A legal battle is on between Brent Council and the Afro-Caribbean community of Stonebridge, Harlesden and Monks Park over the future of Bridge Park. The centre is part of a Council redevelopment project that includes the long-empty Unisys building. It is much more than a legal battle - it is a battle for the beating heart of the local community.
Wembley Matters has covered the dodgy nature of some of Brent Council's partners in their development scheme and this was reinforced by trenchant criticism of the Council by the late Dan Filson. LINK LINK
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| Young visionaries in what was then a bus depot |
Bridge Park was set up by young black people in the 80s at a time of the uprisings. It is part of black heritage in the borough that came from the grassroots, just as the Stonebridge Adventure Playground, closed by the council, also had its roots in the community and amongst the young.
A community group, Bridge Park Community Council, set up to save the centre from the council plans have put forward their own alternative which is rooted in the community and continues the original ethos of Bridge Park when the Harlesden People's Community Council organised to purchase the old bus depot:
A fundraising campaign is now underway to take the council on: LINK
and there is a petition of to stop the sale and return control and development of the Bridge Park site to the community HERE
BPCC's short-term plan is:
(a) To show the “London Borough of Brent” that we have an interest in the land, and to therefore suspend the sale of the Land and property referred to as “Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre”.
(b) To secure the Community interest in the Land and property by means of legal, public and political action.
(c) To develop a self-sustaining Centre of Excellence providing educational, Technology, social, well-being and commercial facilities.
(d) To encourage Brent Council and all parties to engage with BPCC in peaceful timely negotiation (ADR), Mediation or Arbitration as opposed to costly litigation with a view of coming to an agreement in relation to the Community’s control and interest in the said Land and Property.
EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY
WE NEED YOU...!!!!
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO SAVE BRIDGE PARK LAND & COMPLEX
*FIRSTLY - BRIDGE PARK IS NOT SOLD.Details of BPCC's vision can be seen on their website HERE
Bridge Park Community Council as successor to HPCC established Bridge Park Complex Steering Group, to protect the interest, control and development of the Bridge Park Land and Properties for the community.
In the 1980s, HPCC, founded by a group of young 16-20 year olds, who followed their vision and desire to serve the community, and to ensure that the young men and women growing up in Stonebridge, N.W London had facilities and opportunities to empower them to succeed. They bought the land supported by sourced grant funding of £1.8m.
They raised a further £3m+ along backing to design and build the current Bridge Park Complex seen today. The original vision was for the creation of educational, commercial business units, sports and multi-purpose facilities. The land is estimated to be worth over £50 million on the open market.
In order for HPCC to obtain the funds, Brent Council acted as custodians ONLY: with no right to sell, transfer or dispose of the land, acquired by the community for the community. The Bridge Park site had a protective covenant on the land. Brent Council officers removed the covenant prior to February 2014. The community were not informed.
Experienced Lawyers, (DWFM Beckman, London) have been engaged, and advice has been taken from a Senior Counsel, specialising in this area of Law and Chancery.
*Brent Council entered into the Conditional Land Sale Agreement with General Mediterranean Holding (GMH) as guarantor, for the sale of the Bridge Park Complex in June 2017. A strict condition of the sale is that the land must be free of all interests. Brent Council plan to allow development worth over £800 million on the land, but aim to sell off the Land and 42x Business Units, 2x restaurants, Bar, 2x Gyms, full size In-door Basketball and Badmintons Courts, plus Multi-faith centre and Nursery buildings all this for less than £13 million Brent will not fully disclose the lower price. THIS DID NOT GO TO TENDER !!!
HPCC in association with successor's BPCC Steering Group and S.C. Trust (HPCC) Ltd the land.
An application to the Land Registry to restrict Brent Council, to stop the Sale of Bridge Park was made in August 2017, through our lawyers.
Brent Council have been given an extension of 30 days to file their documents to challenge this restriction.
***** WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT *****
Our community needs a lot more than a Gym & Swimming Pool.
We will build an iconic Centre of Excellence for The Community by The Community. Addressing our Educational, Social and Commercial needs. And most of all it will be self funded and sustained.
A land mark building upon which we can take pride in.
Come and get involved - Sign the petition against Brent Council's plans
WE NEED our community building to be kept in the hands of the COMMUNITY in PERPETUITY!!
Help us to raise the much needed funds for the legal challenge to halt the sale of Bridge Park.
WE NEED TO FIRST RAISE THE INITIAL £10,000 OF THE £25,000 FOR OUR LEGAL DEPOSIT, TO FIGHT OUR CASE IN THE HIGH COURT, LONDON.
Email: info@bridgeparkcomplex.com