Volunteers in buckets for Brent River Catchment pollution project - hoping to start work tomorrow

 

Some of the volunteer 'samplers' at Imperial College Training Session

Teams of volunteers have been anxiously watching for rain during this dry period - not for the allotment or garden, but to get started on one on the biggest hands-on outdoor citizenship science projects of its kind.

The  Brent River Run-off project is a partnership between  CURB (Clean Up the River Brent), Brent Catchment Partnership (Thames 21) and Imperial College.

The project needs heavy rain to cause 'run-off' from roads and other pollution sources into the River Brent, Mutton Brook, Silk Stream, Wembley Brook, Wealdstone Brook and other tributaries.  Volunteers will be positioned along the waters to dip buckets ino the water to take samples, preferably before, during and after the rains.

These will be transferred into bottles, labelled and taken to local freezers before being collected by Imperial College for analysis in their highly advanced labs.

At present it looks as if the rains may come at dawn tomorrow so look out for volunteers in high viz dangling buckets from bridges and footways as you go off to work or enjoy your breakfast.

Volunteers will be positioned all the way from Edgware to Brentford where the Brent joins the Thames. 

 

UPDATED with statement by Leader of Brent Council. Muslim community upset over desecration of Muslim graves at Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery in Islamophobic attack

 

 

 

Thanks to Khalid on TikTok for sending this video via Twitter 

 

Muslim graves at Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery in Hertfordshire were reported to have been desecrated at the weekend with memorials and plaques damaged including those for children.

 

The cemetery is owned by Brent Council and has a separate Muslim section. As this section was singled there is little doubt that the attack was Islamophobic and should be treated as a hate crime against Muslims.

 

 

 

For the police  Inspector Will Rogers-Overy said:

 

Enquiries are ongoing to further establish the circumstances, and extra patrols have been deployed in the area to reassure the community. Senior officers are working closely with local community leaders, to identify those family members who will be most affected. In the coming days we will engage further with the Muslim community who will have been particularly impacted by this horrendous crime.

 

If anyone has information or witnessed the criminal damage take place, please contact police.

 

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said:

 

Our thoughts are with the families of those whose graves were desecrated, I cannot imagine how they must be feeling at this moment.

 

This is a very serious incident, and we continue to work closely with Hertfordshire Police to inform family members and bring the perpetrators to justice. I encourage anyone who thinks they have information that will help the investigation to call the Police on 101.

 

It looks as though Muslim graves have been targeted, in what appears to be an Islamophobic hate crime. There is absolutely no place for hate or discrimination of any kind anywhere, but particularly in London – a city where everyone is welcome and our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

 

We will reinstate the damaged name plaques and return Carpenders Park Lawn cemetery to a peaceful, quiet place of remembrance as quickly as possible, once the Police have finished their investigation.

Further information from Brent Council:

  • Up to 100 graves were desecrated, including the graves of children and babies. We understand this happened on Saturday.
• Brent Council has been working with the police over the weekend to make sure everyone who needs to be is contacted, and that work will continue today.
• Hertfordshire Police are treating this as a hate crime.
• Carpenders Park Lawn cemetery is located in Watford but owned by Brent Council.
• Given this horrific incident, Brent Council will now be working closely with the Police to put in place any extra security measures needed to protect the area.

 

A relative affected writes;

 

After hearing the news of graves being desecrated at Carpenders Park cemetery, it was the most gut wrenching feeling. My husband is recently buried in this cemetery and the anxiety and feeling of nausea till we reached the cemetery I can’t begin to describe how my family and I felt. Thankfully my husband’s grave was unaffected but to see the destruction of children’s graves was callous and pure evil. How are these people allowed to get away with this? It’s incomprehensible. My husband is buried there I was too upset to write this till I saw from my own eyes.

 

In a statement released this afternoon Brent Green Party said:

 

Carpenders Park Law Cemetery Desecration of Muslims Graves. 

