Works on Bridge Road-North End Road, Wembley, reconnection postponed. Completion still promised for January 2020

The works to reconnect North End Road, Wembley with Bridge Road (presently connected by steps and a ramp) were due to start today but Brent Council informs Wembley Matters that they have been postponed but are still due to be finished for January 2020.

In May Brent Council announced on its 'Current Wembley Regeneration Projects' page LINK:

The council will soon start work on connecting North End Road to Bridge Road. This will benefit existing residents by providing an alternative route across Wembley Park to access the North Circular Road, improving the traffic flow in the area. This route will not be affected by event day closures, enabling an available vehicular route at all times - particularly useful for residents of North End Road, who are impacted by the road closures on event days, and bus users.

The contractor delivering the works

VolkerLaser is undertaking the works at North End Road on behalf of Brent Council. 

A VolkerLaser team will be on site from June 2019 to start the works, and the project is expected to be completed by early 2020. During this time, the team will endeavour to undertake the works with as minimal disruption to local residents and businesses as possible. 

VolkerLaser is part of VolkerWessels UK and are one of the UK’s leading multi-functional contractors. They have a proven track record of success within the highway sector, completing some award-winning civil engineering projects across the last 25 years.

For further details about the project contact Rachel Best:
Email: Transport.Strategy@brent.gov.uk
Call: 0208 937 5600

The original timetable published on  24.6.19 in the Brent Council 'Works Bulletin' listed works on Bridge Road for reconnection starting on May 20th 2019 and finishing on June 30th 2019, lasting 42 days. Associated works for reconnection at North End Road, including the road closure, were to last for 222 days from May 13th 2019 to 20th December 2019.  Clearly Brent Public Realm Scrutiny Committee will want some explanation for the delay and completion for January 2020 looks a real challenge.

Windrush Celebrations: Brent trip to Tilbury where Empire Windrush arrived. Saturday 20th July

From Learning Through Arts

Our non-profit organisation; Learning Through The Arts is currently running a Brent-based heritage project surrounding Windrush Celebrations titled; The Story of Windrush Migrants. 

We are running a trip to Tilbury Dock, London International Cruise Terminal. This project, a partnership between Learning Through The Arts and The Brent Museum & Archives commemorates the 70th anniversary of the arrival of Empire Windrush in 1948.

There will be a £10 cost for the trip - please do bring this along with you on the day and you will receive a receipt.

We will meet at 9:15 at The Library at Willesden Green, 95 High Rd, Willesden, London NW10 2SF for a prompt departure of 9:30am to arrive to Tilbury Cruise Terminal, RM18 7NG. 

We will aim to arrive by 11am. 

There will be time for a rest break before the tours begin at 11:15. They will last approximately 1 hour. 

There will be activities for us to enjoy after that time and the Carnival procession will arrive at the site at approximately 13:15. There will be performances, workshops and food available to purchase throughout the day with the event closing at 16:00. 

We will then take the coach back to the drop off point of Willesden Green Library hopefully arriving back by no later than 6/6:30pm.

For more information about the day do visit the organisers website  http://tilburycarnival.tott.org.uk

Brent Council rushes to spend £92m buying South Kilburn site before other buyers purchase it

Brent Council has informed Cllr Matt Kelcher, Chair of Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee LINK, that they are making an urgent decision to buy the Gloucester and Durham bocks on South Kilburn Estate for £92m - the decision to be made by July 15th.

Telford Homes took on the lease in January 2018.  The notice to Kelcher says the blocks will be sold to other buyers if 'we do not treat with the vendor before the end of July.'

It is unclear which site is earmarked for the decant of William Dunbar and William Saville House residents in 2021.  It appears the Council fully expects to win the  ballot of residents on the demolition of their homes.

Big stink in Kenton as sewage flows in Wealdstone Brook

The Wealdstone Brook flows through Kenton and Wembley eventually joining the River Brent in the industrial area south of Wembley Stadium.

