Is there ANYONE in favour of a pedestrian bridge across the Welsh Harp reservoir? No information on primary provision at Environmental Study Centre

 

 

The Wesh Harp Joint Consultative Committee is usually a fairly mild affair but it livened up considerably last night when a resident suggested that Barnet Council were happy to let volunteers do the work  needed to maintain the Welsh Harp but brushed aside any criticism. The Brent Council chair of the Committee, Cllr Krupa Sheth, had refused to allow 'one issue' to dominate proceedings.

 

The bridge access is just visible on Barratt's publicity

 

The resident wanted to discuss the fact that current West Hendon residents had no knowledge of the proposed bridge across the Welsh Harp  at the Silk Stream first suggested in the original planning application in 2013 LINK.  Having found out about it they were furious, particularly as they would be expected to pay for its maintenance, in addition to that for the Cool Oak Pedestrian Bridge, through their service charges.

The planning approval had involved a different group of residents and needed to be revisited. The bridge had originally been proposed when a primary school was to be built  on the West Hendon site and would have given the pupils a short cut to extensive proposed sports facilities on the opposite bank.

The primary school proposal had been dropped and the facilities drastically reduced so it was claimed the bridge was not necessary and a 'bridge to nowhere'.

Ben Watt of the Cool Oak group.  had long opposed the bridge because of its detrimental impact on the SSSI  and disturbance to wild life, as well as doubts over its construction given the silty nature of the site. He was also concerned with the safety of anyone crossing the bridge. He sets out his case under Any Other Business in the above clip.

Barnet councillors were hard put to justify the bridge, claiming it had been secured under a Section 106 agreement with Barratt, and Barratts wanted to build it. It was a private bridge for public use. There were counter claims that Barratts had told residents that Barnet Council wanted to build it, although Labour who form the current administration, opposed it in 2013.  Has it become a Labour vanity project?

 

Proposals for 16+ provision at the previous Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre remained vague with any continuation of the primary environmental provision apparently not part of plans. I will ask for more information regarding the appointment mentioned in the last paragraph.

 

Welsh Harp Centre:

 

The Centre is expected to provide opportunities for young people aged 16+ with SEND during curriculum time, with provision for community use at other times. The provision for young people with SEND will focus on developing vocational skills, such as skills in horticulture, as well as offering opportunities to better prepare Brent’s young people with SEND for adulthood.

 

In respect of the building programme the stage 2 design has now been approved. The Council’s project team has a pre-planning application meeting scheduled in November with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) to outline the current design and obtain feedback. The LPA feedback and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders will influence the next stage of spatial design.

 

In terms of provision, Brent Council’s, Children, Young People & Community Development team are currently recruiting a staff member who will have oversight of the Welsh Harp Centre including curriculum development and liaison with community groups. It is expected that the post holder will start in January 2026.

 

 

Petition for 'clean toilets for all' in Roundwood Park launched after requests fall on Council 'deaf ears'

 

 

Roundwood Park protest outside the closed toilets earlier this summer

Following the lack of action by Brent Council after the August protest in Roundwood Park calling for accessible, safe and clean public toilets in the park a petition has been launched.

It is not a new issue, nearly 10 years ago I wrote on Wembley Matters:  It's time to re-launch a campaign for decent public toilet provision - it's an equality issue 

KOVE (Kilburn Older Voices Exchange) staged a procession down Kilburn High Road calling for better toilet facilities back in 2024 LINK. and more recently a 'pop up' toilet has been set up by volunteers in Kilburn's Grange Park.

The current petition, Re-open Roundwood Park toilets, was set up by local campaigner Amandine Alexandre on the Brent Council website and is open until October 31st 2025.

Perhaps we can get some pledges from candidates before the Council elections next year? 

 

The Petition 

We the undersigned petition the council to re-open Roundwood Park existing toilets and work on the design of modern toilets, less prone to attract anti-social behaviour

