Libraries Day of Action - local campaigns

The Save Preston Library Campaign have started an e-petition on Brent Council's site. The petition reads:

Keep Preston Library Open We the undersigned petition the council to keep Preston Library open and give full consideration to alternatives to the removal of essential local library services to the Preston ward under the Brent "Library Transformation Project". We oppose the sale or redevelopment of the site that does not include a Brent public library. : We oppose the closure of Preston Library, a cost-efficient local service that is well used by all the local community.

It provides essential facilities for some of our community, particularly senior citizens and those with limited mobility, schoolchildren, and the unemployed and others who may not have access to a computer.

Preston Library service is more accessible and meets the needs of a greater number of local people than would a multimillion-pound mega-library at Wembley Stadium, to which many users would find it difficult to travel.

We demand that Brent Council give adequate time and due consideration to alternatives plans to the closure of Preston Library, including the revision of proposals for the library at the Civic Centre.

We also oppose the sale or disposal of the Preston Library site for any redevelopment that does not include a public library for the use of local citizens.

 To sign the petition follow this link. The campaign needs at least 50 signatories LINK

The campaign is holding an organising meeting at 3pm today at the library and also encouraging as many people as possible to use it and borrow as many books as possible.

There will be a public meeting in  support of the campaign on Wednesday 16th February, 7.30pm Preston Park Primary School

The Cricklewood Campaign has a public meeting on Thursday 10th February 6.30pm at 6.30pm at the library.

The Willesden and Wembley Observer petition to save ALL Brent libraries has now got 71 signatures. More are urgently needed.  SIGN HERE

Finally you can see a map of library protests across the country HERE and follow action in today's Day of Action on Library Closures HERE

Kensal Rise Library Children's Read-in Today

Gordon Brown Threatened Too?

Generations of Brent children have had their first taste of the country here

The Gordon Brown Outdoor Education Centre is a Brent outpost near the village of Rotherwick in Hampshire. It is used for 3 or 5 day residential trips by many Brent schools. Its possible closure often comes up during periods of cutbacks and it sits on a potentially valuable site in beautiful countryside.

However the Centre has over the years built up a whole range of activities apart from residential tips including themed activity days, corporate events, birthday parties and team building. All this has been in order to become more self-sufficient so that the Centre can stave off any more closure threats.

Rumours are circulating that it could be up for closure again or face the possibility of being sold off to a private company. there may be confusion with the Welsh Harp Centre but meanwhile you may like to read something I wrote in the Independent several years ago about children's experience at the Gordon Brown Centre. LINK

Trade Unions and Climate Change Meeting on Thursday

Trade Unionists in the Fight against Climate Change

An evening conference for north London trade unionists and climate activists organised by BRENT TRADE UNION COUNCIL and BRENT CAMPAIGN AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE. Supported by BRENT UNISON.

Thursday 10 February 7.30pm, Willesden Green Library Centre, 95 High Road, NW10 2SF 

Nearest tube: Willesden Green, Jubilee line. Buses: 52, 98, 260, 266, 302, 460 Free parking behind the library centre, disabled access to all parts.

Agenda

Keynote address John Stewart (Campaign against Climate Change) Session 1 – The fight for climate jobs Speakers: Chris Baugh (Assistant General Secretary PCS) Nick Grant (National Executive NUT) Session 2 – The fight for green workplaces Speaker: Sarah Pearce (TUC Greenworkplaces Project Leader) Chair: Pete Firmin (CWU, President Brent Trades Union Council)

Time for questions and discussion after each session. All welcome.

Further information: go to contact@brentcacc.com.

Former Mayor backs Welsh Harp Campaign

The Willesden and Brent Times reports that Jim O'Sullivan, former Conservative Councillor for Barn Hill ward and a former Mayor of Brent has come out in support of the campaign to save the West Harp Environmental Education Centre.

