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

 

 

Upcoming weekend events in Brent - tea and cake, dog show, making music

 

Gladstone Park Public Meeting Saturday January 13th 2pm Gladstone Centre

 

Lead councillors respond to residents' demands for the renaming of Gladstone Park and Leopold Primary School

 Given recent articles and exchanges on Brent heritage I thought readers would be interested in these questions and answers to be heard at tonight's Fill Council Meeting:

Question from F. Lee to Councillor Donnelly-Jackson (Cabinet Member for

Customers, Communities and Culture)

 

In August of 2020 the Mayor of London launched the initiative for Diversity in the Public Realm to review statues street names and landmarks in London, to reflect its diversity.

 

Given that Gladstone Park was identified as such for a review and given the obvious link to Leopold II with a Primary School in Harlesden, why has there been no effective council led public consultation in relation to the issue, in keeping with the Mayor's stated initiative?

 

Councillor’s response:

 

In 2020 the council undertook a review of the name of the park as part of the Mayor of London’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. This involved a review of statues, street names and landmarks in London including the possibility of a name change for Gladstone Park, and community engagement was part of this process.

 

The review was completed in in August 2021, and the decision taken by the Black Community Action Plan Steering Group was not to rename the park, but instead to develop a public art commission in partnership with the community to both acknowledge the Gladstone family’s role in the slave trade, whilst celebrating the considerable contribution and influence of African heritage to the cultural landscape of Brent. This is in line with heritage sector best practice to retain and not obscure the significant associations of a place, and where the significance of a place is not readily apparent, it should be explained by interpretation.

 

Interpretation should enhance understanding and enjoyment, and be culturally appropriate, which is what we have strived to do with the heritage trail installed in the park.

 

In reference to Leopold School, there is no direct evidence to suggest the school is named after King Leopold II of Belgium. The school was originally named in 1874, with the high likelihood that it took its name from Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Leopold (1853-1884), who was known for his interest in education. Unable to pursue a military career because of his illness (haemophilia), he instead became a patron of the arts and literature. The school has worked with pupils to explore the history of the school and produced history boards documenting its historic timeline. In doing so, no further origins of the school’s name were found in the archives.

 

 

Question from N. Scott to Councillor Donnelly-Jackson (Cabinet Member

for Customers, Communities and Culture)

 

In light of recent proposals made to the Council to change the name of Gladstone Park, due to the Gladstone family’s abhorrent role in African / Caribbean slavery, could you please let me know who and when it was decided to hold a Windrush Tea Party in that particular park from 12-4pm on 24th June?

 

With regards to the Mayor of London’s stated initiative, I am particularly concerned that the Council have made no meaningful attempt to address concerns of local residents and initiate a wider public consultation in relation to ethical name changes regarding Gladstone Park and two Leopold educational establishments - named after families who exploited, traded, tortured and profiteered from slavery.

 

Councillor’s response:

 

The council has a duty to mark Windrush Day – and does so each year. This year’s Windrush 75 celebrations follow the land art – known as The Anchor, The Drum, The Ship – which opened in the park in October 2022, and was curated by the Brent artist Linett Kamala. The Windrush Tea Party, also curated by Linett Kamala is being held close by to the heritage trail which has been installed in the park to highlight untold histories, and to recognise and celebrate the hugely valued contribution made to Brent by Black African Heritage residents and to further the conversations that the art exhibition and accompanying heritage trail began. The Brent Windrush 75 community tea party’s location reflects the council’s commitment to continue the conversation with communities about the history of Gladstone Park.

 

With regards to Gladstone Park, in 2020 the council undertook a review of the name of the park as part of the Mayor of London’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. This involved a review of statues, street names and landmarksin London included the possibility of a name change for Gladstone Park.

 

Engagement with the community was part of this process, which was completed in August 2021. The decision was not to rename the park but instead to develop a public art commission in partnership with the community to both acknowledge the Gladstone family’s link to the enslavement of Africans, whilst celebrating the huge contribution and influence of African heritage to the cultural landscape of Brent.

 

This space in the park, including The Anchor, The Drum, The Ship land art and the history trail, are now a space for learning, reflection, healing, gathering and celebrating.

“Being Green” – a new Brent video, with a message for its Council.

