Brent Greens go into battle again over Adult Gaming Centres as residents locked out of making comments on Silvertime's Wembley Central expansion plans despite tomorrow's consultation deadline!

Silvertime will dominate the Wembley High Road junction with Park Park Lane.Park Lane Primary, Ark Elvin and St Joseph's are all nearby schools .

  

Brent Green Party councillors have lodged objections against a proposed expansion of an Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) on Wembley High Road. These objections have been accepted as valid representations under the Gambling Act 2005 despite the fact that the Brent Green Party do not have Ward Councillors in Wembley Hill.

 

The objections relate to an application by Silvertime Amusements Limited to expand the existing Adult Gaming Centre at 446 High Road into the neighbouring premises at 8 Park Lane, Wembley, a former dry cleaners.

 

The objection, submitted by Cllr Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam and Cllr Najib Warsame, Green Party councillors for Wembley Park, raised concerns about the impact of expanding high-frequency gambling facilities in an area already experiencing significant social and economic challenges. The Licensing Team has confirmed that a hearing will now be arranged to determine whether the licence should be granted.

 

The objection focuses on crime, gambling-related harm, the concentration of gambling premises in the area, and the proximity of the proposed expansion to schools, nurseries and community facilities.

 

Concerns Over Public Access to Application Documents

 

Brent Green Party is also deeply concerned that Brent Council’s licensing portal is currently unavailable due to maintenance.

 

 

The licensing portal is expected to remain unavailable until 1 October, while the deadline for representations on this application is 30 September. This creates a serious risk that local residents may be unable to access and scrutinise the application documents during a crucial stage of the consultation process.

 

Without the opportunity to carefully review the application papers, it becomes almost impossible for residents to engage meaningfully with the licensing process and make informed representations.

 

Call for Extension of Consultation Period

 

Given these circumstances, Brent Green Party is calling on Brent Council extend the consultation period is possible.

 

Residents should have a fair opportunity to review the evidence, understand the implications of the proposal. A consultation period that effectively expires before residents can access the relevant documents risks undermining public engagement and confidence in the licensing system.

 

Alternative Methods for Making Representations

 

While the online portal is unavailable, residents wishing to submit comments or objections should use the alternative contact methods provided by Brent Council.

business.licence@brent.gov.uk

 

Residents are encouraged to ensure that any representation is submitted before the published deadline.

 

Community Members Can Contact Brent Green Party

 

Any resident who wishes to review the application papers but  is unable to access them through the Council’s licensing portal is encouraged to contact Brent Green Party. Councillors and local Green Party members will endeavour to help residents access the relevant documentation and understand the proposals being considered.

 

contact@brent.greenparty.org.uk. 

 

Statement from Cllr Suzanne Gallagher, Brent Green Party:

 

We welcome the decision by Brent’s Licensing Team to accept the objections submitted by Green Party Wembley Park councillors regarding this application.

 

However, we are very concerned that the Council’s licensing  portal is currently unavailable at a time when members of the public should be reviewing the application documents. Public participation is a fundamental part of the licensing process. If residents cannot access the papers, they cannot properly engage with the consultation.

 

We are therefore calling on Brent Council to extend the consultation period ensuring that local people are not disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.

 

Wembley High Road serves communities across Wembley, including Wembley Park, and decisions affecting the area should be subject to full public scrutiny.

 

Consultation opens on the amalgamation of Carlton Vale Infant School and Kilburn Park Foundation School - Public Meetings October 14th 9am and 6.30pm

 Links to the Have Your Say Consultation and to register for the above meetings HERE

 

A significant step takes place today with the launch of the  long-delayed consultation on the amalgamation of Carlton Vale Infant School and the Kilburn  Park Foundation School.

In January 2026  Carlton Value had just 38 pupils, down from 48 the previous year, leading to a budget reduction of £67,319;  while Kilburn Park had 55 pupils, down from 60 the previous year and a budget reduction of £33,309.

