651.-london-borough-of-brent-and-its-boundaries-with-barnet,-camden,-ealing,-hammersmith-and-fulham,-harrow,-knc-and-westminster

21. Two members of the public submitted a joint suggestion forthe dissolution of Brent by the amalgamation with Harrow of thatpart of the Borough north of the A406 North Circular Road, andthe division of the southern part between Kensington and Chelsea,Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster and Ealing. They recommendedthe abolition of Brent on the grounds that the present Boroughwas split by the North Circular Road into two distinct areas, onesuburban and the other with urban environmental problems. Theyclaimed that the existing inner city/suburban authority wasunmanageable because of these environmental and structuraldifferences. They also referred to the social differences betweenthe two areas.22. The Preston Amenities Protection Association suggested thata new, separate borough should be created by amalgamating theParliamentary constituency of Brent North with the adjacentcommunities of Kenton and south Wembley. The Association claimedthat this would reflect the socio-economic differences betweenthese areas and south Brent. The effect of the suggestion waspractically the same as that proposed by the Brent NorthConservative Association, to restore the borough of Wembley.23. In addition to the letters from members of the public whichwere sent to us in support of the above suggestions, we received88 representations from local residents requesting that the areaof Brent to the north of the A406 should be transferred out ofthe Borough by means of either suggestion. Almost all therepresentations received were from residents of the northern partof Brent.24. The representations from members of the public generallyexpanded on the reasons for change given by Harrow and theConservative Association in their submissions for radical change.Many asserted that Brent covered a large area which was dividedby what the respondents regarded as the major barrier of theA406. They emphasised that the north of the Borough was suburbanin character, and that its sense of identity was separate fromthat of the urban south. Additionally, they considered themselvesto be di sadvantaged in terms of service provis ion, wi theducation, public health and refuse collection being the services