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Bridge Park in Stonebridge was once the largest black-led community enterprise in Europe. National Campaigners work to add it to the Heritage List for England

 

Bridge Park in Stonebridge was once the largest black-led community enterprise in Europe, housing business units, workshops, a sports hall and a theatre.

Brent Council wants to knock down the centre and replace it with 1,000 homes, retail space, a hotel and new community hub. Campaigners said this would eradicate black British history, and they want the building added to the National Heritage List for England.

Mr Leonard Johnson was chair of the action group, Harlesden People’s Community Council (HPCC). It was officially opened 1988 by the then Prince Charles (now King Charles), who said, “Bridge Park is one of the most important developments that I have seen anywhere in this country for a long time”. It was, at this time, the largest black-led community enterprise in Europe, with 32 start-up units for local businesses, a sports hall, theatre, training centre, recording studio, restaurant and bar.

Leonard Johnson died in 2023, aged 65. A blue plaque at the Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre honours his achievements. A plaque on Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre marks Leonard Johnson’s achievements

Brent Council sold the site in 2017, and there followed years of legal battles over ownership. The current proposal is for the entire site to be demolished to make way for affordable homes, retail units, and a significantly larger and more modern Bridge Park Leisure Centre.

But campaigners have accused the council of eradicating black history.

Leader of Brent Council, Muhammed Butt, said: “We do want to rebuild.

“When you rebuild, it doesn’t mean that you’re losing the history – you can bring back the ambitions that people had at that time into the new space.

“Going forward, we can create those spaces and utilise them and make sure that those uses are part and parcel of the plans we develop – something that will deliver for all our communities.”

Cultural legacy lost

Those pioneering black leaders feel they have been pushed aside – and their cultural legacy will be lost.

Delaney Brown, one of the founding members of the Harlesden People’s Community Council, said: “We need to get back something, to be recognised for something that we’ve done. Involvement – real involvement – practical involvement.

“That’s what we’ve worked for: to be self-sufficient, to be significant, a legacy that my child, my son, can say, ‘I can do it too. My dad did it!’

“There are community people that have got so many abilities and skills to offer.”

The Save Bridge Park campaign wants the site added to the National Heritage List for England, as they say this would acknowledge its part in preventing a race uprising in Stonebridge and mark its importance historically.

A consultation process has begun, with a planning decision expected later this year.

BPCC HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE VISION (see below):

THE ICONIC:

BPCC 2035 STONEBRIDGE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

THE NEW BRIDGE PARK COMPLEX

(Join our amazing opportunity to regenerate our community as completely self-sustaining)

THE BPCC STRATEGIC COMMUNITY PLAN

BPCC – OUR STRATEGIC VISION (3.5 ACRES / 1.4 HECTRES Approx.)

STONEBRIDGE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (SELF-SUSTAINING)

RESIDENTIAL, SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES

EDUCATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY (INSTITUTE STANDARDS)

AFRICAN & CARIBBEAN SUPERMARKET / CASH-N-CARRY (LOCAL PRIDE)

The BPCC Vision By J. Mastin.

OVER THIRTY FIVE YEARS AGO

Our Founding Ethos:

On 5th May 1982, a disused London transport building was purchased by the founders of Harlesdens Peoples Community Centre:

 

The Story

In circa 1980, Leonard Johnson led the Harlesden Peoples Community Council (HPCC) dream to expand the mix of educational, social and commercial development work they were doing in the local community.

In order for this to be realised they knew that they would need much larger premises. A COMMUNITY COMPLEX. He knew the bus depot was disused and thought to approach London Transport.

Leonard mentioned to others that he would try to get the Bus Garage for their vision and was told “….that is impossible! It’s worth £millions you’re dreaming”………… click here to read more of the Story (or simply read below for current update).

Support the Campaign – Click Here

Where are we now?

THANK YOU THE CONTINUED SUPPORT TO SAVE BRIDGE PARK LAND & COMPLEX

BRIDGE PARK IS NOT SOLD

 KILBURN TIMES COVERAGE (CLICK HERE)

In further opposition the community has put forward its own vision: To build an iconic Centre of Excellence (Educational, Social, Commercial, Technology) along with the UK’s largest African & Caribbean supermarket & wholesale, Banqueting/Theatre and Multi-Faith Centre on the land – all self-funding with 200 residential flats, with up to 25% as affordable housing.

