Tribute to Brian Orr: Passionate climate campaigner before the rest of the world woke up to the threat

 

Brian Orr

Republished with permission from Brent Greens blog

Brian Orr of Brent Green Party and a former activist in the London Federation of Green Parties died on Monday 12th June, after an illness which began in Autumn last year.

Brian played a crucial role in re-starting Brent Green Party as an effective political body and went on to steer it through the early decades of this century. He was unstinting as an organiser of campaigns and as a campaigner. As Party Chair and Election agent he ensured that the party stood candidates in local, regional and national elections, and also stood as a candidate himself.

 

Brian Orr's election address to voters in the Stonebridge by-election 2007

Brian also worked with the London Federation of Green Parties as Treasurer during the time Noel Lynch was Chair of the Federation

Brian had a scientific background and training which informed his deep commitment to Green politics and ideas. Long before many others he was aware of the potentially catastrophic impacts of human-caused global climate change and its environmental feedbacks. He argued that this was manifesting itself in loss of biodiversity, especially of insects as the basis of the food chain. However he combined this understanding with a determination to enact these ideas politically as can be seen here 

So, it is no surprise that he welcomed the intervention of Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion in the climate crisis campaign. In fact, he loved the development of ideas and politics through debate with his colleagues and comrades both in person and online. We will sorely miss provocative and insightful discussions with him.

He made a significant contribution, and we will miss him. We send our sympathy and condolences to his partner Liz and the family.

Peter Murry and Martin Francis

Open City reach recognition agreement with the IWGB

 From Open City

Some exciting news this week at Open City is that we have entered into a recognition agreement with Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB). The union will support all workers at the charity and provide a collective voice for staff to have a say in the future of the organisation. Read more from our Union reps Chris Fisher, Simon Vickery and Deborah Denner chair of the Open City board of trustees here 

 

Editor's note this is what Open City do:

 

Open City is charity dedicated to making architecture and neighbourhoods more open, accessible and equitable.

Our mission is to empower communities to learn about, experience and have a role in shaping places where they live. We collaborate with people from diverse communities to widen access to spaces, built heritage, neighbourhoods, knowledge and careers they are often excluded from. We do this by creating educational and cultural programmes discussing, celebrating and opening up historic and contemporary buildings and landscapes.

Our work is organised into 5 strands:

Open House Festivals

Empowering communities, residents’ groups, civic organisations and local businesses to exhibit and learn about buildings and neighbourhoods which matter to them, our Open House Festivals are accessible volunteer-led public celebrations encouraging audiences to explore new places, learn about different communities and experience diverse architecture first-hand. In London our Open House Festival engages tens of thousands of visitors a year across over 800 sites in all 33 boroughs.

Children and Young People

We work with schools and higher education providers to support children and young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, under-represented communities, and with special education needs and disability to develop the design skills and critical thinking needed for successful careers in creative industries including design, architecture and landscape.

Tours, events and publications

We run year-round programme of events, walking and cycling tours, training courses, publications, podcasts and new media programmes centred on critically exploring built heritage and architecture.

Worldwide Festivals Network

We lead, support and grow an international network of over 50 Open House Festivals from Lagos to New York, creatively engaging over 750,000 citizens a year with architecture of their local communities.

Man charged with murder of Wembley stabbing victim

 

Stabbing victim Tejaswini Kontham

From Brent MPS

A man has been charged with the murder of Tejaswini Kontham and the attempted murder of a second woman at an address in Wembley.

Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais, 23 [11.9.99], of Neeld Crescent, Wembley was charged on Thursday, 15 June with the murder of Tejaswini Kontham and the attempted murder of a second woman.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates Court that same day.

The charges follow police being called to a residential address in Neeld Crescent, Wembley at 09:59hrs on Tuesday, 13 June to reports of a stabbing.

Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service and found 27-year-old Tejaswini Kontham and another woman, aged 28, suffering from knife injuries.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, Tejaswini sadly died at the scene.

Her family has been informed.

The second woman was taken to hospital with stab injuries that were later assessed as not life-threatening.

+ Two other people arrested in connection with this investigation were released with no further action.

Solidarity Rally with St Mungo's workers at Brent Civic Centre at noon, tomorrow

 

There will be a Rally to support the workers at the St Mungo's homelessness charity on Friday June 16th outside Brent Civic Centre at noon.

The main speakers at the Rally, organised by Brent Trades Council, will be local MPs Dawn Butler and Barry Gardiner.

