Petitions started to ban use of glyphosate pesticides in Brent and Harrow

Further to my article LINK on potential health dangers of the pesticide glyphosate marked under various names, including Roundup, by Monsanto petitions have been launched calling for its banning by Brent and Harrow Councils.

Brent petition HERE
Harrow petition HERE

UPDATE: Planning Committee refuses controversial Co-op store application

Brent Planning Committee has turned down the planning application for a Co-operative store to replace a car repair workshop on Burnley Road, opposite the north entrance to Dollis Hill station.

The application had split the local community with the majority of those who submitted an opinion against. LINK

Gladstone Free School throws in the towel having spent thousands without educating a single pupil

Gladstone School, initially a secondary free school planned for the Gladstone Park area in Brent, has thrown in the towel having again failing to find a site and having to tell children expecting to attend in September that they will have to find another school.

On the 'school's' website today (I put 'school' in quotation marks because it has never educated a single child)

It is with great regret that we must announce the end of the Gladstone School project, due entirely to a failure to find a suitable site.

As many of Brent’s parents already know, a change in government policy in 2014 blocked the school’s plans to open in a temporary site at the last minute, forcing us to defer opening. A site was identified for a 2015 opening, but in February last year negotiations with the site owner collapsed, along with our chances of opening that year. Since then, no further site has been found, despite the full support of Brent Council who have long recognised the need for more secondary school places.

Since we first floated the vision of a parent and community led school, we have been met with enthusiasm, interest and support – locally, nationally and indeed internationally. The depth of that support has kept us fighting for a new school for so long. However, faced with the continued absence of a possible site, the decision has been made to cancel the project altogether.

We are very sad that we will be disappointing the many parents and young people who responded so warmly to our ideas, and would like to thank you for all your support over the last four years.  

Maria Evans 

Chair of Governors

Putting aside the issue of the plans for the school, which have not been put to the test, questions have to be asked about government  free school policy when the Education Funding Agency and DfE are unable to find a site for a school but continue funding it.

Brent schools could have used the money well for actual children rather than the cash going down the drain on something that is not much more than a website, illustrated with stock photos of uniformed child models, and a salaried Principal who has no building, no staff and no pupils.

Background from a previous blog HERE

Warning notices installed at Fulton Road/Olympic Way crossing after accident fears

Olympic Way southbound

Fulton Road westbound

Fulton Road westbound

Additional warning signs for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians have been installed on the Fulton Road, Olympic Way junction which was scene of a serious cycling accident last week.

Tony Kennedy, Head of Brent Highways and Infrastructure, had said that they had commissioned a consultants report on the junction to improve accessibility for all road users which should eb with the council by late July.

I suggested to Cllr Margaret McLennan that, meanwhile, before the summer peak, short-term measures needed to be taken so it was good to see the new notices today.

Anne Clements, Planning director, Quintain, told Cllr McLennan, 'We are committed to improving the junctions around our estate and we will be pleased to work with your officers, particularly reviewing Olympic Way / Fulton Road.'


 Brent Cyclcists have a letter in today's Kilburn Times calling for action.

Work starts on mowing Wembley French School's meadows

Flower beds in formr times

Today after the 'meadow' was cut back

Cutting waits to be completed on the south side of the steps

 It was probably a coincidence but following a flutter of comments on Twitter at the weekend, work started today cutting the grass back in the former municipal gardens in front of the Lycee de Londres  previously Brent Town Hall and before that Wembley Town Hall.

It is a rough and ready job and still lots of litter around but let's hope it is the first stage in a restoration of what was once a source of local pride.

Action promised on Fulton Road/Olympic Way accident spot

I am pleased to say several Brent councillors have responded to the email and video link I sent this morning LINK.

Cllr Southwood, Cabinet member for Environment wrote:

Thank you for your email. I too have concerns about safety here, from personal experience and brought into sharp focus by the accident last week.

