Showing posts with label Harlesden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harlesden. Show all posts

Saturday 3 February 2024

Brent Council to go ahead with formal consultation on halving the size of Leopold Primary School despite overwhelming parent opposition - Gwenneth Rickus site to close

 

Site proposed for closure

Brent Council Cabinet on Monday is set to launch a formal consultation on the closure of the Leopold Primary School Gwenneth Prckus site, Brentfield Road, despite overwhelming opposition at the informal consultation stage. LINK

The Governing Body of the school opposed the proposal as did 86.7% of the consultation respondents.

Brent Council's rationale is based on the need for forward planning as pupil numbers drop and the additional expense involved in running a school on two sites.  They admit that parents' perception is that despite a shared senior management team and governing body, it runs as a separate school from the Hawkshead Road site. 

Certainly it seemed a school in its own right when I visited several times a few years ago and I was bowled over by its ethos and the vitality and talent of the diverse staff and pupils. It was (is) very special. Leopold School (both sites) had a period of difficulty which saw the appointment of an Executive Headteacher to stabilise things and came through with flying colours and improved pupil achievement. It made a postive contribution to the Black Achievement project.

Considerable capital investment was made into the building when it was decided to refurbish what had been  the Brent Teachers Centre into an annex to Leopold Primary to accommodate the 'bulge' of pupils that was moving through the system at the time. 

The Cabinet paper states:

The Local Authority remains of the view that the proposal is required to address the level of spare places in the local area. While concerns raised by parents would need to be taken into consideration if the proposal was implemented, officers are of the view that the Council should move to consult formally on the proposal to cease provision on the Gwenneth Rickus site of Leopold Primary School.

The building would be used for other educational purposes according to the Cabinet paper but there is no mention of it as a possible site for the Islamia Primary School which is under notice to quit its Queens Park site. SEND and alternative provision are mentioned as possibilities so building expenses would remain.

The closure would lead to job losses and proposals are put forward to manage this process involving talks with trade unions and possible re-location of some staff to the Hawkshead site or re-employment elsewhere.


I embed below officers' responses to the consultation.

Friday 15 December 2023

Brent Cyclists call for public support for Wembley Central - Harlesden cycling route: why and how

Guest post by Brent Cycling Campaign

 


 

TfL and Brent Council are currently consulting on walking, wheeling and cycling improvements between Wembley Central and Harlesden stations. At Brent Cycling Campaign we are really excited about this proposal which represents an important opportunity for Brent and North West London.You can read about the proposals here: haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/wembley-harles

 

New proposals to improve walking and cycling between Wembley Central and Harlesden are an important opportunity for Brent. Brent Cycling Campaign welcomes and supports plans by Transport for London and Brent Council for safer streets, new cycle lanes, and new pedestrian crossings.

 

After more than three years of planning and public engagement TfL published the new plans on 10th November. The plans connect Wembley Central to Harlesden with a cycle route on quiet roads and protected space between Sylvia Gardens and First Drive across the North Circular. The proposals, which do not reduce the number of lanes for drivers, follow an existing route from London Road onto Tokyngton Avenue, after crossing the North Circular people on bikes are diverted through quiet streets around Stonebridge Park to reach Harlesden Station on Acton Lane.

 

The junction of Harrow Road with the North Circular is the most dangerous junction for pedestrians in Brent. Between 2018 and 2022 there were over 90 collisions along Harrow Road, in January 2022 a person was killed crossing the road at the junction with the North Circular, and since 2018 there have been over 100 injuries and deaths on roads along the route. With quicker and safer pedestrian crossings, and a new protected cycle lane, the improvements to the A404 / A406 junction will be an example of how Brent can be transformed into a welcoming borough for active travel.

 


 

Throughout the plans new and improved pedestrian crossings and footpaths will help connect communities. Some side roads will have raised entrances, meaning people using mobility aids or with pushchairs do not need to go up and down steep kerbs. Extended bus lanes will mean faster, more reliable bus journeys. The new route will make it much easier to access Bridge Park Leisure Centre, with two new pedestrian crossings over the main road where people are not left stranded on pedestrian islands. TfL also plan to improve the lighting and CCTV in Tokyngton Recreation Ground and Stonebridge Park making these areas safer for people traveling alone and after dark.

