The fountains in the Brentford Market Square, an area designated as 'public realm' by planning consents, hugely popular with local children, are paid for mostly by Verdict and also by the residents of the old magistrates court. We also pay for the clock tower illuminations. We all find it delightful that everyone in the community can appreciate these assets and I find it hard to comprehend attitudes that can be paraphrased as 'geroff moy land, I pay to mow the grass'. When we've walked round Brentford Dock we've seen no sign of invasion or abuse and find it implausible that there has been any significant problem. The one 'keep them out' person we've talked to came up with nothing worse than 'a cyclist asked me for water' plus someone dared have a bbq. Alien invasion? Or atrophied Brentford backwater? Who'd want to live somewhere like that, gated and fearful? Apart from the virtual theft of a once public asset, who cares? Right to Roam, expanded sensibly by a futute government, may fix it anyway. National law trumps local acquisitiveness. |