Some improvements have been made. A 20mph speed limit was introduced last August and earlier this year the speed table was reconstructed, additional warning signs and road markings, tactile paving and anti-skid road surfacing was installed.

Given the development planned for the area, he number of cyclists and pedestrians using this crossing is likely to increase. I absolutely agree with the need for us to actively consider how to make it safer and more accessible. In April we commissioned a study to identify options and this is due to be completed in July.

The recommendations will come to Cllrs for comment but in the meantime I'm very happy to talk with you and others who have suggestions. We will of course be speaking with Brent Cyclists following last weeks accident to get their input into the recommendations.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of the Council said:

I can assure you that this junction is being looked at and we have had a lot of work done recently, and there is always room for improvement.

I have already been in touch with the highways and transport lead and the cabinet member along with the chief exec, about seeing what else can be done to help improve things for everyone.

Cllr Margaret McLennan, deputy leader of the Council responded:

This falls under Ellie Southwood and Environment, however, I have asked officers and Quintain to respond as we too are aware of the issues surrounding this crossing and will be looking to make it more secure and accessible. You can of course understand we have to do this in liaison with the Stadium and local law enforcement. 

Cllrs Shafique Choudhary, Ruth Moher, Carol Shaw and Helen Carr have also responded.

Councillors urged to act on Wembley Stadium Fulton Road accident danger

I have sent a link to this video to Brent Councilllors with the following message: Dear Councillor, You are probably aware that there was an accident in which a cyclist was seriously hurt last week at the Fulton Road/Olympic Way crossing. Concerns have already been voiced about this crossing, not least by some councillors, and because of its proximity to Brent Civic Centre and the stadium’s national profile, has the potential to reflect badly on the borough if there is an accident. Yesterday I took a short video about 4pm in the afternoon which I think shows the dangers. At this time there is a mix of tourists, shoppers going to the LDO and children and young people going to Wembley Library all crossing Fulton Road. Currently there are roadworks and the usual 2 lane traffic is down to alternate one lane controlled by lights. This may in fact be safer although drivers were confused by having to obey lights and signs indicating they should give way. I would urge you to ensure that action is taken by Brent Council/Wembley Stadium/TfL to make this crossing safe.

Brent Lib Dem councillor poses questions for Cllr Oladapo investigation

Brent Councillors have been invited to submit evidence to Richard Penn's investigation into issues surrounding the death of Cllr Tayo Oladapo.

This is the submission by Brent's only Liberal Democrat councillor Dr Helen Carr:

God Bless Cllr. Tayo. I did not know him, but I am saddened his untimely death has triggered this unpleasant, but necessary enquiry.

Cllr. Tayo. Facts and Questions to be answered.

The facts are, according to my understanding, that Cllr. Tayo Oladapo had not attended Full Council for more than one calendar year. This was known, accepted and voted upon by Full Council.

The Labour Group had known about his illness for some considerable time.

His death in January was allegedly not known by the Labour Party until March.

The Labour Whip will have been responsible for moving the vote to excuse Cllr. Oladappo from attending Full Council.

Questions to be answered:

Within any political party (Labour in this case), what are/what is the nature of the procedures to report an absence?

At what point is an absence sufficient to effectively terminate a Councillor’s duty?

Who is the person responsible for checking, monitoring, regulating and reporting when there is an absence :

1. Within a political party?
2. Within Brent?

Within a political party, who and what are the procedures to report and pass on information regarding an absence, illness or death?

Are there any (in this case, within the Labour Party), if so, were they met? If not, why not?

At what point should or could a bi election have been called? What should/would have triggered the call for a bi election? Attendance and death is obvious and measurable, but what of sanity? Ill health – at what point and who decides if a Councillor is Fit for Purpose? (the definition being ..?).

Was information withheld? By Whom? When? Why? How? What evidence is available?

In this particular case, is the Labour Party responsible for procedures, or Brent Council’s Chief Executive? Where does the burden of proof lie? Or do the political parties have no responsibility for identifying and passing on such information?