WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
Brondesbury residents protested this morning as work was about to start on replacing paving with asphalt. This is the latest of several protests over Brent Council policy which the council claim is environmentally superior to replacing paving and safer for pedestrians.
The counter-arguments to the policy were published HERE
Residents and workers in North Wembley are being asked to get tested following the discovery of a case of the South African Covid-19 variant in the area.
Everyone aged 16 and over who live or work in the enhanced testing area below are being asked to take a PCR Covid-19 test, even if they are not showing any symptoms.
This is to see if it has spread in the community and if so, to help contain it by asking all those affected and their recent contacts to self-isolate.
Those without symptoms are being asked to get tested at:
Those with symptoms are being asked to get tested at either:
Home testing kits will be delivered to a small number of addresses and letters will be sent to these households letting them know.
Any positive cases will be examined to determine which strain of the virus the person has been infected with. This will help to see how far – if at all – the South African variant has spread in the community and to enable better understanding of this variant.
Those who test positive may be able to claim a £500 payment if they are on a lower income and cannot go to work because they are self-isolating.
Dr Melanie Smith, Director of Public Health at Brent Council, said:
A case of the new South African variant of COVID-19 has been found in North Wembley and cannot be traced back to international travel.
We’re encouraging all those living in the enhanced testing area to get tested so we can see how far – if at all – the virus has spread.
Not only will this enable us to find any more cases of the variant, but it may help us find more cases of Covid-19 in general, particularly from those not showing symptoms, and this will in turn help us reduce the spread of the virus in Brent.
It doesn’t matter whether you have symptoms or not, please do the right thing and get tested to protect your family, friends and community.
Professor Kevin Fenton, Regional Director at Public Health England London, said:
The UK has one of the best genomic systems in the world which has allowed us to detect the variant originating in South Africa here in North Wembley. I urge everyone offered a test to take it up to help us to monitor the virus in our communities and to help suppress and control the spread of this variant.
The most important thing is that people continue to follow the guidance that is in place – limit your number of contacts, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, keep your distance and cover your face. If you test positive by any method, you must isolate to stop the spread of the virus.
For more information, visit www.brent.gov.uk/enhancedtesting
Brent Museum is hosting an online exhibition of images it has collected from the community during the Covid-19 pandemic. It celebrates the kindness and creativity of people across the borough during this most difficult time.
You can find the exhibition here, on the Brent Museum website.
Two vital motions were passed at Green Party Conference today with overwhelming majorities:
Winning Over Workers is Crucial to Fighting Climate Change
To win the fight against climate change the GPEW needs to link up with workers and trade unions to promote a Just Transition to a sustainable green economy. The GPEW needs to send the message that it supports workers.
Motion
The Green Party of England & Wales (GPEW) believes that winning over workers and Trade Unions is crucial if we are to have any chance to fight climate change and save the planet. In the UK, 6.35 million people (23.4% of employees) are members of the trade unions as well as millions who want to be in trade unions but are pressured not to.
The GPEW need to win as many of these people to the idea of a Just Transition to a green economy. To not take this seriously would be a serious mistake in the struggle to save the planet.
The position of Trade Union Liaison Officer was agreed by Conference a number of years ago and GPEW does have a good record of active support of workers struggles and supports the repeal of anti-Trade Union Laws. The development of Green New Deals and Just Transition in the trade union movement reflects this progress. So, it would be very concerning if the party is now seen to relegate workers. Removing the TULO position and/or not including the Green Party Trade Union group would suggest that workers are seen as not being important in our work.
Action:
That the GPEW builds on the position of the Trade Union Liaison Officer (TULO) and the Green Party Trade Union group in any reorganisation mandated by its own democratic procedures.
That the GPEW ensures that workers and a Just Transition are centre stage in policy formation in respect to our number one remit to save the planet and building the green economy.
Emergency Motion on Pay Rise for NHS Health and Care Workers
The government proposed 1% pay rise for NHS staff is correctly being described as ‘a kick in the teeth’ and ‘an insult’ by workers and their unions (4/3/2021). NHS workers have often reached beyond their contractual duties to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, at great personal risk and sacrifice.
With NHS staff nearing the end of a 3-year pay deal, this conference resolves to support the Moving Forwards on NHS Pay campaign led by fourteen trade unions (including Unite, Unison, GMB, RCN) representing over 1.3 million members, to secure a fair pay rise for all health service workers. We believe if the government can award lucrative contracts to ministerial cronies, it can afford a decent pay award for health workers.
This conference also resolves to support the demands of the grassroots NHS Workers Say No to Public Sector Pay Inequality and Nurses United campaigns, including a restorative 15% pay rise across the board for all NHS workers on ‘Agenda for Change’ contracts and for outsourced services in the NHS to be brought back in house.
Conference urges Green Party spokespeople and councillors to support the fight for a fair pay rise for health service workers, and to make links with these campaigns locally, regionally and nationally. We urge Green Party members to engage actively with NHS workers’ independent trade unions in supporting these campaigns.
We instruct our MP, Peers and Leaders to write to the NHS Pay Review Body and make it clear that applause is not enough.
Works taking place at present
A 2019 impression of the completed junction
In a statement to Wembley Matters, Brent Council has said that the restored junction of North End Road and Bridge Road, Wembley Park, is expected to open in late May:
We are working hard to complete the works as soon as possible. It is a complex project and there was an unforeseen delay due to discovery of an uncharted gas main and old pedestrian subway. However, we are working at pace to make up time and currently anticipate that there will be access from Bridge Road to North End Road from late May 2021.
In the meantime, the existing pedestrian diversion arrangements will remain in place, with access to Michaela School from North End Road near Victoria Halls.
We are in discussion with TfL about their signals programme. They are experiencing delays due to staff being furloughed, however, our current intention is to open the road up to local traffic late May.
We are delighted to announce we are reopening the club from 1st April and our coaching providers from Tennis Icon UK have put together their summer course programme. We offer lessons from 4 years of age upward and for all levels. All of our courses are designed to be Fun, Educational & Inspirational helping to give you ‘The Winning Game’. We offer group courses, private lessons, competitive team tennis and social tennis too and pride ourselves on being a super sociable and friendly community club. You would be more than welcome to join us for a trial lesson before signing on as a member. To book a course visit https://www.tennisiconuk.com/coles-green-academy/ or contact our head coach, James Barry via email james.barry@tennisiconuk.com. We look forward to hopefully seeing you on court very soon!
A new bidding window opened on Monday for groups and community organisations to bid for money from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy for project to improve their area. In previous years this money has been underspent.
The criteria have been reviewed and the theme for this round is 'Recovery' ..from the Pandemic.
Brent is divided into five ‘CIL Neighbourhoods’: Harlesden, Kilburn and Kensal, Kingsbury and Kenton, Wembley, and Willesden. The total available is £2m with Wembley allocated £1m and the four other areas £250,000. Already questions are being asked on social media as to why Wembley gets 4 times the amount allocated to other areas. Previously the answer provided has been that the Wembley area's residents have been hit more by redevelopment.
Types of project
Help is offered for groups in preparing their bids and it is a good idea to contact your councillor to get backing for your project. APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON MAY 3rd.
This is just a summary, full details and application forms are available on the Brent Council website HERE
Below you can find a line of projects previously funded and completion details. Click bottom right corner for enlarged page.
This was in the pond at the Kingsbury end of the park close to the Gaderbrook. The ponds are pretty full at the moment, although past the peak when they were overflowing in the meadows and a contrast to the period last year when many (including this one) were completely dried up.
Toadspawn can also be found in the park and is laid in long 'necklaces' while newts attach their eggs singly on vegetation in the ponds.
