Saturday 8 January 2022

Brent officers recommend removal of current Olive Road, Dollis Hill, Preston Area and Tokyngton and Wembley area Healthier Neighbourhood (LTN) schemes pending further consultation and engagement

 

*Lockable bollards removed from some restrictions following concerns raised by local Brent London Ambulance Service representatives.
** Restrictions removed to improve access to the Covid-19 testing centre on London Road.

 

The Brent Cabinet will consider a review of Brent Active Travel at its meeting on January 17th which includes Healthy Neighbourhood Schemes and School Street Schemes. The former have been controversial and School Streets less so.

Of the implemented Healthy Neighbour schemes officers recommend  removal of Oliver Road, Dollis Hill, Preston Area and Tokyngton and Wembley Central Area schemes with further consultation and engagement with residents. Future schemes will be subject to the availabilityof funding.

The report to Cabinet recognises the benefits of such schemes but also issues around the trials which are attributed to the way the Government introduced them. It iis admitted that public opinion is polarised on the policy and the generally low response rate to consultation noted:

The Healthy Neighbourhood schemes aim to change the way in which people travel by reducing motor traffic on residential streets, creating safer, quieter, cleaner, healthier and more pleasant neighbourhoods that encourage walking and cycling. The benefits of these schemes are well researched and documented and the Government (link) and TfL (link) continue to support measures that encourage active travel.

Furthermore;

 

· Air pollution shortens the lives of Londoners, leading to nearly 10,000 premature deaths each year. In Brent, it is currently estimated that air pollution directly causes200 deaths per year (Public Health England, 2016) in Brent and that it is a contributing factor to many more conditions.


· Information provided by TfL (2016/17–2018/19 average) show that 50% of households in Brent do not own a car and there would be a 60% increase in private car travel if car owners switched their public transport trips.


· Around 1.6 million, or 22%, of all car trips made by London residents every day are under 2km and could therefore be walked (2.7 million more could be cycled).


· Almost 55% of Brent’s adult population are overweight, 34% of whom are classified as obese with a chronic lack of physical activity. By 2050 levels of obesity are projected to reach 50% of the adult population in Brent. Similarly, the most recent figures show that over 28% of Brent children in reception are overweight, 14% of whom are classified as obese


· Reducing car journeys reduces the potential of injuries from road traffic collisions.

 

Healthy Neighbourhood schemes have proven to be controversial and representations were considered at an Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council on 16th October 2020, details of which are available on our website. 

 

Representations were received from residents from the Kilburn and Brondesbury and Queens Park areas following initial consultation with statutory stakeholders, (including the emergency services), for an Experimental Traffic Order, before notices were sent to residents in the area. The Council also received high numbers of objections and several petitions opposing the trial schemes.


At the Extraordinary Meeting of the Full Council in October 2020, it was recognised that these schemes can provide benefits in relation to climate change, air quality,health and that many of the concerns raised were in relation to the engagement and consultation process, which was as a result of the way in which central government had sought to introduce active trials.


Following the meeting of Full Council in October 2020, the decision was made to focus on community engagement prior to deciding on the implementation of the remaining five schemes. It should be noted for the Brondesbury and Queens Park and Kilburn areas, the major junction improvement works by Westminster City Council at Ladbroke Grove and Harrow Road may also have resulted in congestion in the area

 

Officers have also made the following recommendations and observations:


· The outcome of the consultation during the trial period indicates that none of the five Healthy Neighbourhood trial schemes were supported by the majority of local residents. From the responses from the community from within the Healthy Neighbourhood areas, between 70 and 91% of respondents opposed the current schemes.


· Generally, public opinion is polarised and officers have and continue to receive a high number of enquiries, particularly during the public engagement exercise and mainly from those that oppose the schemes.


· There is a misconception of a lack of consultation, this is a result of the way in which the Government sought to introduce active trials and limited TfL funding to deliver schemes at pace.


· There is also a lack of public understanding on the benefits of these schemes and the need to encourage active travel to improve air quality, health and wellbeing and respond to the climate and ecological emergency. The council will need to do more work on this.

 

· The effectiveness of these schemes have been negatively impacted by changes in circumstances with the spread of coronavirus and the need to remove physical measures so not to impede access to test and vaccination centres, and responses by the emergency services. The local London Ambulance Service raised specific concerns in relation to access and recommended the use of restrictions enforced by CCTV enforcement cameras so that they can gain access when needed. The effectiveness of the schemes was adversely affected by lockable bollards and plastic barriers being removed by unknown parties, and the lack of CCTV enforcement cameras.


