Forum Topic

Brentford Dock Trees

I have been notified of the dock management's intention to start work on the trees in a few weeks time. This includes the removal of 35 trees, some of them substantial and the pollarding of another 48 trees. I believe that not everyone on the dock has been notified yet so wanted to give anyone who feels strongly about this the opportunity to make their feelings known to the management and block directors. Please pass this on to anyone else who may be concerned and hopefully we can stop too much damage being done to the wonderful environment we enjoy on the dock.ThanksGiles

Giles Thomas ● 3295d20 Comments

(regimentation) should be Regeneration

Bernard Allen ● 3288d

1972 A dedication stone was unveiled at Brentford Dock by Sir Desmond Plummer. The original plan had been to call the development Tiber Estate to continue the idea that Julius Caesar forded the Thames nearby. The roads and block names all have Roman connotations.1977 The first residents occupied the first phase of the Dock redevelopment. The Greater London Council originally allocated property to people needing re-housing due to clearance or redevelopment, urgent transfers, homeless families, teachers, London Transport employees and nominees from other London Boroughs. After a short time the later phases of the buildings were built to be sold.I think the Idea of selling the later phase was the Idea of the late Sir Horace Walter Cutler, a conservative, who had the Idea of Council tenants having the right to buy their home, which was adopted by the late Margret Thacher when she became prime minister.But all this doesn't solve any problem about trees being felled if they are healthy.We need a good canopy of trees in London and no healthy tree should be cut down just for the sake of it.If the is a genuine reason for a tree to be felled then another tree should be planted in its place.I hope the trees are not being lost to the Brentford regimentation

Bernard Allen ● 3288d

I didn't know the Dock was originally council housing. Nothing wrong with that, but on the rare occasions I've been there I was struck by it's sheer blandness. No character, limited parking, virtually impossible to find an address amidst the oddly named blocks: Romulus, Remus, Nero, Galba, Numa, Otho etc. Perhaps someone will tell us the reasoning on the names other than the tenuous link of a Roman crossing point? Yes there is a dock, with boats and statues, but for pedestrians it's akin to walking into some kind of fortified open prison.It's also somewhat isolated and distinctly uninviting - especially in the dark. If there are trees to be felled, as sad as maybe, I doubt anyone other than the local residents would care or notice much, because nobody else probably even know they exist.

Paul Brownlee ● 3288d

Nothing wrong with taking civic pride and doing the best for ensuring the the maintenance is as good as is ought to be.But Brentford Dock is nothing special, just a rather ugly 1970s mixed development that is well looked after but shows the shortcomings of a development with an acute shortage of parking.My Parents were amongst the first inhabitants. They are but pleased it is well looked after but the clique who think they are superior to all and sundry still run it as such and are somewhat exclusive and selective about the way they run it.Shame they have never really tackled the real problems on the estate wit the same fervour.

Raymond Havelock ● 3289d

Cheers David..I've started the day with a good laugh, thanks to you. Where have I confirmed anything about management of the trees ?I take it back that the dock is not a bubble as people like your good self seem to be existing in one if you think I 'sound a very angry, cynical young man'. Believe me,I am none of those things.

Keith Iddon ● 3289d

When GLC Leader, Horace Cutler, was shown round the newly constructed Brentford Dock flats he said "These are too good for Council tenants."JL

Jim Linwood ● 3289d

The dock provided a trans-shipment point for goods between the railway network and barges operating on the Thames to the Port of LondonAfter World War 1 the Thames frontage was adapted for boats of up to 300 tons. Craft using the dock included heavy river barges, canal boats and sailing barges. The dock included customs facilities. It has been claimed that 10% of Britain's trade passed through the dock.Traffic included coal, steel, timber, wood pulp, flour, animal feedstuffs, cork and  general merchandise and in the 1950s Morris cars from Oxford. Coke from Southall Gas Works  was carried in daily block trains from Southall to the dock.The dock closed in 1964. It was redeveloped as housing and a marina in 1972 by the Greater London Council I can remember the above, the dock provided a lot of jobs for the local people, it was part of Brentford Industrial heritage, sad times when Road was preferred to rail and water. For transporting goods around the country.As far as I know Steve Curran is merely a council rep. I think we all know where he lives after the recent wheely bin fiasco! ,Now that is either a wind up or is representative of how the residents of Brentford Dock view the the Leader of Hounslow Council, which is the borough they live in, Long gone is the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick.Sounds as though us Brentford Mortals have been born on the wrong side of the tracks according the Borough of Brentford Dock.Just remember BD residents you was just an old council estate once but built by the now defunct Greater London Council rather than the local council

