Growing population is putting ever greater pressure on the education and health systems in Brentford and the surrounding area.

For the past six years, whilst the Brentford Area Action Plan was being developed, the Brentford Community Council highlighted the pressure that new housing developments would put on infrastructure.  The local Liberal Democrats have supported these calls, working with successive Chairs of the Local Area Committee to ensure that the relevant agencies are held to account. 

SCHOOLS

We were disappointed by the process that led to decisions on recent primary school expansions in Brentford.  Such significant decisions must in future involve parents and local councillors far more.  Andrew has called on Hounslow’s Director of Education to improve local consultation and involvement in decisions around any further expansion of primary schools and the development of proposals for a secondary school.  He is currently supporting the search for a site for a new secondary school in the area.

HEALTHCARE

From 2006-8 we struggled to make progress with persuading NHS Hounslow (formerly known as Hounslow PCT) to increase GP capacity in Brentford.  In fact at times they did not seem to even know how many GPs they employed! 

In 2008 Andrew supported a ’scrutiny’ project to look at the future health infrastructure needs across the borough.   During the same year the Department of Health agreed to provide more funding for two GP practices in the borough, one of which is meant to be in Brentford.