November 2008 Archives
Claremont High-School has launched a redesigned website to allow everyone to keep up with community news.
The school, in Claremont Avenue, Kenton, opened the site to the public today.
To see the website visit: www.claremont-high.org.uk.
Thieves squeezed their way into a newsagent by removing a kitchen window and metal bars.
A burglary alarm was triggered at the post office, in Kenton Lane, at 11.40pm last Friday as the crooks broke in.
However nothing was taken from the premises.
A teenager is hoping to complete an epic challenge to raise money for charity.
Sam Lewis, who is a pupil at the Jewish Free School, in The Mall, Kenton, will be swimming the length of the English channel in one day as part of a sponsored swim for the charity Aspire.
The 13-year-old, who will be completing the laps in his local pool, said: "I really enjoy swimming, and it will be a good challenge for me to see if I can do 22 miles in 13 hours.
"I want to raise as much money as possible."
It will be the first time the student, from Bushey, Hertfordshire, takes part in the Aspire Channel Swim, which is now in its ninth year and helps raise funds for people with spinal cord injuries.
The charity, based in Wood Lane, Stanmore, is hoping to raise more than £500,000 from the national event, which will take place in pools across the country until December 7.
Rosie Cotton, from Aspire, said: "Aspire makes a difference by providing a number of practically based projects designed to ensure the spinally-injured can have their future needs met."
If you want more information on the Aspire Channel Swim you
can contact 08000 370880 or www.aspirechannelswmin.co.uk.
Officers from Kenton Safer Neighbourhoods Team patrolled the 183 bus last Thursday to catch thieves red handed as they preyed on vulnerable pensioners.
Following an article in the Observer highlighting the serious pickpocketing problem on the double-deckers, plain-clothed police took to the buses and spent the day travelling up and down Kenton Road to see if they could spot the culprits.
It is believed a large number of elderly people are being targeted, especially at busy times of the day in the late afternoon. Bags are being slashed and purses stolen from pensioners unaware they have been made victims of the pickpockets.
Sergeant Phil Malin, of Kenton Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: "It is very sad for anyone who has been affected by any crime, especially those who are elderly and vulnerable and have been targeted in a deceptive way.
"People should not have to live in fear and simple steps could prevent you from being targeted.
"Unfortunately, it is often the case that people only become aware of the precautions to take after they have become a victim of crime."
Between September and October this year there were nine burglaries on the 183 buses involving elderly women.
Donald O'Connor, of West Harrow, contacted the Observer after his mother had three purses stolen by thieves this year.
He said: "I was sickened that our senior citizens were being violated in such a way.
"Since the article in the Observer I have had a great response from (public transport operator) Transdev, TfL and Transport Police. My mother has noticed uniformed officers on the 183. I am pleased to see police patrolling the bus and hope this has highlighted a serious problem."
Sgt Malin is warning people to be on guard when travelling on the bus.
He said: "We are fairly convinced a number of thefts on the buses go unreported. There have been incidents where people's bags have been slashed. Often there is more than one person involved.
"Elderly people should avoid carrying cash. They shouldn't isolate themselves, so they should avoid sitting on their own.
"We are only going to know if crime is happening if people tell us. Even if they don't want to formally report the incident all they have to do is let one of their PCSOs know about what has happened and we will try and do something about it."
n For more information or to contact Kenton Safer Neighbourhood Team call 020 8721 2970.
Ten people were evacuated after fire broke out in a block of flats above a shop in Kenton.
Four fire engines and about 20 firefighters were called to the blaze in Woodcock Hill, Kenton.
The fire severely damaged the stairwell of the property from the ground floor to the second on Tuesday. Part of the four-roomed flat on the first floor was also damaged.
Ten people were helped out of the property by the London Fire Brigade.
The brigade was called at 1.05pm and the fire was under control by 2.09pm.
Crews from Wembley, Harrow, Willesden and Northolt fire stations were at the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Kenton residents are welcoming changes to their road after complaining about traffic and parking.
Homeowners in St Leonards Avenue, have been relieved to hear Harrow Council are proposing to place yellow lines along the road to restrict parking and reduce traffic.
Kenneth Stevens has lived on the road for more than 30 years and believes restrictions on the road will benefit local residents.
The 76-year-old said: "We need it around here because of the bus lane on Kenton Road.
"We have mirrors installed by the council to help us get out of our drive. People park on the corner which needs to be stopped, as we are quite a small road."
Since the installation of a bus lane on Kenton Road, the quiet residential street has been overrun by cars turning off early to avoid the traffic.
The new proposals were decided at a meeting between Brent and Harrow Councils on October 30.
Plans include installing double yellow lines at junctions and a single yellow line along one side of the road, which will restrict parking from 8am to 6.30pm from Monday to Friday from next year.
Brent Council has also proposed introducing a pedestrian crossing on Kenton Road east of St Leonards Avenue.
Sergeant John Burnett, of the Kenton West Safer Neighbourhood team, said: "Local residents have been complaining about problems with parking and we have been speaking with the highways team about it.
"There are serious problems for Harrow residents."
A council spokesperson said: "Earlier this year, Harrow Council devised measures to tackle the congestion problems on St Leonards Avenue. Harrow Council met with Kenton West Safer Neighbourhood team to discuss these plans.
"After receiving their feedback, a few minor modifications were agreed and a report will shortly be released for consultation."
A health centre in Kenton serving 30,000 patients is being closed immediately by medical bosses because of spiralling maintainence costs.
Harrow Primary Care Trust's board decided on October 21 to shut the complex once it relocated the existing services over a period of six to eight weeks.
The clinic serves people in the wards of Kenton East, Kenton West and Queensbury, a population described by the trust as having a "significant need" and "some of the lowest life expectancies in Harrow".
This means patients will have to go to nearby GP practices and other health centres for phlebotomy, podiatry, mental health, physiotherapy, health visitors, and infection control services, and for mother and baby clinics, and child health clinics.
Kenmore Clinic is a single storey 1950s building and the trust's board decided to close it after being told an estimated extra £35,000 to £40,000 would have be invested this financial year alone to address the immediate upkeep concerns of the "poor infrastructure condition".
In addition, an independent health and safety review found problems with disabled access, the presence of asbestos, fire safety compliance, heating and hot water failure, and substandard lighting.
The report found that within five to 10 years, a complete renovation of the building was needed in any case, at a cost of between £3m and £4m.
The trust will launch a public consultation on redeveloping the site, with the details to be finalised at a board meeting in December.
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