· The community engagement exercise carried out by Living Streets provides some useful feedback on measures that may be successfully introduced in the future that would provide benefits to the area and potentially be supported by the community.


· Collaborative design with the community would help to engender public support for future measures, and these will need to be effective in preventing through traffic and trialled for a longer period, potentially 12 months. This would provide sufficient time for residents to experience the benefits and also for establishing the effect of the scheme in terms of monitoring changes to travel behaviour, traffic and congestion and the effects road safety and air quality.


· Officers have made recommendations for each of the five healthy Neighbourhood trial schemes in Appendix A. These are that; the Olive Road, Dollis Hill, Preston Road and Tokyngton and Wembley area schemes are removed, and the Stonebridge and Harlesden area scheme remains, with the exception of the restriction at Mordaunt Road, which will be removed.


· Officers will prepare a report for consideration by the Council’s Cabinet on the future approach to developing and delivering Healthy Neighbourhood schemes and a policy on the use of CCTV enforcement cameras and exemptions.


· The development and implementation of future schemes will depend on future funding being made available for that purpose

 

These are the officer comments and recommendations for each of the trial areas extracted Appendix A see the full Appendix for detail HERE.

Stonebridge and Harlesden Area

 

• There is a very low response for this area. Responses from roads where modal filters were installed (Lawrence Avenue, Mordaunt Road and Nicoll Road) a total of 22 responses were received. Of these 10 (45.5%) supported the scheme and 12 (54.5%) did not.
• The Mordaunt Road restriction is suspended / removed, this is also a route used by the LAS who raised concerns.
• The Nicholl Road closure remains but is not fully closed, as concerns have been raised by the LAS. Plans are developed for moving this to the junction of Craven Park Road. Consideration is given to a CCTV camera restriction with exemptions, subject to consultation and future funding. From the consultation responses 8 residents in the street supported the restrictions, two opposed.
• The Wembley to Willesden Healthy Streets Corridor would provide an opportunity for improved cycle infrastructure in the area over the next two years.
• It would not be feasible to restrict Lorries on the A404 Craven Park Road, but discussions will be held with TfL on lorry routes and signage to encourage alternative HGV routes.
• The Council will encourage play streets in the Borough and this area.
• There is further engagement with the community to develop ideas from the community engagement exercise, which would be subject to consultation and future funding

 

Preston Area

 

• There is very little support for the scheme overall.
• The restrictions are suspended / removed, Grasmere Avenue is also a route used by the LAS who raised concerns. From the consultation, 2 residents in Grasmere Avenue supported the scheme, 9 opposed. This will include the covering or removal of signage indicating restrictions, planters may remain in place and potentially be used should further
measures be introduced.
• One way systems are considered as an alternative means to restrict through traffic.
• Improvements to the Lulworth / Windermere roundabout, providing improved pedestrian and cycling facilities will be considered.
• There is further engagement with the community to develop ideas from the community engagement exercise, which would be subject to consultation and future funding

 

Tokyngton and Wembley Area

 

There was a very low response rate to the consultation on the Brent portal. For the Wembley and Tokyngton Hill scheme, there was a very low response rate of 4%.
• There is very little support for the scheme overall. Responses from roads where modal filters were installed (London Road and Tokyngton Avenue) a total of 18 responses were received. Of these 4 (22%) supported the scheme and 14 (78%) did not.
• Restrictions on Cecil Avenue and Rupert Avenue were removed early in the scheme to accommodate access to the London Road Covid testing centre

• The restriction on Tokington Avenue should be removed. Only 1 resident supported the restriction, 7 opposed.
• An inspection of the pavements in the area will be arranged and defects meeting the intervention level programmed for repair
• A traffic speed survey will be carried out and speed reduction measures considered, subject to prioritisation and funding.
• A Controlled Parking Zone would reduce non-local traffic and this would be considered if there is evidence of wider support
• There is further engagement with the community to develop ideas from the community engagement exercise, which would be subject to consultation and future funding

 

Olive Road Area

 

• There was a good response to both the consultation during the trail and the community engagement exercise.
• There is very little support for the scheme overall.
• There were several reports of lockable bollards being removed
• The introduction of ANPR Cameras, potentially with exemptions for residents may be supported.
• Restrictions should be suspended / removed, including the St Michaels Avenue restriction as from the consultation, 1 supported and 8 opposed the scheme.
• There is potential for a new scheme to be developed taking into consideration the feedback from community engagement.
• A 7.5t ‘access only’ restriction could be incorporated into the design of a new scheme.
• The School Street Scheme is subject to a separate evaluation and review process.
• There is further engagement with the community to develop ideas from the community engagement exercise, which would be subject to consultation and future funding

