Lib Dems request Call In of Leaflet Licensing Plans

Alison Hopkins, new elected Liberal Democrat councillor for Dollis Hill and several other Lib Dem councillors have requested a Call In of the proposals to license the distribution of leaflets and flyers in designation streets in the borough.

If successful the Call In would be heard at the Call In, Overview and Scrutiny Committee scheduled for Wednesday May 9th.

Look out for lost Liverpool supporters this weekend

It looks as if we will be seeing lots of coaches in Wembley on Saturday for the FA Cup Final or lots of lost Liverpool fans trying to find their way home after this statement from the British Transport Police:

Virgin Trains is warning Liverpool football fans that there are no realistic options for return train travel from London after the FA Cup Final on Saturday 5 May. 

Major route improvement works by Network Rail over the Bank Holiday weekend will mean extensive route closures.

Passengers from Liverpool to London on Saturday 5 May will need to travel via Manchester or Chester, or use Stoke-on-Trent station but the decision by the Football Association for a 17:15 kick-off means there are no options for fans to return north the same day after the game.

With the route out of London closed on Sunday 6 May, the earliest that fans could return to Liverpool would be on Monday 7 May.

A Virgin Trains spokesman said: "We always try and help football fans get to and from matches on our network, and did this very successfully for Everton and Liverpool supporters travelling to the semi-final. However, on this occasion, as we explained to the FA, the choice of both a 17:15 kick off and the staging of the FA Cup Final on a Bank Holiday weekend when Network Rail had already planned essential route improvement works means we cannot offer fans the level of train service they have come to expect."

There appear to have been no advance warning to fans from the police, Brent Council,  the FA or Wembley Stadium about the street drinking ban as there was for the the semi-finals. On that occasion the police turned a blind eye to the public drinking but the late kick off on Saturday gives more than 4 hours extra drinking time compared with that much earlier kick off.

Now Kilburn Library to close for 16 weeks

Following the closure of half our libraries and just before the closure of Willesden Green Library for redevelopment Kilburn Library is to close for refurbishment for more than three months.

The Council's press release appears to be a cut and paste job - spot where they have got their libraries mixed up:

Kilburn Library will be closing for refurbishment from Monday 21 May 2012 until Sunday 9 September 2012. During this time the library will be redecorated and redesigned, with a brand new children's library, heating, lighting, furniture and extra computers installed.

The library is scheduled to reopen on Monday 10 September 2012.

Customers wanting to renew their items can do this by phoning our automated 24 hour service on 0115 929 3388 (these calls are charged at a national rate) or by renewing online.

The nearest libraries to Ealing Road are:

• Willesden Green Library
• Harlesden Library Plus.

During the exams study period from Monday 21 May until Friday 6 July 2012, study spaces will be available at BACES Carlton Centre, Granville Road, Kilburn NW6 5RA. The centre will also have internet and wi-fi facilities.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Private bidder to take over Treetops Nursery

The Save Treetops Nursery Facebook page is reporting that Brent Council has officially  accepted a private bid to run the nursery.  The nursery was designated for closure along with the Harmony nursery but parents swiftly organised a public campaign to keep it open.

An on-line petition to save both Treetops and Harmony gained 235 signatures.

 When the Council were adamant that they were not willing to fund the nursery the parents successfully campaigned for additional time to put a bid together themselves but encountered difficulty in raising the necessary funding

The takeover by a private company obviously raises the issue of affordability of fees as well as how the parents, who have been so involved and committed, will be represented in the new set up.

Meanwhile on Saturday Cllr Ann John leader of Brent Council will be at Harmony Children's Centre, where the Council closed the nursery, to present certificates to parents who have taken part in the 12 week, Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (SFSC) course.

I leave it to readers to decide whether Ann John herself would deserve an award for her work in strengthening families and strengthening communities.