WEMBLEY MATTERS

Thursday, 20 October 2022

'Bills too high, pay too small - we need energy for ALL' 650k petition presented to Downing Street

With a cardboard cut-out of Liz Truss as real one otherwise engaged (Photo: Fuel Poverty Action)

Away from the pantomime in the House of Commons, a petition calling for an overhaul of our energy pricing structure was delivered to Downing Street yesterday.. The ‘Energy For All’ petition signed by over 650,000 people, calls for a universal, free amount of energy that would cover everyone’s basic necessities of heating, lighting and cooking. This would be paid for by ending the millions of pounds spent daily on fossil fuel subsidies, windfall taxes on excess profits of energy companies and higher prices for profligate energy use.

The event, organised by Fuel Poverty Action, included a rally and march attended by around 100 people.

Stuart Bretherton, Energy For All Campaign Coordinator, said:

Millions of people will face fuel poverty this winter, with prices sitting at double what they were last year, and now renewed uncertainty over how high they will climb next year. Energy For All would deliver justice and security to all consumers now and in the future, by ensuring everyone’s basic needs are met and that steps are taken to address the climate crisis. Ordinary people cannot keep footing the bill for crises created by the wealthy, it's time for the big polluters and profiteers to pay their share.

In Old Palace Yard, Westminster, the crowd were addressed by speakers including Lord Prem Sikka, Caroline Lucas MP, Clive Lewis MP and Matt Lay, National Officer for Energy at Unison. Also in attendance were representatives of a number of different social movements, NGOs and direct action groups. Speakers from groups that have endorsed the campaign ranged from Disabled People Against Cuts, Tax Justice UK, the National Pensioners Convention and Just Stop Oil.

Photo: Fuel Poverty Action

The march was led by a large ‘Energy For All’ banner while others carried light-bulb shaped placards displaying the same message. Attendees chanted, ‘Energy Pricing’s: Upside Down!’with a cardboard cut-out of Prime Minister Liz Truss standing on her head visualising this call and response.

Ruth London of Fuel Poverty Action said:

In our present system, the less energy you use, the more you pay per unit and the more you use, the less you pay per unit. This is upside down. Energy For All is a plan to turn it rightside up.

Barry Gardiner MP (Brent North) addresses the crowd

Over 20 MPs from multiple parties also attended to show their support for the demand. A day prior to the petition hand-in, Early Day Motion 470: Proposed Energy Equity Commission Bill was launched in parliament. The bill would realise some of the key components of the ‘Energy For All’ demand, implementing a Universal basic energy allowance, supplemented by a social tariff and a national street-by-street insulation and retrofitting program.

Clive Lewis MP said:

I know from listening to my constituents, from knocking on their doors, that they are in dire straits. That’s why I’ve introduced the universal basic energy bill. That bill will ensure that everyone, including the poorest, have up to 90% of their energy needs met.

Green MP Caroline Lucas (Photo: Fuel Poverty Action)

Caroline Lucas MP said:

We are here to say cold homes are a political choice and we are here to demand different political choices. It’s not a choice between heating and eating, people can’t do either. We are here to demand that this government puts people and the planet ahead of the profits of the big energy companies.

Fuel Poverty Action vows to continue pushing for Energy For All which could deliver energy security to consumers and end fuel poverty, while also accelerating action on climate change. The group will do so online, in parliament and on the streets and invites people of all experiences and backgrounds to join in demanding Energy For All.

Further information at Fuel Poverty Action website.

Wednesday, 19 October 2022

First consultation on massive redevelopment of the Dudden Hill College of North West London site on zoom tonight and tomorrow at the college 3pm-7.30pm

The Hill Group will be holding public consultation events for the proposed College Green scheme on Thursday 20 October from 3pm to 7.30pm and Saturday 22 October from 11am to 2pm. These will take place at College of North West London Willesden Campus, Denzil Road, London NW10 2XD. They will also be holding a public consultation webinar event on Wednesday 19 October at 7pm. The link to register for the webinar is:
https://fourcommunications.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tBBYKv8mS2KTKHQMIQs1jg

Wembley Matters has covered these plans since 2019 and the college's merger with Westminster College came rise to speculation over selling off of some property. Current plans are for CNWL to move to a new site in Wembley Park, with the Dudden Hill site and the current Wembley Park site redeveloped. The site is part of the Neasden Stations Growth Area Draft Masterplan LINK.

