People voiced their anger at a meeting over plans to build a 32-storey tower at Chiswick Roundabout.
Concerned residents from Brentford and Chiswick including members of West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society (WCGS), Kew Residents Association and Brentford Community Council attended the meeting at Chiswick Memorial Hall on Wednesday (January 27).
Around 90 people piled into the hall with some describing the new building plans as “ghastly” and “unsightly”.
Among them was Marie Rabouhans chairman of WCGS who spoke at the meeting to urge everyone to respond to the planning application and highlighted some key issues:
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an unsuitable site for homes as the area is highly polluted and already grid-locked therefore should be non-residential
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pressure on traffic and public transport
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height of the building and media screens for advertising have a negative impact on surrounding heritage and low-rise residential areas - bulk of building should be between 30 to 48m and screen reduced in size
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lack of infrastructure - so much major development already built or in the pipeline on the Brentford - Chiswick border, there needs to be infrastructure catch-up before allowing any more developments. It should not be built until necessary infrastructure is in place.
'We need a full stop not an exclamation mark'
Ms Rabouhans said: “The essence and spirit of a place - an open skyline, a river view – a sense of home – are precious; they are treasures to be cherished – not trashed.
“All these issues are relevant to current consultation on the Great West Corridor.
“The Chiswick Roundabout is the gateway to Chiswick town centre. What we need at the end of the “Golden Mile” is a full stop not an exclamation mark.”
The meeting was chaired by Turnham Green ward councillors Peter Thompson, Adrian Lee and Samantha Davies who have opposed plans and branded the building a “monstrosity”, following the planning application submission made in December last year.
The proposals submitted by Starbones Limited to Hounslow council are for a mixed-use development including 320 new homes complete with shops and office space.
Tony Arbour Assembly Member for South West London who was also at the meeting, said: “Having this enormous tower to be seen for miles around sitting right next to a busy motorway and roundabout with record levels of pollution is just madness.
“Added to that, if Heathrow went ahead, it would not only make life intolerable for those living inside the new offices and flats but also for residents having to deal with more noise, more traffic and more people in and out of Chiswick”.
Residents have until February 1 to share their views on the plans.
To sign up to the campaign email list to stay up to date with development and further rallies planned email adrian_adrianlee@yahoo.co.uk or peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk
There are also plans to build 95 flats with retail space at Wheatstone House on Chiswick High Road.
