Join the 'Time to Act 2015' Climate March on Saturday

Join us on March 7 to bring a message of urgency which cannot be ignored. Form blocs or join with others from your area to show solidarity and strength.

Join Brent Friends of the Earth and other activists. Meet outside Kilburn Park tube station at 11.45am, to join up with the march in Central London at 12:30 pm (Metropolitan and Jubilee lines have closers)

And together let's continue to power up and celebrate our movement – locally, nationally and internationally – throughout 2015, and beyond

Guest blog: We must embrace and appreciate our natural environment

'Plain Jaine' sent in a comment in response to Viv Stein's letter in the Kilburn Times regarding Brent Council's environmental cuts and the FoE submission on the budget. LINK In her letter Viv asked readers to imagine what Brent might be like after the cuts. Jaine's article was too long to publish as a comment so I publish it below as a Guest Blog.

Viv, thank you for comments.

But  for us Residents, this is something I don't need to imagine, this is not a figment of my imagination,  this is happening right now.   In the street where I live, it is not cleaned regularly although when it is the regular guy does do  a good job, however it's getting less and less frequent.   Getting regular fly-tipping removed a constant battle, at least a few emails, photographs and threats of embarrassment normally does the trick, but hey they're REACTIVE  not PROACTIVE. 

 Brent Council are actively engaging with developers to build on our parks to hell with the residents and their needs and desires for accessible Green Open Space, ( which in Wembley is less than 50% of what should be provided)   their slogan  " a better cleaner, environmentally friendly Brent".

Get real! this is just PR on behalf of the LB Brent.  They have already implemented many of the cuts already, I have the photographic evidence.     We have consultations to engage the public, but WE the public never find out about them until the last minute, because,  Hey!  they are not actually publicised. How does that work?  A recent FOI request was refused,  although to the prior to the request the majority of information was on LB Brent system and readily available has become extremely difficult for them to retrieve and we were informed, that should we be serious in our request please pay £480.00 we may be able to supply this information?

The Welsh Harp Area hold's a special place in my heart.  Somewhere I could go and feel at one with nature, tranquillity, walk, feed the Ducks, Swans, see Frog Spawn , to get away from the rubbish that is happening on my doorstep.  Beautiful landscape that has now been defiled by Barratt Homes and Barnet Council, who have flatly refused to accept the findings of the West Hendon Residents ,  the  original residents who resided  in the location only to discover they have been consistently been mislead, fraudulently represented, , abused,  and betrayed by the Planning System and have a real case to fight under  Human Rights legislation. 

Surely there must be a way forward, With regard to the Nature Reserve ant Teaching Facility, I recall that Carey's Group supported this as part of their Charitable Trust and giving back to the community surely we can engage more business partners in Brent to help keep this afloat?

Is there no way back?

 Should we align ourselves with the self proclaimed  saviours of LB Brent,   QUINTAIN  PLC , who are developing Wembley with so called prestigious housing developments, the new North West Village?

Poetic Licence has gone mad!!, 1 acre of green space, with a lot of nice landscaping and plants, some which are far from the definition of a Village, I hereto explain:-

 To be a Village a settlement must  list  the following of amenities  have:-      
                         

1   a church,                          

2    a village hall or community centre,

3    a school(though not necessarily),  

4    some shops, usually including a post office,                               

5   a  village green,                   

6    allotments,                        

7   places to work,                    

8    a public house,                    

9    Houses etc.,usually to include  Private, Council rented and Privately rented to give a mixed community.    

10  a Parish Council or Parish Meeting. 

                                    

Nice concept shame about the delivery.

 Hey who am I?

Having grown up in a Real Village  with a Duck pond,  Social club/Community centre,  Church with Warden, Women's Institute,  Social Club etc.

Are  LB Brent climbing in bed with  "The Devil's Advocate?"

Are we, the  residents of Brent  going to continue to endorse this alliance or are we going to a  take a stand, reject the council's austerity measures,  be proactive and support  anyone or  organisation, irrespective of our sympathetic allegiance to any political party.

 We need  to protect Our  Future, Our Children's Future,  Sustain our Community and Green Space  to  ensure all of us  grow up in the best natural environment  we are able to experience,  embrace and  appreciate everything that nature has to offer from now to infinity 3.14.