An old view of the college and College Green

The development is site 3 of the Neasden Growth Area Masterplan

Artist's image (right) of the development from Masterplan

From the Draft Masterplan - contrast with Hill Group's description for the consultation (top of page) including increase in homes from 1,100 to 1,500 and dropping of 'affordable' description.

Artist's impression of the development

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

Demonstration against Twyford Abbey (Hanger Lane) development at Ealing Council tomorrow night. Removal of 130 trees and loss of biodiversity. Nearby primary school objects.

The community around the Ealing and Brent borderlands around Twyford Abbey will be protesting from 6.15pm on Wednesday evening outside Ealing Council, the building next to Ealing Town Hall before the planning application to build on the site will be decided. The protesters are calling for the application to be rejected. 249 out of the 256 comments on Ealing Council's Planning Portal object to the application and include people from nearby Brent addresses.

Local resident Kiran Rao writes:

Twyford Abbey ( NW10 7DP) in Hanger Lane has existed much as it has since the 11th century, when it was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. There has been a church and manor house on the site since the 13th century.

It is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), and a blanket Tree Preservation Order (TPO) covers the majority of trees onsite, including 7 acres of woodland. The site is also located within an Archaeological Interest Area, in relation to the potential for remains of a mediaeval moated manor house.

A development of 326 flats is proposed in close proximity to an 8 lane motorway, on a flood plain and in an area that is over populated, over developed and consistently exceeds acceptable pollution levels. This will see the removal of over 130 mature trees and loss of biodiversity. This is unacceptable in our climate emergency.

248 objections have been lodged. Ealing Council’s recommendation shows bias (providing selective reference and misinterpretation of policy) and does not reference an objection by a key stakeholder, the large primary school (objection here) who is adjacent to this development. The school objects on safety, health and education grounds, which will negatively impact this generation and future generations to come. We fear it won’t be long before we have another case of Ella Kissi Debrah. There are huge health inequalities in our area and no reference to the Council’s commitment to its Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy or its air quality neutral policy (please refer to comment from 7 Park Close).

This isn’t just another planning application. This goes to the heart of what community is and how we need to strike a balance in urban environments in order to live sustainably in this climate emergency. We would like this historical gem to be in public ownership and used for public good. The council can realise this vision as there is section 106 money from other developments in our area and this would not further degrade this community.

The Governing Board of West Twyford Primary School have submitted this objection to the scheme:

As the Governing Body of West Twyford Primary School, we wish to register our objections to the proposed development of The Twyford Abbey site. These concerns are about the impact that it will have on the children attending the school both now, and in the future, and the impact on their education, health and quality of school experience.

We are particularly concerned about the increase in traffic that this development will bring and the attendant issues of noise, pollution and danger to children.

The development is considerable and will allow for 100 car parking spaces. This will mean a very significant increase in traffic on Twyford Abbey road. This road is already busy and is the only access road for the school. Even those walking, cycling or scooting need to use this road to enter and leave the school in the morning and evening. This increased traffic will present a much greater danger of an accident. Parents regularly complain about the dangers of traffic on the road and this development will make this situation worse. In particular one of the exits from the site is barely 1 meter from one of the school gates which children use to enter and exit the school. This represents an unacceptable danger of children and families being hit by cars.

