Why I have to go
I have lived in Brentford, to be precise Mafeking Avenue for 33 years. I remember that in the early days the plan was to re build the High Street, and change the Green Dragon Lane estate. Today the high street is mainly the same, with the exception of that a number of companies have closed down, or gone somewhere else. Of course the Green Dragon estate has improved, but the Tower Blocks remain the same eyesore. Whilst most London boroughs have demolished their High rise blocks, Hounslow intend to build adverts on the top of theirs, and of course have given the only piece of green land on the estate to a developer. As time goes by the estate will get older and one day it will have to be pulled down and re built. Meanwhile every piece of spare land is now being built on and it is indiscriminate. There is no plan, and no one at the council gives a dam. To them more residents equals more income. That's it, full stop.I have had many careers here, Truck driver; shop manager; teacher; lecturer. I retired "early" from teaching because I had just got tired of the continual changes. (Why is it that every government thinks it is an expert on education).However after spending lots of money on training, and a huge amount on tools; stock; indemnity insurance; van insurance and tax I started a home security service, or more commonly known as a locksmith company.The CPZ is the final straw for me; I don't have regular hours of work; some days I have no work at all, others I work long and late hours. I also own a car, because when I visit friends or go out for a day I don't really want to drive around in a van, so I have a car as well. Yes it is taxed and insured and it has an M o T. Am I breaking any law? No, but come the CPZ I probably will be, I don't agree with paying road tax; and council tax, and then another tax so that I can park where I live and have paid council tax for.So after 33 years I am selling up and heading somewhere less crowded; where there are no CPZ's, and where the council cares about the environment and uses planning laws properly. Where they wont ok large advertising signs on the motorway encouraging people to drive without due care and attention, and where they wont take every opportunity to milk the motorist dry.For those selfish people who want the CPZ's, I have to ask why? Less cars in the street during the day? What difference does it really make? There will be less parking places at night too, so it is a tax to have less of something. When Hounslow finally runs out of things to sell; when there is no where else to build and they cannot put up the council tax they will put up the charges. Your cost of living will also go up as like most trades people if I have to go in to the congestion zone I add that to the bill, when you have trades people visit you will be buying the ticket. I can go on and on, Hounslow is with out any doubt in my mind one of the worst councils I know of. Whose fault is it? well it's ours. Those of us who cannot be bothered to vote, or more importantly stand as an independent councillor because that is what Hounslow needs. People who want to do the best for Brentford, not sell it so that those in Hounslow can go on and on throwing money away.So I leave in two or three months. If you want a new lock fitted be quick! Paul Wilson (www.ilocksecurity.co.uk)
Paul Wilson ● 4136d10 Comments