A street party to re-imagine Priory Park Road as a green space
Kilburn Oasis took place last Friday 20th September to celebrate World Car-Free Day. Priory Park Road is well known to us and to local residents for safety issues due to heavy van and car traffic, vehicles idling and air pollution.
Last Friday, the road was transformed with the help of the artwork of our pupils showing how they would like it to be; the transformation took place with the help of turf, plants, games and many health-related stalls which demonstrated how it could be a cleaner, safer and greener area, and how it could provide a liveable space to school pupils, local residents and shoppers.
The community came together to provide free activities such as live music with Kilburn State of Mind, face painting, juggling, cycle training for pupils, scooters and cycle repair by local project Cycletastic, blood pressure and diabetes health checks, and electric cargo bike rides with Pedal Me bike.
Georgia Gould, MP for Queen’s Park and Maida Vale and Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, as well as several Brent councillors attended the event. Ms Gould was impressed with the children’s vision, and the fact that pupils’ needs was the drive for the project, whilst the Leader of Brent Council, Mr Muhammed Butt, took up the offer of a cycle ride with a Pedal Me cargo bike.
Brent Eleven Street association, lead by Josie Warshaw who instigated and coordinated the project, and Kilburn Grange School have been campaigning for the street to be closed to traffic for a long time, and are delighted that the strong campaign paid off!
Cllr Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said: "I visited Kilburn Grange School three times now, and I can see the problems connected with the street as it is currently used. I'm delighted to announce that we will be working with the school and the local community on developing a scheme to create a new permanent green, car free space, taking into account the views of the children, including their artwork, representing their vision".
Georgia Gould, MP for Queen’s Park and Maida Vale and Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, said: " Kilburn Oasis is an amazing example of a grassroots community project, epitomised by the leading role played by the students at Kilburn Grange School. I've been so impressed by the students energy and am delighted to support them and the rest of the Oasis team as they look to create a happy, healthy local space for the whole community."
Helen Khinich, Headteacher said: "We are delighted to have the backing of both Brent and Camden councils to close the road permanently to traffic. Our children will be so much safer, and a green space - clear from cars and vans - will provide a traffic-safe space for residents too. With 10% of our pupils suffering from asthma, this sends a clear message that clean air is not negotiable".
Ahmed, a pupil at the school, said: "Kilburn Oasis was so much fun. My favourite part was using the Pedal Me bike to get around. I wish the street could be like this every day, so my friends and I have a space to play."
Our school actively encourages staff and parents to travel by green or low impact means through our school travel plan, and have taken part to the Moveshift STARS programme (currently waiting to be awarded). A School Street application has also been made.
The event has been covered by the local press:
Kilburn Oasis
Kilburn Oasis was organised with funding provided by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via One Kilburn and Camden Council, with Brent Council’s support.
A huge thank you goes to all the organisations and people who took part or provided support and services: Sally Scooters, Mums for Lungs, London Cycling Campaign, Kilburn State of Mind, Brent Health Matters, Vijay Indian Restaurant, and the Kilburn Grange School’s Parent-Teacher association, in particular Mrs Niki Khan.
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