Victims of St Raphael's house fire named

Condolences to everyone affected affected by the terrible St Raphael's fire. The Metropolitan Police have issued the following update:

The four people who died following a house fire in Brent have been named.

Met officers were called to assist the London Fire Brigade at the fire in Tillett Close, Stonebridge at 01:22hrs on Saturday, 24 May.

Sadly, a woman and her three children died at the scene.

Detectives have named them as Nusrat Usman, 43, Maryam Mikaiel, 15, Musa Usman, 8, and Raees Usman, 4.

A woman in her 70s was taken to hospital but has since been released. A 13-year-old girl remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Superintendent Steve Allen, from the Met's local policing team in north-west London, said:

Our thoughts go out to all those impacted by what has happened.

Specialist officers are continuing to support the wider family who have asked for privacy at this deeply upsetting time.

Local officers are working closely with officers from the Specialist Crime Command on what continues to be a very complex investigation.

I’d like to thank the members of public, our first responding officers and colleagues from other emergency services for their efforts during this highly pressurised and distressing incident.

Equally, we appreciate this has affected the wider community who have been extremely supportive. You will see extra officers in the area during the coming days and some of the cordons will remain in place.

We are grateful for your patience and understanding. If you have any concerns then please speak to them.”

A 41-year-old man was arrested at the scene in connection with the incident. He has since been bailed and was subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act.

Anyone with information that could assist our investigation is asked to call 101 giving the reference 509/24MAY.

Information can also be shared anonymously, with the independent charity Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111.

 

St. Raphael's Estate Mourns: A Community Shattered by Unimaginable Loss

 The St Raphael's community in happier times celebrating the Queen's Jubilee

 

Guest post by Asif Zamir, St Raphs Legacy Project, St Raphael's Voice

The air on St. Raphael's Estate today hangs heavy with an unbearable sorrow. News travels fast in a close-knit community, but some news hits harder than others. Yesterday's devastating fire in St Raphs Estate which sits on the edge of the Stonebridge Ward close to Wembley, claimed the lives of a mother and her three beloved children, and has sent deep shockwaves of grief directly through the heart of St. Raphs.

"There are no words to ease such profound pain, but please know the community mourns with you", echoed the sentiments felt by countless residents. This isn't just a distant tragedy; it's a loss that strikes at the very core of who we are. Today, the St. Raphael's community lost a sister and three innocent children. The raw emotion, the disbelief, the sheer agony of it all is palpable on every street corner and every doorstep.

Residents are struggling to come to terms with the unthinkable. Conversations are hushed, faces are drawn, and tears flow freely. Many recall the happy memories of seeing the family around the estate, at the mosque and community centre their presence a familiar and cherished part of daily life. Now, that presence is gone, leaving an unfillable void. The laughter of children, the everyday greetings, the shared moments – all tragically cut short.

And the devastation doesn't end there. Our hearts also go out to the next-door neighbours, a family who also lost their home in this horrific blaze. Beyond the profound grief for those who perished, there is the added burden of displacement, of seeing one's sanctuary reduced to ashes. The emotional toll of such a loss, coupled with the immediate uncertainty of where to go and how to rebuild, is immense. The St. Raphael's community extends its deepest sympathy and unwavering support to all those now facing the daunting task of finding new shelter and piecing their lives back together.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family, whose world has been irrevocably shattered.

As a community, we stand together in this moment of profound sorrow. While we can't mend broken hearts, we can offer unwavering support, a listening ear, and a collective embrace. The devastation is immense, but the strength of the St. Raphael's community, in its shared grief and unwavering compassion, will undoubtedly shine through as we navigate these dark days together.

BREAKING: Man arrested after St Raphael's fire in which a woman and three children died

From Metropolitan Police

An investigation is under way following the deaths of four people in a house fire in Brent.

Met officers were called to assist the London Fire Brigade at the fire in Tillett Close, Stonebridge, at 01:22hrs on Saturday, 24 May.

Sadly, four people, a 43-year-old woman, and three children – a 15-year-old girl, an eight-year-old boy, and a four-year-old boy – died at the scene.

Their next-of-kin have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

A further two people – a woman in her 70s and a teenage girl – were taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service. We await an update on their conditions.

A 41-year-old man was arrested at the scene in connection with the incident and remains in custody.

Superintendent Steve Allen, from the Met's local policing team in north-west London, said:

This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are with everyone involved.

Officers arrested a man at the scene and we continue to work alongside investigators from the London Fire Brigade to establish the cause of the fire. Emergency services will remain in Tillett Close throughout the day as these enquiries take place.

Anyone with information that could assist our investigation is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 509/24May.

Information can also be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111.

Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, responding to the tragic news said:

Last night London Fire Brigade responded to a house fire on Tillett Close in Stonebridge, which tragically claimed the lives of four people.

Our deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this horrific incident.

The council has set up a rest centre nearby and a dedicated team has been looking after families who needed to be evacuated. We will continue to support those affected.

We are working closely with the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police as they conduct their investigations into the cause of the fire, and will continue to offer them our full support and assistance.

London Fire Brigade said:

 Sadly, four people have died following a fire on Tillett Close, Stonebridge. 
 
Eight fire engines and around 70 firefighters were deployed to the scene. Two terraced houses, each consisting of three floors, were severely damaged by the fire. Four people left the properties before the Brigade arrived. All were assessed on scene by the London Ambulance Service, and two were taken to hospital for further treatment. 
 
 A woman and a child were rescued from the second floor of one property by crews wearing breathing apparatus and received immediate emergency care. Both were sadly declared deceased at the scene by a Helicopter Emergency Services (HEMS) team. Two more children were discovered inside the property as crews carried out firefighting operations and were declared deceased at the scene. 
 
The Brigade received the first of over 20 calls reporting the fire at 0113, and crews from Wembley, Park Royal, Willesden and surrounding fire stations were mobilised to the scene. Crews were able to bring the fire under control by 0324. 
 
The cause of the fire is under investigation by officers from the Brigade’s Fire Investigation Unit and the Metropolitan Police Service. 
 
Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster said

This is an extremely tragic incident, and the thoughts of everyone across the Brigade are with those impacted by this incident.  
 

Upon arrival, firefighters were met with a well-developed fire, involving two adjoining properties. Crews immediately set to work carrying out firefighting operations in order to bring the incident under control.  
 

Sadly, a woman and three children have died as a result of this fire. Crews wearing breathing apparatus were able to rescue the woman and one of the children from the second floor, but they were later declared deceased at the scene. A further two children were discovered to have died in the fire, as crews carried out a search of the properties involved. 
 

Our specialist Fire Investigation Unit are working closely with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Service to now determine the cause of this fire.
 

We are working closely with our partners to support the community at this very sad time.
 

Road closures etc for the 3 Bank Holiday matches at Wembley Stadium

 

1 Morland Gardens – Councillor Benea’s reply to my open letter – why are the Council dithering over the heritage Victorian villa?

 Guest post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity

 

The Italianate-style belvedere tower of “Altamira”, beyond the community garden.
(Photo by Margaret Pratt, May 2023)

 

Earlier this month, Martin published an open letter, “Brent’s Morland Gardens development, and the future of the heritage Victorian villa”, which I had sent to two key Cabinet members, ahead of a decision which is due to be made on 16 June. On 21 May, I received this reply from Councillor Teo Benea, the Lead Member for Regeneration:

 

‘Dear Mr Grant,

 

Thank you for your open letter to myself and Cllr Donnelly-Jackson dated 8 May 2025.

 

I have spoken to officers regarding 1 Morland Gardens and a decision on the site use options will be proposed for Cabinet’s consideration at the meeting on Monday 16 June 2025. No decision has been made on retaining the locally listed Altamira building and Cabinet will only be asked to consider the proposed site use(s) for Morland Gardens as part of developing a complementary vision for the Hillside Corridor.

 

I will ensure that officers consider your letter and content as part of ongoing work to progress the Cabinet approved site use option.

 

Thank you.

Kind regards,

Teo Benea
Cllr for Sudbury ward
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property’

 

It was in January 2020 that Brent’s Cabinet approved a recommendation for the redevelopment of their 1 Morland Gardens site, to provide updated facilities for the Brent Start college (which had been there since 1995) and Council homes. Planning Committee approved the plans (by five votes to two) later that year, including the demolition of the locally-listed Victorian villa at the heart of the college. But the scheme was so flawed, and so many mistakes were made in trying to implement it, that the planning consent expired at the end of October 2023, without construction having begun.

 

I was told in a letter from Brent’s Director of Property and Assets in November 2023, under the heading “An urgent rethink on original proposals”, that:

 

‘We are always reviewing and updating schemes across the board as part of our usual governance arrangements, and we are doing that with even more rigour given the underlying economic conditions. Following the expiration of the planning permission, the Council is reviewing its options for the Morland Gardens site, including the Altamira building.’

 

Despite the supposed urgency, nothing further was heard, until I sent an open letter to Brent’s Chief Executive at the end of March 2024, which I shared in a post - Is Brent Council “busy doing nothing”? In response, Brent’s Head of Capital Delivery said: ‘the Council is continuing to review its options and proposals for the Morland Gardens site. As soon as the Council has completed the review, it will place the item for decision onto the Council’s Forward Plan and seek Cabinet’s consideration of the same.’

