Local Authority

FOUR semi-detached homes could be demolished to make way for 22 replacement properties in a Harrow cul-de-sac.
Only in October last year did Harrow Council pass a motion condemning the practice of 'garden grabbing' whereby residential land and back gardens are swallowed up by new high density housing and asking for a change in the law to elevate the importance of green spaces in planning deliberations.

FAMILIES living in Hatch End will benefit from a new community centre and all-weather sports pitch after councillors approved the necessary plans.
Yesterday evening Harrow Council's planning committee granted permission for the proposal from Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust in which the existing Cedars Youth Centre in Chicheley Gardens will be demolished and replaced with a two-storey multi-use building and a multi-purpose football field.

A CAST of teenagers will bring to life a contemporary version of Shakespeare play 'Julius Caesar' on Sunday, February 13.
Actors from the Bearfoot School of Performing Arts, all aged between 13 and 19, aim to make the production more accessible to young people with a modern setting, language and themes.

WORK has begun on a kiosk that will allow police officers who patrol Harrow town centre to spend more time on the beat.
Members of the nine-strong town centre team, jointly funded by Harrow Police and Harrow Council, currently have to return to their office at West Street Police Station, West Street, Harrow on the Hill, in order to complete paperwork and record crimes.
But the new £150,000 glass-sided structure, nicknamed the iPlod and to be located outside BHS in St Ann's Road, will provide four desks for wireless laptop working and act as a drop-in centre for officers on patrol.
The building is being fabricated off site and will be lowered into place by a crane in mid-March.
This week engineers began the six week long task of preparing the foundations.
Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative), the council's portfolio holder for the environment, said: "We believe putting a police base into the heart of a shopping street provides extra reassurance to residents and is a sign of our commitment to providing cleaner and safer streets.
"This new base is a really practical and wireless base that officers can drop in and out of while on patrol. It means that officers will spend the maximum time possible on the beat."
Harrow's borough commander Chief Superintendent Dal Babu said: "This is excellent news for the borough. The town centre team has already made a big difference in terms of reducing crime in the town centre.
"Having a police base located in the heart of the town centre will mean that the team are even more visible and should help to reduce crime even further."

HOMEOWNERS struggling with mortgage payments can seek advice and support from Harrow Council next month.
People can talk through their financials problems with the authority's housing advisers at a stand at St Ann's Shopping Centre in St Ann's Road, Harrow, on Tuesday January 12 from 11am to 3pm.

HARROW Magistrates' Court in Rossyln Crescent, Harrow, could become more accessible if plans are passed by Harrow Council.
The proposals are to replace the entrance ramp, adding handrails in the first courtoom, build a new baby changing cubicle and improve the public toilets.

YOUNG people from Harrow have taken rubbish plucked from the River Thames and turned it into public sculptures seen at one of Britain's most famous galleries.
Over six months, children and teenagers who form part of Harrow Council's Young Voices Group worked with other adolescents from Ealing and Westminster and three artists from the Tate Britain gallery in Pimlico, south London, to produce original works, as well as prints and poem.
Some of the finished pieces have been on display at Harrow Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow, for the week up to today (Thursday) after having been shown at Tate Britain this summer as part of a display called Seeing Through that focused on 'motion' and 'material'.

TEENAGERS will be telling police what they think about stop and search policy at an upcoming meeting of the Harrow Police and Community Consultative Group.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to quiz senior officers from Harrow Police on matters of local concern.
It takes place on Monday November 16 at 7.30pm at Harrow Civic Centre.
For further information contact Damian Markland on 0208 424 1785.

A Christmas Event organised by Harrow Council will take place in the Council Chambers on Monday 14th December.

The Brent Jazz Orchestra are appearing for the first time at Freddy's (190 Station Road, Harrow, Middx, HA12RH) on Wednesday 4th November from 7.30pm.