Petition launched against plans to move Jubilee clock in Harlesden

Time piece to be relocated as part of town regeneration scheme

Furious residents have started a petition against the council’s plan to move the Jubilee clock in Harlesden as part of a regeneration project.

The clock, which was completed in 1888 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, currently stands on a paved island in the centre of the junction between Harlesden High Street and Station Road.

Under the regeneration scheme, that section of the High Street will be converted for buses only, and the council claims this will increase the risk of the clock being struck.

Their solution is to move the clock across the road to the pavement, but residents say that it will look out of place there, and lose its landmark status.

Ian Britton, chair of the Rucklidge Avenue Residents’ Association who is leading the campaign, said: “People are extremely angry. Moving the clock will cost thousands of pounds and the pavement will have to be extended because it is too small for it now.

“Also, making this section of the road for buses only would reduce the volume of traffic by about 70 to 80 per cent, so how could it create a problem when currently all traffic passes on both sides of the clock without problem – no one has driven into it yet.”

The petition has been signed by Mayor of Brent Michael Adeyeye and Leader Mohammad Butt.

Mr Britton has joined forces with campaigners against an incinerator proposed at Willesden Junction, and will be collecting signatures for both causes tomorrow at Harlesden Plaza shopping centre from 10am to 3pm.

Activists aim to get 1,000 people to sign and residents are also encouraged to send in written objections.

For more information go to www.rucklidgeavenue.co.uk.