Kingsbury Library

Following months of consultation Brent Council has finally decided to close 6 libraries. This has been a very difficult decision but will not affect the excellent Kingsbury Library in Kingsbury High Road which was not listed or threatened under the consultation plans.

Why is it necessary to close libraries? The current austerity measures introduced by the Con/Dem Government have cut the grant the council receives to pay for many Council services, like libraries.  The council is not allowed to increase Council Tax so has to reduce expenditure. 

Despite these current massive cuts forcing the planned library closures library usage has, in fact, declined in recent years. However it is interesting to note that since the Kingsbury Library has moved from Stag lane, visitor numbers have increased significantly. Nevertheless the challenge for the council is to reverse the decline in visitor numbers and attract the 80% of Brent population that currently do not visit libraries.

Whilst it is regrettable that some libraries will close, those remaining will be the subject of major improvements over the next year. They will have an enhanced on line service, with improved IT provision. They will open 7 days a week, this will also include Kingsbury, and receive significant investment in book stock. In addition a new Library will open in the Civic Centre near Wembley Arena in 2013  to replace the Town Hall library, which will remain open until then.

Kingsbury and Kenton Area Forum

The next meeting of the Kingsbury Kenton Area Forum takes place on Tuesday 26^th April at Kingsbury High School, Princess Ave NW9 starting at 7.00 pm

It is your chance to meet your local Fryent Councillors Jim, Ruth and George and discuss with them how next years Ward Working budget might be allocated.

The ward working budget is a small amount of money that can be used to fund local projects. Each year local residents are asked what they would like to see happen in the area. In the past we have planted trees, paid for park benches, outreach youth activities, supported the Roe Green walled garden project, supported Age Concern projects and lots more. 

There will also be an item on local policing by Inspector Claire Smart and an opportunity to hear about Sports activities in Brent from Leisure Connections ltd.

Will AV give us greater democracy?

We doubt it. When the PM and the Deputy PM feel obliged to face different ways over this issue, you wonder why they are inflicting on the public a totally irrelevent obligation to vote over things which are way down most people's list of concerns. Our own view is that referenda exercises should only be used for vital issues, (such as the 1975 one on IN or OUT of Europe?). We elect MPs to Parliament to get on with deciding such complicated issues, as the intricacies of rival voting systems.

But it seems we will have to do it. Hopefully the weather on May 5th will be nice for the stroll to the polls.
So, what's it all about? One party, the Liberal Democrats,want to change the current First Past The Post system to one which they think will benefit them electorally. They really want Proportional Representation (PR), where you count people's 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th  etc preferences and so possibly negate people's 1st preference (as in Ireland, Israel and a few other countries). But the compromise which emerged from their haggling with the Conservatives over forming a coalition is something called the 'Alternative Vote' (AV), whereby only 2nd preference votes are counted.

Be sure to vote.

This fudge is hardly the way to change constitutional arrangements that have served us reasonably well. Yes, it can be a bit crude in giving one party more of a sweep of the seats in Parliament than their overall majority of votes. But it works both ways in a two party system. It usually enables the voters to 'throw the rogues out' when they emphatically want a change of government. Mr Clegg, who sold us such a false prospectus last June as aTV star, but went on to renege on all his promises, is hardly to be believed now.

Kingsbury Primary Schools parking problems.

Further to our blog on March 1^st  2011 all 3 Councillors have had a further meeting concerning traffic problems outside Kingsbury Green and Robert Southwell schools. We met Headteachers from both primary schools, Governors from Robert Southwell together with Police Sgt Matt Howard, Safer Neighborhood Team and Brent Council officers.

The schools are very supportive to addressing the problem and are eager to avoid a potential accident that a minority of irresponsible parents might cause. These parents’ thoughtless actions create an unsafe environment both outside the school gates and between the two schools. This happens at both ends of the school day.

Brent Council officers agreed to look at lengthening and adding additional school entrance “ZIG ZAG” markings and yellow lines outside both schools. Both schools will work with school children to encourage parents not to stop or park outside the school gates. 

Cllr George Crane

Fryent Councillors on the March

The Fryent Councillors on the March

It was a carnival atmosphere, down at the Victoria Embankment last Saturday, as we congregated for the start of the 'March for the Alternative' at Temple Station.

Lots of bands, banners and chanting; it was amazing just being part of it all. There was so much going on and so much to take in. A sense of excitement that we were part of this vast demonstration.  At last we could express outrage and opposition to what the Government is doing. Up until now it has all been so passive.

Supporters from Fryent and Kingsbury were joined by people from all over Brent. It was orderly and good natured and after 3 hours we had reached Parliament and onward to Downing Street. The noise outside Downing Street was deafening, lots of Police, but everyone was well behaved despite their frustration and anger.

It was a great pity that a tiny minority of troublemakers caused problems, but hardly surprising considering the media attention. Why did the media pay so much attention to the trouble makers, surely that’s exactly what they want!

The organisers expected 100K and the total turnout was probably 4 or 5 times that number which was fantastic. Will it make any difference – probably not yet – but it was a great day out and this may just be the start of a campaign that will grow and grow.