme - a landmark £5 billion national fund designed to help communities revive their high streets, parks and public spaces.
This funding will support new green spaces, play areas, and sports and leisure facilities across Enfield - giving residents more places to enjoy, relax and come together.
The Pride in Place programme is about backing local people to lead the renewal of their own neighbourhoods. Across the country, communities will have new powers to reclaim disused shops, protect valued community assets, and improve shared spaces.
For Enfield, this investment means greener, safer and more welcoming public areas that reflect the pride residents have in where they live.
The £5 billion Pride in Place programme is part of the Government’s Plan for Change, and Enfield’s £1.5 million award is a major boost for local pride and neighbourhood renewal - helping to create spaces in our borough that everyone can be proud of.
🏘️ Labour Government Boosts Support to Tackle Homelessness and Rough Sleeping
This week, the Labour Government announced an £84 million funding boost to help councils prevent homelessness and support families this winter - putting compassion and action at the heart of its plan to tackle rough sleeping.
Enfield’s allocation includes £344,537 to support children experiencing homelessness and a £25,502 grant for rough sleeping and alcohol treatment.
Children are always the most vulnerable when a family loses their home, so this support will make a real difference. It’s about giving people stability, helping families get back on their feet, and preventing anyone from having to sleep rough in the first place.
I’ll be working closely with Enfield Council and local charities to make sure the funding reaches those who need it most and strengthens the safety net for vulnerable residents right across our community.
⚙️ Enfield North Innovation: My Visit to Johnson Matthey in Brimsdown
I recently had a fascinating visit to Johnson Matthey in Brimsdown - a true UK success story with over 200 years of innovation and almost a century of history right here in Enfield North.
Johnson Matthey is leading the way in clean energy and sustainable technology, from developing cutting-edge hydrogen solutions to recycling precious metals with a carbon footprint that’s 97% lower than traditional methods.
The company’s work is a shining example of how British science and manufacturing can help deliver the transition to net zero, while creating high-skilled, well-paid jobs both locally and across the UK.
I’m hugely grateful to the team at Johnson Matthey for hosting me and for their continued investment in Enfield North, which plays a vital role in keeping Britain at the forefront of global innovation.
🏡 Crews Hill and Chase Park New Town Proposals
Thank you to everyone who has written to me about the potential new town at Crews Hill and Chase Park. I know there’s been concern and speculation, so I want to set out clearly what we know - and what we don’t.
Nothing has been agreed.
At this stage, no final decision has been made.
The government’s New Towns Taskforce report identifies potential for up to 21,000 homes in the Crews Hill and Chase Park area - with ambitions for 50% to be affordable and up to 6,000 to be council homes.
However, these figures are purely indicative. The proposals remain subject to detailed assessment by government, and further work with Enfield Council, the Greater London Authority, Homes England, and other partners and statutory bodies.
A formal public consultation has not yet started. It is expected to begin in spring 2026, once the government confirms its proposed new town locations.
Why This Matters
A warm, safe home is one of life’s most basic needs. Across Enfield, 7,000 families are on the Council’s housing waiting list, and around 400 households every month approach the Council for advice on homelessness.
Each week I meet residents who are homeless, living in overcrowded or unsafe conditions, or struggling to afford a home of their own. Others tell me they’re delaying starting a family because housing costs are simply too high.
That’s why I was proud to stand on a Labour manifesto promising the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation - a plan to deliver 1.5 million new homes, with bold reforms to the planning system to make it possible.
The Local Picture
Projects like Meridian Water are already transforming parts of our borough, bringing new homes, jobs, and infrastructure. But even that 25-year programme isn’t enough to meet the scale of current demand.
Any proposal for a new town at Crews Hill and Chase Park must therefore be handled with care - balancing the urgent need for homes with environmental protection, good design, and proper infrastructure such as transport, water, and power.
Protecting Our Green Belt and Shaping the Future
The potential impact on the Green Belt will form a key part of the consultation. I will urge residents to take part in every stage so that local voices shape any plans from the outset, and I will also do everything I can to ensure residents are fully informed, involved, and heard - before any provisional or statutory decisions are made.
There will be many opportunities to engage, and Enfield Council will remain central to the process.
The government is expected to announce final new town locations and funding in spring 2026, and you can read more about the Crews Hill and Chase Park proposals on page 37 of the government’s New Towns Taskforce Report.
I hope you have a good week!
Best wishes,
Feryal