 

The new proposals miss some important opportunities for better walking and cycling in Brent, for example by not continuing the improvements along Harrow Road to Wembley Triangle, and by not reducing the number of motor vehicles on residential roads. However, we at Brent Cycling Campaign welcome these plans, and hope they represent the start of significant investment in better active travel in Brent. If you would like to have your say and support the proposals please see the consultation on TfL’s website.

 

This article authored by Brent Cycling Campaign first appeared in the Brent and Kilburn Times.

 

Friday 10 November 2023

AT LAST! TfL consultation opens on safer routes for cyclists between Wembley Central and Harlesden

 

 

I used to do a daily return trip by cycle for work between Harlesden (St Johns Avenue) and Park Lane, Wembley Central. To say it was more dangerous than going over the Berlin Wall would be an exaggeration, but I was often surprised to still be alive at the end of the day.

Next year it will be 5 years since Brent Council and TfL began working on safer cycling and pedestrian routes for the Wembley Centra to Harlesden journey and the long-awaited TfL consultation opens today and closes just before Christmas on December 21st.

 

 

TfL say: 

We have been working closely with Brent Council since April 2019 to develop a project that would make it safer and easier for local people to walk and cycle between Wembley and Willesden Junction.

We are developing the project in phases, and the first phase will focus on the area between Wembley Central and Harlesden stations, where we propose to provide a new high-quality Cycleway and improvements for pedestrians.

The changes would make streets in the area safer and more pleasant by enabling people to walk and cycle more and drive less.

The proposals include a protected two-way cycle lane on the A404 Harrow Road and Brentfield, new and improved cycle and pedestrian crossings over Harrow Road, better street lighting to help make the area feel safer and more trees and plants more welcoming.

This would help us to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions, which could improve local people’s health. It would also address congestion, and help support new developments(External link) (External link) planned across the wider area by providing better walking and cycling links to local businesses and stations.

The changes we would like to make are:

  • Introducing a new protected two-way cycle lane on the A404 Harrow Road and Brentfield between Sylvia Gardens and First Drive, with separate low level cycle signals at junctions, new cycle crossings and better connections to other local cycle routes
  • Introducing bus stop bypasses for cyclists at bus stops C and K, with the two-way cycle lane behind the bus stop island for cyclist safety
  • Improving the quiet road cycle connections to Wembley Central and Harlesden stations
  • Improving the route for pedestrians by adding a new crossing over Brentfield near Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre and making existing crossings at the A406 junction more direct, which will reduce crossing times
  • We’ll add measures to slow traffic speeds, add better street lighting and drainage, and new areas of planting and trees where space allows along the route
  • Improving the service for bus passengers by extending bus stop D so two buses can stop here at a time, and moving stop B in line with the traffic lane so that buses can pull away easily after passengers board
  • Other changes to allow us to make these improvements include closing the left turn filter lanes from the A406 onto Harrow Road and Brentfield, making Sylvia Gardens exit only for motor vehicles (currently entrance only), shortening a parking bay on Harrow Road and reviewing parking restrictions on the quiet road connections. We would also move bus stop ‘Sunny Crescent’ 90m to the eastern side of Wyborne Way to make space for the new cycle lanes

 

The maps below will give you a more detailed idea of the proposals:

 




Two drop-in events are planned to discuss the proposals:

Public drop-in event 9th December

Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre, Brentfield, Harrow Road, London NW10 ORG (10:00 - 14:00)

 

Public drop-in event 12th December

Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre, Brentfield, Harrow Road, London NW10 ORG (15:00 - 19:00)

 

You can find the full online consultation here including further information: 

https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/wembley-harlesden

 

I have embedded the consultation form below in case you would like to preview it before responding or perhaps  prefer to answer offline.

 

 

Wednesday 12 July 2023

Landlords who rent out properties in Dollis Hill, Harlesden & Kensal Green and Willesden Green, will legally be required to have a licence from 1 August - Cost £540 before August 1st, £640 after

 Press release from Brent Council


Landlords called to get licence to rent

A new law requiring landlords in three Brent wards to pay for a selective licence will come into force on 1 August 2023.

Landlords who rent out properties in Dollis Hill, Harlesden & Kensal Green and Willesden Green, will legally be required to have a licence from 1 August.

A licence will cost £640 for up to five years. Anyone who applied in the next few weeks before 1 August will be able to purchase a licence at the current rate of £540.

