Harlesden’s Public Art – an update (and request for further help!)

 Last month, I wrote about the public artworks installed in Harlesden as part of the City Challenge project in the 1990s. There was one I definitely knew about, the Sundisc in the community garden outside the beautiful and historic Victorian villa at 1 Morland Gardens (which Brent Council plans to demolish!). 

 

The Sundisc sculpture, in the City Challenge community garden outside 1 Morland Gardens.
(Photo by Irina Porter)

 

I asked for your help, with any information and photos that you could provide about other public art dating from this time (1993 to 1998) in the Harlesden and Stonebridge areas. Our intention is to put together an illustrated record of all those artworks, which could be made available online for anyone to view, read and enjoy. We have received some responses, which I will share with you here, but I still need your help, please, to fill in some gaps!

 

I have been sent copies of some photos of two Harlesden artworks that I wasn’t aware of before. These were taken more than a decade ago by Robert Russell, and had been posted on the Willesden Local History Society Facebook pages. Many thanks for these! Because of “lockdown” and staying at home, I have not been out to see these myself yet, but I look forward to when I can.

 

The first two pairs of photographs show a variety of views of two remarkable mosaic columns, situated by the corner of Mordaunt Road and Winchelsea Road, not far from Harlesden Station in Acton Lane. The collage of mosaic pictures really captures the vibrancy of Harlesden life. Can anyone tell me please (via the “comments” box below), what this artwork is called and who was the artist who created it?

 

 

                        

Views of the Mordaunt Road mosaic columns. (Photos by Robert Russell, 2007)

 

The second artwork appears to be a mosaic mural, along a wall beside Church Path, just behind the Brent Samaritans building in Leopold Road. It depicts a street scene showing a range of adults and children from Harlesden’s diverse community, going about a variety of everyday activities. Again, I have not seen this vibrant piece of public art before – have you? I hope it is still there, brightening the lives of anyone who walks past it. 

 

I would be grateful if anyone reading this, and seeing the photograph below, can tell me and other readers more about this mural, including what it is called and who designed and made it. Thank you!

 

 

The Church Path mural, near Leopold Road. (Photo by Robert Russell, 2010)

 

After my first article, someone suggested that I try to contact Gerry Davis, who was the Chief Executive of Harlesden City Challenge, to see whether he could help with any information about the artworks. Luckily, a friend was able to let me have his address. I sent Gerry a paper copy of last month’s article, and he kindly supplied the following reply:

 

‘The provision of Art was done under the City Challenge "Art in the City" project at a cost of just over £150k in the early 1990's. 

 

I regret that I no longer have details of all the Art Works funded by HCC, but I am happy to let you know what I remember.

 

There should be a plaque at each HCC art site, like the one next to the Sundisc. Other Art Works were:

 

·   THE HEAD - outside TESCO in the car park.

 

·   Sculptures in front and alongside the building which was called "The Design Works " on the corner of Rucklidge Avenue and Park Parade.

 

·   Raised Bed Garden and Pavement art, at the roundabout at Craven Park / Craven Park Road

 

·   There were Giraffes at the corner of Scrubs Lane and Harrow Road, but I think that they were removed during the new development

 

·   The murals on the bridge (at Acton Lane, see photo in previous blog) may be HCC art works, but I do not remember.

 

There must be more but I regret that I do not remember them. However, the area was devoid of artworks when HCC started, so any works which are there now are most likely from HCC.’

 

I have managed to “find” one large sculpture outside “The Design Works” building in Rucklidge Avenue by looking on Google street view. Again, it’s an interesting piece, and my guess at its name would be “Men at Work”. Here is an image of it, and any information on it that you can provide would be appreciated, thank you. 

 

 

The sculpture outside “The Design Works”, at the corner of Rucklidge Avenue.
(From Google street view)

 

“The Head” in the car park outside Tesco in the centre of Harlesden was apparently stolen! I understand that this was during a time when thieves removed a number of metal sculptures around the country, to melt down for their scrap value. Can anyone tell me more about this artwork, or send a digital photograph of it (c/o Martin Francis at: martinrfrancis@virginmedia.com ), please? The same request goes for the pavement art on the roundabout at Craven Park / Craven Park Road. 

