Bridge Park Statement

Some people have suggested that the Council has said nothing about the litigation that it has got itself into over the proposed Bridge Park redevelopment.  In fact there is a lengthy statement attributed to Cllr Krupesh Hirani.  It seem Cllr Muhammed Butt always magically disappears when asked to defend Council decisions.

The statement says:

Cllr Krupesh Hirani, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Culture & Leisure, said:  “We are keen to work with the community to deliver a modern facility that meets their current and future needs.
We aim to improve the area surrounding the Unisys buildings by working with the building owners to deliver a brand new Community Hub that will bring new jobs and opportunities to Stonebridge residents.

Due to the condition of the buildings at the Bridge Park site, the council agreed to sell part of the land to an adjoining land owner. We recognise the work that the Harlesden People’s Community Council have done in the past and realise that lots of people have an emotional attachment to the current Bridge Park Leisure Centre, given its history. We want to retain and enhance that by working with local people to ensure that we have a facility in the area that is purpose built and there for all the community to use for the foreseeable future. Residents were consulted in October and November 2017. 

The council considered all responses and agreed that the draft proposals should be enhanced to reflect the wishes of Stonebridge residents.  We are pleased to confirm that the new facility will be a vast improvement on what is currently on site.  
We aim to provide a bigger and improved Community Hub including new leisure facilities, more space for businesses than is currently available, new accommodation for our vulnerable residents and bigger community space.

The council is negotiating amendments to the contract to increase the use of the land in line with the feedback received from residents in the consultation.  A paper will be put to Cabinet on 11 February 2019 to seek agreement for this proposal.

All the proceeds from the sale will go into building and delivering the new facility.
You may be aware of the extensive amount of publicity surrounding the sale of the land. You may also be aware that the Harlesden People’s Community Council (HPCC) has stated that they have an interest in the land and that the council should be prohibited from selling it. 
HPCC have therefore applied to the Land Registry to place a restriction against the council’s title.
It is important to note that HPCC have not been successful in placing a restriction against the council’s title.

The council has applied to the courts to determine this issue rather than the Land Registry/First-Tier Tribunal. Having the courts determine this issue was the quickest and most cost effective way of dealing with this matter.

The council has made an interim application to court to obtain a declaration confirming that HPCC do not have an interest in the land.

At the same time as the legal proceedings, the council is attempting to mediate the dispute to see if we can possibly come to an agreement and achieve a resolution to settle this matter.
Whatever the court decides, the council remains committed to working with the local community to ensure that any proposals taken forward are done so with the aim of improving the lives of its residents.”

 It is a great pity that this has all gone into legal action which is an expensive and debilitating process whatever the outcome.