11:08am Friday 28th May 2004
COUNCIL owned garage space could be sold off to developers in plans that are driving local residents round the bend.
The possibility of the sale came to light when a developer put in planing permission for an extension to an existing property on Algar Road, Isleworth, along with plans to build four two-bedroom houses. It is believed the developer has entered into discussions with Hounslow Council to buy the four garages and accompanying land adjacent to his own plot. Residents have been sent consultation questionnaires but are outraged that they have not been given the opportunity to buy the garages themselves.
Algar Road is lined with terraced houses and residents have to park their cars on the street. It is not a controlled parking zone and, located close to a school and shops, often fills up with non-residents' cars.
Resident Joanne Zorian-Lynn said: "Shoppers and parents picking up children mean it can be hard for residents to get a place. Lorries can't get down here without taking a wing mirror with them. We need all the space we can get."
She added: "In 1973 the council owned 25 per cent of the houses in the area and allocated car parking spaces to residents. If they had the common sense in 1973 to provide spaces why is it now desirable to dissect this area?
"If the council are selling something off it should be the local residents who have the option to buy before the developers."
The garages are currently tenanted by some of the road's residents. If the developer purchases the land it is believed he will either use the garages for the new properties or will knock the buildings down to create garden space for more marketable homes. Either way those who currently lease the garages will lose their coveted parking spaces.
John Daniels, secretary of the Four Roads Residents Association, sees either scheme as a blight on the area: "I am against the possibility of selling that land and most of the people in the area can only see a loss to the community if that land is sold. I understand that the borough is selling off pockets of land but this shouldn't be to the detriment of the residents. We are tax payers after all."
Residents are also concerned that a fair consultation has not been carried out as those living on Algar Close, which is land locked by Algar Road, did not receive a questionnaire.
However, a spokesperson for the council was adamant that the land would not be sold without a full consultation: "We have been approached by the developers but no decision to sell has been made.
"We always consult with residents on any sales of public land."
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