Developers have come under fire for refusing to meet MP Mary Macleod ahead of tomorrow's crunch meeting which could decide the future of Brentford.
Ballymore's controversial plans to redevelop the south side of Brentford High Street are set to go before Hounslow Council's planning committee tomorrow night.
Such is the level of interest in the scheme, the meeting will be held in the vast Lampton Park Conference Centre rather than the smaller committee rooms upstairs as usual.
The developer believes its plans to build nearly 900 homes, double the existing retail floor space and create a new arts centre will help breathe new life into the long-neglected waterside stretch.
But critics have accused them of being unimaginative and reflecting the area's past architectural blunders rather than its best features.
Brentford and Isleworth MP Mary Macleod said she had requested another meeting with Ballymore to raise people's concerns and questions about the project, only to be told it was 'not appropriate' to re-engage in public debate at this late stage.
"I am disappointed Ballymore has refused to meet me and local people so I can bring to their attention the concerns some residents have with the plans," she said.
"There are many unanswered questions which residents have spoken to me about. I would, therefore, encourage everyone who wants to have their points of view heard to attend the planning meeting."
A spokesman for Ballymore said: "We're really pleased with the overwhelming support from nearly 700 people for our scheme, recognised by the council's report, which far exceeds the number of objections.
"We’re sorry we weren't able to make that specific meeting at that particular time, but we can assure local people that we will be speaking with councillors and officers at Hounslow to continue to engage properly on the next stage."
Ms Macleod's comments followed the publication of a YouTube video criticising the existing plans and outlining an alternative 'community vision' for the area.
The short film, narrated by TV antiques expert Tom Keane, who lives in Brentford, describes the proposed buildings as 70s style high rise concrete blocks, which would lead to overcrowding and a lack of sunlight.
It calls for a working group of residents to be set up to help architects radically revise the plans over the next six months.
* A decision on Ballymore's plans for the south side of Brentford High Street will be made at the planning committee meeting tomorrow (Thursday, November 27) at 7.30pm at the Lampton Park Conference Centre, in Hounslow Civic Centre, Lampton Road Hounslow.
