Muhammed Butt tells the PM that Brent is keen to roll up its sleeves and do its bit for change

 

Brent Faces of Climate Change

 

 If you missed today's Climate Action Take Over at the Kiln Thetare in Kilburn I have posted the film that was shown above.

 

Love Chalkhill Festival Sunday 28th July Noon-8pm

 

Wembley road closures and parking restrictions for Springsteen Concert Thursday July 25th and Saturday July 27th

 

 From Brent Council

Wembley Stadium will be hosting Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band on the following dates in July:

-        Thursday 25 July

-        Saturday 27 July

Please read below to see how this might affect you.

Timings

-  Thursday 25 July: Doors open at 4pm and road closures will be in place from 12pm.

-  Saturday 27 July: Doors open at 4pm and road closures will be in place from 12pm.

We expect the area around Wembley Stadium to be very busy before and after these events so please avoid the area if you can unless you have a ticket.

Event day parking

Event day parking restrictions will be in place from 8am to midnight on main roads and from 10am to midnight on residential roads on 25 and 27 July.

If you have a paper permit, please make sure you clearly display it in your vehicle. If you have an electronic permit, you do not need to display this.

Massive improvement in Byron Court Primary test results challenges the need for academisation

 I would be the first to argue that SAT results are not the be all and end all in terms of judging school effectiveness and pupil achievement. Children and learning are much more complicated than that but as they are much used by school watchdog Ofsted they have been waited with bated breath by Byron Court school staff and pupils.

One of the main planks in their argument against a forced takeover by Harris Federation has been that the school should be given the chance to show improvement as a result of management changes and the support of local authority advisers and others. 

Improved SAT and other test results were seen as a key aspect of showing improvement  and thus avoiding the further upheaval that academisation would bring.

SAT results are not validated until December 2024 but the unvalidated figures show a massive improvment in some areas from the previous year and overall the school is achieving at or above the national average. Eary Years are affected by the fact that Byron Court does not have its own nursery and therefore children come in from a range of provision or no provision at all.

The figures have arrived in time to be presented as evidence in the upcoming meeting with the new Secretary of State.

 When I spoke to Year 6 pupils with their parents outside the school after the SATs in May they seemed very confident in the test outcome. The results and a tribute to the children and their teachers and classroom assistants.

Blue figures in brackets refer to the percentage achiveing 'Great Development GD' and are not the previous year's results. They are tabulated separately. 

Bug bears with parking on Wembley Event days

The new Wembley Stadium was marketed as a 'public transport' destination with limited private car access.  This letter is reproduced with permission of the Wembley resident who has written to councillors and council officers about some of the current issues to do with Event Day parking in the local :

 

Dear All,

 

First of all I must state that I have no objections to Wembley Stadium increasing the number of events, having lived in the HA9 area for almost 40 years I have learned to adapt and deal with it and experience little disruption to daily life. 

 

It would seem that one of the biggest bug bears to Residents in the area is Parking, so I would ask the council to do a complete overhaul of the Parking Permits and Event Day permits being issued in all wards within the HA9 area, not only for event days, as many now living in what is supposed to be “Car Free” properties have gained permits in CPZ’s and Event Day Permits which renders the system useless.

 

Work with Transport for London, to ensure that reduction of service (206 & 92) and diversion of buses (83,182, etc) that use Empire Way and Wembley Hill Road/High Road is kept to a minimum and if they have to be diverted for a limited time that proper signage is erected along with Traffic Marshals to help people affected to be able to connect with the relevant bus stop, further along the route.

 

Exemptions on closed roads, for Supermarket Delivery, Parcel Deliveries, Medicines, Residents with clear mobility issues for access especially at weekends when people who are working have no other options but to have them when they are at home.

 

Make Parking Enforcement Officers aware of the regulations with regard to Event Day permits etc.

 

I recently queried with Parking Enforcement Officer why they had not ticketed 2 vehicles parked in the CPZ and was told “they have Event Day Permits” I informed him that this did not entitle them to park in a CPZ/Resident Bay and he told me that was not what he had been told and would therefore not issue a ticket.  I can also confirm that these vehicles belong to residents of the “Car Free” flats of Wembley Place.

