The Welsh Harp Joint Consultative Committee met on 24 November 2025 to discuss the management of the Welsh Harp Reservoir. The committee was scheduled to discuss updates to the Welsh Harp Management Plan from both Barnet and Brent councils, as well as receive an update from the Canal & River Trust. Also on the agenda was discussion of community group activities and the Silk Stream Bridge proposal.

Welsh Harp Management Plan Updates

The committee was scheduled receive updates on the Welsh Harp Management Plan from both the London Borough of Barnet and Brent Council. The Welsh Harp Management Plan is jointly managed by Brent Council, the London Borough of Barnet, and the Canal & River Trust.

London Borough of Barnet Update

The report from Barnet Council included an update on council activities between July and September 2025 relating to the Welsh Harp and West Hendon Playing Fields.

The report noted that Barnet Council were working with the Environment Agency and specialist contractors to clear riverside waste upstream of the Silk Stream trash screen.

Fly-tipping at Priestly Way was also noted as an ongoing issue, with Barnet Council committing to resolving the situation within a month. The report stated that waste contamination and access issues had hampered an effective response.

The report also stated that a series of volunteer litter picking events had been organised by the Friends of Welsh Harp over the late summer and autumn, with collection and clearance resources provided by the council.

Barnet Council is a member of the Thames21 Brent Catchment Partnership and continues to work with stakeholders on issues facing the River Brent catchment, including the Welsh Harp. Barnet Council officers attend working group meetings, such as the invasive non-native species (INNS) control group, which has produced an interactive map to show INNS locations and treatment plans. The long-term aim of the group is to eradicate Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed across the catchment.

In consultation with the Friends of the Welsh Harp, Barnet Council resources have been redeployed from contractor litter picks to invasive non-native species treatment. Treatment was successful on the left bank of the Silk Stream downriver of the trash screen, but access issues prevented comprehensive treatment of the corresponding area on the right bank, which Barnet Council aimed to resolve in spring 2026.

The West Hendon Playing Fields project is progressing with a phased approach to delivering the masterplan, as approved by Cabinet in July 2025. The initial focus will be on improvements to existing facilities, with design work continuing for access and drainage improvements. Refurbishment of the existing tennis courts, the introduction of a new 3x3 basketball court and installation of a new play area are expected to start by spring 2026, subject to seasonal conditions. The subsequent phase is working towards the masterplan and Playing Pitch Strategy aspirations for a Sports Hub, within current budget limitations. Feasibility for a 3G pitch has been completed, in collaboration with the Football Foundation, as the initial step towards a planning application in the coming months and a subsequent funding bid.

Work has commenced on the restoration of the North Marsh area of the site, a project managed by the Canal & River Trust and partially funded by Barnet Council. The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) have started their weekly habitat management sessions, Welsh Harp Wednesdays, every Wednesday from 10am – 3pm throughout winter. These sessions will focus on habitat management and enhancement work, informed by the site management plan and suggestions from key stakeholders.

Concerns relating to the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as a result of development from a property in Woolmead Avenue remained under review by the Council’s Planning Enforcement team, who have worked with Natural England to review and resolve matters. A retrospective application for construction work at 38 Woolmead Avenue was refused by the London Borough of Barnet Planning Dept. A further notice was issued in November 2023, outlining a requirement to demolish and remove materials from the property. An appeal was issued in 29 January 2025, and the Council's decision was upheld. An independent inspector has provided up to 29th July 2025 to comply with the terms of the enforcement notice or obtain relevant consents. On 17th October 2025, a retrospective planning application was submitted for the erection of a single storey rear outbuilding and is pending consideration.

The council continues to work in partnership with Brent Council, Canal and River Trust, The GLA, The London Wildlife Trust and Thames 21 in delivering the overarching Vision for the Welsh Harp, Welsh Harp Management Plan and Brent Catchment Partnership & Action Plan.

