Brent Lib Dems Will Scrap Labour's Tower Block Plan

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 25th Jun 2009

The Liberal Democrats will reverse Labour's unpopular tower block decision

The Liberal Democrat Leader of Brent Council today announced that the 28 storey tower block approved by Labour in 2005 when they controlled Brent council on the site of Copland School will be reviewed and scrapped.

Labour approved the 28 storey tower block scheme, against mass opposition from local residents, claiming that the tower block was needed to fund the rebuilding of Copland School; but more than 4 years later there is no new school, only a scandal of alleged massive bonuses for some staff at the school.

The controversial plans for the tower block were also approved by Labour councillors, despite the council's own planning brief for the area which recommended restricting the height of any new buildings to the height of the existing Brent House - roughly half the height of the proposed tower block.

Local Liberal Democrat Campaigner for Wembley Afifa Pervez said:

"This is great news for the people of Wembley Central. This massive tower block was imposed on them by Labour and seems to have come to nothing.

"I will be working hard with Councillors Valerie Brown and Daniel Bessong to ensure that any new facilities built on the site are available for all local people to use. I hope now that the redevelopment of Copland school will be taken seriously and all the children who attend can look forward to a better school building in the future."

Local Liberal Democrat Council Leader Paul Lorber said:

"By scrapping Labour's unwanted 28 storey tower block we are listening to what local people want. Our priority is to rebuild the crumbling Copland School and to provide more realistic buildings on the frontage which will provide new homes, shopping and leisure facilities and jobs for local people"

The Liberal Democrats are keen to ensure that the council works closely with local people, Copland School and the two primary schools in the area on the rebuilding of Copland School with facilities made available to the wider Wembley Community. Because the Government will not provide the £30 million needed to build a new school the rebuilding will have to be funded from proceeds from the housing and shopping development to be built on the frontage of the Copland School site.