IMPROVEMENTS to Harrow and Wealdstone station such as more security cameras, a better public announcement system and a refurbished ticket office, have been rejected by Harrow Council.

Transport for London (TfL) was refused planning permission for listed building consent to undertake the work, which also included new platform seats, special paving tiles for passengers with sight problems, and upgrading the staff accommodation.

A council planning officer turned down the application because "the proposal would not preserve the special architectural or historic character of this statutory listed building".

TfL was told its application lacked details such as the specification and location about all the materials and devices it wanted to introduce and that all the cabling needed for the CCTV (closed circuit television) and public address systems would create too much "clutter".

The station in The Bridge, Wealdstone, was built in 1875, altered in 1911 and given Grade II Listed status in 1988.

TESCO is to open a mini supermarket on the site of the former Woolworths store in Wealdstone that closed on January 2.
The Hertfordshire-based retail giant will split the premises into a large unit for its Tesco Express business - open daily 6am to 11pm - and a smaller unit that will be rented out.
Chairman of Wealdstone Traders Association, Milan Shah, of Pineapple Boutique, said: "Many of the traders will welcome them but perhaps Budgens and some of the small newsagents will have a problem because it's in direct competition and Tesco is a very strong business.
"For the area, though, it will be a plus because at the moment, we're in a position where the High Street is quite empty.
"What we find, especially on Saturdays, is that most shoppers go out of Wealdstone to do their food shopping, and this new store will encourage people to shop locally."
Mr Shah said that ironically, Budgens actually used to be a Tesco store in the 1980s.
Wealdstone councillor Philip O'Dell (Labour) welcomed the news, saying that the town has needed a supermarket like this for years.
Although Tesco does not need planning permission to open the store, it has submitted four linked planning applications to Harrow Council to make minor amendments to the premises, such as installing a cash machine by the front door.

FIFTEEN volunteers are needed to pick up a paddle and take part in dragon boat race to raise cash for the UK's only specialist hospital for colorectal disease.
St Mark's Hospital Foundation, which supports St Mark's Hospital in Watford Road, Harrow, has entered a team into the 12th Rotary Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday May 17 but the original scheduled participants have had to pull out.
Dragon boat racing involves a crew of around 20 sitting two abreast in a long canoe-like boat and paddling in synchronism to the sound of a drum beat.
The races will take place on the River Thames at the Docklands Sailing Centre located at the Millwall Outer Dock in south-east London between 10am and 3pm.
An entry fee of £10 per person is required along with a minimum guaranteed sponsorship of £100, and all participants get a T-shirt.
n For more information and to register, call Maxine McNeil, the foundation's fundraising manager, on 020 8869 2371 or email maxine.mcneil@nwlh.nhs.uk

A SCHEME which allows artists to open their homes or studios as galleries has received funding from the National Lottery for its second outing this summer.
Held for the first time last June, Harrow Open Studios sees painters, jewellery makers, sculptors and others invite visitors to drop by their properties at specific times to view and discuss their works and even buy or commission pieces.
This year's showcase, which features 31 exhibitors and will be held between Friday June 12 and Monday June 15, has attracted a £5,000 grant from Arts Council England.
The organisers say the money will enable them to provide access ramps for wheelchair users at a number of venues as well as an adapted minibus to transport people and their carers between venues.
On top of this, there will be a children's art competition and wider publicity to complement the growing event.
Funding co-ordinator Joy Trpkovic said: "We are delighted with the grant from Arts Council England and the recognition it gives to our Open Studios.
"It means that we can improve on last year's event, which was widely recognised as an outstanding achievement and a welcome innovation for the borough.
"We are very grateful for the initial support from local businesses last year who helped us get started and welcome new sponsors that are coming forward.
"Those individuals and business supporters are an investment for the future and will benefit from inclusion in our advertising and web presence."

A second man has been accused of murdering 19-year-old student Hassan Kul Hawadleh at a Wealdstone petrol station last month.

Onochie Madekwe, 33, of no fixed abode, appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with murder, the attempted murder of the victim's 19-year-old friend, unlawful killing, causing grievous bodily harm and violent disorder.

The case was sent to Southwark Crown Court in south-east London and Mr Madekwe was remanded back into custody.

Mr Hawadleh, from Colindale, north-west London - son of a former Prime Minister of Somalia - died on February 19 of a stab wound to the heart at High Weald Service Station in High Road, Harrow Weald.

One of eight siblings, he was a former Alperton Community School and Harrow College student before enrolling on a construction engineering course at the University of East London.

The first man to be charged in connection with the fatal stabbing was Andrew Spence, 21, of Freeland Court, Freeland Road, Ealing.

Mr Spence was brought from custody to Brent Magistrates' Court on February 28 charged with murdering Mr Hawadleh, the attempted murder of the friend, and violent disorder.

Parking measures will be imposed on the streets of Harrow's County Roads estate, Harrow Council has controversially decided.

Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative), portfolio holder for environment and community safety, provisionally signed off the plan on Thursday, March 12 despite residents earlier handing in several petitions against the idea.

The original postal consultation, held in September last year, showed that in the County Roads area 50 residents supported the idea of a controlled parking zone (CPZ) - but 89 did not, with 11 having no opinion.

The CPZ will be introduced to the whole of Devonshire Road, Dorset Road and Oxford Road, the eastern sections of Pinner Road and Sussex Road, the southern sections of Rutland Road, Bedford Road and Pinner View and part of Neptune Road.

