Chatsworth Road Horse Chestnut: Neighbour appeals to Brent Council planning chief

 

 

A local resident and neighbour of the Chatsworth Road garden, where the owner has been given planning permission for a gym to be erected at the bottom of his garden, has written to Brent Council’s  Strategic Director for Regeneration, Alan Lunt, appealing the decision. 

 

(Edited version):

 

Dear Mr Lunt

  

I am writing to you regarding an approved planning application for a home gym in the garden of [a house in] Chatsworth Road. This has been approved by a planning officer.

 

I was more than surprised to read that the application was approved considering there were 11 objections? Clearly, the concerns and reasoning behind those 11 objections have been ignored. It seems that this  decision has been decided alone by the officer and she gave her guarantee to save the established tree in question.  

 

The roots of the horse chestnut tree cover an area much wider than the garden in Chatsworth Road, where owners of adjacent gardens have helped maintain the tree and its stunning surroundings for the last 30+ years and in doing so have helped maintained this inner-city natural oasis we have inherited to date. 

 

My daughters are very saddened to hear the news that the application was granted considering they wrote a personal letter to the owner, asking him  to reconsider his desire for the gym and offering alternative solutions. At school. they were taught that preserving nature in a city which is highly polluted is more than important and they have been encouraged to plant trees, look after nature and in turn this will protect wildlife. Green space  in London needs to be protected more than ever before. My children have actually educated me in realising that fighting for preserving nature is more important than destroying it. My 11 year old daughter's question to me, (when I told her the news ) was, "Surely drilling concrete piles directly downwards  and hoping to miss the roots of the tree, would be impossible?" She knows what piles are as we have had many conversations about how buildings are constructed. Living in London and seeing the changes in construction of  buildings over the last 10 years around the area is vast. 

 

 My question to the officer would be, "How is it possible to guarantee the horse chestnut tree’s survival, where one has zero clue where exactly those roots lay underground?  In construction there are always errors made no matter how precise a building contractor claims to be. Once a root is damaged, it’s only a matter of time before it will be starved of water and become susceptible to disease in the porous clay we have in this area.” 

 

The residents of Mapesbury Borders have the same values for protecting nature and the environment for years to come and for the future generations. When we chose to live in this area of natural beauty, we chose to do so based on the pre-existing beauty it gave. For inner London, this is a paradise area of incredible trees, plants, wildlife and for the children who live here, it’s more than important for their future and well-being. For that to be cut short with this futile decision when climate change is at the top of all politicians’ agenda, I am astonished. 

 

How can we challenge this decision? How can we ask others at Brent council to help review this matter? What would be the consequences of the officer’s single-handed decision, should the tree die? Who would be accountable? 

 

My children have not had a reply to the letter they wrote to the owner. Perhaps the issue of looking after nature is unimportant to the owner, even though he bought a property with one of the most beautiful gardens in Brent, the need for a home gym outweighs saving it. After all, Nuffield Gym is a ten minute walk away, I would say that’s more than convenient distance to his home to keep fit? 

 

We would like to appeal the decision that has been made, review the application and discuss the irretrievable damage this project will cause to our tree. So many of the residents in this area enjoy the horse chestnut tree, it’s really stunning. We only want to save it.

 

I really look forward to your support in this matter and hope you can help us with this application to appeal this decision. 

 

Recent rise in Covid rates in Wembley North

 

Fears of recent rise in #Covid19 cases in #Wembley confirmed by figs to Dec 7th. More in the last week. https://t.co/hMKFQ7G0ol pic.twitter.com/Lt3inw6MqY

— Martin Francis (@WembleyMatters) December 13, 2020

 

Who's Who in Wembley? Try this Quiz.

For the many readers who've enjoyed the local history stories this year, here is a chance to test your knowledge of Wembley's past in a "Who's Who" quiz!

 

There are no prizes, but you might like to see what score out of ten you manage to get. The answers will appear next weekend - and the bonus is that where you didn't know an answer, you'll then discover something new about the Wembley area's past! 

