Forum Message

Topic: Brentford is closed!
Posted by: Reg Ghosh
Date/Time: 04/01/19 12:15:00

From Brentford Today on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/brentfordtoday/permalink/374200276675074/?__tn__=K-R

THE GREAT BALLYMORE SILENCE
BRENTFORD IS CLOSED. WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING – IN SIX MONTHS' TIME! AS ANGER AND SUSPICION GROW, THE TOWN GETS IMPATIENT.
As half the high street turns into a ghost town, and Brentford people wait for snippets from on high, Councillor Mel Collins puts it succinctly: "The drip-drip effect just fuels anger and suspicion to the local community."
Bang on, Mel.
Cllr Collins adds: "We are in exciting times. Let us be open and celebrate the fact."
Then he pleads rather desperately: "Is it possible to give a more comprehensive outline as to what is actually happening over the next few months?"
Good question. So Brentford Today put it to Ballymore HQ.
External Affairs Manager Jennifer Ball said: "Thanks for reaching out. In terms of further communications, we will be opening an information centre on site this summer, which will feature exhibition space and site models. We are working towards the launch of this amenity intended to engage and inform local people, and improve awareness of plans. More news on this will be available in the coming months."
IN THE COMING MONTHS! THIS SUMMER!
Are they joking? If they want to engage us, they are going the wrong way about it.
Council leader Steve Curran seems as frustrated as anyone.
He says: “I’m already in discussion with Ballymore to ensure that we have clear communications by the end of January.”
However that's just a "discussion". Ballymore's official position refers to "summer" and "months".
Surely Brentford deserves better than this.
The south side looks like one of those Wild West ghost towns after the gold mines run out. It'll soon fall down on its own, with tumbleweed blowing along the footpath.
You walk past shutters and barred doors and find the post office which bears a scribbled note: closed.
Brentford's heart is in cardiac arrest.
Well, if it's going to be redeveloped, you'd expect closures at some point. Understandable. What you don't expect is the utter lack of detailed information. It's rude, it's disrespectful. Look on Hounslow council's website. Almost nothing. Look on Ballymore's website. "Reinvention Meets Restoration," it says. "16,250 sq m of new retail floorspace, a 3000 sq m grocery store, a gym and leisure centre and an arts centre/cinema. Retaining several heritage buildings and thoroughfares…"
Where's the detail? Where's the plan?
Or don't ordinary Brentford people matter?
Cllr Guy Lambert says they are "pressing our friends Ballymore to communicate more speedily!" Note the word "friends". Nobody wants to fall out. Ballymore are big and powerful but this is not some minor development on the outskirts. It is right at the heart of Brentford – half the high street is about to be knocked down – hence it is called Regeneration. It's not just a few flats. It's Brentford itself. The biggest change in a generation, perhaps ever.
People are asking, quite rightly: "Why are we not being kept fully informed?" Otherwise confidence in the project is being undermined, day by day.
Brentford Today stands with Cllr Curran. The people of Brentford need to be told exactly what is happening. And when. They need to be told very soon.


Entire Thread
TopicDate PostedPosted By
Brentford is closed!04/01/19 12:15:00 Reg Ghosh
   Re:Brentford is closed!04/01/19 12:46:00 Paul Fisher
      Ballymore have responded!05/01/19 15:03:00 Reg Ghosh
         Re:Ballymore have responded!07/01/19 07:22:00 Lorne Gifford
            Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!07/01/19 11:49:00 Domenico Urzi
               Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!07/01/19 16:44:00 Lorne Gifford
                  Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!07/01/19 17:18:00 Guy Lambert
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!07/01/19 23:05:00 Keith Iddon
                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!09/01/19 00:47:00 Raymond Havelock
                           Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!09/01/19 07:11:00 Emma Renton
                              Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!17/02/19 08:30:00 Steve Quantock
                                 Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!17/02/19 16:10:00 Jennifer Selig
                                    Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!19/02/19 10:59:00 Stephen Scott
                                       Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!19/02/19 13:20:00 Jean Harrison
                                          Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!19/02/19 14:21:00 Stephen Scott
                                             Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!19/02/19 19:24:00 Adam Beamish
                                                Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!19/02/19 19:29:00 Stephen Scott
                                                Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 08:26:00 Nicholas Beard
                                                Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 08:30:00 Emma Renton
                                                   Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 09:12:00 Nicholas Beard
                                                      Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 09:20:00 Emma Renton
                                                         Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 09:25:00 Nicholas Beard
                                                            Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 09:28:00 Emma Renton
                                                               Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 09:48:00 Nicholas Beard
                                                                  Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 10:25:00 Adam Beamish
                                                                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 17:49:00 Bernard Allen
                                                                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!20/02/19 17:55:00 Nicholas Beard
                                                                           Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!22/02/19 13:34:00 Simon White
                                                                              Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!22/02/19 14:31:00 Keith Iddon
                                                                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!22/02/19 13:40:00 Nigel Moore
                                                                           Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!22/02/19 13:47:00 Nigel Moore
                                                                              Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!22/02/19 13:57:00 Nigel Moore
                                                                                 Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ballymore have responded!22/02/19 14:28:00 Nicholas Beard

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