 

This is a Council-owned site, which has been vacant since early 2022 (apart from six months when it was occupied by Live-in Guardians). At least they were providing some security for the building, but ever since they left, nearly two and a half years ago, Brent Council has been paying a security firm to guard the empty building. 

 

Notice on the security fence around 1 Morland Gardens. (Photo by Margaret Pratt, May 2023)

 

 

As part of their long-running review, Brent have been given plenty of evidence of the high historic and architectural value of the Victorian villa, and how retaining this locally-listed heritage asset as part of their redevelopment plans is both a practical proposition and in line with the Council’s adopted planning policy and historic environment strategy. How can Officers not yet recommend to Cabinet that this landmark building, part of the original estate that gave Stonebridge Park its name 150 years ago, should be retained? I expressed that view in my “open email” reply to the Lead Member for Regeneration:

 

‘Dear Councillor Benea,

 

Thank you for your email, and for updating me on what will be put to Cabinet on 16 June in respect of Morland Gardens.

 

I have to say that I am surprised that 'Cabinet will only be asked to consider the proposed site use(s) for Morland Gardens.'

 

Council Officers started to consider proposals for the future of the former Brent Start college site at 1 Morland Gardens in November 2023. I understood then that they expected to put their recommendations to Cabinet by around this time in 2024.

 

By November 2024, they had already decided to recommend that the site should be used for new Council homes and community facilities, and they put this out for consultation then, as part of the Bridge Park and Hillside Corridor exercise:

 

 

By March this year, as a result of that consultation, the proposal had been refined to be 'new Council homes and youth facilities'. I find it hard to believe that all Brent's Officers can submit to Cabinet, another three months further on, and more than eighteen months after they started their review, is a recommendation to confirm that the proposed site use should be new Council homes and youth facilities!

 

Given all of the information and views put forward since November 2023, including as part of the December 2024 consultation exercise, where there was clear support from community members for the heritage Victorian villa at 1 Morland Gardens to be retained, I would hope that Council Officers could also recommend that the future redevelopment plans for this Council-owned site should include retaining the locally-listed building.

 

A decision on such a recommendation, by Cabinet on 16 June, would give Officers clearer guidance to progress their Hillside Corridor plans as they move forward. I hope that you, as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, will ask Officers to include that in their Report. Thank you.

 

I am copying this email to Kim Wright, Chief Executive, who could also ask the relevant Officers to do that, in order to help avoid further unnecessary delay over this site. Best wishes,

 

Philip Grant.’

 

If you agree that the Victorian villa, “Altamira”, should be retained, there is still time (until 26 May 2025) to sign the Willesden Local History Society petition calling on Brent Council and its Cabinet to do that. You can add your signature, if you have not already done that, HERE. Thank you!

Philip Grant.

Planning Inspectorate to hear Gaudiya Mission's appeal against Brent Council's refusal of Cranhurt Road development

 

 27 Cranhurst Road

The Gaudiya Mission has submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate following Brent Council's refusal of planning permission for significant changes to its premises at 27 Cranhurst Road, Willesden Green.

Representations must be received by June 24th 2025.

Brent Council outline the process below:

The appeal relates to an application at 27 Cranhurst Road, London, NW2 4LJ

The application proposes, Partial demolition of existing kitchen and temple room and proposed basement extension with rear lightwell and railing, single-storey side-to-rear extension, rear dormer extension, alteration to side fenestration, single-storey outbuilding in rear garden and installation of 2x front rooflights, refuse storage to front and cycle storage to rear to mixed use place of worship and dwelling

 

GAUDIYA MISSION has recently made an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. The appeal is against the Council's decision to refuse the application. The Council's reasons for refusal are:

 

1. The accommodation proposed at loft floor level does not align with the space standards as outlined under policy D6 of the London Plan (2021) and consequently would not provide an adequate standard of accommodation and internal amenity for future occupants. As a result, the proposal is therefore contrary to policy DMP1 of Brent's Local Plan (2019-41) and policy D6 of the London Plan (2021).

 

2. The proposal by not offering sufficient natural daylight to the basement of the premises is deemed to offer a poor level of internal amenity for future occupiers, contrary to policies DMP1 & BD1 of the Brent Local Plan (2019-2041) and the guidance contained within Basement Supplementary Planning Document (2017).

 

3. The proposal by reason of the insufficient provision of information regarding soft landscaping and planting fails to demonstrate how that the scheme will achieve a satisfactory urban greening factor on the site and provide sustainable urban drainage. The proposal would therefore be contrary to policy policies BD1, BGI1 & BGI2 of Brent's Local Plan (2019-2041) and policies G5 and G6 of the London Plan (2021).

.