The plan is for the new, yet to be named, primary school, to be one form of entry - 30 pupils per age group. Reception to Year 6 would total 210 pupils - compared to a total of 98 presently in the current two schools combined.

However, the separate building project for a new primary school will be built for 210 pupils initially but with capacity for two forms of entry - 420 pupils plus nursery,

In the process The Kilburn Park Foundation School would lose its foundation status and the new school would become a normal local authority community school. 

The Authority has expressed confidence that the regeneration of the South Kilburn estate will yield more pupils in the long run, although there are indications now that the amount of council/social family housing due to be built by the single developer (their appointment may be announced on Friday) will be reduced due to viability issues. Private housing is likely to yield fewer children. Brent Council believe that a brand new state of the art building will attract more pupils from the wider area.

The Council explain: 

The proposal is that Carlton Vale Infant School and The Kilburn Park School Foundation are joined together to form one combined primary school from an agreed date (which could be 18 April 2028). The amalgamated school would initially occupy the site of the existing Kilburn Park School Foundation while a brand-new primary school building is erected on the site of Carlton Vale Infant School as part of the regeneration of the South Kilburn area of Brent. Once the new school building is complete, pupils would move in and the old Kilburn Park School Foundation building will be demolished and the land converted to open parkland for the use of the public.

The amalgamated school would provide 210 places in Reception to Year 6 (30 per year group). This is a reduction to the current capacity of the existing schools and reflects current demand for school places in the area. The new school building is being designed with capacity for an expansion to two forms of entry if there is a significant increase in demand in the future.

The plan to build a new school is separate to this proposal to amalgamate the schools. If agreed, amalgamation would occur before the new building is completed. Further information about this will be communicated to parents and staff at the appropriate time.

 The decline in numbers of pupils reduces the school budget which is allocated per pupil, but there are other budgetary  considerations:

Whilst most income depends on the total number of pupils, Carlton Vale Infant School and The Kilburn Park School Foundation currently also receive individual “lump sums” and sports premium grants. These would reduce on amalgamation with an estimated net cost of c.£169,500 per annum by 2029/30 (the final timescale depending on when amalgamation takes place). The full impact would only be felt two full years after amalgamation and could be at least partially mitigated by cost saving from any new building and through the generation of additional income.

The consultation paper outlines what the council sees as advantages in ethos and potential funding streams but note the tentative nature of the latter.

0. In order to amalgamate the two schools, it is proposed to close one school and expand the age range of the other school. The governing body has indicated a preference for the combined school to be a community school, which is a local authority maintained school. This choice aligns with current government policy, promotes community engagement, and allows for greater autonomy in curriculum development and decision-making. As a community school, the combined school would be able to prioritise social inclusion and offer tailored support for disadvantaged students. 

   As a community school the local authority would continue to support the combined school, which may also have access to additional funding streams and resources, potentially leading to improved facilities and educational opportunities for students. Therefore, it is proposed Carlton Vale Infant School will be expanded and The Kilburn Park School Foundation would close. The new school would then be one Primary School.

The consultation closes on November 8th 2026. The Consultation document should be read in its entirety first and can be downloaded HERE

CARE REFORMS ‘BREATH OF FRESH AIR’ - GMB

From GMB Union

The GMB Union has described talk of care reforms by the Prime Minister as 'a breath of fresh air'.

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said:

It’s a breath of fresh air to hear the Prime Minister discussing sweeping reforms to our creaking care sector.

Successive Governments have refused to grasp the nettle, while GMB has long warned the system is on the brink of collapse.

If we want a care sector worthy of the name, the foundation must be the workers; dedicated, skilled professionals  - usually paid a pittance - who keep the system from crumbling through their dedication.

Fair Pay Agreements are a massive first step, but we need more - proper sick pay, visa reform and career progression - if we want these workers to keep looking after our loved ones in their hour of need.

