Brentford figures in latest Waternet News
The second of an informative newsletter on London’s Canals has just been emailed out, with Brentford appearing in two articles. Some excellent pictures illustrated the article.“Development Spotlight The Brentford sheds – BW applies to demolish The rape of Brentford Dock in west London (see Out of Place below), will reach its culmination in the destruction of the Brentford sheds, located at the end of Commerce Road, or more correctly from the canal perspective, at the northern entrance to Brentford Dock. These fine crinkly tin sheds overhang the canal, providing covered access to the ample storage space landward. They are the last remnant of Brentford Dock and still in use. The sheds would be ideal for canal transport related use such as the storage of recyclates, aggregates or more sensitive goods, because they offer the advantage of covered transfer. They could also provide a barge maintenance facility. Unfortunately, developer and navigation authority British Waterways wants to demolish them to build housing. Just one car breaker’s yard off Commerce Road - holding out for a reputed £3M - stands between British Waterways and the final disappearance of Brentford Dock. Recently Jenny Jones, the Green’s London Assembly Member and Neale Coleman, the Mayor’s Director of Regeneration met on Jenny’s narrowboat to consider a new future for the waternet in the capital. With the Brentford sheds as a backdrop they discussed the potential for London’s waterways to provide a framework for the transport of waste and recyclates and to contribute to the reduction of emissions.”Also: “Out of Place” – obstruction of the month Luxury homes land on London’s biggest inland canal port When freight gets moving again on the waternet it will be necessary to use the extensive port and maintenance facilities offered by Brentford Dock. Unfortunately this once proud canal port has gone the way of many former transport sites – it has been developed for housing, courtesy of navigation authority British Waterways. The wet docks have been filled in and built over with five storey blocks. The waterspace has been encroached on by pontoons that deny access to the Island. Little chance now, of handling recycling or taking advantage of its ideal water transport access to the Thames. Yet BW describes the development pictured as “the restoration of an historic dock”. Brentford was the historic location for the last movement of freight on the inner London waternet. In 1981 Gerry Heward was in charge of a cargo of lime juice, destined for Rose’s marmalade factory. Little did he know that this was to be the last freight trip for a whole generation.”- Actually a wet dock has been retained and refurbished on the island, though as it is lined with flats looking directly down on it, its retention is purely as a nostalgic landscaping motif. Anyone interested in receiving further newsletters should contact Jonathon Rosenburg: rosenberg@freeuk.com. 020 8960 7620
Nigel Moore ● 7286d0 Comments