Roundwood Park users have been deprived of public toilets since July 2022.   The lack of public toilets in Roundwood Park is affecting absolutely everyone - parents with children, disabled people, older people, people with health issues etc. It prevents lots of residents from using the park as much as they would like and it stops too many people from coming to the park altogether.   It's particularly an issue for women of all ages. We, women, spend less time in parks than men - and that affects our health and sense of well-being in a very negative way. Reversely, having access to inclusive green spaces boosts our health. For example, girls are less likely to be anxious and depressed when they spend time in green spaces.   On August 2nd, I was part of a group of local residents who gathered in the park to ask for the re-opening of the public toilets. Again, our request fell on deaf ears and we were told by Cabinet member Krupa Sheth that we should use the cafe toilets.   This is an inappropriate answer that fails to understand that the cafe toilets cannot be a replacement for public toilets and that the closure of the public toilets is creating a health issue for residents.   As Brent Council is about to spend £3 millions on Green Corridors in Roundwood and Church End to encourage more people who live in Church End to use Roundwood Park and fight against health inequalities, now is the time to re-open the existing public toilets or build new toilets in a different, better location in the park where there will be a reduced risk of anti-social behaviour taking place.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Save the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre closure petition presented - a further Council response awaited

 

From Brent Coucil's promotional video about the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre

I made the presentation below to Brent Full Council this evening. Cllr Grahl, lead member for schools was not present but promised to respond later to my points. Cllr Krupa Sheth, lead member for the Environment did not respond at all and it was left to Cllr Benea in charge of the capital project, a new build for a 16+SEND building, to answer the petition. 

However, the petition was not about the building, except that it should accommodate the Welsh Harp Environmental Centre's activities, and  she could not answer on the climate change, education or partnership questions.  Cllr Mary Mitchell made an intervention that was positive about the work of the Centre and its essential nature at a time of a climate and Ecological emergency. Cllr Lorber drew attention to my main point about the need for primary provision as well as 16+SEND in the new building and suggested the use of Neighbourhood CIL.

THE PRESENTATION 

This is what I said:

I am Martin Francis, ex-teacher, headteacher and LEA school governor. Petition supported by Brent Parks Forum and Brent Friends of the Earth. Despite operating during the school holiday the petition has 487 signatures.

 

People on my allotment have noticed a silence. This is the lack of excited chatter as crocodiles of primary children visiting the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre pass nearby.

 

We miss them, and surely the children will miss their visits.

 

The Centre has closed since Thames21 withdrew funding at the end of the Summer Term.

 

David Attenborough famously asked how it would be possible to motivate our children to fight to save nature, if they had never experienced it at first hand. It is not just a matter of scientific knowledge but of the experiential awe and wonder involved.

 

This generation of children will face the daunting task of tackling the climate and ecological emergency. The Centre had an important role in enabling our children to do just that and worked with up to 300 pupils a week. The vast majority of our primary schools do not have the grounds to match the experience offered by the woodlands and ponds of the Centre.

 

The Brent Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy 2021-2030 recognised the importance of the Centre and said:  

 

QUOTE  ‘The council has secured funding to improve the Educational Centre on the site, to bring residents, schools and communities closer to nature and to help improve biodiversity’

 

Brent Cabinet May 22^nd  2023 agreed post -16 SEND Provision in a new building on the site saying:

 

QUOTE:  The proposal would enable the Environmental Education programme to schools to continue to be delivered as part of the wider building use alongside the Post-16 horticultural use.

 

However, at the Joint Welsh Harp Consultative Committee, Leslie Williams for Brent Council said:

 

 QUOTE that the building would be ‘fully utilised during curriculum time by the post 16 provision’ and only available for other groups outside of that time. An excellent building has been designed but has it space for a primary classroom.

 

The Capital Projects team gave a resident a long list of organisations consulted about the new building but primary schools were missing.

 

The loss-making aspect of the Centre was cited as a reason for Thame21’s withdrawal. Part of that loss was down to the high heating and maintenance costs of the dilapidated cabin classrooms and will be addressed by a shared new building.

 

I alongside others took part in bringing together a consortium to use the building outside of school hours that could be a reliable income stream to help subsidise the Centre which was charging a fee of £5 per pupil per session to schools at the point of closure. The staff salary will be the main cost.

 

The petition calls on the council to undertake a full scoping exercise to find a new organisation to run the centre, perhaps local industry such as Careys to enhance their green credentials or a voluntary organisation such as the Canal and Rivers Trust.

 

So, we need three assurances from the lead member who responds to this petition:

 

1.     That the Environmental Education Centre will have space in the new building.

 

2.     That the council will make an all-out effort, fuelled by a passionate commitment to environmental education and the urgent need to address the climate and ecological emergency, to find a new partner to run the WHEEC.

 

 

3.     That the curriculum and activities offered by the Centre will continue to enrich the science curriculum on life processes and living things with first-hand experience.

