UPDATE: Army at scene of WW2 bomb alert in Brondesbury Park - info for residents affected

Photo by Aparna Maladkar (via Twitter)

Photo  (Brent Council)

From Brent Council

2nd March 2017 

Brent Council are advising people who live within the cordon above to not return home. List of addresses affected HERE  Rest Centre St Martin's Church on Mortimer Road. Helpline 020 8937 5788

UPDATE 2 March 2017 19.22 Work in the area is likely to go on until at least Friday afternoon.

 

UPDATE 2 March 2017 - 17.25pm: The army have now arrived on the scene. We will update you as soon as they finish making their assessments. #brentalerts

Emergency services have been called to 3-6 The Avenue in Brondesbury Park NW6, near the junction of Willesden Lane, to a suspected unexploded WWII bomb. Officers from the Police, Fire Brigade and Council are all on the scene.

A 200 metre cordon is in place and two schools within the area - Malorees Junior School and Marylebone Boys' School – have been evacuated.

There are road closures in the area which are causing disruption and residents are advised to avoid the area.

Due to the nature of the bomb, only the army are trained to deal with it and a team is currently on their way to the site.

The council's emergency planning team have set up a rest centre at St Martin’s Church on Mortimer Road, Kensal Green, with buses ready to transport residents should it be required once the army has evaluated the situation.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, says:

Council officers are currently making arrangements for our residents in the Willesden Lane area to make their way to a rest centre where they will be looked after until it is safe to return to their homes.

I would like to thank these residents who have shown great patience during this time. We will continue to provide updates on the situation as soon as they come through.

Search #brentalerts onTwitter for updates

Cllr Duffy's view on Spurs Wembley Stadium application

Back in December 2016 Cllr John Duffy warned fellow councillors about the Wembley Stadium planning application that would increase the number of events and lift the capacity cap.

All Brent Councillors,

I am very concerned that the Wembley Stadium and Spurs planning application is being guided and manipulated by both officers and Cabinet members.It would seem they seek a solution, that will not fully benefit Brent residents . 

All Councillors are Independent on this issue and Councillors should not be influenced by either Cabinet members or officers on a pre-agreed application and should seek to ensure and maximised the benefits for Brent.

Firstly you have to consider does Brent want Wembley Stadium to be a home ground for a Premier League Club and do we want the extra congestion, nuisance and general disruption. Unless we get real investment  from the FA, Premier League and Spurs, I believe the answer is NO.

It is clear that the Cabinet are unaware of the potential of ensuring the investment to alleviate the problems caused by Wembley hosting Spurs and have not negotiated a reasonable deal for the residents…..I am tired of Brent residents being short changed, therefore I  believe Councillors should oppose the application as it stands.

Earlier Duffy had written to Labour Group councillors in more detail:

As it is 99% definite,Tottenham Hotspur will be moving to Wembley and its also likely that Chelsea (they may go to Twickenham)will moving in the following year.Its time we sorted out a strategy to protect and improve our Environment, Sports Education , parking ,community and employment strategy, together with compensation for Brent  residents.

As Chair of planning when we knocked down the old Wembley stadium and a member of the Task force for Wembley Stadium regeneration I have seen negotiations close up with the FA and they will be tough and we need a clear strategy.

From memory Wembley were allowed 22 sporting advents and they were no envisaged to be the home venue for any football club.Therefore at this point I would advise not to accept a season long deal but to treat every game as a FA cup Final and expect resources to reflect this .There Are many safeguards we  need for residents.I will outline the basics without the detail.

(1) Environmental improvement.
I would expect extra resources( to many options to go into) plus investment into plant. I have not looked at other Boroughs but I am aware of some who get a massively enhanced service for match day.

(2) Parking.
Increased protection/enforcement of the neighbouring area.

(3) Sports Education.
Ensure Investment in equipment and sports teaching in our schools including visits from football stars.Its important both the FA and PremierLeague show their commitment to grass roots football.

(4) Community Support .
Financial support for community activities,including , local R/As ,St Patricks day,Eid and Navratri and maybe support for local group who participate in the Notting Hill Carnival.

(5) Employment strategy.
Ensure that Brent residents get their fair share of any new jobs/ training arising from  the extra games. Also local firms should get a fair share of the increased supply chain for contracts

(6) Compensation for local Business and residents.
Whereas the some businesses will benefit many other will lose (who would travel to Wembley to shop on a match day) so its important we look at high street improvements. The new games coming to Wembley will not only be on a Saturday they will included Sundays and weekdays at various kick off times.