It will mean that drivers must display a permit to be able to park their vehicle within the CPZ between 11am and 12 noon on weekdays or risk attracting a parking ticket.

Extra short-term pay-and-display parking bays will be created at the southern ends of Devonshire Road, Oxford Road, Rutland Road, Bedford Road and Pinner Road.

In addition, certain junction throughout Headstone South ward will be painted with double-yellow lines as part of the scheme.

Ms Hall was recommended to approve the plan by the council's Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel which met to consider the issue on November 26.

Traffic officers at Harrow Council will now publish the legal notices required to confirm the introduction of the CPZ and, if there are no legal objections, the measures will come into force.

Six months after implementation, further consultation will be held to see if residents support an extension of the area covered by the residents-only parking.

To celebrate the opening of its new Harlesden store, Specsavers has teamed up with the Observer to offer four lucky readers the chance to each win £150 worth of eyecare.

The competition is part of the store's two-week celebration to mark its launch.

Each prize includes a free eye examination and a pair of designer specs up to the value of £125.

The four winners can chose from well-known brands including Jasper Conran, Quiksilver, Red or Dead, Missoni and Specsavers' own best selling range of designer glasses - Osiris. A trained store stylist will be on hand to advise on the best frame style and shape to suit their face.

To enter email your name, address, and daytime telephone number to or on a postcard to Specsavers competition, Gazette House, 28 Bakers Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 1RG.

The closing date is March 27.

A member of staff at Harrow Council could face the axe after accidently sending a crude email to a resident.

The council confirmed it was now investigating the incident, which is believed to have occurred after the worker forwarded the joke attachment to a resident who had previously emailed in a complaint about bin collections.

Carol Cutler, director of customer services, said: "The council is taking this matter extremely seriously and a member of staff is away from work while we are carrying out an investigation under the council's disciplinary procedure.

"All staff have immediately been reminded again of the council's email policy which covers all forms of inappropriate use of email.

"I will be writing to the resident to apologise unreservedly for the email and ensure the problem with their bins has been resolved."

Young people across Harrow are to benefit from impressive new sports facilities now that the borough has secured a £4.2million grant.

A multi-use sports hall, gym, IT suite, art room, recording studio, cafe and outdoor pitch will be constucted on the Cedars Estate in Harrow Weald thanks to the project, entitled The Pitch, A Place to Go.

It was announced on Tuesday that Watford FC's Community Sports and Education Trust would work with Harrow Council to develop the idea, after the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) gave the multi-million pound grant the go-ahead.

If planning applications are approved it is hoped yougsters between 11 and 19, as well as disabled people up to the age of 24, will steer clear of antisocial behaviour and use the club to socialise and hone their sporting skills.

But far from just being a centre for children to enjoy football, council chiefs say the site will offer a diverse range of activities, including karate, basketball, art, music and cookery.

It is anticipated that the council and Watford FC will also look to use the facilites to help improve young people's health, diet, fitness and social skills, as well as provide important information on issues ranging from education, training, sex and mental health.

Speaking after the announcement Paul Clark, the council's corporate director of children's services, expressed his delight at securing the money.

He said: "This grant is fantastic news. Young people helped us choose the design and shape of this application so we will be delivering facilities they have actively been asking for.

"Over the next few weeks we will be working with residents, voluntary and private groups, and young people to ensure we put the right planning application forward and secure approval for what I am sure will prove to be a great legacy for Harrow."

Chris Norton, Chairman of Watford's CSE Trust, said: "We are delighted to receive this grant, which will now allow us, working closely with Harrow Council, an opportunity to make a real difference through sport and learning outside of the Watford area.

"We are honoured to be able to help deliver a project of this scale, demonstrating the expertise within, and the development of our community trust."

Young people across Harrow are to benefit from impressive new sports facilities now that the borough has secured a £4.2million grant this week.

A multi-use sports hall, gym, IT suite, art room, recording studio, café and outdoor pitch will be constucted on the Cedars Estate in Harrow Weald thanks to the project, entitled 'The Pitch - A Place to Go'.

It was announced on Tuesday that Watford FC's Community Sports and Education Trust would work with Harrow Council to develop the idea, after the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) gave the multi-million pound grant the go-ahead.

If planning applications are approved it is hoped yougsters between 11 and 19, as well as disabled people up to the age of 24, will steer clear of antisocial behaviour and use the club to socialise and hone their sporting skills.

But far from just being a centre for children to enjoy football, council chiefs say the site will offer a diverse range of activities, including karate, basketball, art, music and cookery.

It is anticipated that the council and Watford FC will also look to use the facilites to help improve young people's health, diet, fitness and social skills, as well as provide important information on issues ranging from education, training, sex and mental health.

Speaking after the announcement Paul Clark, the council's corporate director of children's services, expressed his delight at securing the money.

He said: "This grant is fantastic news. Young people helped us choose the design and shape of this application so we will be delivering facilities they have actively been asking for.

"Over the next few weeks we will be working with residents, voluntary and private groups, and young people to ensure we put the right planning application forward and secure approval for what I am sure will prove to be a great legacy for Harrow."

Chris Norton, Chairman of Watford's CSE Trust, said: "We are delighted to receive this grant, which will now allow us, working closely with Harrow Council, an opportunity to make a real difference through sport and learning outside of the Watford area.

"We are honoured to be able to help deliver a project of this scale, demonstrating the expertise within, and the development of our Community Trust."