Forum Topic

When will Brentford look nice ?

HelloIm Sven from Sweden.Ive been in Brentford about 40 times the last 4 years.But I wonder how some of the buildings along high street is looking like garbage.Isnt there any "political department" that is thinking of the environment ?Not that much has to be done to get the surroundings along high street to look a lot nicer.Just an example. Across the street from Beehive and Morrisons its a real mess of a building.Someone - tear it down or do some refreshing.Was there last weekend (apr 1 to 4th).Will be back Apr 29th again./Sven(running the swedish supporters club for Brentford - Viking Bees - www.vikingbees.se)sven.asen@live.se or sven@vikingbees.se

Sven Asen ● 5237d10 Comments

I just walked through St Paul's Park on way from the nursery with my 2 year old. He longed to play in the newly refurbished park, on all the new climbing frames, but I couldn't let him.  It's filthy and looks like a pig sty, it really does.  Honestly, the council must  have spent a small fortune upgrading it but already it's being abused.  Litter everywhere, granted the bins are overflowing, but why don't people take their rubbish home with them anymore??  Re. Boston Manor Park, it is indeed beautiful.  We were there on Sunday.  So clean and well respected.  Credit to those volunteers whoever they are.Jen

Jennifer Johnston ● 5232d

I'd place the mis-prioritisation of planning approvals down as a crazy council decision. The council has given the go ahead to the commerce road development and allowed the south of the high street plans to be put on the back burner. This risks two things - significantly delaying the high street development and also creating obstacles for putting the high street development in place at all.The commerce road site will be easy to build on and relatively easy to sell - its on the canal, its right next to other new developments. That's perhaps why the developers prefer it and pushed for commerce road ahead of the high street plans. The high street will be more of a challenge. It will need a mix of retail and residential - often less attractive to buyers. Plus, the pressures put on the local infrastructure, transport and sewerage are likely to mean issues and objections are even more compelling by the time the high street is being proposed for development. After all, we've had 900 new dwellings in GWQ and will get 550 more with the commerce road site. No more trains, no significant improvement to Mogden, no more schools, and perhaps only a couple more buses. I'm all for improving all of Brentford where needed - it just seems the sequence of development could have been thought through better. My bet is that in 5 years time we have no change to the south of the high street site.

Alan Clark ● 5232d

"The parks are full of litter"But not Boston Manor park hopefully..that's well managed...and overseen by top volunteers!What crazy decisions are being made by the Council? Perhaps the Forum can help!

Jim Lawes ● 5232d

I quite agree - it looks like a deprived area.  Not helped of course by the ongoing water works which must be in about their third year.  I feel sorry for some of the businesses who have just about managed to keep going in the current financial climate as it can't help.  You should see the area around the football ground which looks like a ghetto. There is litter everywhere, craters in the roads and recycling bags strewn all over the place.  The parks are full of litter and we have too pay for the privilege of living here!  And don't get me started on the ludicrous decisions made on environmental issues by the Council.  They have a garden competition but have allowed our lovely garden to be turned into an awful allotment!

Samantha Barwell ● 5233d

The traffic jams around the Lionel Road area would just be a joke surely Neil. The Kew Bridge area is prone to occasional chaos already..and celebrating Brentford Fans weaving between the traffic would be too much!The Express Pub might do a roaring trade..but the Griffin Park Four would lose out big time!http://i50.tinypic.com/34s4a5g.jpg

Jim Lawes ● 5235d

Shame Barratts have pulled out of Lionel Road

Neil Chippendale ● 5235d

Seriously Jim, I know you have many attractive photos of Brentford.

Chris Dakers ● 5235d

How dare you complain..we're very proud of our heritage!Here is one of Brentford's few (and easily the finest) remnants of "Brunels" architecture dating back 150 years.Brunel's Great Western Railway extention to Brentford Dock brought great industry and employment to the area..and we are forever grateful to him and his employees!

Jim Lawes ● 5236d

You mean ..our dear High Street. It's gorgeous..we'll miss it when it's pulled down!Bridge over the River Kyle...the gangway was called ..from the Factory to the boss's private rooms!

Jim Lawes ● 5236d

Sven, everything will be fine when the Bees move into their new stadium.

John Connelly ● 5236d