info@cricklewoodlibrary.org.uk

020 8438 8705

Cricklereaders October 2023 – Death and the Penguin

by | 11 Sep 2023 | Cricklereaders, Cricklereaders Read, FRONT PAGE NEWS

The group is reading Death and the Penguin by Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov.

Viktor is an aspiring writer with only Misha, his pet penguin, for company. Although he would prefer to write short stories, he earns a living composing obituaries for a newspaper. He longs to see his work published, yet the subjects of his obituaries continue to cling to life. But when he opens the newspaper to see his work in print for the first time, his pride swiftly turns to terror. He and Misha have been drawn into a trap from which there appears to be no escape.

Join the group on Sunday 15 October at the library, 1030-1130. Sign up in advance so we know to expect you!

Draft Staples Corner Design Code – Consultation Drop-in Session

by | 1 Sep 2023 | FRONT PAGE NEWS

What is the Design Code?

The draft Staples Corner Design Code sets out the council’s expectations for high quality design and placeshaping within and around the Staples Corner Growth Area, as defined in the Brent Local Plan 2019-2041.

Why is it needed?

Recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) have sought to give design coding a greater role in the planning system. Published in 2021, the National Model Design Code provides detailed guidance on the production of design codes, guides and policies to promote successful design.

Alongside the emerging Staples Corner Masterplan, the Design Code expands on Policy BEGA2A of the Brent Local Plan to underpin decision-making for council officers and give developers, occupants and adjacent communities greater certainty about what may be acceptable when seeking planning permission.

How is the Design Code structured?

There are seven sections in this draft Design Code:

  • Section 1 provides an introduction setting out what a design code is, who the design code is for, where it applies, and how it is structured and to be used.
  • Section 2 sets out the existing context of Staples Corner.
  • Section 3 sets out the vision for Staples Corner as developed collaboratively between the council and a group of local stakeholders.
  • Section 4 describes the coding plan and how the design code relates to the emerging masterplan.
  • Sections 5, 6 and 7 form the three parts of the design code addressing each of the following: area-wide design codes, street-focussed design codes, and place-focussed design codes.

Consultation details

The consultation will run for a period of eight weeks from 24th August to 19th October 2023. Documents will be made available at Brent Council libraries.

Please submit a response via this portal. Alternatively, responses can be sent to planningstrategy@brent.gov.uk or to: John Stiles, Principal Urban Design Officer, Brent Council, Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ.

Please note that the council will not register anonymous responses. You should provide your name and, if relevant, the name of the organisation that you are working for, and that which you may be representing.

Area of coverage

The London Borough of Brent, specifically the Staples Corner Growth Area and some areas on its periphery.

Data protection

When reporting the consultation responses, organisation names will be referenced by the council. However, no individual’s name or personal details of respondents will be made publicly available. Please can you indicate with your response whether you wish to be informed by the council of whether this document is adopted.

Please also indicate if you would like to be informed of other planning policy consultations by having your details put on our planning policy consultation database. This information will only be used in relation to consultations on the council’s planning and associated documents. Unless you indicate that you want to be put on this database, your personal details will only be kept until the council makes a decision on whether to proceed with the adoption of the Design Code or not and has subsequently issued the appropriate notifications. Please see our privacy policy for more details.

To support participation in the consultation process, the council has arranged two in-person drop-in sessions at the library on the following dates:

  • Saturday 30th September from 12pm-3pm
  • Tuesday 10th October from 6:30-8:30pm

Garden Talks with Elayne – September

by | 31 Aug 2023 | activities, FRONT PAGE NEWS, gardening

September is a month of golden sun and harvests. A month when the bulbs and perennials planted last year come into their own and cheer up the fading grass. And yet, despite its name, it is not the 7th month of the year. A misconception derived from when the Romans used a solar year which was later converted (not till 1753) into the current Gregorian year – which required the removal of 11 days from September in the year of conversion.

It is the month when grass and wildflowers produce seeds (sticky or blown in the wind often), and is the best time to cut these, and your lawn, to provide food for your wildlife.

Mining bees will often be found in your lawn, and the ants and other grubs will be providing food for birds to stock up for the winter too.In the first talk, I will consider the importance of gardens for wildlife in the UK as so much of our green space has been built on. And how we can support that wildlife in the way that we garden.

In the second talk I will consider the plants we can grow in London and which can be harvested later in the year- now that our climate is changing, and the implications of our changing climate will be considered also in later talks (Feb/Mar 2024). But our last talk of 2023 will look at the plants we use in December to decorate our homes and why we still invest them with myths and religious importance.

Learn to Paint in Watercolour with Francine Lawrence

by | 30 Aug 2023 | activities, FRONT PAGE NEWS

We’re delighted to welcome local artist Francine to the library, offering a beginners watercolour course, on Mondays at 1500. The classes are suitable for complete beginners and lots of demonstrations will be given. If you’ve always wanted to learn to paint and sketch, here’s your opportunity.

Francine trained as a graphic designer at art college, and has worked in publishing all her life – designing and editing several high profile UK magazines including Country Living.  Her idea of relaxation is to sit down in a cafe or a garden and just draw what she sees around her. She says, “I take a small sketchbook wherever I go and use it like a diary to make visual notes almost every day. I love architecture and food – I will often do a quick sketch of my lunch in a restaurant rather than take a photo!”

Places are limited. To avoid disappointment, book yours now by emailing Francine on francine@artsplashlondon.co.uk. Classes cost £15.00 per session.

Crickle Grandparents

by | 31 Jul 2023 | activities, children, FRONT PAGE NEWS

Do you help out with weekday childcare for your grandchildren, and take them to Gladstone Park or Cricklewood Library?

If you want to meet other grandparents in the area to arrange play dates in the park and possibly join a regular get-together, please email cricklewood.grandparents@gmail.com, and we’ll email you back with information on how to get involved (don’t worry, you won’t get added to a mailing list).

Great grandparents, nannies, and in fact anyone helping out with daytime childcare who feels part of the Grandparent or older generation are very welcome too.