 

 

I finished by remarking that the Mayor, Cllr Ryan Hack, had probably attended the Centre as a child 20 years ago!

 

A welcome innovation by the Mayor, following a request by Philip Grant, was to allow councillors to  comment on the petitions heard tonight. A little more democracy if councillors have the courage to say what they really think.

 

 

 

 

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.

ACE Brent (Action on the Climate and Ecological Emergency Brent), a new coalition of Brent environment groups, challenges Brent Council to step up its climate action

 From words to action

 

 

 

ACE Brent (Action on the Climate and Ecological Emergency Brent), a new coalition of Brent environment groups, challenges Brent Council to step up its climate action. 

 

ACE Brent does not believe that Brent is working effectively to reach Net Zero in 2030, and are asking for : 

• A clearer, more measurable, accountable and ambitious Climate Action Plan
• Prioritisation of actions that reduce emissions most and that protect the most vulnerable residents
• Annual monitoring and reporting 
• A new Climate and Ecological Emergency Scrutiny Committee
• A new Brent Climate Assembly and regular reports to open meetings

Ace Brent have also drawn up a list of specific demands covering cycling and transport, insulation and retrofitting, divestment, planning, renewable energy, food, trees and green space.

 

They have written to all Brent councillors with their requests, and have organised a deputation to the full Council Meeting on Monday 20^th Nov, Brent Civic Centre, at 6pm. 

 

Members of ACE Brent are Brent Cycling Campaign, Brent Friends of the Earth, Brent Parks Forum, Brent Pure Energy, Brent XR and Divest Brent.

 

Christine Smith, from Brent XR, says: 

 

This is an emergency. Act now!

 

Simon Erskine, Co-ordinator of Divest Brent, says:  

 

Divestment of the council pension fund from fossil fuels is an example of a climate action that has been a very long time coming despite active discussions with members and officers.

 

Sylvia Gauthereau, from Brent Cycling Campaign, says:

 

According to the council's own statistics, road transport is the largest contributor to air pollution in Brent, accounting for over 52% of emissions in the borough. The Council urgently needs to implement some specific measures, that are known to effectively tackle road pollution. This cannot be achieved without significant changes to the built environment, to enable anyone who wishes to actively travel, to choose so. The time for talking about it is over, now is the time to act. The evidence is there, the 'how to' examples are plenty, the guidance is available, the opportunity and appetite are there. It doesn't have to be massively costly. Just get on with it now.

 

Suzanne Morpurgo, from Brent Parks Forum, says: 

 

It's Brent's stated intention to be ‘one of the greenest, most biodiverse and climate resilient boroughs in London’ by 2030' . This needs an increase in tree cover and green spaces,  including sports ground provision. At the moment there is no clear plan for this, or any form of 'FiT' status for sites. We are happy to help.

 

Elaine Sheppard, A Co-ordinator of Brent Friends of the Earth, says:  

 

It's 4 years since Brent Council declared a climate emergency.  We are experiencing flooding and extreme weather in Brent. Our relatives and friends in the Global South are facing much worse. We have come together to request a stronger response as appropriate to the emergency. We need bigger change to reduce emissions, proper reporting and proper involvement of Brent residents in the actions being taken. We are looking for more action, ambition and accountability.

Brent Council responds to residents' 'Blue Bag Blues'

 

A selection from many posts on Next Door

After seeing many posts like those above, as well as Tweets and Facebook posts I wrote to Brent Council:

Social media is awash with complaints about blue bins being rejected, petitions and protest meetings. Someone said Veolia workers were fed-up with the system and deliberately rejecting some bins as a protest.


Is there any message that the Council would like published re what appear to be teething problems?

 

Brent Council's response:

 

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure, and Climate Action, said:

 

Whilst it is too early to know the full picture of how the changes have affected recycling rates, our trial of over 5,000 properties last year showed an increase in recycling, which is better for the environment and our planet.

 

We have also seen a 50% increase in the last fortnight in the amount of cardboard and paper recycling compared to the first two weeks of October, showing that compliance is increasing as residents get used to the changes to how their recycling is collected.

Veolia fully supports the service changes and their staff are trained to reject bins that have incorrect items in them, we do this so that recycling doesn't get rejected as this would be worse for the environment.  

Thank you to all residents who are separating their paper and cardboard. More information is available on the council's website, where you can also order a replacement blue sack.