Dollis Hill, Harlesden & Kensal Green and Willesden Green were selected for licensing following a borough-wide consultation that began in autumn 2022. A report to cabinet members showed that a selective licensing scheme would have a positive impact on poor property conditions and high levels of antisocial behaviour in the three areas.

Cllr Promise Knight, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters’ Security, said: 

The landlords who work with us take pride in renting out properties that offer decent facilities and living conditions to tenants. The licensing scheme supports landlords in offering the best they can to tenants, ensuring that tenants’ safety and security are protected.

We encourage landlords and agents with properties in Dollis Hill, Harlesden & Kensal Green and Willesden Green to apply for a licence as soon as possible.

You can find out whether the property you are renting needs a licence by checking out:https://www.brent.gov.uk/prslicensing

Saturday 17 June 2023

Brent Xtra International Reggae Day Day UK 2023 Friday June 30th - events across Willesden and Harlesden


 I am honoured to have been asked to take part in this event. See you there!

Come join in us, as we usher in International Reggae Day Brent stylee!! From a walk, to talks, performances, community stalls, prostate cancer awareness and fund-raiser, to a DJ set marking "the Global Influence of 80s and 90s Dancehall" IRD 2023 theme: 

 

FRIDAY JUNE 30 2023

 

1. 4.00-5.00pm The Brent Black Music History Walk

 

Starts from Willesden Bus Garage, Pound Lane, London NW10 2HW (full details provided upon booking). The walk is led by Brent resident and author of 'Brent Black Music History Project book and DVD Kwaku BBM. Discover some of the hidden music histories along the route to Harlesden, the heart of black music and reggae in Britain. £5 adult; £10 2 adults (plus 2 youths under 18 years).

 

2. 5.15-6.15pm Gathering Around The Reggae Tree

 

Join The Reggae Tree Ambassador Diane Shrouder Johnson and local dignitaries by The Reggae Tree in front of the Hawkeye record shop (2 Craven Park Road, London NW10 4AB). We will have a short chat about the environment by Wembley Matters blogger Martin Francis to underpin International Reggae Day's Plant A Tree environmental remit. There will be performances by the likes of local singer-songwriter Owen Deacon and others. £Free

 

3. 6.15-9.15pm Talks, Presentations, Screenings, Performances And Community Stalls

DJ Pascoe will welcome attendees to Windrush Hall in Tavistock Hall, 25 High Street, Harlesden, London NW10 4ND (use Tavistock Road entrance; parking by Burger King/Tesco) with a British reggae set.

 

Engagement with local community organisations, with stalls available to book at £15, performances by Music4Causes ft. Kimba (repeating the reggae performance from the same stage last year), singer-songwriter Owen Deacon, plus performance and talk by Sparky Rugged via video, music history presentation by Kwaku BBM, and prostate cancer awareness presentations by prostate cancer advocate Keith Gussy Young and a Cancer Black Care representative.

 

Starts with video featuring artists from Brent, and a preview of the Brent Reggae Album Covers presentation.

 

We will auction off a reggae themed drawing by Mike Hawthorne as part of raising funds for Brent-based charity Cancer Black Care

 

We'll end the evening with the Vinyl Xposure of DJ Lady Juicy's lovers rock, whilst DJ Pascoe's selections speak to the International Reggae Day 2023 theme: "From Brukins to Bogle: The Global Influence of 80s and 90s Dancehall".

 

Stalls £15; African Caribbean meal £5 - vegetarian, rice and peas with either fish or chicken can be bought on the day or pre-booked.

 

+Vinyl Xposure

+Videos

+Stalls

+Discussions

+Networking

+Performances

+Photographic Exhibition

+Prostate Cancer Awareness

+African-Caribbean Food on sale

+SURPRISE

 

A family-friendly event organised by BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusicMusic.com/Black Music Congress) and BTWSC/African Histories Revisited, with support from Serene One and Sparky Rugged.

 

TICKETS

Monday 8 May 2023

Developer's proposal to add extra floors to Fairfield Court, Harlesden, at Planning Committee on Wednesday

 

Fairfield Court, Longstone Avenue, Harlesden

The site

With potential building sites at a premium the strategy is to build high on small footprint sites.  In Wembley this has been new towers but across the country it is becoming common for develpers to add extra storeys to existing buildings.

