Roe Green Walled Garden – well worth a visit

 Guest blog by Philip Grant

Following Martin’s short blog publicising its open day on Saturday LINK, I went along to renew my acquaintance with this “secret garden”. I say that as I had lived within half a mile of Roe Green Walled Garden for fifteen years before my family discovered this beautiful haven, tucked away at the top of a driveway in the park. Now, this community garden run by volunteers from the Barn Hill Conservation Group is better publicised, and attracted many other visitors.

Some of the Open Day attractions on the lawn

 

A quiet wildlife corner of the walled garden

 

Part of the sunny long borde

 If you have not been to this garden before (or if you have, but are not sure when it is open), you don’t need to wait for another open day to pay it a visit. The garden is open from 10am to 2pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There are quiet spots to sit and relax, an area for children to play, educational displays, and sales of recycled items as well as the pleasant flower, fruit and vegetable gardens to stroll around. The garden has an informal atmosphere, and there are usually volunteers around glad to answer any questions. If you want to stay and give them a hand with any of the garden tasks, so much the better, but there is no pressure to do so. If you want to find out more about the garden, or their work on Fryent Country Park, please visit their website: http://bhcg.btck.co.uk/.

Philip Grant.

Shahrar Ali challenges UKIP's Magnus Nielsen on overseas aid

UKIP candidate Magnus Nielsen  (Hampstead and Kilburn) told people attending last night's Catholic hustings at the Church of Transfiguration, Kensal Rise, that they should dig into their own pockets to provide Overseas Aid, reducing addressing inequality to a personal matter rather than a government obligation.

Green candidate Shahrar Ali (Brent Central)  responded by saying that world poverty was a systemic issue based on inequality and globalisation that would be worsened by climate change.

Nielsen has a history of controversy, particularly regarding Islam LINK and  appears quite a different kettle of fish to the apparently rather more benign Stephen Priestley, standing for UKIP in Brent Central.

The Daily Mirror has published a video of an anti-Islam speech by Nielsen HERE

Preston Library 'Bookaway' World Book Night April 23rd

Brent Cabinet environment post may not be replaced

Since my post about Cllr George Crane stepping down as lead member for environment and speculation about his replacement LINK, I have heard that the post may be incorporated into an existing cabinet role.

It will be argued that this reflects the reduction in environment responsibilities with most of the Council function out-sourced to Veolia.

It will also conveniently avoid any competition for the role and the testing of loyalties to 'The Leader', Cllr Muhammed Butt.

One of the councillors most qualified for the position challenged the leadership over Council Tax.

Given the power of the Cabinet this will reduce decision making to just 7 people.

Brent Council claim 9,000 plus households have opted to pay £40 'Garden Tax' for green waste collection

Brent Council sent out the following press release last week. I print it unedited.

Two hundred households are signing up for the new garden waste service everyday as new household waste and recycling services in Brent get underway.

As of this month, changes to our waste and recycling services mean that collections from green bins, which were for both food and garden waste, have now ceased and have been replaced by a new food waste container for every household and a separate garden waste collection service.
Residents who want to continue to have their garden waste collected from their green bin will need to pay £40.

So far, 9,000 households have signed up for the service, with this number expected to rise as the warmer weather and longer days mean that residents who previously did not see a need for the service, may decide to opt-in.

UNWANTED GREEN BINS WILL BE COLLECTED IN JUNE

In response to this demand, we are delaying collecting the old green food and garden waste bins until June – when days in the year are at their longest - to provide residents with the option of opting-in at short notice.

However, from June, remaining households that have not signed up for the service will have their old garden waste bin removed.

The changes to the waste collection service also mean a change in how often the bins are emptied.

As of this month, food bins and the blue top recycling bins will now be collected every week, whereas general household waste and the garden waste collections will take place fortnightly.

Collection days for household waste and recycling will remain the same, however households which opt-in to the garden waste bin collection service will be notified of their collection day when they subscribe.

Visit our recycling pages to check your waste and recycling collection days, or to sign up for the garden waste collection service.

Brent candidates' views on the Israel-Palestine conflict

Following last week's hustings on War, Peace and the Middle East readers may be interested in their Brent candidates views on the Israel-Palestine situation.

This is the up to date information received so far from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign's questionnaire to candidates. It is long so I have split the page.

BRENT CENTRAL

Shahrar Ali of the Green Party has responded.

They agree the UK Government should uphold the principles of equality, human rights and international law in all its relations and dealings with Israel.

They agree that the construction of Israeli settlements construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal and unjustifiable.

They agree that one of the first acts of the next UK Government should be the recognition of Palestine.

They agree that the blockade of Gaza should be lifted immediately.

They agree that we should stop trade with Israel’s settlements on Palestinian land and stop settlement goods being sold in Britain.

They agree that the EU Israel Association should be suspended until Israel meets its human rights obligations.

They agree that the UK Government should stop supplying arms to Israel until it complies with international law.

 

The Green Party believes that the Arab-Israeli conflict persists owingto the failure to find a fair and humane solution to the problems of thePalestinian people; and at the same time offer appropriate guarantees ofsecurity for Israel.

We condemned Israel's ground invasion and bombardment of Gaza in 2014,and continue to call on the UN, the EU and the US to ensure that Israel complies with international law.

We also call on Israel to evacuate illegal settlements within the occupied territories of Palestine. In addition, we call on the government of Israel to dismantle the 'West Bank Barrier' which divides
Palestinian territories, depriving Palestinians of land, water, and employment.

The Green Party supports active participation in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign which aims to put pressure on the government of Israel to end the Occupation and to give equal rights to Palestinians.

We believe that in the present situation neither the UK government nor UK companies should be selling arms to Israel.

The Green Party is committed to principles of equality, human rights and international law. There can be no lasting peace without justice.'

Barry Gardiner vows to defy Brent Labour Council on Byron Court expansion

Asked by parents at last night's Sudbiry Hustings about the proposed  Byron Court Primary School expansion, Barry Gardiner, Labour candidate for Brent North, reiterated his opposition.  He said that a primary school of more than 1,000 pupils was unacceptable and said that if Brent Council granted planning permission, he would appeal against it to the Labour Secretary of State (if Labour won the election).

The other candidates at the hustings Scott Bartle (Green), Paul Lorber (Liberal Democrat) and Luke Parker (Conservative) also opposed the expansion on varying grounds.

Scott Bartle emphasised the Green's commitment to human sized schools and support for local authorities to be given back the power to plan and build new schools. The Green Party would bring academies and free schools back into the local autoirty family of schools to bring order back to the system. He said that the way Gladstone Free School had failed to open leaving pupils adrift was a scandal.

Barry Gardiner also referred to the 'free school' disaster and criticised the Tory approach to academies which had turned on its head Labour's original concept of a fresh start for failing schools.

Paul Lorber opposed the expansion on grounds of size but said that the real issue was the lack of any land for new schools of any kind in the borough. He mentioned the three form entry primary that Quintain were due to build near the stadium but said that he had no idea when that woudl be built.

Luke Parker wanted more free schools in the borough and claimed that Brent Council were opposed to them on ideological grounds and because they were under pressure from teaching unions.

Scott Bartle, Brent North Green Candidate, speaks out at Sudbury Hustings

The packed hustings was held in a beautiful but dimly lit church so please excuse the quality of the picture.