Matt's comments on local issues
* New school? *
There’s been more interest in secondary education provision in Brentford. At a Green Dragon School governor’s meeting last week I was asked, jokingly, when I was going to provide a new school in the area. Well, I can’t do that single-handedly, but the night before at a council meeting I’d asked the same question of the councillor in charge of education.
Unfortunately, the answer was a lesson in being non-committal. There were loose plans to expand some existing schools but no guarantee that a new school would be built, despite earlier promises to the contrary.
What’s clearly needed is a mixed non-denominational school in Brentford. Too many children are travelling too far to go to school. We are told that, in the borough, 70% of families get the first choice but given that many parents don’t put the real first choice on the form because they know there’s no chance of getting it those sort of figures need to be treated with a great deal of caution.
Anyway, it’s something Councillor Ruth Cadbury and I intend to follow up. If it’s a campaign that you would like to be involved in, or have a story to tell about selection, please let me know.
* Brentford Town Centre *
So, Somerfield is gone and Morrison’s is on the way. In the meantime, I’m trying to do at least some of the shopping in the other shops in the High Street. Whilst the full redevelopment is plainly going to take some time (and I’m unconvinced that the council administration are doing all they can to move things along) it’s good to see that some of the shop units are to be re-let, as the hoarded shops send out an awful message.
I spent an interesting morning last week looking at some of the empty warehouses and offices just off the High Street. I was with another councillor, a letting agent and a very interesting man whose business is finding unused commercial property and renting the space at an affordable rate to artists. We looked at a couple of places that might have potential – it depends on what it will cost to make the spaces useable. When we were doing the Farmers Market we sold some art made by local residents at a couple of stalls and that went well so there may be scope to sell artwork on the High Street as well.
If this can be pulled off it’ll bring some life back to these empty spaces and get some interesting activities under way.
* Moorings Progress *
In March I wrote briefly about the unlicenced moorings on the Thames by Watermans park. Since then I’ve successfully sought a full report to be provided on this and gained multi-party support for as much progress as possible. Still a long way to go but I was getting tired of being told that things were moving along yet never seeing any progress.
* Diary Date *
If you’re in the area on Saturday 16th May, come down to St Paul’s Recreation Ground for the Brentford Fayre. All sorts of attractions including a beer tent, morris dancing and a cake competition, and we’ll be doing a Labour party stall, so drop by and say hallo. St Paul’s is on Lateward Road, behind Somerfield/Morrison’s, and the Fayre goes from midday to 4pm.
* Going Up *
Congratulations to Brentford FC for winning League Two. As a long-standing Charlton supporter I’m frequently told that ‘we’ll be playing you next season’. The first football match I ever attended was Charlton v Brentford in 1980 back in what used to be called Division Three, now League One.
It gives us a few issues to sort out in terms of how to manage some of the bigger crowds without disturbing residents and I’ll be meeting with the club in the next couple of weeks to discuss this. Please let me know if you live near the ground (as do I, on Ealing Road) and would like me to raise something at the meeting.
*Anything to report?*
As a councillor, my first task is to try and assist residents with problems. Please get in touch if you think I can help, either by emailing me at matt.harmer@hounslow.gov.uk or calling 020 8560 7033. You can also take a look at www.mattharmer.com. Many of you have contacted me concerning the new regime of service charges for Hounslow Homes tenants and I am continuing to investigate this .
Councillor Matt Harmer
Brentford ward Labour councillor
London Borough of Hounslow
contact: 153 Ealing Rd
Brentford, Middlesex TW8 0LF
telephone: 020 8560 7033
May 6, 2009