 

Dollis Hill Area

 

• There is very little support for the scheme overall
• Restrictions should be suspended / removed. From the consultation for Dollis Hill Avenue, 1 supported and 21 opposed, for Oxgate Gardens, 6 supported and 14 opposed and for Gladstone Park Gardens, 8 supported and 72 opposed. The London Ambulance Service also raised some concerns about the restriction in Gladstone Park Gardens, access should be retained and CCTV enforcement should be considered.
• Dollis Hill Lane could be incorporated into the scheme area, but this is a bus route and access would need to be provided. The implications of restricting traffic on a main route would need to be considered.
• Measures to reduce speeding will be considered, subject to surveys, consultation and funding
• School street measures for the Jewish school can be considered within the school streets programme.
• Safety outside our Lady of Lourdes will be considered, along with the request for a pedestrian crossing. This would be subject to consultation and funding.
• Cycle lanes on the A5 Edgware Road ad Dollis Hill Lane could be considered in the future if funding becomes available. The council have an extensive programme for introducing Cycle Hangars, 50 new Hangars will be implemented in the spring of 2022. Consideration will be given to the area if there is demand.

• There is further engagement with the community to develop ideas from the community engagement exercise, which would be subject to consultation and future funding

 FULL REPORTS CAN BE READ HERE

LINK to the Motion on Healthy Neighbourhood Schemes passed at extraordinary Meeting of Full Council in October 2020.

 

Letter: More great local history opportunities from “Being Brent”

 Dear Editor,

 

In a letter last month I wrote about “Flying from Brent”, and some of the other Heritage and Wellbeing projects being facilitated by Brent Museum and Archives as part of their “Being Brent” programme. There are now more “gems” from this project that your readers might like to know about, and take part in, so I’m writing to share the details with them. 

 


Brent Heritage Tours – Willesden logo

 

After a number of popular guided walks during the autumn, Brent Heritage Tours are going “online” for January 2022, with three free illustrated talks on Friday evenings. Tickets can be booked via their Eventbrite pages here:

 

"Queen's Park - Past and Present":  Friday 14 January at 7pm (to 8.30pm):
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queens-park-past-and-present-tickets-180818451857?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

 

 

"Willesden - Past and Present":  Friday 21 January at 7pm:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/willesden-past-and-present-tickets-180847889907?aff=ebdsoporgprofile 

 

 

 

Postcard of the High Road, Willesden Green, c.1900.

 

 

"Welsh Harp - Past and Present":  Friday 28 January at 7pm:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/welsh-harp-past-and-present-tickets-180984247757?aff=ebdsoporgprofile


They will be back with free “live” guided walks from February (numbers on each walk are limited so book early if you are interested), and also have self-guided trails that you can download to explore in your own time. More details on their website at:
https://brent-heritage.co.uk/

 

I hope that readers enjoyed my series of articles last month about Ram Singh Nehra and his family. The story of Brent’s multiracial and mixed-race community is one area of our social history which has not received much attention, but another “Being Brent” project is hoping to shine more light on it, with a digital exhibition planned for March 2022. 

 


 

The curators of “By the Cut of Their Cloth”, local artist Warren Reilly and director of The Mixed Museum, Chamion Caballero, need your help to collect as wide a range of memories and photos as possible, to make a permanent record celebrating our community’s rich history of migration and mixing. They are holding two online “open days”, on Saturday 15 January (10am to 4pm) and Sunday 16 January (12noon to 4pm). If you have stories you would like to share, you can find more information, and “book" a private zoom meeting with them, at:

 

https://mixedmuseum.org.uk/news/btcotc-open-days-booking-now-live/   and,

 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/by-the-cut-of-their-cloth-open-day-tickets-231641404677

 

I hope you will take, and enjoy, these opportunities. For more about “Being Brent”, and links to the videos already produced from a variety of projects, you can find details on their website. Best wishes,


Philip Grant.

Friday 7 January 2022

Barham Community Library open tomorrow

 From Barham Community Library

Barham Community Library at 660 Harrow Road Wembley HA0 2HD on frontage to Barham Park will reopen on Saturday between 11am and 3pm. This Saturday (8 January) we’ll only be open for book returns and borrowing. 

Our normal activities for children will resume on Saturday 15 January. We’ll also open on Monday and Wednesday from 3pm to 6pm. We are encouraging adult visitors to wear a mask if possible. Our shop in Sudbury Town Underground Station will be open on Saturday 1 to 4pm as usual. 

