No Lucozade Powerleague at Kingsbury High School
AND THEN THEY WITHDREW FROM THE HEARING!
On 3rd July 2018 the Appeal Hearing due on the 3rd August was cancelled. Powerleague took out a press release blaming “…. a group of residents that are unwilling to accept these proposals and we have therefore decided that we do not wish to operate the facility within that context.” For such a large congolmerate to blame a small resident association is rather pathetic. In our defence we would say that we have saved the school from getting involved with a company that RGVRA found to be lacking in a professional and honest approach. We would go as far as asking the question as to whether Astroturf is the new Asbestos, due to research being carried out long before our campaign. This could well have landed the Head and Governors in a situation, in the future, they would have regretted. In the meantime, the School is spending money on a pathway instead of putting it into the gym facilities they were relying on Powerleague to upgrade.
This was the icing on the cake as we celebrate our centenary
Money (Powerleague) can’t buy everything
but a strong community IS everything!
AND THEN THEY APPEALED!
On the 21st June 2017 we received the news that Brent Council had refused Powerleague’s application. Oh joy! But true to form, waiting until the 11th hour – exactly 6 months to the date of the refusal, Powerleague put in their appeal on the 21st December 2017. We were not surprised as this appears to be a well-worn tactic of Powerleague.
We were just beginning to build bridges with the new Head of Kingsbury High School, when we heard this news. The objections are the same and numerous, even though the refusal was based on one item. We have put our battledress on, once again, and at this stage, would only say, WATCH THIS SPACE!
Relief in Roe Green Village as council rejects Powerleague application
PUBLISHED: 14:26 28 June 2017 | UPDATED: 14:26 28 June 2017 Nathalie Raffray
Roe Green Village residents have been fighting plans for a floodlit football pitch in its conservation area for 18 months Pic credit: Tony Revell
Residents in Roe Green Village have expressed relief that a controversial planning application to build commercial football pitches in a nearby school has been declined.
Brent planning chiefs rejected a joint application from Kingsbury High School and Powerleague last Thursday for floodlit commercial football pitches in the academy’s Bacon Lane campus by reason of noise.
The deal included five floodlit pitches, a floodlit multi-use games area and permission to Astroturf the grass playing fields for use by the public out of school hours until 10.30pm.
Members of the Roe Green Village Residents’ Association (RGVRA) who fought an 18 month campaign against the proposals have said they are prepared to fight again if either group appeals the decision.
Villagers living in the village, which is celebrating its centenary next year, said public football pitches operating until 10.30pm, seven days a week, would “kill the conservation area”.
They said a commercial pitch would endanger the environment which is home to several endangered species, increase traffic gridlock in the area and escalate pollution problems.
Debbie Nyman, of RGVRA, said: “Brent Council have refused the Powerleague application, which is great news, but what we really need to hear is that the school head and governors recommend pulling the plug on this inappropriate and unsuitable application.
“We are prepared to continue fighting at the slightest notion that the school will continue with this destructive application.”
Rachel Kitley, Kingsbury High School co-headteacher, said the academy was “extremely disappointed” with the council’s decision.
She added: “We will review our options in discussion with Powerleague, as we remain committed to providing improved sports facilities for our current and future students, as well as many other local schools and the wider community.”
A spokeswoman for Brent Council said: “Brent Council planning officers recommended refusal by reason of noise associated with the use.
“The application attracted considerable numbers of objections from residents in Roe Green. “Each planning application is considered on merit.”
ON 21ST JUNE 2017 DECISION OF REFUSAL HAS BEEN REACHED AND READS AS FOLLOWS:
The proposed development, by reason of the levels of noise associated with the use (including the ancillary activities), having particular regard to the hours of operation of the use and likely frequency of those activities throughout the week and year, will result in an unduly detrimental impact on the amenities of adjoining occupiers through the exposure to noise beyond levels that may reasonably be expected within this specific context. This is contrary to Policy DMP1 of the Brent Local Plan Development Management Policies 2016 and Policy 7.15 of the London Plan (March 2016).
