Brent Council publishes further information on 18 week New Year closure of Wembley High Road. Impact drop-ins on December 16th and 17th.

From Brent Council website

Major improvements are planned for Wembley High Road. Starting on 13 January 2025, we will begin essential road reconstruction work on all sides of Wembley Triangle.

After discussions with local traders, TfL, and other stakeholders, the council decided to delay the start date to avoid clashing with the busy Diwali and Christmas periods.

 

Map showing closure of Wembley Triangle and parts of Wembley Hill Road, Harrow Road and Wembley High Road. 

 

These works are expected to last for 18 weeks. During this period, extensive traffic management will be necessary, allowing access only for buses and emergency service vehicles.

The road is expected to reopen around mid-May 2025.

Phased Traffic Management Plan

Please refer to the phased Traffic Management Plans for more details of the closure:

·       Phase 1 - view the Phase 1 Traffic Management Plan - approximately 14 weeks

·       Phase 2 - view the Phase 2 Traffic Management Plan - approximately 4 weeks

Advance signing to inform of the works will be installed widely from 9 December.

Diversions

A signed diversion route along classified roads will be provided for all other traffic.

·       View the southbound diversion routes

·       View the northbound diversion routes

Drop-in sessions

We will  be holding two drop-in sessions where residents and businesses can speak with officers and the contractor about the works and any concerns they may have.

·       Monday 16 December 2024, 3.30 – 6.30pm at St Joseph's Infant and Junior Schools, Chatsworth Ave, HA9 6BE

·       Tuesday 17 December 2024, 3.30 – 6.30pm at Brent Civic Centre, Conference Hall, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ

We acknowledge the disruption and inconvenience this will cause and will do everything we can to minimise disruption and complete the upgrades as quickly as possible. For further information please read our FAQs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will the upgrades involve?

• Digging the full depth of the road’s structure.
• Building a new road structure and resurfacing of the road.
• The repair of existing drains and installation of new carriageway gullies, so that water is redirected safely.

Why are these upgrades required?

Our roads are under increasing pressure from an ever-growing number of vehicles and the increase in weight of vehicles over the years. The road structure was found to be failing and in a state of disrepair, where short-term fixes were no longer appropriate.

These upgrades have been planned as part of a long-term investment to protect this key route for years to come.

How long with the upgrades last?

Works are planned to commence from Monday, 13 January 2025 and will be completed by around mid-May.

Who has been notified?

The Council has been in contact with local communities, businesses, elected representatives and other stakeholders including Emergency services, TFL and London buses to advise of our plans and to implement the upgrades.

Advance signing to notify of the works has been installed and notification letters distributed to the local community.

Will buses be diverted?

A running lane will be created to provide access for buses and the Emergency services. Some routes will need to be diverted. For further information or to find out how your bus travel may be affected, please visit the TFL London Buses website.

Can the upgrades be undertaken faster?

After discussions with local businesses, residents, and other organisations the option for a general closure was picked, along with access for buses and emergency services only. A part closure of the road would have taken a lot more time and was considered too much of an impact on the local community and businesses.

What other methods were considered?

The council considered a full road closure (all vehicles), and a phased approach leaving different lanes open for traffic. The full closure provided the shortest timescale, but it impacted greatly on the emergency services and bus routes. The phased or lane closure approaches, although less disruptive to general traffic, greatly extended the duration of works.

Will I be able to access the area?

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the works. Vehicle access will be permitted to St Joseph’s Church and the underground car parks of the adjacent residential blocks (eastbound only) during phase 1 of the works.

I live within the affected area, where can I park during the upgrades?

There are no changes to the current parking arrangements along the surrounding roads. For phase two of the works, that will last approx. 1 month, access will not be permitted to St Joseph’s Church and the underground car parks of the adjacent residential blocks.

Will shops be open as usual?

Shops will stay open throughout the duration of the upgrades. Brent are working closely with local businesses within the area to accommodate their needs to maintain a normal service.

How disruptive will the upgrades be?

As with any major roadworks, travel times are expected to increase during these upgrades, so please allow extra time to prepare for your journey.

We have put in place diversions, so larger vehicles have clear alternative routes around the roadworks, which should free up other parts of the road network for domestic vehicles. Once motorists become familiar with diversions and find alternative routes, it is anticipated that any congestion will reduce as pressure on the area is alleviated.

If you have any question and would like more information about the planned upgrades or if you have a disability and would like this information in another format, please email Michael Heffernan Public Liaison Officer Michael.heffernan@gwhighways.co.uk or highways.management@brent.gov.uk.

 

UPDATE: Full road closure for c5 months from October 21st: High Road between Cecil Avenue and the Triangle including the Triangle

 This has been forwarded to me. Unfortunately the web link for further informations does not work and the mobile phone is unavailable. I have emailed for further information and the map. I will update when received.

UPDATE: The website has been updated but has less information than already supplied!

Wembley High Road closure (www.brent.gov.uk/wembleyhighroad )

Significant upgrades are being planned for Wembley High Road. We are working with TfL to coordinate a date for the upgrades to start, as it will impact bus routes and diversions will be required. We will update this webpage with information on when the upgrades will be taking place once this is agreed.  

