Bridge Park Campaign - Brent Council Mediation Fails. Hearing starts on Monday,

A thousand people attended a public meeting on the issue early in the campaign

Bridge Park campaigners and Brent Council go to Court on Monday in the latest round of the Harlesden and Stonebridge community's  efforts to win the argument that they own the land and buildings which Brent Council is seeking to redevelop in a multi-millon pound deal with  overseas developers, 

The hearing has added significance with the prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement and Brent Council's expressed desire to address the needs of the Black Community.

Bridge Park serves an area where there is a large African and Caribbean community. The area has already lost the Stonebridge Adventure Playground to developers.

Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt is speaking tonight at a meeting entitled 'Black Lives, Whute Privilege: a Community Discussion'. (See article below) 

Bridge Park Campaign told Wembley Matters:

Mediation talks with Brent Council took place today yesterday as previously stated our position remains that Brent Council are only custodian charity trustees and the African & Carribean Community own the Land and Buildings and we do not wish this Sale to proceed. Mediation with Brent ended without productive conclusion. We will now go forward to full Trial.

The Trial will be read on 20th and take place on Tuesday 21st July 2020 10.30am (Judge Michael Green).

Brent Council are the Claimants and we are defendants. The Attorney General is  also a defendant in this case.

The case and complexity has been significantly expanded, now to a estimated case duration of 9-10 days previously 3-4 days.

Report on Monday's Council Meeting:

 'The ten point Brent Black Community Action Plan, which includes tackling health inequalities, developing community spaces that will be run and managed by community members and an internal review of processes in the council, was unanimously agreed at a full council meeting on July 13.'
'Cllr Abdirazak Abdi addressed Cllr Butt and chief executive Carolyn Downs directly saying: “I hope in the spirit of this report and what has been said today, that you take this forward and into the negotiations with the Bridge Park Community Centre.. [due to begin in court on July 20}.. so that the legal battle, the ownership of Bridge Park, doesn’t go to the court.” '

 

EXCLUSIVE Lottery Community Fund withdraws support from Wembley Central Big Local Partnership

The Wembley Central Big Local area

The  Trustees of the Local Trust that manages the Big Local programmes funded by the Lottery have dissolved their formal relationship with the Wembley Central Big Local Partnership LINK .

The public face of the Partership is Wembley Futures LINK  Among the partners listed on its website are Ark Elvin Academy, Elsley Primary School, Barham Community Library, Federation of Patidars, Wembley Crime Prevention, Daniels Den, SAAFI, Daniel Estate Agents and The Hub Group (developers of the 'Twin Towers' on the Chesterfield House site).

The Local Trust explains Big Local:

Big Local is an exciting opportunity for residents in 150 areas around England to use at least £1m to make a massive and lasting positive difference to their communities (over 10years).

It is about bringing together all the local talent, ambitions, skills and energy from individuals, groups and organisations who want to make their area an even better place to live.

The decision by the Local Trust follows complaints by members and previous members of the Partnership outlining a number of conflicts and concerns regarding the Wembley Central Big Local and formal concerns by the Trust itself over the Partnership not meeting minimum criteria and unacceptable standards of behaviour by Partnership members  witnessed by the Trust itself.

They conclude that the current Partnership is dysfunctional in its current form, there is mistrust amongst many of its members and no credible plan to move the Big Local programme forward to deliver the local priorities previously agreed.

The Local Trust suggest there is a high level of risk in terms of investing the Big Local funds appropriately and a reputational risk locally and more widely.

The Trust will now 'take ownership' by following up with CommUNITY Barnet as the Locally Trusted Organisation.

They conclude that though they regret having to take such action there is no workable alternative.  In doing so they say they are acting in the best interest of the individuals, the area and the  programme.

Wembley Stadium community engagement event on upcoming NFL fixtures - October 15th

From Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium invites you to attend a community engagement evening on Tuesday 15 October to learn about plans for the two forthcoming NFL (American Football) fixtures.

The two games are scheduled for Sunday 27 October, 5pm kick off, and Sunday 3 November, 2.30pm kick off.

The engagement evening will give local residents an opportunity to review event day transport and external operational plans, and to ask our team questions about traffic management arrangements, road closure timings, local bus diversion routes, and impacts on local underground and railway stations.

Representatives from Wembley Stadium, Wembley Park, Brent Council and NFL will be on hand to answer any questions relating to the two fixtures.

