Make Willesden Green Enters a New Phase

Around 25 residents met at the Rising Sun beer garden last Sunday to celebrate the phenomenal electoral result of Make Willesden Green at the May local elections and to discuss ways of taking the collective energies of the group forward.  Coming runner-up in the election and beating the Tories and LibDems  shows that we represent a significant number of people in Willesden Green and - with Labour's huge majority on the council - our independent voice is  now more important than ever: Make Willesden Green is effectively the ‘official opposition’ in this area.

People expressed different ideas on what Make Willesden Green can or should be. Some of the key points raised included:

• widen and deepen our reach across the community so that Make Willesden Green looks more like the neighbourhood it wants to represent
• keep the campaigning focus of the group, and hold our elected councillors to account
• address issues and include supporters from surrounding wards of Dudden Hill, Mapesbury and Brondesbury Park, and make sure that Make Willesden Green connects all parts of Willesden. 
• amplify other campaigns relevant to our area - from Brent Housing Action to Save the Queensbury

After some discussion, the following action points were also agreed: 

• To seek a delegation at the earliest opportunity to the Council regarding the management and community access to the new Cultural Centre
• To monitor Galliford Try profits from the library development and ensure the council receives additional monies due to the inflated housing market
• To investigate the possibility of a street party to involve more people in Make Willesden Green  
• To use the blog to focus attention on the the key areas of improving the High Road/and public spaces, promoting affordable and social housing, protecting our schools from academisation and upholding local democracy.      

The excellent turn-out and continuing fighting spirit on display at our first post-electoral meeting of Make Willesden Green bodes well for the group’s future activities. This website will now act as an on-line clearing-house for information on relevant events and activities. We have also set up an email discussion group which you can join HERE or email makewillesdengreen@gmail.com and we will add you directly. As a grassroots initiative the future of  Make Willesden Green relies entirely on resident’s collective efforts – so please sign up and  add  your ideas, expertise and energy to build an independent voice for Willesden residents.