THE campaign to stop a housing estate being built close to a beauty spot unique to the borough is gathering momentum.
A petition has been started among ward councillors and neighbours in Welsh Harp to stop the 71 homes being built on the site of Greenhouse Garden Centre, in Birchen Grove, Kingsbury.
A planning application was submitted to Brent Council by planning consultant Malcolm Scott last month.
The land is next to the Welsh Harp Reservoir - 170 hectares of open water, marshes, trees and grassland. It is a designated site of special scientific interest and is home to many different species of wildlife.
Welsh Harp Labour ward council-lors Mary Farrell and Harry Singh are urging people to join the campaign and to sign the petition.
This is not the first time an application of this type has been submitted to the council for the same site.
Councillor Farrell, who has represented the Welsh Harp since 2002, said: "The Welsh Harp Park and the reservoir itself combine to provide a unique leisure space and a rare wildlife habitat. These proposals are the gravest threat to our open space since the harebrained scheme to build a hotel on the site.
"Local people saw off that daft idea and I am determined that we will see off this daft idea as well."
A similar application has been made to Barnet Council for another green site off Cool Oak Lane, which joins the Barnet side of the park.
Malcolm Scott has told the Observer that if the site was approved he would leave the Brent garden centre where it is and make improvements.
He also confirmed 50 per cent of the development would be affordable housing. A report has been carried out by ecologists and an exhibition displaying plans can be found at the garden centre.
To see the plans and make a comment visit Brent Council's website at www.brent.gov.uk. Look for planning application number 09/3220.
