Showing posts with label Tokyngton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tokyngton. Show all posts

Saturday 23 April 2022

How many people know about the big (very tall) changes ahead for this corner of Tokyngton ward? WEM Tower residents in revolt

 

Wembley Point redeveloped into small apartments

Let's face it, you can't really miss Wembley Point on the North Circular Road - in fact it is right in your face. For years disused and under-used it has been converted into c400 small housing units.

It was sold to the Canda Israel Group for £43 in 2018 on behalf of off-shore clients of Bravo Investment Homes. Crucially the sale included overage, a payment to be made to the original land owner in the event that a valuable planning permission is granted. The payment will usually be a percentage of the difference between the market value of the land with the benefit of planning permission and without it.

Canada Israel, controlled by Barak Rosen and Assaf Tuchmeir (their private company, not to be confused with public company Israel Canada) has done its first deal in the UK. The company has purchased an office tower in the north-west London suburb of Wembley which it intends to convert to a residential tower at a total investment of £100 million. Canada Israel is paying £45 million for the property, and plans to build under an existing permit ("Permitted Development Rights") 440 small apartments (averaging 40 square meters) for an additional £55 million. Canada Israel plans to sell the apartments - studio and two-room apartments, for which there is high demand - for an average of about £300,000, and expects total sales proceeds of £130-150 million.
The existing office tower, with 20,000 square meters of built space, was bought as part of a 2.5 acre site for which Canada Israel plans to obtain residential planning rights to build 30,000 square meters. The property is adjacent to the Stonebridge Park Underground station, about twenty minutes journey time from central London, and is within walking distance of Wembley Stadium. LINK

Crucially the sale included overage, a payment to be made to the original land owner in the event that an additional  valuable planning permission is granted. for the site. The payment will usually be a percentage of the difference between the market value of the land with the benefit of planning permission and without it.

That additional planning permission is now being sought from Brent Council and would result in this transformation of the site: 

Impression of 'Stonebridge Place'

You will note that Wembley Point itself would be over-shadowed by an even taller block (32 storeys). The River Brent flows in front of it (now largely covered by a concrete platform) and the greenery to the left of the picture is the Wembley Brook which joins the River Brent somewhere beneath the concrete. The surburban housing and shops on the Harrow Road near the junction with the North Circular would also be over-shadowed.

Europe Real Estate LINK reported in March:

Canada Israel and Avanton have submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Brent for the regeneration of the 2.5-acre (1.26 hectare) Wembley Point site on Harrow Road to create a residential-led development known as Stonebridge Place with a GDV value of up to €297.6m (£250m) providing 515 new homes of mixed tenure, 1,200ft² of commercial space, new boxing gym with public café, landscaped gardens, pedestrian boulevards and new water features.

The Stonebridge Place proposals will deliver significant public realm improvements including a civic square, green pedestrian boulevard, children’s play spaces and resident’s gardens at ground and podium levels. The proposed new homes will be an addition to the already completed WEM Tower London, with its 439 new homes and fantastic amenities. Of the 515 new homes, 341 will be for market sale, with 35% allocated for affordable housing comprised of 57 shared ownership and 117 affordable rent homes.

Located to the south of Wembley Park and National Stadium, adjacent to Stonebridge Park Station (Bakerloo Underground Line), the new Stonebridge Place project will provide three striking new buildings. The first building is a 32 storey focal triangular tower with glass and green terracotta façade providing 266 one, two and three-bedroom market sale apartments over a new double-height residential lobby, complete with flexible commercial space.

The second stepped building, rising from 10 to 20 storeys, will have a glass and beige brick façade with balconies providing 249 mixed-tenure homes and flexible commercial space, with a large podium garden at the first-floor level. The partners will be building Stonebridge Boxing Club, an important local sports-led charity, a new facility. This will be located in the third new building on site which will be three storeys high providing a new boxing gym and public café with glass and bronzed-black terracotta façade.

The project’s significant public realm improvements include a new civic square, for food markets, a new Wembley outdoor Film Festival and Art & Antiques Market. Running through the site will be Stonebridge Place, a new green pedestrianised route linking the various buildings and landscaped areas.

Gil Selzer, Managing Director of Canada Israel UK said: “This proposed residential-led development at Wembley Point is a major urban regeneration project that will create a new destination for South Wembley. Stonebridge Place marks the next step in Canada Israel’s international expansion plans and building a strong real estate presence in the London property market.”

Omer Weinberger, CEO of Avanton commented: “Avanton are delighted to be partnering with international property company Canada Israel on this major urban regeneration scheme in Wembley which will provide market sale, BTR (Build to Rent) and social housing provision.”