The River Brent below the Welsh Harp dam (an image from “Being Green”)

 

 

Guest post by Philip Grant 

Brent Museum and Archives is currently running a project called “Being Brent”. One of the products of this is a new video film which has just been issued, called “Being Green”.

 

 

 

 

The video features various community groups, and green spaces such as Fryent Country Park, Gladstone Park and the Welsh Harp reservoir, and people whose efforts there help to benefit the wider community, as well as the benefits of our green spaces to the wellbeing of Brent’s residents. This struck a chord with me, and I have sent the following email to all of Brent’s councillors, with a “link” to the video:-

Dear Brent Councillors,

 

I am writing to commend to you a short video film produced for Brent Museum and Archives. “Being Green” is part of Being Brent, a community project which aims to improve the wellbeing of local residents by connecting them to the borough’s rich heritage. 

 

I hope you will enjoy the video (just over 8 minutes long), which you can view here, and that you will share the “link” with residents in your Wards, so that they can enjoy it too: https://t.co/WxYSKbJ12N?amp=1

 

Brent’s green spaces are so important for the wellbeing of our borough’s residents. That is why the Council (you and your elected colleagues) have adopted planning policies whose purpose is to protect them. 

 

This is the promise in Core Policy CP18, which the Council adopted in 2010:

 

‘Protection and Enhancement of Open Space, Sports and Biodiversity

 

Open space (including waterways) of local value will be protected from inappropriate development and will be preserved for the benefit, enjoyment, health and well-being of Brent's residents, visitors and wildlife. Support will be given to the enhancement and management of open space for recreational, sporting and amenity use and the improvement of both open space and the built environment for biodiversity and nature conservation.’

 

The Development Management Policies which you adopted in November 2016 reinforced this, saying:

 

‘The provision of open space is important for sustainable communities, contributing to health and well-being.

 

Core Strategy policy CP18 protects all open space from inappropriate development. It also seeks improved provision in areas of deficiency and where additional pressure will be placed on open space.’

 

You may wish to reflect on why it is that Brent Council, in developing some of its own projects in recent years, has chosen to ignore this key planning promise.

 

These are just three examples of proposals (inappropriate developments that there is still time to change, if you have the will to do so) which would deprive Brent’s residents of “protected” green space which is important for their health and wellbeing:

·      

 The community garden in front of 1 Morland Gardens, due to be built over as part of the Brent Start redevelopment;

 

·      Areas of Brent River Park, which the proposals for the St Raphael’s Estate propose to build on;

 

·      The open space and mature trees which would be destroyed and built over, if the Council’s plans for Kilburn Square go ahead.

 

Enjoy the video about Brent’s green spaces, and the benefits to the health and wellbeing of our community that they provide. 

 

But please also think again about the Council’s own plans to destroy some of those green spaces, in breach of its own planning policies. 

 

Thank you. Best wishes,

 

Philip Grant.

Fascist graffiti removed from railway footbridge at Gladstone Park

The fascist graffiti that was painted on the railway footbridge bridge linking Kendall Road and Gladstone Park has been painted out ahead of the community 'paint out' that had been planned for 5pm this evening.  LINK

As I understand it Network Rail had also undertaken to remove it but a local resident beat them to it.

A clear message to  fascist individuals or groups that they are not welcome here.


UPDATE FROM  A READER November 14th:  A resident had done the initial paint-out and then Network Rail followed overpainitng not just the area of fascist graffiti but all the other graffiti too, in regulation green. Yesterday evening  a number of Brent residents and councillors gathered at the bridge in a gesture of solidarity with the people of Dollis Hill.

Fascist graffiti reappears near Gladstone Park - help community paint it out!

Graffiti on the railway bridge linking Kendal Road and Gladstone Park

Ariel view of the bridge

Local residents spotted fascist graffiti today on the Kendal Road railway bridge that crosses over into Gladstone Park.

This follows an earlier episode when racist and fascist graffiti was found near Jewish homes in the area. LINK

That graffiti was removed by loacl people in a clean up and similar action will be taken regarding the swastika above.  On Tuesday evening at 5pm local people and anti-racist actvists will don rubber gloves and bring paint and brushes to get rid of this unwelcome sign of the presence of fascist sympathisers in our midst. Meet at the bridge.