 

 

Gerry suggested that one of the artworks, at the corner of Scrubs Lane and Harrow Road, may have been lost during redevelopment. I have now read that the giraffe heads were a sculpture by Rebecca Nassauer, and that they were removed (or stolen?) during the construction of a new church building around 2009. Surely a piece of public art showing giraffe heads, and 5.5 metres tall, must have caught the attention of passers-by? Has anyone got a photograph of these missing giraffes, please (even a pre-digital one, which could be scanned)? 

 

 

All of the artworks I’ve mentioned are part of Harlesden’s Public Art heritage, and it deserves to be preserved and recorded so that future generations can enjoy it too. Let’s take this opportunity to celebrate the efforts made in the 1990s to brighten up Harlesden with public art that enriches the lives of residents and visitors. Thanks in advance for the photos and details that we look forward to YOU sharing with us!

 

Philip Grant.

UPDATED WITH DATA SETS & METHODOLOGY: Department for Education releases data on the impact of coronavirus on the school workforce

 Rate of infection school staff

From the National Education Union 

The Department for Education has finally released data on the impact of coronavirus on the school workforce in “Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.” 

The dataset includes the number of teachers and school leaders, teaching assistants and other staff absent with a confirmed case of coronavirus.

Using this data we have been able to calculate an estimate for the rate of coronavirus infection amongst school staff.

The data shows that there are much higher COVID rates of infection amongst teachers and other school staff than for the general population. This finding is in contradiction to the reassurances regularly given by the Department and by Public Health England, including by Dr Jenny Harries giving evidence to the Education Select Committee this morning.

• On average the rate of COVID infection is 1.9 times higher amongst primary and secondary teachers than the general population. It is 2 times higher for special school teachers.
• For teaching assistants and other staff, the rate of COVID infection is three times higher in primary schools and almost seven times higher in special schools.

The Government has been collecting this information since early October.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: 

“These shocking figures raise further very serious questions about the handling of coronavirus in schools.

“What investigations have the Department for Education made into these figures?

“Why have the ministers repeatedly told school staff and the public that there was no reason for concern when these figures indicate that there should have been real concern about the much higher COVID infection rates of teachers and other school staff?

“Why did ministers deny clinically extremely vulnerable staff the right to work from home?

“Why has it taken ministers so long to release this data?”

"What mitigating measures will ministers now propose?"

1. Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
2. Teachers and school leaders chart 
3. Teaching assistants and other staff chart 
4. Spreadsheet 
5.  UPDATE Published January 22nd 2021 by Education Policy Institute: Covid related teacher and pupil absence over 2020 Autumn Term: https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/covid-related-teacher-absences/

DATE SETS AND METHODOLOGY (Click bottom right square for full size)

 

 

 

Disappointing Scrutiny Committee discussion on Brent housing needs

The section of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee devoted to discussion on the Brent Housing programme has just finished. Given the importance of the subject it was disappointing.

 Most discussion centred on the infill housing programme which is additional housing built on existing estates on spare land or land freed by demolition of garages that have been allowed to run down.  There were attempts to clarify what was meant by 'affordable' (see my earlier post) that were not very successful.

There were no questions on the large amount of shared ownership housing planned across Brent.

The zoom sound  quality was not very good but recommendations adopted by the Committee included :

1. A request in any ward where infill housing is proposed housing should write to members (councillors) and draw their attention to the proposal.

2. Information on the different types of 'affordable' housing and the different levels of rent should be supplied to the Committee.

3. In future plans for any new-build site should include a community centre to develop greater community inclusion plus proposals on how they would be financed. If not on the site itself in the immediate neighbourhood.

4. A report on government plans to end Section 106 that has been used for housing and  the implications of its possible replacement by a new scheme.

During the discussion an officer commented that even social rent levels were not affordable for some people.  The council building itself ,rather than through developers, meant it could match provision more closely to local need. More older and single people had come forward for housing during the Covid period. Parking continued to be a problem on estates.

I think a more in-depth discussion is required in future on the issue - or perhaps a task group would do a more thorough job.

Greens reveal loss of 13,500 social and council homes, in London boroughs, including Brent, since 2003

In a report relevant to this afternoon's Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committe  a new report by Sian Berry, Green Party Assembly Member and Mayoral candidate  reveals London is set to have lost more than 13,500 social and council homes in estate redevelopment schemes since 2003 if currently approved projects are completed.