Question set by Philip Grant of Wembley History Society

NEU calls for mass Covid19 testing in primary as well as secondary schools

With the number of school workers testing positive for Covid 19 rising in Brent, this statement by the Co-General Secretary of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney is pertinent:

Commenting on the latest coronavirus survey figures from the Office for National Statistics, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:

 

“The latest ONS Coronavirus survey figures should be very worrying to the Government - especially in the run up to Christmas. They show that cases are again rising in secondary and primary schools.

“Secondary children in years 7 to year 11 have the highest rate of any of the demographic groups - with more than 2% of children having the virus. This is significantly higher than the university student age group, now returning home with such care.

 

“Primary and early years children - from age 2 to year 6 - are the third highest of the demographic groups with around 1% of children having the virus. Many of the cases are asymptomatic - but this does not mean that they cannot transmit the virus to others, especially in the close confines of the household.

“The only other age group with rising cases is 35-49 year olds - and that is the age group with most parents of school-aged children.

 

“Government must speak about these figures and act on them.

 

“It is welcome, though overdue, that mass testing is to be rolled out in some areas. But there are many boroughs where cases are higher than in the boroughs in London, Kent and Essex where the roll-out is to happen.

 

“The Government should commit now to a roll of mass testing across the country, not just in the South East. The testing should also happen in primary schools.

 

“We predict that when this testing happens many children will have to be sent home on public health advice. This will lead in practice to a chaotic closure in the last week of term.

 

“The Government would have been much better advised to have encouraged schools to prepare for on-line learning in the last week of term. That would have resulted in lower cases before the holidays began and could have been planned. However, the Government set its face hard against this, instructing schools contemplating it to change their plans.

 

“The Government ignored our call for a ‘circuit break’ to include schools, which has been shown to suppress the virus much more quickly. They have ignored our call for secondary schools to run on a rota basis which can keep cases lower whilst keeping children learning.

 

“As a result, many parents have seen their children sent home for multiple periods on public health advice.

 

“We need much better from the Government in the New Year, if the chaotic pattern is not to continue and even get worse.”

The tale of a 'prominent & shapely specimen tree' poses a challenge for Brent's Climate Emergency Strategy

 

Getting closer to nature during the Spring Covid19 lockdown and a greater awareness of the threat to the planet posed by climate change has changed people's consciousness of the need to preserve and enhance our natural environment - across the globe and in our immediate home environment.

Brent Council declared a climate emergency and is currently consulting on its strategy.

The google view above shows what amounts to a mini-woodland environment produced by mature trees in a corner of Brent that is highly valued by local residents.  They are now asking what Brent Council can do to preserve such valuable life-enhancing natural resources when they are under threat, and whether the Climate Emergency Strategy will address this issue.

There is a chestnut tree in a commanding position in the woodland area, shared between several gardens, that a specialist tree study described thus:

As can be seen one of the adjoining households  has sought to enhance and naturalise the habitat around the tree whose roots spread beneath the neighbouring gardens, far away from the houses. 

Now residents are concerned that Brent Council has given planning permission, despite 11 objections from neighbours, for a home gym of considerable size to be built at the bottom of the garden. Surrounding families fear that the building of the gym, and particularly the 4-6 metre foundation spikes will damage and perhaps kill the tree.

Small shed now (above) to be replaced by the building below

 

The Tree Report states:

The tree is a prominent and shapely specimen unharmed by historic tree surgery and visible from a number of vantage points. As such T4 warrants an A classification on ground of landscape amenity.

The objective of the report is to identify and evaluate the extent of direct and indirect damage on existing trees that may arise as a result of the implementation of the proposed development without appropriate guidance. A tree may take a century to reach maturity, but it can be irretrievably damaged in a few minutes often because of a failure to appreciate the vulnerability of trees and particularly the root systems. Irreparable damage is frequently done to existing trees in the first few days of a contractor’s occupation of a site.

The report sets out conditions to  protect the tree when the 4-6 metre foundation spikes are driven into the ground beneath the tree but this is challenged by one neighbour who says:

The Tree Report, commissioned by the Applicant, has an internal contradiction.

Although it admits that drilling the six metre foundation spikes for the so-called ‘home gym’ “will cause irreparable damage” to the tree if the spikes encounter a root, the Report claims that, as long as the work is overseen by a tree officer, it will be acceptable to build.

