Forum Topic

Do you want Labour Councillors representing Chiswick  ?

If you don't, and I certainly dont, vote Conservative. Whilst I've thought about voting Green and Lib Dems, I believe, although I maybe wrong, that would be a wasted vote much the same as spoiling your Ballot Paper.All of Chiswicks Conservative Councillors have worked long and hard and objected to unpopular schemes implemented by the Labour Cabinet at Hounslow House. They deserve your votes and the residents and businesses in Chiswick deserve to have our voices heard and that won't happen if Labour Councillors are voted in on 5th May.Tin hat at the ready...

Loraine Pemberton ● 1603d97 Comments

All I can say is I happen to know my Conservative Ward councillors - who have helped on a number of issues not least the LTNs.  No idea who the other candidates are, none have even bothered to deliver flyers?

Diana Claridge ● 1603d

We all know what Labour stands for locally . More road closures, more cycle lanes, less parking. If that’s even possible in Chiswick. The markets near the old Police Station take away a valuable parking area. Also behind M&S I noticed the flower lorries get full use of that small car park. I’d like to see these markets moved to areas that don’t allow them to steal parking. Or they should not happen! Some people need to be told ‘no’ like small children. It’s important to their ability to mix with others. I think when you’ve got friends in Council offices everything become possible for a small minority. I’ll vote for the people who’ve promised to bring back sanity to Chiswick and that’s not Labour. They’re the ones who allowed a small group to control them and the residents of this once lovely place

Maggie Dodge ● 1603d

If the polls are right, and I think they are because they mark a continuation of a trend we have been seeing since 2016, then only a low turnout will save our local Conservative councillors. Hoping people won't vote is not a sound basis for a political movement. There is probably a majority of people in at least two of the Chiswick wards with a moderately right of centre view. However, they are also pro-European, pro-business, not obsessed with immigration and genuinely concerned about standards in government.Since the Brexit vote there appears to have been substantial UKIP entryism in the Tory party across the country and a corrupt and inept leadership has been pursuing populist policies in the mistaken belief that this will enable their survival. At the same time they are making a virtue of actively discriminating against London and starving our public transport system of investment which will have very negative long term consequences.At this stage there seems to be very little chance that the Tories can defend Chiswick Gunnersbury but if they lose seats in other wards then the only way back may be disaffiliation from the national party. Given the low quality of the current crop of MPs and Ministers and the in built prejudices of a majority of the parties members, the Conservative Party may be doomed. Macron has shown what can be done, and although the system is different, this has to be a template for what local conservatives do next.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1603d

I live in Chiswick Gunnersbury, I’m not usually a Tory voter but I’m going to vote Tory this time in the hope I can help ‘stick it’ to Hounslow Labour as it were.

Michael David Rowe ● 1603d

Michael, you're spot on !

Loraine Pemberton ● 1603d

Is it Hanif Khan in Gunnersbury

Maggie Dodge ● 1603d

Hanif Khan is the reason to vote for anyone else. He has blighted our wonderful community with his politically motivated and brainless, road schemes.

Andy Jacobs ● 1603d

Andy, completely agree,  that's why we need to vote to retain our Conservative Councillors

Loraine Pemberton ● 1603d

The road schemes were instigated by Conservative Central office because the Conservative Govt was taken to the High Court and lost several times over the illegally high air pollution in the UK together with the Climate Emergency and the need to reduce green house gases and Govt's plan to do so.  Chiswick is part of a bigger world like it or not.  With such an emergency divisive party politics is very unhelpful.  It's a challenge that all parties have to face.  It will still be there whoever wins.

Philippa Bond ● 1603d

There is a reasonable theory that if there are Labour Councillors they will speak for Chiswick at the highest level. But in reality, the last time there Labour Councillors in Turnham Green, they were either shocked to be there or spent their time looking for safe seats in other parts of Hounslow.  Like most people I know, I don’t want Hanif Khan as my Councillor based on his record. If that were to happen, I expect he would decamp the minute he found a safer seat.  And we then run the risk of losing some of the most committed Conservative Councillors we have ever had.

Jackie Elton ● 1603d

Philippa, other Conservative Councils have seen sense and scrap the cyclelanes, although I'm not opposed to them I think they should have been both sides of the High Road even on the path to at least keep the buses moving,Not much has been done to encourage us to leave the car at home whichis a great shame it could have been better.

