“What can we do” Bronwyn? Well it’s a bit late now, but did you take the opportunity to contribute to the consultation Justin mentioned? Only 230 people did so! Perhaps its import was insufficiently publicised. There may be as Matt suggests, more opinions on Brentford’s development than there are people here, but those count little unless the Council are made aware of them. Also, it is all very well saying something should be done, but WHAT that something should be needs addressing. While outline planning consent for the whole scheme was granted years ago, there were legitimate concerns over the effect on the waterside and a separate strategy for this was likewise later granted outline consent. Yet this too failed to take on board concerns over the loss of water based employment industry and its historical links to the town. A revised scheme was promised some 2 years ago, which has not yet been forthcoming. There has been no consultation with the boatyards, whether with the developers or British Waterways, neither of whom want such operations to continue. It would simply interfere with their concept of using the waterside merely as a value-enhancing adjunct to their scheme.The same mind set informed the Commerce Road proposals, BW’s CEO having declared that Brentford’s waterside was no longer suitable for anything other than “highly desirable residential” use. Such blatant and commercial disregard for either waterways heritage or the requirements of canal users is both short-sighted and unacceptable. The overwhelming rejection of the Commerce Road proposal, in part because of just such considerations, is an encouraging sign.A re-drawn scheme for South of the High St to embrace the waterways might not solve the site acquisition problems, but it would certainly go a long way towards resolving a lot of others.
Nigel Moore ● 7131d