Forum Topic

Plans for Brentford Gateway

Anyone seen these plans for the Morrison site in this week's Chronicle/Informer? Five to twelve storey buildings, around 200 homes and no parking for them - it's going to be 'car-free',I wonder what brain came up with that stupid idea? Also there are proposals for 'public space' hosting pop-up shops, market stalls as well as 'performances'(no modern high street should be without one). Ye Gods! Brentford really is in need of action, let's face it it's been promised for long enough and never materialised. It seems no-one can even get a couple of fairly small fountains to work outside the old Magistrates Court so I don't hold out a lot of hope for this.

Vanessa Smith ● 3296d20 Comments

I do use Lidl in Greenford and Hanwell a lot and do a bit of shopping for a few housebound locals. I also like a lot of the stuff Lidl do. The otherwise excellent staff/management seem to be terrified or reluctant on challenging or expelling such people who do not treat merchandise for human consumption with hygienic care.The repeated experience of seeing some customers treating produce and products in a way that would have one woof one's cookies over the breakfast table leaves a lot to be desired.Waitrose, Sainsburys nor the local small greengrocers or market stalls would not tolerate it. But for some reason these people gravitate to Aldi and Lidl and do what they like.This and the slow queues put us off Lidl being our 'home store'. Morrisons has it's shortcomings but it is in the main much improved, most of the staff are local people and yes 8 varieties of thin cut marmalade and no thick cut etc is a bit annoying. But meat and fish excellent. If it were as swish as the Ealing Broadway one it would be great. But the problem with the Ealing branch is it is useless for parking and hopeless for the family weekly or bi weekly shop.It is an all round grocery store with a wide all year round range. Lidl is more range selective.Asda, Truly shambolic, awful.

Raymond Havelock ● 3293d

I rarely use that ASDA, the times my two go over there to get something and come back empty handed is amazing. Queues - people checking Lottery tickets etc. where there is only one counter for cigarettes, exchanges, lottery etc. They have an in-store bakery that more often than not doesn't have fresh bread in the mornings, total shambles. Yes LIDL and ALDI are very busy, certainly at the weekends, and they too could do with some better management but the staff in general are excellent, and they very rarely have empty shelves.

Vanessa Smith ● 3294d

I dont think you could possibly get worse service then the ASDA store in Isleworth and I am convinced they happily employ the rudest and most miserable staff the Job Centre send them

Paul Fisher ● 3294d

"I know it's off topic but please god not Morrison's. Worst Supermarket west of Moscow, queues longer than trying to get out of QPR at half time."I don't think I ever had more than 2 people in front of me in the queue in Morrisons in Brentford. I find queues in both Lidl and Aldi much worse.

Alex Shpinkov ● 3294d

I've always found the staff at Morrison's in Brentford to be friendly and helpful Ken.Describing it as 'the worst supermarket west of Moscow' is a little melodramatic wouldn't you say and perhaps is a good indicator.

Keith Iddon ● 3294d

"Their range is limited and often interesting but often restricted and inconsistent. And it takes ages to queue and get out of them"I know it's off topic but please god not Morrison's. Worst Supermarket west of Moscow, queues longer than trying to get out of QPR at half time. Simply shocking service. None of the staff there would get a job at Lidl, they move too slowly. Aldi and Lidl provide the same variety as Morrison's/JS etc just not forty four varieties of the same product.Back to the point though parking has to be provided. Undergound as at Asda Hounslow would be good - but the building works will take a good eighteen months I suspect, whither the chaos on the middle of Brentford during that phase?

