Amidst over-development, a place to breathe and grow - South Kilburnites say 'SAVE OUR REC!'

The meeting at the Rec

 

 

From Save Our Rec
 

We hosted councillors from across the political spectrum, bringing together representatives from both Camden and Brent at the Granville Rec to amplify the #SaveTheRec campaign.

 

Leslie Barson met with Cllr Amer Agha (the Mayor of Brent), Cllr Matt Kelcher (Cabinet Member for Regeneration), and several Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, and Green councillors.

 

Leslie highlighted why plans to demolish the Rec as part of the Hereford & Exeter regeneration project in South Kilburn must be urgently reconsidered.

 

*Loss of Public Space & Essential Amenities:*

Regeneration continues to erode crucial public and open spaces, leaving the Kilburn community with fewer vital local amenities.

 

*A History of Broken Trust:*

Decades of Brent Council failings in South Kilburn have severely damaged community trust, making transparent and genuinely accountable decision-making essential.

 

*Inadequate Replacement Site:* 

The proposed replacement site is simply not an equivalent alternative for a whole host of reasons.

 

*Lack of Community Participation:*

Meaningful consultation and true community participation have been consistently sidelined throughout this process.

 

Environmental & Wellbeing Impact:

 

🌱 *Community & Food Sovereignty*: It is an active community garden run by Granville Community Kitchen, providing local food growing, City & Guilds horticultural training, and educational workshops.

 

*🧠 Mental Health & Wellbeing:* It offers a calm, essential green sanctuary for local school pupils, young people, and residents.

 

🐝 *Vital Biodiversity:* It is a mature, irreplaceable urban ecosystem, not a space that can simply be replaced by concrete or artificial landscaping.

 

⚠️ WHAT YOU CAN DO

 

There is a Brent Councillors’ Members Briefing tomorrow. 

 

We are calling on *all* local residents concerned about the loss and overdevelopment of our green spaces to take action NOW:

 

1️⃣ Email your Ward Councillors: Ask them directly to attend tomorrow’s briefing and stand up for South Kilburn’s green infrastructure.

 

2️⃣ Send an Email / Message: If you believe in saving the Rec, contact:

 

 Cllr Rubin (Cabinet Member for Action on Climate)

 

⁠Cllr.Jake.Rubin@brent.gov.uk⁠

 

Cllr Kelcher (Cabinet Member for Regeneration)

 

⁠cllr.matt.kelcher@brent.gov.uk⁠

 

 

 

Useful Links & Petitions:

 

📌 Sign the Petition & Read More: https://granvillecommunitykitchen.org.uk/community/save-the-rec/

📌 Brent Green Party Campaigns: https://brent.greenparty.org.uk/campaigns/

 

Please share this message with your local Kilburn and Brent networks, street groups, and neighbours! 💚✊

Cllr Jake Rubin to take on Brent Cabinet Climate Action role with Cllr Mary Mitchell Cabinet Climate Action Champion. New chief whip replaces Stephen Crabb

 

News from the Brent Labour Group AGM, held on Saturday, is gradually coming in.

Cllr Jake Rubin (Roundwood ward) announced his appointment as Cabinet Lead Member for Employment, Innovation and Climate Action on Twitter this afternoon

He takes over climate action from Cllr Krupa Sheth (Tokyngton) whose brief  was Lead Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action.

Cllr Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam (Wembley Park) has the interesting and potentially difficult role of Labour Chief Whip.

He takes over from Cllr Stephen Crabb  (Queens Park)who had his own difficulties in the role when he had to deal with a potentially controversial Labour motion for Full Council.

After his intervention, when he sought advice from a senior Labour Party body, the motion was not placed on the agenda.

 

The Climate Action brief has been additionally strengthened by the appointment of Cllr Mary Mitchell (Welsh Harp) as 'Climate Action Cabinet Champion.'

Hopefully this will mean a more concerted and coordinated tackling of climate emergency action across council departments. Something local environmental groups have been pressing for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I understand  that Cllr Rita Begum (Kilburn) failed in her attempt to become Deputy Leader of the Labour Group. Cllr Rita Conneely (Kilburn) retains her chair of the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee. Cabinet and  Committee posts go the the Full Council AGM for approval but the Chief Whip post is internal.

The Council AGM takes place on May 22nd, when other positions will be announced, and the first Cabinet of the new municipal year is on May 28th.