November 2008 Archives

Controversial plans to merge two Pinner schools will go ahead in January - despite an adjudicator finding errors with the process.

The amalgamation of West Lodge First and Middle Schools has long been the centre of dispute in Pinner and the process has dragged on for more than three years.

And even though a decision has finally been made, Harrow Council was forced to admit its proposals had been inaccurate.

A report presented to cabinet on Monday said: "The local authority's amalgamation policy was misleading, in that it led Governing Bodies to believe they made final decisions on amalgamation. This has led to a set of false expectations."

The council was also forced to uphold 22 complaints from objectors, who protested about the way in which the whole process was dealt with.

However, the report also recommended that the decision went ahead because the majority of the parties were in favour of the merge.

Councillor Christine Bednell (Conservative), responsible for children's services, was delighted at the decision to merge and defended the council's initial programme.

She said: "The proposal has attracted huge interest among the school community, and I am very aware of the strong and diverse views that have been expressed over the months.

"There is now the opportunity for a new start to be made. I believe the council has learned the necessary lessons from the processes."

From the start, the proposals were met with strong opposition by some middle school governors and parents, who were concerned the merge would compromise standards at the school.

But the council received a 301-parent petition in favour of the merge and of the 87 individual stakeholder responses, 70 also supported the plans.

Mediation has been offered to help rebuild relationships between the warring governing bodies, but the complainants could still take the decision to judicial review.

Pinner Pantomime returns to the village next week just months after it looked destined to be cancelled.

The festive favourite was in danger of coming to an end after small businesses in the area struggled to help fund the annual festivities.

But to everyone's delight the event was saved with the help of the Observer after we called on people to stump up the cash needed for the night. And in keeping with tradition, the 16-year-old affair will be held next Thursday - the last Thursday in November.

Mary Nichols, of Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, is ecstatic the event was saved and is expecting a good turnout at this year's festivities.

The 64-year-old said: "The pantomime evening is a great occasion and one of the few events that has a real community atmosphere about it.

"Everyone really enjoys the night because it signals the start of Christmas and it would have been a disaster to have lost it from the calendar.

"I think talk of it being cancelled surprised a lot of people and it may well be busier than years gone by because everyone has been talking about how much they love it.

"Let's just hope it can get the same support in the future and it will be held here for many years to come."

Celebrations are set to get under way from 5pm, when John Nickolay, the Mayor of Harrow, switches on the Christmas lights.

As many as 500 schoolchildren will be doing their bit on the night with a host of different performances, while a choir will be on hand to sing traditional Christmas carols.

Shops in the village will compete for the most impressively decorated front windows and proceedings will end at 8.30pm with a fireworks display.

n Send us your pictures from the night to

The Pinner Association hopes to keep more money coming in for the West House Appeal later this month with a Quiz Supper on November 27.
Cash is still needed to help fund the project - which will see the building in Pinner Memorial Park host a museum among other things.
For more information on the quiz night, scheduled for 7.15pm Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane, call 020 8866 8699.

Members of The Pinner Association will meet for its half yearly meeting on Wednesday at Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane,
It is due to start at 8.30pm and will include a talk from Neil Watson on the history of Pinner Police Station.
Following that there will be an open forum, giving residents the chance to have their say on all things Pinner.

Pinner Players is looking for new members who would like to participate in its next production, Come Blow Your Horn, and is holding a casting session on Friday.

If you would like to join in either on stage or back stage, you will be most welcome - even if you have never been involved in theatre before. If you have talent, the group pledges to help you find it.

It will be casting its February production, Come Blow Your Horn, on Friday at 8pm at the village hall.

All rehearsals and performances are in the Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Pinner.

The play is a Neil Simon comedy, and the ability to attempt an American accent will be an advantage.

All are welcome to come and read for a part, especially new-comers.

Visit

A conceptual artist and his team have left art on borough streets in a generous one-off art happening.

Adam Neate claimed the streets of London as his gallery as dusk fell last night, leaving 1,000 artworks scattered across the city, visiting all 32 London boroughs.

Find out more at

Were you lucky enough to find one of the pieces? Tell us what you found and where you found it and send your videos and pictures to http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-videos-pics/

A marquee got stuck in a tree following strong winds over the weekend.

Firefighters from Harrow Fire Station, in Pinner Road, were called to a home in Langland Drive, Hatch End after a marquee came unstuck at 1.30am on Monday.

The team managed to climb up a tree and dismantle the tent before it injured any residents.

Pupils from Reddiford School are making a last ditch plea to generous Observer readers by asking them to fund a circus act at this year's Pinner Pantomine.
Last year the annual event did not have the popular jugglers and clowns who normally perform during the night and were missed by festival goers, particularly children.
The Pinner Pantomime Committee is inviting people to sponsor a circus act which cost £175 each.
Jean Batt, headteacher at Reddiford School, said: "The 'Save Pinner Christmas Campaign' really is a worthwhile cause. I've had the privilege of participating in the Pantomime Evening with Reddiford Choir for 15 years and feel it marks the start of the Christmas celebrations.
"There is a wonderful sense of community spirit, something that can be sadly lacking in our present society. I feel we must make every endeavour to ensure that it continues for many years to come."
Sharon Pink, of the Pinner Pantomime Committee, said: "One thing we know was very much missed by the visitors last year was the circus acts, the lovely jugglers and clowns and we hope we'll have enough contributions to be able to bring them back this year."
If anyone would like to sponsor one of the acts please email sharon@screenidol.co.uk

The people of Pinner will commemorate Armistice Day this Sunday (November 9) with a service at the village's war monument from 10.40am.
Ninety years after the end of the First World War it is anticipated people will be out in force for the memorial at the top of Pinner High Street.