Current residents of Wembley Point  (now marketed as WEM Tower) are not happy - in fact they feel misled and cheated by Canada Israel:

These are extracts from a typical comment on the Brent Planning website:

I am a new resident/tenant in the WEM Tower building and I am one of the many first ever tenants to reside in the WEM Tower building.
 

The owners and management of the premises did not and still do not disclose to potential new tenants/residents in the WEM Tower building about the proposed planning works that have been applied for permission to the Brent council during the viewings or at any point in time throughout the process of signing a contract or rental tenancy agreement with them!

This information is purposefully kept discreet and un-disclosed to all of new tenants/residents in the WEM Tower building! This is a very intentional act and behaviour of the management company and the owners and landlords of the flats in the WEM Tower building.

The entire grounds surrounding the outdoor premises of the WEM Tower building being the car park area will be subject to construction/maintenance/building work on the premises surrounding the WEM Tower building in which our flats are located/situated where we have been locked into 6-18 months rental tenancy agreement contacts!

If the planning for this project is authorised for a go ahead .. it will be extremely hazardous and injurious to our health and safety as residents residing in the WEM Tower building because we will all be surrounded by the on going construction all around the WEM Tower building premises! This is clearly unhealthy for us residents!

It is completely unfair for the management/landlords to expect us to live on a construction site! Either they decide to terminate our rental tenancy agreements of permission is granted to them for this project! Because the management/owners/landlords of the flats in WEM Tower building have not and did not disclose this information about the further construction on the premises, it was information that was kept discreet, un-disclosed concealed and withheld from us new tenants/residents currently residing within the flats in the WEM Tower building!

Please Brent Council, I am writing this appeal/objection on behalf of all several other current new residents/tenants in this building who are unhappy and dissatisfied for this project to go ahead or be given permission to go ahead!

We would like to suggest that if permission is given for this project than construction can only begin if all of us residents are evacuated from this WEM Tower building and released from our long term rental tenancy agreements! As our health and safety is at risk of construction is deemed to occur in the foreseeable future and if permission is given for this project.

Please Brent Council take this objection and appeal in serious consideration from all of us current new tenants/residents.

There are three pages of comments, mainly from WEM Tower residents and just one supporting the planning application:

I do not object to the proposal to continue to develop the Wembley Point site. The developer's plans to fully develop the land have been clear since they purchased the land. I trust that my rights as a tenant will not be infringed upon. To date, I have received prompt and helpful replies to all my emails to the Property Managers at Home-Made (who are responsible for WEM Tower), and I have no reason to believe at this time that Home-Made and/or Canada-Israel will act in a manner which is inappropriate to tenants. If the nature of this relationship changes, I have the right to complain to Home-Made and Canada-Israel as appropriate and/or report any unlawful or unethical practices to the Property Ombudsman or other relevant regulatory body. However, I have no reason at this time to expect to complain either to Home-Made and/or Canada-Israel, nor to the Property Ombudsman or relevant regulatory body.


My understanding of the proposal is such that I believe that no significant alteration will be made to the fabric of the building in which I live, that building being WEM Tower. My understanding is that the only building works which will happen at WEM Tower itself are those which are necessary for maintenance purposes (e.g. such works as would be expected by a landlord so as to fulfil their duties to tenant(s)). Therefore, I do not believe that the development of the disused car park will affect my safety or compromise my right to quiet enjoyment of the property I rent. Construction work is subject to time restrictions so as to avoid excessive discomfort to those nearby, and acoustic insulation boards can be used to minimise noise during the works. I reserve the right to complain to Home-Made (the Property Manager) and/or Canada-Israel (the Landlord) if my quiet enjoyment of the property or any other contractual or legal right is compromised for whatever reason and I am further empowered to complain to the Property Ombudsman or other relevant regulatory body if my initial complaint is handled inappropriately.