The increased car usage will result in greater noise. West Twyford currently has the main road on the southern side but this development will add traffic to the western side too. When the school was rebuilt, it was moved away from the main road to both reduce noise and pollution. This development will put that back. In order to learn their best children require a calm environment. Noise can distract, disturb and negatively impact on stress and mental health. This will put them at risk. Currently 38% of the school is identified as disadvantaged children (they are eligible for the pupil premium grant). These children often live in small, cramped accommodation. Many of them live near the North Circular Road or Hanger Lane Gyratory. West Twyford is an oasis of calm and peace. Our children already have many stresses and strains in their lives which impact their health and life chances: we as the governors do not think these should be added too by this development.

Pollution is another major concern, as noted the cars will exit right next to our children entering and exiting the school, which will dramatically increase the pollution levels both from exhaust fumes and tyres. There is very clear evidence of the negative effect of air pollution on young children and we are also concerned about the reduction in trees and how this will affect this. The gate next to the entrance is used mainly by young children from years 1,2 and 3. They are still growing and developing, and would be negatively impacted by increased pollution.

We think that 100 parking spaces for 326 dwellings is insufficient. In discussion with the developers, they stated that car use is declining London. In our view this is naïve and anyone living next to such main roads will want a car; some dwellings may well want two or more and we are concerned about the effect of cars being parked in the local area, which would mean a greater number than the allowed for 100 cars. We understand that this already happens in other developments nearby. Once the site is completed there will be nothing that we can do about this potentially very large increase in the number of cars in the area and the increase in traffic. However, it will affect the children of West Twyford for generations to come. We understand that many of our school community are very concerned about this and this is a concern that we share and take very seriously.

We also object to the placing of an electric substation adjacent to the schools grounds. This appears on the plans next to the northern boundary. Substations can be noisy and it is concerning to have one sited so close to where the children will play.

In conclusion we have reviewed the plans carefully and spoken to the developers. In our considered opinion this development will have an unduly negative impact on the school and its children. We foresee an unacceptable increase in noise, pollution and traffic. We consider this development to be overambitious in the number of new dwellings and to have inadequately dealt with the traffic restrictions imposed by the location. For these reasons we object to the proposed development.

Ealing Green Party Chair, Neil Reynolds said:

If the Twyford Abbey development is approved by the planning committee, it will be further evidence that Ealing Council puts the needs of developers before nature and local residents.
The site has significant ecological value with over 200 trees that have protection orders on them. The feelings of residents are also quite clear with a huge number of objections. The simple truth is you can't claim that planting new saplings, many of which die, is an adequate replacement for very mature trees that clean Ealing's air and are valuable carbon absorbers in a climate emergency.
The council promised to regrow and rewild at the last election, if they approve this development it will show how shallow that slogan is. I really hope they see sense.

Monday, 17 October 2022

Fuel povery Action's 600k 'Energy for All' petition to be presented to Downing Street on Wednesday after rally at Old Palace Yard addressed by Caroline Lucas and Clive Lewis

From Fuel Poverty Action

Over 600,000 people have signed a growing petition calling on Prime Minister Liz Truss to end fuel poverty by implementing a new pricing structure: Energy For All. Energy For All would give everyone a free amount of energy to cover the basics like heating, lighting and cooking. This would be paid for by higher prices on profligate energy use; windfall taxes and ending the millions of pounds spent daily on fossil fuel subsidies.

The petition is part of the ‘Energy For All’ campaign organised by Fuel Poverty Action, and will be delivered to Downing Street on Wednesday 19th October.

Over 20 MPs are expected to attend a rally from 1pm at King George V Statue, Old Palace Yard, Westminster. Campaigners will then proceed to Downing Street to deliver the petition to the Prime Minister at 2.30 p.m.

Ruth London, Co-Director of Fuel Poverty Action said:

The government’s latest measures will leave millions in miserable poverty this winter, and many thousands will die from cold homes. The existing pricing system is fundamentally unfair. The less you use, the more you pay per unit. Even people who are turning their heating off entirely are clobbered with the heavy standing charge.

Energy For All will take our subsistence money back from the energy giants who are sucking it out of our homes. It will make sure that what people receive is based on what they need. People heating mansions will pay more. People who use no more than they need will pay far less. And the government will finally be incentivised to insulate our homes.