Following the initial Member briefing on 29 May, Barratt London prepared a Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and Delivery Roadmap in consultation with the London Borough of Barnet Regeneration team. This was finalised in July, with regular updates provided as work has progressed. A Socio-Economic review confirmed the continued need for the bridge to enable provision of play space in line with original planning requirements. A second Member briefing was held on 28 August to share progress and gather input. Ongoing engagement has taken place with key stakeholders, including Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCO), London Borough of Barnet Greenspaces and Planning Officers, Natural England, and Canal & River Trust (CRT). Next steps include a Design Team Meeting with London Borough of Barnet Greenspaces, DOCO, London Borough of Barnet Regeneration Officers, and consultants to refine proposals and ensure alignment with the West Hendon Playing Fields, a follow-up meeting with Planning Officers to review refined proposals, and preparation of a Councillor update, alongside a resident newsletter and project website, which will provide information on proposals, next steps, and an opportunity for feedback.

London Borough of Brent Update

The report from Brent Council presented progress on the Brent Reservoir/Welsh Harp Management Plan since the last meeting of the Committee and during the 2025/26 year to date.

Following the seasonal end of the bird breeding season, work has recommenced on the woodland management in the marshland on the southern edge of the Reservoir, alongside and/or at Neasden Recreation Ground. The project is led by the Canal & River Trust, The Conservation Volunteers, Welsh Harp Sailing Association and Brent Council Parks. The works have a consent from Natural England and have focused on reducing scrub tree growth where it is out-shading the marshland habitat.

The Conservation Volunteers have continued a two-year programme of events in Brent, focused on parks and other sites that have, to date, received only limited or no conservation volunteer activity. Seasonal works continued at Neasden Recreation Ground during the summer of 2025.

Grounds maintenance continues with the parks' grounds maintenance contractor, Krinkels Ltd. The annual meadow areas at Neasden Recreation Ground were cut and collected by mid-September 2025.

The issues of littering and fly-tipping have continued, for example, towards the west of Neasden Recreation Ground. As at late October 2025, the Council's grounds maintenance contractor was planning a clean-up of the flytipping in that area.

The Welsh Harp Centre is expected to provide opportunities for young people aged 16+ with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) during curriculum time, with provision for community use at other times. In respect of the building programme the stage 2 design has now been approved. The Council's project team has a pre-planning application meeting scheduled in November with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) to outline the current design and obtain feedback. In terms of provision, Brent Council's, Children, Young People & Community Development team are currently recruiting a staff member who will have oversight of the Welsh Harp Centre including curriculum development and liaison with community groups. It is expected that the post holder will start in January 2026.

The Welsh Harp walks are on Thursdays from 10am to 11am, meeting at the Welsh Harp Open Space end of Birchen Grove, Kingsbury NW9.

Monitoring of pollution incidents is in progress at one site with the involvement of the River Brent Catchment Partnership and the Clean Up the River Brent group.

The Canal & River Trust sculpture is expected to be moved to its permanent position at Neasden Recreation Ground in or after the late autumn of 2025. The sculpture, celebrating the industrial heritage of the reservoir, its wildlife and value for recreation was unveiled in May 2025.

Brent Council Parks Service has continued to control Giant Hogweed and Oak Processionary Moth at the Welsh Harp Open Space. In early September 2025, Barnet Council and Brent Council officers hosted an on-site meeting at the Welsh Harp of the London Invasive Species Initiative.

Brent Council are enabling access, via Neasden Recreation Ground for the Canal & River Trust and their contractors, to conduct some tests on the dam wall infrastructure. The works are expected to commence in late October / early November 2025 and continue to the end of 2025.

Brent Council Parks Service are preparing some interpretative maps for some of the Welsh Harp Park entrances currently without maps. The Canal & River Trust are working on interpretation signage for their interpretative locations at the reservoir Brent Council Parks Service are investigating the reduction of scrub around the interpretative point at the Welsh Harp Open Space, to re-open some of the view/s towards the reservoir.

Through Brent's NCIL (Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy) funding, a portion has been allocated to explore the creation of a habitat bank at Neasden Recreation Ground. A scoping exercise is currently underway to assess the feasibility of this initiative.

Canal & River Trust Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a verbal update from the Canal & River Trust on the ongoing restoration works within the north marsh of the Welsh Harp.

Other urgent business

The agenda included two items of other urgent business:

• Thames 21: Update on Community Group Activities
• Cool Oak and Welsh Harp Conservation Group: Summary of views on the CRT Restoration project and Silk Stream Bridge Proposal