Wembley Park residents' Open Letter expressing growing concerns over increased disruption associated with Wembley events

 

 Upcoming events - note number of bus diversions and timing of road closures

 

This summer has been marked by an extraordinary number of concerts at Wembley Stadium following the decision of Brent Council to allow more sporting events at the stadium. A concert even supplanted a major football match earlier this month.

Since June, until today, there have been 30 concert days. 

The disruption of road closures, bus diversions and route curtailments has hit the newer residents of Wembley Park as much as the longer term residents of the wider Wembley area.

Now Wembley Park Residents Association is taking up the matter with a letter to the appropriate  authorities setting out the issues and potential mitigations shared in their community which they think may be of interest to the wider Wembley community.:

If you would like to sign the letter write to:   Wembley Park Residents Association Committee  Email: wembleypark.ra@gmail.com with your name, road or area (optional) and the date. Respond by 5pm on Monday September 7th. 

In addition to transport, Event Days also impinge on Wembley Park residents in another way  impacting on mobile phone signals and WiFi connections that plummet, making it difficult to communicate with friends and family 

   

Open Letter from Wembley Residents

 

Request for a Review of Event-Day Transport Arrangements and Their Impact on Local Residents

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

We, the undersigned residents of Wembley, are writing to express our growing concern regarding the increasing disruption caused by event-day road closures and bus diversions associated with Wembley Stadium and the surrounding entertainment venues.

 

We are proud to live in an area that hosts world-renowned sporting, cultural and entertainment events, and we recognise the importance these events bring to the local economy and London's international reputation. We also appreciate that public safety must remain the highest priority when managing large crowds.

 

However, as the number and frequency of events continue to increase—particularly on weekdays—the impact on the daily lives of residents has become increasingly difficult to manage.

 

For many of us, these disruptions are no longer occasional inconveniences but have become a regular part of everyday life. Public transport is our primary means of travelling to and from work, attending medical appointments, taking children to and from school or childcare, caring for relatives, shopping for essential groceries, and accessing local services. On event days, bus services are frequently diverted or suspended for extended periods, resulting in significantly longer journeys, uncertainty, and lengthy walks to temporary bus stops.

 

The effects extend beyond commuting. Friends and family are often discouraged from visiting because parking restrictions are extensive and public transport journeys become considerably longer during events. This has a direct impact on residents' social and family lives. Working parents frequently experience delays collecting children from childcare after work, whilst older residents and those with disabilities or reduced mobility face additional barriers to accessing healthcare and other essential services.

 

As residents, we contribute to our community through council tax and support local businesses throughout the year. Whilst we accept that some disruption is unavoidable, we believe residents should also have a reasonable expectation of being able to travel, work and enjoy family life with minimal disruption.

 

Wembley is no longer simply an events destination—it is home to a large and growing residential community. We believe that transport planning should reflect both of these important roles equally.

 

Immediate Improvements

 

We respectfully ask Brent Council, Transport for London and Wembley Stadium to review the current arrangements and consider practical measures that could significantly reduce disruption while maintaining public safety, including:

 

• Maintaining at least one dedicated bus corridor during event days wherever it is safe to do so.
• Limiting road closures to the shortest period operationally necessary before and after events.
• Introducing resident shuttle buses connecting residential areas with Wembley Park, Wembley Central and other key transport hubs.
• Improving advance communication regarding road closures, bus diversions and alternative travel arrangements.
• Considering the impact of weekday events on commuters, school collections, healthcare appointments and other essential journeys.
• Regularly reviewing diversion routes to ensure they minimise disruption to residents while maintaining effective crowd management.

 

Long-Term Strategic Solutions

 

As Wembley continues to expand as both a residential neighbourhood and an international events destination, we believe it is timely to undertake a comprehensive review of the area's transport infrastructure.