Take along your union banners and placards so that that we make a big declaration of solidarity with workers struggling for a decent wage when executives earn tens of thousands.

 Nearest tube Wembley Park but also accessible from Wembley Central station and multiple bus routes.

 The rally will be preceeded by a short picket outside St Mungo's facility in Pound Lane, Willesden, opposite the bus garage at 9am.

Challenge to Brent Council following Barham Park decision: What is the planning policy, relevant to application 22/4128, which dictates that if an application would not cause harm, that overrides policies such as those in the Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan?

 

Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan policy LGS1

 

 Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan policy BP1

 

 

Following yesterday's Planning Committee meeting Philip Grant has sent the following letter to Gerry Ansell, Brent Council's Head of Planning. (Illustrations are for the benefit of readers amd were not sent to Mr Ansell)

 

Dear Mr Ansell,

I watched and listened to yesterday evening's Planning Committee meeting when application 22/4128 was considered, and there was an important planning policy point which was not explained. I would ask that you do not issue a consent letter on this application until this matter has been resolved.

I will set that point out, in bold type, below, and would ask you to reply to it promptly, please, with copies to the Chair of the Planning Committee, the councillors who are probably as puzzled by this issue as I am, and the Chair of the Sudbury Town Residents' Association.

Cllr. Dixon and several other committee members asked Officers for clarification over the relative importance of the Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan policies in considering the application.

 

 

 Slide of site in Barham park displayed at yesterday's Planning Committee Meeting

 

Paragraph 30 of the National Policy Framework on Neighbourhood Plans

It was clear that Officers accepted that the application site was within the Barham Park Local Green Space, so that the Neighbourhood Plan policies LGS1, LGS2 and BP1 applied. Several other more general Local Plan policies were also relevant.

No answer appeared to be given, by either of the Planning Officers who spoke at the meeting, to the question raised over whether policy BP1 took precedence over the more general policies. However, at the end of a long answer by your Development Management Manager he appeared to state that what mattered, more than all of those policies, was that the application would not cause harm.

Planning applications have to be determined 'in accordance with the relevant planning national, strategic, local and neighbourhood policy framework.'


What is the planning policy, relevant to application 22/4128, which dictates that if an application would not cause harm, that overrides policies such as those in the Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan? 

Please provide the full text of that policy, as well as its source and policy number, in reply to this email. Thank you. Best wishes,

Philip Grant

 

Philip adds for Wembley Matters readers:

 

 

NOTE: '...The councillors who are probably as puzzled by this issue as I am', who I copied my email to, were the two Sudbury Ward councillors, Paul Lorber (Lib Dem) and Teo Benea (Labour), who spoke against the application at the meeting, Ketan Sheth (Wembley Central, Labour) the Ward councillor whose written statement against the application was read out at the meeting, and Michael Maurice (Kenton, Conservative) who as a member of the Planning Committee clearly understood the arguments involved over planning policy, and voted against the application mainly on the grounds that it went against Neighbourhood Plan policy BP1 (Above image). 

There was three-way cross-party support that the Sudbury Town Neighbourhood Plan and its policy BP1 should be upheld, yet this did not affect the votes of the seven Labour members of the Planning Committee.

 

REACTION TO ABOVE ARTICLE

 

 

UPDATE: Man arrested in Harrow at 6pm tonight. (Police appeal for help to trace suspect after double stabbing in Wembley this morning - one fatality)

 

 

 From Brent MPS

 UPDATE

 

 

Detectives investigating a fatal stabbing at a residential address in Wembley are appealing for help from the public to trace a man they wish to speak with.

Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais, 23, who is from Wembley, is wanted for questioning in relation to the murder.

Anyone who sees De Morais or who knows where he is should dial 999.

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley said: “Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais is a Brazilian National with links across London.

“If you think you have seen him or know where he is please call police on 999 immediately – it is important that you don’t attempt to approach him.”

Police were called by London Ambulance Service [LAS] at 09:59hrs on Tuesday, 13 June to reports of a stabbing at Neeld Crescent, Wembley.

Officers, LAS and London’s Air Ambulance attended. At the scene  two women, aged 27 and 28, were  found with knife injuries.

The 27-year-old woman died at the scene despite best efforts of emergency services.

The 28-year-old woman was taken by LAS to a north London hospital where her injuries are not life threatening.

A male, and a female, no further details, were arrested on suspicion of murder. They were taken to north London police stations where they remain at this time.

Enquiries are underway to inform the victim’s next of kin. A post mortem examination will be scheduled in due course.

