Forum Topic

Brentford Festival tomorrow

Who wouldn't want to see foxes playing in a steel band?

Susan Kelly ● 3261d6 Comments

It most definitely now a Brentford and Ealing event and the core group of very hard-working organisers that I know are definitely Brentford residents. Some friends who live in Swyncombe Ave that borders the Blondin park have a W5 postcode, but pay their council tax etc to Hounslow so they consider themselves cross-border residents!  The festival was originally moved to Blondin when the Hounslow sub-contractors wanted to charge the festival organisers for the use of Boston Manor Park as if it was a 'private' event.  The thousands of pounds they were charging would seriously have dented the massive amounts raised for local charities both in Brentford and Ealing. It was conceived as and still is a 'community' festival and surely as that, it shouldn't matter what area of our local community you live in.  All are welcome to come and enjoy themselves.I thought it was a very well attended event yesterday, despite the slightly chilly and cloudy weather. Many of my friends and neighbours that I met there are 'Brentford People', but then many were 'Ealing People' too.  Does it really matter?I would attend whether it was at Blondin or Boston Manor Park - a great event all round.  Long may it continue!

Natasha Manganaro ● 3259d

I missed it this year but it is not an Ealing event, most definitely a Brentford Event. But it is residents of over the border in Little Ealing, South Ealing and Northfields  who make the effort and participate and attend. That was true of when it was in Boston Manor Park as well.But it is way too big for Watermans Park. Access and road safety would be a nightmare. Too big for St Paul's.Last year it was super, well attended, very eclectic and in reality, Right on the edge of Brentford and with 2 out of 4 sides in Brentford.Those who put the effort in do a great job.As for why it is not in Brentford. Well ask the council and it's officers and councillors who broker contracts.In the meantime this really ought to be supported more by Brentford people, it's non -political and a real mix of everything. Unlike a lot of Council sponsored events.

Raymond Havelock ● 3259d

Hmmm  I thought it was originally something to do with the contractor who runs/ran leisure facilities for Hounslow and their bureaucracy which meant that it was pushed out of the borough.We didn't have lots of lovely pictures from Jim Lawes to  reminder us this year - although some of us were out of London...Somebody please volunteer to sort out his computer!

Philippa Bond ● 3259d

Is it really  the council blocking use of Boston Manor Park? I'd be first in the queue to blame Curran's little coven, but in this case...Surely it is because the organisers seem to be Ealing people and have finally got their little empire just where they want it.If they wanted to be in Brentford, they could - Watermans Park (tying in the arts centre) would be obvious, Gunnersbury has loads of space, even St Pauls Rec (where it used to be, many years ago) would work. There's Brent Lea, Carville Park...No, there's a reason why Brentford Festival isn't in Brentford. They should just rename it and have done with it.

Steve Allen ● 3260d

Rather poor turnout I thought.  The events are far too spread out in Blondin, much better if all the stalls were together in the central area where the food stalls are.

Reg Ghosh ● 3260d

What a disgrace that this excellent community event appears once again to have been driven out of the borough by the lack of engagement which is the hallmark of the regime at the Civic Centre.

Phil Andrews ● 3260d