Janice Evans ● 1603d

While you are right about the Conservatives instigating these schemes I don't think it directly has much to do with a desire to reduce air pollution. The schemes, particularly in London, are driven by Boris Johnson's advisor Andrew Gilligan who wanted to initiate many of them when he worked for Johnson when he was Mayor of London. This includes Cycleway 9.While I think it will be very bad news for Chiswick to lose its current crop of councillors and I suspect that many of the Labour candidates were put forward as place holders because it was never anticipated that they had a realistic chance of taking seats particularly in Chiswick Riverside and Chiswick Homefields (the exception would be Mel Collins who will be a real asset to his constituents) if you are opposed to the current Streetpace schemes, voting Conservative may not be a good idea.The article in the newsletter this weekend raised the very important point that the last local elections were a good result for Labour so the number of potential targets they have is not that high. Johnson may be able to spin the results this week as being acceptable and carry on with the nonsense line that he should not be replaced during a war. The lack of an obvious successor means he might just hang on.However, if he stays, Gilligan stays and so does the current thrust of government policy which ultimately determines what local authorities can do. Some symbolically important defeats for the Conservatives which could include a wipeout of all their councillors in Hounslow and Ealing, could tip the balance against Johnson and Gilligan.Perversely therefore the best way to get a change of policy in Hounslow may be to vote against councillors who are demanding this change. Personally I think you should vote for councillors on the basis of their individual merits and case work record but if you think Streetspace and Cycleway 9 is the issue of overriding importance in this election then voting Labour might be the quickest way to get what you want.

Francis Rowe ● 1603d

The markets are on a Sunday aren't they? There is plenty more parking available in the nearby streets on a Sunday e.g. Glebe Estate that isn't available during the week which more than makes up for the loss of parking near the Police station.And the market brings people into the area.

Andrew Jones ● 1603d

We've had Tory councillors for a million years and all they have done is oppose.They have achieved nothing. No matter how "hard working" they have claimed to be.If we'd had Labour councillors - the LTN schemes would still have gone ahead but we'd have had a local voice that wouldn't have just been ridiculed. They would have been listened to and the schemes would have been better.The only achievement by our Tory councillors in the South Chiswick LTN was a sign stopping local residents turning right by Cllr Sam Hearn's house.The cycleway on CHR would have still gone ahead but the idiotic "not one tree not one inch of pavement" campaign would have given way to something more collaborative that kept the bus lane & sacrificed pavement that none of us uses.Banging your head against a brick wall over and over again just gives you a head ache - the wall will still be there.Time for change.

Richard Potts ● 1603d

If you feel that "defending" the right to drive is of paramount importance, and that the Tories are championing that (how? it's not like they've had great successes, apart from the Devonshire road backpedalling), then all the more power to you.Personally, I think it's high time to show BoJo and his group the door. Just this past month:02 April - Tory MP David Warburton has whip suspended for alleged sexual assault and drug use11 April - Tory MP Imran Khan guilty of child sex assault13 April - Tory MP Boris Johnson fined for breaching public health laws13 April - Tory MP Rishi Sunak fined for breaching public health laws17 April - Tory MP Andrew Bridgen “Lied under oath"28 April - Tory MP Jamie Wallis charged with careless driving & not reporting crash29 April - Tory MP Neil Parish suspended for allegedly watching porn in ParliamentLying, sexual assault, various crimes. And this is in addition to bullying, blatant lying, illegal disposal of funds, allowing the discharge of raw sewage in the Thames and elsewhere, sexism and of course Brexit. Sure, it's all at central level, but the party is one, and by being members of that party it means to me that our local councillors are subscribing the message that comes out of Whitehall. I won't be voting for them.

Francis Sheehan ● 1603d

Personally, to lose councillor Biddulph would be a gargantuan, loss toChiswick. 😇

James Dow ● 1603d

Francis, how many of those named are standing for election to Hounslow Council?If you give the correct answer, which is of course, "None & I'm badly conflating national and local politics" then you've made an entirely pointless post.FWIW, the horrifically thought out road schemes in Chiswick would likely have gone ahead regardless of the rosette colour of the controlling party, because they're a pet scheme of Boris's adviser, not because they're actually effective at getting people onto bikes.It might have been nice for our elected public servants to listen to councillors of the local area, regardless of their party, who can bring local intelligence to bear, rather than taking the somewhat high-handed, we know best (& are definitely not biased, no matter how long we've been members of HCC) approach that has delivered a badly implemented CS9. But I guess that wasn't a priority for the last administration.