Martin, my  apologies if I am thought to be shouting

regards

Plain Jaine

Brent Council environment cuts break 'cleaner and greener' pledge

I reproduce below Brent Friends of the Earth's comprehensive response to the current Budget Consultation. I am sure that similar responses could be written on other areas of the proposed cuts making it clear that the level of cuts  now required is unacceptable and making no long-term economic or social sense.

Response to Brent Council Budget Consultation from Brent Friends of the Earth

Our members are concerned about the cuts to Council services overall, in particular cuts to vital front line services.  Whilst we recognise that Brent's income has been severely reduced, we do not wish to see vital welfare services axed, especially those for children. The vision of what will remain is stark and in some cases unrecognisable from the provision residents have come to know and expect as Council services.  However our comments as a group focus on the impact of proposed cuts to environmental services. We also question whether some of the cuts proposed will actually save money in the long run:

One year on from their fracking protest Brent FoE shape up for a fight against Park Royal proposals

Brent  FoE's fracking protest outsiode Willesden Green Station in October 2013

In response to London Local Energy's application for a licence to frack for shale gas in Park Royal, Brent, Ian Saville joint Co-ordinator of Brent Friends of the Earth (Brent FoE) says,

We resolutely oppose fracking in Brent, or anywhere else, and urge Brent Council to turn down the application by London Local Energy to site a well head in Park Royal. Fracking is a dirty technology that may seriously damage our health, environment and is very likely to worsen climate change. Shale gas is a dirty fossil fuel that will add to the dangerous levels of greenhouse gases in the environment. It should be left in the ground.

Regulatory systems are not strong enough to protect against leaks of toxic chemicals used in the fracking process. This threatens our soil and water supplies. Fracking uses vast quantities of water - in the region of 4 million gallons per well head – which are lost to public supply.

We cannot count on fracking to reduce our fuel bills. Instead we need to invest in renewables and energy saving to heat our homes.

Brent Friends of the Earth have been lobbying their MPs and parliamentary candidates about fracking in London. You can read an update on their talks with Glenda Jackson on their website HERE

Jenny Jones, Green Party AM, said:

The suggestion that London’s residents will not notice the noise and disruption of fracking trucks as it already has high levels of traffic and noise is truly insulting.

Boris Johnson can’t just brush these off as NIMBY issues. More noise, pollution on our roads is completely unacceptable. Nor should the risks of contaminating ground water with toxic chemicals be underestimated. 

At a time when current trends mean that we are on course for a catastrophic 4 degree temperature increase, our priority must be switching to renewables such as solar/wind and getting serious about energy conservation. 

Exploiting even more fossil fuels such as fracked oil or gas that can only accelerate global warming just isn’t an option.

Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, assured Brent Friends of the Earth of the Council's opposition to fracking when they demonstration against it in 2013. LINK 

Cllr Butt was interviewed on BBC London's Breakfast Show this morning about the licence application. Listen from 01.43 LINK

Brent's controversial £40 'Garden Tax' for green waste collection to be discussed by Cabinet tomorrow

Tomorrow afternoon's Brent Cabinet will be discussing a proposal to charge residents £40 per year for the collection of garden green waste. At the ame time dry cycling will be collected weekly instead of fortnightly and caddy food waste will be collected weekly.

Dubbed a 'garden tax' by some there are fears that garden waste not suitable for composting will end up in the grey residual bins or dumped at the roadside.

Charging for green waste seems at odds with Labour's previous condemnation of  charging for bulk waste collections. (Read on for detailed submission by Brent Friends of the Earth)

Earth 2064: Ravaged Disaster or Eco Dream World?

Brent Council leader reiterates opposition to fracking

In a letter to Ian Saville and Pam Laurance, Joint Coordinators of Brent Friends of the Earth, Brent Council leader, Muhuimmad Butt, has reiterated his oppositon to fracking. He was responding to letters and postcards sent from residents.

Thank you for your letter of 15 March 2014 and the postcards that you enclosed. It’s heartening to know that so many Brent residents passionately oppose hydraulic fracturing as much as the Council does; as you say, “Fracking is a dirty word”.

I’m sure you’ve been as dismayed to read that the ConDem Government now intend to overhaul trespass legislation to make it easier for fracking firms to gain access without permission of landowners. We are currently exploring what new legislation regarding planning law gives us the opportunity to prevent contractors by law.

As you know, Brent has no intention whatsoever to grant contractors with licences to carry out shale gas extraction in our borough. I agree that a council motion would make a statement to communicate our opposition to all, inside and outside of Brent. Thank you for your draft wording, which will be considered by Executive Members.

