Matthew has visited Montrose Playing Field and Silkstream Park and in Burnt Oak to see the progress being made to improve recreational, sport, and fitness facilities, and how changes to the Silk Stream watercourse will prevent the flooding of houses further downstream.

The improvements have resulted from the increased development in Colindale and the need for high quality recreational facilities that meet the requirements of local residents. The Silk Stream Valley project is the first park regeneration project in the Hendon constituency. 

Montrose Playing Field is the largest of these local parks, with an area of 11 hectares. Its pitches are used for organised sports including a Gaelic pitch, tennis courts and a hard court play area.

Silkstream Park is 4.2 hectares of parkland located to the north-west of Montrose, and contains children’s play facilities and several mature trees.

The two parks are separated by Montrose Avenue. However, they are connected by the Silk Stream which runs through both. This is often swollen by heavy rainfall and a redesign has allowed measures to be introduced that will allow surges of water to be attenuated. A grass amphitheatre has been created from earth moved from the waters edge to create a beach which then allows the water to percolate into the meadow beyond. Even the two half pipe skating structures have been placed strategically along the stream allowing them to flood in high waters then redirecting excess water further downstream at a calmer velocity.

Matthew said: “The Silk Stream Valley Project is a hugely beneficial scheme for large parts of the Hendon constituency. It is not only a green amenity site that has seen the planting of an additional 180 trees, but as importantly it will assist in the controlled flow of water that goes downstream to the Welsh Harp. Local people can take pride in the works making a cleaner, greener Burnt Oak and Colindale.”

Pictured with Councillor Val Duschinsky at new recreational facilities and at the Silk Stream project