As we are keen for people to enjoy reading we welcome suggestions for good books to read. So please respond by giving a recommendation for a good book you read recently or even your favourite book of all time. Thank You.

Wednesday 5 January 2022

GOOD NEWS: New Beacon Books gets a lifeline after £76k raised by crowdfunder

 From the Bookseller website

The team at New Beacon Books, the UK's first Black specialist bookshop, has praised the “amazing support from the community” following a highly successful crowdfunding campaign which has not only saved the store but netted £76,000 in only a few days. 

Based in London's Finsbury Park, the store announced over the Christmas break it would be shutting its doors and moving entirely online, as financial constraints from Covid-19 and online retail threatened its future.

Academic and actor Francesca Gilbert immediately launched an online fundraising campaign on 30th December with donations flooding in within hours.

The crowdfunding campaign had aimed to raise £35,000 by 24th February 2022 but, by the morning of 31st December, it had already surpassed that total and introduced a new "stretch" target of £50,000 which was also quickly met. It now has donations from 2,427 supporters.

Directors Michael La Rose, Janice Durham and professor Gus John have now outlined their plans for the future on New Beacon Books' website which could include a move to new premises and boosted community engagement. They said: “Due to the amazing support from the community in response to our fundraising campaign yesterday and today, the bookshop has been given a lifeline to assist in moving forward.” 

They explained that the money will be used to pay rent, rates, utilities and other overheads and hire a part-time member of staff to support existing management and volunteers, process online orders and carry out admin work. 

Additionally the crowdfunded cash will enable them to expand New Beacon Books’ community outreach work and educational initiatives within the community as well as restoring New Beacon Books’ publishing platform, which had been reduced in recent years. 

The directors also suggested there could be a move of premises longer term: “For the foreseeable future, New Beacon Books will continue to be based at its current premises. We will be continuing to look at ways for a long-term sustainable future.” 

They paid tribute to the people who helped them in the campaign: “We have been overwhelmed by the positive response to the online crowdfunding campaign and the many in-person purchases by the community. 

“We want to emphasise that all the funds received will be accounted for in a transparent and coherent manner. We will keep everyone informed on a regular basis as to our progress. We would like to express again our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for this support.” 

The independent bookshop was founded in 1966 by activist John La Rose and Sarah White. 

Brent Education lead joins urgent call for practical action on air filtration in schools as pupils return

 Most Brent schools return today amidst concerns over the spread of the Covid Omicron amongst young people and its impact on their families and school staff

Cllr Thomas Stephens, Lead Member for Education in the Brent Cabinet joined councillors from other London boroughs in a call to Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, forpractical action on air filtration in schools.






Saturday 1 January 2022

NEW YEAR’S DAY APPEAL TO QUINTAIN: Olympic Way tile murals – let’s get them back on permanent display!

 New Year Guest Post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity


2022 is the year which provides an excellent opportunity to get more of the Bobby Moore Bridge tile mural scenes back on permanent public display. I’ve launched my campaign to get the murals on the walls of Olympic Way, just outside the subway from Wembley Park Station, returned to public view. On 1 January I sent an open letter to Quintain’s Chief Executive Officer, which I’ve set out in full at the end of this article.

 


The east wall mural scenes in Olympic Way, on display in February 2020.
(Photo by Mark Price, Brent Council)

 

Full details of the Bobby Moore Bridge tile murals can be found in an illustrated article I wrote for Brent Archives. The murals were covered over with vinyl advertising sheets in the autumn of 2013, under a deal between Brent Council officers and Quintain. Wembley History Society campaigned in 2018 to have all of the murals put back on permanent public display. Quintain’s response in 2019 was to do this for just the central mural scene on the east wall of the subway, showing England footballers at the old “twin towers” stadium.

 

I had hoped I could persuade Brent’s Cabinet not to allow the murals in the subway to remain covered over, when Quintain’s Bobby Moore Bridge advertising lease came up for renewal in August 2021. However, in January last year I discovered that the lease had secretly been extended to August 2024 by Council officers, under a very dodgy deal in 2019.

 

Quintain contractors fixing advertising screens over some of the subway murals in July 2019.

 

Unfortunately, that lease extension means that it won’t be possible for the rest of the mural scenes, on both sides of the subway, to be seen again in time for the centenary of Wembley Stadium’s opening (for the F.A. Cup final in 1923). The only “good thing” in the extended lease was that Quintain agreed to allow Brent to request that the Olympic Way murals be put on display for up to 21 days a year. In fact, they were put on display for a full five weeks (wow!) at the start of Brent’s year as London Borough of Culture 2020.

