'Betrayed' staff mount massive picket at The Village School in Kingsbury

The Village School in Kingsbury this moarning saw one of the biggest Brent picket lines for many a year.

The staff of the school that was academised against their wishes, have recently experienced what academisation means when high-handed management took unilateral action without any consultation - despite the fact that consultation over conditions of service was one of the undertakings made at the time.

 

 

One member of staff remarked about the betrayal of trust and said, 'Jenny warned us about this when we were fighting academisation - and now it has happened.'

The imposed changes will result in pay cuts for staff needing hospital appointments, ante-natal appointments and carer' leave. Attempts to negotiate failed so the NEU called a strike of staff for today and the school was shut to pupils.

If the Trust that runs the school does not shift its position there will be two days of strikes, Wednesday and Thursday, after half-term. 

The mood of the strikers was good natured, positive and very, very determined and the sense of community palpable.

 

East Lane gas works delay: Cadent say that the gas main they are trying to locate is 'not where it was supposed to be'

 

It appears that a farce has been running in East Lane and it wasn't put on by the threatened East Lane Theatre! Instead it was a farce produced by Cadent Gas and not really for the benefit of local people.

Reflecting local concerns Cllr Paul Lorber asked about the lack of progress in the works taking place on East Lane that have result in traffic congestion and much frustration.

Responding to Lorber's member's enquiry a Brent officer said:

With regards to your enquiry regarding the ongoing gas works on East Lane. I have spoken to Cadent Gas regarding these works. They have found that the gas main they are trying to locate is not where it was supposed to be. They have been trying to locate it without much success. 

 

The plan is to now backfill and reinstate East Lane and re-programme the works during the school holidays to reduce the congestion. I have requested that the lights are removed as soon as possible as it is causing congestion and the works are not going to be progressed at this location.

Perhaps gas main diviners or  detectorists may be able to help.

 

Some Home Truths About the South Kilburn Regeneration for Brent Council and Developers to Ponder

 

Pete Firmin, South Kilburn resident and chair of a residents' and tenants' association, spoke at Kilburn Connects online meeting tonight about the poor quality of new housing on the estate, the dire amount of social housing and the experience of living though a regeneration that will not be completed until 2041.

Met Police and Brent Council hold public meeting for residents after recent serious incidents. Kingsbury Mandir Friday 6pm-8pm

 

 

Brent Council and the Metropolitan Police would like to invite you to a public meeting to discuss the recent serious incidents in Kingsbury. This will be an opportunity for the community to share their views and concerns with Brent Council and the Police. We will share information on how we are working to reduce violence.

 

NEU members at The Village special school in Kingsbury to strike tomorrow after paid leave cut

 

The Village School, Kingsbury

 

From Brent National Education Union

 

NEU members at The Village School, Brent- part of the Compass Learning Partnership academy trust- walk out tomorrow, angry that they have lost pay protections for pregnant and disabled staff among others

 

Teachers and support staff at the school have reached out to the Trustees to try to resolve and issue that began last year when a school policy was changed without consultation and resulted in pay cuts for staff needing hospital appointments, ante-natal appointments and carers’ leave. Trustees have acted against their own processes by not negotiating with unions and staff have been left out of pocket.

 

Over 100 members of the NEU will be on strike tomorrow and the school will be closed to all pupils. Pupils at the school have a range of complex needs, disabilities and autism.

 

Jenny Cooper of the NEU national executive, who also teachers at the school, has stated:

 

We have reached out to the trust multiple times to try to resolve this issue- the last thing we wanted was to strike- but they are not engaging with us. The Trust has four executives on salaries over £100000 but refuse to pay our frontline staff when they need to attend vital appointments. The school cannot operate without us; they will need to negotiate sooner or later

.

 

Petition launched supporting historic listing of Bridge Park: 'A landmark of grassroots self-determination, and a vital part of Brent’s-and Britain’s-story'.