There are many ways to negotiate and you should not look at only the time the football club is there, you should seek a 2/3 year deal on things like sports education and community support.I think you should have a local councillor on the negotiations ( seems unlikely as the leadership reject a task force for Kilburn Regeneration and now all decisions are made by the Lead member ) so local input will be represented.In my opinion we should not over engage in the - presentations- Vol-au-Vonts  and vanity projects system which some members of the Cabinet prefer. We should also not going in asking for jobs at LLW ( getting employers to pay LLW is a failure ) we should be looking better jobs in supervision and management training. Finally do not over rely on Officers who will seek a deal that suits them as administrators.

It would seem that some of the cabinet wish to treat the FA, The Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur  as " partners" whereas I see them them as people who wish to make a lot of money while using the facilities of  Brent which I have no problem with. However I believe this should be reflected in how we support our residents.So hopefully the cabinet have an agreed strategy about what we need from the richest sport in the world and the most famous football venue in the world.

    And Brent should not be short changed for all the inconvenience 

Wembley Stadium events consultation deadline extended to March 9th

Brent Council appear to be trawling through submissions on their Planning Portal to correct those clearly against the Wembley Stadium increase in event days and removal of capacity cap, but that have been classifed by the software as 'Neutral'. LINK

There are now 108 on-line submissions.

Many residents have encountered problems posting their comments on line (This is the LINK).  The deadline has now been extended to March 9th, 2016.

As an alternative comments can be sent by email  to alice.lester@brent.gov.uk quoting 'Comment on 17/0368'. Remember to state clearly your position (Support/Object/Neutral) on proposed variation of Condition 3 and removal of Condition 33. Postal comments can be sent to Alice Lester, Planning Department, Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, HA9 0FJ.

Details from the Planning Application:

 CONDITION 3 OF THE WEMBLEY STADIUM PLANNING CONSENT – THE CURRENT EVENT CAP

This condition restricts the number of full capacity events (up to 90,000 people) held at the stadium each year to 37 until certain transport improvements* have been completed. There is no restriction on the number of events that can be held that only use the lower and middle tier of the stadium (up to a capacity of  approximately 51,000). The current restriction allows 22 sporting events and 15 non-sporting events (although 3 additional sporting events can be held provided the number of non-sporting events is reduced by2 for each additional sporting event).

* This restriction falls away once certain public transport and highway works are completed.Most of the works have been completed, including an increase in the capacity of Wembley Park Station and significant road improvements within the Wembley Industrial Estate. However, the upgrading of one element of road within the industrial estate required the purchase of a significant amount of land and this was not completed.

PROPOSED VARIATION OF CONDITION 3 – THE PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE EVENT CAP

The applicant proposes that this condition is varied to allow up to 31 additional full capacity major Tottenham Hotspur Football Club sporting events between 1 August 2017 and 31 July 2018 (events with a capacity of between 51,000 and 90,000 people).

(NOTE: These additional events could take place without any variation to the planning consent, under the existing cap, where capacity would be limited to up to a maximum of approximately 51,000 people).

PROPOSED REMOVAL OF CONDITION 33

Condition 33 restricts the number of times that traffic management measures can be implemented each year, with specific reference to North Circular Road traffic flow. The applicant proposes that this condition is removed, specifying that TfL consider the traffic management measures to have a positive impact on trafficflow within the North Circular Road.

 

Demonstrate for #OurNHS on Saturday - we have too much to lose if it goes

Unfortunately I will be unable to attend this demonstration as I am currently unwell but I  hope as many Wembley Matters readers as possible will attend. Our NHS is worth saving.

My current illness has enabled me to see the NHS at first hand as my condition was investigated. Doctors, nurses and auxillary staff in Northwick Park A&E, Ambulatory care, Ultra Sound and CT departments have been amazing. They take care to ensure that procedures are as painless as possible and they gave full explanations of what they were doing, giving me a chance to ask questions.   Appointments were made quickly and communication between the deparrttments and with my GP was excellent.

All  this is under threat, not just from funding cuts and closures, and privatisation, but from the impact of Brexit.  Northwick Park has an extremely diverse staff who work smoothly together as a team.

The i reports a TUC analysis today that one 4.5% (54, 985) NHS workers are from the European Economic Area (EAA) while 90,200 (7%) of adult care workers are from the EAA. In London  9.8% of NHS staff and 18% of the adult social care workforce are from the EAA.

