Mapesbury Liberal Democrat Sami Hashmi wrote to the Wembley and Willesden Observer about the successful Cricklewood Outer London Fund grant:
Dear Editor,
Has Cricklewood dropped off the map? As far as Labour politicians at Brent Town Hall are concerned the place might as well not exist, going by the recent comments of George Crane and other Labour councillors.
I share his disappointment that the Outer London Fund bids he made failed. But I am shocked that he failed to give any credit to the residents of Cricklewood who successfully gained £1.6m from the Fund to invest in our community on both sides of the A5 borough boundary.
Admittedly, at first he and his Labour colleagues were not supportive. But when the Liberal Democrat Mapesbury ward councillors put down a motion calling on Brent Council to back the bid, we were delighted that all sides of the council chamber agreed with us. As a result the bid gained the formal backing of Brent Council – a key step in making it successful.
The £1.6 million will make a big contribution to revitalising Cricklewood by supporting local buisinesses and young people, enhancing shop fronts, and making other physical improvements requested by residents such as tree planting and improving access for cyclists.
How sad that instead of celebrating this achievement Labour have chosen to ignore it completely, because of their original preference that Cricklewood should miss out on the money.
Yours faithfully
Cllr Sami Hashmi
Lib Dem, Mapesbury
