Council tenants in a housing block in South Kilburn are fighting plans to convert their parking spaces into a garden which will be shared with private residents.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Julie and Jackie Lashbrook are against the plans (Pic credit: Adam Tiernan Thomas)Julie and Jackie Lashbrook are against the plans (Pic credit: Adam Tiernan Thomas) (Image: � Adam Tiernan Thomas)

People living in Carlton House in Canterbury Terrace, claim they need the spaces as many residents are elderly and need their cars to keep them mobile.

Under the plans, which are part of the multi-million pound regeneration project in the area, the parking spaces will make way for a garden which will be shared with residents who move into 194 proposed new private homes.

The plans include 42 homes charging affordable rents for existing council tenants and a health centre.

Julie Lashbrook, who lives in Carlton House with her mother Jacqueline Lashbrook, said: “They are taking our parking away from us.

“It’s not very fair because it’s been a parking space for many years and there will be nowhere for us to park.

“Five years ago the council asked if would we like it to be turned into green space or kept as parking and everyone voted for parking.”

The 35-year-old added: “There are a lot of elderly tenants that do have cars and they need them due to ill health to go shopping. Lots of families use the parking as well. Most of the other parking is all taken, there’s not much space out front. Its very hard to get space to park, especially in the evening.

Kit Oates, who works from South Kilburn Studios, which is earmarked for demolition, said: “I know these parking spaces are important for housing tenants. “I’ve been involved in arguments about parking spaces and I know how important and contested they are.

“In front of Carlton House, there will be an orchard. It’s good to have green spaces but families in the block have cars and it’s important to take kids to school and go shopping.”

A spokeswoman for Brent Council said: “Parking arrangements on the adjacent site at Carlton House will be reviewed and Brent will seek to re-provide existing formal spaces.

“As part of the proposals, each of the new secure tenant properties will be provided with one formal parking space and all other residential properties across the site will be classed as car free.

She added: “We are currently consulting on the proposals as part of a second round of public consultation. Following this, the project team will consider all of the feedback received before consulting with residents again in February.

“It is anticipated that a planning application will be submitted in spring.”