However, the six metre spikes will need to be put into very specific places in order to support the building. What is not clear is what they will do if the allocated spot for a spike happens to have a tree root in it. Furthermore, it isn’t clear how having the whole process overseen by a tree officer guarantees the health of the tree.

 

Although we requested a second and independent Tree Report, and offered to pay for it, this offer was rejected by the Council as it was deemed unnecessary. The Council considered the first Tree Report, not exactly free of bias, was sufficient.

The wider issues are not lost on two children, sisters, who have written:

 

This is a comment on the Brent Planning Portal (Application Ref 20/3155) edited:

The Horse Chestnut is over 100 years old and 60 foot tall. It forms part of the beautiful landscape of trees in our back garden and makes a considerable contribution to our landscape. The proposed building will cause considerable damage to the tree  which supports untold species of animals, birds and other wildlife. The life this tree supports should not be underestimated and trees that are outside of woods are an important resource to species in areas with little woodland cover and acts as refuge in urban areas. It also creates bio-diversity hotspots and provide essential home to the wildlife. 

As well as having an impact on wildlife and society, trees play a very valuable role in carbon sequestration and storage. 

Our decision to move to this area was in-fact the view of this small pocket of secret beauty and conservation area and I am very saddened that this tree is NOT protected.

This application did not go to Planning Committee. A decision to grant planning permission was made by planning officers.

The question for the Climate Emergency Strategy perhaps is, 'Why is this tree not protected?' and further, 'How can Brent planning and environmental policies be changed so as to protect such trees?'

To comment on Brent's Climate Emergency Strategy go to LINK  The last page of the consultation questionnaire enables you to bring up your own issues.

 Many thanks to the children who gave permission for their letters to be published.

Scrutinising Brent Council's Climate Emergency Strategy

 

 

The above recording is from the December 1st Scrutiny Committee. The recommendation to invest targeted  'new money' into the Strategy is clearly important and it was good to see a firmer commitment to investing the Council's pension fund into sustainable energy production rather than fossil fuels.  The concern with energy efficiency in the many new builds currently taking place in Brent made me wonder if it would be useful to have Scrutiny Committee investigate this area along with the environmental cost of  new build itself.

The issue of the whole Brent Council estate - council housing and council owned buildings, including most of our primary schools - and how they could contribute to emissions reduction and alternative energy production, was not discussed.

The consultation on the Climate Emergency Strategy ends on January 15th 2021 so do consider contributing as an individual or through organisations such as Brent Friends of the Earth.

Direct link to the Council consultation

Council overview of the consultation

Brent Friends of the Earth are working on their response. You can contact them at info@brentfoe.com

 

UPDATE: Wembley coal mine shaft and tunnels to be investigated before Euro House redevelopment goes ahead

Euro House, Fulton Road

Ok, that's a bit if a tease but the Planning Officers' report for the redevelopment of Euro-Parts', Euro House, Fulton Road site includes the following comment:

The history of the site has largely been as agricultural land until the area became managed parkland forming part of the wider Wembley Park during the late 19th/early 20th Century. In the 1920s, the site formed part of the area for the British Empire Exhibition, and this section of the site was occupied by a life size construction of a coal mine, including a stretch of below ground tunnels, a brick lined access shaft and an air shaft, as well as above ground structures. Although the above ground and immediate sub-surface structures were removed when the site was re-developed for the current industrial use, the report concludes that there is evidence some of the shafts and tunnel structures could still exist. For this reason, the report concludes that further work to identify and record these elements should be undertaken and need GLAAS input if required.

 

 

Images courtesy of Philip Grant/Wembley History Society

The rest of the report is rather more mundane in comparison as approval is suggested for a scheme of one 21 storey block of flats, surrounded by 12 storey 'mansion' blocks and incorporating some light industry space to provide employment - a rather late recognition of the impact of the many sites that are being sold for housing.

 

The illustrations of the scheme are rather sparse but are very much along the lines of the existing developments. One novel aspect is an objection from Quintain to the proposal on the grounds that it will deprive residents in its NE4 neighbouring site of light and they request a reduction in height. Officers basically tell them that the nature of the redevelopment of the area means they have to put up with it.