Bernard Allen ● 3289d

Hi Keith,Thanks for confirming that trees should be managed properly, cut down when necessary etc., but not in some selfish way by any old resident of Brentford Dock on a whim.That is why the Board and Management label every single tree, have all of them carefully examined by experts and then produce a plan for approval by LBH before any action is taken.BTW, you sound a very angry, cynical young man; are you sure you are on the right forum for your interests and needs?

David Johnson ● 3289d

Wrong. The dock is in Brentford, as are the trees and the dock does not exist in its own little bubble, much as you may wish it to. Whatever happens on the dock is fair game for comment on here.This is a discussion forum which focuses in the main on local issues and this is one. It may be that the op wants another method of alerting his neighbours (who may be 'lurkers'..you know who you are!) on this forum and who are not otherwise aware of the situation.

Keith Iddon ● 3289d

Well said David. I for one am grateful for the time people spend making these decisions. This is a Brentford Dock matter and this forum is not really the place to discuss Dock matters. There are channels to debate these issues on the Dock. As far as I know Steve Curran is merely a council rep. I think we all know where he lives after the recent wheely bin fiasco!

Elizabeth Price ● 3289d

Hi,New to me.  Which Block does Steve Curran represent?Many thanks,Dave.

David Johnson ● 3290d

Hi Giles,As you can imagine, this was a difficult decision for those of us who were the original shareholders in BDL when there were no trees and we had to agree to plant an excess initially and then use specialist advisors to help us keep the gardens and tress in balance.  It has not been an easy job over a period of over 30 years.If we plant something we upset someone, if we remove a dead tree we upset someone.It really is a no win situation.  Would you mind stating you qualifications and length of time that you have been a resident before you question people who have spent thousands of hours and thousands of pounds on arboreal specialists to make sure that we get the balance right.Also would you mind explaining two things?  The newsletter went to everybody, why do some not know?How would you manage nearly 500 trees (and all the other acres of garden), their seedlings, self-seeding etc.Many thanks for your concern about BDL,David.

David Johnson ● 3290d

The Leader does not seem to have declared that on the mandatory list of interests on the LBH website. Are you sure.?It is supposed to be declared if is the case.

Raymond Havelock ● 3292d

Should all be above board as the Leader of the Council is on the Board of Directors!

Paul Fisher ● 3295d

There was a comprehensive plan and explanation in the newsletter.

Elizabeth Price ● 3295d

Seems to me that local councillors should be alerted and relevant questions asked. Are the trees dead, dying or diseased so that they have to be felled? If not, then why is this proposed, are there any steps that can be taken to prevent this happening? I wouldn't hang about if I were you, and 35 trees does seem excessive.

Vanessa Smith ● 3295d

Always sad to lose any trees, although I realise sometimes it is necessary due to disease and decay etc. To learn that 35 trees will be felled is a major blow and I'm keen to get more details on these plans. In the newsletter it says "for every person who thinks that no works should ever be carried out on any trees there is usually another who thinks they should all be chopped down". Really?? Why on earth would you choose to live in a place that has lots of trees then? Go live somewhere else in that case.In light of the coming noise and disruption from the Brentford redevelopment works we need all the trees and greenery we can get. #lifesbetterwithtrees

Jo Francis ● 3295d

That's appalling. Trees are so necessary in London for many reasons.  What is the reason and who gave this edict.

Nada Salisbury ● 3295d

I own a flat there and have not been informed. What are their reasons for this?? Thanks for this information.

Sarah Spain ● 3295d

That will also have a severe effect on air quality, noise reduction and moreso when the works start in the High Street.Are these trees to be replaced?

Raymond Havelock ● 3295d