What did the Romans Ever Do for You - Sorry, what did Labour ever Do for Brentford High Street?

On 30/4/10 17:03, "Kerry .."wrote:

Hi Ruth,

I have a question regarding the labour leaflet that was was distributed recently where you stat that the Conservatives have done nothing to regenerate the High Street.

I have been searching on the internet to see who controlled Hounslow Council, and found out that it was controlled by Labour from 1971 to 2006, when labour lost control.

My question to you is what did Labour do in those 35 years to regenerate Brentford High Street?

Kind Regards
Kerry

From Ruth:
Kerry
Thank you for contacting me.

In the last 10 years of our administration: we worked regularly with the then owners of the various plots of land to bring them around the table. We drew up, consulted on, and adopted outline plans for the area, declared the canal-side a conservation area, ensured that the developments now built – Brentford Lock, Holland Gardens, Ferry Quays - went ahead with the best possible benefit for the town, ensured that the council-owned premises were let at rates that were viable to small businesses, supported the farmers market, brought several millions of SRB funds to finance improvements on the High Street – street furniture, lighting, signage, planting etc, and allowed High Streeet premises to be used for social enterprise and/or youth facilities such as TAHSA. Initiated the Brentford Heritage signage and information paths.

35 years includes the development of Brentford Dock, but not I grant you, the main part of the High Street which happened in the 60’s. However, we did initiate and fund Watermans Arts Centre, supported the founding of the Steam Museum, the moving of the Musical museum, the development of Victoria Steps and the Ham residential boat moorings, developed (then later improved) Watermans Park, enabled affordable housing to be developed on the Ham and also include it as part of all the other housing developments. I initiated the development of the Brentford Community Resource Centre and worked with Age Concern too, which together meant the old Health Centre came back into use.

I may have left one or two items out for which I apologise. I also regret we couldn’t keep the Red Lion open – if you remember that.

Ruth
Cllr Ruth Cadbury