A crime scene remains in place.

A murder investigation has been launched by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command led by Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley.

Anyone who witnessed this incident but has not yet spoken with police should call 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 2380/13JUN.

To remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org.

Wembley Park residents deprived of 206 bus for 5 afternoons and evenings while Love is on Tour. Vulnerable residents left stranded.

 

A resident of the King's Drive/Pilgrims Way estate has written to Barnhill councillor, Kathleen Fraser, about the impact of the curtailment of the 206 bus at Brent Park on event days. Thirty minutes ago I had to inform people waiting in the heat at The Paddocks stop that there were no buses due to a concert at the Stadium.

 

 

As the writer points out we were promised that an advantage of North End Road being rejoined to Bridge Road was that the 206 could avoid the main stadum area by using North End Road on event days.

 

 

 

 Dear Councillor Fraser

I am writing to you with regard to the 206 bus route which, for many living in Kings Drive, The Paddocks, Salmon Street areas, is a real boon.  That is until there is an event scheduled at Wembley Stadium when no service is provided after 11.00/noon.

I believe I am correct in saying that in Brent's local plan for our area it was stated that the opening of North End Road to allow traffic to and from Bridge Road would mean that the 206 would be able to serve our area on event days.

The changes to the road layout have been completed and yet we are still deprived of our bus service.

 

Could I ask you to please enquire as to why this is the case and when we may expect a service to run regardless of events at the stadium.

May I point out that the suspension of this service disproportionately affects our most vulnerable residents - the elderly, disabled, parents with small children and women travelling home alone at night.

This week commencing Sunday 11 June we will be without a bus on no fewer than 5 afternoons and evenings.  

 

The bus company seems to suspend the service at the earliest time possible, even when traffic is light.

I would be most grateful for your help in this matter. Residents have been putting up with this for far too long.

Thank you in advance.

Barry Gardiner opposed Barham Park development in 2021 so why silent in 2023?

 

I am grateful to a Wembley Matters reader for the link he sent to a letter  from Barry Gardiner opposing one of the proposed planning applications for the site in Barham Park, The letter was sent to Gerry Ansell, Brent Council's Head of Planning in May 2021 LINK.

Although the specific application was different (larger and higher) to that approved yesterday, most of the  arguments used still apply. I draw attention to the last line of the letter: 'I would ask that the application be rejected and the use of the land be returned to the people of Wembley in deference to the principle of Titus Barham's bequest.'

The letter:

Planning Application 21/1106  776 and 778 Harrow Road.

I am writing to express my strong personal objection to Planning Application 21/1106 which concerns the former park keepers' houses in Barham Park. I understand that the applicant is seeking to demolish these houses and erect a four storey residential building comprising 9 self-contained flats with roof top terrace and associated access, parking and landscaping.

I originally objected to the sale of the properties in 2010 and I was advised the following year that they were to be leased to a housing association for reuse by families on the Council's housing register. I was therefore appalled when, contrary to assurances, it became apparent that the sale had gone ahead in 2012.

I then objected to Planning  Application 14/2078 in 2014 arguing that the Housing was only ever appropriate on this land as it was built as tied accommodation for the park wardens and it would be totally wrong if the site were to undergo extensive redevelopment, I was therefore pleased when planning permission for application 14/2708* was rejected.

Having seen the proposed plans for this current proposed application, my strong objections to the redevelopment of this site remain. I am very concerned by the height of the new proposed development, which is one-storey higher than the proposals in 2014. I also fear that the inclusion of a roof top terrace on a building within a park, may lead to visitors of the park feeling uncomfortable and overlooked.

Barham Park is extremely important within the local community and has a specific historial significance which appears to be lost on the developer. Barham Park is also home to the war memorial where every year services are held and wreaths laid to remember those who, at their country's call, left all that was dear to them to hazard their lives in the cause of freedom. For all these reasons the Park should be regarded as a special place within the Borough and should be protected from this development.

While I appreciate that it was a council of a different political complexion which originally sold off the existing properties in the Park, the current Council should not allow that negative event to set a precedent for further despoilation. The existing houses and their gardens are within the Barham Park Estate and the Planning Committee are fully aware that this was bequeathed to the people of Wembley in 1937 for their use and enjoyment in perpetuity,

I would ask that the application be rejected and the use of the land be returned to the people of Wembley in deference to the principle of Titus Barham's bequest.

 

*discrepancy in the application reference numbers is in the original letter