The Planning Inspectorate will now consider this proposal under the appeal process of written representations. The Planning Inspector appointed to determine the appeal will consider any written comments received. Oral comments, audio and videotapes will not be acceptable.

 

If you wish to make comments, or modify/withdraw your previous representation, you can do so online at https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ using planning appeal reference no APP/T5150/W/25/3365907

 

If you do not have access to the internet, you can send your comments to:

 

The Planning Inspectorate

Temple Quay House

2 The Square

Bristol

BS1 6PN

 

Please ensure that you quote the planning appeal reference no APP/T5150/W/25/3365907

 

All representations must be received by 24/06/2025. Any representations submitted after the deadline will not usually be considered and will be returned. The Planning Inspectorate does not acknowledge representations. All representations must quote the appeal reference.

 

Please note that any representations you submit to the Planning Inspectorate will be copied to the appellant and this local planning authority and will be considered by the Inspector when determining the appeal.

 

The appeal documents are available at https://pa.brent.gov.uk. Please search by application number.

 

You can get a copy of one of the Planning Inspectorate’s “Guide to taking part in planning appeals” booklet free of charge from GOV.UK at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/taking-part-in-a-planning-listed-building-or-enforcement-appeal - or from us.

 

When made, the decision will be published online at https: acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk

 

The full appeal document is on the Brent Planning portal LINK the conclusion is below:

 

The appeal site is within a sustainable and accessible location and has provided an historic community mission in the form of a Mandir since the mid 1950’s onwards when the property was donated to the Mission from a local patron.

 

As such the Mandir and his service to the community it serves and wider community as an open facility as formed part of Cranhurst Road for decades.

 

The proposed works which include a modest increase in residential space and the modest ground floor extensions with a basement will provide a more user-friendly experience for visitors to meet modern needs with better internal layouts and arrangements.

 

The Mission needs to modernise facilities to serve its existing needs and visitors and this cannot be readily done within the existing building floor area. An alternative would be to relocate the mission to another area but that would upend the historic roots of the Mandir and Mission from its local connection and force users to travel to another location and also with significant costs to move.

 

The proposal seeks to balance the needs of meeting the needs of the Mandir in 2024 rather than when it was first created but through modest extensions and modest costs that would enable it to maintain its historic presence in the existing setting whilst still operating under controlled planning rules that govern opening times, days and fire regulations that govern the occupancy and use of the building.

 

The development will continue to safeguard the amenities of neighbouring properties in terms of their own amenities, daylight and privacy.

 

The site is within walking distance to bus and tube services and does not rely on private car access for visitors to it.

 

The Council appreciates the community value the Mandir has and its established history in the area and should balance the significant community benefits of the proposal and ensuring a viable and user-friendly Mandir is maintained in its current location against any minor harms it has identified.

 

The proposal will accordance with the London Plan 2021, the Brent Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework 2024.

 

The Inspector is requested to allow this appeal and grant planning permission subject to conditions.

'Betrayed' staff mount massive picket at The Village School in Kingsbury

The Village School in Kingsbury this moarning saw one of the biggest Brent picket lines for many a year.

The staff of the school that was academised against their wishes, have recently experienced what academisation means when high-handed management took unilateral action without any consultation - despite the fact that consultation over conditions of service was one of the undertakings made at the time.

 

 

One member of staff remarked about the betrayal of trust and said, 'Jenny warned us about this when we were fighting academisation - and now it has happened.'

The imposed changes will result in pay cuts for staff needing hospital appointments, ante-natal appointments and carer' leave. Attempts to negotiate failed so the NEU called a strike of staff for today and the school was shut to pupils.

If the Trust that runs the school does not shift its position there will be two days of strikes, Wednesday and Thursday, after half-term. 

The mood of the strikers was good natured, positive and very, very determined and the sense of community palpable.

 

East Lane gas works delay: Cadent say that the gas main they are trying to locate is 'not where it was supposed to be'

 

It appears that a farce has been running in East Lane and it wasn't put on by the threatened East Lane Theatre! Instead it was a farce produced by Cadent Gas and not really for the benefit of local people.

Reflecting local concerns Cllr Paul Lorber asked about the lack of progress in the works taking place on East Lane that have result in traffic congestion and much frustration.

Responding to Lorber's member's enquiry a Brent officer said:

With regards to your enquiry regarding the ongoing gas works on East Lane. I have spoken to Cadent Gas regarding these works. They have found that the gas main they are trying to locate is not where it was supposed to be. They have been trying to locate it without much success. 

 

The plan is to now backfill and reinstate East Lane and re-programme the works during the school holidays to reduce the congestion. I have requested that the lights are removed as soon as possible as it is causing congestion and the works are not going to be progressed at this location.

Perhaps gas main diviners or  detectorists may be able to help.