It is hard to reconcile the above image with the plans for the area around the buildings that are claimed to include some allotment plots for residents and a walkway alongside the Wealdstone Brook:

On housing the devil is in the detail. There are 493 units of which only 98 are affordable.  Of these 80 are at London Affordable Rent and 18 shared ownership.

The application will be decided at Planning Committeee tonight at 6pm. Officers' Report HERE

 

Watch Webcast here:    https://brent.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/531655

 

 

 

UPDATE: First phase of Northwick Park development at planning tonight - it may be another marathon

 

Overall view of the context of the site that will be developed (outlined in red)

The site now (slightly right of centre)

Masterplan view of the whole site as it will be - this application in foreground left

UPDATE: APPLICATION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY

 

The first major section of the Northwick Park development comes up at tonight's Planning Committee. If the last meeting was a marathon tonight's may necessitate committee members and officers bringing in their sleeping bags!

The overall Northwick Park master plan is a development shared between partners Brent Council, University of Westminsters, Northwick Park Hospital (NHS) and Network Housing as part of the One Public Estate government sponsored initiative.

This particular site will be familiar with visitors to the hospital who approach from Northwick Park station. They will know the chimney of the energy unit, low buildings, the hospital social club, nursery and some housing on the left side of the ring road as you approach along the footpath.

All will be swept away eventually and replaced with tower blocks ranging from 5-6 storeys to 12-13 storeys, a new nursery building and some small shops. The social club appears unlikely to survive unless space is found on the hospital site and in any case the hospital is said to want to discourage the consumption of alcohol - pity the poor hospital works after an intensive shift!

The Planning Committee will be told that there were just 10 objectors to the scheme and the officers' report dismisses each of them in turn. See LINK.

 

The proposal:

Full planning permission for demolition of existing buildings and structures on the site, all site preparation works for a residential led mixed-use developmentcomprising 654 new homes, associated car and cycle spaces, a replacement nursery, retail space, associated highways improvements, open space, hard andsoft landscaping and public realm works.

 With Cllr Maurice on the committee you can bet parking will take up a lot of  the time and here it is not just a matter of parking for the new residents but also parking for hospital workers themselves. The tenure of the housing will also be an issue with another Brent development with a significant amount of shared ownership despite recent publicity over drawbacks to such schemes:

Out of the 654 units, 409 will be private -

Affordable housing: Provision of 245 affordable units comprising: 

a. 70 units for affordable rent at London Affordable Rent levels and 26 units for affordable rentat London Living Rent levels, in accordance with the Mayor of London's Affordable HousingProgramme 2016-2021 Funding Guidance (dated November 2016) or the necessaryguidance as it is updated and subject to an appropriate Affordable Rent nominationsagreement with the Council, securing 100% nomination rights on first lets and 75%nomination rights on subsequent lets for the Council.

b. 38 units for affordable rent at rent levels not exceeding 80% of current market rents, andsubject to an appropriate Affordable Rent nominations agreement with the NHS Trust and the Council, securing 100% nomination rights on first lets and 75% nomination rights onsubsequent lets for the NHS Trust and cascaded rights for the Council. 

c. 111 units for Shared Ownership, (as defined under section 70(6) of the Housing &Regeneration Act 2008, subject to London Plan policy affordability stipulations that total housing costs should not exceed 40% of net annual household income, disposed on a freehold / minimum 125 year leasehold to a Registered Provider, (and subject to anappropriate Shared Ownership nominations agreement with the Council that secure sreasonable local priority to the units). The condition in brackets has been removed in a supplementary report. 

Concerns over the environmental impact of the scheme, impingement on Metropolitan Open Space, housing tenure, the proportion of amenity space, over-shadowing, the impact on views (especially from Harrow-on-the-Hill) are all, as usual, judged on balance to be tolerable given the 'benefits of the scheme.'

Officers judged that capacity in local primary and secondary schools is sufficient to cater for the increased population.

The webcast of the meeting starts at 6pm tonight: https://brent.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/531655