 Bridge Park Community Centre entrance

 

The Harlesden People’s Community Council (HPCC) has submitted an application to Historic England to grant Bridge Park listed status (Ref: 1493686). In support of this a petition has been launched calling for the protection and formal listing of Bridge Park Community Centre—a place of deep historical, architectural, and social significance in our borough.

 

Bridge Park is Europe’s first Black-led community enterprise centre, created in the early 1980s by young people from Harlesden and Stonebridge at a time of widespread racial tension and economic hardship. They transformed a disused bus depot into a thriving hub for training, culture, sport, and childcare. It’s a landmark of grassroots self-determination, and a vital part of Brent’s-and Britain’s-story.

 

This is the petition:  

 

We are calling on Historic England and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to grant listed status to Bridge Park Community Centre (Application Ref: 1493686) to protect its historic and architectural significance and ensure its legacy is preserved for future generations.

 

Why is this important?

 

Bridge Park isn’t just part of Brent’s story—it’s part of Britain’s.

We, the undersigned residents and supporters of North West London, write to express our collective support for the listing of Bridge Park Community Centre (formerly Stonebridge Bus Depot) as a site of national historic and architectural significance.

Bridge Park is far more than a building. It is a powerful living testament to what can be achieved when communities are given the freedom to lead, build, and transform the environment around them. Born out of the Harlesden People’s Community Council (HPCC) in the early 1980s, Bridge Park is Europe’s largest Black-led community enterprise centre, developed in direct response to the 1981 uprisings. At a time of intense racial tension, poverty, and social unrest, a group of young Black Londoners took ownership of a disused bus garage and turned it into a centre for training, sports, cultural activity, and childcare—a model of hope and healing when it was most needed.

1. Historic Significance
   Bridge Park was a radical, community-led response to structural inequality. It reflects the lived experience of marginalised urban youth and the strength of grassroots leadership. The project stands as a rare example of sustained Black civic enterprise and self-determination, directly recognised by the (then) Prince of Wales in 1988, who called it “one of the most important developments I have seen in this country for a long time.”
   
   It offers a vital counternarrative to the dominant histories of decline and disorder. It shows a people-led vision of Britain’s urban and multicultural future.
2. Architectural Significance
   Bridge Park is a pioneering example of adaptive reuse. A former bus depot reimagined by local people into a multi-purpose civic space. Its design directly reflects the values and needs of the community that shaped it. It is a monument to democratic architecture—where vision was born from lived experience, and the building’s function served real social purpose.
3. Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality
   Listing Bridge Park would demonstrate Historic England’s commitment to its Strategy for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality, especially Action 2: recognising more representative and diverse heritage. It would protect not just bricks and mortar, but the memory of a movement that redefined public space, ownership, and community agency—especially for those too often excluded from the official record.
4. A Call to Honour Our Shared Heritage
   Bridge Park’s story is not only Black history or Brent history—it is British history. A national story of resilience, creativity, and pride. To deny its listing would be to erase a critical chapter in the story of modern Britain. To grant it would be a courageous act of historical justice.

We respectfully call on Historic England and the Secretary of State to:

• Grant listed status to Bridge Park under application reference 1493686;
• Recognise its special historic and architectural interest;
• Acknowledge its critical role in shaping inclusive national heritage.

Bridge Park must be protected—not just for what it is, but for everything it represents.

 

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Long weekend of Wembley Stadium events coming up - road closures, parking restrictions and bus route disruption

 From Brent Council

 

Wembley Stadium will be hosting the following football play-off finals on below dates:

- Championship Play-Off Final on Saturday 24 May.

- Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final on Sunday 25 May.

- League Two Play-Off Final on Monday 26 May 2025.

Please read below to see how this might affect you:

Timings

· Championship Play-Off Final on Saturday 24 May Kick off is at 3.00pm and road closures will be in place from 11am.

· Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final on Sunday 25 May Kick off is at 1.00pm and road closures will be in place from 9am.

· League Two Play-Off Final on Monday 26 May 2025 Kick off is at 3pm and road closures will be in place from 11am.

We expect the area around Wembley Stadium to be very busy before and after this event so please avoid the area if you can unless you have a ticket.