 

The Bridge Park Community Council Steering Group (BPCC) is the trading name of Stonebridge Community Trust (HPCC) Ltd.

We are the successor’s to the original Harlesden Peoples Community Council HPCC (founders of Bridge Park).

We have come together with the specific aim of establishing the communities’ interest in ensuring we have a say in the control, development and future of the land of Bridge Park.

There is a foundation stone on the outside wall of the Bridge Park Complex which stands in recognition and as testament to the work of the founders HPCC. We are lobbying to keep this stone and to correct the historical void that exist around the true story of Bridge Park.

What is also important  is  that any development should be used for the socio-economic benefit of the Local Community and specifically aimed but not limited to the needs of the African and Caribbean community. All this is in keeping with the original HPCC aims and vision for Bridge Park.

BPCC is made up of members from the local community, skilled volunteers, business people and users of Bridge Park, who have set up as the BPCC Charity (CIO), to hold the Bridge Park development assets after our successful case, along with the outcome of any negotiations with Brent………….. click to read more of full update

Please donate: Visit: www.gofundme.com/bridgepark

PLEASE HELP US TO PUT UP A DEVELOPMENT THAT SUITS OUR NEEDS!

If you would like to attend our next [remote] public meeting please go to our Contact us page, fill in your details to be sent updates.

What you can do…

help us turn ‘ME’ into ‘WE’…

DO YOU HAVE SKILLS / TIME / CONTACTS / IDEAS?

OR JOIN OUR BRIGHT STAR VOLUNTEERS – IF YOU ARE BETWEEN AGES OF 18 – 35 YRS WE NEED YOU NOW?    CONTACT US

Its Our Time…..

“The Time Is Always Right To Do What is Right”
Dr. Martin Luther King

How is this done ….

Please donate: Visit: www.gofundme.com/bridgepark

BPCC Steering Group

URGENT PETITION

BRIDGE PARK COMMUNITY COUNCIL – URGENT PETITION

In 1980, HPCC had a vision to buy Land for community regeneration.  Grants were applied for in HPCC’s name these were special Government Grants to buy the land, design and build BRIDGE PARK Sports Centre and Complex.

Brent’s role was to support and recommend the applicant (HPCC), but the Council could NOT apply for or be the beneficiaries of the Grant themselves. in early 1982, HPCC was successfully granted the monies (first  £1.8million to buy the disused Bus Garage then c. £3.2million for the to development). HPCC was a simply co-op of young people. A Co-op could not hold public assets, it was agreed Brent would hold the monies.

On the 22nd June 2017, Brent Council decided to sell the land(s) that the leisure complex stands on.

In August 2017 HPCC and supporters successfully put forward sufficient evidence in support of an application to block the sale of Bridge Park.

After many offers including that of Tribunal to date Brent Council have not come to the negotiating table in, instead they have decided to take us the community to the High Court. They are siding with big business by using our community monies to take the community to Court.

We will take a stand and fight for community justice!!

PLEASE SHOW SUPPORT AND COMPLETE OUR CONSULATION QUESTIONNAIRE.

We need as many people as possible both in the STONEBRIDGE /BRENT WARDS and Nationwide responses – Please share this link Thank you.

What do we need?     We demand that Brent Council stop the sale, and return control and development of the Bridge Park site to the Community. Brent should back our BPCC community vision for the site (see below):

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED INSIST THAT BRIDGE PARK IS KEPT FOR COMMUNITY USE AND IN COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP: IN PERPETUITY.

Which area do you LIVE(required)

Which area do you WORK(required)

Between 2013 – 2018 to the best of your knowledge have you or your household ever received or engaged in a questionnaire from BRENT COUNCIL in relation to the sale or development of the Bridge Park Complex site.

Should Brent Council be allowed to SELL Bridge Park?(required)

Do you AGREE: “Bridge Park should always remain in the hands of the community” ?(required)

Do you AGREE that Brent should observe the protective covenant schedule titled “The Community Project” that was entered onto the original HM Land Registry Title NLG426015 of 1982.(required)

The first draft of BPCC’s vision for Bridge Park: * 300 Flats (option of extra 200 Hub flats). * Education, Social and Commercial Building and Technology centres. * Multi use Hall/ Theatre with Small Business mentoring Hubs. * Europe’s largest African & Caribbean Super Market (and Wholesale) centre. - Do you support the above BPCC vision going to professional Architects to assist.(required)

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