February 2009 Archives

A record number of youngsters flocked to polling stations this year, wanting to ensure their favourite candidate was elected to the UK Youth Parliament.

More than 7,000 young people voted at more than 20 polling stations across Harrow in the week leading up to the announcement - almost 2,000 more than in last year's election.

Harrow's two places in the UK Youth Parliament were won by Aakash Bharania, and Rhiya Pau, both 15, while Amar Chandarana and Mahek Metha claimed deputy spots.

The budding Gordon Browns and Boris Johnsons, who had all been nominated for the posts by their peers, were given the results at the Civic Centre last week and will now join members drawn from all over England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) was set up nine years ago as a way to improve youth participation in decision-making.

Harrow had previously been allowed just one elected Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) on the UKYP and one deputy, but has been asked to elect two of each for the past two years.

An internet class that helps Muslim women detect the tell-tale signs of extremism in their children has been praised by government officials.

The Harrow Council scheme, launched earlier this month, was one of three Harrow-run projects up for awards in the Prevention of Violent Terrorism awards, held last Tuesday.

Labelled the E-safety training workshop, the idea saw off competition from Brent, Hounslow and Lambeth in the best women's project category.

The class aims to cover safety advice on the use of internet messaging, social networking websites and chat rooms, but also helps to alert Muslim mothers about teenagers who might be enticed to look at websites which promote terrorism or extremism.

The event, which was organised by the Government Office for London and the London Prevent Network, was hosted by minister for London and Harrow East MP, Tony McNulty.

Harrow was also shortlisted for prizes in the best youth project and innovation categories.

A private bar which claimed Al Pacino and Robert Redford were regulars has been fined more than £2,000 for selling alcohol to non-members.

Ruby M, in Alexandra Avenue, Rayners Lane, had a signing-in book which included Jaws, the Great White shark from the film of the same name, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

However, the supposed celebrity regulars were suspiciously absent from the bar when it was discovered customers were able to buy drinks without being questioned.

The owners of the private members' club were found guilty at Harrow Magistrates' Court on February 13 of abusing their licence.

The owners, Umesh and Grisha Jivraj, of Woodbury Avenue, North Harrow, admitted to breaching the Licensing Act 2003 and were ordered to pay £2,500 each in fines and court costs.

Two years ago the couple were warned by the police about selling alcohol, but were caught flouting the rules by Harrow Council officers.

Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative), portfolio holder for environment services, said: "Private members' clubs are granted licences on condition that they only serve proper members.

"Much as I'm sure Robert Redford and Al Pacino would enjoy a visit to Harrow's nightlife, they patently weren't regulars at Ruby M's."

A private members' licence only permits entertainment and the selling of alcohol to bona fide members and their guests.

Mickey the ginger moggy is well on his way to full health after he was hit by a car last week.

Mickey is making a recovery that has left nurses at the Summerhill Veterinary Surgery in Newport scratching their heads, but a very different kind of journey.

Because this little feline has somehow made a staggering 150-mile cross country trip - taking him from South Harrow to South Wales.

Believed to be between just one and two years old, Mickey was hit by a car in Newport last Thursday and now staff are desperate to find his owners.

Taken in by caring staff at the local vets Mickey was soon discovered with an electronic chip giving his address as Eastcote Avenue in South Harrow.

Deputy head nurse at the surgery, Mandy James, says it is unusual to take in pets so far from home but said that jumping on board a car and making the long distance trip is not unheard of. She said: "At the moment we are having difficulty finding his owner and it may well be that they have moved to Newport and not changed his chip.

"However, if he had somehow got himself in a car and been transported all the way here it wouldn't be a first.

"We just want to reunite him with his family who we are sure will be missing him - wherever they may be."

Since his accident last week the cat has undergone several x-rays and is using a feeding tube because of his facial injuries.

It is hoped he will make a full recovery in the next few weeks, but he is currently in a good condition despite his injuries.

Ms James added that although the surgery has two telephone numbers listed for the Harrow address, no one has answered their calls and they are now desperately hoping the public can help find them.

Anyone who can help trace the owner or recognises Mickey is asked to contact Summerhill Veterinary Surgery on 01633 255394.

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Construction firm Kier flouted safety rules with the improper disposal of asbestos in South Harrow, a damning report found.

Workers refurbishing properties in Brookside Close and Eastcote Lane ripped out floor tiles and toilet cisterns covered in cancer-causing asbestos last February and dumped them in an open skip, rather than putting them in a bag inside a hazardous waste skip so a licensed waste contractor could collect it.

