Monday 10 June 2024

Final list of candidates in Brent East and Brent West plus Queens Park by-election

BRENT EAST

Nida Alfulaij, Green Party candidate

Dawn Butler, Labour Party

Jenner Folwell, Independent

Zbigniew Kowalczyk, Reform UK

Amin Moafi, Independent

James Mutimer, Workers Party

Jamila Robertson, Conservative Party candidate

Aadil Shaikh, Independent

Jonny Singh, Liberal Democrat

 

BRENT WEST 

Ian Collier, Reform UK

Baston De'Medici Jaguar, Green Party candidate

Barry Gardiner, Labour

Nadia Klok, Workers Party

Paul Lorber, Liberal Democrat

Sushil Rapatwar, Conservative Party candidate

 

QUEEN'S PARK COUNCIL BY-ELECTION

Virginia Bonham Carter, Liberal Democrat

Ricardo Davies, Green Party

Emily Sheffield, Conservative Party

Lesley Smith, Labour Party

 

Sunday 9 June 2024

Staples Corner-Dollis Hill will see major changes under the Growth Area Masterplan currently in consultation

 

Brent Council is currently consulting on the Staples Corner Growth Area Masterplan which would see major changes in the Strategic Industrial Land  (SIL) areas in Dollis Hill, new housing, a designated high rise area and better  connections  with green spaces.

The Council claims:

Staples Corner will be transformed into a higher quality and intensified industrial area sitting adjacent to a new urban community. Regeneration and growth will support a rich ecology of industrial and co-located residential uses to create an exemplary 15-minute neighbourhood where people live, work and interact. Intensification will deliver a new and varied supply of modern industrial premises for London’s strategic and local business needs, as well as commercial space, social infrastructure and an improved public realm to support a mixed use residential community.

 

Staples Corner will be enhanced as an attractive, prosperous and sustainable place,

supporting new industrial business and employment growth, as well as welcoming new residents to the neighbourhood.

 

 

Protecting and intensifying the majority of the industrial land solely for industrial

purposes, but allowing some either for a mix of uses incorporating some industrial or for

residential led development, will deliver:

 

• Modern, fit for purpose industrial spaces for local businesses including logistics,

light industrial units and affordable workspace;

 

• Opportunities for employment, skills and training for local people;

 

• A minimum of 2,200 new high quality homes, including affordable homes and

family sized-dwellings;

 

• A range of new local services and community spaces that support interaction and community cohesion;

 

• New open spaces, incorporating play for a range of ages, and public realm

improvements particularly along the North Circular Road and Edgware Road;

 

• A high quality environment that is safe and accessible to everyone;

 

• An industrial movement network that keeps HGV and large vehicles to the

strategic road network, with other streets encouraging walking and

cycling over private motor vehicles, and better connect Staples Corner to the

surrounding area;

 

• A place that achieves the highest standards of sustainability to support a

low carbon circular economy.

The plans include a tall building zone off the Edgware Road with some taller 'marker buildings':


 


The West Hendon redevelopment in neighbouring Barnet with its 'marker' tall building was opposed by Brent  Council because of its impact on the Welsh Harp but it was argued at the time that it would set a precedent that could lead to development close to the banks of the Welsh Harp encouraged by the Council.  The comment included in  the above image 'building masses should consider the setting of the locally listed Welsh Harp reservoir, and also respond sensitively to suburban streets to the south' will be key for many local people and will the impact of tall buildings on the flight paths of breeding and migrating birds.


I can only include a basic outline of these massive detailed documents that can be found on the Council website HERE.


One adopted the Masterplan will used as the framework for future planning decisions in the designated Growth Area area and so it is important to comment now.




CONSULTATION MEETINGS

 

 

June 12th 12-3pm Bellissima Ristorante

 

June 18th 10am-2pm Stables Cafe, Gladstone Park

 

June 27th 12-3pm Bellissima Ristorante

 

July 3rd 5.30-7.30pm Millennium Business Centre

 

July 10th 6pm-7pm online



World War Two local history talk on 15 June – your chance to book a seat!

 

A WW2 Air Raid Warden Post coat of arms, which will be on display at the talk.

 

This month we are remembering the efforts of the brave soldiers, sailors and airmen who took part in the D-Day landings eighty years ago. But the Second World War affected the “home front” as well, and thousands of Wembley residents, men and women, played an important part in keeping their neighbours safe from German bombing. 

 

Many had volunteered to be Air Raid Wardens as early as the Spring of 1938, and carried on giving up their free time right through until the warden service was disbanded in June 1945. Others took on roles in First Aid, Rescue or the Auxiliary Fire Service, putting themselves “in harms way” to protect the lives and property of their fellow residents, with some paying the ultimate price. 

 

A German V1 flying bomb (or “doodlebug”) in the air.

