Forum Topic

Change always has some downsides. The people who Live today in Charlton House were overwhelmingly supportive of the change despite the obvious disruption that will cause to them as individuals and families, and also to the community of people who live there.I live right next to the Heidelberg development which is causing most of the heartache at the moment. I have also temporarily lost my riverside path to 'old' Morrisons. Equally a pre school centre has been built next door (mainly new) a new building created for TeaPigs - now empty - an office at the end of the road turned into flats and the two riverside sites to the East - formerly in one case an empty office and in the other I can't remember - have been redeveloped. In one case with structural problems which are taking ages to fix (I think new regulations after Grenfell).Where I live, 20-25 years old, has some problems related to it having been built with problems, but much more solid than my previous house, which was bult in 1865.I have been in Brentford since the 1970s - either working or living here or both - and south of the High St was always largely horrible. Do I think Ballymore is perfect? Of course not, but it is enormously better than what was there before and will soon provide 96 new council flats (not sure why finishing this has taken so long) and I'd like to see the Ballymore development finished quickly.I agree about the bus confusion - TfL should do much better telling people as I have protested to them many times - but it will be finished between here and Chiswick in a few days and the next phases will be much less challenging and disruptive.Those of us who travel by bike will very soon be able to cycle from Brentford to Olympia (also to district line and overground at Gunnersbury) safely.

Guy Lambert ● 268d

Our house is equidistant between the Griffin Park development and the soon-to-commence demolition and redevelopment of Charlton and Albany houses. Lovely for those who will have new homes (and I mean that), considerably less lovely for those who’ll be trying to live - and work - between two building sites and an indeterminate timeline of works. Noise, dust and the sort of vibration which isn’t kind to Victorian structures in what’s supposed to be a conservation area. When we moved here, the biggest issue was the redevelopment of the garages in Brook Road South - flagged as a concern when we bought the house. Oh, happy days. We didn’t have a clue what was around the corner. Now, it’s EVERYWHERE and there is no escape - construction, noise, vibration. On top of that is the ongoing traffic disruption and the game of Find the Bus Stop (again, I’m a big ULEZ supporter - cycles and buses for the win). My husband and I repeatedly found ourselves scratching our heads and saying ‘Where TF do we go today?’  I’m not a great fan of the Ballymore and Ballymore-adjacent developments and never have been. They’re just not good enough. I recently spoke with one of the construction crew who said that the High Street re-development was absolute rubbish and that within 20 years it would be a slum. I’m inclined to agree. What upsets me is the disruption to existing residents. It’s not NIMBYism, it’s just ruining our quality of life and it’s only going to get worse - and no one seems to care.

Tracie Dudley Craig ● 268d