An organiser of the 'paint out' said:

Our community is saddened and angered that fascist graffiti has again appeared in our happy multicultural area. We are going to paint it out in a show of our strength. We won’t be divided by hate!

These stickers have also appeared in the area:

The NSZ (Narodowe Siły Zbrojne - National Armed Forces)  was an anti-Nazi and Anti-Soviet Polish resistance movement often accused of anti-Semitism although that has been challenged as Soviet propaganda. After a split in the organisation in 1944 NSZ-ZJ (the Lizard Union) was formed which appeares to have been a more extremist wing.  LINK

More on the state of Brent's parks & the 'meadows' debate

There's quite a debate going on regarding the state of Brent's parks on social media.  The 'creation' of meadows  was a decision based on saving money (£0.5m) backed by a claim that it would support natural diversity LINK. It has been implemented by  simply  not cutting the grass. Some are happy for sections of the parks to be left unmown hoping it will provide diversity for nature but others point out that real wild flower meadows need proper planning and maintenance.

Local resident Jaine Lunn succeeded in persuading Brent Council and their contractor Veolia to reduce the unmown area  in King Edward VII park to enable children to play ball games

Meanwhile a reader has sent me the above photograph of the 'cricket pitch' at King Edward VII park in Wembley commenting, 'I forgot how much they spent on doing this but they shouldn't have bothered.'

There is an extensive discussion about the issue on the View from Dollis Hill Facebook page regarding Gladstone Park. LINK

As a contribution to the meadows debate here are pictures of the meadows and 'scrape' at Mason's Field in Kingsbury where the Barn Hill Conservation Group has transformed a former playing field into a meadow. The transformation involved a substantial amount of work by volunteers including planting thousands of plug plants. See LINK.

Similar work was done at the University of Westminster wild flower meadow which is hand-scythed at the end of the season.

Mason's Field on Friday:

By contrast this is a view of one of the Gladstone Park meadows:

Neglect and dilapidation at Gladstone Park allotments

The overgrown allotment plots at Gladstone Park

Following yesterday's article LINK on the state of Birchen Grove allotments, in which I asked if there was a similar issue at other Brent allotments I have received the following information regarding the Gladstone Park allotment site:

I got my plot after a 2 year wait.  Everything you wrote yesterday could have been about Gladstone Park allotments also. Had my plot been allocated back in the autumn, I could have made a good start on clearing the ground of the dense couch grass, horseradish, bindweed etc, getting them to rot over the winter and preparing the plot for planting. The council rejected my request for help with clearing it. 

I am aware of other newbies with worse plots which they have been told they must clear and dispose of the rubbish themselves – including bricks, broken glass, abandoned contents of sheds. Although there have been several waves this spring of allotments being released to newcomers, a number of allotments remain abandoned and dilapidated. I’ve attached a couple of photos of examples but there are more. As you say, you can see why newcomers become overwhelmed and give up, perpetuating the general neglect.

 

The allotment sheds

The council has no idea who rents the council sheds. 

The toilet

 The toilet apparently has not worked for some time and the internal key was lost, I don’t know the current situation. The on-site allotment offices are abandoned and locked up. More could be done to organise communally beneficial services such as bulk purchase of compost, maybe have a large polytunnel on the overgrown plot which used to be communal – like the one they showed on Gardeners World recently, where the wider community can get involved in the growing process.

Abandoned buildings

 The on site supervisor does her best with the lack of council support. There are incidents of theft. Apparently the allotment key fits every padlock on all the Brent allotments so there is no knowing who is coming in legitimately or not. Updating entry security is long overdue.

Encourage wildlife-plant a hedge in Gladstone Park

The Flying Scotsman steamed through Gladstone Park this morning to delight of locals

Dollis Hill residents and steam train enthusiasts were up early this morning to see the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive from the railway bridge at Gladstone Park.

Many thanks to Zeina for permission to post her video first uploaded to Facebook.

Since this post was first published local historian Philip Grant (see his comment below) has supplied this photograph of the Flying Scotsman on display at the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley in 1924.

