Afghan refugees

Many people are concerned to be able to help in some way. I’ve been in touch with the Care4Calais, the main group organising clothes etc for the refugees. It sees that they have quite a lot of clothes and shoes donations coming in and more useful, they feel, at this stage are money donations to enable purchase of necessary items. So if people would like to support their work, the link is https://care4calais.org/

Mutual Aid for Willesden (MAFW) triathlon event (11-12 September)

Three local volunteers have entered the Blenheim Palace Triathlon, swimming, cycling and running to raise money for the group, our local food bank. Support if you can at: https://localgiving.org/appeal/MAFW-triathlon-Team/. Sanzio restaurant are sponsoring the team; they are also offering a free pizza voucher to 20 lucky people who donate £30 or more to the team (winners chose at random and announced after 31 Aug on their social media platform -https://www.facebook.com/MAfoodWillesden) 
(The PCC also need some plastic bags for the food bank for food parcels. If you have any spare, drop them into Pakistan Community Centre, Marley Walk. Ideally on Tuesdays 120am-4pm)

Progress on Cricklewood Library

Good news on fitting out progress and new classes at the library. Details at link: And they also have team to sponsor in the Blenheim Palace Triathlon.

B&Q devt

Yet another version. Minor changes but the Railway Terraces Community Association has found that that the reductions in height will be accompanied by increased massing in the rest of the development. A 3-storey part goes up to 6 storeys, and two 8-storey parts go up to 12. Understand that some of the residential units will be smaller too. But it is still cramming over a thousand units onto a site that’s far too small. The deadline for fresh comments is 31 August 2021. You may also wish to object to Barnet planning’s dismissively short summary of the 2000+ objections. See link   Have your say – deadline 31 August 2021

The Oliver Sacks: Made in Mapesbury ..

.. online celebrations are still very much happening, with slight adjustments to dates and content, due to various Covid and other outside complications. Full details will be announced soon.

Q&A with Brent Police Borough Commander Sara Leach

Do you have any questions about policing or crime in Brent; or have any suggestions about how we can make Brent safer?

Police Commander Sara Leach will answer your questions at the Brent Safer Neighbourhood Board online public meeting from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday 9 September.

Anyone can join online at Join Microsoft Teams Meeting or telephone 020 8142 4393 and use ID: 197 662 666#. There is no need to pre-register.

Send your questions or suggestions before 12 noon Monday 6 September via SmartSurvey.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Louis Wain and his world of cats

Louis Wain moved to this area in mid 1880s with his wife Emily who was suffering from breast cancer at the time. As Emily grew sicker, she would often be comforted by a rescued stray cat called Peter. Wain started to use Peter as inspiration and began sketching him and other feline portraits. Emily encouraged Wain to publish sketches of Peter but she sadly died before this became a reality. After her death, Wain continued what would become an obsession with cats. The mosaic cat on Willesden Green Bridge is an homage to him put together by the Willesden Green Town Team. A new film “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” with Benedict Cumberbatch is due out in September and explores his life; more at link:

Local Lidl is re-opening on 2 September 2021

Current local Planning applications
(For details search Brent Planning. New items in red)

• App: 21/2708 41b Dartmouth Road. Comments by 16 September. 

• App: 21/3107 179 Walm Lane. Comments by 16 September.

• App: 21/3039  31 Exeter Road. Comments by 16 September.

• App: 21/2705  Land rear of 65 Teignmouth Road. Comments by 2 September.

Other