Forum Topic

Astounding - Blossom Day - how dare he!

From the front page - Blossom Day W4 joined by Mayor of Hounslow to plant cherry tree sapling!!!!!I am astounded how the hell has the Mayor Hounslow had the nerve to turn up planting a tree in Staveley Rd., Grove Park Chiswick!   Queen Mary insisted every year to be driven along Staveley Rd to view the beautiful mature flowering cherry trees.   She'd not be able to do that now - no one can travel the full length of what was a beautiful road ever again!   Hounslow Council have destroyed it with that ghastley barrier and traffic lights.   What a 2-faced hypocrite - it's unbelievable - who does the Mayor of Hounslow think he is even faintly impressing?   Well I suppose anything for a photo opportunity despite Hounslow Council's very best efforts at destroying our lovely Living Neighbourhood!  

Jennifer Selig ● 2152d28 Comments

I presume he forewent the Mayorial limo and he and his retinue all arrived by bike shovels at the ready!

Jennifer Selig ● 2152d

They just keep getting it wrong don’t they

Maggie Dodge ● 2152d

Cherry blossom trees seem to be a bit controversial in W4. There is a cherry blossom tree currently flowering at the end of the road. Is that usual?

Stewart Jones ● 2152d

Jennifer, your senility is showing! The article you refer to reveals that the local Chiswick group that invited the mayor to plant the cherry tree is one that has the full support of your local Conservative councillors. If the mayor had turned down the invitation they would have been entitled to criticise him for failing to support a local event in Chiswick. As to his transport, there is no longer a mayoral car in Hounslow. I am fairly certain Tony Louki will have made his way to the planting event in as economical a way as possible.Instead of criticising someone who has undertaken a civic duty in exactly the manner in which any civic mayor would be expected, why not congratulate him for doing the job he was appointed to do with due diligence?  Or are you too bitter and twisted in your prejudices to realise this is the case?

John Connelly ● 2152d

Did you mean to write the Queen Mother rather than Queen Mary?

Andrew Jones ● 2152d

Andrew Jones asked:"Did you mean to write the Queen Mother rather than Queen Mary?"No it was Queen Mary who was a regular visitor to Chiswick House on account of George V having oftenvisited there as a child.Three other facts about Queen Mary in descending orderof credibility. 1. Before her hair turned white Queen Mary had curly ginger hair. Just like Prince Harry in fact.2. She was formerly Princess Mary of Teck and neverquite lost her German accent. So she pronouncedDaimler as Diemler. Although quite why she should haveknown anything about cars is another matter.3. Before a visit, house owners had to hide away any small valuables, to which QM might take a shine.As it was considered good manners to offersuch things to her as a gift. Which she ratherunsportingly accepted rather too often.michael adams... 

Michael Adams ● 2152d

Seriously? WHat would you have a public official do when invited to undertake a civic duty? Reject, and be accused of ignoring Chiswick?LBH are certainly not perfect, and I am no fan of theirs, but there is, it seems, a cabal of loud voices on this forum who will pile on to anything LBH related.

Chris Jenkins ● 2151d

As he will be round the corner could be please bring the parts needed to fix the boiler in New Chiswick Pool.Now that would be a good use of time.

Adrian Irving ● 2151d

At least he was planting a blossom tree instead of stopping it.

Matthew Swain ● 2151d

Fix the leaking roof before landscaping the garden is how I have been brought up.

Adrian Irving ● 2151d

It was Queen Mary, maybe the old Queen mum continued the practice.  Good no one else would like to do it.  Presume the local C.Councillors must have asked the Mayor to plant this sapling long before the Covid problems in an effort to intergrate more with Hounslow Council.  Let's hope that now the Mayor can go back and tell the Council what a cock-up they've created here throughout W4, not just in Grove Park.

Jennifer Selig ● 2151d

As Michael said...Queen Mary visited the area / road often. Her husband George V used to visit CH...as his Dad (the future Edward VII) used to live there. (freemasons all...but that's another subject!)

Jim Lawes ● 2151d

Thank you all for that

Andrew Jones ● 2151d

So, no apology for your bogus allegations against the mayor then? Clearly still in la la land.