Mark Warburton ● 1603d

MarkIt doesn't, and shouldn't matter that none of those people are standing for election to Hounslow Council, at least in my opinion.They are in the same party that condones rule-breaking, lying and bullying. A party that tries to save its own members when they've been found to be taking money in shady deals. There is something fundamentally wrong with with the Conservative party's culture, and culture percolates down very rapidly in my experience. As for making pointless posts... This is a forum, where people air their thoughts. I've aired mine. Agree with it, don't agree with it, but please respect my opinion. I don't agree one iota with the relentless anti-cycling posts coming from a very loud % of the contributors to this forum, but you don't see me calling their posts pointless.

Francis Sheehan ● 1603d

Francis is spot on.

Stewart Jones ● 1603d

"FWIW, the horrifically thought out road schemes in Chiswick would likely have gone ahead regardless of the rosette colour of the controlling party, because they're a pet scheme of Boris's adviser, not because they're actually effective at getting people onto bikes."Embankment has seen a massive uptake in cycling with it now carrying a higher proportion of people through the City than it did before the cycle lane was installed.For the HIgh Road we don't have counts immediately before and after C9 was opened to check if your claim might hold here, but we do have counts immediately before and after the section between Chiswick Lane and Goldhawk Road was closed.Comparing the four weeks before the closure with the four weeks after, sensor S64 on the High Road at the junction with Goldhawk Road gives weekday bike counts from 7 am to 7 pm dropping by more than 25% with the closure. For the same period nationally DfT gives a less than 10% difference in bike counts, so that drop on the High Road is unlikely to be due to the weather, but rather the temporary closure of C9. The greatest drop came from daytime, not commuter cycling, showing that C9 was most effective in encouraging people to cycle from 10 am to 4 pm. Comparing car counts there was a 7% increase on the High Road over the same period, though nationally car counts fell by 1%. As fewer people cycled, more people drove on the High Road.What data have you seen that suggests segregated cycle lanes have been ineffective in getting people onto bikes?

Tom Pike ● 1603d

"The markets near the old Police Station take away a valuable parking area."Killing the flower, antiques and cheese markets may not be the Tory vote winner you think it is!  https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/chiswick-flower-market-gets-double-page-spread-in-the-daily-telegraph/

Ed Saper ● 1603d

Nevertheless, it does appear that at least one councillor thinks an obstructionist stance will win votes:"The campaign has been hard fought in one ward in particular: Chiswick Gunnersbury (previously Turnham Green) where Conservative councillor Joanna Biddolph and LB Hounslow Cabinet Member Hanif Khan stand out."She, because over the past four years she has been as focused as an Exocet missile on her particular targets, usually trying to stop things: campaigning against the cycle lane, low traffic neighbourhoods and the planting of cherry trees on Turnham Green and raising objections to initiatives such as the Sunday markets."He because he was Cabinet Member for Transport, whose job it was to see install the cycle lane. For those who are still exercised by the cycle lane it does not matter how good a local councillor he has been in the west of the borough, or how experienced and influential he is as a Cabinet Member, Hanif Khan has had the door closed in his face, especially since the distribution of leaflets targeted against him personally. When he does get the chance, he talks about the improvements made to the cycle lane since its inception: safer access to buses and an increase in disabled bays."https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/thursdays-local-elections-in-chiswick-very-tight-say-candidates/

Tom Pike ● 1603d

It obviously does matter. Not one of those names will represent Hounslow in any way.Hence mentioning them is utterly, utterly irrelevant.There certainly seems to be something badly amiss within the Parliamentary Conservative Party at the moment & that will undoubtedly be percolating from the leader and his acolytes.The PCP is however, not the same beast as local politics, in exactly the same way the the PLP is not local Labour & that through the dark times of 2015-2020, there were still many fundamentally decent Labour Councillors, some of whom I'm happy to call personal friends.To draw an analogy for you, you have wholly incorrectly equated PCP to Local Conservatives, the equivalent would be people on this forum blaming motorcyclists for rule breaking by pedal cyclists - both things have two wheels, but they're not the same. That's what you're doing with respect to politics, so yes, I can say your opinion is incorrect & thus that the post in which you expressed is pointless. That there are many other somewhat pointless posts on many topics, does not negate that.