 

We ask Brent Council, Transport for London and relevant partners to explore long-term solutions that better separate event-related traffic from residential traffic. Options for consideration could include:

 

• Assessing the feasibility of a dedicated access route, flyover or highway connection between Wembley Stadium and the A406 North Circular Road, allowing event traffic and coaches to access the stadium without travelling through residential streets.
• Reviewing the surrounding road network to identify opportunities to reduce the volume of event traffic using local roads.
• Improving traffic management systems and navigation routing so that event traffic is directed via appropriate strategic routes rather than residential streets wherever possible.
• Ensuring that future regeneration and transport planning gives equal consideration to the needs of Wembley residents alongside those of the stadium and entertainment venues.

 

We recognise that these options would require detailed technical studies, consultation and investment. However, with Wembley continuing to grow, now is the appropriate time to begin planning transport infrastructure that is fit for both its residents and its role as an international events destination.

 

Our Request

 

We respectfully request that Brent Council, Transport for London and Wembley Stadium:

 

• Undertake a comprehensive review of event-day transport arrangements.
• Consult with local residents on the impact of current road closures and bus diversions.
• Publish the findings of that review together with proposed improvements.
• Develop both short-term operational changes and a long-term transport strategy that better balances the needs of residents with those of major events.

 

We firmly believe it is possible to maintain Wembley as one of the world's leading sporting and entertainment destinations whilst also ensuring that those who call Wembley home are able to live, work and travel with minimal disruption.

 

We appreciate your consideration of these concerns and look forward to your response.

 

 

September 2nd Scrutiny Committee to consider call-in of £1.54m payment to Veolia for extra work

 From a Wembley Matters story six years ago - has there been improvement since?

 

Following the story on Wembley Matters LINK on the additions to the Veolia contracts, Cllr Paul Lorber commented;

 Labour Councillors who signed up to a very bad contract including their so called "intelligence led cleaning" idea now want to pay more money for some extra service - even before they checked if Veolia are already doing what they are being paid for.

Liberal Democrat Councillors have "called in" the decision, with the support of one Green Councillor, to Scrutiny Committee on 2 September - so the decision can be properly scrutinised to clarify what improvements to our dirty streets will be made and whether the £1.5 million extra is the best use of the money.

In our view the whole issue of street cleaning, recycling and dumping in Brent needs to be looked at - but the 'call-in' is restricted to looking at the areas of work included in the £1.54 million proposed.

£1.54m 12 month variation to Veolia's waste contract for additionl work to address the issue of maintaining clean streets in Brent

 

A recent dump on the Pilgrims Way Council Estate

 

A recent decision by a Brent Cabinet member became effective on Thursday and its impact will be watched with interest by residents.

Cllr Promise Knight, lead member for Cleaner Streets, Transport and Public Realm, after consultation with Council leader Muhammed Butt, has agreed a £1.54m extension to the £275m Veolia waste contract for a 12 month period.  

The changes address some of the issues raised by residents, including dumps on council estates made by outsiders,  as demonstrated above.

Any extension of the additional services beyond the 12 months will be subject to review, including the necessary finances being available.  The cost of this variation of the Contract will be funded from £3m growth awarded to Public Realm as part of the budget setting process. This was awarded as an investment in Public Realm and Street Cleansing to deliver clearer and more visible improvements in cleanliness across the Borough.

 

The proposed changes/additions  

 

(a) To include the provision of two small mechanical street sweepers to address street cleansing. Following recent funding from NCIL, mechanical sweepers were trialled for additional street cleaning, and they have been key in keeping Brent’s side roads and residential roads clean and have made a huge difference to the look and feel of the public realm.

 

(b) To widen the scope of the contract to include 5 additional litter pickers in each Brent Connect area to cover town centres and high streets cleaning. Litter pickers were another feature trialled recently. This brought in a significant change in the borough cleanliness. Litter pickers are important as they pick up surface litter that would be missed, as many roads are swept once a month even with rapid response crew help. This proposal of extra litter pickers operating on weekdays and weekends to cover from Friday- Tuesday, will help deal with extra pressure and demands generated over the weekends.