As far as I am aware, tenants have not been advised that the carpark which is currently present at the site is available for long-term use. Neither the WEM Tower website nor the WEM Tower resident app advertise parking. Indeed, the resident app stipulates that cars cannot park on the site other than for checking-in purposes and for deliveries. In my experience, both the Developer and Property Manager have been fair and flexible regarding the use of the car park, as I was allowed to park for free whilst I sold my car. Cars are inappropriate for London; I have replaced my car with a small electric moped, and I also own a bicycle, and it is my understanding that these greener modes of transportation are unaffected by the absence of car parking. I firmly believe that the Wembley Point development should be car-free, with the exemption of blue badge holders. I am a car enthusiast, but I am sentient to the negative environmental impact of car use in London and beyond and the issue of congestion, which cannot be resolved through the acquisition of an electric car (as cars are larger vehicles). It is my opinion that residents at this development should be encouraged to use (preferably electric) mopeds/motorcycles, as well as bicycles, when they are not using public transport. This would further reduce the potentially negative impact of increased population to other residents in the area and would encourage residents to make environmentally-conscious decisions. Those who need cars should hire them occasionally, and I understand that Zipcar will soon be available direct from this development. This meets my needs perfectly, and likely the needs of most or all other residents. There are a small number of cars currently parked at the development, but I have only seen one of these move and that was only on one single occasion. I am not omniscient, but my perspective is that current residents do not desperately need access to personal cars.


I believe the development of this land will have a positive impact on the area. Firstly, the property I rent at present is very well-presented; it is nicely equipped and thoughtfully designed. I have lived in both social and private rental properties my entire life, and my flat at WEM Tower is definitively the nicest, most well-equipped property I have ever occupied. The property is furnished to a higher standard than I have come to expect from a private landlord, and certainly to higher standard than any property I have ever rented or viewed, not only in London but nationwide. It is a shame that the approach taken by this developer is not used more widely, particularly by Local Authorities which ought to work more effectively to tackle the nationwide housing crisis, and should build genuinely comfortable homes for all. I grew up on a council estate, and I only wish that it had been half as nice as WEM Tower, as our standard of living would have been so much higher than it was. If WEM Tower is anything to go by, I firmly believe that the developer should be encouraged to improve run-down, disused, or poorly-developed land in Brent and beyond. They are succeeding here at Wembley Point, and I am in favour of good quality housing for all. Perhaps Brent Council could buy a few properties from the developer when they are completed?

The Wembley Towers development proposal will create jobs in the construction and hospitality sectors, both of which were hit hard by the pandemic. The staff working at WEM Tower, from the cleaners to the concierge, baristas to security guards, are fantastic. It is great to see jobs being created in Brent, and staff seem likely to be able to move onto other roles in their sector should they wish, as they are all excellent at what they do. The development, when complete, will also improve the lives of residents in the Wembley Towers; residents will be able to use both Brent River Park and the landscaped gardens at Wembley Towers, plus the health and well-being facilities which are intended.

I do not believe that the development of the carpark will infringe on my contractual and legal rights as a tenant of WEM Tower, and I understand what actions are necessary on my part should any of my rights be infringed upon for whatever reason. I plan to remain a long-term tenant of the development subject to my needs and I am enthused by the prospect of increased choice to properties on the development, and may indeed wish to migrate to another tower should it better suit my needs. I believe, based on the fairness and transparency exhibited to date, that the Landlord would consider a rent cap (that is, no increase to rent beyond the existing contractual period for the duration of another contract) should this prove appropriate and/or relevant to tenants who live onsite during the building works.

It is nice to see developers creating jobs without building on Green Belt land.

As I talk to people in Wembley it is remarkable how many do not know about planned developments - until work starts... I wonder if the WEM Tower and Monks Park residents know about the other pending tower in their corner of Tokyngton ward.

 Argenta House (opposite Stonebridge Park Station next to current bus stop)

This is a 24 storey tower that will replace the 2 storey Argenta House. The Wembley Brook runs close to the current building. The plans were approved by a much substituted Planning Committee back in October 2019. It was reduced from 28 storeys to 24. LINK

You can see Wembley Point behind the current building in this photograph but will need to imagine the 32 storey and the stepped 20 storey  buildings either side of WEM Tower as well as the impact of the 24 storey Argenta House on the light of all three. The artist's impression of a stand-alone Argenta House is more than a little misleading.

 

Argenta House on Argenta Way, opposite Stonebridge Park Station where the new block will be built. Wembley Point in the background.

This is not all of course. On the opposite side of the road we have the Unisys buildings which along with the Bridge Park Centre and some smaller sites is the site of a controversial major development by Brent Council with General Mediterranean Holding. Details have been held up by protected legal action as the community tried to secure its ownership of Bridge Park (use this blog's search facility for details).

 

The Unisys buildings

The  intial plans were for 800 residential units of a site said to be worth c£500m and GMH said one of the Unisys blocks could be refurbished as a hotel. In the light of the Stonebridge Place development and Brent's policy in favour of tall buildings and 'intensification corridors' this is likely to be revised by the developer.