Mark Warburton ● 1602d

Tom, what percentage of overall journeys are made on bike now, what percentage were made on bikes pre-pandemic?2% or thereabouts isn't it? A solid 2% not going up, not going down.Individual areas of success do not mask the overall failure of pro-cycling policies to make cycling mass appeal. Nor does the Aldred-esque technique of comparing a tiny figure with a slightly less tiny figure and claiming a large increase, because 53 people using a bike is 6% larger than 50.TfL's published modal share figures are not showing significant increases in cycling.

Mark Warburton ● 1602d

Francis, aren't you confusing Central Government politics with local ones ? Seems clear to me and many others that Chiswicks Conservative Councillors disagreed with Johnson and Gilligan views on cycling infrastructure.Your penultimate paragraph has absolutely nothing to do with Chiswicks local Councillors, but you know that don't you ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1602d

On that stretch between Chiswick Lane and Goldhawk Road, the last manual count for bikes before the pandemic, gave a modal share of 11% of bikes as a fraction of bikes and cars. After C9 was opened, for the four weeks before it was closed temporarily, the modal share was 21%, so nearly doubling. For the four weeks after it was closed the modal share fell back to 16%.These are all weekday figures from 7am to 7 pm, from DfT point 36947 and TfL sensor location S64.

Tom Pike ● 1602d

Chiswick Calendar/Flower market are heavily linked. I don’t want to do away with the markets, I just want them moved 👍

Maggie Dodge ● 1602d

Surely the whole point is that the bring footfall into Chiswick High Road.  It was certainly busy the day when we came.

Philippa Bond ● 1602d

Southfield ward - North Chiswick in LBE which is part of Chiswick - Tory councillors have provided no info on what they believe in, what they stand for, what they will do, either through leaflets or anywhere online as far as I can see.  If they can't be bothered to do that,  I certainly can't be bothered to consider voting for them.  They may think it will fall to the LibDems as usual, and no wonder with that attitude.

Claire Moran ● 1602d

Loraine, it's not clear whether you are addressing Francis Sheehan or me but I'll answer anyway.Local and central government are closely intertwined and you can't fully separate them. The Conservative councillors may have disagreed with the policies of central government but they didn't manage to lobby effectively against them. This may have a lot to do with the messianic zeal of Gilligan and the lack of interest in local politics of Johnson. On the other hand it could have been that they felt there was an electoral advantage it trying to pin the blame on Labour for these policies.I would take issue with one of the points made by the other Francis. He has suggested that the corruption and incompetence of the leadership of the Conservatives has a tendency to percolate down. I see no evidence whatsoever of this happening with Chiswick councillors who bear little resemblance to the members of their party in Westminster.

Francis Rowe ● 1602d

The original argument was that by taking up parking spaces in The Old Market (a carpark 6 days out of 7), it hurts small businesses by reducing footfall as people can't drive to the shops.However, footfall substantially increased.  Which is a good thing for anyone who supported the markets or doubted them (usually!). 

Ed Saper ● 1602d

Indeed, footfall is significantly up on the High Road on market days

Tom Pike ● 1602d

"It's a challenge that all parties have to face.  It will still be there whoever wins."No it isn't. Richmond don't have any LTNs because it is blatantly clear that they cause radically increased pollution elsewhere.

Steve Taylor ● 1602d

"It might have been nice for our elected public servants to listen to councillors"Which public servants were 'elected' ?

Steve Taylor ● 1602d

“Individual areas of success do not mask the overall failure of pro-cycling policies to make cycling mass appeal.”Apologies, I overlooked that you apparently accepted that C9 has been a success, but were contrasting that with the broader picture.  First of all, given that it’s cities that bear the brunt of damage to health through pollution, it’s entirely reasonable to prioritise urban modal shift.  As seen, in Chiswick with C9, that shift has been significant and once we achieve a protected route from Brentford to the borders of Kensington that modal shift will only increase. We may well see cycle counts approach that of cars along C9 - they have already peaked at more than 50% on the High Road. Extending a network throughout London, and overcoming the intransigence of RBKC in the process, will help ensure that what we are already seeing in admittedly localised routes becomes the norm. Nationally, cycling has indeed until recently only seen a slow recovery after it fell to a minimum in the eighties.  However, the pandemic had boosted it significantly - the latest DfT figures show a 50% increase on prepandemic levels compared to car counts. How much is down to central government funding is more difficulty to say, though the messaging has been clear. It would now be extremely regressive to try to halt what is a local success story. In the end it will be a such local successes repeated ever more widely that will make a difference. Your criticism is valid, but the response is to push further, not pull back.

