Forum Topic

Fountains opposite Verdict restaurant

Am I correct in saying that the redevelopment of the market square in Brentford was at the cost of council tax payers?If so, then why are the fountains not on this summer.

Nigel Richard Meakin ● 3309d8 Comments

I think that the part of Market Square where the market moved to is public land and the rest is owned by a company called Trehaven ( I think this is why the market had to relocate within the square ). Given where the market was operating today I would put the fountains into the public bit.Verdict do not own the premises but have a lease from Trehaven.

James Homer ● 3302d

It is public access land irrespective of who actually owns it.My sister owns a very small piece of land in Isleworth, which came with their house.It is public access land which they cannot do anything with, but they are legally obliged to maintain it.It is grassed and in effect they cut the grass, do the edging and so on.Ironically, every few years they get an enforcement warning from Hounslow Council for "Not maintaining the land as required"The only issue is that the part of land in question not being maintained, is owned by another party…….London Borough of Hounslow !So maybe if Verdict own the land which I have to say is news to me as was not the public paving area publicly funded, then they have to enforce it's maintenance in just the same way as they do with all the other tiny plots of public access open space that is privately owned.

Raymond Havelock ● 3303d

The other problem is that the land that includes the seats and fountains is now owned by Verdict restaurant and the cost of cleaning out the fountain tanks is in the region of £500. Then there would be the running costs!So, all in all, we are denied the feature that we paid for.

Nigel Richard Meakin ● 3303d

A real shame.Once again, proper maintenance has not been factored in.The paving is really rather nice but already being marred by the amount of chewing gum and spillages and that the cleaning is not carried out in an effective way, often enough.  It is already looking grubby.The job was never finished properly. The wooden seats were not sealed just fitted in their delivery transit finish, nor was a sealant applied to the paving which would make cleaning and dirt much more easy to clean .The bench and Fountain are very badly positioned and the bench or occupants always gets soaked when the fountains are on .But the seats and decking are already showing signs of warping and splintering. This expensive wood is not properly protected from the elements.It's a shame but this is so common of public works projects. They never get quite finished properly. They take a long time to do and specified materials are often not what ends up being delivered or installed.There never seems to be an overseer who has teeth or even notices the shortcomings.  The only constant is Health and Safety.Compare with the McDonalds site which has been almost completely rebuilt in a matter of weeks, to a very exacting set of standards and is constantly checked by very demanding overseers. Whom are not afraid of making the crew do it all again if it is not right.

Raymond Havelock ● 3304d

Who on earth designed a fountain that constantly soaked expensive wooden seating? Total waste of council tax money. Good job funding has ceased. What good was it anyway, it was pretty pathetic!

Elizabeth Price ● 3304d

Money from the Mayor of London IS money from tax payers.

Hazel Dakers ● 3304d

That's a point. Where are the fountains?

Anne England ● 3308d

I think some of the money came from the Mayor at the time. Personally for what it cost I think they got done.

Vanessa Smith ● 3308d