Islamia Primary School relocation

I Babu Patel from Windermere Avenue vehemently oppose the transfer of the school from its present site to the Strathcona site on the following grounds:

1. I have been a resident here for over 50 years and have seen the growth of motorized traffic from a few cars to hundreds of cars between 8.00 AM and 8.00 PM every day. 223 bus runs through the neighborhood and there is always a traffic jam between 8.00 AM and 9.00 AM and between 3.15 PM and 4.00 PM. With the establishment of the new school, there will be colossal traffic and this can't be good for the environment. Residents who want to get off their houses become trapped should they wish to get out in an emergency. Emergency vehicles/fire brigade also get caught up in the traffic which can be disastrous for the people needing immediate care and attention.

2. A big accident is waiting to happen on Carlton Avenue East and Windermere Avenue and the side roads. Sometimes some drivers have to resort to driving out through the pavement. This is a serious health and safety issue.

3. Some parents resort to indiscriminate driving habits and on occasion block the residents' driveways. It may be a few minutes but it could be a matter of life and death especially if an ambulance and paramedics cannot get through and park where necessary.

A few years ago my driveway was blocked by an inconsiderate parent of a child at the nursery and I had to wait it seemed ages to drive my wife to Northwick Park Hospital. More schools in the neighborhood mean more traffic congestion. At present commuters traveling from South Kenton and Preston Road and school parents' park their cars in the area when dropping their children at Preston Park Primary school and Byron Court Primary School.

4. The huge rebuilding cost of a new school means more council tax for the residents to fund. As it is the council tax has seen a huge increase in the last few years. With the cost of living crisis and huge energy costs, residents' standard of living has seen a big fall and cannot under any circumstances face some additional costs. One way or the other council will have to cover their expenditure. who better than the council taxpayers?

5. Why transfer to a new site with additional costs when the pupils can be easily absorbed comfortably within the present schools in Brent? In the present climate, we should be looking to cutting costs.

6. Brent is a multi-religion, multi-cultural inclusive Borough. So absorbing students from the faith schools like yours can only be beneficial to everyone. Pupils of all backgrounds, religions, races, and colors will learn to understand and live together and be able to co-exist with mutual respect and harmony. I know this for a fact as I went to such a school in Africa.

So as a resident of the South Kenton area, I strongly agree with option 2 of your consultation document with a proviso that the pupils of the Islamia School be absorbed into the Brent Schools structure with the approval of the parents concerned. This is the only way to keep everybody happy.