Opposition builds to Willesden Green Adult Gaming Centre

Oppositon is building to the new application to convert the Lloyd's Bank buidling at 1 Walm Lane, Willesden Green into an Adult Gaming Centre. See Wembley Matters story HERE.

Cllr Saqlain Choudry took to Next Door to urge local residents to object:

Willesden Green does not need another gambling establishment or betting premise. I strongly object to the proposed adult gaming centre (formerly Lloyds bank). Our community deserves investment in spaces that promote positive activities for all ages — not venues that could encourage addiction. Please make your voices heard and comment by emailing the planning department at Brent Council or commenting on the planning application portal. LINK

The letter asks the council Planning Department to reject the application rather than councillor members of the Planning Committee,

 

Another ward councillor writes;

 I strongly object to this proposal.

There would be five gambling premises in a short stretch of road - 2 Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, the new site, and the current adult gaming centre.

This is too much and the combined effect is hollowing out our High Street.

As a local Councillor I am profoundly concerned by this.

I am even more concerned that this application turns a bingo hall into an adult gaming centre. The lack of change to he floor plan shows that the initial application was made on a morally fraudulent basis, and insult to the integrity of the committee and its members.

Adult gaming centres replace social gambling with highly individualised and algorithmically driven forms of gambling, which seek to spur addiction and take advantage of vulnerable clients. It allows higher stakes than bingo, and because of the non-social nature increases the risk of localised antisocial behaviour, directly outside the site of two recent ASB related stabbings.

This application should not be looked upon kindly and should not be allowed to proceed. The committee should do everything in its legal powers to prevent its progress.

Many thanks to those who will consider this objection. I would encourage them to also take into account the volume of feeling against this from local residents.

 

In all so far there are  37 objections (one is wrongly classified as 'Supports'). This objection may strike a chord with many residents:

 I am writing as a local resident to strongly object to the proposed conversion of the former bank premises in Willesden Green into a casino or bingo hall. As a young woman living nearby, I am deeply concerned about the implications this type of venue will have on the safety, wellbeing, and character of our community.

Over the past few months, I have already noticed a troubling rise in antisocial behaviour in the area. There has been an observable increase in public drunkenness, drug use, and drug dealing in and around Willesden Green, including on my own street. This has made me-and many others-feel significantly less safe walking alone, particularly at night. I have experienced and witnessed incidents of sexual harassment in broad daylight, and these occurrences are becoming more frequent. The addition of a gambling venue with late-night operating hours will only exacerbate these issues.

Casinos and similar gambling establishments are well-documented in their association with increased rates of crime and antisocial behaviour. Numerous studies and case histories from other parts of the UK indicate that areas surrounding such venues often see spikes in petty crime, drug-related offences, loitering, and harassment. This type of environment poses a very real threat to residents, especially women and young people. I already avoid walking alone past certain areas in the evening-bringing in a venue that typically attracts intoxicated and vulnerable individuals late into the night will only make this worse.

Beyond safety, the proposed development raises major concerns about the character and future of Willesden Green. Our area is home to a vibrant and diverse community of families, small business owners, elderly residents, and working professionals. What Willesden Green needs are services and spaces that support this community: affordable housing, youth services, libraries, childcare, green spaces, and accessible cultural or educational venues. A gambling outlet offers none of this. Instead, it threatens to erode the fabric of our high street, attracting predatory business models and potentially displacing more beneficial local services.

Moreover, venues like casinos and bingo halls often prey on the most economically vulnerable in society. In a borough like Brent, where many residents are already living with financial precarity, allowing a gambling outlet to operate in the heart of Willesden Green sends entirely the wrong message. Rather than investing in social support and community enrichment, it risks fuelling addiction, debt, and mental health problems-all of which ultimately place further pressure on local services, healthcare, and policing.

This proposal also runs counter to the council's stated commitments to equality, public health, and inclusive neighbourhood development. If Brent is serious about building safe, resilient, and inclusive communities, this application should be firmly rejected.

Finally, there is the issue of planning precedent. There is already a similar establishment a few doors away from the proposed new development, as well as numerous similar gambling businesses in Cricklewood. The presence of yet another gambling venue in such a small geographical area may dissuade other, more community-oriented businesses from investing in the area. It could also have a negative impact on nearby property values and the perception of Willesden Green as a welcoming and safe neighbourhood.

In summary, I strongly urge you to reject this application on the following grounds:

- **Increased crime and antisocial behaviour** associated with gambling venues;

- **Public safety concerns**, particularly for women and vulnerable residents;

- **Recent local rise in harassment, drug use, and intoxication** that such a venue will likely worsen;

- **Negative impact on the area's social and economic fabric**, including risks to mental health, wellbeing, and community cohesion;

- **Contradiction of Brent Council's wider social and urban development goals**.