 

The report, Estate redevelopment in London, reveals that completed demolition schemes on sites with existing social housing have led to the net loss of 6,748 social and council homes since 2003. It also shows that a further 6,791 will be lost if currently approved schemes go ahead.

 

Estate redevelopment schemes funded by the Mayor now cannot involve demolition without residents approving schemes via a ballot. This is part of a new policy finally introduced by the Mayor in July 2018, after a long campaign from estate residents and Sian Berry.

Today’s report reveals that this policy has yet to take full effect. It also describes how the losses have been worsened by the Mayor quietly agreeing to fund dozens of schemes in the months ahead of the new ballot policy coming into force. This allowed many thousands of potential home demolitions to slip under the wire of new rules.

 

The new research found that 1,430 social rented homes will be demolished and not replaced in schemes given planning permission since April 2018 alone.

 

Sian Berry AM said:

 

London simply cannot afford to lose 13,539 council and housing association homes through demolition. Waiting lists of Londoners in urgent need of housing continue to grow and people are more squeezed than ever by the housing crisis.

 

My research today shows we have already lost thousands of social housing homes, and that thousands more are under imminent threat. Demolishing estates in this way not only reduces the amount of housing for families in need, it also breaks up communities at the heart of life in the city.

 

The Mayor’s decision to sign off on dozens of redevelopment schemes in 2018, allowing them to dodge incoming rules for resident ballots, has prolonged the damage to our city. I have found that the new ballot policy is not yet making a significant impact on schemes that have reached the planning stage as a result.

 

And now estates are under even more threat from the Government’s proposed new national planning rules. These would force councils to define whole areas for rapid or automatic planning approval and do not give a single mention to the rights of people already living in these areas to have a say.

 

Key findings from the report 'Estate Redevelopment in London: Have things improved under the current Mayor?, are shown in the tables below.

 

Total impact of London estate redevelopment schemes: -13,539.
A map showing boroughs' net loss of social housing in estate redevelopment schemes (all schemes on sites with existing social housing) granted planning permission since 2003, overall.

 

Total impact of completed schemes: -6,748.
A map showing boroughs' net loss of social rented housing in estate redevelopment schemes granted planning permission since 2003, where construction has been completed.

Total impact of schemes in the pipeline: -6,791.
A map of boroughs set to lose social rented homes in estate redevelopment schemes granted planning permission since 2003, for which construction has not started, or has begun and not yet been completed:

 

 

FULL REPORT

Brent Scrutiny examines the vital area of new council homes at 4pm today - let's hope they have lots of questions

The Brent Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee meets at the earlier time of 4pm today, which is unfortunate as many residents with a direct interest in the issue  under discussion will still be at work. The Committee is usually held at 6pm.

You can watch the meeting at 4pm HERE

The Committee will examine a report on the New Council Homes Project (NCHP) and reports on the two arms length council organisations that provide housing by various routes. This article concentrates on the former.

 Brent has a very long housing list and the report covers the two most needy categories: (December 2020)  1924 homeless households in temporary accommodation and 971 homeseekers defined by the allocations policy as in acute need. This is the accommodation needed:

 1bed–464

2bed–770

3 bed – 1167

4bed–424

5bed–64

 6bed–7  

 

      The table below (Table 1) sets out the projected number of new homes including all of those included in the NCHP based on known development sites and opportunities identified to date as at November 2020. It breaks delivery down by the different types of accommodation:

·  TA: Temporary Accommodation

·  S106: Homes delivered due to a s106 obligation

·  DLP: Developer Led Project

·  SSU: Supported Specialised Units

·  NAIL: New Accommodation for Independent Living

 

UPDATE: In answer to a query from Wembley Matters about the table above Brent Council said all rented properties developed by the council and counted in Table 1, will be let at London Affordable Rent levels or less.
 

The large anount of shared ownership housing  will be a concern to many given the recent comment by planning officers on the Willesden development that 95% of intermediate products (such as shared ownership) are not affordable to 95% of Brent residents LINK.

Shared ownership is currently in the news over large bills for repairs post Grenfell that fall on the leaseholders rather than the freeholder and big hikes in service charges.  Which? LINK lists the pros and cons:

Committee members will hopefully also explore the definition of 'affordable' rent which range from 80% of market rent to social rent. 

