Boarding the Never-Stop Railway
Brent planning officers have taken up the suggestion made by Wembley History Society (see LINK) that there should be a commemoration panel at the site of the Never-Stop railway station that served visitors to the British Empire Exhibition. The site currently used by a skip hire company will become student accommodation known as Wembley Edge if the application is approved tomorrow.
In a Supplementary Report, mainly made up of corrections to the main report, they propose a new condition:
An additional heritage condition is also recommended having considered the Wembley History Society comments referred to above. This should read;
“Prior to commencement (but excluding demolition, site clearance and enabling works) details of the introduction of an illustrated local history panel or plaque shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, in consultation with the Council's Heritage Officer, Brent Museum and Archives and Wembley History Society.
Details of which shall include but is not limited to the following:
· Description of the historical significance of the site and commemorating the British Empire Exhibition history of the development site, including the Exhibition Station, Never-Stop Railway and King's Gate Bridge.
· Identification of a suitable location within the site where the panel can be installed where it can be easily viewed by the general public.
The historical panel or plaque shall thereafter be installed in accordance with the approved details prior to first occupation of the development hereby approved, and thereafter retained throughout the lifetime of the development.
Reason: In the interest of local history.”
Well done Philip Grant.
I should make clear that 'the Wembley History Society comments' referred to in the Supplementary Report were made by me as 'a member of Wembley History Society'.
ReplyDeleteBecause time was short (Planning Officers would not have seen my Sunday comment until Monday, when preparing a Supplementary Report to publish and issue to Committee members on Tuesday) I did not have time to consult Wembley History Society's committee before suggesting a heritage planning condition, should the application be approved.
I have now advised the History Society's Chair of the proposed condition, and hope that the Society and its members will approve of the action I took.
As I am the Society's unofficial "expert" on the history of the British Empire Exhibition, I am likely to be the one dealing with the proposed consultation about the contents of the local history panel on the Society's behalf.