EARLY WARNING: Fryent Way & Wembley Park road closures for LDNX 2026 10k Run Sunday October 11th

Notice on Fryent Way 

 

On Sunday 11 October 2026, the ASICS LDNX 10K returns to Wembley, welcoming up to 10,000 participants. The stadium area will come alive with music, entertainment and activities for participants and supporters. Road closures will be in place, and we are working with local authorities, TfL and emergency services to minimise disruption and deliver a safe, enjoyable event. We appreciate the support of the local community and thank you for your understanding.

Please note:

• Road closures will be in place from 05:00, with phased reopening between 12:00 - 13:00.
• During closure times, there will be no vehicle or bicycle access on listed roads, and side streets may also be affected. If you need your vehicle, we recommend parking outside the closure area.
• Parking suspensions will be in place on roads marked with an asterisk.
• Advance warning signage for road closures and parking suspensions will be installed along the route two weeks before the event.
• Bus diversions will be in place - please visit TfL to plan your journey.
• Emergency services and pedestrian access will be maintained throughout.

 

 

The route

 Entertainment

 

 

England v Spain Saturday 26th September Road Closures etc

 

Some history talks at Kingsbury Library this autumn

 Guest post by local historian Philip Grant in a personal capacity

 

The opening day at the Co-op store in Kingsbury Road, 1935. (Brent Archives image)

 

Brent Libraries put on a variety of events, for people of all ages, and you can find details of what’s on and book your places at them on their Eventbrite website (“click” here). I’m writing this to let you know about three FREE coffee morning talks, each with a different history theme, which are taking place this autumn at Kingsbury Library. The talks are all from 11am to 12noon (but arrive from 10.45am to collect your free tea or coffee and biscuit), and I’m sure you will enjoy them if you decide to come along. 

 

 

The first of the three talks, taking place on Monday 28 September, is about the 1926 General Strike, which has its centenary this year. This national strike was called by the Trades Union Congress, and former TUC librarian, Christine Coates will explain the events which led to it, what actually happened (including some local examples), and whether anything was gained from this historic industrial action.

 

The second of these free autumn coffee mornings at Kingsbury Library is on Tuesday 13 October, and I will be giving that illustrated talk myself. Kingsbury – a short look at a long history will provide an introduction to the story of this area, from the earliest people known to have lived here, almost 3,000 years ago, to how it has developed over the centuries to become the place we know today.

 

The last, but not least, of the three talks will take place on Thursday 5 November, when Jeremy Waxman, the former Head Teacher at Kingsbury High School, will be giving an illustrated talk on Letters to Miss Baker. She was a teacher at Kingsbury County School (KHS’s predecessor in Princes Avenue), who kept in touch with many former pupils who were serving in the British forces during the Second World War. More than five hundred of the letters she received, from young men and women around the world, were discovered in a cupboard at the school in 2017, and Jeremy’s book about them, and his talk (which I have heard myself and can recommend) give a fascinating insight into those times.

 

 

Kingsbury Library is at 522-524 Kingsbury Road, NW9 9HE, close to Kingsbury Station on the Jubilee Line, and buses 79, 183, 204, 324 and SL10 also stop nearby. And if the recent photograph of the library looks similar to the 1935 Co-op store picture at the top of this piece, there is a good reason for that!

Philip Grant.

School Support Staff pernsion surplus should be used to help the low paid workers themselves - not to fund teachers' pay rise, NEU Response

From the GMB Union 

Surplus in the school support staff pension scheme must be used to help the workers themselves- not to fund the pay rises of teachers, GMB Union has told the Education Secretary. 

In a letter  to Lucy Powell, the union said any 'financial benefit' should 'be used to support the school support staff workforce, including protecting support staff jobs and hours, rather than being diverted exclusively towards meeting the costs of teachers' pay settlements'. 

The Department for Education this week announced a £500 million surplus in the pension fund teaching assistants, catering staff, school caretakers and other workers pay into would be used to fund a pay rise for teachers. 

School support staff are the lowest paid workers in education, with many tied to term time only contracts leaving their annual salary as low as £12,000 per year. 

Stacey Booth, GMB National Officer, said: 

It's shameful money from school support staff pensions is being hoovered up to cover for teachers' pay. 