 

Brent Green Party express our  solidarity with the Muslim community  and call for a full investigation on the basis that is an Islamophobic hate crime totally alien to Brent's values as an inclusive community.

 

The Lawn Cemetery is a general burial place with different sections and non-Muslims have also been affected by the news and have expressed sympathy.  This is one comment in reaction to  this article beig posted on Next Door.

 

This is terrible. Carpenders Park Cemetery is a peaceful resting place for our loved ones of different faiths. I hope they catch the people that did this. Unfortunately it does not have cctv. Both my parents and family friends are buried there. It has a calming feel to it. I have been visiting for over 30 years and I have never heard of this happening before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All routes Wembley High Road and Wembley Triangle to re-open Friday April 19th as upgrade completed ahead of schedule

 From Brent Council

Wembley Triangle – 1 month ahead of schedule

We are pleased to inform you that the works are progressing really well and we should be opening all routes on Friday, 18 April 2025.

Please find below summary timeline for the remaining works:

• Saturday, 12 April. Wembley High Road will open on temporary road surface from 5am. Access to Wembley High Road from Wembley Hill Road and Ecclestone Place will remain closed.
• Monday, 14 April. Wembley High Road will be closed for road resurfacing from 8pm to 5am. Access to Wembley High Road from Wembley Hill Road and Ecclestone Place will remain closed.
• Friday, 18 April. All routes will be open as usual as our upgrades will be complete.

Signals installed and working at Bridge Road/North End Road junction but there's a small problem

 Bridge Road/North End Road Junction when it opened in June 2021

 

When the junction oof North End Road and North End Road was finally opened in June 2021 it is was immediately obvious that traffic signals were needed for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Wembley Matters, Brent Cyclists and others pointed out the dangers.

 

 The new layout

It has taken nearly four years for signals to be installed. A reader pointed out a problem, with the installation so I went to look for myself this morning. I saw someone wanting to cross North End Road towards Olympic Way looking for a button to press.

The control box is actually fitted away from the edge of North End Road on a post, and is partially oriented towards Bridge Road and Wembley Park  station.  It is no wonder that he could not find a button and that the reader had told me there was not one.

Even worse there were people trying to dash across Bridge Road there, in both directions, despite the railings on the station side. The new pedestrian crossing at Bridge Road is on the other of the yellow box.

A minor adjustment is needed that should not take 4 years to complete.

 

 

Neasden Shopping Centre Bingo Hall application to be heard next week - opposed by Dawn Butler MP and councillors on behalf of residents

 Tuesday's Licensing Sub-Committee will hear an application from Merkul Slots to open a Bingo Hall on the former premises of Santander in the Neasden Shopping Centre,

The application is the first since Brent Council launched its campaign for the government to change the law which they claim does not give local authorities enough power to turn down such socially harmful applications.

This application has attracted submissions from Dawn Butler MP fore Brent East, Cllr Liz Dixon and another elected representative who is not named.

Dawn Butler MP:

Dear License Committee, 

 

I am writing to formally respond to the Merkur Slots Application at 263–265 Neasden Lane application number 33757 for a Bingo Club Premises Licence/Gambling Premises Licence New Application.

 

My constituency of Brent East has been disproportionately impacted by problem gambling with betting shops and adult gaming centres planted amidst our most vulnerable and deprived communities, impacting those who can least afford it. According to Brent Council’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), the borough’s problem gambling rate is 6.2%, which is over double the national average. Additionally, gambling-related harm costs the borough an estimated £14.3 million annually. Anti-social behaviour linked to loitering outside gambling shops is extremely problematic and I see this in casework I receive year-round.

 

The liberalisation of gambling legislation as introduced in the Gambling Act 2005 has been a serious failure for communities and this application just highlights the serious problems and I implore the Planning Inspectorate to take serious action and refuse the application. There is already a proliferation of gambling shops and adult gaming centres in my constituency, with three betting shops already within 100 metres of the proposed site. We know already that they have a propensity to cluster in poorer communities, which are more susceptible to gambling harm due to the hope that a big win will help them out of their situation.

