The Heart of Cricklewood 

A feature paving stone has been installed in the new pedestrian piazza in Oaklands Road to celebrate Cricklewood’s heritage in film production.

Cricklewood was the heart of film making between 1920 – 1938 and the home of Stoll Studios.  Sir Oswald Stoll had bought a disused aeroplane factory on Temple Road and transformed into what was described as “the largest, finest and best equipped cinema studios in Europe.” 

Today, you’ll find Matalan and Wickes on this Temple Road site. But rewind 100 years, and this was the site of Stoll Studios. 

This is one of the projects being delivered by the Cricklewood Town Team working with Brent Council, funded by NCIL to enhance this new pedestrian area.

Royally Cricklewood Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

On Saturday, 4 June 2022 Cricklewood Town Centre hosted the Royally Cricklewood festival. This vibrant event was awarded a grant from the Arts Council’s Let’s Create Jubilee Fund, 

ensuring that creativity played an important role in local community celebrations for Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  

The event was opened with the National Anthem, sung by young people from 360 Arts School and followed by the stirring sounds of Scottish bagpiper James Reid playing a tune composed for the Platinum Jubilee. Councillor Anne Clarke (London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden) provided an opening speech for the event. Royally Cricklewood showcased a newly commissioned dance choreographed by Arts Council England partner organisation FUBUNATION featuring talented young dancers from 360 Arts School, plus fantastic performances from Capoeira experts Pink Capoeira club, Irish dancers from Scoil Rince Ceim Oir and traditional Indian dancers from Foram Dance Academy. Audiences were treated to the impressive sounds of dhol drumming, an Afrofunk performance, as well as folk and rock classics on the festival stage. DJ Original Edge also kept the festive party atmosphere going throughout the afternoon.

Children created mosaics at an art workshop and all ages were invited to try their hands at producing rhythmic beats at an African drumming workshop.

The festival market included fragrant food from around the world, fashion and jewellery, health and well-being products, specialty coffee, as well as sweet treats. Other fun activities included children’s games and face painting, balloon modelling, bike advice and safety checks from Dr Bike.

Udenson Caldbeck Associates worked alongside Cricklewood Town Team to curate the festival.

OAKLANDS ROAD PEDESTRIANISATION

Cricklewood Town Team kicks off the festive season on the Oaklands Road pedestrianised area with a bespoke art installation, Light Play mounted on the wall of Pedro’s Cafe, which synchronises light with vibrant music tracks. These lights follow the pattern of the painted mural on the wall accompanied by an upbeat mix of lively sound. 

The artwork will bring Oaklands Road to life over the winter season from now until the end of January 2022. Light Play was commissioned by Cricklewood Town Team and was created by Laura Kriefman, Zach Walker and Lee J Malcolm for Hellion Trace Ltd (helliontrace.com).

Danny Maher, Chair of CTT admired this latest installation, “which is testament to the energy and ambition of CTT Members, all of whom are Cricklewood residents and share a vision of our local community being a great place to live, work and play.” CTT is pleased that lights and music enliven this newly created area of public space for the festive season – further funding obtained will bring permanent lighting to the area.  

Cricklewood Town Team obtained funding from Brent NCIL to develop the Oaklands Road Playable Street project, which was devised to address long-standing problems associated with the congested environment, air pollution and lack of public space in the Cricklewood town centre. 

This public space at the top of Oaklands Road was supported local residents and achieved by closing off vehicular access from the Broadway to Oaklands Mews, removing high levels of illegal parking, idling. Completed in 2021, 

Airlabs provided the study to understand the local airflow dynamics of the site to determine the best means of intervention and is continuing to monitor pollution using real time air pollution sensors installed on the site and Cricklewood Broadway for any improvement in localised air quality as a result of pedestrianisation of the end of Oaklands Road in Brent, London, where it meets Cricklewood Broadway. Click on the link to see the results 

A living wall was installed outside the new residential development on the street as part of the project, and was funded by Rainbow Properties, the developer of the block of flats.

Udenson Caldbeck Associates (UCA) developed the Oaklands Road Playable Street Project on behalf of Cricklewood Town Team.  This was funded from the London Borough of Brent’s Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy Fund in 2019. The Town Team is still working with others to replace the dangerous pedestrian crossing at the junction with Chichele Road.

For further information – Click here – links to Udenson website

https://cricklewood.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/trim.139D6CC5-3957-4049-8779-5440CB98CC7B.mov

On the Bus

Cricklewood Town Team are pleased to see the Vaccine bus on the Oaklands Road Piazza enabling local Cricklewooders to access the vaccine. Osita Udenson, the inspiration for the pedestrianisation as a member of the TownTeam, is one of those availing herself of the NHS service to the community.  The bus will return there regularly.

CTT Says

CTT outraged at the Montreaux proposal. The updated Urban Design study only serves to exacerbate and highlight the concerns raised in our initial objection dated the 9th September 2020 [Read more]

New London Assembly Members…

Congratulations: The Town Team are pleased to congratulate Anne Clarke and Krupesh Hirani as new London Assembly Members for Barnet & Camden and Brent & Harrow respectively. As hard working local Councillors for their Wards we will look forward to their support and continued involvement in the future of Cricklewood.