Andrew Dismore

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced a major grant of £324,000 to green spaces in Burnt Oak. The scheme for Silkstream Park and Montrose Park will significantly improve the quality of Silkstream Park and Montrose Playing Fields which are currently underused and considered unsafe by residents. Improvements will include: two new playgrounds, new facilities for football, tennis, basketball, skateboarding and parkour, a café, events spaces and new community orchard. The project will also reduce flood risk from the River Brent by naturalising the river banks, opening up access to the river and enriching biodiversity. The Mayor’s funding will particularly support improvements to the river, new wildlife habitats and tree planting.

Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore welcomed the news, saying:

‘There is a real contrast between the Mayor’s investment and the Conservative Council’s cuts. The Council has never cared about Burnt Oak, and spent the last decade cutting away every service Burnt Oak residents used. On the other Hand, now there is a Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq is investing in the communities that really need support after years of neglect.’

New Burnt Oak Labour Councillor Sara Conway added:

‘I’m absolutely delighted as Burnt Oak so needs this type of investment to improve our neglected community spaces. A Borough that has stated its commitment to being the most family friendly in London by 2020 needs to make sure that is for all families and residents, in all areas, and it’s great our Labour London Mayor is helping that to happen here.’