Big stink in Kenton as sewage flows in Wealdstone Brook

The Wealdstone Brook flows through Kenton and Wembley eventually joining the River Brent in the industrial area south of Wembley Stadium.

Residents in Kenton have complained to the Environment Agency and Thames Water about sewage contamination in the brook with the problem exacerbated by a lack of maintenance with tree cover smothering the brook shutting out light.  They describe having to shut windows to keep out the smell and the stench spoiling walks in Woodcock Park.

Thames have cited 'misconnections' which was the case with the Gaderbrook* in Fryent Country Park where misconnected plumbing from nearby houses, particularly extensions, was allowing  sewage and waste water into the brook. Residents doubt this explanation in the case of Wealdstone Brook and suggest the problem is caused by defective manholes in the area.

They are calling for Thames and the EA to address the problem with a sense of urgency, clear the current sewage and put preventative measures in place.

Unfortunately I was at the Gaderbook this morning and this too had an offensive smell.

Some issues for the St Raphael's consultation meeting on December 8th

Brent Council will be consulting with residents on the St Raphael's Estate next Friday on their plans to redevelop the estate. St Raphael's will be the first estate where residents will be balloted on the changes.

Concerns have been expressed on social media over possibilities of gentrification and social cleansing with private housing being built on the estate to help pay for the redevelopment. There are also worries over the potential for the loss of green space, not just in the area surrounding the estate which stretches to the River Brent, but within the estate itself.  People are aware of what happened in West Hendon with private developments next to the Welsh Harp reservoir and social housing close to the poor air quality main road. St Raphael's borders on the heavily polluted North Circular.

Another issue is the need to ensure the future of the premises of various community groups, nurseries, children's centre and the Sufra Foodbank and Edible Garden if new blocks are to be built requiring additional land.

St Raphael's Estate is on a flood plain for the River Brent. There are artificial hillocks between the river and the estate which protects it to some extent but locals speak of underground springs in the area. They suggest that this could limit any high rise developments. There was flooding in the area in the 1970s.

With climate change underway the flood risk is clearly something to be considered. This is the longer term risk from the Environment Agency:

Help clean up the River Brent at Chalkhill on Saturday

From Thames21

June 10 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Come help clean-up the River Brent at Chalkhill Open Space.

Create an inviting space for people and wildlife. No experience necessary and all tools provided-  just be prepared to get stuck in! Finishing up with well deserved refreshments.

All welcome but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet Waterside Close, just off Barnhill Road, HA9 9PB.

Extreme weather: where are the flood risk areas in Brent?

Dark blue 1/100 year chance  light blue 1/1000 years

Satellite view of same area showing housing, other buildings, road and rail in potential flood area

Tokyngton/Monks Park and River Brent

Satellite view

As a young teacher in Fulham in the late 70s I experienced flood practice as well as fire practice. It included tying down the lids of lavatories to stop sewage rising in the event of the Thames flooding. One member of staff was designated the contact person for the Council which as I remember included wading down to the council offices in the event of loss of telephone contact to update them on the latest situation.

That was all rendered obsolete when the Thames barrier came into operation in 1982.

In Brent the danger is not from the Thames but from the Silkstream and the River Brent and numerous brooks (Wealdstone, Wembley, Mitchell etc) some of which are underground in conduits but emerge at times of flood in places such as Brentfield Road.

The Brent itself has flooded in the past but culverts and flood plains have been created and the river 'naturalised' in places such as Tokyngton Park where underground storage tanks for excess water have been installed. Similar plans have been made for the Wealdstone Brook as it flows past Wembley Park Station and into the development area near Wembley Stadium, eventually meeting up with the Brent, but there has been little news on the proposals since they were first suggested. Meanwhile the amount of development in the area, including where there used to be a boating lake, has increased rapidly with much of the area paved over. In February 2014 Brent Council announced a programme of work aimed at flood prevention in the borough LINK.

There is no immediate threat of flooding in Brent but with increased severe weather events making nonsense of '1 in 100 years' flooding assessments, it is well to be aware of the areas that could be affected if we experience what the North West of the country has over the holiday.

In 1841 the Welsh Harp (Brent Reservoir) overflowed and water gushed down stream causing a number of fatalities. The dam was subsequently heightened and strengthened. In 1976 following the storms that ended the hottest and driest summer for years the sluice gates had to be opened at the Welsh Harp and there was flooding downstream involving the evacuation of many families from their homes.

One would hope that Brent Council has contingency plans in place after recent extreme weather events.

Meanwhile here is a more benign view of the River Brent from John Betjeman

 Gentle Brent, I used to know you
Wandering Wembley-wards at will,
Now what change your waters show you
In the meadowlands you fill!
Recollect the elm-trees misty
And the footpaths climbing twisty
Under cedar-shaded palings,
Low laburnum-leaned-on railings
Out of Northolt on and upward to the heights of Harrow hill.

This is the Environment Agency website. You can submit your postcode to see any flood warnings in your area:  LINK

The surprising wildlife of Wembley

One of the benefits of getting around the borough leafleting at election time is the accidental discoveries that take place in an area that is full of surprises.

In a corner of Wembley I bumped into Jay Patel who told me about the muntjac deer he sees from his garden close to the River Brent.

Jay says:

It highlights that it is important to look after the river and also not allow developers to build on the small conservation area. The deer come quite often individually however, I managed to see two together once. I see them most days, they graze there in the open space, eating the leaves on the trees and also the dandelions. 

The deer probably come along the 'green corridors' which provide a route from the home counties into London via rivers and railway lines.

The population is believed by some to have spread from Woburn Park in Bedfordshire LINK

Photo: Jay Patel

Photo: Jay Patel

Photo: Jay Patel

A look at Hannah Close, possible new waste site

My curiosity led me this afternoon to have a stroll around  the back of the stadium to see where a possible recycling plant might be sited in Hannah Close. Careys, the local company who helped save the Welsh Harp Environmental Centre, has a lot of property in the area along with their waste management subsidiary Seneca.

Seneca's  security guards were worried about me taking photographs and denied that the company had anything to do with Careys. The Jubilee and Metropolitan lines run behind the site and on the other side is St Margaret Clitherow Primary School and residential streets which include Quainton, Verney, Aylesbury Chesham and Village Way.

Hannah Close, and Atlas Road which it joins, already have several recycling sites:

The River Brent runs flows to Hannah Close and runs beneath the railway line. Wembley Brook is also close by. Campaigners in Ealing have been concerned about possible contamination of the River Brent if new waste processing facilities are built and there must be similar concerns in Wembley.

The following photograph was taken today with waste fluid apparently flowing from Harringtons in Fourth Way.

A further concern is the proposal, in the Wembley Masterplan, to open up North End Road and join it again to Bridge Road in Wembley. At present North End Road is closed where it meets Atlas Road. If it was opened up and joined to Bridge Road a route would be established to the recycling facilities in Hannah Close, via Atlas Road, increasing lorry traffic past the Danes Court and  Empire Court flats, which at present are a peaceful haven despite their proximity to the railway.