Join the Golden Memories Dementia Cafe at The Grange, Neasden Lane, for fun activities - every Wednesday 12-2pm

 

Brent Cabinet approves recommendations on statutory process to consult on Islamia Primary move to Brentfield Road site.

A report to Brent Cabinet this morning set out the statutory consultation process that the Governing Board of Islamia Primary School would need to follow to undertake consultation on a proposal to relocate to the Gwenneth Rickus site in 2027.

Officers recommended that Cabinet:

·      notes the historical context and background set out in this report.

·      notes that the Yusuf Islam Foundation (YIF) has issued eviction notices to its Voluntary Aided Islamia Primary School and that the future options for the school are for the school to either relocate or close.

·      notes the proposal to relocate Islamia Primary School to the Gwenneth Rickus site as a 2FE school, subject to statutory consultation.

·      notes that the Governing Board would be responsible for making this proposal through statutory consultation, with Cabinet the final decision-maker.

·      notes that if the school relocated to the Gwenneth Rickus site, the site could be transferred into the name of the YIF, who would be required to hold the site for the benefit of the Islamia Primary School. Further details in terms of ownership would be set out in a Trust Deed. This would ensure that the primary school would be protected from eviction in future.

The proposed site in Brentfield Road, near the Swaminarayan Mandir, is currently occupied by Leopold Primary School, which is based on two sites, Harlesden and Brentfield Road. The latter is due to close with all children to be accommodated on the Harlesden site. Previously the site was used by Brent Teachers Centre and before that, Sladebrook School.

As set out above, the site would no longer belong to Brent Council.

Cllr Gwen Grahl, Lead Member, said the proposal was the only alternative to closure for this popular and effective school. It was a 'realistic and viable' option that would protect the school from eviction threats.

The school's sibling policy and borough wide catchment would remain in place.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, said that since he began as a councillor in 2006, there had been issues with Islamia because it existed on two sites with pupils having to cross a busy road during the school day, 'Now they will have a place that they can call home.'

 A legal paper on the proposal was withheld from publication.

The Cabinet Paper is available HERE

Cabinet agree £5m towards step free access and other improvements at Alperton Station. Lib Dems claim campaigning success.

Brent Cabinet this morning agreed a £5m payment towards the cost of step free access to to Alperton Station,  mainly funded by Transport for London.  The proposals are for lifts to the platforms rather than bringing the hidden escalator back into use. Other improvements include the toilets. The proposal will involve the loss of the barber shop at on the left of the station forecourt.

The Cabinet were told that the improvements were necessary because of the new building in the Alperton Growth Area  increasing the densification of the area. Cllr Muhammed Butt claimed this was a good use of Strategic CIL contributed by developers to improve infrastucture in areas of development..

The Cabinet Report gives details:

The station has a disused escalator currently hidden from view which accesses the main ticket hall and formerly served the east bound platform. TfL is proposing to use this space to provide one of the platform lifts. Additional space made available on the east bound platform will include some updated waiting facilities.

Delivery of the lift for the west bound platform is more complicated, due to the limited public access only currently provided from the main ticket hall under the underground lines. This, which provides access to the stairs, cannot be modified to incorporate access to a lift. Creating an additional adjacent tunnel under the lines will be prohibitively expensive due to the made ground nature of the structure above. It would also be very disruptive possibly requiring line or station closure. So, TfL will instead use a tunnel structure that currently is made inaccessible on the eastern side by the commercial unit (barbers) currently visible on the station frontage. This commercial unit will need to be removed, and access provided through it from the main ticket hall to a lift. TfL will conduct appropriate negotiations with the current tenant. The shopfront feature will be retained.

In addition to these changes, to address current passenger flow capacity issues at peak times, the number of barrier gates will also be increased. Off the main ticket hall three toilets will also be provided, one of which will be of accessible design, and all of which will incorporate baby changing facilities.