Indeed a note on the Local Plan Tall Buildings Policy  (June 2021) goes further and includes Conduit Way on the opposite side of the road to the Unisys site LINK:

For Stonebridge Park an additional area adjacent to the site allocation BSSA7 Bridge Park and Unisys Building has been identified. This incorporates the Conduit Way estate. This extension is justified on the basis that the existing estate is of low density, lower quality homes which has the potential to be intensified to a higher density reflective of its higher public transport accessibility. This is particularly so along and in the areas adjacent to the Brentfield frontage. This will complement the taller buildings proposed on the Unisys and Bridge Park site and reinforce the gateway role from the North Circular of those entering the borough from further afield.


 

 

Wednesday 20 April 2022

Tokyngton kids to get their zip wire back

The zip wire in Monks Park/River Park has been broken for several years. What used to be a source of enjoyment for local children was a sad sight with the platform used as a makeshift table for drinkers and their takeaways. Tree branches had grown and tangled with the wire and the seat was missing.

 I had previously advised local children to ask their parents to contact Tokyngton councillors to ask for action but nothing was done.

Last week in the litter strewn park I took pictures of the zip wire and a curious boy rode up on his bike to give his opinion:


 Amazingly despite the long years of neglect Brent Council came right back the same afternoon:


 What a coincidence but welcome all the same.   The next step will be to ensure litter bins are emptied regularly and children have access to the play equipment that is too often occupied by adults.


 
 

Thursday 20 January 2022

Tokyngton residents receive no response from their neighbours, Muhammed Butt and Dawn Butler, over littering, street drinking & women's safety in their ward

 


Residents of Tokyngton concerned about littering and other issues are to present a 320 petition at the next Brent Cabinet meeting on February 7th.

They have received no response to a November petition letter to Dawn Butler MP and Cllr Muhammed Butt despite them both being resident in the ward. Zack Polanski, Green Party All London Assembly Member and chair of the Assembly's Environment Committee who did respond sympathetically but has limited power on the issue as it is a borough matter.

 The residents' petition calls for more rubbish bins, improved lighting, anti-littering enforcement and loitering and public drinking restrictions.

The area affected stretches from the Kingdon Hall at Wembley Triangle,  Neeld Parade down Oakington Manor Drive, Vivian Avenue and Vivian Gardens.  The greens at the junctions of  these roads are particular hotspots.

The petitioners write:

Sadly many Tokyngton residents feel badly let down by our council representatives. We see our streets contantly strewn with empty alcohol cans, bottles and litter of every kind. Places feel unsafe especially for women and girls, with now darker nights.  In the listed areas (above) we have constant male loitering and drinking. Here we ask for more neighbourhood/community police officers and the installation of CCTV cameras.

We did not vote for unsightly blue bags stuck on trees. They blow upside down in strong wind, and are difficult and unhygenic to open. We did not vote for an unworkable no-bin policy.  Cllr Butt is placing public bins in 'flag ship areas' and ignoring us and our environment. We ask for proper public bins to be properly collected, especially on our 'hot zones'. Also better lighting in these zones.

Our area of Tokyngton is NOT cared about. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

The petition is addressed to Dawn Butler MP, Muhammed Butt, Michael Gove (Secretary of State) and Zack Polanski.


Monday 5 December 2016

Wembley Stadium due to disappear behind more high rise flats


Brent Planning Committee on December 14th will be recommended by officers to approve plans LINK to replace the present Powerleague pitches adjacent to Wembley Stadium, the Wembley Arena and Brent Civic Centre, with two new buildings comprising 340 100% private rented flats and retail space.

The pictures speak for themselves but officers think the plans are superior to those submitted in 2007 - although a lot has changed in the area since then. Officers say that no affordable housing needs to be provided on this site as it is over-provided on other sites in the overall Quintain development.

Powerleague will be temporarily housed in a 'meanwhile' space at Wembley Retail Park close to the Yellow Pavilion. Incidentally the controversial Powerleague proposals for Kingsbury High School appear to have stalled.

The housing will be 11% studio, 41% one bedroom, 46% 2 bedrooms and 3% 3 bedrooms (yes I know it doesn't equal 100% bu that's what the report says). There will be an artificial grass lawned terrace at first floor level and another terrace on the 10th floor as well as a small public square.

The retail space will allow 'outdoor cafe culture' to spill out into the area.

Wedged between the Stadium and the Arena clearly there will be noise problems but 'acoustic solutions' are planned and potential buyers can't really be aware of the potential problems.

