As a third generation inhabitant of this district Ealing Brentford and Chiswick>Brentford in particular has been used as everything from a social experiment zone to a dumping ground for people no-one else will accomodate.This goes back to the 1960's and after decades of neglect it has recovered over the last 18 years or so.But it has some dreadful developments large and small and poor decisions often flying in the face of resident opposition to what gets passed as acceptable.The warnings, reservations and concerns have been ignored again and again and this borough has a history of petty politics that have damaged whole rafts of this borough. No single party can be blamed. They have all been poor more than good.We read constantly about bonkers behaviour of councillors, slack handling by officers and it just goes on and on.Who knows if it is corrupt? or incompetent or both, but Ferry Quays is an example not being tough and uncompromising with developers and the terms of development permissions.The risk is there again with Reynards Mill and the High street. Poor proposals, huge opposition and developers armed with lawyers to grind everyone down till they get exactly what they want, even though it will be made to appear as a huge compromise.It happens all the time in this borough from the demolition on a Sunday of the Firestone building, to the underhand selling off of the local swimming baths.Take a good walk around this town. See the ghost estates, the new estates full of short term residents, the lack of a proper community in places, and see the bits that are alive and vibrant. Then see which ones have been tampered with by politicians, planners and developers.I need say nothing more.
Anthony Waller ● 4643d