Swaminarayan not now applying for free school status in current round

The independent Swaminaryan School in Brentfield Road, Neasden, has decided not to apply to become a free school in the current round This will allow for further consultation.

The headteacher has written to parents stating:

The governors wish to inform you that after a brief initial survey, they will not be applying for a Free school in the current round. We have received a variety of views both formally and informally, from parents and staff of the school on this very important issue. We want to ensure that we have heard the views of the whole school community. To that end we will carry out a more detailed consultation with parents and staff of the school in the new year

 I understand that among the concerns have been expressed are that academic standards will be eroded if the school is no longer able to select pupils for the Prep school and whether central government funding would be sufficient to maintain the small class sizes teachers and children currently enjoy.

Annexation attempt on Barn Hill?

The new houses from Barn Hill open space

 Further information has come to my attention regarding the 'Battle of the Yellow Lines' .  Apparently the houses that front the newly built houses in Beverley Gardens are former police houses and were all bought up by the same man who then built two new houses on the former police car park at the back of the houses.

The road was used to access those car parks as well as the open space and that would be clear at the time of purchase and development. It begins to look like an attempted annexation of a corner of Barn Hill estate.

Meanwhile Cllr Michael Pavey has written to the Council on the issue:

I am writing to object to the addition of double yellow lines to the service road at the top of Uxendon Hill/Beverley Gardens.

I understand that one positive response has been received to this proposal. Against this the residents' association is implacably opposed. I have been contacted by a number of other residents who I have encouraged to make representations. Parking restrictions are a very contentious issue, particularly in the Barn Hill area. A single positive response is an insufficient mandate when the local residents' association is so opposed.

I understand that the service road predates the houses built at the top of it. On this basis the landowner would have been fully aware of the access issues when choosing to develop the site. I would be interested to see any evidence that the road is now more congested with visiting traffic than at the time of development.

I understand that the service road is intended to facilitate access to the Barn Hill Open Space. Adding double yellow lines would restrict this, compromising people's ability to ensure this beautiful area.

I have been contacted by a resident in another part of the Barn Hill estate who has been advised by your Department that the Council cannot consider additional double yellow lines projects at the current time due to budget constraints. If money is tight, double yellowing this service road should certainly not be a priority.

I strongly believe that the community is opposed to this scheme. I trust that if the consultation generates more critical than positive responses, the Council will reject the proposal?

Best wishes,
Michael.

Cllr. Michael Pavey
Labour Councillor for Barnhill, Brent Council

Brent CAB gives out record number of food vouchers today

Tweet from Brent Citizens' Advice Bureau today:

Brent CAB ‏@BrentCAB

Poverty in Brent: today we gave out a record 16 food vouchers to families in need. Sign of the times?

Central Middx and Northwick Park A&Es overwhelmed

Campaigners lobby Sarah Teather over the closures

The Evening Standard today reports that  Maeve O'Callaghan-Harrington, head of emergency planning at NW London Hospitals Trust, emailed local GPs  last week advising them that the casualty units at Northwick Park and Central Middlesex  were full. 

Northwick Park had 19 patients waiting for beds and patients were also waiting for beds at Central Middlesex. Central Middlesex A&E is already closed overnight and would be closed completely under the 'Shaping a Healthier Future' proposals. Central Middlesex A&E patients will be expected to go to Northwick Park instead and that is also where patients from the Urgent Care Centre would be transferred if the UCC cannot treat them.

The Standard reports Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary as commenting:

As this email shows London A&Es are struggling as it is and it is not at all clear how the Government can close so many without putting lives at risk. The planned closures in northwest London look drastic and the onus is on the NHS and the Government to provide clinical evidence for how they can be justified.

Local NHS campaigners have repeatedly drawn attention to the pressures on Northwick Park even before the closure of Central Middlesex A&E  and the absence of any kind of risk assessment on the possible repercussions for the safety of patients if the closure takes place.