Alperton Liberal Demcrats put out a press release claiming the decision was a win for their campaigning:

The Liberal Democrats are celebrating a major win for Alperton as Brent Council has finally approved a long-overdue upgrade to Alperton Underground Station.

Thanks to years of persistent campaigning— by Liberal Democrat Councillors in Brent and Lib Dem London Assembly Member Hina Bokhari — Alperton Station is now set for a transformational refurbishment including:

●      Step-free access to make the station fully accessible for everyone, including those with mobility issues, parents with buggies, and older passengers.

●      Increased number of ticket gates to ease overcrowding and reduce daily congestion at peak times.

●      Upgraded, fully accessible toilet facilities for a safer, more dignified experience for all passengers

The works are projected to start in 2026, and be completed in 2027. Current plans assume the station will be able to remain open. 

Alperton councillor, Charlie Clinton said:

This is a huge win for local residents who’ve been ignored for too long.  Alperton has been the site of hundreds of new flats, and while we do need more homes, this has strained local services to the limit. These upgrades are way past due.

But it is not yet enough.  Brent Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for the investment Alperton deserves - including more Tubes running through the station, a new Health Centre, revamped roads and pavements, and real action to clean up our streets.    

Tragic death of young man in Kingsbury Green altercation in the early hours of Sunday morning. Murder investigation underway.

 Kingsbury Road was closed off between Uphill Drive and Chuch Lane

 

Locals speculated this morning when they found the 83, 302 and SL10  buses were diverted in Kingsbury, and they saw the  Kingsbury Green  open space was sealed off by blue police tape.

The police have now issued the following statement about the incident which, sadly, includes a fatality:

A murder investigation is under way following the fatal stabbing of a man in Kingsbury, North West London.

Police were called to reports of an altercation in Kingsbury Road, NW9 at 03:31hrs on Sunday, 18 May. A 26-year-old man was later confirmed to have been taken to hospital with a stab wound. Shortly after, despite the best efforts of medical staff, he was sadly pronounced dead.

His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

Formal identification and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

Detective Chief Inspector Allam Bhangoo, who is leading the investigation, said:

Our team of detectives and forensic specialists are working at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to the tragic death of a young man.

We understand this incident will cause concern within the Kingsbury community, and we’re grateful for their continued patience and co-operation. Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area, along with a crime scene, as we carry out the early stages of our investigation.

We urge anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information that could assist us, to come forward as soon as possible.

Anyone who can help is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference: 1052/18May. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Kinsgsbury Road, between Uphill Drive and Church Lane, remains closed at this stage. Please avoid the area where possible.

No arrests have been made at this stage.

First view of new sculpture celebrating the revival of the Welsh Harp

 

The sculpture on the Kingsbury bank of the Welsh Harp (Photo:Philip Grant)

I took an hour off from cultivating my Birchen Grove allotment yesterday to cross over to the Welsh Harp Sailing Club to see a sculpture commissioned by the Canal and River Trust to mark the de-watering and refilling of the Brent Reservoir, popularly known as the Welsh Harp.

Phil Neale, the sculptor, aims to inspire as well as educate, and worked with pupils from Preston Manor High School and Wykeham Primary School  using their drawings as a basis for the cut-outs on the sail. 

The works involved the replacement of the wheels and chains that were part of the original equipment to operate the sluice gates and were retained for Phil Neale who likes to work with recycled material and large scale metal work pieces. The Post Code Lottery provided funding.

 

Phil Neale and boat

 

 Phil explains:

My initial inspiration for the design of this sculpture came from a short video showing very primitive powerboat racing on the reservoir in the early 1930s. I wished to combine this element of the history of the reservoir with the traditional name ‘Welsh Harp’ as well as highlighting the amazing flora and fauna that this Site of Special Scientific interest supports.

 

 

Although the powerboats didn’t have sails, the current boats certainly do, so it seemed a golden opportunity to fabricate a ‘sail’ in the shape of a harp and utilise this form to create a condensed artwork that the local schools could help design, as well as informing the students and local community about the local wildlife on their doorstep. The heritage ironwork lent itself to representing waves and water and was luckily a material that could be welded to the sculpture and powder coated all in one, giving a uniform finish and long-lasting protection from the elements.