Please act to protect the wellbeing of residents and preserve the integrity of our neighbourhood by rejecting this proposal.

 

Note that if you submit  a comment by email only your address and whether you Object or Support appears on the Planning Portal. If you submit via the portal HERE your full comment appears so enabling other residents to read it.

 

 

Applicant who was granted permission for Bingo Hall at Lloyds Bank site in Willesden Green comes back with an application to make it an Adult Gaming Centre

Brent Planning Committee granted permission for a Bingo Hall at 1 Walm Lane, Willesden Green, previously Lloyds Bank, earlier this year. Some commentators suggested that the innocent title of 'Bingo Hall' hid an intention to make it an adult gaming centre.

 

They were right. Building on that success Barry Cunningham, of Star Commercial Ltd, has submitted an application for an Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) on that site:

The Proposal:

To use the ground floor as an AGC with ancillary facilities in the basement. To retain the street elevation as existing, forming a window display area in place of the ATMs and to install signage as permitted by Class 5 of the Advertisement Regulations. To make internal alterations not being development as defined by S 55 of the principle Act.

 

The proposed opening hours are 8am to 12.30am Monday to Friday,  Saturday 9am-1am and Sunday 9.30am-12.30am.

 

Building work would begin in September this year with comppletion in ugust 2026.

 

There is little public  information available about Star Commercial Ltd. 

 

The ground floor plans for the current AGC and previous Bingo Hall (below) are like one of those 'Spot the Difference' competitions they used to have in children's comics. It makes you wonder about the original intention.

 

 Proposed layout of the Adult Gaming Centre

 Proposed layout of the Bingo Hall

 

Comments on the Application, in support or opposed, can be made on the Brent Planning Portal HERE.

Battle over Gaudiya Mission expansion in Willesden Green as neighbourhood consultation closes

Comments on the application regarding the Gaudiya Mission in suburban Cranhurst Road, Willesden Green, increased from 16 to 26 over the weekend as today's Neighbourhood Consultation Expiry Date neared.

A planning application for a basement, rear extension and single storey outbuilding in the garden, was refused by Brent Council and an Appeal against the refusal dismissed. Now the Mission has come back claiming to have addressed the issues cited by the Planning Inspectorate (see Design and Access Statement below).

 In practice comments are accepted up to the day before the Planning Committee hearing (if an application goes to the Committee and is not delegated to officers) so there is a possibility of submissions after today's date.

Comment HERE

A resident has kindly provided Wembley Matters with a version of their comment on the application:

Since the mid-1980s we have suffered from regular noise pollution and disruption as a result of the activities of the Gaudiya Mission. This was particularly problematic while the centre had consent to act as a Hindu information centre and prayer hall and consent was withdrawn on 2nd February 2004 appeal decision T/APP/T5150/AV01/1073609.   

 

The extensive works proposed in the resubmitted planning application indicate a vast increase in volume of visitors to number 27 Cranhurst Road is planned, but this is a residential area with little space between properties (a 1.8m gap between foundations), small front gardens without driveways,  and no room for crowds to congregate on narrow pavements.   There could be well over 500-700 people  attending services on a regular basis.  

 

In October 2024 the Gaudiya Mission trustees purchased 25 Cranhurst Road for £1.7m.  This forms the other side of the semi-detached property at No. 27.    It has 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and includes a loft and rear extension.  It is not clear why the applicants require additional accommodation space at number 27 or why they need to extend number 27 and overdevelop when they now own such a substantial estate on Cranhurst Road.  Whilst number 25. does not have permission to be used as a prayer hall/place of worship, there is nothing to stop the applicant using number 25 to accommodate visitors whether they be temporary or long term.   

 

It has been noted that Gaudiya Mission wishes to run courses at these properties, the first was run in August/September 2024 and a large number of visitors were attending number 27 over the course of several weeks.  Catering and washing facilities were provided at number 27 and this caused a great deal of noise and disruption to neighbouring properties.  It is planned to have more of these courses and that is one of the expected uses of this facility which is not to be used as a residence at all, but as a bed and breakfast and training centre, college of sorts.   The local sewers, utilities and other facilities do not have capacity for this expansion in population and usage of these two properties.  This is a residential area which is being turned into an institutional development hub without the civic infrastructure necessary to support such overdevelopment.  