 

UPDATE: Sadiq Khan response today on ULEZ expansion scheme suggests coordinated Labour campaign ahead of Mayoral election - Brent Council Leader Muhammed Butt calls on London Mayor to review current criteria for Scrappage Scheme ahead of ULEZ expansion

 

 Today (Thursday) Sadiq Khan announced some revisions to the scrappage scheme so it appears this was a coordinated Labour campaign ahead of the GLA elections to persuade the electorate that 'we are listening' and that the letters from Brent, Ealing and other Labour councils brought about the change.

 

 

Since this post was published other London Labour boroughs have tweeted the same message - clearly a concerted effort.

 

Today (Thursday) Sadiq Khan announced some revisions to the scrappage scheme so it appears this was a coordinated Labour campaign ahead of the GLA elections to persuade the electorate that 'we are listening' and that the letters from Brent, Ealing and other Labour councils brought about the change.

UPDATE: Cllr Mitchell-Murray resigns from Labour and joins Brent Conservatives

 

Councillor Wilhelmina Mitchell-Murray (Wembley Central ward) has joined the Conservative Party followed her resignation from Labour.

In a letter to Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, she said:

I am writing to you to tender my resignation from the Labour Party with immediate effect.

I have been concerned at times with the policies of the party nationally and I have been very unhappy with the direction the Brent CLPs have taken. I am particularly concerned with the way Momentum has been influencing and in some cases taking over the party.

Yours sincerely

Wilhelmina Mitchell-Murray

The Conservative Group on Brent Council confirmed that Cllr Mitchell-Murray had joined them and said:

Cllr Wilhelmina Mitchell Murray has resigned from the Labour Party citing her dissatisfaction with the direction that the party has taken.

It would appear that the Labour Momentum have an unhealthy influence in the selection of local candidates and many sitting Councillors and activists are unhappy with the situation.

Wilhelmina has joined the Conservative Group.  Cllr’s Suresh Kansagra and Michael Maurice have warmly welcomed her saying that she will make an excellent Conservative Councillor and look forward to working with her.

 

Cllr Mitchell-Murray, asked to comment on her resignation by Wembley Matters, appeared to suggest she would be standing for the Conservatives in the May 5th Council Election. Asked to confirm that she was joining the Tories, she said:

Yes.  I have joined the Conservative Party.  Others must come to their own conclusions but, I came into politics to serve not to be self serving.  I hope to continue to serve the residents of Wembley Central Ward.  I hope everyone understand that at age 8 I skipped, to the polling station holding my daddy's hands to vote for the Labour Party.  It's up to the residents of Wembley Central Ward to decide if my days in public service are numbered.

 I have many friends in the Labour Party and we will remain friends regardless.

I have no further comment to make.

 

Brent Council leader, Muhammed Butt, told the Kiburn Times on Tuesday:

Wilhelmina’s friends in Brent Labour will be deeply disappointed to hear of her decision. While we respect her choice to leave, we must amicably disagree with her chosen means.

If the answer for Brent is Boris Johnson, then you are asking the wrong question.

Brent Labour is a broad church of beliefs, mirroring the range of thought and experience in our borough.

Notwithstanding, in the aftermath of the elections, I will be requesting to our coordinating bodies that a full review of our diversity monitoring procedures is undertaken. 

The resignation appears to be fall out from the current selections for Labour candidates in the forthcoming local Council elections. With the number of seats reduced there has been more competition so in the game of political musical chairs several seats have been whipped away from sitting members.

I understand that Cllr Mitchell-Murray's son who is also a councillor is not standing in the May elections. As it is we now have a Conservative councillor and a Labur councillor from the same family:

The reference to Brent Momentum is particularly puzzling as they have been rather quiet recently and I have seen no evidence of organised slates. What may be the case is that rank and file members are exerting their democratic rights more forcefully and scrutinising candidates’ political credentials more thoroughly than hitherto. This may be upsetting to the more managerialist of the current leadership, including Muhammed Butt, and Momentum becomes an easy scapegoat for him to use. He may sense that in the current process some of his support is slipping away, although one of his greatest admirers, Cllr Krupa Sheth has now joined him in the two member Tokyngton ward.

Muhammed Butt is himself a member of Brent Momentum, or perhaps was, and he as well as some of his loyal supporters have attended their meetings.

Cllr Margaret McLennan, currently Deputy Leader, is not standing again so the post will have to be filled by a loyal female lieutenant. I wonder who that could be?