 

Hitler responded to the Allied invasion on the Normandy beaches by ordering the use of his Vergeltungswaffen (“vengeance weapons”), beginning with V1 flying bombs. The first of these to land in Wembley came less than a fortnight after D-Day, and fell not far from Barham Community Library, where I will be giving a talk on Saturday 15 June.

 

My illustrated talk, on “Wembley’s Air Raid Wardens in the Second World War”, will include a number of other stories local to the Sudbury area, but covers the whole of the former Borough of Wembley. It is a joint event, between the Library and Wembley History Society, but there are still a few seats available for anyone who wants to attend.

 

Please see the poster below for details, and contact Paul at the Library if you would like to come along, from 3pm until c.4.30pm on Saturday 15 June. All ages, probably from about ten upwards, are welcome if you would be interested. It is a free event, but donations to Barham Community Library would be appreciated. I look forward to seeing you there!


Philip Grant

 


 

Friday 7 June 2024

Chiltern Railways tell Brent Council they have insufficient rail stock or staff capacity to support the proposed increase in events at Wembley Stadium


 

Wembley Stadium's bid to increase the number of events at the stadium  LINK has encountered opposition from a significant public transport provider. In a letter to Brent Council Chiltern Railways say the not not have sufficient rail stock or staff capacity to cater for more events. They say other services they provide are already hit on event days.

The new Wembley Station was originally designated a 'public transport destination'.

 

This is the Chiltern Railways letter:

 

Planning REF: 24/1329

Dear Brent Council Planning Authority,

 

On behalf of Chiltern Railways, who operate services to London, Birmingham and Oxford via Wembley Stadium station we wanted to object to the proposed application for 9 additional events to be held at Wembley Stadium each year.


As the key mainline rail operator operating Wembley Stadium Station, we carry between 8 and 12% of customer flows for Wembley events including major football fixtures and summer concerts. Whilst we are supportive of the positive impact Wembley events have for local economic activity, Chiltern Railways does not currently have enough available rolling stock and associated colleagues to deliver the current cap of 24 sporting events and 22 non-sporting events each year.


At present for Wembley major events impacting our route including recent examples of the Champions League Final on the 1 June 2024 and League One Play Off Final on Saturday 18 May 2024 Chiltern have had to remove services off other sections of our network to deliver enough capacity to safely serve Wembley Stadium. This is having an ongoing negative affect on Chiltern Railways reputation and is negatively impacting our customer and stakeholder relationships on other routes.


If the event cap is extended by a further 9 events, in order to protect our customer base and stakeholder relationships on our wider network, Chiltern Railways will have to take the difficult decision to not serve each and every Wembley event. This will put additional pressure on other transport modes including London Underground, road and bus links to Wembley Stadium.


Chiltern have applied to the Department for Transport for additional rolling stock for the Chiltern Mainline which would enable us to deliver the required capacity for the future growth of events at Wembley Stadium. Following the General Election we expect that the new Secretary of State for Transport would be in position to make a final decision on these proposals in December 2024. As such the earliest that new rolling stock could be introduced is late 2025. We will also need to get signoff from the Department for Transport to increase our colleague numbers in order to operate additional services.


In conclusion, whilst we currently support the delivery of major events at Wembley Stadium, as the key mainline rail operator we do not currently have any additional rolling stock capacity to meet the proposed extension in the events cap.


To protect our customer and stakeholder reputation across the wider Chiltern Railways network, we are likely to be in a position where we cannot safely serve each and every Wembley event with mainline rail services. We are continuing to advocate for additional rolling stock to the Department for Transport and would ask Brent Council, Wembley Stadium and The Football Association to support these plans to enable us to serve additional Wembley events in the future.


Yours sincerely,

Zach Bailey

Regional Growth Manager

Chiltern Railways


Monday 3 June 2024

Striking Wembley primary school in forced takover demands DfE pause process during pre-election period

 


From Brent NEU

 

PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF NATIONAL EDUCATION UNION, PARENTS AND BARRY GARDINER TO PRESENT PETITION AT DfE

 

NEU members at Byron Court Primary School are continuing their strike in a fight to save their local community school which is threatened with a forced privatisation by the huge Harris Federation chain of academies. STRIKES CONTINUE TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY this week. On WEDNESDAY the campaign group will present their petition of nearly 2000 signatories to the DfE.

 

Staff at Byron Court Primary School in Wembley continue their strike action this week to save their local community school from a forced “academy order” following an intimidating Ofsted inspection which has left some staff fearing for their mental health and their futures. They are hoping for a reprieve and pause in the academy order process due to government guidelines on the pre-election “purdah” period.

 

NEU MEMBERS, PARENTS, COUNCILLORS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN TURNING OUT TO SUPPORT THE PICKET LINES AND PROTESTS FOLLOWING A HIGH PROFILE PARENT CAMPAIGN WHICH IS ALSO SUPPPORTED BY BARRY GARDINER LABOUR PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE FOR BRENT WEST. 