The evening will be held in the foyer of the Club Wembley Main Entrance, accessed at street level from the southern end of Olympic Way, and residents are welcome to drop in anytime between 6pm and 9pm.

Carlton-Granville Protest Tuesday August 27th 1pm Brent Civic Centre

NEXT WEEK: SAVE CARLTON + GRANVILLE CENTRES PROTEST. Following this Carnival weekend, we’re turning up at @Brent_Council Civic Centre on Tuesday 27th August, 1pm to say hands off our community spaces! Bring banners, musical instruments etc

@GranComKitchen @RumisCave

Community urged to rally to the support of Bridge Park on Sunday afternoon as Brent Council moves to seize back the site

The Bridge Park Development site

Wembley Matters has been reporting the community's attempt  to claim back possession of the Bridge Park complex ahead of Brent Council's decision to sell the site for development to an off-shore developer. LINK LINK

The latest round of the battle will take place this Sunday, December 9th, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm following reports that Brent Council is to apply to the Land Registry for a summary hearing to lift the restriction on the sale won by Bridge Park Community Council (BPCC)  last year.

The Centre was started in the early1980s by a group of young black people from Stonebridge who wanted to contribute something positive for the community at a time when there has been uprisings against racism, police oppression and discrimination in Brixton and several English cities. LINK

The meeting is at Bridge Park Centre itself on the Harrow Road. 18 bus or Stonebridge Park station.

The Kilburn Times LINK quoted Jay Mastin, chair of BPCC:

In August 2017, an application was made by BPCC to the Land Registry to restrict Brent Council from selling Bridge Park. BPCC made several offers to negotiate with Brent Council. However, they have chosen to not come to the negotiating table. Instead they have apparently sided with commercial interests and have used council funds to take the community to the High Court. We would like support from the local community. This is our legacy. It is a building we own, we raised the money through grants, Brent are merely the custodians of it.

Help empower Brent migrants by becoming a volunteer English teacher

'Delay South Kilburn Masterplan until community has reviewed it,' request Granville and Carlton users

Leslie Barson and Deirdre Woods, representing the users of South Kilburn's Granville and Carlton Centres are unable to attend tonight's Cabinet meeting which will consider the Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document. They have submitted the following comments for consideration by the Cabinet and a request that the Cabinet delay acceptance of the plan to enable the community to review what should be their plan.

The South Kilburn Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is over 180 pages long over 3 sections. The people from South Kilburn were given 6 weeks to comment on this document which lays out the plans for their homes, parks, health, education, small businesses, and community services in the area for the next 10 -15 years. Each site is given 2 A4 pages in the document. The first half of the page gives the details about where the property is with the second half of the same page incorporating a short paragraph about each of these three issues: ‘Description’, ‘Justification’ and ‘Design Principles’. The second page gives a vague shadow drawing of a huge block or blocks in the place of the current buildings. 

1.   Firstly this is not an adequate amount of time or information for the community to read, understand , digest  and examine the implications of such a massive plan. This can be seen by the small number of community responses to the SPD. Surely changes of this magnitude cannot be accepted on the basis of numbers of responses  in double figures when there are over 8000 people living in the area?

2.   Secondly, all the buildings in the chapter called ‘Site Specific Principles’  are to be replaced with new buildings.  Much of the plans arguments for this demolition are simplistic and debatable such as there is a lack of clarity about what is the front or the back of the property” (Crane and Zangwill) or the property “is currently in a prominent gateway position and the current development does not capitalise on this” (William Dunbar and William Saville Houses). This needs to be properly examined, each building on its own merit, before lives are disrupted for years and changed forever.

3.   Thirdly, you are deciding on Monday 19 June 2017 that this SPD replaces the one was developed over some years WITH the South Kilburn Community and then voted on. How can a plan created by the Council and its consultants replace a plan voted on by residents? The 2005 SPD may need updating with changes to law occurring since the first was voted on but the scale and magnitude of the changes make this SPD beyond all recognition of the SK residents plan

                                                                                                             

Therefore I ask the Cabinet to please delay the acceptance of this plan and help support the community  to review THEIR 2005 Masterplan in a long term in-depth manner as befits a document of this size and importance and with such huge ramification for the residents of South Kilburn.

Leslie Barson and Deirdre Woods representing the Users of Granville and Carlton

Welsh Harp Centre provides community activities during half-term

It is good to see the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre reaching out into the community with half-term activities. The Centre was saved from closure as a result of campaigning by local schools, pupils and residents LINK and is now run by the Thames21 charity.

