Forum Topic

Brent Lea give away

Gutless simpering councilors voted to allow Floreat Free School 125 years ownership of half our rec.You had to be there to believe what you heard. Their decision is all the fault of the government, so they said. They had no choice. We all felt sick. Even the better councilors let us all down so very badly. Just awful.

Joanna Russell ● 4154d25 Comments

As they used to say across the water Joanna, don't get mad get even.

Phil Andrews ● 4154d

What did you expect Joanna? We keep voting for same people over and over again. And we get what we deserve.

Alex Shpinkov ● 4153d

I couldn't believe that everyone who spoke agreed it was a very inappropriate site, in no way ideal, they didn't want it there and then voted for it! THEN had the audacity to ask for any suggestions we may have for permanent sites! If that's the way forward we could save a fortune on the planning committee wages and sort Brentford out ourselves! Ironically enough the BBC reported this morning that 1,000s of hospital beds are being held up by elderly patients who cannot be released due to the lack of care home provision. The agenda point before BL was the closure of a care home as the council don't feel they are required anymore!Zero faith in the 'leadership'. I'd build myself a camp and live the self-sufficient life if only I could find a patch of green left to erect my tent and grown some veggies on...

Marie Richardson ● 4153d

There's a nice big patch in Hounslow athttps://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Boston+Manor+House,+Brentford,+Greater+London+TW8+9JX/@51.4946667,-0.332099,19z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x48760da2c6b96733:0x10d32790a82a9e3cwhere people do occasionally pitch their tents and grow their veggies before moving on to other eco camps !

Tim Henderson ● 4153d

Eco camp.  Now there's an idea. Let's set one up on Brent Lea rec.

Joanna Russell ● 4153d

I am so sorry that it has come to this, it is scandalous to allow this to happen. Interestingly I was talking to someone yesterday who actually came up with a possible stop-gap solution for the 'temporary' two year requirement to give the Commerce Rd. site time to be cleared, of course if these arrogant tossers bothered to open up and talk to people early in the process them all these things could be explored. Given the recent planning approval, if that decision was made on misleading information is there any leeway there, how many people would not have voted for that had they known what was really on the cards? This whole business does not bode well for parks and open spaces all over the borough.

Vanessa Smith ● 4153d

Despite all the sympathetic rhetoric and the fact that a Syon councilor said he hadn't met one person who thought the school location was a good one, the 'puppet master' had tight hold of all the strings and when asked for votes in favour, he pulled all the strings and raised their little wooden arms.If this is what we are up against, the Brentford steamroller is fully fueled and heading straight for Waterman's park!.

Joanna Russell ● 4153d

Couldn't help but notice the many people relaxing and talking on the benches in the evening sun of the landscaped gardens and manicured grounds of the Civic Centre last night. Nice area to stroll out and have lunch in during the summer days too, away from the stresses of the workplace and busy daily life. Be a great area for some flats or a new school! No parking spaces but I'm sure a bike and scooter shed would suffice.

Marie Richardson ● 4153d

"We are and we will continue to be, a 'transformational council'. By this I mean we are bold, we are ambitious and innovative and we are not afraid of change. We are a council OBSESSED ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS FOR RESIDENTS that demonstrate a continuing ability to deliver; in spite of government cuts.I also believe GOOD CUSTOMER CARE IS ALSO AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO, it's intrinsic to every service we deliver. And it's what we are ultimately judged by. Your feedback on our services and how we deliver them is crucial".If that isn't the biggest load of mealy-mouthed, sanctimonious drivel you've ever seen then I don't know what is. This is the Dear Leader's blurb in 'Hounslow Matters' or in his case - 'No - it doesn't'. Well, here's some feedback, you are a bunch of arrogant lying toads who wouldn't know the truth if it came up and bit you on your sorry a*ses.

Vanessa Smith ● 4153d

One of the most appalling aspects of the Brent Lea school is that the council will only get £60k for the initial lease and then a 'peppercorn rent', ie bugger all, if I've understood right. This compares to about £3.5m given away over the past few years in non-statutory redundancy slush money. It seems councillors are happy to throw money at departing officers and then expect green spaces across the borough to be sold to pick up the costs.

Ian Speed ● 4151d

Read with horror that Carville Halle Park in Brentford is also being eyed up as again the council are saying it is 'underused'. I'd like to know what methodology these muppets use that leads them to these conclusions, I can only hope they don't let that idiot Sarah Ruane loose on this as well, the woman is like a clockwork toy and will do the bidding of her masters. What qualifies as 'underused' I wonder?

Vanessa Smith ● 4150d

I'm not sure whether this ground is still being used by Spartans for their football practice.  It certainly was last time they tried to claim it was underused.  Maybe children aged 8 to 16 are another group of people this insecure and paranoid Council feels the need to break up rather than allowing them to congregate together and contemplate sedition.  Would it help the Dear Leader if we just all stayed indoors?

Phil Andrews ● 4150d

"Would it help the Dear Leader if we just all stayed indoors?"Well, it can't be long now before he has a rostrum erected and all borough residents will have to parade by tugging their forelocks and averting their gaze as they pass him, indeed, we are not worthy.

Vanessa Smith ● 4150d

Vanessa, can you tell me where you read about a possible threat to Carville Hall Park please.

