Great turnout at consultation event for new Welsh Harp SEND 16-25 provision and continuation of the primary school environmental study centre

There was a significantly larger turnout than might have been expected at the Consultation Meeting about the proposed SEND 16-25 Facility at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre (WHEEC) on Wednesday. Attendance was higher than many of the consultations held for multi-million regeneration projects, showing how important the Centre and the SEND provision is to local people.

People crowded into one of the WHEEC classrooms to see the 7 panels outlining the plans.  I was gratified to see the primary classrooms and separate toilet facilities for primary school pupils in the draft floor plan for the new building. The continuation of an environmental studies facility for primary school pupils was something that Brent Green Party members, Brent Friends of the Earth, Brent Parks Forum  and many individuals had campaigned for. It is so important for a new generation that will be faced with climate breakdown and  the biodiversity crisis. PETITION HERE

Conversation was animated and questions detailed over issues such as the horticultural features, potential loss of mature trees, parking, security and more.

Aside  from building design is the devising of a strategy for a sustainable future for the WHEEC and plans for community use and shared building management.

Brent Council has kindly provided a copy of the Display Boards below so that those unable to attend can study them and submit their views:

Depending on your broadband speed the boards may take a while to download:

 

Comments have to be in by June 17th 2026 FILL IN THE FORM HERE

Contact: jas.yembra@brent.gov.uk

 

Cllr Revd Clues must resign after attending only one meeting in 6 months

Rev David Cues, Liberal Democrat councillor for Dudden Hill, now resident in Brighton, has attended just one council meeting or committee in the last six months out of eight that he was supposed to attend.

Councillor Gavin Sneddon, another Liberal Democrat, who has also moved out of the borough -  albeit not so far, attended 5 out of 8 meetings.

The best attender was Cllr Pat Harrison (Labour) with 19 out of 19, closely followed by Cllr Lesley Jones (18/18) and Cllr Janice Long (17/17).

Former Labour leader Ann John managed only 8 out of 13 meetings. However Pat Harrison attended 19/19 with one extra meeting, closely followed by Lesley Jones 18/18 and Janice Long 17/17. Ketan Sheth appears to have over-stretched himself managing only 16 of 3 expected attendances.

Liberal Democrats Paul Lorber and Barry Cheese both attended 8 additional meetings out of personal interest or to represent their constituents.

Obviously the number of meetings is not necessarily a guide to how effective a councillor is. If they sit there like a bag of potatoes and make no contribution except to rubber stamp decisions and do little case work they are not doing a good job.

However, Clues' 12.5% attendance rate is an insult to democracy and a betrayal of the electorate, and must reinforce the call from Brent Green Party that he should resign with still a year to go before the next council election.

Full attendance details for all councillors can be found HERE