Extra consultation event on Brent Local Plan - Tuesday December 5th

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 Brent Council is putting on extra consultation events to discuss the new Local Plan. Opinion will differ on how much notice will be taken of contributions but here are the details of the Willesden Green Library event for those readers who are interested:

You are invited to help shape Brent's future  Brent Council is starting work on a new Local Plan which will shape how the borough is developed over the next 20 years. Thank you to everyone who attended the workshops and drop in sessions held in September and October 2017. For those who were unable to make these sessions we’re holding two additional workshop which will cover the borough as a whole. Why get involved? Have your say on the issues that affect how you live, work and socialise in Brent.   Interactive workshop sessions will cover: What the Local Plan is and how it will affect key issues like housing, employment, town centres and community spaces; ·       Different growth options as we start to think about where housing, employment and other forms of development will be built; Explore what’s important about your local area and opportunities for it to improve; What you want your area to be like in the future. Register for a workshop below Light refreshments will be served Tuesday 5 December Willesden Green Library 7-9pm Register here   For more information and full details visit www.brent.gov.uk/shapebrent

The Grunwick Lions roar again in Willesden

The 40th Anniversary Grunwick Exhibition opened to private view at Willesden Green Library  this evening and will be open to the public from tomorrow (Wednesday).

The Exhibition commemorates the Grunwick Strike which from small beginnings in 1976 grew to national proportions affecting the relationship between trade unions and the Labour government of the time and changing the nature of British trade unions and their attitude to women and migrant workers.

Among the guests this evening were several of the original strikers and some of those who organised in their support as well as younger activists who were inspired to organise and mount this Exhibition.

The Exhibition, on the 2nd floor of the Willesden Green Library is free and open from Monday to Friday  9am-8pm and Saturday to Sunday: 10am-5pm (Willesden Green tube - Jubilee line)
95 High Road, Willesden NW10 2SF.

Cheers as Keep Willesden Green petitioners refuse to give up

Outside Brent Town Hall yesterday evening

The public gallery

There was standing room only at Brent Town Hall last night when the Keep Willesden Green Campaign presented  their petition to the Brent Council Executive.

Miki Berenji, in a speech frequently interrupted by prolonged applause, accused the Council  of treating residents as if they were little children who didn't know what was good for them. After detailing the issues including poor consultation, loss of the old Victorian Library, public space and the the Willesden Bookshop she said that residents wanted a say in what was to be their Cultural Centre. Compared with the current library centre there was no gain for residents.

Miki said that campaigners knew that as far as the  Council is concerned it is a matter of come along, say your piece, but our minds are already made up.  Clearly the Campaign was not going to let the matter rest there.


The audience was infuriated when Cllr George Crane, lead member for Regeneration n Major Projects, said that his personal view was that the Victorian Library had no architectural merit. His concessions on the possibility of a 'bookshop space in the cafeteria' , a small increase the outdoor space, and a 'celebration of the Victorian building' within the new building were greeted with derision.

Crane said that he saw no useful purpose in stopping and reflecting (he missed out the word 'listen') and said that the planning period would give an opportunity to reflect. 

Two Liberal Democrat Councillors spoke on opposite sides of the debate. Cllr Gavin Sneddon supported the petitioners and said that the current disillusion with the Council could happen under any administration. He contrasted the fait accompli regarding Willesden  Green development with the grass roots, from first principles involvement of local people with the  Harlesden Town Plan.

He asked Ann John, as Brent Council has instigated the project, that no pressure (which is illegal) would be put on councillors on the Planning Committee to approve the developer's planning application.

Cllr Ann Hunter said that the petitioners represented only one side of local opinion and that there were other residents who were in favour of the scheme and wanted to look forward to the future.  She had been told by previous councillors for the area that the 1980s building was itself a compromise because of the strong feelings local people had over the retention of the Victorian Library.

Ann John did not take the opportunity to give the assurance requested by Cllr Sneddon.