Forum Topic

Brentford 'improvements'

Quoting from the front page article, for £1,000,000 Brentford will receive the following "improvements" :"In Brentford, the funding will see a range of projects taking place to connect the Great West Road and Brentford High Street through: A launch event along the Grand Union Canal with the Royal Opera House during the Olympics.Improving access from the Great West Road to Brentford Lock through a new cycling and pedestrian junction via the canal’s towpath and new bespoke signage on the Golden Mile.A project to improve signage in and around Brentford town centre.A bespoke lighting scheme linking up the Great West Road with the towpath, bridge underpass, towpath, Piazza, High Street and Market Place.Development of a new cycling junction outside Holiday Inn.Improvements to entrances to St George’s Piazza, new lighting and signage and bringing empty retail units back into use.Improvements to the north side of High Street, with new street furniture, lighting and further shop frontage improvements.A one year long community programme to develop a spectacular performance for a celebration event in March 2014."How much of that does Brentford actually need or will benefit from in the long-term ?.  The "launch event" - what has the Royal Opera House or the Olympics for that matter got to do with Brentford ?.  Waste of money.Access from GWR to Brentford Lock - is a new cycle/pedestrian junction really needed ?.  Bespoke signage on the Golden Mile ? - why can't this be left to private companies/developers ?.Improving signage - is Brentford that much of a maze to get round ?.Bespoke lighting scheme - the towpath does need to be better lit in places, but no need for anything OTT.New cycling junction outside Holiday Inn - is that particular spot a hotbed for cyclists ?.  Has a guest at the Inn ever arrived/departed by bike ?!.  Ok so some staff might, but is it really needed ?.Bring empty retail units back into use - how ?.  By reducing rents or offering similar incentives ?.Improvements to the north side of the High Street - presumably afew new benches or such like.Community programme/celebration event - hmmm...No doubt I'll be accused of being cynical again, but this seems an utter waste of £1,000,000 to me.

Adam Beamish ● 4951d18 Comments

We lost a perfectly good local take away because of greedy landlords who hikes the rent up beyond the means of the business to make any sort of operating profit.Nothing could be done. All these incentives will simply stash a few bob into the pockets of a few contractors and landlords and in a few years it will all be the same as it always is.No mention that the canal tow path is now so muddy rutted and slippery from mountain bikes that is is no longer safe to cycle it unless you are both an expert cyclist and strong swimmer.All half cocked...again.What Brentford really needs is for the amenity sites to be protected and improved - like Cycle storage points, a secure car park for vans and business vehicles, develop the genuine derelict sites for small housing resurface the many crumbling pot hole ridden side streets so they can be used safely by cyclists and maintain what there is already properly.

Anthony Waller ● 4938d

Did any one to

Philip Walsh ● 4938d

Didn't anyone go to the Docking Station open meetings to see all the plans for Brentford Southside, and talk to architects and planners?

Joanna Russell ● 4939d

What and allow competition with Hounslow; no chance!

Philip Walsh ● 4939d

The ideas proposed are a complete waste of money. Brentford needs a lot more than signs , benches and bins. There seems to be plenty of money to make small cosmetic changes but no one seems willing to invest in genuine improvement, LBH just talks about it but never comes up with the goods.

Liz Price ● 4941d

Around 3£320m was supposed to have been ringfenced for the Brentford regeneration project back in 97-8, almost as much again was supposed to be available for the golden miles improvements.  Well one can see where the money went on the golden mile but Brentford itself is still a dump when it comes to the high street, something not helped by the greedy shop rental prices.

Philip Walsh ● 4943d

I thought we had money ploughed into improving Brentford 7 years ago, am I mistaken?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2EO9yLaEwQ

Tanya Lee ● 4944d

You must have read my mind Adam. When I saw the proposals my first reaction was - no real improvement at all then. The high street needs help to attract businesses and customers and yet the proposal to sort this seemed extremely vague. I also cannot understand the money going on this St George's Piazza. It's brand new, not on the high street and doesn't appear to need any investment. I for one will not be congratulating Ruth Cadbury as suggested in a recent e-mail.

Claire Peleschka ● 4945d

You're right Adam, what a scandalous waste of money especially in these difficult times! How is this going to generate long or even short term regeneration for Brentford? - People need a real reason to visit  and spend in the area and a couple of benches and bins won't solve this. Why can't the funds be invested in enterprise schemes that will truly stimulate trade  locally? Some professional guidance and investment in aspirational local young people who want to start their own business in Brentford would be far more worthwhile.

