Forum Topic

Brentford plan - suggestions?

Next Friday's BCI Times news feature is going to be on the Brentford plan and I am looking for Brentfordians to give me comments on how they would like to see the area develop in the future. The main areas the council are looking at are housing, town centre, economy (employment), protecting the environment (open spaces/environment/noise/air pollution), health, education and community facilities, transport access.Would anyone like to let me know how you think Brentford can improve in these areas? Bear in mind I might quote you on it!! : )

Sally Henfield ● 7604d10 Comments

You make an ineresting point Keith - I was very surprised to see the Tesco plans in Hounslow High St. near the Bus Garage thrown out because of the housing element. I always thought that having housing over commercial properties helped keep High St. areas safer after the shops shut.

Vanessa Smith ● 5613d

What about a foot brige(and bike) over to Kew. this would def kick start High street developement - could we get developer and Council interested. If Brentford was a good enough Thames crossing point for Ceasaur why not.

graham edwards ● 5613d

Sally Henfield ● 7602d

As Simon has pointed out, many of the industrial units along Commerce Road are in fact architecturally interesting, and need only be refurbished, with the canalside face to match the frontage, for the views from the present new flats to be improved while retaining interest.He need not feel sorry for new residents facing the existing property. If British Waterways’ plans for Commerce Road were to go ahead, even occupiers of the penthouse apartments on the Island would be stretching their necks upwards at a cliff of seaside styled apartments looming over and opposite them.The canal will be lost as a strip of water below them, and I can forsee the usual visual entertainment for both “old” and new apartments being the spying through telescopes at each other’s interiors! They’ll have nothing else to look at.

Nigel Moore ● 7603d

A Painting by Doug Myers

Jim Lawes ● 7603d

There are currently some interesting examples of 1920's/30's architecture in Commerce Road, considering how many of the buildings of this period in the area have been demolished recently maybe the council should look into listing them, this would put a spanner in the works of the developers. Mind you I do feel for the people who bought flats overlooking the canal at Brentford Lock. I'm sure they were probably told that all that ugly industrial property would be demolished soon, and it's still there. He He He!

Simon Foster ● 7604d

Eloquently put,Jim.

Keith Iddon ● 7604d

When one travels down Ealing Road..passing Griffin Park on the right..together with attractive terraces of Victorian houses/cottages..and the Bricklayers Arms pub ...one should be approaching the junction with the High Street ahead with visions in ones mind of splendid and panoramic views of the River Thames and the World Heritage site of Kew Gardens.Instead...in typical Brentford eyesaw developement fashion...following years of awful planning decisions..and the encouragement of ugly vistas.....we have for the last 20 years and more..been treated to views of the ugly dustbin area..(ie the backside) of the dissapointing Watermans Art Centre, the old Max Factor office building (blocking out the  river view) and when you turn your head away in despair..ones eyes clash with the brash horrid site of a popular MacDonalds junk food take-away! (or so they say..legal,legal!).Round the corner, alongside the historic St Georges Church..in recent years..someone has been given permission to construct on prime BRENTFORD RIVERSIDE land.. a very ugly Travel Inn Hotel,...whose exterior features and finish is just so incompatible with the area. Absolutely clueless in my view.Now this is prime ..potential hot spot of Brentford...but they've mucked it up....its awful..and could have been so much better for everyone. So...when you next drive down Ealing Road towards the river bank junction..do what I do..mutter the word "cr*p"

Jim Lawes ● 7604d

It's hard to see, with families moving out of London,how we can have a future in Brentford that does not involve an inordinate amount of single people moving into the new(unaffordable to locals) flats(including the proposed 1200 down Commerce Rd)who rent out a room,thus increasing the cars in the parish(2 single people more often that not have a car each).I don't know why(though I haven't looked into it)the derelict land next to the wheel/tyre shop on the High St. has not been redeveloped. It has been derelict for many a year.I think we need to encourage small shops,particularly butchers and bakers ,to open up on the  High St.Perhaps they could have reduced business rates for 3 or 4 yrs to help them. I would suggest that if they are thinking of pedestrianising the High St,they should that take a look at how threatening and intimidating Hounslow High St. is at night and if they're thinking of allowing late night chicken or kebab take aways or grocery shops,to take a look at Hanwell broadway after 10 or so at night. The place has really deteriorated over the last 3 yrs.

Keith Iddon ● 7604d

Brentford is an area with a unique history, being one of the earliest points of canal development: and its industrial heritage is everywhere to be seen from when you turn left after Kew bridge up until the end of the Syon Park Estste.Too many of these old factories and warehouses are just a ruined slum heap with no effort being put in to either preserve and generally improve the site or re-develop it It's as if the owners don't care about their eyesores and are just waiting until they get the best deal from a government sponsered re-generation package.In the meantime it is the local population and the tourist who have to suffer this terrible landscape.There has to be a proper UDP comittment/Local Development Framework to upgrade these old buildings making Brentford a place to be proud of once again which,in turn will invite development and regeneration eventually leading to more firms open up their offices.Until then, Brentford will remain a "Spentford".

Mark Middleton-Smith ● 7604d