He said, "It is a valuable asset for the schools in Brent and beyond. It should be saved in the interests of young people". Recalling past threats to the centre he said,  “There is a new generation of people who will hopefully have the same energy and determination to fight to keep the centre."

Brent Primary School Expansion Plans Threatened

Brent's primary school expansion programme is in turmoil following indications that the government timetable may not be met.   The government grants have to be spent by August 2011. £2.932m to be spent on the Islamia Primary School  in Salusbury Road, Queens Park, may now be spent on other schemes as the Council consider there 'is no longer enough time for the school's scheme to be completed to a phase which would allow the money to be spent by the deadline'.

The building of a new two-form primary school on the site of Preston Manor High School may also be delayed despite the fast-tracking of planning consultation: planning permission had been sought before the Council's Executive Meeting on February 15th considers the results of statutory consultation.

The Council has established that there may be restrictions on the use of the school's land through a historical covenant.  The covenant reads:

No building shall be erected upon the land or any part thereof except a private dwelling house or private dwelling houses with or without rustic summerhouses, motor-care houses, cycle houses and greenhouses appurtenant thereto or pavilions in connection with a Sports Ground.

No trade manufacturer or business (except a Sports Ground) shall be carried on upon the land or any part thereof nor shall any building than that of a private dwelling house and appurtenances thereto...

 In a letter to residents (1) Matthew Lantos, headteacher of Preston Manor High School and Richard Barrett (Assistant Director, Regeneration and Major Projects) say that the view of Council officers is that the covenant was probably intended to prevent ad hoc commercial development and not to prevent the school's expansion.

They say an application to the Upper Tribunal to vary the covenant is likely to realise a positive outcome. The school intends to make an application to modify the existing covenants by seeking to limit the use of the land for Educational, Recreational and Community purposes only.

It is unclear how long this will take and there must be some possibility that it won't be successful. The original intention was to open the permanent new school in September 2011, thus meeting the August deadline. Any delay now pay impact on the timetable.

Several school building and refurbishment programmes have been affected by delays stemming from the council re-organisation last year which saw them moved from Children and Families'  Asset Management Team to Regeneration and Major Projects, coming under different assistant directors. This was compounded by the loss of key staff after council cutbacks.

(1) Letter dated 2nd February 2011

Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre - A History of Struggle

Previous demonstration in support of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre (1980s?)

Willesden and Brent Times reporter Kate Ferguson managed to dig this photograph out of the archives after I mentioned there had been school pupil demonstrations in support the the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre in the past.  Along with the Gordon Brown Outdoor Education Centre, Brent's Hampshire residential field centre, it is non-statutory and is therefore threatened whenever cuts are needed.  Non-statutory does not of course mean 'not valuable' and Brent primary headteachers, governors and pupils have rushed to defend the Welsh Harp, deluging councillors with letters and e-mails.

Latest intelligence is that negotiations are going on with a private company that might fund the centre to some extent as a method of showing its green credentials and commitment to the community.  However, rather than just relying on this the campaign continues.

Viv Stein of Brent Friends of the Earth and Brent Campaign against Climate Change said, “Closing the Welsh Harp education centre will deprive Brent’s children of the unique opportunity to learn about our natural environment that this vital facility offers.  Teaching children about ecology and respecting nature is an invaluable life lesson that we all need to learn to protect our declining wildlife and precious natural habitats.

“This damaging decision is somewhat at odds with Brent’s responsibility to take a lead in improving green space projects and sustainability in schools, as part of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy.  It raises further questions about the credibility of the Labour administration’s supposedly “green” charter, and comes barely a year after cross-party groups successfully fought off a planning application that would have devastated the Welsh Harp nature reserve.”

Primary Academy Under Fire

ARK's new primary academy close to Brent's southern border with Westminster has caused controversy over the lack of consultation on the proposals and fears that it could destabilise local primary schools. The Ark Atwood Primary Academy will be housed temporarily for two years in Third Avenue, off the Harrow Road.

Susanna Rustin has written an article about the issues involved HERE