MPs Caroline Lucas and Clive Lewis, and Lord Prem Sikka will be addressing the crowd, alongside people who are facing a cold and miserable winter due to ill health, damp housing and rising prices. For more information on moves inside Parliament, please see their quotes, below.

The principle of a free allocation of energy, with higher tariffs for those who use far more than they need, has the support of 75% of the population according to a nationwide ICM survey in June

The idea is supported by a wide and growing range of organisaitons including the TUC, Disabled People Against Cuts, New Economics Foundation, Tax Justice UK, Single Mothers Self Defence, Parents for Future, Women Against Rape, Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Global Women’s Strike, Disabled Mothers' Rights Campaign, 350.org, Lewisham Pensioners Forum, and Just Stop Oil. Representatives of many of these movements will be at the rally on 19 October.

On Tuesday 18th October Clive Lewis, the Labour Member of Parliament for Norwich South, will present the Energy Equity Commission Bill (a Private Members’ Bill) in the House of Commons Chamber. He will also table an Early Day Motion on the Bill, which Members of Parliament can sign if they are supportive. These initiatives have cross-party support.

Clive Lewis MP, lead sponsor of the Energy Equity Commission Bill said:

In an age of climate and economic shocks, there’s an urgent need for a new social settlement that ensures that when it comes to life’s essentials the varying needs of all are met – from energy to housing, from connectivity to healthcare. The Government’s plan will benefit the richest the most, and let oil and gas companies off the hook for polluting and profiteering. Meanwhile, too many households will not have their energy needs met. I support the demand for ‘Energy for All’ because access to energy to meet the needs of a decent life is a basic right. That is also why I am proposing a Private Members’ Bill to introduce a free Universal Basic Energy allowance and a retrofit revolution.

Caroline Lucas said:

Millions are already in fuel poverty, yet this Government is failing to provide anywhere near sufficient support to keep people warm throughout this forthcoming winter at the same time as building long term energy resilience. Rather than spending billions on unfunded tax cuts and subsidies for climate-wrecking fossil fuels, we need to see a windfall tax on obscene oil & gas profits which is worthy of its name, a retrofit revolution to insulate homes and slash bills, and a proper plan to ensure everyone has energy security during the harshest time of the year.

Paula Peters, Disabled People Against Cuts, said:

DPAC supports Fuel Poverty Action's "Energy For All" proposal, it's a vital measure for the safety and wellbeing of disabled and older people in poverty. There are disabled people who use dialysis machines, ventilators, need to charge power wheelchairs, need the fridge to keep certain medications refrigerated, who are rationing electricity because they cannot afford to charge their equipment to keep them going every day. People in social care and in energy debt with bailiffs at their doors demanding payment.. Disabled people are in a terrifying position, barely surviving or dying.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

Every family deserves access to affordable, clean energy. But the way we get billed today means that basic energy needs are charged at the same rate as extravagant use.

We need a new approach that gives everyone a free energy allowance for basic needs like heating, cooking and lighting. But when people are powering luxury lifestyles, like heating a private swimming pool, they should expect to pay a higher rate.

The government should also put a much higher windfall tax on oil and gas profits. This will help stop profiteering and it will raise revenue that can shield households from the cost of interventions to keep bills down.

Sara Hall, Head of Movement, Tax Justice UK said:

Ordinary families are seeing their bills go through the roof at the same time that some big companies like BP and Shell are raking in record profits. A beefed up windfall tax on oil and gas company excessive profits would ensure that these companies aren’t profiteering during these difficult times. The government must use the tax system to raise revenues from the wealthy and big companies, to invest in our economy, in the green transition and ensure everyone has access to energy to cook food, heat their home and keep the lights on.

