When most people were concerned with Covid and Xmas, what can only be described as an act of selfish destruction took place on the Brethren’s site at 265 The Ridgeway on December 20th.  It is only supposition but this damage may have been carried out in support of their planning application to develop the site into 178 ‘homes’ consisting of blocks of flats 4,6 & 7 storeys high. 

In the morning, a dozen or so ‘volunteers’ armed with chainsaws and aided by heavy machinery, felled a 170 metre stretch of trees bordering the allotments, leaving the Brethren’s Meeting Hall in clear view to allotment holders and residents. 

Several plot holders, residents, a local councillor and a council representative tried in vain to stop the devastation but a Brethren Trustee overseeing the work refused to stop the destruction of dozens of perfectly healthy trees.  At one point they arrogantly said they already had planning permission!

Following the application to develop the land, Harrow Council requested a current Ecological Assessment of the site due to protests by thousands of residents, plot holders and environmentalists that the whole area is an important green corridor housing bats, badgers, hedgehogs, slow-worms and several nesting birds, some of which are rare.  There are also valid concerns that this entirely unsuitable development will completely overshadow the allotment site.

The Brethren are very aware of the residents strength of feeling but up to now a new ecological assessment has not been submitted. 

The result of this unconscionable act is that any ecological assessment of the site will no longer have to consider trees, wildlife habitats or protected species as they have already been destroyed and will no longer have to be considered. 

Please write to local representatives below and register concerns about this underhand act and ask if this is the sort of organisation we should be doing business with on behalf of Harrow residents?

W Harrow Cllr Adam Swersky - adam.swersky@harrow.gov.uk

W Harrow Cllr Kareema Marikar - kairul.marikar@harrow.gov.uk

W Harrow Cllr Christine Robson - Christine.Robson@harrow.gov.uk

Dave Corby - Community Engagement - dave.corby@harrow.gov.uk

Sean Harriss Chief Exec Harrow Council - sean.harriss@harrow.gov.uk

Paul Walker Director Harrow Council - paul.walker@harrow.gov.uk

Beverley Kuchar Chief Planning Officer - beverley.kuchar@harrow.gov.uk