The concern over a green space near Willesden has seen the nursery accused of a “land grab”
A North London council has said it has to “prioritise the safeguarding of children” amidst concerns that a nursery’s plan to erect a screen on the perimeter fence of a nearby green would “block any view” of it for local residents.
College Green Nursery School in Willesden has been accused of “a land-grab” over its plan to provide more privacy for the children attending. A petition opposing any such plan claims a screen would “completely destroy” the character of the area and is calling on Brent Council to block it.
A local preservation group has said an existing six-foot fence already “creates a physical and psychological barrier” to the green and any screen would “hide the open space”. Brent Council has said it “recognises the concerns” raised about the screen but any decision would “prioritise the safeguarding of children”.
Chair of College Green Preservation Society, James Hogan, presented the petition – which has been signed by around 80 residents – to Brent Council’s Cabinet at a recent meeting (September 7). He stated that the green has been subjected to a legally binding covenant since 1913 that protects it from anything that would be a nuisance to nearby residents and lessen the value of the estates.
Mr Hogan pointed out that any screen would “cause us immense annoyance” and “definitely lower the value of said estates”. He claims the open space “has never been part of the nursery” and a screen would “remove the 360-degree vision” that is essential for safeguarding children.
He added: “College Green is a very important space, and we all know the vulnerability of open spaces. If we think about the greens in London, most of them have gone. Willesden Green, gone. Kensal Green, gone. Yes, and there was a Harlesden Green that has gone as well. If we just look around outside here, we can see all the high-rise buildings going on – some of them on open spaces.
“[The nursery has] built a six-foot-eight-inch fence across the middle of the open space, which creates a physical and psychological barrier. A screen would be the next step to hide the open space and build on it.
“The open space has never been part of the nursery. It is a shared open space used by the Scouts and the nursery. It’s equivalent to a children’s playground. We don’t screen children’s playgrounds. The screen would remove the 360-degree vision essential for safeguarding the children.”
In response, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Employment & Climate Action, Cllr Jake Rubin, said they “recognise the concerns” that a potential screen could impact the area but emphasised that “at the same time, we do have to prioritise the safeguarding of children” and that this issue has been raised with the local authority by the nursery.
Cllr Rubin added: “As things stand, the Children and Young People Department is undertaking a review of the fencing arrangements, including consideration of safeguarding requirements, relevant legislation, and DfE guidance.
“Once that review has been completed, its findings and recommendations will be shared with all relevant stakeholders, so the nursery, the Scout group, and local residents, and from there we’ll be able to take an informed decision.”
Stay in the loop with the latest North London news. Sign up to our MyNorthLondon newsletter HERE for daily updates and more.