All on Brent website now: https://pa.brent.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=DCAPR_126946
Planning Application now in Statutory Consultation Period – Rumour that Deadline extended: 25 May 2016
Lucozade Powerleague has now submitted its highly controversial application and it is now time to submit your views to Brent Council. The planning application consists of 38 documents with several hundred pages of seemingly irrelevant, misleading and even false information as we have already found out.
Please visit our RoeGreenVillage Facebook page where we will be sharing with you our up-to-date news on this project.
Have you sent your formal comments yet?
KHS is sending in comments recently – has Brent Council tipped them off about an extended deadline?
It is absolutely crucial that you make your views heard on this planning application. Do not rely on your neighbours or the residents’ association; the impacts of this development affects all of us and all of our views must be heard.
Please navigate to Brent Council’s Planning Portal to view the application. The planning application is registered under “Application Reference” 16/0994. You must log in or register to make comments.
If you are having problems using Brent’s website or if you are assisting a relative or neighbour who may not have access to a computer you may also send a letter with your comments concerning Application Reference 16/0994 to: Mrs Victoria McDonagh, Regeneration & Environment, Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ.
Déjà vu? It is still ‘The Wrong Facility in the Wrong Location!’
Only months after Goals Plc in conjunction with Kingsbury High School withdrew their plans for building commercial football pitches in the area, Jeremy Waxman of Kingsbury High School asked Lucozade Powerleague to submit proposals for building an array of commerically run football pitches on its land next to Roe Green Village Conservation Area and adjoining local communities and some rather sensitive facilities.
Lucozade Powerleague Proposal essentially the same as Goals
This time, the School and Lucozade Powerleague have instructed slick PR firm GKA Planning Communications to sell the idea to the local community. It has all been rather rushed though with letters inviting residents to attend a ‘Drop-In Session’ just days before Christmas.
We have encouraged all residents to attend this ‘Drop-In Session’ and make up their own minds about its suitability. The response has been overwhelming. So far, we have seen copies of more than 75 letters from residents to the School and Lucozade Powerleague expressing their strong opposition to the proposal.
From the plans we have been given, the Lucozade Powerleague proposal is, in essence, the same as the one presented by Goals plc and therefore our grave concerns and objections remain the same.
Continued Support
Please bookmark this page. We will be updating this site regularly as we fight once more to stop ‘the wrong facility in the wrong location’ on behalf of Roe Green Village and its residents.
Press Release: Roe Green Village Residents’ Association –v- Powerleague & Kingsbury High School
UPDATE AT 27TH NOVEMBER 2018 – WE MADE AN APPLICATION FOR COSTS
We applied for and were awarded costs by the Secretary of State because the applicants behaved unreasonably in withdrawing their appeal without good reason. Under this order, RGVRA is now seeking to recover the considerable costs it incurred in defending itself against this ill-conceived planning appeal.
From the point of view of Roe Green Village Residents’ Association (RGVRA), Powerleague appear to have recognised the strength of the community but have omitted to admit the real reasons for their withdrawal from this application. The School and Board of Governors may well have seen the temptation of new gym facilities but ignored the advice from RGVRA and will never admit that this application was technically not viable.
RGVRA has always offered KHS alternatives to funding new sport facilities and have supported them as neighbours. However, it has been left to the RGVRA to point out to the School Governors, the error of their choice to go with Powerleague and ultimately the destruction of the area, should this application have gone through.
Brent Council refused the planning application due to serious flaws. RGVRA also found a number of flaws one of which being reference to Schools Sport Partnership in their press release. This‘Partnership’ does not exist and the ‘local’ schools were as far away as Cricklewood and in the Boroughof Harrow. Local schools written to were not given the full facts; these were just glossed over in a line that Powerleague’s scheme would benefit them, when in fact they already had their own grounds or had arrangements in place with other schools much closer.
Powerleague failed to acknowledge that this always was the wrong facility in the wrong place.
The Board of Governors may now realise that the community have saved the School from further ruin, all for the sake of a new gym. Alternatively, if the Board of Governors had taken time to read and take on board the technical facts submitted by the residents of Roe Green Village and their advisers, the School would not have had to waste over 2 and a half years trying to justify an indefensible planning application.
