Forum Topic

The Albany Parade debacle

Just catching up with this issue and well done to Cllr Lambert for highlighting it. Looking in from the outside this seems to me like a classic case of councillors and council officers with limited or no commercial experience misunderstanding what is needed by local businesses and not being familiar with rules and regulations outside local government. The changes in the centre of Brentford have been very welcome but if there isn't a core of long established, local independent businesses at the heart of it, what has been created will have no soul.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 88d21 Comments

Morrisons in Acton is cheaper than the Ealing Broadway and Brentford Stores only the nationally advertised lines are the same.  But since the move the new store ( which I think is quite nice and still has a handful of the local and pleasant staff working there) carried some 200 plus less lines or items.  It is also a pain for older citizens to access and use a car as the procedure can be easily confused and discriminatory for those less mobile who may take a long time to shop but nonetheless is a very important part of their ability to remain independent.And as a volunteer for some of these people, there's no drop off point, especially if one has to get out and assist.  In fact, Brentford High St has no safe drop offs at all anymore. Making it a no go for lots of these sorts of runs for those with limited mobility.So I take more to Acton even though they reside in Brentford, Boston Manor and Northfields especially as Tescos has gone in Northfield Ave and the small stores are hideously expensive for those on a budget but still want a choice.

Raymond Havelock ● 54d

Cheers for that. I'm certainly up for giving them a go.As for gardening stuff, a little bird told me that a garden centre is planning to take up the space in St Lawrence's Church (as was). This remains to be confirmed by Ballymore.

Anne England ● 56d

Thank you.I can never understand, though, why somebody would buy water. A lot of the water sold is, apparently, tap water. Plus it's largely sold in plastic bottles which leach - neither of which is good. Finally, it weighs a ton!

Anne England ● 56d

'As for Lidl, I'll give it a go largely being as it will be that much closer to where I live. Do they sell many branded products?'We've been shopping in both Lidl and ALDI for years, and yes they are cheaper and tend not to do as many 'branded' goods as other supermarkets. We only go to source things they don't do perhaps every six to eight weeks. However, their own brands like their version of Marmite are indistinguishable from the branded version, generally speaking their tools which they both sell, and a lot of gardening equipment are excellent quality and you get good after sales service.  

Vanessa Smith ● 57d

Morrisons certainly is pricier now, you can make 30 to 40p savings on lots of items on exactly the same ones at Asda. Cereals for example such as cornflakes.Washing liquids. 5litre water 30p cheaper at Asda!LIDL should be way cheaper than both of these Supermarkets and they have their own brands which are often better quality than the well known brands.As you mention Guy LIDL will be a welcome addition to the Brentford shopping experience. Just a pity its taking so long to open doors.

David Cook ● 57d

Is Morrison's now pricier than it was? I've read enough comments saying that it is. Is it everything that is dearer or just certain lines?As for Lidl, I'll give it a go largely being as it will be that much closer to where I live. Do they sell many branded products?Thanks

Anne England ● 57d

Brentford what has it got in the centre? Plenty of Betting shops and so far one now overpriced supermarket. I doubt there be room for 2 large supermarkets when LIDL open. I wreckon one wont survive and I doubt it be LIDL. The only really useful shop we have is the small Post Office counter. As mentioned i now go to Whitton as its free parking on the High Street and has a thriving amount of shops.  I have never been impressed with the over Developments that have come to the centre of Brentford. We have all been let down by successive Councils. When the Development comes on the North side of the High Street I hope it wont be overdeveloped like the South side.

David Cook ● 57d

Raymond loves to complain about Brentford and it is very irritating for those of us who love the town and work hard for its future. Please stop talking my town down. It is a lovely place to live and is much better now we have a chunk of the Ballymore estate functional. I mentioned some time ago that Raymond is not on the electoral register and he said it was an oversight, but I have never seen him in person and never known him to contribute anything to Brentford other than complaining online. Never seen at Brentford Voice meetings, at the Area Forum or any other public meeting as far as I know. Come out of the shadows, Raymond, and engage with the world where people talk to each other in Brentford!There is ample parking in Brentford - paid in the new car park opposite what will be Lidl, in the Lidl car park when it opens, underneath Morrisons and in the Butts so there is no problem. The High STreet and in particularly Kew Bridge Road is far less congested than it was 10 years ago when there was always a jam near KB in the rush hour that not infrequently extended as far as Ealing Road.There is now also a safe and convenient cycle lane where previously many people had accidents with cars and vans (me included)

Guy Lambert ● 59d

I know that bus journeys can sometimes take a long time but it is not my experience that things are as bad as you say or even worse than they were. I use at least one bus virtually every day, journeys including Ealing Road to Richmond (am about to do that this morning), High Road to West Middlesex Hospital or Twickenham and occasionally McDonald's to Chiswick. The biggest 'worry' for me is the 65 from Ealing Road to Ealing Broadway if I am going to get a train but I haven't been 'let down' yet. Admittedly I leave the house early to make sure but I can say that I don't recognise the situation you describe. You may well be right about the parking situation but not having had a car for nigh on six years I don't feel qualified to comment on that.

Anne England ● 59d

I am sad but not surprised that Hewson's bookshop has had to close,hopefully to re-open soon.I was quite sceptical about its chances of success when it opened,after all there isn't much footfall there when there isn't a market on and I am not sure people buy books often enough to sustain it.Shame.