TUC General Secretary, Frances O'Grady, condemned the uncertaintly being created by the government:

It's a terrible way to treat dedicated public servants. And if Brexit means they have to leave our health and social care services will struggle to cope.

She called on the Prime Minster to guarantee EU citizens living and working in Britain  the right to remain and to do soe ahead of negotiations.

Unfortunately there is no Metropolitan Line services between Baker Street and Aldgate and no Hammersmith and City Line service between Edgware  Road and Barking on Saturday.

'Foster carers are already professionals, it's time they were treated as such,' GMB union tells select committee

GMB Foster carers who are members of the GMB union met with MPs today to demand proper recognition for dedicated members who look after vulnerable children.

Rachel Harrison, GMB lead officer on Foster Care, gave evidence to the Fostering Inquiry at a Select Committee.

The delegation of carers also met Labour MPs following the hearing, including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.

Disturbing new figures show just 42% of foster carers felt their allowance met the full cost of looking after fostered children.

This compares to 80% in 2014, showing huge cuts in local government funding are badly hurting our foster carers.

GMB foster carers made the following demands:

· Nationwide standards and funding

Foster carers have vastly different experiences across the country - there needs to be a more consistent approach to foster care

· Professional recognition and respect

A lot is expected of foster carers, with increasing demand and fewer local government resources. Only a third (32%) felt that children's social workers treated them as equal.

· A national register of foster carers

This would allow for foster carers to look after children from other areas, cut red tape, remove local barriers, provide greater stability and save on costs of private care.

Figures from the Fostering Network show 49% of foster carers did not have an agreed training plan for the next year and 75% of those who had taken a child from outside their approval range received no additional training or support.

Rachel Harrison, GMB Lead Officer for Foster Carers said:

We're proud to be the union to represent foster carers. 

These people give their all to look after the most vulnerable children in society and it was vital we got across to MPs today the challenges faced by our members and how we can work with others to push for improvements in the foster care system, for the benefit of both the children and carers.

Colleen Callaghan, Foster Carer and GMB member, said:

It was fantastic to see MPs listening to our trade union really represent foster carers and give us the opportunity to tell it like it is - explaining to politicians what's needed to improve foster care in this country, for us and the children we care for. 

It was a welcome opportunity to see how politics can actually relate to us and hopefully change things for the better.

Rubbishy aftermath of Sunday's Spurs match at Wembley Stadium

This is published with the permission of the author who outlined the impact of the recent Tottenham match.  First published the website NextDoor:

This morning after Sunday's event I got my picker stick out, didn't need a carrier bag as one had thoughtfully been left in my hedge and started picking up the rubbish left by yesterdays fans. I had 3 beer cans, three coffee cups, Lucozade bottle, 2 cigarette packets, a half eaten sandwich, half a kebab left in it's box and a half filled plastic beer mug. 

All this was strewn alongside my hedge or in my front garden. I also had a large black plastic bag half filled with beer cans left on the corner of my property, which I suppose is better than being left individually. So from 2 events in one week I've collected two carrier bags full of rubbish and a black plastic bag full of beer cans. Living on a corner I've collected all this just from the front and alongside my property. And this is only outside one house a stone's throw away from the stadium. So much for Brent's extra rubbish collections on event days!

PS I don't get this usually from American football fans or concert goers, only football supporters.

PPS No I don't dislike football, I support a club, it's just football attracts the worst fans and sadly it's football fans that are going to be coming to all these extra events.

Maybe if this is going to be the norm I should ask Brent Council to supply me with plastic bags.

 

Confusion over Brent Tory groups merger

Responding to jibes from Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt about the two Conservative groups on the Council and which one was the true Conservative, Cllr Kansagra, deputy leader of the Conservative Group, admitted that the public and councillors were 'fed up' with the existence of two groups and the extra time and resources this took up.

He said that councillors and the public might be pleased to hear that there were proposals in the pipeline that there may be one Conservative Group in the future. Turning to Labour councillors he said, 'You will be happy with this - we will tolerate it!'

The Conservative Group currently has four members and the Brent Conservatie Group two members. Labour has 56 councillors and there is one Independent.

However it appears things are not that straightforward. Responding to a query from me earlier today, Cllr Warren said: 'That statement from Cllr Kansagra was as much a surpise to me as it was to you!'

He went on, 'Politics is very unpredictable....but as of today nothing has been put forward to me about mergers.'

A merger would makes things more straighforward for the Conservatives when it comes to selecting candidates for the 2018 local  election.

