Temporary reception classes at Preston Library?

The scale of the shortage of primary school places in Brent is set out in another report to the Executive:

The expansion of four primary schools is suggested plus a variety of other short-term solutions that will be controversial. The issue of providing new schools remains a low priority and is undermined by Coalition requirements that new schools should be free schools or academies in the first instance.

The four expanded schools are Barham from 3 to 4 form entry, Mitchell Brook 2-3 FE, Fryent 2-4 FE and Furness 2-3 FE. All governing bodies have agreed except for Furness which awaits the appointment of a new headteacher.

It is suggested that the closed Preston Library could provide one or two 'bulge' classes of 30 depending on adaptations and the Stonebridge Centre in Twybridge Way 120 places through provision of temporary classrooms.

Temporary expansion of existing schools include St Andrew and St Francis (30 places), Ashley Gardens (Preston Manor) 60 places, Wembley High (using 6th form provision for primary) 60 places, St Josephs Catholic Primary 30 places, Vicar's Green (an Ealing school on Brent border) 30 places, Curzon Crescent Children's Centre 30 places. College Green Nursery 25 places and Riverbank Nursery (Brentfield) 30 places.

The full report is HERE

Changes ahead for Barham Park

The future of buildings in Barham Park and proposals on the open space are due for discussion at the Brent Executive on March 12th.  The buildings are falling into disrepair and proposals for leasing them to external organisations are included in the officers' report.  The issue is complicated by Trust restrictions on the use of the buildings which apply.

Present accommodation:

The report  LINK also includes options for the Barham Park open space. One proposal is for an 'Eco Park' and would involve:

• Continuation of the community woodland planting from the roadside to the railway
• Creation of meadow habitats and bulb planting
• Redesign and replanting of the maple garden and potentially the mature conifers
• Pond and boardwalk creation especially for educational use
• Bee hives and communal food growing areas
• Sensory garden possibly established in the silver jubilee garden and/or in the rose terrace
• Removal of fencing which currently segregates the park into two
• Re-landscape area to rear of war memorial by regrading and replanting with a community orchard
• Indigenous planting to encourage indigenous wildlife species

Early Spring in Fryent Country Park

Warm sunshine and a gentle breeze accompanied me on a walk in Fryent Country Park this afternoon. The sound of woodpeckers' tapping resounded across the woods and blue tits, green finches, great tits, robins and long tailed tits flitted busily and tunefully through the hedgerows.

A heron hunting frogs scolded me noisily when I disturbed it at one of the many ponds. The first blackthorns had burst into flower.

As I walked I overheard a woman remarking to her companion, "I just so love this park!"  Once again I gave silent thanks to those councillors from Wembley Borough and Middlesex County Council who preserved this wonderful place for future generations.

Blackthorn (sloes)

catkins

Blackthorn blossom

Frogs (spot their white throats) and frog spawn

Tell Willesden Green developers what you think on March 9th and 10th

Shop/house window poster

Keep Willesden Green is producing these posters for display in shop and house windows to get the message about the redevelopment out as widely as possible.

You can download your own A4 version as a PDF HERE

Keep Willesden Green are pressing the Council/Galliford Try to STOP, LISTEN  AND REFLECT to enable residents to say what they think of the proposals and what they want for their community. It is important that this message gets to them on the Exhibition/Feedback days to be held at the Willesden Green Library Centre on Martch 9th and 10th.

Keep Willesden Green do not accept that this development is a 'done deal'.