Sunday, 16 October 2022

Awayday 'psychology test' for Brent Labour councillors

The Brent Labour Group are being asked to take a controversial personal traits test ahead of a Group Awayday by the Labour Chief Whip Steve Crabb. It appears to be part of his bid to make this administration's Labour Group the 'most united Labour Group in the history of Brent Council.' (1)

Each councillor is asked to answer a battery of questions that Crabb suggests will enable them to better know themselves and others in the way they approach tasks, and thus work more effectively within the Group. Crabb who is a qualified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator practioner will analyse the answers and place each councillor in one of 16 categories.

What happens to this result?

Crabb's entry on the Council's Register of Interests includes 'Independent Consultant, SC Consulting'. His Myers-Brigg work is done voluntarily and not connected with the consultancy.

The video below summarises well the critique of the method which has become part of a multi-million industry used by many corporations.

As an education student in the 1970s I came across this test and many other psyschological tests which were fascinating at first, obsessed as we humans are with finding out about ourselves. However, the novelty soon wore off in the face of a critique from sociologists who saw the tests as masking the real differences between people that were often of a philosophical or political nature.

Treating the Labour Group as if it is some kind of corporation feeds into what appears to be the managerialist approach of Labour in Brent. If the Labour Group unites as a team, and understands and value each other, political differences will somehow disappear.

There is a common belief that if we only understand each and and communicate effectively we will all be 'nice' and will end up agreeing. On the contrary, effective communication may mean differences are clearer. (For example on affordable housing!)

Given the very limited role of backbench Labour councillors in terms of policy making and strategy alongside the highly controlling current leadership, this is worrying. Genuine debate on conflicting ideas can lead to progress.

I am not sure what some of the more grounded Labour councillors will make of the MBTI but certainly they need to be asking questions about how the results will be used, who will have access to them, and whether the Group time devoted to it could be better used to address the very many issues confronting the council and its residents.

For those who would like to know more I list some references below. Some advocates of MBTI will argue that the tests have been refined since publication of the video so perhaps the best introduction is a recent article in the Independent:

How thousands of companies ended up using a bogus psychology test ontheir staff

https://steve.myers.co/mbti-criticisms/

https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/my-mbti-results/your-mbti-best-fit-type.htm

https://www.livescience.com/65513-does-myers-briggs-personality-test-work.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-echochambers-28315137

https://www.vox.com/2014/7/15/5881947/myers-briggs-personality-test-meaningless

https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/the-problem-with-the-myers-briggs-personality-test

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/give-and-take/201309/goodbye-mbti-the-fad-won-t-die

(1) Following Wembley Matters coverage of appointments and election to council roles at the Labour Group AGM after the local elections, newly appointed Chief Whip, Steve Crabb, wrote to all the Labour councillors expressing his disappointment that there had been a leak. He went on express the hope that the leak was not from a member of the Labour Group: 'I want us to be remembered as the most united Labour Group in the history of Brent Council. Let's work together to make sure the first leak is the last.'

Saturday, 15 October 2022

Cllr Kennelly urges residents to attend Islamia Primary School's Preston Park consultation at Preston Park Primary School, 6pm on Monday 17th October

In a series of tweets this afternoon Cllr Daniel Kennelly makes it clear that he is unhappy about the way Islamia Primary School is running the consultation in Preston Park:

I am writing to alert you to a consultation currently being conducted by Islamia Primary School. They are being evicted from their premises in Queen's Park by the Yusuf Islam Foundation. The local authority has a statutory duty to provide an alternative site for the school.

Therefore the school are consulting residents in both Preston Park and Queen's Park about relocating the school to the vacant school site on Strathcona Road in Preston Park. This site was formerly occupied by Roe Green [Strathcona] school.

To date the school has failed to provide consultation materials to residents in Preston Park. Therefore I am notifying all residents in the area about this ongoing consultation and upcoming residents’ meeting on Monday 17th October.

Residents will be given the opportunity to speak with councillors, Council staff and members of the school to express views on the potential move. This meeting will take place at Preston Park Primary School from 6pm. The consultation will close on 2nd November.

I apologise for the late notice. The school are in charge of running this consultation and have failed to properly communicate or provide adequate literature to residents.