Keith Iddon ● 60d

Sadly footfall in Brentford is going to always be it's Achilles.Stop and shop parking and impulse stop and shop is near impossible with nothing in the right place and what was has gone.Bus travel is so badly delayed with huge increases in journey times that it's too risky to get off and pop in to a shop or two as no-one can really risk further delay or being really late for whatever they should be ultimately going to.  45 mins Ealing Road to Richmond Station 30 mins to South Ealing. Up to an hour from Twickenham to Kew Bridge and often as bad the other way. Hammersmith to Brentford seldom less than an hour when it was 45 mins in the worst of rush hours.None of this was happening before the lockdown but it was not good then. Brentford is now isolated by problems all around it more than in it. But barely any parking in easy distance kills small retailers and with the 'Growthmiester' unable to comprehend what she has done by kicking the growth ball 20 years down the line and taxing any quick fixes out of viability, its not looking good for even the best of retailers

Raymond Havelock ● 60d

In an attempt tp clarify....There are two different regimes here. Ballymore units which are completely up to them and will be at market rates, though of course they may give discounts by negotiation.The 'shops' in 'Block D' - currently 100% unoccupied - are owned by the council and have been offered at a reduced rent for a certain period (I think 5 years) from market rates. I believe they are still higher than the rents were in Albany Parade. There are 3 retailers from Albany Parade and one from the North side of the High Street who are in theory moving in to 'Block D' together with 7 others which are said to be local traders but whose identity has not been revealed to councillors. I know of the 4 because I have talked to them (and one of them I was told had been allocated a place by a third party who had been told by the lead member). Others (not from Albany Parade) have told me they are keen to go there but have been told their proposal has not been successful. They have been given no reason other than they had better offers without explaining why their proposals failed.I would add that the 4 I am talking to have not yet an agreed lease, have no agreement about their fit out plans, and in one case has suddenly been told there is a £6000 fee they did not previously know about. I have no idea when these important traders start trading. They are currently either unemployed or in 1 case I understand they have found temporary accommodation in Isleworth.

Guy Lambert ● 60d

The rent free period seems reasonable given that their customer base was being diminished by the impending demolition. It has to be remember that businesses have high fixed costs so not paying rent may not have fully compensated for reduced footfall.As for the rent reduction in the new units, how attractive that is depends on the level it is being discounted from. We've seen with 'affordable' housing that discounts on something that is expensive can still lead to a big expense. The rents are probably going to be higher than before and the Hewsons Books situation might indicate that this isn't going to be offset by more customers.

Kenneth Seally ● 60d

I don't know but one thing I learned only the other day is that the Albany Parade retailers had 6 months free rent before shut down. They will also all receive compensation - I don't know how much - for the closure of the Albany Parade shops regardless of whether they are moving elsewhere, going to the new units or retiring. Also, as the article states, the retailers who do move to the new facilities will receive 20% off the ?rent/business rates? for the first five years.

Anne England ● 81d

I see that there has been a Council statement on "Albany and Tintern retail units"https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/news/article/3243/statement_on_albany_and_tintern_retail_units".....The Council is working closely with these businesses to help them through the process and to ensure they are well-placed to succeed in their new locations.    Transitioning from Albany Parade has required work to support businesses. The Council has supported businesses including rent-free arrangements, an extended lease until January 2025, and providing compensation to help businesses relocate smoothly. While there is no automatic right for Albany Parade tenants to move into the new units at Tintern House, all local businesses have been given a fair opportunity to apply, and the Council is committed to supporting them in finding the right solutions for their needs.  The process of fitting out the new units is well underway, with businesses now working on detailed plans to meet the required standards.  This is a necessary step to ensure the spaces are ready for long-term use and that they enhance the area for all. The Council also needs to balance the mix of businesses in the block to create a vibrant and successful retail environment, while safeguarding the integrity of these new facilities. ..."Does anyone think it adequately addresses the issues that Cllr Lambert highlighted in his "A Demand for Action for Evicted Brentford Retailers" January 2nd 2025 blog ?https://www.brentfordtw8.com/info/wardupdate467.htm

Tim Henderson ● 82d

How 'on the road',Raymond?

Keith Iddon ● 83d

Waterman's 'Management' are largely the architects of the failure of the place. A case of " a bad workman always blames their tools"Hung up on reliance of funding for which there are always strings attached, they decided to take Watermans on the road. At the expense of the facility.This is always the pitfall of faux Charities, CIC and Trusts where they lose their way with egos and the trinkets of funding criteria.

Raymond Havelock ● 84d

Their outdoor events are at Bell Square, Hounslow

Barbara Dudley ● 85d

Watermans has not moved to Hounslow.

Anne England ● 88d

I for one have lived in Brentford for many years now and over time have depended on using the different shops there as they have been so handy to be so close especially if you ran out of anything and so very sad to see the changes. It was bad enough when Morrisons moved with no replacement still in place and the Watermans move to Hounslow. I think that Brentford already has no soul, with more and more apartment blocks being built.

Barbara Dudley ● 88d

I don't know about councillors and officers 'not being familiar with rules and regulations outside local government', as far as this lot are concerned I doubt they have a clue about the rules and regulations inside local government! Given the various problems in Brentford - the long-standing non-appearance of Cllr. Sarai likely to finish in a by election, this complete sh*tshow over the Albany Parade shopkeepers, Watermans, and the singling out for 'disciplinary action' leading to Guy Lambert's resignation, and the Leader and Deputy refusing to meet to discuss this today - looks like an interesting New Year for Brentford.

Vanessa Smith ● 88d