This is what is happening to the sequence of blocks making up Fairfield Court in Harlesden where the proposal to be heard at Planning Commitete on Wednesday May 10th is:

Proposed two second floor extensions and third floor extension to create six new self-contained dwellings including 4 rear dormer windows and new solar panel. Construction of two rear access staircases

The proposal would create additional floors to the building accommodating no’s 5-6 and 20-21 Fairfield Court increasing the height of the building from two- to three-storeys. The other additional floor would be above no’s 7-12 and 14-19 block of units, increasing the height from 3 to 4-storeys. Accommodation would also be provided in the roof of that block. The blocks would be composed to increase from 2 to 3 and then 4-storeys with the taller blocks situated further into the site.

Planning officer are recommending that the application be approved.

Proposed structure - blue line is current height

 The proposal has received 41 objections as recorded on the Brent Council Planning Portal, a 105 signature petition objecting to the plans and opposition for Cllr Jumbo Chan.

This objection is froma Fairfield House resident:

 

As a Fairfield Court resident, I have several reasons to object to this planning application.


This proposal not only changes the original character of this charming purpose built 1930s block but has a significant impact on the amount of light coming to the flat.


Being on the ground floor and due to the new build opposite; the flat has significantly lost light coming in. This would be exacerbated by this proposal. One of the attractions of moving into this building was the garden and amount of light. I already have a low level of sunlight into my living room- this is going to be made much worse. The daylight report makes clear that windows to my flat will be negatively and permanently impacted. To note, Fairfield suffers from damp which will worsen if both height and the staircase is added.


The data within the report about Vertical Sky Component, and No SkyLine is illegible. The conclusions are made that the impacts are not enough to reach the threshold of concern. I cannot decipher or assess the illegible data. However, the tables show that the development WILL negatively impact my flat. Saying the threshold is 20% but the damage to my flat is only 18% seems disingenuous and cruel. There is nothing to stop 18% sunlight being lost today and further 18% being lost in the near future.


The proposed staircase and its footfall would be directly outside my living room and bedroom. I would experience visual intrusion and a lack of privacy into my sitting room and front bedroom. This is not only a visual intrusion but also could add to anti-social behaviour. The space in which the proposed staircase would go has previously been closed to stop antisocial behaviour. This would overall have an overall negative impact on my quality of life and wellbeing.


I see the proposal does not speak about the increased pressure that would be on the communal garden which is well used by the number of children and families living in the block.


For example, any new 'refuse storage' construction would mean we would have to lose more of the front garden and possibly even the trees. With the proposed 'additional car and cycle parking spaces' at the front of Fairfield, would result in the loss of more of the communal front garden area, leading to more noise disturbance and air pollution caused by vehicles. There would be further limited communal garden space for residents.

 

 Planners of course see the high rise building opposite as a reason to support the proposal as it would be 'appropriate in the context' of the surrounding area.

 

The negative impact on the current attractive amenity space is  mentioned by a number of objectors. This is the developer's response.


 

As no affordable homes will be provided in the development the Council is asking for a Section 106 agreement for a payment of £300,000 from the developer for affordable housing elsewhere.

 

Officers' Report Conclusion recommending approval (Application 22/3634)

 

The proposal would not involve any private amenity space for the proposed units, however, there is a substantial amount of communal external amenity space existing within the site, with approximately 1500sq.m of shared gardens space to the rear of the buildings and additional areas to the front. This could clearly cater for the existing and proposed residents (exceeding current standards) and would provide high quality external space. Therefore, in this instance the absence of private external amenity space is accepted. It is noted that the site is also in close proximity of Roundwood Park which provides other good quality external amenity space

 

The proposal would create additional floors to the building accommodating no’s 5-6 and 20-21 Fairfield Court increasing the height of the building from two- to three-storeys. The other additional floor would be above no’s 7-12 and 14-19 block of units, increasing the height from 3 to 4-storeys. Accommodation would also be provided in the roof of that block. The blocks would be composed to increase from 2 to 3 and then 4-storeys with the taller blocks situated further into the site.

 

While officers note that the proposal would be built over some (non-designated) green space within the site, the extent of this is minimal and the submitted revised landscaping plan confirms the planting of new trees and shrubs within the site which officers consider would mitigate against impacts associated with this. Further, the proposed parking arrangements would be made of permeable paving which would be beneficial in terms of drainage.