 

Recently at the Taylor Swift concerts 3 vehicles parked in the CPZ on the street, all were Chauffeurs/Uber Drivers who sat in their vehicles, engine ticking over for over an hour waiting to collect their customers. We never saw anyone from Enforcement and not one was ticketed or told to move.

 

Event Day Permits Abuse of ….

I suggest Brent Council Parking Service looked at websites such as:-

Just Park, Park on my Drive, Your Parking Space,  Parkopedia.

 

As they are valid for 3 years for £15.00! not yearly you missed a valuable revenue stream there!

 

I know of several people who have moved and no longer live in the area, who have retained and renewed their permits, who on Event Days to park in the area when visiting relatives who live in the zone, or who have given their permits to people who would not normally entitled to one, to use over the next few years!

 

The issuing of Event Day Permits to the Residents who live outside the CPZ’s in Tokyngton, Wembley Park, Wembley Hill, and Wembley Central has allowed anyone with a Driveway some with spaces of up to 3 cars, the ability to exacerbate the problem to epic proportions as many now put the permit in their cars park them on the road and rent out their driveway.  Some even park extra vehicles on the actual dropped kerb and block the footpath on to their drive.  In Tokyngton this clearly demonstrates that blocking the road at the Arches/Harrow Road has no effect whatsoever, as most vehicles enter from St Michaels Avenue.  This renders the road closure a complete waste of time and does nothing to alleviate the congestion at the end of an event.

 

I suggest for clarification and entertainment someone from the relevant Parking department put in the dates of the upcoming concerts for Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, see how many are on offer and how many have actually sold out!  The sheer volume of adverts, all outside the CPZs to discover how widespread this is, even Asda Wembley Park advertise on Just Park you can reserve a space for £24 for up to 11 hours.

 

Blocking vehicles from entering the Wembley Stadium area i.e at Ecclestone Place, Triangle/Wembley Hill Road whilst the Traffic Marshalls employed by Wembley are doing a fantastic job of reducing the issues for residents parking and accessing their homes, this has caused an even bigger problem which no one has addressed not Parking Enforcement or the Police, which is the……….

 

Designated Pick Up Points, or rigorous enforcement of…..

 

Allowing Chauffeurs, Black Taxi’s and Ubers waiting to collect their customers from parking on both sides of the street on double yellow lines between Ecclestone Place and the Triangle where the road is blocked, along Harrow Road and Wembley High Road.  Some Ubers and Black Taxi’s were witnessed “Touting”  for business.

 

This was the case on all 3 dates of previous Taylor Swift Concerts.  The 18 bus could not pick up at the bus stop, Ambulances were stuck in gridlock and nobody was going anywhere as 2 cars could barely pass on the road.  Sainsbury’s have their delivery at 10.30 pm every night and park in the Bus Lane, which normally is not an issue but on Event day added to the problem. 

 

 

I am able to supply video should anyone from Parking Enforcement wish to view the mayhem this caused and was still causing problems up until 11.30pm over an hour and fifteen minutes after the concert finished.  I will state this is not typical concert behaviour as certain concerts do not attract the fans that use these options, i.e Green Day, and AC/DC.  I have no doubt that the up and coming Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, and Boxing Events will have a same scenario unless serious thought is given as to how to prevent this.

 

I look forward to receiving a response on my comments.

 

Regards

Wembley Central Resident

August Disruption ahead in Wembley: High Road overnight works start on July 29th until August 16th and Bakerloo/Overground closed August 3rd to 8th.

 It has taken a bit of nagging to get Brent Council to issue details of works on Wembley High Road but details were published on their website yesterday:

Wembley High Road is being upgraded and different section will be closed at night during the following times whilst we make improvements to the road.

Works across Wembley High Road are expected from Monday, 29 July to Thursday, 15 August 2024.

The works will be completed in three separate phases:

Phase 1

High Road - Ealing Road to Park Lane – Works will begin at 8pm on Monday, 29 July and will be complete by 5am on Tuesday, 6 August. This will take place at night only (6 Nights). Access to properties in this area will be strictly limited and there will be a signed diversion in place for the duration of the works. Ealing Road, Lancelot Road, St Johns Road and London Road will also be closed at the junction with High Road whilst works are in progress.

