Forum Topic

Tow away zone signs in Braemar road

So now we have tacky looking tow away signs attached everywhere in Braemar road.Nothing but a high rate number to call.Who out them there?  Why no details of who and why?  No mention on the match day road restrictions about a tow away zone?  Those notices are still in lamp posts. Just mentions traffic diversions.Does this apply to permit holders?On top if that half a dozen huge poles have been installed all around the area.Apart from that this is a conservation area, where is the conservation approved street furniture? Why is everything that was installed under the conservation criteria being systematically removed or ignored?Feels more like a neighbourhood under seige.  Just what is going on here?

Raymond Havelock ● 3538d20 Comments

Many thanks for this information Councillor Todd

Paul Fisher ● 3535d

LBH do have a conservation officerTraffic signs are dealt with in the Traffic Signs Manual. A related report 'Reducing sign clutter'https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43525/tal-reducing-sign-clutter.pdfMentions,Local authorities should work closely with their communities when planning new signing schemes. It is strongly recommended that authorities include details of sign designs and locationswhen consulting on proposals such as parking restrictions, so residents can understand and comment on the placing and appropriateness of the signs. The Ed Mayne imposed  CPZ in Park Rd Chiswick has 32 plus signs. Excessive and unnecessary.

John Todd ● 3535d

To be fair, I always found Maggie to be very passionate at her job, and about design/conservation issues.  I recall one occasion where I completely disagreed with her about an extension, which I thought was fine and she didn't, and an appeal Inspector concurred with her.At times I thought she was as mad a a hatter, but many people would say the same about anyone who is brave or foolish enough to run an LPA Enforcement Team !.It does seem that most LPA Conservation Officers also by default are the Council's Design Officers, hence why they get involved in schemes outside conservation areas.  Design is such a subjective issue, although I too am not fan of multi-coloured cladding panels.As for the Music Museum, I am sure that when us Senior Officers discussed it internally before it came to Committee there was mention that the three fins running vertically on the road facing elevation of the building would be illuminated, which would have at least created some kind of visual interest, but having walked past the building virtually every day since it was built there's never been any light on the fins..although either way I have to concede that was one building which looked better in plan form than in reality.

Adam Beamish ● 3535d

This would be the conservation officer who deemed the 120 year old special cast iron gateposts in St Paul's Park with an inscription from the La Teward Family as " Not  historically relevant" and was not in the slightest bit interested in the conservation area in Brentford.They were subsequently sledgehammered by contractors and replaced with Painted scaffold poles just to widen the entrance by a whole four inches to suit a cycle way.The ornate Gate ( albeit with a broken hinge) vanished at the same time.With about three grand restored if a similar one on Salvage Hunters is anything to go by!Not much hope for conservation with that calibre of wisdom overseeing things.

Raymond Havelock ● 3535d

Perhaps a stupid question but why was the conservation officer involved in the schemes in the first place because I don't think any of the buildings mentioned are in a conservation area?

Paul Fisher ● 3535d

Thanks for clearing that up John, I thought that these multi-coloured buildings has been put up by builders working in the dark! Some of them are truly awful. never mind 'conservation' officer, more like consternation!

Vanessa Smith ● 3535d

I think that Hounslow is currently without a Conservation Officer.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 3535d

Maggie's numerous internvetions on design issues explain the many multi-coloured modern buildings across the borough, ranging from the Travelodge in Cranford to the Musical Museum in Brentford.I remember a planning application for a hotel in central Hounslow being attacked by members at the Area Committee for its multi-coloured panels. The applicants complained that they had been "told" to do it by the conservation officer.

John Connelly ● 3536d

Maggie was a 'character' Paul - I probably shouldn't say this but in my personal view the majority of Council Conservation Officers seem to be on/from a different planet !.

Adam Beamish ● 3536d

Many thanks AdamA strange woman to say the least who I don't think ever mastered the knack of answering an e-mail or returning a phone call lol

Paul Fisher ● 3536d

Thanks Guy.You must be getting it left right and centre right now.So may I tempt you with the rant I have posted on Albany Road / Alexandra Road?

Raymond Havelock ● 3536d

Yes they do Paul, or at least they did the last time I was there for a meeting and I seem to recall one of the developers cited his name when I was chatting to someone at the Capital Interchange Way exhibition.You're thinking of Maggie Urquhart, who I believe retired a couple of years or so back.To be honest Councils and other statutory authorities can pretty much put up whatever signage they like without requiring express consent (from themselves) to do so, although generally speaking most Conservation Area Appraisals do cite inappropriate or excessive street furniture as one of the main negative influences on such areas.

Adam Beamish ● 3536d

Out of genuine curiosity Guy does the Council still employ a Conservation Officer?There use to be one in my time who was an absolute nightmare to get hold of or pin down on any matter within her responsibility though I cannot remember her name for the life of me but I guess her workload across the Borough was enormousI ask because it may be worth either the local councillors or indeed affected residents asking if this dept had any input at the time when the policy was being drafted or if she/he could offer any advice

Paul Fisher ● 3536d

I agree the signage needs to be monitored and restricted, and I'm on the case. Thanks for raising it.

Guy Lambert ● 3537d

the big poles are in Albany Road and Ealing Road.But this is a conservation area and there are specific limits on signage and proportional and street furniture that meets the aesthetic standards for conservation areas.None of this seem to be being adhered to of late.  Signs are oversized and not positioned sypathetically to the environs.Contrary to the standards laid out for conservation areas and implemented at the outset of the conservation area, which ended the threat of demolition in this area and brought it out of decades of decay.

Raymond Havelock ● 3537d

Not sure why we need even more signs on the roads around Griffin Park.  The no-parking signs are very clear.  If the 'proper' tow-away ones are to be permanent, surely it makes sense to amend the existing signs by adding a line stating the telephone number to call if your car is towed rather than put up yet more signs. It's beginning to get beyond a joke.

Catherine Jones ● 3537d

I believe the signs are from the council and temporary/emergency to be in place for this weekend's match. Proper ones will follow.As to the 'huge' poles, again I understand slightly bigger poles have been introduced to accommodate the new signage without braining passers by. As I said, I didn't notice them.

Guy Lambert ● 3537d

I toured the roads round Griffin Park this morning and am trying to find out the source of the signs.The 'huge poles' were not in evidence, unless they were some of the guys on the recycling truck, but they'd be Poles.Perhaps you would introduce me to said poles, Raymond, because either I'm blind or they've disappeared.

Guy Lambert ● 3537d

I'm up in Braemar Road in the morning - I'll have a look at said signs and 'huge poles'

Guy Lambert ● 3538d

We had some nice lamp standards in the Isleworth Conservation Area by the riverside but they got nicked.Despite promises they would be replaced we now have lovely factory style lights.  And they worry about street signs for alternatives to closing Church Street looking ugly??

Brian McMillan ● 3538d