 

While officers note that the proposal would be built over some (non-designated) green space within the site, the extent of this is minimal and the submitted revised landscaping plan confirms the planting of new trees and shrubs within the site which officers consider would mitigate against impacts associated with this. Further, the proposed parking arrangements would be made of permeable paving which would be beneficial in terms of drainage.

 

The proposal would result in the creation of six new homes, including 4 family sized homes, and a contribution towards the provision of off-site Affordable housing would be secured in line with policy. The proposal would increase the height of the existing buildings above that of some of the homes in the area. However, the resulting scale is considered appropriate when considering the full context of the site including the taller buildings on the eastern side of Longstone Avenue.


An objector has commented that the submitted daylight and sunlight assessment incorrectly assesses whether the development projects above a 25 degree line from the middle of windows of Springwell Avenue properties. This has been examined by officers and while the proposal is likely to comply with the 25 degree line taken from the objector’s property, it appears likely that it will project above a 25 degree line taken from the middle of the nearest windows of two other properties (Nos. 34 and 36). However, the presence of very large trees is likely to already significantly impact the light received by these windows and it is considered unlikely that the proposal will result in a material additional impact. Additional parking capacity would be provided through changes to the frontage parking area, and while over-spill parking is not anticipated, it is likely to be easily accommodated on street.

 

The proposal is considered to accord with the development plan when read as a whole and it is recommended that planning permission is granted.




Saturday 26 November 2022

Dawn Butler: 'We need to keep Harlesden whole' opposes new Boundary Commission proposals as undermining Harlesden's representation as a community


 The boundary that splits Harlesden (Source)

 Dawn Butler MP (Brent Central) has reacted to the latest proposals from the Boundary Commission for new Wembley, Willesden and Queens Park & Little Venice constituencies, with an email to constituents opposing the changes wil will split Harlesden between two constituencies.

I have received, from the Boundary Commission, their latest proposals to change the borders of the constituency boundaries in Brent, and indeed across the entire country.

The Boundary Commission has now publicly released its plans and has outlined that it wants to cut Harlesden down the middle. This means that the Church End half of Harlesden would be in one constituency, and the High Street would be in another. It just makes no sense.

I am opposing these plans and I have called on the Boundary Commission to think again about splitting one of Brent’s most vibrant communities into two. Do the people in Harlesden identify as living in two distinct areas? No. Harlesden is one community and it should remain as such. That has been the case for about as far back as historical records can go.

But I am not just opposing these changes because of history but because representation matters. When I stand up in Parliament and speak, I am speaking up for all of Harlesden. So, when I call on the Government to end the scourge of betting shops, or demand extra police on our streets, I am making representations on behalf of the entire Harlesden community, that will benefit the entire Harlesden community. Harlesden deserves to be represented within Parliament in a comprehensive, not patchwork manner.

We need to keep Harlesden whole.

If you agree with me, then make sure you have your say by completing a simple online form on the Boundary Commission website at https://www.bcereviews.org.uk/. The deadline for submission is 5th December.


 

Friday 8 July 2022

Harlesden celebrates after defeating planning application for another Adult Gaming Centre in the town

 

5-6 Park Parade, Harlesden, NW10


A combination of local residents and organisations were claiming success today after Brent Council turned down a planning application for conversion of  currently empty premises at 5-6 Park Parade, Harlesden, into a betting shop AND adult gaming centre.

78 objections were received in total inclusive of objections from Councillors, Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Harlesden Area Action Group, the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Salvation Army. 

 

Wembley Matters wrote about the planning application in May:  Gambling Harlesden's Future.

 

A closely argued officers' report refers back to  the Planning Inspectorate's report on an earlier appeal. It is worth looking at the officer's  Final Delegated Report for the detailed arguments on planning issues as the applicant may well appeal again. 

 

The grounds for refusal of the application are summarised as:

 

The proposed change of use would result in an unacceptable over-concentration of Adult Gaming Centres, it would harm the vitality and viability of Harlesden Town Centre. The proposed development is contrary to DMP 1 and BE5 of the Brent Local Plan 2019-2041.The proposed development fails to accord with the development plan and there are no site specific circumstances or material consideration to justify diverting from the policy in this instance.