Ken Collins ● 3294d

I stand corrected but as the supermarket current opens till 11pm and the car park is always 90% full till well after 9pm Mon -Sat where or how will it also contain Watermans patrons ?Also I cannot find anything that mentions the parking capacity or indeed if it will remain free to customers. Have I missed that?But to have ultra dense non family accommodation both here and at the possible Floreat School site without residents parking is just nuts and will inflict a blight that was already at breaking point. The CPZ has levelled out a bit during the day but remains almost impossible to park if you get home after 9pm. The district cannot sustain another 200 plus vehicles in two developments within the same neighbourhood, without at least, the same ratio of spaces as for new houses.If there is a surplus then they can be rented to local businesses.Local Public transport is already at capacity and there is no real scope for more or faster links. In fact TfL are now looking at banning tradespeople from all services who carry work equipment when commuting. Nothing new this was also implemented when Fares Fair was introduced and the sudden 12% overnight increase pushed capacity to it's limits.As for Aldi or Lidl. Great stores but not really a full general store like Morrisons, Sainsburys or Tescos etc.  Their range is limited and often interesting but often restricted and inconsistent. And it takes ages to queue and get out of them.

Raymond Havelock ● 3295d

Why would you want to avoid Aldi or Lidl.

Andy Pease ● 3295d

What is JS? (Sainsbury's?)

Anne England ● 3295d

Just thinking about this. Do we know which supermarket will be there? Do Morrison's have first clause?Just want to avoid Aldi or Lidi in the area? JS would be nice lol

Raki Smith ● 3295d

Here's a link for people to have a look.http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/piazza-stage-around-200-homes-11645840

Jeremy Weekes ● 3295d

Indeed Vanessa and it's not like Brentford has very good transport links with no tube station nor is crossrail planned here.The buses are pretty crowded at rush hour too.I sometimes wonder if these flats are usually targetted at foreign or by to let landlords who don't give a monkey's about car parking. I don't suppose any motorist or motorcyclist would be interested in buying a flat without a designated parking space.

Keith Iddon ● 3295d

Not having parking for residential units is plain ridiculous, This sort of hare-brained scheme was proposed at a development when I was on the planning committee years ago. The theory of the developers and planners was that: As the development was on the main London Rd. and there was a nearby bus stop then residents would stand at the stop. I pointed out that if it was chucking it down these people weren't going to be very happy so would just park somewhere as near as they could and jump in their cars. When will the dimbos that come up with these brainwaves get it? That like it or not people won't just do what they think they ought to, they will do what they want. This will just mean people finding somewhere else to put their vehicles and causing more problems.

Vanessa Smith ● 3296d

You should study the plans Raymond.There are indeed plans for parking for the supermarket, which will also potentially serve the Watermans. It is just domestic parking which is not supported.

Guy Lambert ● 3296d

A supermarket the size of Morrisons without parking will simply be completely unviable as an entity.As for Watermans with an increased capacity and no parking at all.Totally deluded. Who on earth will go in the numbers to make it viable and where will they park.We would have to have 24/7 CPZsUtterly deluded.

Raymond Havelock ● 3296d

Thanks Guy. I am glad to see a similar sized supermarket to the one there now is planned. I hope it transpires that it is.

Keith Iddon ● 3296d

Actually the supermarket is planned to be of similar size to Morrisons. Car free developments are becoming the norm in urban centres: I have my doubts but I'm told they are working well in other areas and this article from the Torygraph as long ago as 2006 is very positive. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/3348586/The-fond-farewells-to-four-wheels.htmlI also have my doubts about height but we'll see what comes to planning.Ballymore still getting the site together - I've asked for an update. Last time I asked they had 9 properties in the site still to buy. I am also awaiting an update about the fountains.If this goes ahead, together with the new Watermans on the police site and linked to it, it will provide a much better environment at this bit of Brentford, even before the Ballymore scheme delivers (which may be at a similar time)

Guy Lambert ● 3296d

It says summat about an underground car park in the plans? Anyway, I suppose their idea of including a supermarket might be one of those poxy Tesco Metro affairs where you pay top price for most things.

Keith Iddon ● 3296d

How long did it take for someone to come up with that gem - gateway to what - even more flats. It'll look lovely opposite the derelict buildings that tell us Brentford is Brilliant.

Pat Kingham ● 3296d

Totally agree Vanessa. Who thinks of no parking with 200 flats! What on earth is going on in Brentford? What is happening to the Ballymore project? Get this started before Gateway or is this another non starter?

Elizabeth Price ● 3296d