Dodgy goings on with Spurs application to increase events & capacity at Wembley Stadium?

Residents have been in contact about two aspects of the on-line consulation on removal of the cap on the number of events held at Wembley Stadium and more full capacity events LINK.

The first is the fact that on at least two occasions the link has been unavailable clearly affecting the public's ability to comment.

The second is puzzlement that submissions by the public that clearly object to the proposal are classifed as 'Neutral' - see below:

Please see comments below one of which suggest that if you do not choose Support, Object, or Neutral when submitting a comment online the system defaults to Neutral to the Neutral category. If this has happened to your comment it might be worth contacting the Planning Officer to state your position.

4 Park Lane, Wembley, HA9 7RZ (Neutral)

I strongly object to the proposals. It would add to the traffic gridlocks, sometimes hooting of horns late in the evening - not to mention increased air pollution! And difficulty using public transport. Also, residents having the nuisance of having to plan theirs lives around the events. The behaviour of hooligans is also unbearable - I came home once to find a brick had been thrown through my bathroom window! A small tree got broken in half once on an event day - and then there is urinating everywhere. And parking becomes impossible of corse. - As the stadium is a national stadium it should not be used for anything else. - I therefore strongly object to the variation of condition 3 and the removal of condition 33 of 17/0368.

8 Village Mews, London, NW9 8SZ (Neutral)

I strongly object to this and don't think residents have been taken into consideration here.

Roads are already highly congested and Brent should be thinking about minimizing this instead of making matters worse. Whether I drive or take public transport on an event day my journey time is doubled sometimes tripled. I am unable therefore to travel within the local vicinity on event days.

Looking at other comments it is clear there is strong opposition, so it is hoped you take these concerns into consideration and think again of the impact this will have to residents, roads, traffic and the environment.

15 Hillside Drive, Edgware, HA8 7PF (Neutral)

We live and work very near to Stanmore and Cannons Park Underground Station, the A41 and the M1 Edgware exit. Whenever there is any event on at Wembley Stadium, the whole area grinds to a halt. The roads become impassable and journeys around this area almost impossible. There is just not enough space for the amount of cars on the road to travel or the availability of parking places. Together with the noise and nuisance levels of hundreds of various football or rugby fans, the request for additional events is unacceptable for the residents living anywhere near Stanmore or Cannons Park Underground stations or the M1/A41 or A1. If there are visiting fans from the North of England, then the additional traffic on the M1 turns the area to one large car park - absolutely nothing moves and a 10 minute journey can turn into an hour.

We already have to contend with additional traffic and congestion when there are any events on at Allianz Park in Copthall Stadium Mill Hill and any events at The Hive in Edgware.

Therefore we strongly object to any additional usage of Wembley Stadium and to any football club having their games held there or having a residency there.

68 Beverley Gardens, Wembley, HA9 9RA (Neutral)

'Condition 3' was put in place for a reason - to prevent local residents from suffering the great disruption and inconveniences caused to local residents when up to 91,000 people descend on Wembley Stadium. Yet it is now proposed that an extra 31 such events are allowed to take place. And not just any events, but football matches, with their supporters, some of whom have a tendency towards rowdiness, drunkenness and anti-social behaviour.

WNSL has tried to say that it will try to mitigate any problems by 'working closely' with TfL and the Met Police etc. But with a large football crowd those problems can only be 'managed' not removed completely. On match days, residents will still have problems getting home (or leaving it) by train or car, problems picking up their children from school, problems accessing the Civic Centre, or be unable to have friends round.

I therefore object to this application. At the very least, THFC matches should be restricted to 50,000 seats. After all, their existing stadium only accommodates 36,800 and their new one will only be a 61,000 seater.

I also feel that by allowing this application for THFC to use the Stadium, a precedent will have been set that will allow future applications to be 'nodded through'.

49 Linden Avenue, Wembley, HA9 8BB (Neutral)

I feel that the application is not pragmatic to the overall functions of Wembley. I believe that the current situation is bad enough and does not need to be exacerbated any further. There is enough congestion in Wembley on event days. We as residents of Wembley do not feel any benefit from the stadium events. We feel that we are made to surrender our parking spaces to people who do not live in Wembley. We cannot have visitors around because of the congestion. Life in Wembley is already bordering on depressing. Please do not make it worse. I strongly object!

99 Grasmere Avenue, Wembley, HA9 8TG (Neutral)

This area is already very busy and too much traffic.

I object.

DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS THURSDAY MARCH 2ND