In our latest councillor’s column, Conservative Pat Gregory explains what issues she’s been addressing in her ward

Pat Gregory has been a Conservative councillor for Bush Hill Park since 2022

After spending eleven years as a district and town councillor and also mayor of St Neots in Cambridgeshire, after moving down to Enfield I decided three years ago to stand as a councillor again, this time in Bush Hill Park.

As a people person, I work very hard helping residents here, as there are many issues that need addressing – whether it’s a broken bin which needs replacing, or major issues regarding potholes, rubbish collections, and keeping the area clean and a wonderful place to live in.

Unfortunately Labour-run Enfield Council has spent money in an unwise way, with the civic centre’s high borrowing leading to high interest repayments, so there is now not enough money to pay for things that need fixing. This is very frustrating for the Conservative councillors, whose ideas and demands are overruled on many areas of public interest.

I belong to Bury Road West Community Church, which has a wonderful service at 10.30am every Sunday, and my faith has helped me overcome many hardships in my life [including being burgled last year, as reported by the Dispatch in Issue 73] which in turn gives me empathy with the many problems that local people have.

The illegal and dangerous parking on pavements in Bush Hill Parade have caused the flags outside shops to be continually broken and replaced. We have asked the council to install bollards here to prevent this behaviour and our demands have again fallen on deaf ears, but we do at least now see enforcement officers visiting regularly.

I continue to work with my ward colleagues, James Hockney and Peter Fallart, to make sure that Bush Hill Park is one area that people love to live in.

Bury Lodge Wetlands is an interesting place to take children to learn about nature and I continue to walk there every week to make sure the council is emptying the bin there, which is constantly overflowing.

Bury Lodge Gardens, meanwhile, with its play area and lovely rose beds and seating, is another great place to visit and is looked after by Mick and the other ‘friends’ who volunteer every Wednesday morning to keep the place looking good. They are always looking for others to help volunteer and anyone can just turn up to get involved.

The toilets at the park there have had many issues, and we are constantly requesting for them to be deep cleaned, but the council says it doesn’t have enough money to refurbish them which is badly needed, but we will continue to hold the council accountable on it.

Speeding problems in the 20mph zone are still an issue, with new signs being implemented soon, and the skatepark on the A10 is well used but also needs to have toilets installed and we will continue to push for this.

We continue to oppose a proposed new bus lane in Church Road which the council had been thinking of introducing, with concerns around the road width and safety issues.

The new Bury Street West housing development at Sayersbury Way now has full occupancy and we are looking to help the new local residents there with any issues they may have.

Every week we are out and about and intend to call on residents throughout the ward but if anyone needs to contact me, please feel free to do so.

Pat Gregory is a councillor for Bush Hill Park alongside James Hockney and Peter Fallart (all Conservative). To get in touch:
Call 020 8132 0527
Email [email protected]

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