The Cabinet discussion on the issue including supporters and objectors from the locality
Brent Council's Cabinet yesterday agreed to the renaming of a section of Meadow Garth next to the Neasden Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Parmukh Swami Road after the founder of the Mandir.
They agreed to delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Regeneration & Environment to enter into a legal agreement to ensure that the applicant covered the reasonable costs that were incurred by the Council and occupiers affected as a result of the change to the street name at the eastern section of Meadow Garth, plus to the occupiers of the properties, an inconvenience fee.
Brentfield School Nursery entrance - the main school entrance is the other side of the barrier
The Mandir on the left - Meadow Garth section that could be renamed ahead
The Cabinet next week will decided whether to agree to rename a section of Meadow Garth in Neasden after the founder of the Neasden Temple (BAPs Swaminarayan Mandir) Pramukh Swami, the spiritual leader of the Swaminarayan sect until his death in 2016.
He inaugurated the Mandir in 1995 and the 20th anniversary was celebrated in 2015.
The proposal is to rename the section of Meadow Garth from Brentfield Road to the barrier (see first photograph) 'Pramukh Swami Road.'
Brentfield Primary School objects because the proposal splits the site with the nursery entrance in Pramukh Swami Road and the main entrance in the retained section of Meadow Garth. They point out that the school has recently rebranded with the Meadow Garth address and in addition say that the change does not reflect 'our community or th school community.'
The change is strongly supported by several residents in the affected section of Meadow Garth but other residents object on ground of the inconvenience, stress and expense that will be caused.
The London Fire Emergency and Planning Authority (LFEPA) object:
The proposed name is not the easiest to pronounce and could be received
wrongly during call handling. It is always better to act on the side of precaution
when choosing street or building names to minimise the risk of delay when
attending an incident. We do object to the renaming of part of 'Meadow Garth
Road' as it currently doesn't present any issues for us in terms of locating this
address. The guideline states that renaming/renumbering existing streets and
buildings is normally only considered when changes occur which give rise to
problems for the occupiers, post office, emergency services etc.
This was later qualified by the LFEPA Borough Commander who said that this was advice from the national guidelines, 'but you are free to make any decision you wish.'
The officers say the Cabinet should take the objection seriously as delays of a few minutes in response times can have serious life consequences for firefighters and residents.
On the cultural and visitor attraction aspects the report states:
The Temple is an important asset
to Brent, both for residents and as a visitor attraction;
it provides valued facilities to many residents and visitors. Although the
rationale for applying for the name change has not been clearly set out in the
application, it is important to recognise the desire of the Temple to have a
street presence which reflects its culture and that of its thousands of
attendees and visitors.
The report leaves the Cabinet to make a 'finely balance' decision:
Clearly the statutory
responders and the school are not in favour of the name change along with some
residents of Meadow Garth. On balance this would often lead to a rejection of
the name change. However, given the need to reflect diversity in the borough
and the significance of the Temple to the life of the Borough, Cabinet may well
decide that this is a change which they would wish to support.
Shahrar Ali, Brent Green Party spokesperson for Environment and Planning has called attention to a mountain of rubbish deposited behind pubs, shops and restaurants on Neasden Shopping Precinct which provides an ideal habitat for rats. He said, "Whilst out campaigning in Neasden this Sunday, the Green Party came across the most appalling mountain of waste. Refuse bags, ma tresses and whole beds were literally piled up above head height against a wall in the alley behind Neasden shopping parade. There was a clear whiff of rotting matter and it simply looked like this mountain had been piling up for weeks."
Shahrar continued, "We have reported this discovery and sent photographs to both Brent's streetcare division and environmental health department for immediate action. It is dispiriting to find that whilst the local shopping parade has seen a revival, with new grocers, a post office and revamped library centre, such neglect is apparent just round the corner."
Shahrar said, "We have spoken to traders who have acknowledged the dumping stretches back for weeks. Brent Green Party will be monitoring the situation and looking at how the Council's collection policy may be contributing to the problem. However, the police may also need to be on the alert if environmental crimes are being committed."
One of Brent Council's claims in promoting the Wembley Academy has been that there is no suitable site in the south of the borough. This means that the 50% of secondary pupils expected to come from the Stonebridge/Harlesden area would have to commute by at least two buses.
It now appears that the independent Swaminarayan School opposite the Neasden Temple in Brentfield Road, NW10 might be interested in moving their school to the north of the borough or Harrow, where most of their pupils come from, or in converting the school to a state funded academy. A sensible move when the recession makes private education less affordable. Previously the Council has rejected the neighbouring Gwynneth Rickus Building (the CSD) as a possible site but had not considered the combined Swaminarayan and CSD sites.
Swaminarayan acquired the site in 1992 after Brent council closed down Sladebrook High School. Since then local pupils have had to make their way across the North Circular to Wembley to attend a community secondary school. Although transport links to the school and the CSD are poor, it would be within comfortable walking distance for children from Stonebridge, Brentfield, Harlesden, Neasden and the St Raphaels Estate. This would reduce pupil journeys by car and public transport while the Wembley Park proposal would increase them. Map
As the centre of gravity of the borough shifts towards the north with the regeneration of Wembley and the replacing of many locally-sited council buildings by the Civic Centre, a school in the south of Brent would help enhance and enrich the area, providing additional facilities in terms of education, sports and culture. There is already parental pressure for a community secondary school in the south of the borough; a school on the site merits serious consideration by councillors.
