Brent Green Party has opposed at least three attempts to close the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre. Last summer it looked as if it might have closed for the last time. A petition was rapidly organised as soon as the decision of Thames 21 to withdraw was heard. It was presented at the first available Brent Council meeting in September 2025 supported by Brent Green Party, Brent Friends of the Earth and Brent Parks Forum. Informal support was provided by Janes' Cafe at the nearby Garden Centre who had the paper petition on their counter.
Yesterday Brent Council issued a statement saying that £30,000 had been found to enable the Centre to open again in the huts that had been scheduled for demolition. Thames 21 will be involved again.
Martin Francis, who presented the petition said:
Of course I welcome the lifeline that has been thrown to the Centre just ahead of the May local elections. However, the devil will be in the detail. The original idea was that the WHEEC would have space inside the proposed new build SEND 16-25 Skills Centre. Now it appears that £30,000 is to be spent on the old WHEEC classrooms that were due to be demolished to accommodate the Centre. They are extremely dilapidated and were flooded over the winter. A lot of work will be required to make them safe for the resumption of school bookings in April.
The involvement of Thames 21 is positive but we will need to see business plans that ensure viability regarding running costs including staff costs, and the affordability for cash-pressed primary schools of the charges made per pupil.
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