Northwick Park Regeneration: Does 'appropriate consultation' mean 'No public consultation'?

Gaynor Lloyd asked a number of questions at the August 13th Cabinet Meeting regarding the proposed One Public Estate development at Northwick Park. Philip Grant left a comment on my original post on this issue LINK but I think it is worth publishing in its own right:

The Minutes of the 13 August Cabinet Meeting are now available on the Council’s website. This is how they report the item on which Gaynor spoke:

’Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, welcomed Ms Elizabeth Lloyd, a Northwick Park resident, to the meeting. In accordance with Standing Order 13 Cabinet heard a public question from Ms Lloyd on the matter of the housing infrastructure bid relating to the Northwick Park Regeneration Programme as set out in the report.

Ms Lloyd stated that Northwick Park was a much loved and well used local facility, highlighting, at the same time, that it had been recognised Brent was deficient in all types of open space and recreation grounds. She felt that the Council therefore had an obligation to protect these areas from inappropriate development, with the report not clearly demonstrating the extent of the regeneration area which would be affected by the project, or seeming to take into account any planning protection designations.

Ms Lloyd felt that there had been insufficient public consultation on the programme to date and noted that there was a growing concern amongst local residents on the likely impact of any proposed development in Northwick Park. As a result she asked for clarification on the following issues:

(a) the boundaries of the regeneration area subject to the grant application,
requesting publication of a plan;

(b) for clarification on the evidence in support of the criteria met under the terms of the grant application; and

(c) an indication of the alternative routes being considered for any access road to the regeneration area.

In response, Councillor Shama Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Planning
and Highways thanked Ms Lloyd for her contribution at the meeting. She stated that the report was part of a wider project seeking to unlock more housing opportunities and improve the local infrastructure. She acknowledged the importance of protecting open spaces in Brent, as set out by the Greater London Authority and reassured Ms Lloyd that no action would be taken without appropriate public consultation.’

However, it appears that Cllr. Tatler’s “reassurance” was rather hollow, as the very next action which Cabinet took was: 

’RESOLVED:-
i. Cabinet agreed to receive grant funding and enter into grant agreements with the Greater London Authority for two Housing Infrastructure Fund bids relating to South Kilburn and Northwick Park regeneration Programmes.’

That means that the Cabinet committed Brent Council to a funding bid grant for a “Northwick Park regeneration programme” on which there has been NO public consultation!

The only reason I can see for why the Lead Member might believe the “reassurance” she gave is that Cabinet thinks ‘appropriate public consultation’ means ‘no public consultation’. 

Wembley Stadium's 'public transport venue' status undermined by huge coach/car park

Impressive impression?

Readers may remember the boast when the new Wembley Stadium opened that it would be a public transport venue with restrictions on the use of parking spaces. Indeed Brent Council has recently taken planning enforcement action against local schools that supplement their budgets by letting their playgrounds out for event day parking. Budgets which are of course very tight at present and cash which would be used to improve children's education.

So it is ironic then that Quintain have issued a press release announcing a huge (and rather ugly) coach and car park at the Stadium.  This is of course in addition to the multi-storey car park close to the LDO.

I will let Quintain's press release speak for itself:

Quintain have announced details of Europe’s first multi-storey coach parking complex being built on plot SE01, located in the south east end of the Wembley Park development.

The purpose built multi-storey coach parking complex will be the first of its kind and will deliver 290 dedicated coach spaces park over two levels. In addition, a five-storey 734 space car park will be provided above the coach complex, creating revolutionary parking provisions.

In order to manage the unique project, Huber, the German car park Design & Build specialist have been awarded a £41m contract to work alongside O'Keefe to deliver the project and act as the project manager and principle designer. With the groundworks now completed by O’Keefe (£13 million contract value), Huber (£28m contract value) will lead on the above ground construction of the structure through to completion.

At full capacity, the parking complex will accommodate up to 16,500 visitors, representing a major investment in infrastructure and innovative car parking solutions for Wembley Stadium and the SSE Arena, Wembley, as well as the surrounding 85-acre development taking place at Wembley Park.

The coach park will be laid out over two levels, each level with its own entrance. The five-storey, 734 space car parking structure, being built above the coach park, will also have its own entrance. Coaches will be organised according to length, height and weight and when fully utilised the entire structure will be able to accommodate over 1,000 vehicles.

The design has taken inspiration from the Rubik’s Cube, by using innovative engineering and bespoke design to ensure coaches, cars and pedestrians are able to co-exist harmoniously.

Speaking about the Pink car park, Matt Voyce, Executive Director (Construction) of Quintain, said:

“We are very proud to be able to bring forward such a unique and innovative project at Wembley Park.  Working closely with Huber, who has an excellent track record of delivering large scale parking solutions, we very much look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to Europe’s first multi-story coach parking complex.”

