Kilburn Library Structural Work

I have written to the Kilburn Times with more detail about Kilburn Library which is suggested for strutural work. The letter, as sent, goes: Dear Editor Following your report that Kilburn Library on Salusbury Road (Kilburn Library in £765k revamp amid structural safety fears | Brent & Kilburn Times) needs structural work, I thought it worth explaining the longer term context. Brent Council did a major review of its library service back then that led to major investment to upgrade the building. This mainly consisted of fixing the leaky roof and windows, removing the rising damp, rewiring the places for mores computers, and revamping the heating to better environmental standards. It may be that some cracks are now appearing because the building is no longer saturated. I am intrigued to learn that the Council wants to expand facilities particularly to help serve people in South Kilburn (a need identified in 2011/12). There is scope on the first floor which I believe is empty, but expanding the footprint of the library as envisaged by the Council at the moment sounds tricky. It is an 1890s building built out almost to the limits of the plot. The only space to build on is the garden. It is also an old building in a conservation area so planning permission may be tricky. Perhaps most difficult it that back in 2012, the back was deemed inaccessible to a mechanical digger, so everything had to be done by hand. Hence the drainage is a "French drain" rather than a full one. I remember that the then leader of the Brent Liberal Democrats was so despairing of the situation that he suggested closing the library down completely. Fortunately the Labour administration in charge was more imaginative and reinvested giving the revamped library seven day access for the first time ever. Yours sincerely, James Powney

Harlesden Library Reopens

Harlesden library has reopened after a further £200k plus investment. This was not part of the Transforming project as it had been refurbished in 2010 just before the project began. There will be a "community launch" in July.

Barham Park Housing

Martin Francis has noticed the continuing efforts to build on the cottage site in Barham Park. In fact it has an older history than he realises. The first proposals for the site were put forward by Cllr Paul Lorber, who had to abandon them after opposition led by Barry Gardiner MP. That was way back in 2009. The photo above shows the latest proposal, for more family sized housing.