 

 Nature's colours through the cut-outs

 

Fish on the prow of the boat

 

The recycled pulleys and chains

The sculpture is destined for pride of place in Neasden Recreation Ground on the North Circular Road bank of the Harp and the site is currently being prepared.

 

Drop into the Willesden Green Nest Cafe and purchase a postcard by a local artist to help raise cancer research funds (the coffee is good too!)

'Nest Cafe, Willesden Green', 2024 (Tim Danby)

 

Willesden Green artist Tim Danby is raising funds for Haematology Cancer Care at the University College London Hospital through sales of a postcard of his original painting. 'Nest Cafe, Willesden Green' 2024.

Tim painted the scene at The Nest Cafe between two bouts of Lymphoa.  The picture is on display with other UCLH Patients' Art work until 9th July in the Hospital .

Postcards of the painting are available from The Nest Cafe at Willesden Green Underground Station at a suggested price of 50p.

Tim told Wembley Matters:

I am not a famous artist. I am just happy to promote the Cancer Charity, the Nest Cafe and simply present a positive and sunny image of Willesden in these fraught times.

 

FA and WFA Cup Finals this weekend - full road closures from 12.30pm on Saturday and 9.30am on Sunday, bus diversions both days DETAILS

 

Standing ovation for inaugural speech by Brent's youngest ever Mayor: 'This is modern Brent'

 

 

Cllr Ryan Hack is Brent's youngest ever Mayor and at yesterday's Mayoral Ceremony made the best speech I have heard in Brent for many a long year.

Brent Council approves Nablus Twinning Partnership to build peace and cooperation

Brent Council last night overwhelmingly approved a twinning protocol and an historic twinning arrangement with the Palestinian city of Nablus.  

The Conservative Group voted against the twinning proposal and the Liberal Democrats abstained. Some Labour members who might have been expected to have reservations were amongst those who gave apologies for absence.

The reasons Conservative members gave for opposition varied from suggesting 'why not other cities or communities' to allegations from Cllr Maurice that Nablus was controlled by Hamas and the association could damage Brent's reputation. 

The Lib Dems and Cllr Kennelly were concerned about attitudes towards gay people in Nablus, although Cllr Kennelly did say he understood that restrictive laws had been repealed. For the Lib Dems, Cllr Lorber asked for undertakings from the Nablus authorities that gay people would be safe there.  If such undertakings were received they would not oppose the twinning.

 Cllr Ithesham Afzal speaking last night

In his speech supporting the twinning initiative Cllr Afzal said: 

Today is a momentous and proud day for Brent,This twinning is for them. For the children who grow up with the weight of occupation, yet still dream of a brighter future, a future of freedom. Because we don’t just speak of values—we live them. We don't just care about change; we make it happen.

Responding to the decision, supported by nearly 2,000 residents and several grassroots Brent organisations, he said

This twinning is about more than symbolism—it is a commitment to shared values, mutual understanding, and global solidarity at a time when so many are looking away. Brent is standing up and showing what it means to build peace and cooperation from the ground up.

 

Members of the Brent-Nablus Twinning Association with Mayor and councillors after the meeting

 

Welcoming the Council's decision the Brent-Nablus Twinning Association pointed out that as a community-driven initiative, the twinning will be independently funded and will not place any strain on council resources. It will instead harness  partnerships and grassroots support to fund and facilitate exchanges and joint programmes. 

The Association explained:

The partnership will include school and youth programmes, artist collaborations, digital storytelling, and community events, designed to foster understanding, celebrate shared culture, and raise awareness of the daily realities faced by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Nablus—an ancient and resilient city in the northern West Bank with a population of over 150,000—is a centre of Palestinian culture, learning, and heritage. Brent, home to the second-largest Arab diaspora in England and Wales, has long stood as one of the UK’s most diverse and internationally minded boroughs.