 

It is deeply concerning that further details regarding the building have not been supplied. This is a strong community, and it is being blighted by these shops, whose owners hold the area in complete contempt and disregard. The fact that the application contains few details does not surprise me. I wrote to 7,000 households in Brent, to ask them for their own experiences of gambling and the betting shops in Brent.

 

This was going to form a response to the Government’s Gambling Review, the response to my call for evidence has been stark:

 

 • 97.5% were opposed to betting shops

• 80% questioned why more shops were being given permission

• 75% called for the number of stores to be limited

• 62.5% detailed experiences of anti-social behaviour in the locale of these shops.

 

I have heard from families who’ve faced financial ruin because of gambling  and from so many people for whom their daily lives are blighted by the associated anti-social behaviour, in particular street drinking and drugs, which circulate in close proximity to these gambling establishments.

 

To conclude, I strongly urge the Licensing Authority to reject this application. The people of Neasden deserve a vibrant, diverse high street that supports the well-being of all residents, not another exploitative gambling venue that deepens existing harms.

  

Anonymous representative:

 

Dear Sir / Madam,

 

This constitutes a formal objection to the proposed Merkur Slots application at 263- 265 Neasden Lane. As an elected representative and a voice for deeply concerned residents, I vehemently oppose this application due to its detrimental impact on the community and the area. City Hall has provided significant funding to Neasden and allowing this application to proceed would work completely against the efforts that all partners are making to improve the Town Centre and the area.

 

A Plague of Gambling Establishments:

 

Brent already suffers from an oversaturation of gambling venues. With 81 licensed gambling establishments, our borough boasts a higher concentration than  supermarkets, banks, or even schools – a truly alarming statistic. This over- proliferation, particularly in areas like Neasden, directly contradicts the principles ofm nresponsible community planning.

 

Fuelling Addiction and Social Harm:

 

The Brent Council Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) paints a grim picture:

 

 Epidemic of Problem Gambling: 6.2% of Brent residents grapple with problem gambling, a staggering figure twice the national average.

 Economic Devastation: Gambling-related harm costs Brent a staggering £14.3 million annually.

 Predatory Targeting: Operators like Merkur Slots exploit vulnerable communities, with Neasden, Harlesden, and Willesden bearing the brunt of this exploitation.

 The Deadliness of FOBTs: Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) and online slots, despite being utilized by a mere 3% of the population, are the primary drivers of problem gambling. The addiction rate of FOBTs surpasses even heroin and tobacco, highlighting their devastating impact.

 

These stark realities underscore the urgent need to curb the proliferation of gambling establishments, especially in areas like Neasden Lane, to safeguard our communitynfrom the devastating consequences of gambling addiction.

 

Eroding the Vitality of Neasden Lane:

 

The proposed Merkur Slots development poses a grave threat to the vitality and viability of Neasden Lane as a thriving commercial centre.

 

 Anti-Social Behaviour Hotspots: The existing concentration of betting shops within a mere 100 metres of Neasden Lane already contributes to significant anti-social behavior. Adding another gambling establishment will only exacerbate this problem.

 Undermining Community Development: This application directly undermines the substantial investments made by City Hall to revitalize Neasden Town Centre.

 Deterring Diverse Businesses: The oversaturation of gambling establishments discourages other businesses from establishing themselves, hindering the development of a diverse and vibrant commercial landscape.

 

 Unsightly Development: The proposed design lacks the vibrancy and aesthetic appeal necessary for a thriving town centre. Instead of fostering a welcoming and engaging atmosphere, it will detract from the pedestrian experience.

 

Size, Location, and Nuisance:

 

The scale and location of this proposed development are entirely inappropriate:

 

 Residential Intrusion: The continuous operation of this gambling establishment will inevitably lead to increased noise, disturbance, and anti- social behaviour, severely impacting the quality of life for nearby residents.

 Ignoring Community Concerns: This proposal blatantly disregards the Brent Local Plan's emphasis on protecting residents from the negative impacts of commercial activities.

