Pocket Park
With the good weather more people are using the park and therefore there is more litter. Veolia picks it up regularly but it is not enough. Some residents have already done a  clear up but it needs more. If you think this is a good idea and you also want to help, please let us know. There are also new weeds coming through the wood chippings, so we might need to do some weeding. Again if you want to help please let me know.

Japanese knotweed - This is affecting some gardens in the middle section of Palermo Road coming from the railway embankment. It is a very serious issue. If you live on the even numbers of Palermo rd please look at your gardens to check if you have Japanese knotweed. You might actually have heard on the news this week that a couple managed to successfully sue Network Rail for knotweed coming into their garden from the railway. I assume this means that Network Rail are responsible for eradicating it. Knotweed is a weed that can't be just dug out. It needs to be treated and it costs a lot of money.

Trees - As you know a lot of new trees have been planted by Brent Council in our  neighbourhood. This contributes to improving our air quality as well as the beauty of our streets. If we don't water the new trees, they will probably die. Can we suggest that you take responsibility for watering the tree or trees in front of your house. Some of them have a small hose pipe next to the trunk. Just use it to get the water down to the roots. A few water cans every so often I m sure will keep them alive. There is no forecast of any rain.

SNT advice - If you actually see crimes being committed or ASB, please contact 101 or www.met.police.uk/ro/report

Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum meeting -  Thursday 19 July 6.15 at the Royal Oak upstairs. There will be updates and an opportunity to get involved.

Burst water pipe on junction of Furness Road and Harlesden High Road - Poor communication from Thames Water while our water was off at the weekend. Work is now ongoing to effect repairs.

Furious neighbours say a sea of rubbish has been piling up by the railway tracks in Willesden for a year – and bosses have done nothing to clear it.

There are boxes and bottles along the footpath connecting Willesden Junction to the Harrow Road. That’s before anyone mentions the rats, or the Japanese knotweed slowly approaching people’s homes.

Ward councillor Jumbo Chan told the Times he had been asking Network Rail – which owns the land – to fix the problems since spring last year, but seen no improvement.

Fernanda Oliviera uses the path every day. “It looks awful,” she said, “and because of the cardboard there’s the danger of a fire starting.”
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Referring to the knotweed, she added: “A number of houses have been impacted by this. It’s a very serious weed that needs treatment before it spreads.” Left untreated, Japanese knotweed can destroy foundations.
Network Rail’s Matt Brennan apologised to Cllr Chan and said he would contact a maintenance unit about getting the pathway cleaned.