Personally I feel that the loss of the shouts and thumps of footballs from the Powerleague will take away from the atmosphere of the area.  At present there is live football, in a sense, at Wembley Stadium every day. A far better place for the shouts and thumps than at the back of suburban gardens!

The reports says that notices of the application were sent out to nearby owners and occupiers including the the London Designer Outlet, Wembley National Stadium, Hilton Hotel and Raffles House but rather surprisingly at the time of the publication none had responded. There is no record of any representations from Tokyngton ward councillors.











Sunday 6 November 2016

Brent SOS join libraries demonstration in Central London

Some of the Green Party contingent
Writer and broadcaster Michael Rosen addresses the crowd





Sian Berry holds up the Green Party's demands (Photo: Sarah Cox)

March for libraries, museums and galleries from Ian Clark on Vimeo.


Brent Library campaigners were among 2000-3000 people who joined yesterday's march in protest against 'culture cuts' to libraries, museums and galleries. Some cuts come as funding cuts or closures others through the backdoor as out-sourcing and privatisation.

Brent Council closed six of its twelve libraries in the first round of local government austerity cuts. Of the six here are now volunteer libraries at Barham, Preston and Kensal Rise and Cricklewood is on its way.

Neasden Library is particularly missed serving a poor area with many children, as is Tokyngton in Cllr Butt's ward.

In her speech Sian Berry, Green Party Assembly member,  praised library volunteers (she is one too) who had fought to keep library facilities open. She acknowledged it was hard work and would be unnecessary if we had a properly resourced, professionally staffed, comprehensive system.

The rally was addressed by Barnet library staff who were on strike on Saturday. The crowd were warned that cuts and closures, if they had not already arrived, were 'coming to a library near you'.


Tuesday 10 May 2016

Wednesday's Brent Planning Committee to go ahead


Brent Council Democratic Services confirmed today that Wednesday's Planning Committee wil go ahead.  The meeting was in doubt after the Chair, Sarah Marquis, moved a deferral at yesterday's Planning Committee. Her motion, informed by legal advice, was based on the fact that two meetings in one week, considering major planning applications, with long term impact on Wembley would not be made by a fully informed committee given the amount of paper work involved, including much that was online, and thus would not deliver fairness and justice through due process. LINK

Committee members were not willing to discuss the motion in public and met privately after the public left.

Democratic Services said:
I can confirm that the meeting scheduled for Wednesday 11 May 2016 will go ahead.
I am not aware that a proposal to defer tomorrow night's meeting will be tabled.
It would still be possible for the Committee to defer some of the items even if the meeting itself is not deferred.

The Reports Pack for the meeting is 248 pages long LINK

This is a summary of just one of the agenda items. LINK It includes up to 4,000 homes, an 1,800 space 10 storey car park,  hotel, more student accommodation, a three form entry primary school on the site of York House, retail and lots more. It is in Tokyngton ward (as are all the other applications tabled for Wednesday) where Muhammed Butt is one of the three Labour councillors. Apart from the car park this is Outline Permission but obviously will affect the shape of Wembkey for decades to come.

I undestand the Football Association will speak on this application. Cllr Sam Stopp is also due to address the Committee.

PROPOSAL:

22 December, 2015 Tokyngton


Brent Connects Wembley 

Olympic Way and land between Fulton Road and South Way including Green Car Park, Wembley Retail Park, 1-11 Rutherford Way, 20-28 Fulton Road, Land south of Fulton Road opposite Stadium Retail Park, land opposite Wembley Hilton, land opposite London Design
Hybrid planning application, accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment, for the redevelopment of the site including;-
Full planning permission for erection of a 10-storey car park to the east of the Stadium comprising 1,816 car parking spaces of which 1,642 are for non-residential purposes, up to 82 coach parking spaces and associated infrastructure, landscaping and vehicular access.

And

Outline application for the demolition of existing buildings on site and the provision of up to 420,000 sqm (gross external area) of new floorspace within a series of buildings comprising:
Retail/financial and professional services/food and drink (Use Class A1 to A4) up to 21,000 sqm;
Commercial (Use Class B1) up to 82,000 sqm;
Hotel (Use Class C1): up to 25,000 sqm;
Residential (Use Class C3): up to 350,000 sqm (up to 4,000 homes) plus up to 20,000 sqm of floorspace for internal plant, refuse, cycle stores, residential lobbies, circulation and other residential ancillary space;
Education, healthcare and community facilities (Use Class D1): up to15,000 sqm;
Assembly and leisure (Use Class D2): 23,000 sqm;
Student accommodation (Sui Generis): Up to 90,000 sqm. And associated open space (including a new public park) and landscaping; car and coach parking (including up to 55,000 sqm of residential parking and 80,000 sqm non-residential parking) and cycle storage; pedestrian, cycle and vehicular accesses; associated highway works; and associated infrastructure including water attenuation tanks, an energy centre and the diversion of any utilities and services to accommodate the development.