 

The proposed works indicate a minimum of a fourfold increase in the size of existing dining facilities, with a basement catering kitchen, dining room of approx 1,300 square metres and a vastly extended existing prayer hall (labelled "Community room" in the plans). The kitchen is currently being used to cater for a congregation sometimes numbering well over 100 people between a number of services which take place most weekends.    Expanding the kitchen and dining area would lead to an increase in activity, noise, cooking emissions (catering for a larger groups of people) and other environmental nuisance not suitable for a residential property with such close proximity to neighbours.

 

Services are noisy and include drums, cymbals and a horn as well as chanting. If the prayer hall is extended this will result in a larger number of people attending services and noise will increase accordingly. The extension will adversely affect the peaceful enjoyment of our property as given its proximity to neighbours, number 27 is not suitable for this level of activity.   No amount of soundproofing will help contain the noise of so many people, who cannot be controlled, frequently open doors, windows and loudly congregate in the garden during visits.

 

The road is residential and has parking restrictions Mon- Sat. These restrictions do not apply on Sundays when the most popular services take place and some services last all day until 10pm. Increasing the activities of the prayer hall will lead to increased parking congestion on the road from visitors to the Gaudiya Mission on Sundays which will adversely affect residents, particularly those who have mobility issues and need to park close to their property (this affects one of us in particular).  It is not true that visitors arrive by public transport.  There is a constant flow of traffic and cars with Sunday visitors to number 27, blocking up the road and creating congestion and parking issues for neighbouring properties. 

 

There is nothing in the plans to indicate how the existing mains sewage system will support the proposed increase in number of washing facilities and volume of visitors.  The property's sewers have been badly blocked on a number of occasions in recent years.  

 

According to the conclusions and recommendations of the biodiversity report, 61.84% of habitat units will be lost.  This is an incredible loss of natural environment in a residential area of established gardens.  There is a comment to say that the client has accepted this will need to be offset but that is not possible on these premises. The front of the property once had a thriving garden but was concreted over by Gaudiya Mission on acquisition of the property in the 1980s.  The Mission removed as much vegetation as possible from the rear garden.  The applicants have also acquired number 25 in October 2024 and have also been removing the established vegetation from the garden of number 25 since gaining possession.    There is no commitment to biodiversity at either property.  But in the confines of the planning application, there is no scope to offset biodiversity at 27 Cranhurst Road as so much of the garden habitat is planned to be destroyed by this development.

 

The residential parts of this property should have HMO status along with appropriate health and safety features.  There are unrelated people living in the property.  For example, the property was also hosting a family for some time.   It has been acting as a hostel of sorts for some members of the congregation.  The additional bedrooms indicate an expansion of this service.  This is turning a residential property into an informal hotel without any regard for rules, regulations and planning / safety requirements for these types of buildings.  

 

There is no information on the occupancy load factor in the plans.    Given the nature of the use of this building and the number of members of the public regularly attending services, why has this been left out of the planning details?

 

There was no Disabled access evacuation assessment in the plans. Given the nature of the use of this building and the large numbers of members of the public regularly attending services, why has this been left out of the planning details?

 

Security of neighbouring properties due to a vast increase in numbers of attendees has not been addressed in the planning applications.     

 

There will be pollution and ground damage caused by the proposed excavation work.   It is not clear from drawings where exactly the outbuilding will be sited or how large it will be 

 

The proposed construction work at the property can be classified as unprecedented specifically on Cranhurst Road and would involve the following.

 

o        a. The excavation of a basement across the full width of the property extending from the front wall , for the full length of the existing property then the new rear extension, then some 3 m past that and then for the stairs. Allowing for hardcore and blinding it is estimated that about 500cu.m some 800 to 900 t of soil will need to be removed. Putting this in visual terms, this would involve some 70 of 80 medium size tipper lorry. The lorries will need to filled in some way. Possibly a crane or excavators would need to be used for this. With the narrowness of the road and access to the property this would be unbearable suffering to the local community living in the neighbouring properties.  

o        b. The proposals would require some 25cu.m of hardcore, that’s about 50t, about 5 tipper trucks .

o        c. There is likely to a need for about 450t of concrete to construct the basement retaining wall and the ground floor, that’s about 20 concrete lorries, plus a couple of lorry loads of reinforcement.

o        d. There will be a substantial need for temporary propping to create this basement so more trucks to bring this in and take it out.

o        e. It is clear from the plans of the ground floor the first floor and the proposed loft that all the internal load bearing walls within the building as well as the real and rear side walls at ground floor are to be removed. Again, this will require more lorry movements to bring in significant temporary works to accomplish this. Followed by the installation of appropriate permanent to support the upper floor and walls allowing the ground floor and basement to have no load bearing element internally and then the removal of all the temporary works. This will create yet more heavy vehicular movements on the narrow road.

o        f. This does not include the transportation required for the finishes and garden works.

o        g. All the transports including the delivery of plant, removal of spoil and bringing in new construction materials, will need to empty, filled, loaded or unloaded in some way. Possibly a crane or excavators would need to be used for this or significant amount of labour. Whichever way this would be noisy and disruptive to the local residents.

o        With the narrow street and access to the property limited, the amount of work proposed, the noise and can considerably increased heavy traffic movement on the street, would cause unbearable suffering to the local community living in the neighbouring properties.  