This is so a much-needed upgrade of the road can take place between Cecil Avenue and The Triangle, completing the transformation of Wembley High Road.

Diversions will be in place and more information will be made available on this webpage.

Wembley High Road sewer works to be completed by end of the week. Discussions taking place with those responsible for the concrete blockage.

Residents and businesses around Wembley High Road as well as drivers and public transport users will be relieved to hear that relief is at hand! A spokesperson for Thames Water told me today:

 Our work on Wembley High Road is due to be finished by the end of this week. We’ve traced the source of the concrete and are discussing the matter with the third party who were responsible.

Thames were not prepared to name the third party.

Wembley High Road works to continue until mid-Janaury

Brent Council has confirmed that Thames Water has been given a second extension to complete their main sewer works in Wembley High Road. The new completion date is mind-January 2018.

Responding to a query about the replacement of the mature trees removed as a result of the works, the Council said that they would be replaced in Wembley Central ward but not in the High Road as there was no suitable site there.

King Edward VII Park, Wembley - an explanation from Brent Council

The following explanation has been sent to Cllr Stopp regarding the works in King Edwrd VII Park, Wembley

The works taking place at King Edwards Park are to improve the quality and drainage of the five football pitches, and the cricket pitch on site, which have historically been of poor quality. This project commenced in August, and was originally expected to be concluded with 5-6 weeks; however, a number of issues- including the discovery of a buried electricity power cable and an unregistered gas pipe running across the site- resulted in delays whilst we liaised with the utility companies, and unfortunately the colder and wetter weather we're now experiencing means that the final cultivations (which rely on dry ground conditions and higher temperatures) cannot currently take place.

The specific status of the works is as follows:

Part A: Site remodelling of King Edward VII Park

All works have been completed aside from final cultivations, sand amelioration and seeding.  Final cultivations rely on dry ground conditions and as expected, ground conditions are unsuitable for these works.  These works will be completed at the earliest opportunity in Spring once the soils have dried sufficiently.  It is envisaged that these works will take a maximum of 3 weeks to complete before seed is in the ground.  Once seeded the pitches will be green within 1 week to 10 days.

Part B: Maintenance of Football pitches (not including Cricket square)

The maintenance works will begin once the seed is germinated and ready to cut.

Part C: Cricket square construction

This element of the works have been completed in full

Part D: Cricket square maintenance

The maintenance works will begin once the seed is germinated and ready to cut.

The contractors will ensure the site is secure before winter. They will also come to site in the next couple of days to verti-drain and overseed the track way and make good damage caused by the caterpillar digger.


Unfortunately therefore, it is now unlikely that some of the works will be concluded before better weather in the spring, and the temporary fencing will need to remain in place until then.

We have asked for some fresh signage to be placed on site explaining the delays, and hope that this will be in place within the next week or so.

We are also attempting to locate the source of the smell that is being reported.

Clearly there is a need to keep yourselves, the Friends of Group and all interested parties abreast of the latest developments.

I am sorry this has not properly happened to now. I will personally schedule regular updates.

UPDATED; What on earth is happening in King Eddie's park?

Local residents have contacted me to ask if I know what is happening in King Edward VII Park in Wembley where the sports field remains a churned up soggy mess surrouneed by fencing.

One resident wrote:

The main field of King Edwards Park is STILL fenced off (nearly 4 months now, despite a notice saying some disruption for up to 5 weeks) The West side of the park smells really bad….(drainage still an issue??)  Lots of the regular users  the joggers, walkers, dog owners, have stopped using it, and its getting quite ‘creepy’ walking in itdue to the big pile of sand, and the fence you can’t really see  whats around the corner…..especially on these dark afternoons and mornings…

Also there has been a particularly unsavoury character hanging around the ‘bunker building’  who shouts and spits at passers by.

I’ve tried Brent Council, Parks dept.  the local councillor but no response…so I was just wondering if you had any suggestions? 

The short reply is that poor drainage is being replaced but why the delay is a mystery. Weather may be blamed but actually it has been unusually mild or perhaps a spring has been discovered under what used to be a meadow. Whatever the answer what is not in doubt is that this is costing a considerable sum of money.

An FoI request got this response from the Council:

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The total cost is approximately £300k of which £93k is grant funding from the Mayor of London (via The Football Foundation) sports facilities fund and Sport England ‘s Protecting playing fields fund.

Which leaves £207,000 from Council funds.

UPDATE

Since publication Cllr Sam Stopp (Wembley Central) has written to the appropriate Brent Council Officer as below:

I have previously made enquiries (although not directed to you) about the situation in King Eddie's Park, Wembley Central. Several residents have brought to me concerns about developments in the park and I am asking that the Council clarifies matters.

Residents have raised a number of concerns, including the unexplained fencing off of the main field in the park, as well as a foul smell in the west side of the park (associated with drainage issues).

Please could we have some information about what on earth is going on? Ward councillors have not been informed and residents deserve to know. It was not that long ago that we saved the park from being built on - I had hoped its importance to the community would be better recognised as a result.