 

Meanwhile a live complaint lodged with Ofsted is now with the external adjudicator following the internal complaints process in which Ofsted “mark their own work” and there is also a formal complaint lodged with the Chief of Operations of Ofsted. It is hoped this may halt the takeover.

Friday 31 May 2024

Queens Park & Maida Vale General Election Hustings June 17th 7pm St Lukes, Fernhead Road

 

Queens Park & Maida Vale Election Hustings

Kensal and Kilburn Better 2024 presents a traditional election hustings featuring all of the candidates for the new parliamentary constituency of Queens Park & Maida Vale. Come along to meet and hear from all the candidates, and ask them anything!


Queens Park & Maida Vale constituency comprises the Brent wards of Harlesden & Kensal Green, Queens Park and Kilburn, plus much of the former Westminster North constituency. The candidates are: 

Vivien Lichtenstein - Green Party; Helen Baxter - Liberal Democrats
; Samia Hersi - Conservative Party; Irakli Menabde - Workers Party of Britain; Abby Dharamsey - Social Democratic Party; Georgia Gould - Labour Party; Angela Carter-Begbie - Reform UK


 

Queens Park by-election will be held on July 4th

 Dated: Thursday 30 May 2024 Kim Wright
Returning Officer
London Borough of Brent,
Brent Civic Centre
Engineers Way
Wembley
HA9 0FJ
Printed and Published by the London Borough of Brent
London Borough of Brent


NOTICE OF ELECTION


Election of a Borough Councillor
For the Queens Park Ward
To be held on
Thursday 4 July 2024


NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT


1. An election is to be held for a Borough Councillor for the Queens Park Ward.


2. Nomination papers may be obtained from the Electoral Services Office, Brent Civic Centre,
Engineers Way, Wembley HA9 0FJ.


3. Completed nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer at the address shown
above from the day after the date of this notice, weekdays between 10am and 4pm but not later
than 4pm on Friday 7 June 2024.


4. If the election is contested, the poll will take place on Thursday 4 July 2024 between the hours of
7.00am and 10.00pm.


5. Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by midnight on Tuesday
18 June 2024. Applications can be made online: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

 
6. Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this
election must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer** by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June
2024. Applications can be made online: www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

 
7. Applications to vote by post or to change existing postal, postal proxy or proxy votes must reach the
Electoral Registration Officer at the Electoral Services Office address shown above by 5pm on
Wednesday 19 June 2024. Applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote and
www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote

 
8. New applications to vote by proxy must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer at the
address shown above by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024. Some applications can be made
online at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote

 
9. Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election on the grounds of physical incapacity; for
work/service reasons; or photo ID is lost/ stolen/ damaged/ or voter ID not received, must reach the
relevant Electoral Registration Officer ** by 5pm on Thursday 4 July 2024.

Thursday 30 May 2024

Brent councillor Shama Tatler moves into national spotlight as she is parachuted into sacked candidate Faiza Shaheen's seat

 

 

Cllr Shama Tatler is in the spotlight after London Labour announced her as the parliamentary candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green following the unceremonious sacking of long-term candidate Faiza Shaheen by Keir Starmer yesterday. This means that she has been chosen centrally by Labour rather than going through the local democratic selection process.

Faiza Shaheen, a new mother and local had been campaigning in the seat for four years. It remains to be seen whether the Brent Lead Member for Regeneration will benefit from that work. 

Faiza Shaheen said on Twitter:

Really! Wow a Brent councillor with no history here at all. They would rather lose than have a left pro-Palestine candidate. This is offensive to my community.

It appears that Tatler has been parachuted into a bed of nettles amidst the current controversy over a 'Starmerite purge' and allegations of a negative attitude towards ethnic minority and female candidates in the wake of the leadership's treatment of Diane Abbott. Of course Shama Tatler is also ethnic minority and female.

 


There were mixed comments on Twitter with some pointing to Tatler's membership of the JLM as finding favour with Starmer.  LINK  One person accused her of 'trampling' on Faiza Shaheen.

Shama Tatler is on  Labour's NCC the party's disciplinary committee and backed Luke  Akenhurst for the NEC.  I understand that there is currently a conduct complaint against her lodged with the Labour Party.

She previously sought the Labour parliamentary candidate nomination for Watford. This video was part of her campaign.

Meanwhile people are flocking to the support of Faiza Shaheen after her emotional interview on Newsnight last night.

 


Faiza Shaheen's statement on yesterday's events:

 


Following boundary changes, what are the chances of Shama Tatler winning the seat previously held by Ian Duncan Smith for the Conservatives?  The website Electoral Calculus has the projection below but this does not take into account the latest developments and the possibility of an Independent campaign by Faiza Shaheen.