Local Authority

A DEVELOPER has submitted a second proposal to demolish a derelict Wealdstone pub to make way for flats after councillors rejected the first.
Fruition Properties was refused planning permission by Harrow Council in October 2008 to tear down the former The Case Is Altered boozer in High Street to make way for apartments. The firm then lost its subsequent appeal.
One year later and the firm has submitted a revised scheme to pull down the vacant eyesore building, which lies next door to Wealdstone Police Station, and build 36 flats and one shop in a five-storey block in its place.
Acton-based Fruition Properties says it has "resolved" the problems in the original plan that led to it being rejected: an over-intensive use of the site, and an adverse effect on the character of the Grade II building next door through its poor design and scale.
In its supporting statement, the developer says: "The high quality of architectural design will provide a safe and enjoyable environment for residents.
"The retail unit will provide employment, convenience and maintain commercial activity on the High Street."
It is planned to construct 17 one-bed flats, four one-bed bedsits, 14 two-bed flats and one three-bed flat - none of them affordable - with 37 bicycle spaces and no car parking, along with 447 sq m of shop space.

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.

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.

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."

A record number of youngsters flocked to polling stations this year, wanting to ensure their favourite candidate was elected to the UK Youth Parliament.

More than 7,000 young people voted at more than 20 polling stations across Harrow in the week leading up to the announcement - almost 2,000 more than in last year's election.

Harrow's two places in the UK Youth Parliament were won by Aakash Bharania, and Rhiya Pau, both 15, while Amar Chandarana and Mahek Metha claimed deputy spots.

The budding Gordon Browns and Boris Johnsons, who had all been nominated for the posts by their peers, were given the results at the Civic Centre last week and will now join members drawn from all over England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) was set up nine years ago as a way to improve youth participation in decision-making.

Harrow had previously been allowed just one elected Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) on the UKYP and one deputy, but has been asked to elect two of each for the past two years.

Councillors are supporting the campaign for Gurkhas' rights and encouraging the public to get behind the ex-servicemen.

Harrow Council has put forward a motion that will urge local MPs to support the campaign and write to the Prime Minister to demand help for retired British Gurkhas.

Labour group head Bill Stephenson, council leader David Ashton (Conservative) and the Liberal Democrats' head Chris Noyce have all backed the plans.

The council is also asking its chief executive Michael Lockwood to look sympathetically at street collections in aid of the ex-servicemen who have been suffering financially.

Mayor of Harrow Councillor John Nickolay said: "I hope we are speaking for 99-100 per cent of the public when I say the Gurkhas are so grateful for what they do have and that they deserve to be treated with respect.

"They are from Nepal, but they are so patriotic for Britain."

Chairman of the Royal British Legion Harrow branch John Stelfox said: "We will obviously help in any way that we can.

"We have 15 Gurkha members in the Harrow British legion and I do know a lot of them are suffering financially, so any support we can give them we will."

The motion was heard at a council meeting last Thursday.

Former Harrow mayor Graham Hines has died at home at the age of 80 after suffering several months of illness.

Mr Hines spent 24 years as a Conservative councillor and was deputy mayor in 1974/75, becoming mayor the following year, and chaired the education and highways committees.

Present Mayor of Harrow, Councillor John Nickolay, said: "I knew Graham Hines for more than 50 years.

"He was responsible for recruiting me into politics, after knocking on my parents' door, and he was a great example to follow.

"Graham was particularly interested in education and highways and, of course, served with distinction as mayor. He was an inspiring figure and we will miss him greatly."

Mr Hines was living in Hereford, Herefordshire, at the time of his death and is survived by his sister, wife, two married sons and five grandchildren.

The funeral is being held on Tuesday, February 24 at 2pm at Much Birch Church, in Much Birch, Hertfordshire.

Donations, in lieu of floral tributes, can be made to Marie Curie Cancer Care, and sent to the undertakers Bayley Brothers Hereford Ltd, 1719 Cotterell Street, Hereford HR4 OHH.

Handheld computers will be put in bin lorries so updates can be fed back instantly to Harrow Council and vice versa.

Refuse workers will use the devices to make notes about progress on their rounds and any problems encountered.

This will let the authority's call centre give out the latest information when residents phone with a query or complaint, or for managers to send a message directly to crews to go back for a missed bin.

By tracking the 30-plus vehicles in the fleet the council can re-draw the collection routes to make them more efficient.

The system will be introduced within the next year after being approved by Councillor Susan Hall, portfolio holder for environmental services, last week.

Harrow Council is spending £2.2 million on the project over the next decade but hopes to save cash on things including its fuel bills.