Barbara Lawrence ● 4150d

Hounslow Borough Chronicle page 11 -  attributed to Joe Bourke, apologies as I thought I'd read it was the Labour candidate who'd raised this, and it isn't.

Vanessa Smith ● 4150d

I believe it is contained in one of the Hounslow strategic plans. This certainly predates the most recent local elections in May 2014.

Phil Andrews ● 4150d

I thought I had seen Carville Park North reported as one of the Golden Mile sites being touted by Hounslow to developers at the MPIM show in Cannes - but maybe I just imagined it.What was the document that talked about creating the passenger link line from the Hounslow rail loop up to Willesden Junction/Old Oak Common and also the passenger rail service on the freight line from the Great West Road to Southall ?

Tim Henderson ● 4150d

Just seen this on the W4 Forum - why is M.O.L. there treated differently from that in Bretford?Refusal recommended for extension of operation through the Summer Council to Block Tennis Dome Plan Comment on this story on the  forum   An attempt by the tennis and golf club at Dukes Meadows to extend permission for their temporary tennis 'dome' to operate during the Summer appears to have failed. Council planners are recommending that a request to alter the conditions by which it operates to allow it to continue operating through to 15 October be declined.The dome had been operating under a six month seasonal arrangement since last year when the Council turned down an application (00503/B/P31) for a ten year license to run the facility. The basis for the refusal was that the dome was an inappropriate development for Metropolitan Open Land and would be harmful to the openess and character of the site. The decision not to grant a 10 year extension is currently being appealed. The latest application received 9 letters of support and just one objection. Four years ago, local celebrities including Tim Henman and Clare Balding had called on Council planning officers to have a change of heart over a decision to refuse planning permission for the Dome. At the time the Dukes Meadows Tennis and Golf Centre had claimed it might have to close if it did not get permission. In 2013, planning permission was granted for the erection of the dome all year round for a period of two years to allow the applicant to work up a more sustainable solution.Prior to that the demountable air cushioned dome which covers five of the tennis courts had been allowed seasonal erection for six months of the year from October to April. This was the second time in two years that the Council had opposed the idea of a permanent dome on the site. The structure measures 10.5m high, is 36.5m wide and 83.5m long and is constructed from an impermeable woven PVC fabric. A total of 20 floodlights would be mounted on 4m high columns to light the dome internally, with hours of use to be 07:00am to 10:00pm, seven days a week.We have asked the club for a comment on the decision.June 19, 2015

Vanessa Smith ● 4149d

What you mean Chiswick, home of the comfortable and contented opposition?Not much of a price for our lords and masters to pay for tame acquiescence throughout the rest of the borough, is it?  Somebody needs to demonstrate to Hounslow residents just how much of a ride they are being taken for.

Phil Andrews ● 4149d

VanessaLBH always opposed the application to retain the seasonally constructed dome. Planning committee overruled that view and gave them, as you say, a two year period to come up with another option which was an expensive permanent building.Much was said by their high profile supporters  of  the  obligation to provide free coaching  for youngsters and schools. This was I believe provided - but off site.J

John Todd ● 4148d

Interesting to see Julian Bell, Leader of Ealing Council, on local news yesterday speaking on behalf of London Councils. The message seemed to be that councils don't have the money to maintain parks as they have been managed in the past and people may have to accept them being used for other purposes.....http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-33205239

Tim Henderson ● 4148d

Yes, I saw that too, we all know what the cuts have meant and no doubt it is getting more and more difficult to prioritise services. I just do not accept that selling all these facilities off or neglecting them and then claiming, as Hounslow is fond of doing, that they are underused is the right way. If anything is to be learned form the Brent Lea, Conquest, Northcote Park saga it is that councils MUST talk to local people very early on in the budget process. I seem to remember public meetings held around the borough on this some years ago. Now you are left with the impression that everything is done behind closed doors by a few chosen people who are led by their noses instead of trusting the electorate.

Vanessa Smith ● 4148d

"LBH always opposed the application to retain the seasonally constructed dome. Planning committee overruled that view and gave them, as you say, a two year period to come up with another option which was an expensive permanent building.Much was said by their high profile supporters  of  the  obligation to provide free coaching  for youngsters and schools. This was I believe provided - but off site.J"My point was John, that the planners used the fact the dome was on M.O.L. and was unacceptable, but Brent Lea is also designated as M.O.L. but that was brushed aside as being of no relevance by those same planners. What they do in some parts of the borough they wouldn't even attempt in Chiswick.

Vanessa Smith ● 4148d

Maintenance is always an issue, but this is the beauty of having a network of active residents who are prepared to form "Friends of..." groups and seek out new funding streams, capital and revenue.Sadly these are precisely the type of groups to which our present administration is so ideologically hostile.

Phil Andrews ● 4148d

Perhaps local residents should write/email etc the Duke of Northumberland asking him not to revoke the covenant that is on the land.Contact details for Alnwick Castle are below.The Northumberland Estates ,Estates Office, Alnwick CastleNorthumberland, NE66 1NQ Tel - 01665 510777 Fax - 01665 510876 Email - info@northumberlandestates.co.uk

Neil Chippendale ● 4147d