 

(c) To widen the scope of contract to include nighttime street cleaning and waste collection. Brent currently has a trial in place for nighttime street cleaning/waste collection. This overnight service from 9.00pm till 6.00am has improved the look and feel of our town centres in terms of overnight dumped waste. The borough looks much cleaner in the morning and the morning collection crew are able to complete their rounds efficiently and on time. The service feels that this initiative will immensely help towards maintaining a cleaner borough.

 

(d) To widen the scope to include a dedicated Persistent Organic Pollutants (PoPS) waste collection 7 days a week. In 2024, PoPS legislation came into effect and PoPS could not be mixed with other waste and necessitated a separate arrangement for PoPs collection. Due to the urgency and limited time period to put arrangements in place, a rapid response crew from Wembley North was re-directed to collect PoPs instead without incurring additional costs to the Council. The PoPs collection has worked so far but this has had an impact in street cleansing standards in the North of Wembley. Therefore, the service will benefit from having a separate collection crew and bringing the Wembley North crew back to meet the core contract requirement.

 

(e) To widen the scope to include waste collection from unregistered land. The NCIL project funding for waste on private land clearance has helped neighbourhood managers to get ad hoc cleaning done on parts of land that gets neglected and becomes an issue for ASB or a hot spot for dumping waste. If these ad hoc services are agreed and arranged with Veolia then it will help neighbourhood managers to keep on top without it turning into a big problem requiring huge resources for clearance.

 

(f) To widen the scope to include a weekend rapid response street cleansing crew.  In the current contract there are no pick-up crews collecting from residential areas during weekends. Due to the high volume of waste and fly-tip events occurring over the weekend period, this results in delayed responses and backlogs that significantly impact service delivery and Monday operations. The accumulation of waste over two days creates operational challenges and increases the workload for weekday crews. The introduction of two morning shift pick-up crews to collect from residential areas, with one crew covering the South and one crew covering the North of the Borough will help keep our streets clean. The shift will operate from 07:00 until 13:30.

 

(g) To widen the scope to trial an additional resource of a vehicle and two crew  members for our Brent Housing Estates. There is a requirement for a dedicated service to support Brent’s housing estates in the collection of Fly-tipped and excess waste. Due to the high volume of this type of waste on our estates, the existing in-house service is unable to cope. Officers have worked with Veolia to come up with a solution which would cover these services on 15 of our estates which needs additional service. This service will consists of 1 x 26t tonne RCV and 1 x Caged vehicle (Rapid Response) and a supervisor. The RCV will be used to collect Fly-tips (non POPS) and excess waste. The Caged vehicle will be used to clear POPS items as well as provide a rapid response element which can be quickly dispatched to attended to priority jobs. The supervisor is needed to co-ordinate the teams and act as a direct contact between Brent Council and the crews. The service is proposed to run for a trial of 12 months, Monday – Friday during normal working hours.

 

 Costs breakdown 

Each recommendation contains the 12 months estimated costs as listed below and are based on the hourly rates provided in the contract. Following the 12 months period, viability of projects and improvements made will be assessed and a longer-term plan for individual projects will be discussed with senior members and finance to establish budgets and additional contract expenditure.

(a) To include the provision of two small mechanical street sweeper to address street cleansing -£150k

(b) To widen the scope of the contract to include 5 additional litter pickers in each Brent Connect area to cover town centres and high streets cleansing- £250k.

(c) To widen the scope of contract to include Nighttime Street cleansing and waste collection- £120k.

(d) To widen the scope to include a dedicated Persistent Organic Pollutants (PoPS) waste collection 7 days a week -£180k.

(e) To widen the scope to include waste collection from unregistered land-£150k.

(f) To widen the scope to include a weekend rapid response street cleansing crew- £140k.

