Forum Topic

Public Meeting tonight All Welcome

It does not matter what you think, the rather clandestine methods being used to push through these developments will affect almost everyone in Brentford and further afield one way or another.  It could destroy the rather good community of this town forever and irreparably.So please try and attend and ask your neighbours.I understand this has been only brought about grudgingly, hence the short notice and lack of willing. But it at least happening.7.30 pm St Paul's Church  - Thats the one with the steeple that can still be seen.

Raymond Havelock ● 3119d12 Comments

That (about size) is not what was said and it certainly is not what is in the documents, but I'll double check.The car park will not be uncontrolled access as it is now but that doesn't mean that the charging regime has to change: the access-controlled car park in Sainsbury's Chiswick has half an hour free to all and I would argue for the Morrisons (or successor) car park to be 2 hours free, as I believe it is at present. This is what has been discussed with the developers previously.I reiterate that I have never once seen the existing car park anything like full. Nevertheless, restricted parking will be considered by the planning committee together with the other issues.

Guy Lambert ● 3116d

That's not the case Guy.I was there and the developers claimed it was amended to be of similar but marginally smaller size and would not confirm of all of that space would be for retail sales floor space.A further question asked after the meeting indicates that the proposed allocated retail space includes office. staff facilities, delivery, stockroom and plant room spaces so the actual customer floor space will be smaller.Possibly much smaller.  It is still vague and needs full answers which are not in the detail.The car park will be reduced and it is often almost full and like every retail site will peak and trough during the day.What was also stated is the car park will no longer be a free access car park and will be chargeable.  Whilst the current car park is limited to 2 hours, this does enable customers to not only shop in Morrisons but also in the vicinity. The only issue that Morrisons themselves will confirm is the store and it's facilities are too small and that improvements are limited without reducing sales space further. And that's due to existing planning constraints placed on the site.Whilst you were not a councillor at the time it is incredulous that the site was ever designated for residential redevelopment.It is insane and clearly exposes a seriously flawed Town Plan.That is something you and other councillors of whatever political colours really ought to be seeking to amend and get right.Surely, It is the people who live, breathe and work here now that need to come first.This is clearly down to really poor planning advice or gerrymandering and we would not have these sorts of diabolical applications if the clear signals were made.  The clear signals to developers are quite obviously "Here's Brentford ! Anything goes, Come and get it!"This supermarket, love it or loathe it, is the keystone and  heart of the town.  The car park and the site are integral to the whole fabric of Brentford and its great and mixed community and not just for us here, but many locals from nearby Northfields, South Ealing and Boston Manor.Remove it and much of the local commerce will suffer, probably irrevocably.For you to say this is a favourable development makes no sense. It is clearly not what is needed for residents, hugely damaging is so many ways and simply ghastly in design.

Raymond Havelock ● 3116d

I don't know if you attended last night, Raymond, but what you are saying here is untrue, as you would have learned (or could learn from - as you recommend - reading the documents)I have read the documents and they state that the existing retail site is 2787 Sq Metres: the proposed total shop space (yes, not all of it the supermarket) is 3506 sq m with an additional 764 sq m for cafes etc.The car park proposed is a little smaller but the existing car park is never anywhere near full (in my experience)The developers are negotiating with 4 supermarket chains including Morrisons and it will be a full size supermarket of the same size as the existing, or very nearly so.There are plenty of concerns about this proposed development but they are not the ones you assert.

Guy Lambert ● 3118d

Many thanks Guy,However 10 minutes is really not enough time to debate therefore I'll not be attending,both this & Watermans concerns the whole of Brentford & we should be able to voice our concerns whilst receiving comprehensive answers.Where do we shop whilst we do not have a Supermarket? elsewhere can be too far for many Elderly. Ballymore should have had shops built by now FGS how long have they owned land here? it's all very well for them how much Tax Releif have they received on their derelict buildings.If LBH have our interests at heart then they should start to Penalise these Corporations for holding off for so long.