 

 The design and access statement is very short and does not advise on the frequency of events, the numbers of people attending each event, the street parking which will be required. Currently on Sunday if is difficult to find a parking space on Cranhurst Road in the area of this property due to the volume of people attending worship. These proposals appear to vastly increase the space available for attendance of the at the mission. It is not possible for the local roads sustain any increase in the number of worshipers at this property. These proposals are likely to hinder rather than help the local community.

  

Conclusion

 

 It is very important to note that the main objective of Gaudiya Mission’s planning proposal is to significantly increase the volume of visitors to 27 Cranhurst road, from the usual 100 to over 500 to 700.  It will also put great pressure on utilities, waste disposal, traffic and parking.   As well as the pollution, noise, major disruption of such radical construction works, the planned vastly expanded congregation will further disturb the peace of a residential area with no planned mitigating developments being put into place by public services to manage this increase in footfall.  This expanded usage has not been highlighted in the planning application, which is incomplete and light on detail. 

 

In addition to this the purchase of number 25 should form a part of the planning decision-making process.  The two buildings cannot be seen as separate for the purposes of this planning application.  They are owned by and will be used by the same organisation for the same purposes of attracting large crowds of visitors to the destroy the residential nature of Cranhurst road.   

 

Rather than continuing to seek to adapt 27 Cranhurst Road from a residential property to a public building closely proximate to residential properties, we would strongly encourage Gaudiya Mission to seek more suitable (non-residential) purpose-built accommodation for the expansion of its activities such as renting a local hall or function room.   

 

 

 

It's 'BINGO!' for gambling company as Willesden Green swaps a bank for a bingo hall following Planning Committee approval

 

The planning application for a Bingo Hall to replace the Willesden Green branch of Lloyds Bank was approved at last night's Planning Committee despite widespread opposition from local residents and from ward councillors.

The vote was 4 in favour, 2 against and 1 abstention in line with the Planning Officers; recommendation to approve.

On Next Door  Cllr Saqlain Choudry indicated that current legislation was preventing the Planning Committee from refusing such applications:

There is an urgent need for legislative reform. The leader of council has in previous months written to the relevant Minister asking for more powers and greater clarity in legislation to prevent and block these harmful practices. It is shocking that there is no limit on how many bingo halls can open and other loopholes in the legal and planning framework that allows these practices to continue.

UPDATED with resident's comment. Action Plan and progress meeting promised after Willesden Green public meeting on recent violence

 

Below is a personal summary by Cllr Saqlain Choudry, written a few minutes after Friday’s meeting at Willesden Green Library on recent violent incidents. Officers were taking detailed notes and these will be shared with attendees in due course. These notes include an action plan and a commitment to a meeting by end of January/February to review progress on action plans. Given the widespread interest, he summarised at a high level some of the discussion points.

 

This evening, over 120 people gathered at Willesden Green library to discuss community safety in the locality. Organised by Brent Council and the Met Police, the agenda consisted of the recent tragic murder in Willesden alongside other anti-social behaviour & local crime issues.

 

Members of the community were joined by representatives of the Met Police team and Brent Council’s community safety team including Director of Communities.

 

The leader of the Council (Cllr Muhammed Butt), lead member (Cllr Harbi Farah), local MP (Dawn Butler) and local Councillors (Cllr Saqlain Choudry, Cllr Janice Long and Cllr Tom Miller) were also present.

 

At the start of the meeting, Dawn Butler MP led a one minute silence in memory of the victim who sadly lost their life. Our thoughts and condolences with the victim’s family and all those affected by this awful and tragic murder.

 

Throughout the meeting, detailed notes were being taken and an action plan being devised which was shared in person and will be shared with members of the public afterwards too.

 

Members of the community safety team as well as Met Police representatives were also noting the passionate concerns being expressed, key local intelligence, local hotspots and the common areas causing grief and worry for local residents.

 

Residents are reminded to continue to report crime and ASB through the appropriate forums and channels. For instance, if drug dealing and drug consumption is happening in real time, that constitutes a 999 call.