Roe Green Walled Garden Open Day Saturday May 17th 11am - 4pm

 

1 Morland Gardens – an open letter to two key Cabinet members

 Guest post by local historian, Philip Grant, in a personal capacity 

 

Altamira, the beautiful Victorian villa at 1 Morland Gardens in Stonebridge.

 

Last month, I wrote a guest post asking you to sign the Willesden Local History Society petition, calling on Brent Council and its Cabinet to retain Altamira, the 150-year old Italianate-style Victorian villa in Stonebridge, as part of its forthcoming plans for redevelopment of the former Brent Start college site at 1 Morland Gardens. That petition is still open, until 26 May, and if you haven’t signed it yet I would encourage you to do so, please. You can do that HERE.

 

The Local Democracy Reporter for our area wrote an article about the petition, which was published online on MyLondon, but for some reason has not been published by the Brent & Kilburn Times (nor was a letter sent in by the Society’s Secretary published – strange when that is the local newspaper for Brent!). As part of his research, he asked Brent Council whether they still planned to demolish the locally-listed heritage building, as they originally proposed in 2020. The answer he received was ‘we don’t know yet.’

 

That seems very odd, as Brent has been carrying out a review of its future plans for the Morland Gardens site since November 2023! Were they just covering themselves, as no formal decision has yet been made by Brent’s Cabinet? Or do they think that it should be retained, but are not sure whether those in power at the Civic Centre will still insist that it should be demolished, as that would allow more homes to be built on the site?

 

I’ve been told that the Cabinet’s decision will be made on 16 June, although there is no mention of this in the Council’s Forward Plan. It will apparently be part of the report on “The Future of the Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre” (which comes under Public Health and Leisure). The history society should be able to present its petition to the Cabinet meeting, but my experience from May last year, on another heritage matter, suggests that decisions are taken before petitioners have a chance to have their say!

 

I wanted to make sure that two key Cabinet members had the facts about the heritage building, and Brent’s official heritage policies, before that decision is made, so I sent them the open letter below (the email sending it was also copied to the Cabinet member for Public Health and Leisure, and the three Stonebridge Ward councillors). I hope that good sense prevails, but unfortunately that is not always the case in Brent!

 

 

Philip Grant       

 

                     

The last Annual Meeting of the current Brent administration

Wednesday's Annual Meeting of Brent Council marks the last year of the current administration and the thirteenth year of Muhammed Butt's leadership of the Labour Group and the Council.

The Annual Meeting sees much fussing over ceremonial regalia and flummery, as well as the serious business of appointing Committee members and representatives on outside bodies.

Cllr Ryan Hack will be installed as the youngest ever Brent Mayor and Cllr Kathleen Fraser as his seasoned Deputy.  Whether Cllr Fraser acceedes to the Mayoralty will depend on the outcome of the 2026 local election.

Committee details are not released until just before the Annual Meeting but Butt may attempt a 'refresh' before the election. Watch this space.

The last item on the Annual Meeting Agenda is a proposed Protocol for setting up International Partnerships and a proposed Twinning Arrangement with Nablus on the West Bank of Palestine.

The Twinning proposal is accompanied by a very thorough 67 page assessment of the benefits to Brent and the practicalities HERE.

 The twinning proposal has been supported by a 1849 signature petition and Brent Trades Council, Brent NEU, Brent Friends of Palestine and Brent Palestine Solidarity Campaign amongst others.

The financial arrangements are covered n the documentation:

The Mayoral Office is likely to spend some of its annual budget on hosting the occasional visit (if in a Twinning arrangement). A maximum budget per twinning or friendship agreement per financial year should be identified and confirmed with the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources by the officer(s) assessing the proposal to ensure funds can be allocated to this budget before any new Internal Partnership Arrangement is agreed.

 

 International Partnering Arrangements would fall under the remit of the Mayor of Brent, but costs related to International Partnering Arrangements must be met by the organisation leading on this. This includes costs for entertaining, gift swaps or costs for printing certificates. There should be no additional financial cost for the Mayor’s Office, or other parts of the council.