WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
Join us for a Public Meeting following the All Together Alliance demo on the 25th March when 500,000 people marched through London against the Far Right’s racism and prejudice.
Brent Together agreed this momentum must be maintained and are calling a public meeting to help build an anti-racist movement in Brent.
All local organisations. local councillors, community groups, religious bodies and activists welcome. Speakers to be confirmed.
The Granville Rec last summer
12-4pm Saturday 18 April 2026 Community Open Day, Granville Road, NW6 5RA
A South Kilburn community campaign spearheaded by Granville Community Kitchen, Kilburn Housing Co-op and Princess Road Residents Association is fighting to stop the re-development of Granville Rec, a long-established inner-city green space. Managed since 2023 by the Granville Community Kitchen (GCK), the Rec is a living, working community garden supporting local food production through raised vegetable beds and fruit trees, gardening for wellbeing, physical activity, outdoor learning for children and students. It offers everyday social connection in a neighbourhood where open space has already been systematically reduced.
Brent Council plans to build 14 four storey houses on the site as part of a 2500 home redevelopment of the area. It says that the loss of the Rec would be mitigated by alternative green space elsewhere. But its plans for an “Urban Park” consists of three small areas of planting separated by a road and newly planted trees, and does not provide ecological continuity or compensate for the loss of a mature, biodiverse site.
Leslie Barson on behalf of GCK says:
While we recognise the pressing need for genuinely affordable family housing and the commitment to provide 16 social rent townhouses for existing South Kilburn tenants, this cannot justify erasing a thriving, community-led green space which already delivers significant social, health and ecological benefits. Replacing such a space is a major loss that deserves genuine co-design with the people who use it daily. We are confident that, within the next phase of regeneration, the 16 homes can be accommodated on a more appropriate site in South Kilburn, allowing the Granville Rec to be retained and safeguarded for the community.
Residents are also concerned that some of those most affected, including residents of Princess Road , part of which overlooks the Rec, were never consulted about the Council’s plans.
What’s happening on 18 April Open Day
- Updates and discussion about the future of the garden
- Guided garden walk
- Bug hunt and biodiversity exploration
- Sharing of garden-grown vegetables
- Hands-on gardening activities
- Banner making for the Save the Rec campaign
Join us for National Day of Action to Save Green Spaces across the country as well as Saving the Rec!
STOP PRESS: Campaigners will be at the Election Hustings on Thursday 23 April to ask all local candidates to commit to saving the Rec.
6.30 - 8pm Marian Community Centre, Stafford Road, NW6 5RS
Next to Olympic Way and opposite Brook Avenue and Wembley Park Station the College of North West London, Wembley Campus, is familiar to local residents and generation of students. The Wealdstone Brook runs through the grounds and there were trees and shrubs, and a bridge over the brook, that formed a 'secret garden' amongst the rising concrete. On the other side of the road the brook is thickly wooded on both banks - few ever peer over to see the brook rippling under the road.
The pictures below are of the grounds and college as it was until very recently:
United Colleges have sold on this site and that of Dudden Hill for development and a new merged college is being built at the junction of Olympic Way and Fulton Road. Demolition of the former Network Housing office on that site is underway.
Now the College site is surrounded by black hoarding on Bridge Road/ Empire Way. Demolition is also on its way.
From the Bridge Road memorial space vantage point (near where the bus stop used to be) you can see the extent of clearance. Will the Wealdstone Brook be proteected from pollution during the demolition and building phases during the development phase?
There appears to be only one tree remaining. So what will be built on the college site?
A 31 storey and 18 storey building (they've kept the tree)
There is also an approved development in the pipeline of the Stadium Retail Park, McDonalds and the Troubadour Theatre that are next to the above building.
The overall changes are illustrated by the image below (I have superimposed the buildings on the college site) where you can barely see Olympic Way.
The new college building will be on the site of the ex Network Housing HQ (the brown building at the the junction of Fulton Road and Olympic Way) where work has already taken place removing some trees.
The design of the new college building is in contrast to the high rises that will surround it:
Dear Editor,
As you may have seen I have decided to stand as an independent candidate in Wembley Hill.
As residents know I originally stood as a Reform UK candidate. Unfortunately my experience prior to the close of nominations set a clear example. Reform in Brent can not deliver for local residents.
Immediately before the protected period started I became aware of a pattern of behaviour which would have jeopardised the opportunity to represent local residents. Despite contact from a number of figures, this behaviour continued. The leadership of local Reform struggled to respond to this.
Indeed the Brent Reform leadership were ineffective, disorganised, and completely lacked any understanding of what residents want.
You see this in their campaign. The leaflets focus solely on national issues. I tried to ask for local ones, but they were never allowed. But then again, if 52 of the 57 candidates have no intention of trying, then why would they care about local issues?
Simply put, I did not believe it was possible to represent both Reform and my residents. That is why I withdrew the Reform nomination, and will now be standing proudly as an independent to represent the ward I have spent my life in.
Andi Porri
Guest post by local historian Philip Grant
Extract from a letter written on 27 September 1940.