 

In instances where there have been many crime reports and crime reference numbers obtained, please send this across to local MP Dawn Butler MP, Cllr Muhammed Butt (Leader of Council) and local ward Councillors so these can be followed up with the Borough Commander and relevant authorities in the Met Police.

 

There will be instances where the police and council can only share limited information due to legal or operational constraints. Example: an ongoing court investigation or sensitive operational intelligence that needs to be confined to specific personnel. There will be other instances where the local police and local council will need the involvement of local residents to satisfy the evidence in court eg closure orders.

 

This has been successful in the past and there are specific locations/addresses already in motion where Willesden Green SNT have been working with locals to bring about closure orders.

 

Organisers of the meeting assured the community that communication will continue and a follow-up meeting organised in due course to hold the relevant authorities to account over the agreed action plans. Members of the public were also encouraged to join and participate in local safer neighbourhood team panel meetings which shape local priorities and hold the local police to account.

The council and the Met reassured residents that this meeting and previous meetings organised are not organised in vain but the sentiments of the room were recognised and this is why a follow up meeting with targeted actions will be organised in due course.

 

The above is not an official council or Met Police summary but given the widespread interest and concern, a personal summary and especially for those who were unable to attend.

 

Once again, thanks to members of the public who joined at short notice, shared their real concerns and gave up their Friday evening to express their opinions and feedback.

 

Further comment by local resident who atttended the meeting:

All of us residents in attendance at the above meeting were deeply saddened at the violent loss of a young life within our community.  However, we also wanted the council and the police to listen to our growing concerns about the systemic and escalating neglect of our community. When a community begins to be neglected, it undoubtedly attracts more anti-social behaviours. 

 

We do not want yet another talking shop meeting.  We would like to see action, which will mean the council, the police and residents working together on short and longer terms plans for improving general safety in the area.  

 

Policing cannot just be done remotely.  I personally believe that consideration should be given to re-opening the little police station on the high road. It would inject confidence back into the community. We understand that there are cut backs, however neglecting residents safety will eventually cost more in the long run.

 

As for Brent council, their neglect of the immediate Willesden Green area is plain to see and again, will only cost more to fix in the long run.

 

It would be good to see the local authority give some attention to the following:

 

-The rise in drug-related anti-social behaviours in the area.

-Fly typing in the area

- Household rubbish being dumped on pavements.  It's always the same houses.  

 

-Pavement repairs following major building works.

It is ridiculous that no one has responsibility for this.

 

-Broken pavements and mountains of wet leaves are dangerous, particularly to elders.  Myself and neighbours have mostly solely cleared pavements and block drains outside our homes again this winter.  Brent needs to do better.

 

-Speeding lorries in Brondesbury Park. Maybe huge 20mph signs should be painted on the road.

 

-Brondesbury Park street repair. The stretch of road from the lights at the intersection of Sidmouth road to where Brondesbury Park meets Staverton Road. The very same craters pop every time there is rain and I'm sure the amateur repairs are costing the councils thousands of pounds each time. 

 

The above are just some areas of concern which I know are shared by many residents.

 

-Address business licencing in Willesden High Road and Walm Lane.  How many of these businesses are really legitimate concerns?

 

And why so many betting shops?

 

The size of Friday's meeting is clear indication that residents want better accountability from both our local council and the police.

 

Warmly,

 

Yvonne Bailey-Smith

Willesden Resident  

 

 

Police Public Meeting on recent Willesden Green violence. Friday January 3rd 6pm-8pm Willesden Green Library

 

Police Public Meeting. Friday 3rd January 6pm-8pm, Willesden Green Library. To discuss the recent serious incidents in Willesden Green. An opportunity to share views and concerns with Police and Council representatives. They will give information on how they are working to reduce violence.

Man arrested for murder in Willesden Green stabbing incident will appear in court today. Police renew call for information.

 

Murder Victim Recorda (Ricardo) Davey-Ann Clarke

From Metropolitan Police

A man has been charged with murder following the death of a man in Willesden Green on Saturday, 28 December.

Police were called at 04:16hrs following reports of a stabbing in Linacre Road, NW2.

The victim sustained a stab wound and died on the way to hospital. The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Recorda Davey-Ann Clarke, known as Ricardo to friends and family. His family are aware and continue to receive support from specialist officers.

An investigation was launched, and a man was arrested on Saturday, 28 December.

Elyas Moussa, 29 of no fixed abode, has since been charged with murder. He will appear in custody at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 30 December.

Officers continue to appeal for anyone with information and any witnesses yet to speak with police to call 101 and quote CAD 1013/28dec. To remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers.