'Sell Off' - The abolition of the NHS. Free film screening Wembley Nov 3rd

Free film screening in Wembley (followed by a discussion with Dr Bob Gill)

Thursday November 3rd from 6.30pm

Hospitals around the country are under imminent threat of closure, and our NHS is being privatised, dismantled and taken away from us. This one-hour documentary entitled 'Sell Off' explains how it has happened, for how long, and by whom. Please join us to find out what we're up against, and to discuss what we can do to stop and reverse it.

This important free NHS film event takes place in Wembley. The venue is the IHRC (Book Shop), 202 Preston Road (close to Preston Road tube station), Wembley, HA9 8PA.

http://www.facebook.com/events/1124280487662983/

Heron House campaigners issue urgent call for support before October 25th deadline

The site

Second Pre-application design

From campaigners against Heron House redevelopment plans LINK

We urgently need your support to sign this Letter of Objection to stop the  huge redevelopment of Heron House, Wembley Hill Road, Wembley.  Please make any changes you see fit.

The deadline for comments/objections is October 25th 2016 

1)  Copy the letter below making any alterations you think fit. Insert your full name and address, including postcode, in FROM
2)  Paste into an email with Heron House Ref: 16/4156 in subject line and send  to: mandeep.chaggar@brent.gov.uk
3)  Now please forward to family members over 18 years and as many people as possible anywhere in the UK.

FROM:  

I strongly object to the proposed redevelopment of Heron House, Wembley Hill Road, Wembley by Plowden Limited,  for the following reasons and I urge Brent Council to refuse planning permission.  Brent Council Ref:  16/4156

1)  Stadium & High Road Regeneration: Those who live in Wembley can expect 11,000 high rise dwellings in the massive Regeneration of the Stadium and High Road Areas ("Regeneration").  As this regeneration was planned and agreed many decades ago, its progress will continue and one can only hope it will  be of benefit to all the residents of Brent. Will this now be copied in other locations throughout the country?

2) Smaller High Rise Developments: Our greatest fear is the  smaller high rise developments, which are intrusive and are rapidly creeping into residential streets everywhere,  whose impact is adversely affecting our quality of life.  One of these is the proposed redevelopment  of Heron House on Wembley Hill Road, into expensive higher rise flats and commercial businesses and I am very concerned that if permission is granted, similar developments could very well happen on my street next!

3) Not in Keeping with the Character of the Street:  Wembley Hill Road and all the street off it are totally residential and the existing Heron House was built in the '60s and is not as intrusive, overbearing or dense as the proposed development will be. The proposed development is much larger and certainly not in keeping with the character of the streets  and its visual effect will totally spoil the area.   Our streets consist of houses, bungalows, maisonettes, small blocks of flats and gardens.

4) Too close To Existing Regeneration:  As  the "Regeneration"  has already planned 11,000 dwellings, any more higher buildings in the same vicinity is surely excessive and would have a negative impact on the area, overshadowing all the houses around it, with an increase in noise pollution.

5) Loss of light, privacy and the existing outlook:  Although the Developers apparently plan to block some of the balcony glass partitions, they cannot possibly do this in all directions, so many residents will still be overlooked and lose their privacy and existing outlook. The dense building will also block out a significant amount of light for all the nearby residents.

6) Parking:   The proposal by Plowden mentioned a number of parking spaces smaller than the number of flats proposed. Therefore there will not be enough parking spaces for all the vehicles from the flats and the commercial businesses.   This will be putting even more pressure on the streets around  Wembley Hill Road, where there is already a huge demand for parking spaces and it is almost impossible to find one.

7) Traffic and Air Quality:  The transport implications have not been taken fully in consideration. The traffic at the nearby junction at the London Designer Outlet  is already gridlocked every day, so how will our roads cope with all the extra traffic that will be generated? There will always be disruptions around this junction, as road works never seem to stop and with all the extra traffic from the "Regeneration", we cannot allow even more traffic chaos from this new development.
The air quality in the area which has already been impacted by the "Regeneration", will only get worse. The main pollutants of concern, nitrogen oxides,  are lung irritant and especially liable to harm children and those with chest problems such as asthma. Surely the Council has a duty to enhance the health and wellbeing of the local community and not encourage every one of these smaller developments?  Heron House in particular  is right on the door step of the "Regeneration", it surely is not vital?

8)  Setting A Dangerous Precedent:  If this large higher development is allowed in a residential area, it will also set a dangerous precedent and before long even more developers will want to do the same. How much more destructive impact on our residential areas is the Council going to allow, despite huge opposition from its residents?  It is very unfair, as we are all already trying to retain the residential areas we live in, despite the looming high rises of the "Regeneration"

9)  Likely Purchase of Land Opposite:  These same developers have already expressed an interest in purchasing St Joseph's,  the land opposite Heron house, with a view to building yet another higher rise block! We cannot just sit back and do nothing and allow the development of these buildings, as local people are being priced out of the area, which impacts on other areas of the Borough.

10)  Other Sites:  There are many brown-filled and derelict sites in Brent, where these part/commercial development can be situated and these should be used before encroaching onto our residential streets.

11) Impact on Infrastructure:  What provision has been made for the infrastructure needed to cope with the extra people? As this is a new development,  provision obviously was not made when creating the "Regeneration".

12) A Concrete Jungle:  I am trying not to be too pessimistic, but  these smaller high rise dense developments,  which are causing great concern amongst residents, could happen anywhere and before you know it the whole of Brent could  become a concrete jungle!  I wish I could say with certainty that this will not happen, but the speed with which  these smaller high rises are going up, makes me and my neighbours truly fearful. The lack of transparency when making these decisions is very worrying, as they have an adverse effect on all our lives.

13) Love Where You Live:  On the one hand Brent Council is encouraging residents to "love where you live" and improve our environment and yet on the other forcing us to accept even more higher rise developments.  I know things have to change and progress, but do we have to loose our precious existing residential areas for even more high rises? Surely Brent Council should be aiming for both?

14) The Attitude of Developers: Developers everywhere are undermining and exploiting planning authorities, with planning performance agreements and other inducements.  They must be opposed and cannot continue to completely ignore the wishes of residents.

 15)  Historical Significance: High Street which runs along one side of the proposed development is of great historical significance, more so since there is little left of the old Wembley after the thatched cottage down the road was burnt down. High Street was the main street in Wembley 250 years ago and it is the only public way in Wembley which carries the name "street". As such, we ask the Council to give this due consideration and protect this area and not allow such a massive redevelopment to spoil the character of this quiet historic part of Wembley, , which is so much part of our low rise suburban area.

16)  Lower Level Affordable Housing: We of course appreciate that more houses are needed, so we propose and would be happy to support lower level affordable family accommodation perhaps some with small private gardens, as this is just the sort of dwelling which is in very short supply in the borough. The proposed plans for Heron House are excessive, damaging and totally inappropriate for the area and as such they should be rejected.

(Petition Organiser: Zerine Tata, Tokyington Ward, Email: zerinetata@hotmail.com)

Guantanamo Prisoners: Perpetual hostages to War on Terror

Click to enlarge

Upcoming Welsh Harp events starting on Sunday

Sunday October 23rd Conservation Day

 

Sunday November 20th Canoe clean up on the Welsh Harp.

This is going ahead. A detail in the last notice LINK  was incorrect. Only if you have a ‘one star level’ award and bring it with you on the day, will you be able to collect little from a canoe. Apologies for this. A team of volunteers will be needed on the bank as well  if you are not of a ‘one star level’.  Final infromation next week.

London Wildlife Trust Brent Reservoir walk, 6th November

LWT are hosting a Bird walk on the Brent Reservoir on Sunday 6th of November. Attendees will have an informative walk led by WHCG officer Roy Beddard and also get to visit the hides on the eastern marsh. After the walk there will be a tea/snack break followed by an arranged litter pick to help conserve the area.

We will be meeting by the Barnet information board by the Cool Oak Lane Bridge entrance at 11am, running to approx 2pm,  limited to 12 people due to space in the hides/equipment. More information on where/what to bring will be provided on booking.
              
Please direct any bookings/queries to myself on welshharp@wildlondon.org.uk  or to Rosie on rchambers@wildlondon.org.uk.


LINK
 

Tenants demand 'If BHP goes its replacement must be better and include tenants representation'

Brent Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee met last night to discuss options for a new housing management system system in the borough which will go to Cabinet on Monday. LINK

The meeting was extremely well attended by Brent Housing Partnership tenants and lease holders. At least two of the options would mean the end of BHP which is an ALMO (arms length management organisation) and semi-independent from Brent Council.

Tenants were forthright in stating that any return to an in-house housing management service would have to be much better than that which existed in Brent before BHP was formed.

Strong contributions to the discussion were made by Cllrs Conneely and Nerva but there may have been others as I arrived late from the Planning Committee which met at the same time.

In the current Brent Cabinet structure an in-house service would be monitored and overseen by an operational director and the lead member for housing.

This was felt to be be unsatisfactory given that lack of accountabulity and monitoring  contributed to BHP's current difficulties.

The first strong recommendation  from Scrutiny therefore was that if housing management is brought in-house there has to be a formalised, housing specific, oversight/scrutiny/sub-committee made up of councillots and residents represenattives of all types of tenure (eg tenants, leaseholders) preferably elected and with clear links with other levels of residents association.

A further recommendation was that if the in-house option was chosen that there should be complete transparency regarding the HRA (Housing Revenue Account) and it should be ring-fenced. 

Thirdly a much better and effective communications strategy needs to be put in place.

Lastly. if Cabinet opts for a joint venture any contract must come back to Scrutiny before being agreed.
 

Speak Up. Be Safe. Harrow Mencap Forum Nov 9th

From Harrow Mencap

Do you have a learning disability, or are you a friend / carer of someone with a learning disability? Would you like to come to an event where you can meet people, learn new things and express your opinions? Then come to the Harrow Forum for People with Learning Disabilities!

Our theme for this Forum is "Speak Up, Stay Safe!" - a day of sharing tips and tools for how to stay safe in Harrow. Please join us for a packed day of discussions, activities, guest speakers, performances and plenty of chances to speak up about your own experiences!

The next Forum, supported by Harrow Mencap, is on Wednesday 9th November, 10.30am – 2pm, North Harrow Methodist Church.

We welcome friends, carers, professionals- anyone who is interested to learn more about people's experiences in Harrow.

Check out our film of one of our previous events to get a flavour of what the day will be like LINK
As one guest said about a previous Forum: "The energy in the room, people talking about different issues- it was buzzing!"

Looking forward to seeing lots of you there!

From Grunwick to Deliveroo - migrant workers, trade unions & the new economy

A one-day conference on migrant workers, trade unions and the new economy.

Forty years ago Asian women at Grunwick led a strike for basic human dignity at work and for the right to join to a trade union. Today these battles are still being fought, often by migrant workers in precarious employment conditions. The experiences of workers at Byron revealed the extent to which migrant workers can be exploited by 'the new economy' and tossed aside when no longer needed, while those at Deliveroo showed that resistance is both necessary and possible.

This one-day conference will bring together campaigners, trade unionists, activists and thinkers to examine the changing nature of work and the terrains for resistance.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26TH 10.30AM-5.30PM

Willesden Library Centre
95 High Road
London
NW10 2SF

Willesden Green tube (Jubilee line)

Although a free event, please ensure you book your place HERE as spaces are limited.

Sessions will include: 

• The legacy of Grunwick
• Do we need independent trade unions?
• Building community support
• What does Brexit mean for workers
• Resisting immigration raids
• Building community support
•  

Confirmed participants are:

• Rita Chadha (Refugee and Migrant Forum Essex and London
• Dr Sundari Anitha
• Suresh Grover (The Moniroring Group)
• Anti Raids Network
• Amrit Wilson (writer, activist)
• Durham teaching assistants
• Jack Dromey MP
• Unite Hotel Workers Branch
• United Workers of the World Union (Deliveroo and other campaigns)
• More to be announced

Quintain reveal plans for Stadium Green Car Park

Quintain presented an overview of their proposals for the Wembley Stadium Green Car Park at Brent Planning Committee last night ahead of any formal planning application.

Sarah Marquis, the Chair of the Planning Committee said she had an interest in this item and removed herself from the room while it was being discussed.

Quintain said they were working with officers on detailed design and negotiations on Section 106 were in process and close to being signed.

The plans were displayed on slides with no paper copies available to the public. No public representations were allowed.

Seven buildings were planned with a 'signature' building of 26 storeys to the north of the plot  and six lower blocks.

There will be 743 dwellings ranging from studios to 3 bedrooms. Residents of the tallest block would have access to a roof top terrace as well as long views of a proposed 7 acre park and the stadium.

Quintain claimed that 50% of the dwellings would be affordable but Mike Kiely Interim Head of Planning  said they were not affordable in the strictly statutory sense. The proposal was for 'discounted rent' at 80% of market rent and that for only 7 years although Quintain said that was in 'theory' and it would not be a case of 'time's up - it's time to go'.   These would be in addition to the 27% affordable dwellings Quintain were providing.

There was little detail of the park except that it would include  tree planting and seating with hard landscaping.  Family units would be sited around the park.

There was concern from councillors about the affordability issue as well as plans for a covered coach park that would accommodate 91 vehicles. The latter was mainly about the impact of coach passengers on the area as they left their coaches or waited at the end of events to join them. Coaches would arrive from the south and leave from the north of the site.  There would be residential gardens on the roof of the coach park with natural ventiliation to cut down on fumes. The coach park might be available for 'meanwhile' uses on non-event days.

Councillors were assured that there would be no 'poor doors' and no difference in quality between the 'affordable' and 'market' properties.

At the ground floor level there would be a mix of  business and community uses although the proportions of both had not yet been decided.

Quintain waxed lyrical about how wonderful their consultations on the Wembley Master Plan had been but were unable to give examples (except for the coach park) to changes they had made as a result of consultees comments.