Leo Batten, who helped set up the Wesh Harp Environmental Education Centre more tha half a century ago made a passionate plea for its continuation at yesterday's Welsh Harp (Barnt and Brent) Consultative Committee.
Unfortunately the responses were far from positive. Leslie Williams, from Brent Council, made it clear that there would be no daytime space for the WHEEC in the new SEND 16-25 building saying that it would be 'fully utilised' during curriculum time by the 16-19s and available for education groups only at other times.
This would be of no use to the primary schools that have been using the centre for morning and afternoon sessions for decades. Initial discussions envisaged shared use of the new building with the WHEEC and I understand that current plans include provision for 60 local school children to visit each day during term time. Thames21 withdrawal from running it seems to have led to the dropping of the idea.
Cllr Krupa Sheth, Cabinet lead on the Environment, made it clear that the Council would provide no money to keep the WHEEC going but campaigners. who are getting together now (despite it being the holiday season), will be urging the Council to shake off its lethargy and start searching for solutions.
Thames 21 who usually attend the Committee were not present last night.
Community involvement was a key component in this Brent project receiving funding and agreement at Cabinet.
ReplyDeleteSo Labour run Brent Council are happy to spend our hard earned council tax money on all the extra work needed for more Wembley stadium events - enforcement officers working overtime in evenings and at weekends, extra clean ups by Veolia, extra parking enforcement etc - but there is no Council tax money available to keep this vital resource open???
ReplyDeleteAnd Brent Counvil drcalred a clinate emergency - do Brent Council actually understand what a Climate emergency is????
What are the three ward councillors doing to get this vital facility reopened with Brent Council support?
ReplyDeleteCouncillor Amer Agha - Welsh Harp - Labour.
Councillor Harbi Farah - Welsh Harp - Labour. (Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Jobs and Skills).
Councillor Mary Mitchell - Welsh Harp - Labour.
Brent Council have many many millions of pounds of unspent CIL/NCIL money in the bank - this money is supposed to be used on local projects like this.
Brent Council gave £17.8 million of our CIL monies to Quintain to replace the pedway with steps, but are unwilling to spend a few million to support a very valuable community asset for education and wildlife preservation!. Something is definitely not right, don't trust Bent.
ReplyDelete