You can do your bit by taking part in conservation activities at the Welsh Harp Centre:

Old Oak/Park Royal Development community event on Tuesday Jan 31st

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) is holding an event to talk to the community about the plans for the area, hear the outcome of the Mayor’s review and to meet Victoria Hills (Chief Executive Officer of the OPDC). 

Details are:
Date: Tuesday, 31st January 2017, 6.30 - 8.30
Venue:  Cumberland House, 80 Scrubs Lane NW10 6RF London, London, England, GB, NW10 6RF

Please sign up for the event online so that they can keep a track of numbers HERE

Brent's volunteer libraries to employ professional librarian

Campaigners at the 'Wall of Shame' - hoardings surrounding Preston Library now operating again as a community library

Following the closure by Brent Council of 6 of the borough's 12 public libraries volunteers have kept services going at four of the closed libraries. They have now received funding, for a limited period,  to employ a professional librarion to be shared between them.

This is the advertisement for the post:
 

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Position description

Title: Professional Librarian

Funding Available: up to £40,000 for period of approx 20 months to 31 October 2018

Commitment: Actual hours will be negotiated but should start by or before 1 April 2017.

Project ends: October 2018

Location: working across Brent

Travel information: Brent is within London Transport Zones 2/4.

Professional community librarian sought by a small network of libraries in Brent, North West London, operating as independent volunteer-run community libraries.

The Brent Community Libraries (BCL) network is made up of four community libraries, spread across Brent, which are at different stages in development and operation. The libraries are all registered charities and each library is supported by a strong group of residents. Brent is one of the most diverse areas in the country and this post offers the opportunity to develop services for people across a wide range of ages, backgrounds and abilities.

The libraries are committed to providing a lively top quality service in their diverse neighbourhoods. We are in an innovative position, collaborating with each other, local community groups and the Council. This is a great opportunity to create a whole new way of approaching how libraries serve the community.

Applicants should have professional library/information science qualification and at least 18 months’ experience of working in a library. Experience of working with community organisations and volunteers is desirable.

The successful applicant will work to develop a community library strategy, train and develop the volunteers who provide the services and liaise with the Brent Library Service, which is strongly supportive of this project, attending meetings as required. They will work at each library, meeting representatives of the community library network by arrangement.

Brent Community Libraries:

·       Barham Library http://barhamlibrary.uk (Friends of Barham Library – FOBL)

·       Cricklewood Library http://cricklewoodlibrary.org.uk (Friends of Cricklewood Library – FOCL)

·       Kensal Rise Library http://www.savekensalriselibrary.org (Friends of Kensal Rise Library – FKL)

·       Preston Library https://brentlibraries.wordpress.com (Preston Community Library – PCL)

For more information about these libraries, please visit their websites (or in the case of FOBL whose website is being update email Paul Lorber on barhamlibrary@hotmail.co.uk.

Brent Council has agreed Voluntary Sector Initiative Funding of £45k (ending Oct 2018) to BCL with FOBL as the contracting entity. £40,000 of this is available for this position.

Application form, job description and person specification can be downloaded from this website or requested from Paul Lorber at barhamlibrary@hotmail.co.uk

Closing date for applications is Friday 10 February

Completed application form with a covering letter explaining your suitability for the position should be sent by email to Paul Lorber at barhamlibrary@hotmail.co.uk

Ramadan message from the Green Party

With Ramadan starting today the Green Party would like to wish Britain's Muslim Community Ramadan Kareem. With the long hot days ahead of us we’re keenly aware this year will be a harder Ramadan than years previous and we wish every Muslim fasting good health and a rewarding and spiritual month.

At this time we firstly want to celebrate the contribution that the Muslim community make to Britain. Ramadan is a time of contemplating and recognising the privilege many of us have in life, whilst remembering and empathising with those who have less. These are values I think every Green Party member can keenly associate with.

Equally over this Ramadan we are minded to think about the countless communities that face unrest and violence for the coming month. Ramadan should be a time of quiet spiritual contemplation but too many communities in Syria, Yemen and Nigeria face violence and unrest. Real international action is needed to build lasting peace, and we hope this month can catalyse a change. As an international movement of Green Parties we will continue to strive for real meaningful diplomacy and peacebuilding.

Ramadan Kareem to all those fasting this month

Benali Hamdache

Green Party Equalities Spokesperson