SOLVING THEIR OWN PROBLEMS

Moment of pride for six families

Opposition Leader Mrs Margaret Thatcher came to North Finchley on Saturday to open Tally-Ho Housing Co-operative's first baby, Woodside Lodge, in Finchley Park.

It was a proud moment for the six young families who got together in 1975 to solve the problem of their homelessness.

Their co-operative was registered last year, and the 15-unit development, built by Solon Housing Association, is already almost fully occupied.

Funds for the scheme, which is the first of its kind in Barnet, were provided by the GLC, who were represented on Saturday by the director of Housing Development, Mr Bob Wright, and the chairman of Housing Policy, Councillor George Tremlett.

On her arrival, Mrs Thatcher, dressed in summery blue, was greeted by the Mayor and Mayoress of Barnet, Councillor and Mrs David Burton. She was formally welcomed by Housing Co-operative chairman, Mr James Carrera.

The flats, she said, were a great new venture, of which the co-operative had a special right to be proud

“Some people in life are spectators and some are doers. You are the doers.

“It's no good shunting the buck to Government.

That's no good for Government and that's no good for the people.”

Lesson number one about living in a block of flats, she added, was to get on with one's neighbours.

The MP had always found it “a mystery” why some people in flats did not talk to those living next to them. “You've got to have the gift of the gab,” she joked.

After congratulating all those who had helped to make the development possible, Mrs Thatcher helped plant a silver birch sapling on the front lawn and went on to inspect several of the flats. She was joined on her walkabout by Mr John Hands, director of the Co-operative Housing Agency.

Before leaving the district to attend the athletics championships at Copthall, she drove to meet tenants of Woodhouse Estate at a house in Crescentway, Finchley, and gave an undertaking that housing problems (highlighted recently in this newspaper) would receive swift attention.

After speaking to six householders she said that design problems would be investigated this week by Barnet's assistant director of housing. Mr Richard Sheppard.

She would also be writing to gas and electricity departments, following complaints about pipe delays and faulty wiring.