The report  states that the current position in terms of delivery of the NCHP can be summarised as follows:

·  231 new homes have been built and let

·  610 homes are currently on site and being built

·  332 homes have been given planning consent and are now going through procurement to identify a building contractor. 

·  566 homes currently being assessed for feasibility.

The council''s ambition is to deliver 1,000 homes at 'genuinely affordable' rents. Table 2 below, shows some of the sites that are currently being explored. The pipeline consists of four elements.

Sites with building underway (on-site)

Sites with planning permission awaiting start on site

 

Sites deemed feasible submitted for Planning Permission

 

Sites currently being assessed for feasibility and financial viability.

The report describes plans to be delivered by Network Homes for 99 London Affordable Rent homes at Church End and 'new affordable rent' homes (definition?) totalling 370 on existing estates at Watling Gardens, Windmill Court and Kilburn Square.

A decision has to be made between redevelopment and infill on St Raphael's Estate. The redevelopment option would deliver 2,065 new homes a net increase of 550 'affordable' (definition?) rented homes, while the infill proposes to deliver 370 'new homes' (tenure details?)

Regarding South Kilburn the report says:

Officers continue to explore opportunities in South Kilburn to deliver an increased number of Council homes while still ensuring a sensible balance between different housing tenures, as required in the Master Plan. (What's a 'sensible balance?) 

 

New housing provided by Registered Providers and funded by the GLA is also planned over the next two years. (No mention of tenure):

 

 

 

Police appeal for information and witnesses after fatal Neasden stabbing

 Leon Street

Detectives investigating a fatal stabbing in Brent are appealing for information and witnesses

The victim has been identified as 48-year-old Leon Street of Neasden Road North. He lived near to the murder scene with his fiancée. Mr Street was a father and step-grandfather and he worked as a delivery driver.

Police were called to Neasden Lane North, NW10 shortly after 21.30hrs on Monday, 11 January to reports of a man stabbed near the junction with Hazelwood Court.

Officers attended along with paramedics from London Ambulance Service (LAS) and London’s Air Ambulance and found Mr Street suffering stab injuries. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.

Police Appeal

Sadly, we have had a murder in Brent and two stabbings nearby. They were in Neasden, near to Dollis Hill Ward. Please pass on this information to your contacts. Local officers have increased patrols in the area, which will continue.

 

Just after 21:30 on Monday 11 January, Leon Street, a delivery driver aged 48 was stabbed in the chest and died outside the shops on Neasden Lane North near the junction with Hazelwood Court. The location is a short distance north of the Neasden junction on the A406, North Circular Road. Mr Street was a delivery driver who lived nearby, also in Neasden Lane North.

 

Ten minutes earlier, near the bus stop on Neasden Lane North close to Press Road, a man aged 47 was stabbed by a lone male who ran away. The victim has now been discharged from hospital.

 

At 09:50 on Sunday 17 January a man believed to be in his thirties was stabbed near the location of Monday’s fatal stabbing. He was taken to hospital.

 

The links to the police press releases are below. The first one includes a photo of Leon Street.

https://news.met.police.uk/.../further-appeal-as-neasden...

https://news.met.police.uk/news/stabbing-in-neasden-419091

 

Police believe the two attacks on Monday were committed by the same lone male. They believe that the suspect lives locally. Police are appealing for information if anyone:

• saw a man running near Neasden Lane North between 9pm and 10pm on Monday 11 January
• has seen a man hanging around the area in recent weeks
• knows anyone who has been acting suspiciously on Monday or since then
• know anyone who has been disposing of clothes
• knows anyone who seems agitated for no apparent reason.

Anyone with information about the murder and stabbing on Monday evening should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 6783/11Jan.

 

Anyone with information about the stabbing on Sunday morning should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 1943/17Jan.

 

To remain anonymous, anyone can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers_uk.org

Brent LFT Test sites detect 875 Covid cases in asymptomatic residents over 4 weeks of operation

In answer to a Freedom of Information request Brent has reported that over the  4 week period 21.12.20-14.01.21 they identified 875 positive Covid cases at their nine operational Lateral Flow Test sites across the borough.

They conducted a total of 24,628 tests of which 21,519 were negative and 875 positive. I presume the remainder were inconclusive.

As these tests are for those without symptoms it appears the 875 were asymptomatic so a positive result and subsequent quarantine will have removed a source of contagion from the community.