Asbestos can cause cancer by breathing in the fibres, although the tossed materials were deemed a 'neglible risk to the public' because the tiles were thermoplastic and the cisterns were made from Bakelite.

The incident, called 'unfortunate' by Kier, breached health and safety policy and the sub-contractors are no longer employed by the company.

A report into the case remained confidential until pressure by the opposition Labour party forced Conservative-run Harrow Council to make it public.

The report says: "As a result of accepted poor site management and inadequate quality control measures undertaken by Kier...operatives did not receive appropriate asbestos related information.

"This failure by the site manager of Kier was in clear contravention of the company's and Harrow Council's health and safety policy."

Before the asbestos-dumping took place Kier had sacked an area manager responsible for Brookside Close and neighbouring streets for flouting health and safety laws.

Ward councillor Bob Currie (Labour) said: "I don't think the report goes far enough. I think at least the council or Kier should have written to these tenants to tell them asbestos had been removed from their property.

"The tenants have never had a letter of apology either."

Councillor Paul Osborn (Conservative), Harrow Council's portfolio holder for performance, communication and corporate services, said: "This report relates to an issue over asbestos that was reported in the media last year. The conclusion is that there was a 'negligible' risk to residents, Kier and Harrow employees. That conclusion was made public at the time.

"Harrow Council believes it has a clear duty to disclose information in the public interest and that has already been done in this case.

"It is important to note that this report was submitted to a cross-party committee of councillors and was not a document held only by the administration."

Two men have been interviewed under caution in relation to last year's fatal Stanley Road gas explosion.

The pair voluntarily attended attended Wembley police station on Thursday to "assist" detectives from the Putney-based homicide and serious crime directorate, who are investigating the blast.

Neither interviewee was arrested, police said.

Emmad Qureshi, 26, was killed by a wound to the neck in the blast on May 7, 2009, that destroyed three houses and left two others injured and numerous families temporarily homeless.

Since the criminal investigation is ongoing, the inquest into Mr Qureshi's death will continue to be delayed.

There have been no arrests or charges so far, although the detectives involved recently received back from the Health and Safety Executive laboratories the results of tests carried out on pipes and gas equipment removed from the blown up house.

MEP Robert Evans has called for the UN to intervene in the conflict in Sri Lanka to prevent a civilian massacre.

Mr Evans, who has responsibility for boroughs in West London, including Brent and Harrow, said: "All the evidence suggests that about a quarter of a million people could be caught in a ghastly bloodbath."

The civil war in the north of Sri Lanka has become increasingly violent, and Gordon Brown's nomination of former defence secretary Des Browne as special envoy to the country was last week rejected by its government.

Mr Evans is the chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with South Asia and has made many visits to Sri Lanka.

He said: "The Sri Lankan government has become increasingly paranoid and defensive about all matters relating to the war.

"It is still impossible to know what is going on because it doesn't allow independent access to the war zone."

He is also due to speak at a public meeting on Sri Lanka in Wembley tomorrow.

Robbers threatened a driver with a knife and stole his cash box in a Sainsbury's supermarket car park in South Harrow.

The security company driver was returning to his van at Sainsbury's, in Northolt Road, South Harrow, when three men attacked him, threw him to the ground and ran off with the cash towards Corbins Lane.

The Flying Squad at Finchley are investigating the raid late last month. Anyone with information on should call 020 8358 1751, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A burglar squeezed through a window at a house in Rayners Lane to steal jewellery and a briefcase.

A window was forced open on a flat roof extension at the home on February 6 between 5.45pm and 9pm.

The 69-year-old home owner returned home to find his belongings missing.

Harrow actor and Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel's passion for martial arts cannot be squashed by his sudden rise to fame.

The 18-year-old, who first shot to fame in E4 drama Skins, has been a member of Rayners Lane Tae Kwon Do Academy, in South Harrow, since he was 10, and is expected to return soon.

His instructor, Stuart Anslow, has spoken to him briefly to congratulate him on the success of the Oscar-nominated Slumdog Millionaire, and said: "Dev is a very humble and down-to-earth guy, I don't expect his film success will change that. I'm sure we'd kick him back into shape if it did."

Dev won a bronze medal at a world championship in 2004 and got his black belt in 2006.

Mr Anslow added: "People are definitely inspired by his black belt."

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