Tom Pike ● 1602d

"I see no evidence whatsoever of this happening with Chiswick councillors who bear little resemblance to the members of their party in Westminster."Francis, exactly  !

Loraine Pemberton ● 1602d

Itis as a departing member of the Tory Party said It is not me that has changed it is my party.

Philippa Bond ● 1602d

It is fair to assume that local councillors approve of their party leadership unless they say otherwise. However good they might be as local councillors, however hard they work, they belong to a party that has elected a proven liar as leader.

Stewart Jones ● 1602d

Using your own logic (flawed though it is) would also say all Russians agree with Putin invading Ukraine  ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1602d

If a Russian speaks out, they are imprisoned.

Tom Pike ● 1602d

Sorry Loraine, your analogy is also flawed.

Andrew Jones ● 1602d

By not speaking out against their leadership, it is not unreasonable to think that the three Chiswick councillors support it. They have had ample opportunity to clarify their positions during the campaign. I am unaware that any of them has taken the opportunity to do so.I think it is self-evident whose logic is flawed.

Stewart Jones ● 1602d

Exactly so Tom, and when our Conservative Councillors have spoken out against LBH's schemes they have been ignored ! You only have to read Cllr John Todd's blogs to know that

Loraine Pemberton ● 1602d

Of course that’s a crass comparison.  It’s also inaccurate: John has been much more willing to work across the political divide than some of the other Chiswick councillors, and as a result he is listened to.  His effectiveness is in stark contrast to councillors who have instead been deliberately misleading in their attacks on their opponents. It’s not obvious how this would help them gain leverage with the next administration, even if they were elected.

Tom Pike ● 1602d

In terms of flawed logic you have made a huge leap in assuming failure to criticise is the same as giving support. I don't know about all of the Chiswick councillors but, from what I have been told, most of them are the kind of people that will have been deeply unimpressed with what has been going on in the party at a national level.However, as local councillor it is perfectly reasonable for them to want to concentrate on local issues which is where they are strongest. If people are determined to use tomorrow's vote to make a point about national politics, it won't change much if the local Tories started criticising their leadership now. A large proportion of people voting won't know or care who their local councillor is but will want to express displeasure at the government.If that leads to all Conservative councillors losing their seats and their party continues on the populist road it has taken, even if Johnson is booted, they might find it difficult to re-establish themselves in Chiswick. With some of the best councillors likely to retire, the Liberal Democrats may finally take the opportunity to be the main opposition party and establish themselves as they have done in the Chiswick part of Ealing.The options for the Conservatives going forward therefore all look pretty unpalatable. They could stick with the current party but see their support continually eroded as it  continues to be anti-London, anti-business, anti-EU and anti-immigrant; they could look to join a centre right coalition of the kind Rory Stewart was hoping to create when he ran for Mayor or they could just join the Lib Dems as many London Conservatives have done.They may choose to stick it out, hoping they can save their party. The only way to do that in my view is end any involvement of the membership in the selection of the leader - this system has been the main reason for the degradation of the party.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1602d

"..they belong to a party that has elected a proven liar as leader."You could equally well say that we all belong to a country that has elected a proven liar as leader. Just as not all electors should be blamed for what you see as the government's failings, not all party members should be blamed for who leads their party. Local councillors deserve to be judged on how they do their job as local councillors.In local elections it is best to vote on local issues - and given the awful way that Labour has run LB Hounslow, any vote for Labour would just encourage them to do more of the same.

Richard Greenhough ● 1602d

People voluntarily choose to join a political party because presumably there is an interface between their personal beliefs and aspirations and the party they choose to join. If they remain in that party at whatever level without speaking out when the party is dogged by scandal and lies and lead by a man who lies then people, rightly or wrongly will draw their own conclusions. There are Conservative MPs who have spoken out. You know full well that people will not just take local issues into account when they vote in local elections however desirable that is.And Richard, the naming in a thread? Really?