The information is not collected by ward.

INFORMATION ON BOOKING A TEST FROM BRENT COUNCIL

 f you don’t have symptoms of COVID-19, you can book a free rapid Lateral Flow Test, with results available in less than 40 minutes.

You will need to book two tests, two to four days apart, in order to ensure the results are completely reliable.

If you are a critical worker or can’t work from home, or if others in your household still go out for work, it’s recommended that you get tested twice a week, every week.

>> Book a free rapid Lateral Flow Test (please note that this link will not work using the Internet Explorer browser)

If you do have any symptoms of COVID-19 (a cough, high fever or a loss of taste or smell) or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you should not book a rapid Lateral Flow Test. You should stay at home for 10 days and if you develop signs of the virus, call 020 8937 4440 to book a PCR test.

How do I book a rapid Lateral Flow Test?

You can book a Lateral Flow Test via the link below. Remember to bring confirmation of your appointment with you when you arrive for your test.

Lateral Flow Tests are only for those without symptoms of the virus. If you have symptoms, you should book a free standard PCR swab test at one of Brent’s local testing sites.

>> Book a free rapid Lateral Flow Test (please note that this link will not work using the Internet Explorer browser)

You can also walk-in without booking an appointment however this will be subject to availability on the day.

Where are the Lateral Flow Testing sites?

Rapid Lateral Flow Testing is available at the following sites Monday to Sunday, from 9am-6pm:

• Brent Civic Centre - Engineers Way, Wembley Park, Wembley, HA9 0FJ
• Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre - Brentfield, Harrow Road, London, NW10 0RG
• Central Mosque of Brent - Station Parade, Marley Walk, London, NW2 4PU
• Ealing Road Library - Coronet Parade, Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4BA
• Father O'Callaghan Centre - 22 Hay Lane, London, NW9 0NG
• Harlesden Library - Craven Park Road, Harlesden, NW10 8SE
• Kingsbury Library - 522-524 Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, NW9 9HE
• The Granville - 140 Carlton Vale, London, NW6 5HE
• The Library at Willesden Green - 95 High Rd, Willesden, London, NW10 2SF

These are asymptomatic testing sites, meaning that only those without symptoms should visit. If you go when you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you will be turned away.

 

Mass Covid19 NHS Vaccination Centre to open in Wembley Park next week

The former Network Homes HQ (test centre is entrance is round the corner from the main entrance)

A large scale vaccination site in Wembley Park is to be opened by North West London NHS at the former Network Homes headquarters in Fulton Road at the corner of Olympic Way. The building is awaiting redevelopment as the new site for the College of North West London.

The NHS Vaccination Centre will open next week to vaccinate people aged 80 and over abd health and care workers.

Brent Council said:

The large-scale site in Wembley is capable of delivering thousands of the life-saving jabs each week and offers a convenient alternative to GP-led and hospital services that are already set up across NW London.

Letters are being sent to people aged over 80 who live up to a 45 minute drive from the new centre, who have not already been vaccinated, inviting them to book an appointment either by phone or online through the national booking system.

People should wait until they receive their invite letter and should not call their GP but use the booking line, when their invite arrives. If an appointment has already been offered by the GP, please keep this appointment.

More Vaccination Centres will be launched in NW London in the coming weeks to increase the numbers of people who can be conveniently vaccinated each day.

The NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in the health service’s history, is being delivered as health service staff are treating record numbers of seriously ill patients with COVID, caused by rapidly rising infection numbers.

Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, the NHS will contact you. When you are contacted, please attend your booked appointments. And whether you have had a vaccine or not, please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives – that means staying at home as much as you can, and following the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance when you can’t.

Invites to book at the centres are being sent to people aged 80 or over who have not yet been vaccinated and live within a 45 minutes’ drive from the site, with more sites opening in the coming weeks.

The letters will explain how they can book a slot over the phone or online through the national booking service, and NHS leaders are urging people not to turn up at the centres or try to book without receiving them.

The new vaccination centres will each be capable of delivering thousands of vaccinations each week, scaling their operations up and down according to vaccine supplies and demand.

People who book in to a vaccine centre should note marshals will be on hand to help people to the right place. Bookings are staggered to allow social distancing and please don’t arrive until five minutes before your appointment time. Travel information will be available from Monday at www.tfl.gov.uk/jabs