Forum Topic

Market Place parking again

I see that one of the retractable bollards has been permanently retracted from Market Place and dumped on the square.  Cars are once again parking in front of Verdict and La Rosetta.  Also, when is the fountain going to start up again?   Far better for it to be on regularly to show the space is not a car park. the seating could also do with a fresh varnish.  All maintenance matters that were raised when the redesign took place. I'm sure we were reassured that the seating and fountains would be looked after.  This doesn't bode well for all of the open spaces that will be created (according to all the snazzy drawings on the plans) by the new developments...

Cathy Jones ● 2720d23 Comments

It is pretty disgraceful - after all the work was done with public money and people are taking liberties with the car parking. These areas do have to be maintained as open spaces for public use.

Vanessa Smith ● 2720d

Parked cars in that town square area are bad and it is particularly dangerous when vans park in front of Verdict, as children are always playing out there and vans block sight lines and make cyclists a real danger to the children. The former car park in that area was formally ended in 2013 when the relevant planning consent for the Magistrates Court re-development decreed "Change of use from car park to public realm open space" (ref: 00607/L/P3, 31 July 2013). An April 2013 planning document describes the area as "Public realm (town square)". The problem seems to be a lack of enforcement by parking wardens who have been told it's privately owned land. It is indeed, but planning consents determine allowable uses so ownership is surely irrelevant. In  this area, vehicle parking is not an allowable use, except maybe for setting up the Sunday Market. I've seen nothing to suggest cyclists shouldn't cross the area and most are really careful. The problem is parked vehicles.

Eric Baker ● 2716d

This is possibly a planning issue rather more than one for parking attendants to sort out? If this area is not adopted 'public highway' parking restrictions cannot be placed upon it under Road Traffic Regulations. A very grey area, which, perhaps local councillors should address?

Vanessa Smith ● 2715d

Perhaps the Council neglected to do something when it was in their power to do so. I can't think of any other reason why this problem wouldn't have otherwise been addressed.

Anne England ● 2715d

I think Anne - it may be a classic case of several departments passing the buck, or not acquainting themselves with the relevant legislation to identify just who can get this sorted.

Vanessa Smith ● 2715d

As one of the bollards blocking entrance onto the Square is damaged, the problem is maintenance!  It needs replacing.

Cathy Jones ● 2713d

What I don't understand is why (some) people can unlock and discard the bollards.  Lock them and leave them locked!I hate seeing cars parked on the square, but if you mention to anyone they go way over the top, start threatening and saying they have a right, or are 'special' in someway.It's not a car park!  It's not there for someone to think they can use as their own parking spot!  And it's not there for oil stains from someones old piece of crap to make the tiling look filthy.To be honest, next time I see something parked there I'm going to sit on it and call it a chair.I don't often say please to parking wardens, but please ticket the hell out of anyone that parks there.

Lorne Gifford ● 2706d

Who have you spoken to about the parking i.e. anybody trading from there or thereabouts? Is it the same person/same few people doing the parking?I have an idea that something wasn't put in place when Verdict was given its licence or whatever it is that is given to businesses but of course could be mistaken.On a different note, but still about the market square, will the water fountains be turned on in the summer? Weren't they supposed to be operating the whole time? Who is responsible for this?

Anne England ● 2706d

I'd think the place to start would be the Brentford councillors - this is absolutely something they could, and should, get stuck into.

Vanessa Smith ● 2705d

I think it would by the Syon councillors as the market place is in their area (I think!).

Anne England ● 2705d

It is indeed in the Syon Ward

Paul Fisher ● 2705d

Lucky you - the Glorious Leader is one of them!

Vanessa Smith ● 2705d

Do any cars that park there come from the flats nearby or staff from verdict perhaps, yes it should be sorted by the councillors, but like Vanessa, l don't hold out much hope of that.

Jean Harrison ● 2702d

It might be too late for anything to be 'sorted'. Perhaps what should have been in place before Verdict was opened was not put in place and is now irredeemable.I drove past this morning and happily no cars were parked in the square. There were a good few people eating outside and enjoying the sunshine however.Again - when will the fountains be operating? Seems like a lot of expense was gone to in installing them only for them to fall redundant within a year or two at the most.

Anne England ● 2702d

Has anyone actually contacted their local councillors and asked them to get involved with this? They would know about any agreements - but I am sure when this square was first created it was for the public benefit. I do remember that a lot of money came from the Mayor of London's office towards the works. It has to be worth a punt to get your elected representatives involved, and I'd do it as soon as possible. At least you'd know one way or another what the situation is.

Vanessa Smith ● 2702d

No parking during the day over Easter on the actual square.  But one of the bollards removed again and lying on the side.  This glorious Easter would have been the perfect day for the fountains to play and the benches to be sat on.  Verdict looked great with its umbrellas out and lots of people.  How sad the square looked: barren, no fountains and benches in desperate need of a sanding-down and varnish.

Cathy Jones ● 2698d

I wouldn't bet on anyone in a position to do anything about this reading this Forum, if it was in Isleworth I would be contacting local councillors and getting them involved.

Vanessa Smith ● 2698d

Parking bobbies are surely part of the answer?

Keith Iddon ● 2697d

Maybe one of the offending drivers were there to either get the fountains working or even the clock above Verdict telling the time again !

Jean Harrison ● 2696d

Just walked past market square this morning Thursday 2 May, carparked again and Bollard missing. Where are the wardens thought council had employed more.

Jean Harrison ● 2689d

The area in front of Verdict is privately owned even though the taxpayer paid for the upgrading.

Christopher Hugh Dakers ● 2689d

Is it owned by Verdict or the overall owner of what was the court - should there be such a person.It seems to me that a clause wasn't put in which should have been put in re the square's use but nobody's saying as much.What I would like to know is - when are the fountains going to be in use? Who paid for the installation and who is responsible for their upkeep? I have been by a centre in Twickenham a number of times now and their fountains seem to be 'at it' all the time. I can't remember the last time the Brentford Fountains were on show.

Anne England ● 2689d

Never mind the fountains, what about the clock on the building, surely someone is responsible for that as well as the fountains.

Jean Harrison ● 2679d