UPDATE Gladstone Park trees: Brent claims only the dead, dying, diseased or dangerous are felled

Brent Council has responded to Green Party candidate Shaka Lish's concerns LINK about the large number of trees recently felled in Gladstone Park with this statement:

We do not remove trees that are healthy and do not threaten to undermine property or threaten personal safety, staff and visitors. The trees that have been removed were dead, dying, diseased or considered to be dangerous and threatening to cause harm to persons or property. The most recent tree to be felled was near the railway line, it had failed at its base and would have fallen across the railway line if left. The trees are inspected by Arborists prior to being felled, unless it is an emergency then Health & Safety comes first.

The Council did not say if the trees are to be replaced.

This is Shaka's response:

Who are the Aborists making these decisions? Is this a new company that Brent is using? It is apparent to many users of the park that in recent times there is a lot of felling taking place, more than has happened in the past. Has your health and safety policy been updated? Changed? The two trees that have recently been cut down were perfectly healthy, there was nothing wrong with them at all. So can you specifically explain to me why they were felled? Here's an inserted picture of one of the trees in the height of Autumn, looking perfectly healthy.

Also, more importantly, I would like to know, as a Brent Green party candidate, campaigner and member, are you keeping a record of the number of trees that are being cut down and do you plan to replace them?

These trees are our heritage and our history. Some are hundreds of years old. They are our natural allies in our fight against pollution and they contribute to our health and wellbeing. They are beautiful and majestic to look at and be around. Brent seems to be cutting down these trees with no thought to these important benefits. Do you have any idea how heartbreaking it is to see these grand trees cut down in this way? I am not alone in feeling this way and I will make sure that it is publicly and widely known the actions that Brent is taking and win support to make sure this violence against our trees is properly accountable and justified.

Greens challenge tree felling in Gladstone Park

The Green Party's parliamentary candidate for Brent Central, Shaka Lish, has challenged Brent Council about the felling of trees in Gladstone Park.

Accusing Brent Council of an act of 'wilful vandalism' she asked, 'What is the point of cutting down our beautiful, healthy, ancient trees?' She asked if the Council had any plans to replace them.

At the recent Brent Clean Air meeting at the Civic Centre, Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt, extolled the benefits of trees to combat air pollution but a closer examination shows this may be no more than hot air.

A Freedom of Information request by Wembley Matters LINK established that Brent Council keeps no records of trees lost, felled and replaced in its parks and that none of the 62 trees removed on Brent Housing Partnership estates Jan 1st-Dec 31st 2016 had been replaced.

Parks maintenance is contracted  out to Veolia as part of the Public Realm contract and Gristwood and Toms is contracted to deal with trees over a specific height.

It's ironic given all the above that Brent Council has received a Forestry Commission London's Trees and Woodland Award LINK:

Borough Tree Award - Brent Council Tree Planting Project, Sudbury Town, Barn Hill, Harlesden and Kensal Green 

The Trees and Development Award: Wembley Park – Arena Square and Wembley Park Boulevard.  Market Square (meantime planting). Quintain, London Borough of Brent

Brent Council's ambiguous approach to immigration

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council acted quickly on the 'racist van' issue and UKBA raids on local stations. He appeared in the media to denounce the impact of such strategies on a diverse community and also condemned the estsate agents who were alleged to discriminate against prospective black tenants.

However, the Council also took part in raids on shop premises in Willesden Green alongside the UK Border Agency and have imposed dispersal orders, support by the police and UKBA on workers waiting for a day's labour in the traditional Cricklewood picking up points.

Now the lead member for Crime Prevention and Community Safety, Cllr Aslam Choudry, has circulated his March Report to councillors that states:

I have received complaints from various people in Mapesbury, Dudden Hill and Dollis Hill wards that there are Bulgarian illegal immigrants sleeping rough in Gladstone Park. This is an ongoing issue but has deteriorated recently. brent Safety, Police and Immigrations department are working together to find a solution. Again this will not be an easy but efforts must be made to ensure the safety issues are addressed.

Bulgarians of course have EU rights as I am sure Cllr Choudry  noticed during the recent UKIP induced media panic. Sleeping rough may be unsightly and inconvenient but is there any evidence of any crime result from sleepers' presence in the park - or is there an underlying assumption that they are criminal in the same way that this was applied to Romanians?  There is even some doubt about the extent of the problem and it would be interesting to see some hard evidence.

It was intersting that Cllr Choudry's email was copied in to Lee Skevington who is not a councillor but Brent Labour Party's borough organiser.