The Kilburn Times reports an unhappy meeting relating to the possible redevelopment of Bridge Park. I understand the unease with which many people regard developments put forward by Brent Council in its current state. Experiences with South Kilburn and the Stonebridge Adventure Playground don't exactly give Brent Council a wonderful reputation. I have argued before that this is linked to the way that some councillors simply try to dodge responsibility.
However, it is important not to neglect a possible opportunity here. The Unisys site, next to Bridge Park, has been abandoned and derelict for at least twenty years. Combining it with Bridge Park as a redevelopment could create something really good. Such an idea has been floated for years. It was even in Labour's 2010 manifesto. Done well, the site might provide housing, a sports centre and perhaps hotel accommodation or other job generating uses. Access by the immediate community could possibly be secured by planning conditions (as at Moberley) or continuing community management in some form. The construction of such a development might also help local businesses as the Civic Centre did.
All this would depend on Brent Council making decisions that incorporate such concerns, and here there are obvious fears around the companies that Brent Council has chosen to deal with. Cllr Muhammed Butt's record in Wembley does not convince me that he is the man to deliver peoples' aspirations, so perhaps incumbent councillors and would be councillors should take a more active role.
No comments:
Post a Comment