(g) To widen the scope to trial an additional resource of a vehicle and two crew members for our Brent Housing Estates -£550k

   

Climate Change and Environmental Considerations

 

The dedicated Persistent Organic Pollutants waste collection service helps the Council manage hazardous waste safely and in compliance with environmental regulations. This will reduce the risk of pollutants entering the environment.

 

The inclusion of waste collection from unregistered land will also help address accumulations of waste that can negatively impact neurodiversity and public health.

 

Whilst the additional cleansing and collection services may result in some associated carbon emissions, these impacts are expected to be outweighed by the environmental benefits that come from improved waste management, cleaner public spaces, faster responses to environmental incidents, and reduced levels of littering.

 

 

Residents urged to take part in summer holiday consultation on far-reaching changes to Brent Housing Allocations Scheme

 

There are several ways of reducing the council's housing list - one is to build more council and social housing, something that Andy Burham has said he wants to do. Another way is to change the criteria for admission to the housing register to make fewer people/families admissible -  something that Brent has done in the past.  

In 2024 Brent launched a campaign urging homeless residents to move out of Brent to move to affordable private rented accommodation elsewhere in the country. LINK

Following a re-registration exercise aimed at people on the D Band - families who do not qualify to bid for homes under the Locata system - it appears that some still wished to remain on the list nevertheless and so Brent now wants to remove that band entirely, Alongside this a 'one offer' rule would be introduced. Families would be expect to accept that offer and if they don't could be moved down the priority list or lose access to further offers.  This is likely to put pressure on families to accept an offer even if it doesn't match their needs and be interpreted as 'accept or else'.  Additionally bedroom sharing rules are proposed to be changed so that same sex members of a household who are over 21 years old will be expected to share a bedroom rather than have separate rooms.

None of this would reduce the actual housing need but would improve the figures that recently have been publicised to the detriment of Brent's reputation.  

Brent Council has launched a consultation on its proposals during the summer holiday - not an ideal time!

 

Pete Firmin, a long time Brent tenant and campaigner said:

   

I encourage everyone to fill out this consultation. As ever, Brent may ignore comments, but if we don't submit any, they can claim there are no objections to their proposals. 

 

The big flaw behind their proposals is that they are proposing to restrict the access to Council housing at the same time as the new Prime Minister is saying he wants a massive council home building programme. So, instead of cutting access, Brent should be encouraging that. 

 

The individual proposals in the consultation are awful: 1) abolishing band D on the waiting list - i.e. telling people they are rejected as having any chance of ever getting a Council home. Compounded by the comment in the accompanying papers by the statement "There are lots of resources to help you find a suitable home in the private rented sector, including family homes and shared housing." Have they actually looked at the cost of private rented? They know most of the people on Brent's waiting list are there because they cannot afford the rents the private sector is asking for. 

 

2) Proposing that those on the waiting list are only made one offer. There are too many examples of people being made unsuitable offers, such as flats inaccessible for disabled applicants, distance from children's schools etc for this to be acceptable. 

 

3) "The council is proposing that same-sex adults aged 21 and over who are part of the same household be expected to share a bedroom". Really? Is that even a serious proposal?

 

So far only 11 people have taken part in the consultation. Go to LINK to take part. The consultation closes on September 13th 2026.

BRENT COUNCIL FAQS ON THE PROPOSALS

 

  

Brent Green Party welcomes PM's gambling reform announcement but warns of 'long road ahead' as another Wembley gambling licence is granted

Brent Greens campaigning against against gambling centres

 

From Brent Green Party

    

BRENT, LONDON Brent Green Party has cautiously welcomed the Prime Minister’s recent briefing announcing the intended scrapping of the controversial "aim to permit" rule under Section 153 of the Gambling Act 2005, over 20 years after its introduction by a Labour government.

Like many campaigners, affected families, and individuals who suffer from gambling harm, the Brent Green Party strongly supports ending the legal presumption that leads local authorities to believe they have no option but to approve new betting shops, casinos and 24-hour Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs).

