August 2010

Welcome to the August 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 then you will find a link below that will unsubscribe you.

Apologies for the lack of a bulletin last month and the short bulletin this month. The day job and a couple of health things have caught up with me – I’ll try and resume normal service soon! However there are a couple of things worth sharing, starting with football.

* New season here *

The football season started on Saturday and Brentford FC have their first home match tonight, Tuesday 9th August. Below you’ll find a list of fixtures to print out and stick on the fridge. Please be aware that cup ties, television and bad weather can alter fixture dates so please visit www.brentfordfc.co.uk if you need to be sure that there isn’t a game on a particular day.

Here are those fixtures:

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 Brentford v Cheltenham, 19:45
Saturday, 14 August 2010 Brentford v Walsall, 15:00
Saturday, 28 August 2010 Brentford v Rochdale, 15:00
Sunday, 5 September 2010 Brentford v Sheff Wed, 12:00
Saturday, 18 September 2010 Brentford v Hartlepool, 15:00
Saturday, 2 October 2010 Brentford v Charlton, 15:00
Saturday, 9 October 2010 Brentford v Oldham, 15:00
Saturday, 23 October 2010 Brentford v Peterborough, 15:00
Tuesday, 2 November 2010 Brentford v Bournemouth, 19:45
Saturday, 13 November 2010 Brentford v MK Dons, 15:00
Saturday, 4 December 2010 Brentford v Notts County, 15:00
Saturday, 18 December 2010 Brentford v Huddersfield, 15:00
Tuesday, 28 December 2010 Brentford v Tranmere, 15:00
Saturday, 1 January 2011 Brentford v Dag & Red, 15:00
Saturday, 15 January 2011 Brentford v Exeter, 15:00
Saturday, 29 January 2011 Brentford v Yeovil, 15:00
Saturday, 5 February 2011 Brentford v Plymouth, 15:00
Saturday, 26 February 2011 Brentford v Bristol Rovers, 15:00
Tuesday, 8 March 2011 Brentford v Brighton, 19:45
Saturday, 19 March 2011 Brentford v Leyton Orient, 15:00
Friday, 25 March 2011 Brentford v Carlisle, 19:45
Saturday, 9 April 2011 Brentford v Swindon, 15:00
Friday, 22 April 2011 Brentford v Colchester, 15:00
Saturday, 30 April 2011 Brentford v Southampton, 15:00

A couple of things that may be of interest to people living around the ground. Firstly parking: traffic engineers are working out the possibility of introducing a parking scheme around the ground for match days. There are some difficulties to overcome here, not least who pays for it, but it’s a study that needs to be done.

Secondly, a follow up to the very limited and isolated trouble that occurred around the recent friendly match with Fulham and, also, after the last couple of matches of last season.

Firstly, I don’t want anyone to think that this was a mass outbreak of hooliganism or anything like that. Yes, there were a couple of local incidents and that’s a couple too many. Anyway, I met with the police Safer Neighbourhood Team, the police officer in charge of match day policing, local residents and the Club a couple of weeks ago. There is no doubt that the Club are serious about nipping this problem in the bud, promising a zero tolerance policy.

One of the tools is an Exclusion Order, which prevents identified individuals from going within a mile and a half of Griffin Park on match days. The Club have also agreed to place prominent notices in the programme saying that trouble makers will be strongly dealt with, including bans from the ground. They are aware that a good reputation takes years to build and moments to lose.

If you do notice any trouble, please do report it. If it’s a crime happening in front of you, then it’s always 999. Other than that, feel free to pass any info to me and I will forward it to the relevant officer. It’s vital to know times and places, and bear in mind that young men on their way to and from football matches may be a little louder than commuters doing the same trip.

* What’s in a name? *

You may recall that planning permission was granted earlier this year for the site by Kew Bridge. I was contacted recently by the Council’s Parking and Developments Team, who co-ordinate the names for new buildings and roads, in regard to what the development should be called. They had some suggestions but I’m not sure about them and I would be interested to hear if you have better suggestions.

The developers prefer the name ‘Kew Bridge House/Court’ which will win few prizes for originality. The local library service advise on these matters and prefer Thomas Layton House. Thomas Layton was a famous Brentonian (check out www.ThomasLayton.org.uk) but we already have a Layton Road and I fear confusion, speaking as someone who still gets cabs and pizzas that should be being delivered to Ealing Roads as far away as Alperton (I make sure that the cabs are redirected properly).

Other notables are celebrated elsewhere in places like the Haverfield Estate and Tunstall Walk. So if you have a suggestion for a name and can send it to me along with a brief explanation by the end of this week, that would be excellent.

* Volunteers wanted *

I have been approached by the Brentford Community Resource Centre, the former GP surgery near Morrison’s, who are seeking new Trustees. The building houses a number of volunteer organisations and seeks people with an interest in community development activities and a small amount of time to spend. The minimum required is to attend a management meeting once a month. This is usually on Monday evening and lasts from 6:30 pm to approx 8:30 pm.

If you’d like more information or think you can help, please let me know and I will pass on details.

* A4 update *

Readers may recall previous items about our attempts to make the A4 a safer place to cross or walk alongside. I’m hoping that we will have some solid news on this at a public meeting to be held on Thursday 2nd September at the Free Church near the library. If the news is good I will send out an email a few days before, as I think it would be helpful to have a room full of concerned parents and other road users. Unfortunately, the work has taken longer than I was originally told it would take, but the will is still there to try and resolve this problem.

* A diary date *

Please put the Brentford Festival in your diaries – 5th September from midday. I’ll be on the Labour Councillors’ stall, please do come over and say hallo.

* Can I help? *

As a councillor, my first task is to try and assist residents with problems. Please get in touch if you think I can help, either by replying to this mail or calling 020 8560 7033.

In the meantime, thanks for reading and I hope that you are having a peaceful August.