Adding to this, Markus Lauble (Managing Director) of Huber, said:

“Huber Car Park System is a multi-storey car park design and build contractor, this is a unique project within our portfolio and we are delighted to have developed it in very close cooperation with Quintain. It is the vision of Quintain team with the technology of Huber Car Park Systems that have made this project possible.”

Once the parking complex is completed, the operational management of the space will be handled internally by the Wembley Park estates team and will include a bespoke vehicle management and movements plan to ensure smooth parking placements within the structure.
The architectural design of the parking complex was undertaken by Potter Church and Holmes and the project is expected to complete in autumn 2019.

Brent Green Party's Shaka Lish on 'War and the Environment'

Welsh Harp SSSI threat covered in ITV News at 10

UPDATE: Disabled man's 'bitter experience' as he has to don wellies to enter flooded kitchen following Brent Council's failure to act

 UPDATE SEPTEMBER 12TH

Since this article was published a Brent housing officer has been in contact with John regarding his situation and has said she wants to arrange an appointment to restore power to his flat. No date yet. It has emerged that the flooding source is a different flat to the one first suspected.

John Healy, a Brent Council tenant in South Kilburn, has been left having to put on wellies to wade through his flooded kitchen after Wates, Brent Council Housing's out-sourced repair service, deemed the flat that was the source of the flooding unsafe for their employees to enter as the tenant is 'too dangerous.'

John has been waiting for action since last Wednesday. He told Wembley Matters:

Because of the flood in my kitchen, I have been left with no lights, heating, hot water microwave and worst of all having to throw out all of the from my full fridge that has gone off, as there is no power for it along with everything else. I have to put on wellies to enter the kitchen because there is so much water on the floor.

I informed them that I am a disabled 67 year old man with a mobility impairment and I was worried about slipping on my saturated carpets. This did happen but fortunately I was not injured.

Brent Council Housing's mission statement says 'A better experience for residents' unfortunately for be it is ' a bitter experience'. They say they are 'taking a holistic experience with Wates', for me it is more like 'taking the **** approach.'

John visited the South Kilburn repair office yesterday and was told they were dealing with source of the leak but in the evening Wates called in on John with a security officer and told him they could not enter the flat which is the source of the flat. His power cannot be restored because of the flooding.

The Wates officer suggested John  was entitled to be accommodated in bed and breakfast by Brent Council until the issue has been dealt with but the Council has not offered this option. He has submitted a complaint to the Council but this could take up to 20 days to be dealt with.

Wembley Matters has requested a comment from Brent Council.

Five MPs to represent Brent residents under Boundary Commission's final recommendations

Brent will have two main constituencies under the Boundary Commission proposals. Residents in some wards will be in a minority with an MP mainly representing people in a neighbouring borough. It is noteworthy that in some ways the boundaries divide Brent into the old Willesden and Wembley council areas which preceeded the unified borough.

Wembley's dominance of the borough would be reinforced as it is the only constituency which only consists of Brent wards. A consultation is currently in progress to reduce the number of wards by two.

Brent will disappear as a constituency name.

Given the present narrow parliamentary majority of the Tories and the DUP's unhappiness at the proposals for their region it appears by no means certain that parliament will approve the proposals.

Has Duffy been vindicated on Paddington Cemetery asbestos?

Regular readers will know of the dogged campaign by ex Cllr John Duffy on the issue of asbestos at Paddington Cemetery. A search on this blog (right hand column) will bring up many articles including this.

Duffy eventually resigned the Labour whip in frustration at his efforts to reveal the true facts being rebuffed, undermined and ridiculed by the Labour leadership and officers who minimised any risk from asbestos contamination. Duffy stood as an independent in the council election in May but was not elected.

Now it has been revealed that in addition to Brent Council back-filling the ex-mound that contained asbestos they are installing concrete 'coffin liners' in the ground to facilitate burials. Apparently each liner will take two coffins and there are estimates that between 100 and 200 liners will be installed.

Clearly all this is very expensive and will not have been ordered unless there was a very real issue to be dealt with.

Meanwhile I understand that John Duffy has approached the District Auditor requesting an investigation of the illegal dumping of asbestos.

Preston Community Library new building consultation

From Preston Community Library

Council plans for new building: Consultation event on 18th September and Questionnaire

Dear library subscriber,   Two years ago Brent Council made a decision to demolish the current library building and replace it with a development that includes both a library and housing. Since then Preston Community Library has worked with the Council on the details of the library section of the building, and successfully applied for funding to fit the new library out when it is completed. The Council has now issued a consultation about the whole project, and has scheduled an event in the Library where local residents can talk to them and express their views on any aspect of the project.  You can also fill in the questionnaire and send it to them directly.  We will have paper copies available in the library for those who want them. Preston Community Library would strongly encourage residents to submit their views on any aspect of these proposals, and to come to the event on 18th September.  Further details are below. with regards, Philip Bromberg, Chair, Preston Community Library