Wednesday 4 February 2015

Last chance to have a say on the Welsh School plans in King Edward VII's Park

The Planning Application by the Welsh School to take over the Bowling Green Pavilion in King Edward VII Park, Wembley as a school and to build an additional classroom, lay a playground and remove 4 category B trees (a Monterey Cypress and 3 Irish Yew Trees) was deferred at the Planning Committee to allow for wider consultation and to consider alternative sites within the park for a land-swap. That consultation is now taking place. This  Guest Blog from Denise Cheong addresses some of the issues involved.

Dear Wembley Matters Readers

Re-consultation has begun for planning application no. 14/4208 for the London Welsh School in  King Eddie’s Park.

The London Welsh School has submitted 3 additional supporting documents.

The document titled “Additional Statement” uploaded on 26/1/2015 states in the introduction that:

”This additional statement was produced by the Welsh School in conjunction with Brent’s Property and Projects, and Sports and Parks Service.”

Point 2) refers to the Brent wards the park is located within and borders.

The additional statement incorrectly states that:

”This park is located in Preston ward but its boundaries border Wembley Central and Tokyngton Ward.”

A Brent borough ward map shows that King Eddie’s park is actually located in both Wembley Central and Preston Wards, bordering Tokyngton Ward.

Annotated London Borough of Brent Ward Boundary Map Showing Locations of Bowls Pavilion and Bowls Greens, Wembley Central, Preston and Tokynton Wards © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey 100025260

- The bowls pavilion and both bowls greens are located in Wembley Central Ward.

- Collin’s Lodge (the mock tutor house beside Park Lane), the derelict yard (assigned to Veolia as a depot) and the steep bank proposed for the land swap are within Preston Ward.

Wembley Central Ward Councillors are: Cllr Sam Stopp, Cllr Krupa Sheth, Cllr Wilhemina Mitchell-Murray

Preston Ward Councillors are: Cllr Matthew Bradley, Cllr Patricia Harrison, Cllr Jean Hossain

Tokyngton Ward Councillors are: Cllr Muhammed Butt, Cllr Orleen Hylton, Cllr Ketan Sheth

(as listed on Brent Council website on 04/2/2015)

The case officer has said that she will accept comments up to and including Wednesday 18th February 2015.

With Martin’s extensive coverage of this planning application you will all be aware of the background to this proposal by now.

We urge all Wembley Matters readers, if you have any thoughts whatsoever on this scheme, to make formal comment either via the council website or via written correspondence with the case officer, Victoria McDonagh, planning application no. 14/4208  LINK

Now
is the time for your voices to be heard.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Denise Cheong

Your Wembley Central Resident Neighbour

Member, Princes Court & Keswick Garden Residents Association

Chair & Blog Editor, Friends of King Eddie's Park: Friendsofkingeddies.blogspot.com

Blog Editor, Wembley Champions: Wembleychampions.blogspot.com

Steering Group Volunteer Member & Communications Editor, Big Local Wembley Central: http://www.biglocalwembleycentral.org/

Team Member, Wembley Crime Prevention: http://www.wembleycrimeprevention.org/

Friday 9 January 2015

The case for deferring decision on Welsh School build in King Edward VII Park

I have tried on Wembley Matters to enable debate and dialogue over the planning application for the London Welsh School to relocate to the Bowling Green in King Edward VII Park. As with many planning applications the general public were unaware of the plans.

This will be a difficult decision with the protection of green space and the preservation of a unique institution apparently in conflict.

A glance back at comments on the earlier coverage on this blog will indicate that new information has emerged during the discussion and further suggestions have been made that are not in the officers' report.

The Welsh School is a charity, along with other independent schools, and charges fees. The school however prides itself on never turning a child away so fees are reduced for those in need. However the school has applied twice to become a free school and if successful  would receive funding directly from the DfE. It is not clear whether they will re-apply.

The Gladstone Free School had plans to build on open sports space adjacent to Gladstone Park and this was opposed by local residents and the school withdrew. Gladstone would have been a much bigger school but free schools being built on open space is a controversial issue.

Clearly the Planning Committee would need to be mindful of setting a precedent that may open the way for other applications and the importance of protecting Brent's parks and open spaces.

