BUSHEY RESIDENTS START PETITION AGAINST ERUV

A group of people in Bushey opposed to the introduction of an eruv in the town have started an online petition. The Bushey Residents Group (BRG) hope that, if enough people sign the petition, Herts County Council will not grant a licence for the Jewish religious boundary and say local people were not properly consulted on the proposal. After an application for an Eruv was submitted last July, a public meeting was arranged for August but the United Synagogue, who were behind the application, said they were still going to proceed despite local opposition. Hertsmere Borough Council approved the application shortly after. The BRG say they believe there is no real need for an eruv as over 99 per cent of residents in the town would not benefit. They claim it discriminates against vulnerable members of the Jewish community and claim the eruv “appears to provide a mechanism by which the makeup and balance of the Bushey community is to be manipulated.” Finally the BRG claim local councillors were not able to express their concern at the proposal at the meeting when the application was first passed as the meeting was too prescriptive.” To read more about the BRG campaign and to sign the petition, go to http://busheyresidentsgroup.wordpress.com/ Meanwhile Stephen Roston, chairman of the synagogue, said he is happy to meet individuals about the plans. He said: “I repeat I am more than willing to have private meetings to discuss any questions on the eruv, but the synagogue will not enter a media war.  We are part of a wonderful community and the emails we have now received from the majority of people, including civic and church leaders, who came to the synagogue on May 8 has shown us the positive atmosphere achieved in a friendly open gathering. “Although there are people who are scaremongering and we are aware that some of our opponents have used racist language, we are sure that our friends are more representative of the Bushey community.”