Rod de St Croix ● 4946d

This is a minor issue imo opinion as in farness to the council there are now a few 30 min free bays outside Glad's newsagent and outside the post office depot.The small car park opposite Costcutter now charges the going rate after 30 mins This is an improvement imo as people used to park there when it was very cheap and go to Ealing or Chiswick to shop or just leave their car there for hours and do God only knows what.The only inconvenience is that the charge for the first hour should kick in after 30 mins free but does not.There are no shops to speak of on the high street,so why would anyone want to spend more that 30 mins in Brentford during the day? That is the real issue..there is always space at Morrisons anyway.

Keith Iddon ● 4949d

I have to agree with George Knox on this one -"Parking in Brentford is really difficult and I would like to see a significant increase in free 30 minute parking bays."And I'm a cyclist.

Peter McGovern ● 4949d

"The money will be spent on further improvements to two town centres, with Hounslow set to receive £2 million, and Brentford just over £1 million" ....  "Where's the other £1.8 million going?"              Chiswick??  Ed say,s No..

Hugh Telford ● 4949d

Tim well researched. The full initial report is at Agenda item 6 Cabinet 18th October 2011.LBH provided matched funding to both, ISIS to the Brentford scheme.See the press release athttp://www.hounslow.gov.uk/news_mod_home/news_mod_year/news_mod_month/news_mod_show?year1=2012&month1=1&NewsID=50457 John

John Todd ● 4950d

I guess you need to see the bid documents.I came across the report to Hounslow Cabinet ( 18th October 2011) on Town Centre Management and that referred to projects which were dependent on Round Two Outer London Fund money. It had the Brentford and Hounslow estimates at rather more than appeared in the recent article.Appendix E Medium Term WorkplanBoth Town Centres (Hounslow and Brentford) :Wayfinding initiatives in both town centres: Legible London £200,000 OLF Round Two -Inward investment initiatives: retail and start-ups TBC - -Establish a sustainable cultural offer TBC - -Public art initiatives TBC - -Initiate key site(s) development - - -Further develop tourism offer TBC - -HOUNSLOWNew public realm scheme for the High Street £3 - £6 m OLF Round Two Major projectConsolidate and establish Hounslow brand TBC S106 -Develop an active town centre partnership TBC - -Establish a market TBC - -Focus on developing leisure opportunities through nearby parks TBC - -BRENTFORDRange of environmental improvements, linking the High Street with theGreat West Road and the waterways£1.5 m OLF Round Two Major projectWork alongside new owners to integrate Old Magistrates Court carpark with the public space- - -Work alongside ISIS and Ballymore on temporary uses of their sites - - -Focus on developing leisure opportunities through waterways TBC

Tim Henderson ● 4950d

The article says:Hounslow and Brentford town centres are being given a £4.8 million boost thanks to the council, the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund (OLF), and private investment.The money will be spent on further improvements to two town centres, with Hounslow set to receive £2 million, and Brentford just over £1 million ....Where's the other £1.8 million going?

Jennifer Long ● 4950d

Much as it irks me I have to agree with you George.The plans as outlined here seem to be the typical piecemeal approach adopted when it comes to redeveloping Brentford.If the High street is to be the subject of future development and investnment why is this proposal presented as an addition to what is proposed rather than an end in itself?

Keith Iddon ● 4951d

As cycle superhighway 9 (opening 2013?) comes through Brentford it will be good to connect it to the Golden Mile, Sky and GSK who are probably significant "trip generators". I certainly find it a lot better pedalling through Brentford than along the vestigial and disjointed bike-lanes on the A4.The current bike access from GWR to the canal is not ideal - its a steep slope down on the southern side and a long way round (and steps, I think) on the northern side.

Tim Henderson ● 4951d

When I visit different towns in Hounslow and Ealing I like to see the places well decorated and generally in good order. I like to see these places cared for.So there is a lot which can be done to cheer up Brentford High street long term. From Kew Bridge into the town the  new developments in part have almost created a wind and noise tunnel which I now find oppressive. It would be good if the Council could do all it can to reduce the traffic noise.The key feature in Brentford for me is the riverside. There is a great deal which could be done to improve this area even further. Also Syon Park seems quite unconnected with Brentford. Is there a way whereby they can be linked more closely so that locals feel they had an even greater area offering leisure.Parking in Brentford is really difficult and I would like to see a significant increase in free 30 minute parking bays.Some of the improvements make me think that someone out of college has dreamt up some ideas out of his old text books. Some proposals are just not imaginative or sensitive to life in Brentford. How do a few benches join Brentford to the Great West Road? What research has been undertaken to establish that bike usage is causing bike traffic jams? What research has been done to establish how many people will benefit from extra lighting?Unless Hounslow owns property how can rents be reduced?Am not certain about the benefits of events. If they work well they can bind the community long term and lead to new  long lasting event initiatives. No harm in giving this a try. But some of the money should be channelled into youth projects since there is so much deprivation in Brentford.I also think Brentford should have a new bus station before the developers grab everything.

George Knox ● 4951d