However, the Brent Green Party warns that without a published White Paper, statutory document, or formal government policy roadmap, the announcement remains little more than a press statement. With legislation unlikely to be introduced until early next year, and heavy corporate industry lobbying expected during consultations, the "aim to permit" mandate will continue to hamstring local councils for the foreseeable future. The announcement also has no impact on the 80+ betting shops and casinos already in operation across Brent.

Furthermore, we have deep concerns about the Labour government’s true resolve to implement meaningful reform, given the government's close financial ties to the gambling industry; public records show the Labour Party and senior ministers accepted over £1 million in donations and gifts from betting executives and industry bodies in recent years, including a £25,000 leadership campaign donation to Keir Starmer from the head of Bet365 and VIP event hospitality for key Cabinet members. 

Gambling Harm Continue to Costs Brent £18 Million Annually

According to estimates from GambleAware, gambling-related harms cost the London Borough of Brent over £18 million every year. Despite these devastating economic and social impacts, local communities remain largely powerless under the current statutory framework. Where Green Party ward representatives are active, they have successfully mobilised residents against proliferation:

Willesden Green Ward: In June, a controversial Adult Gaming Centre application was formally rejected by the licensing committee following strong community opposition. This decision was unprecedented in the history of Brent.

Kilburn Ward: A major bingo hall/gaming application was forced into withdrawal ahead of its scheduled committee hearing in July due to organised local pressure.

This record contrasts with a recent decision of Brent Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee which granted a new premises licence to 312 Investments Limited to operate an Adult Gaming Centre at 574 High Road in Wembley Central, a ward represented by the Liberal Democrats at council level.

Speaking on behalf of Brent Green Party, Cllr Suzanne Gallagher said:

While we welcome the Prime Minister’s recognition that the 'aim to permit' rule is broken, a press briefing does not stop fixed-odds betting terminals or 24-hour slot machines from opening on our high streets today. Under Brent Labour, the industry has exploded in our borough with over 80 gambling venues, including ten within a ten minute walk of each other in Harlesden.

Furthermore, this announcement must be coupled with a comprehensive strategy to encourage local independent businesses to not only survive, but thrive. Small, independent enterprises present on our High Streets are currently suffering under punitive rent increases, extortionate commissions demanded by delivery platforms like Uber Eats, and a broader cost-of-living crisis impacting essential utility bills. The Green Party believes in actively promoting and protecting the local businesses that enrich our communities and drive our wider circular economy ambitions.

The recent approval of yet another gaming centre in Wembley Central where local representatives failed to even show up to the hearing to defend their residents proves exactly why we cannot wait months or years for legislative promises. The Brent Green Party will continue the good fight against gambling harms alongside our communities, pushing back against applications that threaten our town centres.

Sandra White, Harlesden community leader, to oversee £20 million investment programme in her community

 

Sandra White

 

From Brent Council

Sandra White has been offered the role of Independent Chair of the Neighbourhood Board that will decide how £20 million will be spent to improve Harlesden – part of the government’s Pride in Place programme –over the next 10 years.

Pride in Place is a major government investment programme, designed to deliver visible improvements in places across the country that are facing high inequalities.

Subject to completing the formal appointment process, Sandra will lead the Harlesden Neighbourhood Board, which will develop a long-term plan for the area and ensure that decisions about how the money is spent are made by and for local people.

It builds on recent investment in Harlesden town centre, including the transformation of the iconic Picture Palace into a new community hub, the restoration of historic buildings on Harlesden High Street, and the celebration of cultural heritage with the Harlesden Walk of Music. Together, these improvements to public spaces provide a strong foundation for the next phase of community-led change in Harlesden.

Sandra brings extensive community leadership experience to the role. A Harlesden resident for more than 20 years, she has worked with young people and supported a wide range of community initiatives across the area. She has a longstanding commitment to Harlesden and its diverse communities and has played a key role in community-led decision-making, most recently serving as Chair of the Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum.

Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said: "Pride in Place represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Harlesden. The success of the programme will depend on strong local leadership and genuine community involvement, and Sandra brings both in abundance. Her experience, credibility and deep connection to the area make her an outstanding choice to lead the Neighbourhood Board as we begin this exciting new chapter for Harlesden."

Georgia Gould MP for Queen's Park and Maida Vale said: “Sandra has a proven track record of bringing people together and delivering for the diverse, creative and entrepreneurial community in Harlesden.

“I have seen firsthand her passion for Harlesden and commitment to community led change and I know she will make sure that Harlesden’s residents are leading this programme.

“I am really excited by the huge interest there has been in being part of Pride in Place, and I am looking forward to seeing their ideas come to life.”

Sandra White said: "Harlesden has been my home for more than 20 years, and it is a place and community I care about deeply, so I am genuinely honoured and excited to have been offered the role.

“This investment gives us a rare opportunity not simply to change how Harlesden looks, but to help strengthen and heal our community, build on the incredible talent, creativity and resilience that already exists here, and create new opportunities for our young people and future generations.

“I want this to be a chance for Harlesden to show what is beautiful about our neighbourhood, while also being honest about the challenges we face. I look forward to bringing everyone together to shape a shared vision and create lasting change that Harlesden can truly be proud of."

Harlesden is one of two Brent neighbourhoods selected to receive Pride in Place funding over the next decade, alongside St Raphael’s Estate. The Chair for St Raphael’s will be announced in due course.

If you have an idea for how the money should be spent in Harlesden or St Raphael’s, share it with the Neighbourhood Board by filling out an online form.

 

Construction of natural turf sports pitches in Gladstone Park

 Friends of Gladstone Park have passed on this information from Brent Council:

Please find below some information about works for the drainage and construction of natural-turf sports pitches in Gladstone Park – in Gladstone Park Annexe and at the sports training area south of the railway line.

Works are commencing, from Monday 10th August 2026, on the construction of a natural-turf rugby (or potentially for other natural-turf sports) pitch at Gladstone Park Annexe and for the drainage of the existing sports training area in Gladstone Park.

 

Gladstone Park Annexe is located approximately between Parkside (road) and Gladstone Park Gardens Allotments.

The sports training area is located south of the railway line to the west of the Rickyard depot. It is a natural-turf pitch.

 

The contractor is Cleveland Land Services Ltd.

 

The main works are expected to take several months, depending in part on the weather and ground conditions, which will be followed by a longer period of grassland establishment into 2027.

 

The other existing natural-turf sports pitches will remain in use during the construction period.

 

The works will be surrounded by temporary protective fencing. The fencing will not bisect hard-standing paths, for example that at Gladstone Park Annexe. Access for the works in Gladstone Park Annexe will initially be via Oxleys Road but may later use an access via Parkside (road) that is currently being used as a compound area for separate utility works. The compound for the pitch works, will be in Gladstone Park Annexe.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE DECISION 

 

Decision details

Authority to award a contract for the construction of a Natural Turf Rugby Sports Pitch and Sports Training Area with Drainage System at Gladstone Park (non-key officer recordable decision

Decision Maker: Director - Public Realm

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

To request authority to award a contract for the Construction of a Natural Turf Rugby Sports Pitch and Sports Training Area with Drainage System at Gladstone Park.

Decision:

That the Director of Public Realm:

i)               Approves the award of contract for the construction of a Natural Turf Rugby Sports Pitch and Sports Training Area with Drainage System at Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill, London, NW2 to Cleveland Land Services in the sum of £447,347.25.

Reasons for the decision:

The Council requires the provision of construction of a Natural Turf Rugby Sports Pitch and Sports Training Area with Drainage System at Gladstone Park. Officers have undertaken a procurement exercise and identified Cleveland Land Services as the contractor providing the most advantageous offer in accordance with agreed evaluation criteria, and therefore recommend award of a contract to this contractor.