Teaching assistants, catering staff, caretakers, admins staff and others are the lowest paid people in education – struggling to get by on term time only contracts and poverty pay. 

Any surplus in their pension scheme surely must go to them help ease their lot, not go to better paid colleagues. 

GMB has called on the education secretary to ensure that from now on, any surplus from school support staff pensions must only be used in consultation with them – and used to help make their lives easier.

 From Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the NEU

 

SCHOOL PAY & PENSIONS — A SIMPLE EXPLAINER 

 

There’s been a lot of confusion about the LGPS pension saving, so here’s what has actually happened.

 

What is the LGPS saving? The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) covers many school support staff. Every three years, the scheme is reviewed to work out how much employers need to contribute. Because investment returns have been stronger than expected, employers now need to contribute less. On average, employer contributions have fallen by 4.9 percentage points. 

 

This does NOT reduce the pension support staff will receive when they retire. It changes what the employer has to pay into the scheme. 

 

So what does this have to do with school funding? Lower employer pension contributions mean lower costs for schools. Normally, the Department for Education could take those lower costs into account when calculating how much funding schools need in future. That could mean less additional funding being provided to schools. The government has now said it will not use this particular LGPS saving to reduce next year's funding assessment. 

 

How much money are we talking about? The government has announced: • £700 million in July towards this year's pay awards • £500 million announced in September from the pension saving • The government says these together fully fund this year's 3.5% teacher pay rise • Schools are expected to be £1.6 billion better off next year than expected over the summer. 

 

But there is an important difference This announcement applies to the LGPS saving for support staff. There is also a much larger saving expected from teachers' own pension contributions in April 2027. The government has said that saving will be clawed back through reductions in school funding. 

So: 

LGPS saving for support staff → government says it will NOT claw it back. Teachers' pension saving from April 2027 → government says it WILL claw it back. 

 

The bottom line The issue isn't about taking money out of someone's pension. It's about how the government treats the saving in school funding. For this year's LGPS saving, the government has decided to leave that saving with schools rather than use it to reduce its assessment of future funding needs. That's why the £500 million announcement matters

Plans for new SEND and Primary Study classrooms at Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre now open for comment

 

A little over a year ago I presented a petition to Brent Council, supported by Brent Friends of the Earth and Brent Parks Forum, calling for the continuation of primary environmental education provision at the new Post 16 Centre at the Welsh Harp. LINK 

I am pleased to say that the planning application now on the Brent Council Planning Portal incorporates the recommendations we made.

   

Application Number: 26/2156 LINK

 

Location: Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre & open space, Birchen Grove, London, NW9 8RY Comments by 16^th October 2026

 

“Demolition of all buildings and construction of a one-storey education and community centre, including improvements to access arrangements, provision of car and cycle parking, landscaping, play space, boundary treatments and ancillary works.”

The proposed building is larger  to make space for the SEND and the primary provision with separate classrooms and toilets as we  requested. In order to keep it at single storey it occupies a bigger footprint than currently with the loss of some trees. The current classrooms that has a temoporary repait to allow classes to continue and the toilet block will be demolished. The chapel that was erected as part of a plan for proposed lawn cemetery on the site, but later abandoned will remain. it is currently let out by the council as Planet House,

 Double classrooms in both the SEND and Primary sections of the building

  

Internal Images

 

EXTRACTS FROM PLANNING STATEMENT 

 

The Site is located in the administrative boundary of the London Borough of Brent (LBB).The Site measures 0.3 ha (hectares) in total.

 

The Site is comprised of two existing buildings, the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre, and a W/C block, both accessed off a private road (?), Birchen Grove. Hardstanding for informal car parking is located to the east of the W/C block. Green open space, including trees and grassed areas, are located to the west.

 

   

The Centre is currently used for education and community purposes, providing support for schools via an outdoor learning curriculum, providing experiential facilitated sessions. The Centre is also available for hire by the local community primarily for children’s birthday parties.

