Forum Topic

Is Brentford now permanently a 'project'?

Hello forumAs someone born and bred in Brentford and who loves our town, for a few years now I've tried to ignore the hoarding-to-hoarding description of the south side of our high street as a 'project'.I've been looking forward to the day when these hoardings would be gone and the new development would be fully part of the town again.But to my utter dismay, the signs for the new roads leading off the south side of the high street have the new road name, and underneath, 'The Brentford Project'.Why? Are we now permanently a project? A project is something with an end. The south side of Brentford is NOT a project. Brentford is a whole community - north and south of the high street - and one half of it should not eternally be labelled a 'project'. It is a dangerous precedent. Am guessing these roads are private and don't need to have 'London Borough of Hounslow' and its crest on them, like (for e.g.) Catherine Wheel Road.I will be pursuing this with Ruth Cadbury to ask why this has been allowed, and for this writing on the signs to be removed or changed to LBH. We live in a major, thriving London borough, not a project.Angela Burton

Angela Burton ● 333d5 Comments

Whenever I see the site hoardings, all I can think of is the Manhattan Project. Boom.

Tracie Dudley Craig ● 332d

I have to agree, but its only half the development. The North side of the High Street is going to be re developed and going to receive similar treatment to the Southside. As many others have pointed out we have endured years of disruption with noise and air pollution and even more to come as the Brentford project is far from complete.

David Cook ● 333d

Very good point and good question. One is also reminded of 'Quarter' and 'Precinct', also creeping in. If they are so enamoured of Americanisms perhaps they should pause to consider that over there 'projects' are slum areas for the poorest of the poor. But Project? Not even. No, I see Brentford as more of an Experiment in social engineering. Add in the LTNs and the exciting new cycle tracks, the 20mph zones, and deliberately created traffic jams, you have everyone where and how you want them: caged rats. That's why, after 34 years and with a very heavy heart, I left.

Mike Paterson ● 333d

Well spoken Angela.

Jim Lawes ● 333d

I wholeheartedly agree!

Cathy Jones ● 333d