Dawn Hardy ● 3119d

The supermarket will not be the same size. The retail space may be of similar size but not allocated to one retailer.The car park will be a minimum of a third smaller and this render it an unviable venture for a large supermarket.What we will get will be a Lidl or a Costcutter or a Tesco/Sainsburys LocalBut not an all round supermarket.It's very clear Guy. Read the documents again please.

Raymond Havelock ● 3119d

To be fair , there have already been two public exhibitions on the Morrison's site proposals (they have been modified as a result, partly, of residents' feedback)If the current plan is approved and built:- It is not (quite) as tall as the police station.- There will be a new supermarket the same size as the existing one and a car park of similar size to the existing one located on the first floor.- There is an issue about what happens during the build phase: we have been pressing for alternative plans because councillors believe a 'proper' supermarket is essential to Brentford.- 'Councillor Curran and his gang' are trying to do the best for the town - there is no benefit whatsoever to ourselves. You can argue whether this is a good solution and indeed the whole point of the public meeting is to gauge people's reactions prior to the planning decision.Please come along and hear what is proposed and give your views!

Guy Lambert ● 3119d

10 Minutes discussing Essentials Planning Application is not sufficient time as the Council are well aware.

Dawn Hardy ● 3119d

When you consider this is the 1st notification I have seen,  anyone not on TW8 would be unaware of this farcical meeting!Were we made aware that Essential had already submitted Planning Application for a 10 Storey Building that is as tall as our defunct Police station. If their application is successful? What do the older residents of Brentford do for Shopping they will need to go to either Osterley,Chiswick,West Ealing or Ealing Broadway!!!Their are No other Food Shops in the High St which now consists of 1 small Greengrocer,Post Office,Sweet Shop,2 Betting Shops,2 Cafes oh! let's not forget the Opticians,Chemist,Greigs which No Longer sells Bread!& of course Goddards + 2 Banks.Where in all of 100 yards can the Elderly get Shopping from? not all have either the Knowledge or a Computer to shop online!!!How will it take to build these 225 Flats for the "Private Sector"? How Big will the Supermarket be will it compliment Morrisons as it is or perhaps be bigger No! else where would the Car Park be.Councillor Curran & his Gang have an awful lot to answer for they forget that they pertain to REPRESENT the people yet it would appear they only Represent what is good for themselves.Guy Lambert at least keeps us updated as much as is possible,he is btwn the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea.

Dawn Hardy ● 3119d

Here's the agenda for tonights  -Agenda1. Welcome and introductions (2mins)- Andrew Dakers2. Essential Living - Morrisons site planning application (10mins) - Speaker name tbc3. London Green/ LB Hounslow Joint Venture proposal - Police station/ Watermans sites (10mins) - Cllr Theo Dennison  4. Community perspectives - St Paul's Recreation Ground area residents (5mins) - Martin Case- St Paul's Church of England Primary School - John Wright (5mins) - John please confirm whether you would like this slot- Brentford Community Council (5mins) - Denis Browne5. Q & A sessionDensity (10 mins)Aesthetics/ design (10 mins)The future Watermans (5 mins)Archaeology (5 mins)Supermarket / retail provision (10mins)Town centre parking (10 mins)Planning system consultation processes (10mins)6. Next steps and meeting close (5mins)To get through all this in 90 minutes is going to demand discipline.    On each Q & A theme I will invite members of the public (and/or community reps on panel) to ask one or two questions to which I will invite the panel to respond (with an emphasis on project representative/ developer's to explain their current approach).  I am hoping people will ask questions about the different sites on each theme.Key messages to Councillors/ Planning committeeIt has been suggested that a resolution with key messages to the Council might be put forward at the end of the meeting for those attending to decide whether they support.

Martin Case ● 3119d

I have shared this to my facebook page.Perhaps people could do likewise.

Keith Iddon ● 3119d

ps..I meant I have shared the homepage article.

Keith Iddon ● 3119d

Thank you for that Raymond.

Keith Iddon ● 3119d