| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Parking problems and proposed demolition of garages on Brook Road South | |
| Posted by: | Matt Harmer | |
| Date/Time: | 26/01/12 11:27:00 |
| Interesting thread. Most of you won't agree but here's my view (for those that don't know, I'm a ward councillor, in case you're wondering why what I think matters in the slightest). One of the council priorities is the delivery of affordable housing. It may be that developing some of the garages into residential accommodation assists in this aim, either by directly delivering affordable housing directly on the garage sites or by creating funds to achieve this elsewhere in the borough. With a cut in the funding available for affordable housing, we have to make sure we are using all our resources as efficiently as possible. Whilst we understand that people will be unhappy about losing garages we have some difficult choices to make. The Council needs to decide priorities and, for me, improving housing in the borough takes precedence over parking. I should add that, in my experience, not all the garages have cars in them, many are (very cheap) storage units. I should also add that I am not some virulent anti-motorist; my car is parked about five minutes walk away, a distance that may well increase if the garages are removed. More importantly, nothing is decided for certain. It may be that the economics of the idea doesn't work out to provide value for council tax payers. The first step is to see if permission can be gained - that doesn't mean for sure that anything else will happen. I know that many won't agree with me, or the proposals. You should object. The garages are owned by the Council but that doesn't mean to say that the application will be approved. Two weeks ago, a council application in Feltham wasn't approved by the council's planning committee, who thought that the application wasn't in residents' best interests. So, sorry not to agree with objections but I think it's right that you know my position. Matt |