 

Exacerbating Social Inequalities:

 

This application raises profound concerns about its impact on the most vulnerable members of our community:

 

 Preying on Financial Desperation: Many individuals, particularly during times of economic hardship, turn to gambling as a desperate coping mechanism.

 Targeting Young People and Ethnic Minorities: Young people and ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted by gambling-related harm.

 

This development directly contradicts the principles of creating healthy and inclusive communities. Instead of fostering well-being, it will deepen existing inequalities and exacerbate social challenges.

 

Conclusion:

 

The proposed Merkur Slots development at 263-265 Neasden Lane is an affront to our community. It represents a threat to the health, safety, and well-being of our residents.

 

I urge the Licensing Authority to categorically reject this application and prioritize developments that contribute positively to the economic, social, and cultural fabric of Neasden.

 

 Cllr Liz Dixon:

 

 

 

 

Conflicting views on Just Cravings late-night license application

 

Facebook video The Licensing Sub-committeewill next week consider a late night licensing application for Just Cravings for their premises at 150 Willesden Lane.

The application reads like an advertisement for the desserts:

Just Cravings is a dessert takeaway dedicated to offering a delicious selection of sweet treats to satisfy every craving. Our menu features a variety of handcrafted desserts made with high- quality ingredients, ranging from rich, indulgent chocolate treats to light and refreshing fruit-based delights. Customers can enjoy warm, gooey brownies, creamy cheesecakes, and classic waffles and crepes loaded with toppings, along with a selection of hot and cold beverages. Our establishment is committed to cultural diversity, creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all dessert lovers. The premises are square in size, and we are applying for a license for late-night refreshments only. No alcohol will be served on-site. We look forward to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for our customers to indulge in high-quality desserts at any time of the day or night.

Some local residents have complained of littering, noise, alleged drug use and much else while customers have rallied to support the black-owned business and its staff submitting 34 responses.

RESIDENTS

Dear Licensing Team, I am writing on behalf of local residents regarding the premises license application (No. 34282) for Just Cravings, located at 150 Willesden Lane, NW6 7TH. We wish to formally object to this application for a late-night license due to ongoing disturbances and violations of licensing regulations. For over five months—possibly longer—this establishment has been operating beyond 2:00 AM, despite not having a license for such hours. This raises serious concerns regarding regulatory enforcement. If the premises do not currently have permission to operate late at night, we urge the council to take immediate action to prevent further breaches. We invite you to visit the location any day at 2:00 AM to verify this matter firsthand. Since the shop has been operating beyond permitted hours, residents have experienced significant disruptions, including: Increased waste and littering in the area. Anti- social behavior, including groups gathering on neighboring roads engaging in drug use (including nitrous oxide) and leaving behind debris. Frequent disturbances due to loud altercations and reckless driving in and out of local car parks. Traffic congestion, with customers parking along Willesden Lane, causing obstructions and preventing buses from stopping at designated bus stops, particularly after 9:00 PM. Given the ongoing issues already affecting the community, all local residents strongly object to this application. The situation has already made daily life unbearable, and granting official permission for these extended hours will only worsen the problems. We urge Brent Council to: Enforce the current licensing regulations if the premises are indeed operating unlawfully. Consider residents' concerns when reviewing this application and reject any extension of operating hours. Consult with affected residents from REDACTED before making a decision. We trust that the council will act in the best interests of the community and enforce the necessary regulations. Please confirm receipt of this objection and inform us of any further steps in this matter.