I’m writing to let “Wembley Matters” readers know about some forthcoming events in local libraries, when I will sharing some local and social history which I hope may be of interest. They are all free to attend, although for the first one, at Preston Community Library on Sunday 19 April from 3 to 4pm, we hope that you will make a donation to the volunteer-run library funds if you enjoy the presentation.
Poster for the event at Preston Community Library on Sunday 19 April.
“Wartime letters from Preston Park” tells the story of the Second World War in Wembley, as experienced by two local housewives, and told in letters sent between 1940 and 1945 to their friend, and former neighbour, Muriel Hall. Extracts from those letters will be read by two of the Preston Library ladies, as “Nancie” and “Doris”, and I will be providing the accompanying slide show.
The letters were saved by Muriel, and donated to Wembley History Society by her daughter in 2020, as a valuable first-hand account of civilian life in the Preston Park area during this important period in our history. We are excited to be able to share their words with people living in the area now. The event will be suitable for all ages from around 10 years upwards (Nancie and Doris both had children at Peston Park Primary School), and you can find further details on the Preston Community Library website.
Title slide for “Memoir from Mugsborough”.
2026 is the “National Year of Reading” (although reading books and articles is something we can all enjoy every year!), and my first Brent Libraries “coffee morning” talk of the year comes under that banner. Rather than local Wembley history, it takes me back to my home town of Mugsborough (not its real name), and a novel written in and about it in the first decade of the 20th century. Because of its political content, this illustrated talk had to be scheduled for after the local Council elections (!), and will take place at Kingsbury Library on Tuesday 12 May from 11am to 12noon (but arrive around 10.45am for free tea/coffee and a biscuit).
“Tressell” in 1908
“Memoir from Mugsborough” not only shares stories from the book “The Ragged Trousered Philantropists” (using images from printed pages, the original manuscript and a modern graphic novel version), but also looks at the fascinating story of the author Robert Tressell (not his real surname), and how the book he had put so much effort into writing, despite poor health and hardship, came to be published after his death. You can get more details and reserve your free place on the Brent Libraries Eventbrite website.
Title slide for “Arthur Elvin” talk at Wembley Library.
My second “coffee morning” talk this year, “Arthur Elvin – Mister Wembley”, will be at Wembley Library on Tuesday 9 June from 11am to 12noon. The story of the man who used to be called “Mister Wembley” is not as well-known now as it deserves to be. Without him, Wembley Stadium would not have become famous around the world, and Wembley Arena (originally called the Empire Pool) would not have existed at all.
Arthur Elvin looking down the newly completed Olympic Way in 1948.
His early life, before he first came to Wembley as a young unemployed ex-serviceman, to work in a cigarette kiosk in 1924, is equally fascinating - so come along and discover more about this important local character if you are free on the morning of 9 June. You can find further details and reserve your free seat at this illustrated talk here.
Philip Grant.
As well as the usual Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates both the Green Party and Reform are standing a full list of candidates in every Brent ward for the May7th local election.
In addition there are Independent candidates in Barnhill, Kenton, Preston, Stonebridge and Wembley Hill wards.
There is also a Workers Party candidate in Stonebridge ward whilst former members of the party are standing as Independents.
FULL CANDIDATE LIST BY WARD
Published and promoted by James Paton on behalf of Brent Green Party and its candidates c/o 23 Saltcroft Close, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 9JJ.
Cllr Kathleen Fraser
Cllr Kathleen Fraser, a long time member of the Labour Party until her recent resignation (See LINK) will be fighting Labour as an Independent in her home watd of Barnhill.
Cllr Sunita Hirani (Independent - Kenton)
Cllr Sunita Hirani, yesterday lodged her papers with Brent Electoral Services as an Independent candidate in Kenton ward, after she was suspended from the Conservative Party.
She explained her decision to Kenton residents on Facebook:
Dear Kenton Residents,
I am writing to you directly and personally to share an important update about my political position.
My membership of the Conservative Party was recently suspended, shortly before the close of nominations on 9 April 2026. Despite my repeated requests for clarification, no clear reason has been communicated to me. Given the timing, this has been deeply upsetting and distressing, particularly in light of my continued hard work and commitment to serving our community.
After careful reflection, discussions with supporters, and most importantly putting you, my residents, first, I have decided to resign my membership of the Conservative Party and continue my work as an Independent Councillor.
This decision has not been taken lightly. I stood for election in 2022 to serve Kenton with integrity, honesty, and determination, and that commitment remains unchanged.
My priority has always been, and will continue to be, to represent the residents of Kenton Ward.
As an Independent Councillor, I will be free to:
Speak up without fear, favour, or intimidation on the issues that matter to Kenton
I remain fully committed to helping residents with local issues, whether that is housing, safety, schools, fly-tipping, parking, or navigating the council .
My door remains open, and I am here for you.
Thank you for the trust, kindness, and support so many of you have shown me
It means more than I can adequately put into words.
I hope to continue earning that trust as your Independent voice on Brent Council.
With sincere thanks,
Sunita Hirani