Phase 2

High Road - Park Lane to Cecil Avenue – Works will commence at 8pm on Tuesday, 6 August and will be complete by 5am on Monday, 12 August. This will take place at night only (5 Nights). Access to properties in this area will be strictly limited and there will be a signed diversion in place for the duration of the works. Park Lane and Cecil Avenue will be closed at the junction of High Road whilst the works are in progress.

Phase 3

Park Lane – High Road to opposite 1 Park Court – Works will commence at 8pm on Monday, 12 August and will be complete by 5am on Thursday, 15 August. This will take place at night only (3 Nights). Access to properties in this area will be strictly limited and there will be a signed diversion in place for the duration of the works. Elm Road and Dukes way will be closed at the junction of Park Lane whilst the works are in progress. Please note – Taylor Swift returns to Wembley Stadium on Thursday, 15 August so the works will not continue past 5am on Thursday, 15 August so there will be no clash with the Stadium event.

Advanced warning signs have been deployed at key locations.

 

At the same time TfL have issued details of the closure of the Overground and Bakerloobetween Saturday 3rd August and Thursday 8th August.

Closure details

Between Saturday 3 and Thursday 8 August, these sections of line will be closed:

• London Overground: Euston to Watford Junction
• Tube - Bakerloo line: Queen's Park-Harrow & Wealdstone

London Overground stations

During the closure, there will be no London Overground service at these stations: Euston, South Hampstead, Kilburn High Road, Queen's Park, Kensal Green, Harlesden, Stonebridge Park, Wembley Central, North Wembley, South Kenton, Kenton, Harrow & Wealdstone, Headstone Lane, Hatch End, Carpenders Park, Bushey, Watford High Street and Watford Junction

Tube stations

During the closure, there will be no Bakerloo line service at these stations: Kensal Green, Willesden Junction, Harlesden, Stonebridge Park, Wembley Central, North Wembley, South Kenton, Kenton, and Harrow & Wealdstone

Travel advice

• Plan ahead
• Check your travel
• Use our travel tools
• Use buses to reach your destination or connect with alternative rail routes.

Alternative stations

There are connections to alternative Tube and rail lines. Stations with step-free access are indicated.

• Central line - North Acton station
• Metropolitan line: Wembley Park (step-free), Preston Road, Northwick Park and Harrow-on-the Hill (step-free)
• Jubilee line - Wembley Park (step-free) and stations towards central London
• London Overground - Willesden Junction (step-free)
• London Northwestern Railway (West Midlands Trains) - Watford Junction, Bushey, and Harrow & Wealdstone

Bus connections

Additional temporary bus routes 718, 719, and 720 will be available during the closure period:

• Route 718 will run between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone via Kensal Green, Willesden Junction, Harlesden Town Centre, Stonebridge Park, Wembley Central, North Wembley, Preston Road, Kenton (from first to last train times) 
• Route 719 will run between Queen's Park and Wembley Park (for the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines), via Kensal Green, Willesden Junction, Harlesden Town Centre, Stonebridge Park, Wembley Central (weekdays only, 07:30 to 20:30) 
• Route 720 will run between Watford Junction and Harrow-on-the-Hill (for the Metropolitan line and Chiltern Railways), via Harrow & Wealdstone, Headstone Lane, Hatch End, Carpenders Park, Bushey, Watford High Street (from first to last train times)

All bus services offer step-free access.

Standard TfL bus fares apply. Always touch in using Oyster or contactless, or show a valid ticket when boarding the bus.

 

Comment received after publication:

 If Wembley High Road and main roads off it (Ealing Road, Park Lane etc) are closed from 8pm each evening to allow the resurfacing work to take place then none of the usual bus routes (297, 83, 483, 79, 204, 182, 224, 223, 92) will be able to travel through Wembley High Road and Ealing Road.