Residents in Kenton have complained to the Environment Agency and Thames Water about sewage contamination in the brook with the problem exacerbated by a lack of maintenance with tree cover smothering the brook shutting out light.  They describe having to shut windows to keep out the smell and the stench spoiling walks in Woodcock Park.

Thames have cited 'misconnections' which was the case with the Gaderbrook* in Fryent Country Park where misconnected plumbing from nearby houses, particularly extensions, was allowing  sewage and waste water into the brook. Residents doubt this explanation in the case of Wealdstone Brook and suggest the problem is caused by defective manholes in the area.

They are calling for Thames and the EA to address the problem with a sense of urgency, clear the current sewage and put preventative measures in place.

Unfortunately I was at the Gaderbook this morning and this too had an offensive smell.

Call for halt to regeneration of council estates in Brent until concern over sub-standard housing addressed

Chase House, South Kilburn

Concern over the quality of housing in regeneration areas, including South Kilburn (above) first raised on Wembley Matters LINK has continued with reports of sub-standard work in Argo House,

Now Hampstead and Kilburn Constituency Labour Party has called for a halt to future regeneration in South Kilburn and across the borough, pending a Brent Council consultation with affected communities. In a motion passed unanimously last night they said that the halt should last until Brent Council and affected communities are satisfied that the housing being built is of sufficient standard and that the housing associations and property developers are taking their responsibilties to the community seriously.

The motion cited sub-standard work both externally and internally and neglect and failure to act by both developers and housing associations.

Proposals for a ballot of  residents of blocks affected by the next round of regeneration  on South Kilburn are  expected to be announced soon. Meanwhile residents on St Raphaels Estate continue to be concerned over demolition and regeneration proposals there with many preferring a programme of refurbishment.

Brent's Journey to Justice - Willesden Green Library

Joyce Bacchus funeral arrangements

From Brent Council

The funeral of former councillor and Mayor of Brent, Joyce Bacchus MBE will take place this Saturday (29 June).

There will be a funeral mass at St Erconwald Catholic Church, Preston Rd at 10am. Her interment will then take place at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green.

This will be followed by a reception at Brent Civic Centre at 1pm.

Mayor of Brent, Cllr Ernest Ezeajughi said:

Joyce set a wonderful example not only for her successors as Mayor, but also for all of us in her dedication to public service and the many ways in which one person can make a difference.

She will be sorely missed by everyone at the council and the communities she so tirelessly represented.

Petition launched asking Brent Council to declare a Climate Emergency

Dawn Butler MP, members of Brent Friends of the Earth and constituents at the #Time Is Now Climate Emergency lobby at the House of Commons today

 An e-petition has been launched by Brent XR  calling Brent Council to declare a Climate Emergency - a measure already taken by many local authorities.

The petition reads:
 

We the undersigned petition the council to declare a Climate Emergency and develop an action plan to decrease carbon emission accordingly and make Brent more resilient to climate change.

Due to human activity, the global average temperature of the planet has increased by 1 degree compared to pre-industrial levels. According to the IPCC, an increase by 2 degrees Celsius will be dangerous for mankind and 1.5 is still in reach but urgently needs drastic measures. However, we are en route to an increase of 3 to 4 degrees by the end of the century.

Cities consume over two-thirds of the world’s energy and account for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions as carbon emission results from both production and consumption. Cities are also easier to decarbonise than rural areas.

Individuals cannot make the necessary reductions on their own. The UK parliament has declared a Climate Emergency but all governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown. Local Governments that recognise this have an obligation to implement the necessary measures and incentives to work towards carbon neutrality by 2025.

We call on Brent Council to include the following points as part of the action plan;

- invest in the appropriate infrastructure,

- develop residential and commercial incentives,

- develop guidelines for businesses and provide resources to assess carbon footprint,

- protect and prosper natural habitat,

- report every 6 months on measures taken, accomplished progress and results.

The petition can be found HERE

I understand that a motion declaring a Climate Emergency may be debated at Brent Full Council meeting in July.