January 2009 Newsletter

Hallo from Councillor Matt Harmer

You are reading the first email bulletin from Brentford ward councillor Matt Harmer. You’re getting it because we have communicated on local issues. If you would prefer not to receive these bulletins – which I hope to send every few weeks – then you will find a link that below that will unsubscribe you.

*A4 Safety*
In the Autumn, residents alerted my colleague Cllr Ruth Cadbury and myself to the dangerous nature of the crossings over the A4 in Brentford. Parents at Lionel and Our Lady & St John’s Schools kindly helped compile a petition calling for action on this problem. The petitions contained nearly 500 signatures.

I presented the petition to the Mayor at December’s meeting of the borough council. I have had written assurance that council officers will assist where they can and I intend to insist that they do. The A4 itself is operated by Transport for London. I met with TfL engineers just before Christmas and they acknowledged that the crossings are far from ideal. They tell me that accident figures for Brentford junctions are lower than elsewhere in the Borough.

After the petitions were started, a fatal accident occurred on one of the A4 cycle paths. This tragic event demonstrates that work needs to be done to make the A4 safer.

I have been asked to set up an online petition for A4 improvements by cycle groups and it can be found at http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/24413.html. Please sign it if you have not already done so.

*Can I help?*
As a councillor, my first job is to do what I can to help residents. If you think that there is something I can assist with, let me know. Email me on matt@mattharmer.com or call 020 8560 7033. Please feel free to forward this to friends and neighbours who may need some help.

*Litter*
In November, a new contractor started collecting refuse and recycling. My colleague Ruth Cadbury and I have both had a number of complaints about the state of roads after the vehicles have visited. If you believe that the service has declined then let me know and, together, we can hold the council to account and ensure that residents get value for money for their council tax.

*Gunnersbury Park*
You may have read in the press about the possibility of building on parts of Gunnersbury Park. I sit on the Regeneration Board and am committed to ensuring that improvements to the Park do not come at the cost of destroying any of this vital resource.

*Brentford FC*
Plans for Brentford FC’s new community stadium at Lionel Road are progressing well. As a neighbour of Griffin Park I’ll miss having football on the doorstep but the club need a new home to keep them competitive. Things are going well this season and with family tickets (two adults and three children) for only £20, it’s a great time to follow BFC.

For ticket info call 0845 3456 442.

*Anything to report?*
I’m always keen to follow up any issues you may have. Let me know by replying to this mail or calling 020 8560 7033. You can also take a look at www.mattharmer.com. If you have a residents association or other society and would like me to pay a visit then please let me know.

*Thanks for reading!*
Email is a great way of staying in touch and I hope that this update has been interesting. Talk soon!

Matt

Councillor Matt Harmer
Brentford ward Labour councillor
London Borough of Hounslow