The proposed Centre
There has been much discussion about plans for the development of the Gladstone Centre, which is still in Pre-planning stage.
Some people are for the new development, and some are against it.
The Friends of Gladstone Park was formed to represent the views of all users of the park.
Therefore,
following a vote, of the eligible trustees of the Friends of Gladstone
Park, on the ongoing plans for the new Gladstone Centre development, we
find that at this point we are neutral (neither for nor against).
Below is a detailed statement of our position.
There
will be a public consultation in the future, at which everyone will be
able to have their say. When the date is announced we will post it here.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Friends
of Gladstone Park (FoGP) has been concerned about the Gladstone Centre
for many years and have made requests on behalf of the community, to
Brent Council to repair or rebuild it.
FoGP
campaigned to get the centre reopened after it was closed during COVID.
It became clear it needed considerable investment just to patch it up.
Redevelopment or demolition were the realistic options. Brent Council
was not willing to take it on. FoGP suggested a sports centre, but Brent
Council was not in favour, citing other options nearby.
FoGP
held public meetings and events where park users were asked what they
would like to see happen to the building. These were the most common
requests and FoGP maintains these goals for the new centre:
A community space of the same size as before
The community part of the building to have an independent entrance - and management.
Is available to the public every day including evenings and weekends
There is a cafe that is accessible to all
There are toilets that are reasonably accessible for park users
The visual aesthetics of the building must fit in with the environment
The size of the building to be confined to the existing footprint and never allowed to go above the treeline (at today’s height)
The building must be aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with a park environment.
FoGP
again approached the council with our requests, but it was clear that
the Council would not solely fund a community centre. The only concrete
option that arose was the proposal from Willesden Green Surgery (WGS) to
redevelop the building as their new surgery.
With
no real alternatives on the table, FoGP felt the best course of action
was to engage constructively with WGS and Brent Council, and to try to
ensure that the design allowed for the requirements the community had
asked for – as per the list above.
FoGP
requested that the new building be built on the same footprint* as the
existing centre and would ideally be only two storeys high. We
understood that the Kilburn Cosmos Rugby Club, who have rented part of
the Gladstone Centre building for many years, would be offered an
alternative space in the Sports Pavilion, and the Pavilion café would be
relocated into the new building.
*Friends
of Gladstone Park Trustees, in line with the wishes of the park users,
do not condone or support any reduction of open space in the park
itself.
Plans
have evolved, but FoGP has never wavered from pursuing the objectives
that the park users originally requested. FoGP is conscious that we
represent ALL park users and there are people for and against the
development. At this stage the development is at the pre-planning stage
and will need to go before the Planning Committee at Brent Council for
approval. This will be in public so anyone who wishes to can have their
say.
The Friends of Gladstone Park Trustees feel it is right to step back and let due process take its course.
FoGP
is an apolitical group and Trustees who happen to be councillors do not
have voting rights on matters related to Brent Council.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Who are and what is the Friends of Gladstone Park (FoGP?
·
FoGP is a group of ordinary local residents who care about the
park and volunteered to act as a conduit between the park users and
Brent Council.
The mission statement is to Protect, Preserve and Promote Gladstone Park
· The group has grown in 12 years from 6 to 13 in number, meeting once every few months
FoGP
is an apolitical group and trustees who happen to be councillors do not
have voting rights on matters related to Brent Council.
·
To let people know the FoGP existed for everyone, public
meetings, walks, talks and litter-picks are held during the summer
months.
·
The Gardening Group of volunteer gardeners was formed to maintain
the Walled Garden, shortly followed by the Woodland Copse group. It was
at that point Friends of Gladstone Park became a charity and the
original regular volunteers became trustees. This meant we could accept
donations for plants, seeds, compost, tools – and obtain public
liability insurance. We have virtually no admin costs as everyone gives
their time free of charge.
FoGP
communicates regularly with the Parks Department at Brent Council. (It
is worth noting that while Gladstone Park is one of the larger parks in
the Borough, Brent has over 85 parks and open green spaces, and FoGP is
just one of the groups who fiercely protect their local park.)
FoGP
successfully campaigned for the public toilet near the Walled Garden
and will continue to campaign for more toilets in the park
FoGP continues to lobby the council and campaign against motor bikes and other motorised vehicles
FoGP
continues to campaign against littering in the park, support litter
picking, lobby for more bins and other initiatives to combat the problem
FoGP continues to plant and maintain the Walled Garden and the Rose garden
FoGP continues to protect and maintain the Woodland Copse which is now a designated Local Nature Reserve
FoGP supported the campaign for the refurbishment of the lower children’s playground
FoGP continues to lobby the council to maintain the pond
FoGP continues to lobby for drinking fountains in the park
FoGP continues to lobby against commercialisation of the park
Gladstone
Park is a beloved and necessary open space in a busy city, for
families, walkers, runners, dog owners, sports enthusiasts, nature
lovers, bird watchers, pond watchers. Our aim is to protect it.
FoGP represents ALL users of Gladstone Park