John Connelly ● 2151d

John Connolly opined:" Jennifer, your senility is showing! "As is your lack of basic good manners. Everyone grows old eventually, even your sworn political opponents.Or perhaps you hadn't noticed ? John Connolly further suggested :" As to his transport, there is no longer a mayoral car in Hounslow."Are you saying that the mayor himself is lying, then ?quote:the 59-year-old has pledged to leave the limo at home and use public transport instead.Mr Louki said it was an honour and a privilege to accept the role.I shall also, bar the odd barbecue, do my very best to be carbon minimal: public transport, electric or hybrid pool car and, unless circumstances prevent, minimal Mayoral limo use."unquote:https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/new-hounslow-mayor-vows-ditch-16325378"Leaving the limo at home" and "minimal Mayoral limo use" would seem to suggest that your claim that "there is no longer a mayoral car in Hounslow" is in fact, incorrect. Not to put it rather more strongly.michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 2151d

Natch!  I'm not just disabled, infuriating as that is, but getting dafter by the hour - wallowing in la la land created by no other than our lovely Council!  Tried to cycle but keep falling off, can't seem nowadays to get my balance right.  What with potholes and slimey leaf-filled gutters/cycle lanes, they're handicaps - as is the oxygen machine; a bloody nuisance but essential.  As for the backpack of phamaceuticals vying with the swinging bag of groceries - life ain't easy - have had to give up the white stick - just too much!  Life's a blast, such jolly fun innit.

Jennifer Selig ● 2150d

Jennifer, thing is before the car there were horse and cart, they now want cars to disappear with nothing to replace them for those that rely on them,even going to the expense of EV's has been ignored.

Janice Evans ● 2150d

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-8540469/Electric-vehicles-CHEAPER-petrol-cars.htmlI don't think that is the case.  There was a fuel tax introduced at one time to try and discourage car use but that was lobbied against just as any changes now are being lobbied against.  Scientists told Govt more than thirty years ago that there was a problem but our electoral system and the desire for power and to keep power has meant no Govt wants to make itself unpopular with the electorate.My uncle had a mobility scooter that looked like something from Easy Rider and that was electric.  I think those give people a lot of freedom.  In Soho I've seen an electric wheelchair being driven around by someone on oxygen.

Philippa Bond ● 2149d

Correct me if I am wrong (I am sure I will be), but isn't the new cherry tree (planted by the mayor) a replacement for a 'white blossom' cherry tree that was mistakenly planted last year? It's a bloomin' outrage!! I also hope that the inappropriate ‘white blossom’ cherry tree has been found a new home.

Jonathan Simpson ● 2149d

Personally, now that we have left the EU and will be basking in sunny uplands  I think all the cherry trees should ripped out, put on a bonfire (along with wads of EU regulations) and replaced with palm trees that would sway gently in a warm zephyr.

Adrian Irving ● 2149d

No - they keep getting it right:https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/10/air-pollution-roars-back-in-parts-of-uk-raising-covid-fearsoh and Hounslow's current Mayor very rarely uses his Mayoral privilege w transport.

Ruth Mayorcas ● 2149d

Hi Philippa, yes mobility vehicles are in use for those that are registered disabled, of course there are many others who have limited mobilityAnd not registered as so.  There is no in-between, there is a wide gap that needs filling.

Janice Evans ● 2148d

JaniceIf you suffer from a health condition that restricts your mobility and you are not registered disabled, you can get the VAT taken off the purchase of a mobility scooter by filling in a short form declaring what the person suffers from.I know a purchase will still be to much for some, but there are some very low priced scooters about.There also the sad fact that there are many for sale second hand after the ordinal person has paid between £1500 To £2500 new, are for sale for £500. On eBay and other sales websites. The depreciation on a scooter is terrible the reason that some people don’t by them . The only way you win is if you have been awarded PIP and have one supplied through them for losing part of your benefit.

Bernard Allen ● 2147d

Bernard, thanks but I'm not in need and hope not to be, my husband was Disabled due to an accident, he had a disabled badge but as you improve they take it away even though you still need that help, it takes a long struggle to get it back so I fully understand the difficulties some have,Also some people have to carry in medicines with them that have to be keep cool at A certain temperature so a car is still necessary for the cool box.  Also just being elderly like my neighbour limits mobility but notdisabled as such.  So think we need something like very small enclosed and secure E.V to enable others to get around.  The small open E.Vs are not suitable or secure for any medicines to be left inside.

Janice Evans ● 2147d

JaniceHow about one of these a full cabin mobility scooter https://www.careco.co.uk/item-s-ms03079/abilize-kondor-cabin-scooter/

Bernard Allen ● 2147d

Bernard, like it, quite expensive, was thinking more like a car and for those that need someone with them, take passenger and wheelchair, next stage up, that is fine for one disabled person.  You will be thinking just get a car but I'm thinking more like a golf buggy type thing enclosed andSecure.

Janice Evans ● 2146d

You can get mobility scooters that take two people, either in tandem or side by side.But like anything good, there are not allowed in the UK, although you can by them here, you wont find many places where you can use it.Also the still only travel at 8 mph which isn't a lot of good for a longer journey on the roads.I was thinking of buying a milk float, or as you say a golf trolley, but i found problems with them.

Bernard Allen ● 2146d

This is where the gap is, they need something with a speed and rangeSimilar to golf buggy or as you say milk float, did laugh but yes there isa gap in the market.

Janice Evans ● 2146d