Thousands of people pass St John the Baptist, Greenhill every week, yet it is easy to overlook how much of Harrow’s history is contained within its stone walls. Standing prominently at the junction of Station Road and Sheepcote Road, the church reflects Greenhill’s transformation from a small Middlesex settlement into the busy and extraordinarily diverseContinue reading “St John the Baptist, Greenhill – a church that tells the story of modern Harrow”
Category Archives: article
Putting residents first – but were Harrow residents really put first over the West London Waste Plan?
“Putting residents first” is one of Harrow Council’s core corporate messages and a stated guiding ethos of the Conservative administration. The West London Waste Plan consultation provides a useful test of what that means in practice. The Plan will influence waste-related development until 2041 and safeguards two existing Harrow sites: Forward Drive and 151 PinnerContinue reading “Putting residents first – but were Harrow residents really put first over the West London Waste Plan?”
Harrow Council fought ULEZ with taxpayers’ money – new evidence raises questions about the public-health judgement behind that decision
Harrow Council’s Conservative administration spent years attacking the Mayor of London over the Ultra Low Emission Zone. New scientific evidence should now prompt an uncomfortable question: was political opposition allowed to overshadow one of the most important public-health arguments for cleaner air, protecting children’s lungs? A major five-year study involving more than 3,400 primary-school childrenContinue reading “Harrow Council fought ULEZ with taxpayers’ money – new evidence raises questions about the public-health judgement behind that decision”
Harrow joint bottom in London for children’s services despite £5.47m overspend and £70,549 exit payment, but who is accountable at the top?
Questions about the quality of Harrow Council’s governance, accountability, transparency, service outcomes, value for money and senior political and managerial leadership are becoming increasingly difficult to avoid. The latest evidence comes from Ofsted’s newly published London-wide comparison of local authority children’s services. As at 31 March 2026, 18 of London’s 33 local authorities were ratedContinue reading “Harrow joint bottom in London for children’s services despite £5.47m overspend and £70,549 exit payment, but who is accountable at the top?”
The missing chapter of Harrow’s history: the number that has connected generations
Harrow Council frequently celebrates the borough’s history through civic campaigns that emphasise identity, tradition and local pride, often echoing the nationalistic rhetoric and “take pride in our place” themes that have become increasingly prominent in wider political discourse. Yet, in doing so, it has overlooked one of the most familiar and enduring pieces of Harrow’sContinue reading “The missing chapter of Harrow’s history: the number that has connected generations”
Concrete over policy? Questions after Harrow approves another seven-storey town centre development
Harrow Council’s Planning Committee has approved plans to demolish the former Smokey Fridays restaurant at 382–384 Station Road and replace it with a seven-storey mixed-use building containing 12 flats and commercial space. The application was approved by the five Conservative members of the committee, with the two Labour members voting against. Committee Chair Councillor MarilynContinue reading “Concrete over policy? Questions after Harrow approves another seven-storey town centre development”
Third Ofsted visit uncovers fresh failures in Harrow children’s services
More than eighteen months after Harrow’s children’s services were judged “inadequate” and placed under a government improvement notice, Ofsted’s third monitoring visit has identified another series of serious weaknesses, this time in services for disabled children. Rather than demonstrating sustained recovery, the latest findings reinforce a troubling pattern: as inspectors examine different parts of theContinue reading “Third Ofsted visit uncovers fresh failures in Harrow children’s services”
Hosepipe ban exposes planning failures, and the muted response from Harrow’s elected representatives
Affinity Water’s decision to impose a Temporary Use Ban across its Central region, including Harrow, has understandably frustrated many residents. The company says the restrictions are necessary because of exceptionally high demand, warmer weather and reduced supplies from Grafham Water reservoir, but why has a modern water company not planned more effectively for circumstances thatContinue reading “Hosepipe ban exposes planning failures, and the muted response from Harrow’s elected representatives”
Remembering Ross Simpson MBE: a life of faith and service
The Harrow Monitoring Group remembers with gratitude the life of Ross Simpson MBE, who passed away last month at the age of 88. Ross dedicated his life to serving others. A committed Christian, his faith was the foundation of everything he did. He was an active member of his church for many decades, quietly livingContinue reading “Remembering Ross Simpson MBE: a life of faith and service”
Navratri at Byron Hall: a test of transparency, accountability and equal opportunity
Questions have recently arisen regarding the allocation and subsequent cancellation of bookings for Navratri 2026 celebrations at Byron Hall, within Harrow Leisure Centre, a facility owned by the London Borough of Harrow. The matter was brought to the attention of Harrow Monitoring Group by Yati Events and raises issues extending beyond any single organiser orContinue reading “Navratri at Byron Hall: a test of transparency, accountability and equal opportunity”
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