May Update from Councillor Matt Harmer
* CPZ D-Day *
We are back to our main event so far this year, the consultation into whether or not residents want a Controlled Parking Zone north of the A4. The results are in and a decision will be made this Thursday.
I can’t put tables in these emails, unfortunately, so I will put the results like this: In Enfield Road the results were 32 in favour of a CPZ / 17 against a CPZ, Avenue Rd 7/6, Eastbourne Rd 32/4, Enfield Walk 1/5, Grove Road 2/1, Whitestile Road 25/31 and Windmill Road 2/7. This totals up to 101 in favour and 71 against. Most of those who replied and were in support of a CPZ favoured operational hours of 10-11am and 3-4pm operating Monday to Friday with single yellow lines on the junctions rather than double yellows. In total, 172 of the 470 properties consulted returned the survey forms, a turnout of 37%.
You can see the full report at http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=70774 and the results table at http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=70777
So as you can see, whatever the decision, some people will be unhappy. We decide on Thursday 24th May at the Free Church near the Library on Boston Manor Road. The meeting starts at 7.30 and we are first on the agenda after some unavoidable bits of municipal administration. Please do come down if you can.
* Swingometer time *
37% was around the turnout in the Mayoral elections erlier this month. In Brentford ward, Ken Livingstone was a slightly more popular choice than Boris Johnson, by 1180 votes to 1081. What’s interesting – well, to people like me anyway – is the difference in numbers between people voting Conservative in the GLA election and Conservative in the Mayoral ballot. In the former, the Conservative candidate picked up 753 votes, so many more people voted for Johnston than voted for the Conservative candidate (and winner of the seat) Tony Arbour. The reverse happened with the Labour vote, with 1302 favouring Labour’s Lisa Homan. In Syon ward (which starts at Boston Manor Road and goes west through the Butts and onto Busch Corner) Johnson slightly outvoted Livingstone, with a fairly similar pattern occurring regarding the Mayor contest versus the GLA candidates. You can see the results in full by going to http://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/results-and-past-elections/results-2012 , but don’t all go there at once or we might break the server.
* Jobs wanted *
I thought that the election never really got to grips with things that matter. Councillors are getting more emails than ever about jobs and my ward colleague Ruth Cadbury has been leading on efforts to do what we can to get more people employed.
In these times of worldwide recession and rising unemployment it’s good to know that new jobs are coming to the local area. At the end of April Hounslow gave Sky planning permission to create a media campus on their site at Osterley. Over a 10 year development period the jobs based there will grow from the current 8350 to around 12,000, and the build work will add 2300 more. With the forthcoming disappearance of TV Centre it is good to have an alternative employment source for this skill area and adds to some of the other local facilities in the area. There are a number of broadcasters at Chiswick Business Park and other smaller studio facilities dotted around the area already. What is really good is that Ruth has ensured that there will be a long-term training and apprenticeship programme that goes with this development, and we look forward to BSkyB working with local schools and colleges to deliver this.
There is no doubt that transport to and from the site will present a challenge, but we have agreed a number of measures with Sky where they will limit on-site parking (and, yes, fund local Controlled Parking Zones if needed). They are also funding improvements to Syon Lane station, to local bus services and to the pedestrian and road infrastructure.
In time, we will receive some planning gain payments fom BSkyB and we will be very happy to get suggestions on how they might be used. My colleague Mel Collins has recently helped co-ordinate the introduction of handrails on the bridge that crosses the railway line on Clayponds Avenue and the installation of CCTV on Netley Road, which is something that the residents on that road have been asking for. On Thursday we will consider granting £130,000 to the Steam Museum and whilst it would be improper of me to say in advance what the outcome of that might be, I think it's fair to say that the Steam Museum is something that we are very proud to have in the area. The funding comes from the Great West Quarter development on the corner of the A4 and Ealing Road.
There are all sorts of rules on what this planning gain money can and can't pay for, but your sugestions are always welcome so please do keep them coming.
* Bunting ready *
A quick plug for some of the events taking place to help celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. For those near Griffin Park the Griffin Pub is holding a party that starts at 1pm on Sunday 3rd June. Free food for children and all sorts of entertainment. In the High Street there’s a Market on Saturday and Sunday along with watersports on the canal and archery in The Butts, where there’ll be a Jubilee Lunch on Sunday, and in Boston Manor Park there’s in Alice in Wonderland – themed tea party followed by an open-air screening of the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film. I’m sure there is lots more and would suggest you head for www.brentfordtw8.com to see what’s on. And put a note in the diary for the Olympic Torch run through town on the 24th July, along with lots more activity in the High Street.
Planning has started for the Brentford Sports Day in St Pauls Rec on 1st August – an extension of the now-traditional Picnic – and the organisers are appealing for any volunteers or people with ideas on how to make the day even better than it usually is to come forward. Email me and I’ll forward your email on.
* Can I help? *
Finally, please get in touch if you think I can help, either by emailing matt@mattharmer.com or calling 020 8560 7033.
In the meantime, thanks for reading.
My mailing address is:
Matt Harmer
153 Ealing Rd
Brentford, Middlesex TW8 0LF
My telephone:
020 8560 7033
May 21, 2012