So no trains to Wembley Central and no local buses either - Wembley Central and Alperton Residents will be badly affected by this - particularly those travelling to work really early, those working late, the elderly, and those who struggle to walk 😡

Let's hope the Piccadilly Line will be managed properly so that it runs efficiently during this time.

Regulator finds 'serious failings' in Octavia Housing's health and safety responsibilities. The Housing Association has over 1,200 outstanding fire remediation actions, and mitigation failings

The fire at Petworth Court (Credit: London Fire Brigade)
 

Octavia Housing hit national headlines in January 2024 when Petworth Court, Elm Road, Wembley Central. It emerged that Barry Gardiner, MP, had repeatedly raised concersn about the block with Octavia with little response. The Fire Brigades Union warned of 'criminal complacency' on the part of the then government and some building firms regarding cladding.

Now the Regulator of Social Housing has issued a Regulator Judgement on Octavia Housing:

The Safety and Quality Standard requires landlords to have an accurate, up to date and evidenced understanding of the condition of their homes that reliably informs their provision of good quality, well maintained and safe homes for tenants. It also requires landlords to identify and meet all legal requirements that relate to the health and safety of tenants in their homes and communal areas, and that all required actions arising from legally required health and safety assessments are carried out within appropriate timescales.

Following a serious fire at one of its properties in January 2024 and wider review of its landlord health and safety compliance, Octavia made a self-referral to us in respect of fire, electrical and gas safety. Having sought further information including assurances on other areas of building safety, we have concluded that there are serious failings in the oversight, management, and delivery in several areas of Octavia’s landlord health and safety responsibilities.

London Fire Brigade has issued Notifications of Fire Safety Deficiencies in respect of 13 of Octavia’s buildings since May 2023. Octavia currently has over 1,200 overdue fire safety remedial actions categorised as either high or medium priority and has failed to take sufficient steps to mitigate the potential risks to tenants identified.

Octavia was unable to provide sufficient assurance that it meets other landlord health and safety requirements. Octavia has failed to hold complete and accurate records to confirm where health and safety inspections are required, whether they had been carried out within legally required or recommended timescales, and whether smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed as legally required.

Octavia has been proactive in engaging external support, increasing staff resource, and creating improvement plans to increase its oversight of its health and safety compliance. It is currently undertaking investigations to identify and address gaps in its records, develop an effective programme of health and safety assessments and confirm the full extent of remedial actions required to meet all legal requirements.

Octavia has reported that it recognises that it can deliver its purpose more effectively by joining another landlord and following the September 2023 Regulatory Judgement has been progressing the work needed to achieve this. Ahead of this being delivered Octavia has been able to draw on significant support from its preferred partner landlord to deliver the improvements required.

Our engagement with Octavia will continue to be intensive. We will seek evidence that gives us assurance that Octavia is making sufficient progress on its investigations and delivery of its improvement programme so that it is meeting its health and safety legal requirements and delivering the outcomes of our standards. We are not proposing to use our enforcement powers at this stage but will keep this under review as Octavia seeks to resolve these issues. Our priority will be that risks to tenants are adequately managed and mitigated.

 The housing provider that Octavia was engaged in partnership talks with is Abri that itself has been subjected to a finding of severe maladminstration in two cases by the Housing Ombudsman.  This caused Michael Gove, the then Secretary of State to write in December 2023:

In one case, you left one of your residents with faulty windows for almost five years, with the resident waiting up to a year to hear from you on multiple occasions. They were left with a cold property in the winter and issues with insects during the summer. I am disappointed to learn that these issues became so severe that she was forced to leave the property.

In the second case, you failed to deal with a complaint about damp and mould from a vulnerable resident with a heart condition and who is registered blind. You carried out the same ineffective repairs year after year, and failed to address the root causes, leaving your vulnerable resident living in poor conditions for far too long.

When your residents report an issue, and especially when vulnerable people are involved, it must be acted upon swiftly and effectively. The tragic death of Awaab Ishak has shown that we must not be complacent about issues that risk residents’ health.

I understand you have addressed all the orders and recommendations made by the Ombudsman, including overhauling your approach, processes and policies regarding damp and mould. I expect the changes to make a significant difference to the service you deliver to your residents.