In November, we decided to go beyond the standard motion. Hitting the headlines wasn’t just a stunt though – we are obligated to protect our residents from harm. When so many charities and organisations, including yourselves and Public Health England, were voicing loud concerns, the Council had no choice but to speak out. We will use what legal power we can to defend local residents, their homes and neighbourhoods against the dangers of fracking.

Rise up against the Coalition on Climate Change and Fuel Poverty

Left to Right: Sophie Neuborg, Suzanne Jeffery, Martin Francis (Chair) Ruth London, Murad Qureshi

There were stirring calls for action on climate change and energy when Brent residents met together at an urgent meeting on 'Energy Crisis, Climate Crisis - What is the solution?' at Chalkhill Primary School, Wembley.

Suzanne Jeffery, from One Million Climate Jobs, said that the Coalition Government had been exposed by the recent floods. The recognition of the connection between extreme weather events and climate change revealed Cameron's dismissal of 'green crap' as particularly ill-timed. In fact the government had locked the country into rising emissions that accelerated climate change through the 'dash for gas' and fracking, and Osborn's collusion with the oil and energy industries in his budget statement. Deregulation of planning regulations and cuts to the Environment Agency had worsened the impact of the highest ever rainfall last month.

With scientists predicting devastating consequences of a failure to act, campaigners had to use this period of heightened awareness to press home the message that there is still, just, time to act. There needed to be investment in renewable energy and a massive programme of insulation and other green measures through the creation of one million climate change jobs. As well as contributing to reducing energy usage and thus carbon emissions, they would also boost the economy.

Ruth London, from Fuel Poverty Action, said that 'climate change is poverty' as people unable to heat their homes or cook their food because of the high costs of energy were impacted by cold and damp and resulting ill-health and strain on relationships. Education was affected when children did not have a comfortable place to do their homework.  Fossil energy is subsidised and renewables are actually cheaper. The London Pensioners' Association had recognised this when they had passed a resolution calling for safe, clean energy.

Government policy meant that Housing Associations were scrapping insulation schemes and that some attempts at market solutions to the problem had been abandoned.  She said that the probloems was built into the nature of the market where the primary purpose was acculumation. The market was the opposite of caring:: 'what's good for thje market has nothing to do with what's good for people'.

Sophie Neuborg of Friends of the Earth said that there was a major crisis with 7 million people paying over 10% of their income to keep their houses warm and this would be 9m by 2016. FoE believed that energy saving measures should be supported from general taxation rather than levies on fuel bills. More incentives were needed to persuade landlords to make their properties energy efficient and hypothecated carbon taxes needed. She called for a revolution in the way energy was produced through community production of renewable energy.

Link to FoE actions including petition on fracking HERE

Murad Qureshi, London Assembly Member and chair of its Environment Committee, spoke about the highest rainfall levelo for 250 years, record river flows and rising ground water levels. The Thames Barrier, which had saved London from major flooding, and built by the GLC, would not have been built in current times.

He called for work envisaged for the future on flood defences to be brought forward. The Thames should be seen as an extension of the sea into London to bring home the issue. River restoration was needed in terms of London's hidden culverted rivers to protect the 24,000 London homes at high risk of flooding and there needed to be a stop to the concreting over of gardens that had removed the equivalent of 18 Hyde Parks from the capital.* We have to learn with live with water through adaptation and mitigations. Surveys had shown that 80% of the population were concerned not with housing or transport but with the high costs of gas, electricity and water. 68% had reduced their energy consumption because of the cost and half a million were depednent on food backs.

Boris Johnson had failed to take on the energy companies with EDF failing to deliver on their Olympic promises. The Mayor's retrofitting scheme had failed to meet its target with only 99,000 properties tackled amongst the millions in London.

In the discussion that followed there were calls for mass demonstrations on climate change, re-nationalisation of the energy and water companies on a more participative and response model that previously, action against British Gas in particular, campaigns against pre-payment meters and how they make the poor pay more - including Can't Pay-Won't Pay, pickets of the BBC over their insistence on 'balancing' discussion over climate change giving equal time to the sceptics, demand new housing incorporates solar ppwer roof tiles, and the need to reach out to faith groups about the issue.