There has been some confusion over which ward is affected. The Bowling Green, Park Lane school and the land between them are in Wembley Central ward. The rest of the park, including Collins Lodge and the land swap site, are in Preston ward. The houses on Park Lane, opposite the park, are in Tokyngton ward. So far only Sam Stopp. Wembley Central ward councillor has made a submission to the Planning Committee and will be speaking at the meeting. (email address below)

One suggestion has been that a possible alternative site in King Edward VII park that would be more accessible. This is on the disused yard next Collins Lodge. It has also been suggested that the Pavilion would be better used as a community facility for Wembley Central residents. The question has been asked as to why the availability of the Pavilion for other uses has not been made known to residents.

There is some confusion about the school's use of the Bowling Green itself - the planning application is only for the Pavilion and the land between the Pavilion and Princes Court back gardens. The Chair of Governors of the Welsh School in a blog comment said the bowling green itself was not in their  demise but elsewhere there is an assumption that the children would use it.

There has been a flurry of late support for the planning application, many of whom have links with the Welsh School and praise its provision.  Although labelled 'Comments from Neighbours' many are from much further afield. One postal letter of support mistakenly names Barham Park as the site of the Pavilion rather than King Edward VII Park. An early support statement that appeared under a name at  28 Princes Court has been removed from the Council. A neighbour checked at the address and found that no one of that name lived there and the occupants hadn't submitted a statement of support.  Brent Council, rather strangely, accounted for  its inclusion an as 'administrative error'. Other submissions from Princes Court are in opposition. Sports England are in touch with the Planning Officer and will make a submission by Monday.

My personal view is that because of the wider implications of this application, confusion over the detail, possibility of an alternative site within the park, and lack of public knowledge about the proposal, the Planning Committee should seriously consider deferring a decision on Tuesday.

Comments can still be made up to Monday midday to victoria.mcdonagh@brent.gov.uk

The site visit is tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9.35am

The application will be heard on Tuesday at the Planning Committee, 7pm, Brent Civic Centre. Residents can apply to speak for 2 minutes and applications have to be made 24 hours in advance.
Apply to: joe.kwateng@brent.gov.uk

To view the on-line comments so far follow this LINK

Standing orders for the Planning Committee (explains how it works, speaking rights etc)  LINK

Planning Committee Code of Practice LINK

Cllr Sam Stopp is still keen to received comments from residents:  cllr.sam.stopp@brent.gov.uk

Wednesday 24 December 2014

How will Brent community library campaigns fare in 2015?

As the year draws near its end let's see what the state of play is with the various library campaigns in the borough. These were set up after Brent Council closed 6 of its 12 libraries.

Two libraries,  Neasden and Tokyngton, are now gone for good, but the four others are being supported by community campaigns. This is the current state of play (information from the campaigns' blogs, Facebook pages etc).

CRICKLEWOOD LINK
The campaign is optimistic that it will have a space in the new development but has a wary eye on events at Kensal Rise:
 On 12th November Brent Planning Committee approved the application to demolish the building that has served as Cricklewood Library since the 1920s, and build a new mixed use development. The new four storey development will have a community space on the ground floor, sharing the building with six flats.
Friends of Cricklewood Library have been named as tenants of the community space, pending legal agreements, and we intend to run a library service, making the most of using the space by making sure it is adaptable and can be rented out to community groups for activities. We’ve got exciting plans/ideas, and a strong team – and there is a lot of talent and energy in the community to draw on.
A big thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign to keep our local library. There is a lot of work to do – but what wonderful chance to run a library/community centre and keep it right here. Please let us know if you would like to be involved – get in touch by email
 KENSAL RISE LINK

Regular readers will know about recent events which saw the building go up for auction and then fail to reach its reserve price. The update on the campaign blog states:
We understand that you may be confused and concerned by the latest turn of events – the auction of the library.


The library building may or may not have a new owner.

The focus of the Friends of Kensal Rise Library has always been, and will continue to be, to work for the establishment of a library in the Kensal Rise Library building. We remain focused on this intention and our resolve is strengthened by the on-going support of the Kensal Rise/Kensal Green community - we are gratified by the trust the community places in us and are heartened by the many messages of support we continue to receive.

We received a letter on the 16th December from All Souls College, who, by the terms of their sale to Andrew Gillick, retain control of the D1 community space, whoever is the owner of the building.