 

Now, I’m asking Quintain to “do the right thing”, and not to apply to extend their advertisement consent for the Olympic Way tile murals. I hope that they will respond positively, but if they don’t, I will be just one of many local people who fight their application all the way. I am confident that, if it comes to that, our objections should succeed in stopping the renewal of a consent which Brent’s planners should never have given in the first place.

 

This is my open letter:

 

To: James Saunders                                                          From: Philip Grant
       Chief Executive Officer                                                              
       Quintain Limited                                                        
(address  removed)
       180 Great Portland Street
        London, W1W 5QZ                                                          

This is an open letter

                                                                                                                1 January 2022

Dear Mr Saunders,

 

Heritage tile murals at Olympic Way, Wembley Park.

Happy New Year! Quintain and its Wembley Park subsidiary have an important decision to make in 2022, and I am writing, as a member of Wembley History Society, to encourage you and your colleagues to make the right one.

 

The heritage tile murals at Olympic Way, celebrating sports and entertainment events at Wembley Stadium and Arena, have been covered over with Quintain’s vinyl advertising sheets for most of the time since the autumn of 2013. 

 

In September 2013, Quintain applied for advertisement consent for a period of five years. Brent’s Planning department did not deal with that application until August 2017, and gave consent for five years from then. Although there was a later advertisement consent in 2019 for the Bobby Moore Bridge subway and parapets, the consent for the tiled walls in Olympic Way expires on 25 August 2022. I hope you will decide not to apply to renew that consent.

 


When Quintain first entered into a deal with Brent Council officers in 2013, over advertising at the Bobby Moore Bridge and on the walls of Olympic Way to the south of the subway from Wembley Park Station, the London Designer Outlet was just about to open. I can understand why your company then wished to use this “gateway” to its new Wembley Park developments to promote the LDO, and later its Tipi rental flats, Alto apartments and Boxpark joint venture. 

 

However, the LDO and Quintain’s other Wembley Park developments are now well established and widely known. There is no need for your company to put large advertisements on the walls of Olympic Way to publicise them, especially as you now have larger LED advertising screens on the parapets of Bobby Moore Bridge, and large banner advertising on the new lamp posts along Olympic Way.

 

That alone would be a good reason not to apply for consent to continue displaying advertisements over the tile murals in Olympic Way. But an even stronger reason is that these murals are part of a public artwork, designed to celebrate an important part of Wembley Park’s history, something which adds to the area’s “sense of place” for residents and visitors.

 

Quintain and Brent Council may not have realised the cultural and heritage importance of these tile mural scenes in 2013, but that is not the case now. I was one of the Wembley History Society representatives invited to the Mayor of Brent’s “reveal” of the Olympic Way tile murals, at the start of Brent’s year as London Borough of Culture in January 2020. Brent’s publicity for that event said of ‘the heritage tiles at Wembley Park’s Bobby Moore Bridge’:

 

‘The tiles, which show scenes from famous sports and entertainment events at Wembley Stadium and the SSE Arena, Wembley, are part of Brent’s rich heritage and date back to September 1993 when they were originally dedicated to the legendary footballer.’

 


 

Julian Tollast, speaking on behalf of Quintain at the “reveal” event (above), said:

 

‘The iconic cultural and sporting events at Wembley are celebrated in these heritage tiles behind us, and we are really proud to work with Brent and with Wembley History Society to make the reveal on a periodic basis of these murals possible.'  

 

Quintain / Wembley Park’s respect for the heritage value of these tile murals was also shown, in the welcome repair of damage caused by water ingress behind the tiles, in March 2021. 

 

I hope you will agree that the time has come for these heritage assets to be put back on public display, not just ‘on a periodic basis’, but permanently. Advertisement consent to cover the American Football, Rugby League and Ice Hockey mural scenes on the east wall, and the drummer image remnant of the Stadium Concerts scene on the west side of Olympic Way, expires in August 2022. However, if the advertising could be removed before then, in time for the Women’s Euros football final on 31 July, or the summer music concerts (such as those by Ed Sheeran in late June), so much the better. That would allow tens of thousands more visitors to Wembley Park to enjoy them.

 

I look forward to hearing from you that Quintain / Wembley Park will not be seeking to extend its advertising consent for the tiled mural walls on Olympic Way. 

 

Thank you. Best wishes,


Philip Grant.