Videos of the event can be found here:

Introduction and Suzanne Jefferies http://youtu.be/MbzDUNHynxQ

Ruth London http://youtu.be/7gSPwiWXHvw

Sophie Neuberg http://youtu.be/RbyATRY5NFY

Murad Qureshi http://youtu.be/VLb45JLTBRY

Questions and discussion 1  http://youtu.be/qWBtR2xGn0Y

Questions and discussion 2  http://youtu.be/JlzAru-abnc

* I am disappointed that so much of the Quintain development around the Civic Centre and Wembley Stadium is hard landscaping with potted shrubs. We were promised new parks which I imagined would include grassed areas and flower beds - as well as children's play faciltities.. A question of maintenance costs?

EMERGENCY PUBLIC MEETING: MORE FLOODS, MORE FUEL POVERTY?

ENERGY CRISIS, CLIMATE CRISIS – WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

Emergency public meeting organised by Brent Campaign Against Climate Change and Brent Friends of the Earth. Supported by Brent Housing Action, Brent Trades Union Council and Brent Fightback. Speakers: Sophie Neuburg (Friends of the Earth), Ewa Jasiewicz (Fuel Poverty Action), Pilgrim Tucker (Unite Community), Suzanne Jeffery (One Million Climate Jobs Campaign)

Thursday 20 February, 7.30 pm, Chalkhill Primary School Sports Hall, Anton Place,  Bowater Road (off Chalkhill Road), Wembley Park. Free admission – all welcome.

Wembley Park Tube or buses: 83, 182, 245, 297

 

Right-wing label Brent 'loony left' over fracking move

Brent Council's decision to investigate the possible banning of fracking in the borough has predictably got the right-wing press and bloggers foaming at the mouth, with the label 'loony left' being thrown around.

One comment on the Daily Telegraph website gives a flavour: LINK

 I would have thought it was worth flattening the London Borough of Brent if it meant the rest of the country had access to gas. Is there anything in Brent apart from lefties and illegal immigrants?

Other, more rational commentators, point to a flaw in Muhammed Butt's statement when he said:

While there may be advantages to fracking in some parts of the country it would be dangerous and reckless for companies to start drilling in Brent.

The dangers and recklessness apply to all areas and not just Brent and as Friends of the Earth said:

Shale gas is another climate changing fossil fuel that needs to be left in the ground – the real solutions to our energy needs are renewables and slashing energy waste.

It is to be hoped that Brent Council's courageous stand will lead to the Labour Party adopting an anti-fracking position nationally.

FoE hails Brent's 'fantastic news' on fracking

 Commenting on today's news that Brent Council is seeking to ban fracking in the London borough, Friends of the Earth’s Energy Campaigner Helen Rimmer said:

It’s fantastic news that Brent council is seeking to ban fracking in response to concerns of local residents.

Shale gas is another climate changing fossil fuel that needs to be left in the ground – the real solutions to our energy needs are renewables and slashing energy waste.

We expect other councils will follow Brent’s lead – huge swathes of the UK could be opened up for fracking when a new licencing round commences next year.

Earlier this year Brighton and Hove City council made a “declaration of intent" to keep the area free of fracking. 

Willesden Green: Fracking hell-not here! Demonstrate tomorrow

Brent Friends of the Earth (Brent FoE) says that fracking is a dirty word that local residents do not want, and they will be asking MPs, London Assembly members and the local Council to swear that they won’t allow it in Brent.

They will spelling out their message outside Willesden  Green Station tomorrow at 10.45am tomorrow (Saturday October 19th)

Later this year the Government is expected to open vast swathes of the country to fracking with a new round of licensing. This will bring the threat of fracking to thousands more people’s doorsteps. Brent, as the local planning authority, has the power to prevent this. Brent is one of many authorities on a list of potential sites under consideration for this controversial technology.

Ian Saville, Brent FoE spokesperson and Neasden resident, says, “fracking is a dirty technology that will damage our health, environment and climate. The resulting shale gas is a dirty fossil fuel that will add to the dangerous levels of greenhouse gases in the environment. It should be left in the ground.”

“Brent residents, along with other communities up and down the country, don't want a dash for gas. If fracking is the answer, then the question must be wrong! If London Mayor Boris Johnson gets his way, we could see fracking across London. We need to send him and Brent a clear message that we do not want or need fracking to keep the lights on, nor can we count on it to reduce fuel bills. Instead we need to invest in renewables and energy saving to heat our homes.”

Brent FoE will also be running a stall outside Willesden Green tube station on the day and will be speaking to local residents about the problems with fracking.