Any subsequent owner of the freehold of the library inherits this obligation regarding the D1 space.
PRESTON LIBRARY LINK



The campaign hopes to be able to run a community library from the old building when it is no longer needed as a temporary annex to Preston Park Primary School.  They hope this will be in Spring 2015 when building work at the school is completed.  During the May local elections Cllr Roxanne Mashari pledged the building at a peppercorn rent to any 'local community group who can provide a sustainable community library.':
We will not open to competitive tender in order to give preference to local groups if they can demonstrate health and safety sustainability etc. and we will offer help and assistance through Brent CVS the voluntary sector and continued support and networking through the Brent libraries forum which has proved successful for the likes of the Friends of Kensal Rise.
The campaign is now asking for more volunteers, donations from local business etc LINK
It has already been using the building out of school hours as a community hub.


BARHAM LIBRARY LINK
 
The Card Room, Barham Park

 This campaign has run temporary libraries in Wembley High Road and at Sudbury Town station. but wants to move back into Barham Park Card Room (above) that has remained empty for some time,
The Council in October 2013 had plans to turn it into a cafe on a similar basis to the one in Roundwood Park but nothing has happened since and the building, donated to the public by Titus Barham remains unused and subject to deterioration.

Friends of Barham Library have said that  they are willing to offer refreshments to the public using the park if they run a community library from the building.

Cllr Michael Pavey has now become Chair of the Barham Trust and there has been a further delay as they review the governance of the Trust.  In response to a letter from Francis Henry, Property Manager for Friends of Barham Library, he said: 
I reiterate what I have said previously: I have absolute biases (I suspect this should be 'no biases' MF) on this issue. I have not been involved in any of these campaigns. My sole interest is to try and use my role to ensure that future generations can enjoy a beautiful Barham Park.
Henry had written:
I think the time has now come for you and the other Trustees to stop deferring and make a decision on this issue.
As an Administration you have now announced plans to Cuts Services. The proposals to close Youth & Community and Sports Centres while massively cutting the budget for youth services confirms the need for the voluntary sector to pick up the pieces.
Friends of Barham Library and other Volunteer Library Groups in Brent have picked up the pieces and provided makeshift services, replacing services  lost after you and your colleagues closed 6 libraries. You will recall the arguments against closures including the loss of study spaces for young people, the loss of a local safe 'community facilities' where people could go and the fact that over half the active users of the closed libraries were young people under 19.
Friends of Barham Library can make effective use of the Card Room and other parts of the Barham Buildings still available for access and not let to ACAVA. We can provide a Volunteer Library, a meeting place, venue available for giving advice, study space etc etc we can even arrange to provide refreshments (not a full blown commercial Cafe which has no chance of success). In simple terms we can provide some of the activities lost as a result of a successive and ever worsening cuts in local community facilities and services.
We have a clear record of delivery, ability to source premises, materials, books and cash.
Our shop in Wembley High Road was let to us on a two week notice - we have been there since July 2012. Sudbury Town Underground Station is let to us on similar terms but we have been there and run our activities since September 2013.
To be able to run effective activities over extended hours and to be able to raise more cash from various charitable sources we need more permanent premises and a longer security of tenure. We also need to be in Barham Park.
I and our many supporters find it very odd that the Trustees of the Barham Park Charity were prepared to bring in an organisation such as ACAVA from a long way away, who provide a service which no one asked for, while denying a group of local people, providing activities that local people actually want, a right of access to a building which was gifted to local people for their use.
I am at a loss to understand what your role is. Is it to facilitate and support local people to run activities for the benefit of their local community or is your job to block them. At present all you actions suggest that it is the latter.
I am not one for platitudes and meaningless words. I prefer direct language and straight dealing. So no more dithering on your part (or unnecessary obstruction from your officers). It is time for decisive action on your part.
There is time for you to make a decisive statement before 31 December and a clear indication that you support what we wish to achieve. If you at long last say YES before the end of this year we will ensure that the building is ready to serve local people by 31 March 2015.
If however you have no intention to allow Friends of Barham Library back into the building then please have the decency to say so now. We will all then know where we stand.
It is a measure of the importance of libraries to local people that these campaigns have kept going through difficult times and branched out  imaginatively into other activities in support of their cause. Debate continues about the role of volunteers and the need for a well funded professional library service but there can be no doubt about the commitment and staying power of these campaigners.

The Seighart Independent Library Report for England noted LINK 

There are examples of volunteer only libraries being set up across the country though there is a tendency for these to be established in reasonably affluent areas and there are still  questions over their long term viability. The more disadvantaged localities often have the greater need for such a service but they don’t tend to have the resources, experience or confidence to take over the running of their library.
As they enter 2015 with varying degrees of confidence I wish all the campaigns success in 2015.