Alternative options considered:

Officers considered whether the Construction of a Natural Turf Rugby Sports Pitch and Sports Training Area with Drainage System could be provided by the Council itself, but concluded that it is best provided by a contractor.

Officers reviewed a range of procurement options including the use of a framework but considered that a tender process was the most appropriate means of procuring the contract.

Wards Affected: Cricklewood & Mapesbury; Dollis Hill; Willesden Green;

Cabinet/Committee Decision or Scheme of Delegation: officer scheme of delegation - non-key officer recordable decision

Parties Consulted: Ward councillors have been updated on progress of the project.

Contact: Leslie Williams, Project Officer Email: Leslie.Williams@brent.gov.uk Tel: 020 8937 5628.

Publication date: 05/08/2026

Date of decision: 05/08/2026

 

 

So what is happening in the old Barclays building in Willesden Green?

 

There has been some speculation about the fate of the former Barclays bank in Willesden Green, at 5 High Road. It has fine facade and stands almost opposite to the firmer Lloyds Bank, recently refused a licence for an adult gaming centre.

Permission was granted for the conversion of the former Barclay's Bank to commercial premises and six flats in August 2025. The flats involve a lot of internal changes plus a separate entrance.

 

The internal changes are most visible from the rear of the building:

 

The six residential units comprise 1 2 bed- 4 person, 4 1 bed - 2 person, 1 single person flat. A viability assessment was claimed to demonstrate that a payment in lieu of affordable accommodation would mean that the project could not go ahead. Because of the nature of the site Biological Net Gain did not apply.

The commercial premises is designated Class E and a drinking establishment or takeaway is ruled out.

Possibilities:    

Class E(a) - For the display of retail sale of goods, other than hot food, principally to visiting members of the public.

• Class E(b) - For the sale of food and drink principally to visiting members of the public where consumption of that food and drink is mostly undertaken on the premises.

• Class E(c) - For the provision of financial services, professional services or any other service appropriate to provide in a commercial, business or service locality where the service is principally to visiting members of the public.

• Class E(e) - For the provision of medical or health services principally to visiting members of the public.

• Class E(g) - For use as an office to carry out any operational or administrative function, research and development or any industrial process being a use which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area (ie what was previously classified as a light industrial use).

 

 If anyone hears about the future use, do let us know. 

Preston Park Children's Playground closed due to safety risk to children

 Preston Park Children's Playground yesterday

Following concerns about the state of the children's playground in Preston Park and safety concerns LINK, Brent Council Parks Department yesterday decided to close the playground pending completion of repairs.

In a message to councillors the Head of the Parks Department wrote:

I am writing to make you aware that we have made the decision today to immediately close the children’s play area in Preston Park, due to safety concerns.

 

I appreciate that it is the summer holidays; however, the surfacing underneath almost all pieces of equipment has now deteriorated to such a condition that we consider it to be a risk for children using the space.  We do not take this decision lightly, but we have a responsibility to provide safe places for play.

 

We had identified some surfacing issues previously and had been obtaining quotes for their repair. Unfortunately, contractors have advised us that temporary repairs will not work and full scale resurfacing of the safety surface is needed. This is not something that can be undertaken immediately and we are therefore closing the playground today whilst we get quotes for the works.

 

The closest alternative children’s playgrounds can be found at Northwick Park, John Billam Open Space and Woodcock Park.

 The news comes after the local controversy over the proposals for a Multi Use Games Area on one of the park's tennis courts during which the state of the children's playground was raised and spending priorities questioned. 

 

Clearly the closure is not ideal during an especially hot summer school holiday and last night it was reported that the playground was still in use, but questions are being asked about how it was allowed to deteriorate to this extent, and how it managed to achieve Green Flag status given the situation.