 

CUSTOMERS

  

I am writing to express my strong support for JustCravings’ application to extend its operating hours until 2 AM. This business is a vital social hub, a boost to the local economy, and an example of the success of Black-owned enterprises in our community. JustCravings provides a much-needed venue where people can socialise in a safe and welcoming environment. Extending its hours would allow it to continue fostering community connections while contributing to the local economy. At a time when many businesses are struggling, we should be supporting those that are thriving; not unfairly restricting them. I have reviewed the objections to this application, and the primary concern appears to be littering. While this is, of course, an issue that must be addressed, it is not a reason to deny a business the opportunity to flourish. There are practical solutions to tackle littering, such as increased bin provisions and enforcement of waste disposal rules, which should be explored rather than using it as an excuse to block a business that adds value to the area. Furthermore, I cannot ignore the racist undertones in some of the objections. Claims that JustCravings’ customers are smoking cannabis or consuming codeine are baseless stereotypes, unfairly painting a thriving Black-owned business and its patrons in a negative light. These types of accusations appear to be part of a smear campaign rather than genuine concerns about public safety. If there were any actual evidence of wrongdoing, it should be dealt with through the proper legal channels, rather than being used as an excuse to deny a licence extension. Approving this extension would send a clear message that our community supports entrepreneurship, values diversity, and welcomes economic growth. JustCravings has the potential to put our area on the map, attracting visitors and further investment. It deserves our full backing. I urge you to grant this extension and support fairness, business success, and community spirit.

Brent Travellers stand up for their community at Brent Cabinet following legal notice that would force some to move from Lynton Close site

 

The voice of Brent Travellers came over loud and clear in a presentation at Brent Cabinet yesterday. Elizabeth Corcoran, supported by Nancy Hawker (London Gypsies and Travellers Association), spoke eloquently on behalf of  residents of the Lynton Close Travellers Site.

The full presentation and the response from Cabinet member  Cllr Fleur Donnelly-Jackson can be seen in the video above.

The situation had arisen because of over-crowding at the site and a resulting fire risk. A conflict had arisen over the the introduction of a waking fire watch because of fears of strangers walking around the pitches and a waking watch hub being in the children's play area. Assurances that the fire watchers would be introduced to the residents had not been followed. The issue had not been resolved but the residents did want to ensure fire safety and re-open discussions.

Elizabeth advocated for the equal rights of Travellers as one of Brent's ethnic minority groups and said that their right to maintain their culture would be infringed by their displacement as a result of the compliance order. She spoke of the impact on children who had built up relationhips with teachers in their school. Many had additional or special needs and had waited years for support. The uncertainty was affecting the mental health and wellbeing of extended families. She cited the high suicide rates in Traveller communities. Bricks and mortar were not how Travellers wished to live and made them feel imprisoned.

She concluded:

I kindly urge the council to reconsider this course of action, to engage with our community and to find a better solution that respects our cultural beliefs and ensures our safety without uprooting.

Collaboration and understanding can lead to solutions that honour our heritage while addressing the safety concerns.

We have the elderly, the vulneable and those wih special needs, This is affecting their well-being. All we are asking is; work with us, help us find a safe and fair way for us to remain in our homes.

Let's talk about what can be done with respect and not removal. In conclusion I would ask for fire safety measures to be put in place and land found for a temporary caravan site in the face of this humanitarian emergency.

In response Cllr Fleur Donelly-Jackson said that she had made notes on the presentation and shared some of the concerns expressed. She said residents of Lynton Close were valued members of the Brent community. She said that the 28 day deadline to comply with licensing conditions was not an eviction notice but a request for the pitch holders to resolve the breaches of licence within 28 day.  

She said that the council knew that there are extended families living in their additional mobile homes and that what they were asking of these families was 'incredibly' difficult. However, it was important to stress that they don't have an automatic right to accommodation in Lynton Close in the same way that adult chidren living in over-crowded social homes don't have an automatic right to live in that home either.

The first duty of the council was to ensure residents' safety.

Cllr  Donnelly-Jackson welcomed the representatives' offer on the waking watch and confirmed that the council agreed in principle and officers would now work through the logistics and practicalities of putting the watch back in place.

