It would be useful to go back to the origins of this post and hope that those in the twitter sphere start to appreciate that facts, laws and democracy do matter. A meeting was held at the George IV Pub on 10 October to discuss the future of markets on Chiswick High Road as it still is. The event was advertised about the future of markets at “Old Market Place” and reported as such by the Chiswick Calendar. That report clearly set out that there was support for the Flower Market, but less for the Cheese and Antiques market. There were strong observations that more needed to be done on consultation involving Residents Associations and more, and that Councillor Gerald McGregor pointed out that the putting up of signs “Old Market Place” was both illegal and not smart. The signs have come down for that reason. From simple research Councillor Gerald McGregor is indeed correct. Firstly, the area has never been named “Old Market Place”, Chiswick never had a royal charter for a market, Brentford did and to this day has a road named “Market Place”. For those interested Brentford market Royal Charter was “granted 23 Dec 1306, by K Edw I to Ps and N of St Helen’s, London. To be held at the manor of ‘Braynford’”. You can look up “ye olde” facts in Gazetteers under Brentford. Secondly, in naming roads etc, or re-numbering great care needs to be taken. A formal process needs to be followed. The Royal Mail, Emergency Services and Ward Councillors along with businesses and residents all need to be formally and fully consulted. This must be done and cannot be bypassed. It had not been done. LBHs guidance says “Please note that you are not allowed to erect street signs or nameplates on publicly adopted highway or footway under any circumstance”. Further, if deemed advertising in contravention of the regulations, a person is liable on summary conviction of an offence under section 224(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The maximum fine is currently £2500. So as Councillor Gerald McGregor said it is illegal. What is now odd, is that from the twitter sphere, people are implying that the organisers of the markets had renamed the area. They hadn’t - it remains Chiswick High Road. No official gazetteer has that name on record, no A to Z has that name, no LBH street sign map has that name, no internet map has that street name and all the properties, such as the George IV register their address to Chiswick High Road. Law is important in a democracy and needs to be adhered to. As noted, some good work had started on what improvements could look like, with an appropriate reduction in parking from 52 to 44 spaces, but much wider Chiswick consultation is needed on many matters, how many markets and what type and how big are just some. Should the area be renamed, maybe, maybe not and great care needs to be taken and residents and businesses need a say. There have already been some suggestions and a competition could be run. There is no anger as the people on Twitter suggest, people want a democracy that is adhered to and follows the law. That is all Cllr Gerald McGregor was saying, as reported by the Chiswick Calendar.
Jonathan Mabbutt ● 553d