 

The Centre is currently owned by Brent Council and operated by Thames 21. Thames 21 is an environmental charity that works to clean and restore rivers and improve wildlife by mobilising volunteers and engaging communities to help adapt to the impacts of climate change. At Welsh Harp, Thames 21 provide a large range of nature activities for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 2 (KS2) students. Currently over 70 schools work with Thames 21, attending the Centre for outdoor learning and activities for either half or a full day. Activities include habitat studies, water pollution studies, Stone Age studies (fire lighting and shelter building), bushcraft activities and understanding the role of nature and waterways in building climate resilience.

 

The Site is located in the Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and designated as Open Space, a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and a local nature reserve in line with the Brent Local Plan

 

Brent Council formally committed to providing a Post-16 Skills Resource Centre in 2019, with approval granted by Cabinet in November 2021 as part of the School Place Planning Strategy 2024- 2028. The post-16 Skills Resource Centre is to be provided in recognition of the lack of in-borough provision for young people with complex learning difficulties, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

 

The Centre will provide access to land-based education and training for students who may have completed school or college programmes, but whose level of need means that they require additional support to access the next step after formal education. The Centre will offer training in horticulture, work experience, periods of volunteering and employment and enterprise development within the horticultural industry.

 

The Centre will be owned and operated by Brent Council. Delivery of the Centre will be developed with partners including environmental organisations, education providers, council services, local employers and community groups. A number of the groups that will utilise the centre have been consulted in the development of the designs and proposals. Together, they will seek to create a joined-up pathway from engagement to skills development, work experience, supported internships and, where appropriate, sustained employment. The introduction of flexible space in the form of the multi-purpose rooms will also provide other community groups and members of the general public to use the centre, with benefit beyond the core user group.

      

To provide a clear strategy and operational plan of the centre, it is proposed to provide an Operation Management Plan once details of delivery have been further developed. As the operational delivery strategy for the centre is still under development, it will be more effective to present the operational details at a later date. The Applicant is willing to accept a suitable planning condition requiring an Operation Management Plan to be submitted to and approved by the Council, prior to the centre’s Occupation.

 

The proposed single-storey development comprises two rectangular blocks in a stepped configuration, containing four classrooms, a multi-purpose room, WCs, reception, office, and plant rooms. The layout provides distinct and separate spaces for different users, with school-aged students located in the southwest section and post-16 SEND students in the northwest section. Administration spaces, including reception and office, are clustered around the reception area to the building interior and the outdoor entrance area, enabling flexible use by school-aged students, post-16 SEND users, or the local community. The design ensures safeguarding between user groups, with shared spaces located centrally while each distinct area has access to dedicated WCs and circulation space.

 

   

Access

 

The Site is accessed from the south of the site via Birchen Grove. It is proposed to keep the existing access road off Birchen Grove that runs adjacent to Planet House to the west. The access road will provide a shared surface entrance to the drop-off area, the accessible car parking bay and main entrance to the centre.

 

A new pathway will be created off Birchen Grove adjacent to the existing zebra crossing which will allow pedestrians to access the site to the school-aged student classrooms through the secure fenceline, or alternatively via the main entrance on the southern elevation. The pathway will also provide access to the cycle parking.

 

Trees

 

A total of 18 trees, in addition to two groups of trees and a hedgerow, have been assessed as part of the accompanying Tree Survey prepared by Arbtech. It states that the majority of trees identified during the survey were of moderate quality.

 

The majority of the trees will be retained as part of the proposals. Three trees are proposed to be removed, in addition to one group of trees and the partial shrub clearance to the north of the site boundary. This is to enable the space required for development to construct the new centre. The layout of the proposals has been designed so as to minimise tree loss as much as possible.

 

Thirteen trees are proposed to be planted across the Site. Five trees will be added to the trees clustered towards the south of the Site adjacent to Birchen Grove (namely T04 and T07) and around the new parking area. The additional planting in this area will help shield the proposed building when viewing the Site from the south along Birchen Grove.