The offical Cabinet Minute records Brent Council Leader Muhammed Butt's comment:

In bringing the item to close, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) also took the opportunity to assure the residents of Lynton Close of the Council’s willingness to continue working with them to mitigate the issues and safety concerns which had been identified with work also ongoing to find an appropriate alternative site that would work for the community and their requirements.  He also thanked residents for their cooperation in seeking to progress implementation of a Waking Watch scheme to mitigate fire risks on the site. In response to the comments raised regarding equity, diversity and inclusion, Councillor Butt assured those present that the traveller community was not regarded any differently from others in the borough and would be afforded the same rights, recognising the legally protected characteristic that the Council had a duty to consider.  He concluded his remarks by reminding residents of the community meeting which had been scheduled and would provide a further opportunity to hear from and respond to residents and outline the measures to mitigate the safety issues associated with the site whilst supporting the community and ended by once again thanking the representatives for taking the time to attend the meeting and ensure the views of the traveller community at Lynton Close were represented.

Brent Cabinet decides to go ahead with formal consultation on Malorees amalgamation despite overwhelming opposition at informal stage

 

Despite overwhelming rejection of amalgamation at the informal consultation stage, the Brent Cabinet today approved moving ahead to a formal consultation on the merger of Malorees Infant and Junior School. The schools are in Brondesbury Park ward.

 

Patrick Martin, speaking on behalf of NEU members said that in their view an amalgamation would add nothing of benefit to the schools. They already operated as a Federation with staff teaching across the two schools with a single governing body and senior management.

Operating as a 2 form entry primary school as a result of amalgamation would result in a loss of funding of up to a annual £186,000 and this for a school already in deficit. They were being asked to agree a voluntary 5% cut in the hope of refurbishment. This would impact on the educational provision for pupils.

A previous successful bid for a multi use games area (MUGA) had been stopped when plans for a rebuild seemed to be likely.  Rebuild as an option seemed to be in doubt given the economic situation and resulting building delays and increased costs.

Gwen Grahl, lead member for schools, was unable to be physically present and was then unable to  connect online so Muhammed Butt, Council Leader, read out her statement.

 She startd by offering to meet opponents of the amalgamation and said that its advantages included access to the DfE Schools Rebuilding Programme for both the infant and junior school.

Merging the schools would provide financial resilience and a robust case had been made by the Governing Body. She acknowledged the alarm and anxiety of parents and NEU members but said there would be no redundancies or worsening of conditions of service. There was no danger of academisation as had happened at Byron Court. The merged community primary school and foundation junior school would reopen as a maintained primary school: Malorees Primary School.

Shirley Parks, Director of Education, Partnership and Strategy,  took questions in the absence of Gwen Grahl. She said that the funding reduction took account of changes in the national formula and  assumed a new building.

Changes in the local area, including the situation regarding Islamia Primary and the attraction of a new building would  mean the school roll would probably increase [funding is per pupil].  The schools were now in the active DfE rebuilding  programme for consideration between April and December this year.

There had been parental concern that because the two schools were currently separate that a small number of infants were unable to get a place in the junior school. As one school they would be guaranted a place.

The Governing Body was confident that it could manage the funding reduction over a period without impact on staff

Amalgamation would ensure that the new school would help build one community and the school would only have one Ofsted inspection [one for each part of the school at present] relieving stress on staff.

Interestingly, the documentation revealed that there was no parent governor on the Governing Body at present. This is similar to the Byron Court situation where parents were not fully represented on the governing body.

 

The extent of the land for the two schools

Cllr Muhammed Butt concluded by assuring the delegation that there were no plans to build  homes on the Malorees land. The Junior School Foundation would transfer their land to Brent Council. The situation at Kilburn Park, also a Foundation School, was different as the redesignation of the land for non-education purposes was a result of the South Kilburn regeneration.

On the issue that a 200 plus on-line petition against amalgamation had not been included in the documentation, Butt said that this was because it had not come via the usual route. It had been checked and the issues raised had been addressed in the Cabinet report.

There were no questions or comments from Cabinet members before they voted to go ahead with a one month formal consultation. 

If amalgamation goes ahead (likely whatever the outcome of the formal consultation) the combined school would open as Malorees Primary School at the beginning of Summer Term, 2026.