Forum Topic

Open post to all Brentford Ward Councillors

Reading the previous postings on the possible flood risks in Brook Road South makes for very alarming reading. Can we the residents please have a cast iron assurance that this matter will be properly looked into before work starts and not just brushed aside.We, the residents, ask for you, the councillors who were elected to represent US, to be proactive in working, for once, for us.

Claire de ST Croix ● 4916d7 Comments

One of my  neighbour friends did and has received a reply from Cllr. Cadbury who circulated it to others concerned. I know this as he used my broadband and computer and I fully supported his letter. So I do have a copy but would need his permission to reproduce it.That said I think more has come to light since.

Anthony Waller ● 4915d

Has anyone written to Brentford Councillors on this asking for their comments or assistance?

Ian Speed ● 4915d

This is the trouble, Whilst there were issues that residents attempted to highlight over the sub station and emergency access, security and so on. These were dismissed by councilllors who clearly had made their minds up with no interest in facts that may dent their egos or policies or both.The whole thing was a sham. Council officers stood up and presented an altered map omitting the Electrical sub-station and it's feed routings.Anyone who attempted to highlight this was shouted down by the chair and threatened with dismissal from the room. Hardly democratic.There was a clear demonstration of a total lack of knowledge of the area and a presentation on parking that would have one think we all had big gardens and driveways. Pure fantasy and yet 2 councillors actually live in the vicinity and must have known that this was inaccurate. They did not even ask a  single relevant question to all the objections raised.The only question raised by a local councillor concerned the retention of a single garage...rented at a discount by a certain Mrs. Keen!The issue of the Brook has only surfaced in the last month or so but the detail is not in the possesion of Thames water and LB Hounslow do not seem to have any archive details either. It will emerge but it is taking the efforts of residents in their own time and own expense as the council seems totally unwilling or incompetent in doing so themselves.If the consequences lead to future flooding and ground saturation, which will cause damp and subsidence problems in older houses they will be liable but I'm sure most, like me, want total assurance that this will not happen and that all measures will be funded and put into place prior to any development.If councillors and officers had been more diligent, professional and pragmatic as well as allowing pertinent questions to be asked by residents then we would not be in such a situation.

Michael Brandt ● 4916d

That is what I understand is in place. The Brook used to overload the drains and force water up out of them. Where does it go if built upon?

Michael Brandt ● 4916d

Isn't the problem that the development work potentially involves the removal of existing infrastructure installed in the 1970's which was not identified at the time approval was given ?Looking at the officer report it appeared to me that the check on flood risk was limited to looking at the Environment Agency flood risk map which did not refer to the old history.Sustainable drainage measures could probably be installed for the new properties - but it would seem unlikely that it would make sense to remove what is there already to control the Brook and then install something else to make it sustainable !However, we'd be in a better position if we had the detailed history of the site .

Tim Henderson ● 4916d

If consulted at the planning stage, the Environment Agency may request that sustainable urban drainage measures be put in place. This would involve storing surface water runoff on site and releasing it at a controlled rate into the sewer system.JL.

Jim Linwood ● 4916d

They are aware, but quite who is keeping whom in the dark is a mystery.

Michael Brandt ● 4916d