Following the public notice above, Northwick Park Community Garden has issued the following appeal:
We are shocked and dismayed to find out that today that Brent Council made a notice on the Friday before Christmas to sell the Freehold of the Northwick Park golf facility. Then at the Council’s Cabinet in early February agreed to sell the Freehold. Now a notice has been issued to remove the protection of its designation as Public Open Space after the 2nd of April.
Public Open Space is protected from inappropriate developments and is defined thus:
land that is generally accessible to the public for recreation, exercise, or relaxation, including parks, green spaces, civic squares, and play areas. These areas often have few restrictions on access, allowing for both formal and informal activities, and are typically managed by local authorities to enhance community health and urban biodiversity.
It should be noted that the path from Watford Road, the Northwick Park Playing Fields, that runs alongside St Cuthbert’s Church is being included in the disposal and redesignation.
If you believe, as we do, that public spaces need to remain for the use of us all in this day of increasing high rise buildings with a lack of gardens, and need to be protected then please email objections by midnight 2nd April to:
Pam@brent.gov.uk
Editor's note. Thanks to people who have pointed out 'pam' stands for Proprty Asset Management - had me confused!
So grateful to our Community Garden. And I gather a lot of others have objected. Being me, I have (just) sent the equivalent of 14 pages of A4 and a couple of attachments.Keith (Perrin) and I have spent the last (I kid you not) 3 decades highlighting issues with Northwick Park Golf Course site, in particular first the dumping that was alloweed first in teh mid 1990s when - shock horror - our former MP Sir Rhodes Boyson intervened. (Barry Gardiner did a sterling job following up on it when he was elected in 1997.) Then our second lot of unauthorised materials being added about 4 years ago. I would dearly love not to have to spend time on this but I guess it is Keith's and my burden. But thank you to everyone - and I think there are a lot - who I gather, having been alerted, has added their objection to this unadvertised removal of public open space protection. Great community work all! I would just mention that , in teh Cabinet REport of 9 February, Grove Park Pavilion, Grove Park NW9 0JP in Kingsbury Ward will also lose its public open space designation if disposed of. Sadly I have been busy with my objections re Northwick Park (& I know nothing about Grove Park Pavilion) but if any locals to that property are worried by the loss, you have till tomorrow night midnight to lodge an objection to pam@brent.gov.uk (pam stands for properrty asset management, btw.)
ReplyDeleteI completely reject the plan of removing the golf course and rejecting completely for building any properties on this ground please. Thanks
ReplyDeleteCar-free housing feudal tower lords really love to build on public open spaces first. Brent doesn't have a quality of life/ wellbeing infrastructure growth plan to support its C21 towering reformist policy.
ReplyDeleteThe ideal is for segregation/ regressive barriers for the car-free zoned, so the more closing off of public rights of way the better. Keep the towers segregated and excluded.
Why can't Brent residents see the public open space and public right of way to be privatised. The Brent car-free towers plan made transparent would also be useful.
ReplyDeleteLets see how it all doesn't fit together. Lets see the bad growth design of Tower Hundreds Brent.
Former Borough of Wembley (now Brent) does have a public rights of way definitive map and statement. That likely needs updating in this case. Former Borough of Willesden (now Brent) has no such legal protection of its public rights of way. Extraordinary when car-free towers are factored in. Its political consensus to look the other way on this bad growth approach to Brent peoples rights to move around or to direct access remaining green spaces.
ReplyDeletePAM stands for: Property Asset Management
ReplyDeleteYes I realise now. Reminds me when Brent had Business Unit Managers which was unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteCommunity Garden has posted this email that you could use as a basis for your own objection: If like us you are appalled that Brent Council are proposing to sell off public open space and take away the protection it currently has then please send an email of objection to pam@brent.gov.uk
ReplyDeleteIf you would like an idea of the content then please read this email below, and feel free to copy and paste to your email if you wish:
Dear Brent Council
I am writing to formally object to Brent Council’s decision to sell the freehold of the Northwick Park golf facility and to remove its designation as Public Open Space.
The proposal to dispose of this land and redesignate it raises serious concerns regarding the loss of protected green space that serves the local community. Public Open Space plays a critical role in supporting physical and mental wellbeing, encouraging recreation, and preserving urban biodiversity. The removal of this designation significantly increases the risk of inappropriate development and the permanent loss of accessible green space.
I am particularly concerned that:
* The decision appears to have been taken without adequate, transparent, and meaningful consultation with local residents and stakeholders.
* The inclusion of the pathway from Watford Road to Northwick Park Playing Fields, alongside St Cuthbert’s Church, in the proposed disposal risks restricting public access to an important and well-used route.
* There is insufficient clarity on the intended future use of the site and how community interests will be safeguarded.
Given the importance of this space to the local area, I strongly urge the Council to:
* Halt the process to remove the Public Open Space designation
* Reconsider the proposed sale of the freehold
* Undertake a full and proper public consultation with residents and community groups
* Provide transparent information about any proposed development and its impact
This decision has long-term implications for the community and environment, and it is essential that it is made with appropriate scrutiny, transparency, and public engagement.
I respectfully request that my objection be formally recorded and that I am kept informed of any further developments regarding this matter.
Yours faithfully,
#object
Jo Harris
Objection submitted. We need to do everything possible to protect our public open spaces. This land belongs to the community, … See more
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