Revised Documents appear on Council Website
NEW SPATE OF BURGLARIES – FEBRUARY 2017
There have been numerous reports of people breaking into houses by removing the back fence panels after ringing the doorbell. They then break into the back of the house.
In some cases the people have been in but did not come to the window or door, so the robbers thought they were not in, hence this has been detected.
This has happened in Pinner, North Wembley and Kenton and may be other places.
Just in case you thought it was safe to look at the playing fields of Kingsbury High School…. !!
Please go to the Brent website again where you will note that from 18th July there are 14 revised documents. If you get a headache looking at all these documents go to the Addendum “covering letter”.
Click on:
Go to “search Planning applications now”. Type in under “Application Ref: 16/0994
Lucozade Powerleague have continued to avoid answering questions in some of the revised documents. They are still not acceptable and giving misleading information. We have written to Council expressing our views that it does not address our concerns and anxieties. The revised documents are bereft of any facts.
We would urge you to have a read through some or all and even if it is one fact you wish to comment on, please do so and send as soon as possible to Victoria McDonagh: Email: victoria.mcdonagh@brent.gov.uk
London Live: Debbie Nyman on Brent Council’s Handling of the Consultation
Harrow Times: Residents say ‘planning department not fit for purpose’
The Harrow Times is reporting about residents' claim that Brent Council is not fit for purpose.
Full article: Residents fighting application for multi-sports facility in Kingsbury say 'planning department not fit for purpose'
A STEAL AT ONLY £50,000 A YEAR & SOME PAINTING & DECORATING Plans for multi-sport development at Kingsbury High School submitted
Lucozade Powerleague in conjunction with Kingsbury High School have submitted their controversial planning application to Brent Council.
But members of the Roe Green Village Residents' Association say they are "fighting their corner" to ensure the plans are thrown out.
They say the proposed facility would back onto a conservation area, and would not be in keeping with it's historic village setting.
See full article by Beth Cherryman, Senior Reporter for the Harrow Times.
64g of Sugar in a Small Bottle of Lucozade
Following the Chancellor's announcement of a new tax on sugary drinks, Sean Poulter from the Daily Mail has taken a look at the amount of sugar found in popular drinks.
The Daily Mail article published today reveals that 'a 380ml bottle of Lucozade Energy drink has 64g of sugar, equivalent to six lollipops or two packs of Bassett's Jelly Babies'.
It continues that 'the Ribena and Lucozade drinks are so sweet that children would exceed their recommended sugar intake for a day with just one serving. The amount of sugar in the Lucozade would put a child aged from five to ten 40 per cent over the recommended consumption for a day.'
This news is very alarming since Kingsbury High School is working with Lucozade Powerleague to install artificial football pitches for its pupils. Having Lucozade sponsor sports facilities for children at Kingsbury High School is seen by many as sending the wrong signal.
To read the full article please see here: Daily Mail: Fizzy drinks loaded with sugar
Noisy footballing neighbours leave residents angry
The Enfield Independent is reporting from newly built Lucozade Powerleague facility in Enfield citing neighbours say the noise, constant swearing and lights shining up from a football pitch at the bottom of their gardens has made their lives a “misery”.
People in Lathkill Close, Bush Hill Park, tried to block Powerleague from building a pitch in Great Cambridge Road last year. But now they say their greatest fears have been confirmed and what used to be a “peaceful” area has been destroyed.
This news is very alarming since Kingsbury High School is working with Lucozade Powerleague to install artificial football pitches for its pupils.
To read the full article please see here: Enfield Independent: Noisy footballing neighbours leave residents angry
Can Artificial Football Pitches Cause Cancer?
The Daily Mail is reporting of new doubts over the safety of artificial football pitches. It tells the story of 18-year-old goalkeeper Nigel Maguire who developed Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Suggesting that toxins embedded in artificial pitches are to blame, the Daily Mail is quoting Nigel's father: 'He used to come home with his kit covered in the stuff. We'd have to scrape it off.'
This news is very alarming indeed since Kingsbury High School is working with Lucozade Powerleague to install artificial football pitches for its pupils.
To read the full article please see here: Daily Mail: 'My teenage son's cancer was caused by artificial football pitches, says former NHS boss as he launches campaign to halt turf's use over fears they contain dangerous chemicals'