Stewart Jones ● 1602d

I said it was a reasonable assumption to make bearing in mind that none of the candidates (to my knowledge) has commented on the matter of the moral vacuum that is their leader.As it happens, I think the councillors take a very dim view of Johnson but they are in a difficult position  of trying to get elected on local issues which they understand completely against a national picture where their chosen party is beset by difficulties.

Stewart Jones ● 1602d

If you don't like being named in a thread, take it up with Richard Cathcart, who does it all the time. Many people remained members of the Labour Party despite fundamentally disagreeing with the policies proposed under Jeremy Corbyn, and they included MPs who did not speak out for fear of being de-selected. Indeed, how many of LB Hounslow's Labour councillors spoke out against him ? Members of the Conservative Party who disagree with the present leadership need to remain members so they can vote for an alternative leader when the time comes. Resigning or allowing their membership to lapse would prevent them doing so. In the meantime, the alternative tomorrow is to vote for Chiswick's hard-working Conservative councillors or endorse the Labour clique who have been making a mess of running LB Hounslow. Don't vote Labour - it only encourages them.

Richard Greenhough ● 1602d

Some Councillors whatever their politics have and do really work hard for the greater good of local residents whatever their politics and can also see the bigger picture as time does not stand still.  Govt holds the purse strings.  Unfortunately that does not include all as some are sycophantic and/or self-serving.  I do wish that residents of all parties would ditch the Councillors who can't even be bothered to reply to their residents when asked for help or advised of difficulties with dealing with Councils (which is part of their job).  Hopefully this doesn't happen in Chiswick.

Philippa Bond ● 1602d

No, I’m taking it up with you as you named me and I really do not understand why,Interesting that  you justify your defence of Tory councillors who disapprove of their party leadership by  stating that Labour councillors etc did the same thing although Jeremy Corbyn never actually became PM (thankfully). The stakes are much higher when the Party with dysfunctional leadership is actually in power.

Stewart Jones ● 1602d

Local services should be run on an apolitical basis by the best people for the job.Ditto housing.My guess is things would get done with a long term strategy in mind and without any of this unproductive political back biting.

Adrian Irving ● 1602d

"..you named me and I really do not understand why.."To make it clear who I was replying to, given that your message with its flawed logic was some way back up the thread.As you really ought to know, local councillors have very little sway with the incumbent national party leadership in either of the two main parties; only MPs can force a change of leader, and then the individual party members (Conservative) plus union leaders (Labour) will have a say in who takes over.

Richard Greenhough ● 1602d

It's funny you should say that, Tom.When anyone who fails to tow your party line, you and yours figuratively imprison those who dare ask a question or have a comment both here and on Twitter.Pertinent today is the U-turn on LTNs from central government. Seems businesses should have been engaged all along. Something many of us mentioned prior to our incarceration.

David Lesniak ● 1602d

Perhaps you could have explained that in the first place but you chose a totally different initial explanation. But thank you for the clarification.However hard they work, however good their record, any councillor knows that the national picture influences to a greater or lesser  extent the vote in local elections. Anyway, I have already voted so I’ll  dip out of this thread now.

Stewart Jones ● 1602d

@ Loraine. Disagreed - or felt uncomfortable with the complaints?  You can't blame any Councillors for your failure to read road signs in the Highway Code or your failure to remember what they mean!  Change happens.

Philippa Bond ● 1602d

I think the key issue is being missed here.In normal circumstances I would agree one should vote for the best candidate, regardless of party. And I am sure that there are some very good, committed, Conservative candidates. But we are not in normal circumstances. We have a Prime Minister who is a serial liar, and who is progressively but rapidly destroying this country, and the very basis of our democratic systems. The Conservative Party see these local elections as a referendum on Johnson. We all should also do so It is well known that many Tory MPs are waiting to see the local election results before deciding whether to remove Johnson. It is important that we send a message that the destruction of the UK's democratic norms is not acceptable, and a party that enables its leader to do so will be punished at the ballot bax.

T P Howell ● 1602d

Philippa, what on earth are you going on about ?"You can't blame any Councillors for your failure to read road signs in the Highway Code or your failure to remember what they mean!" My failure ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1601d

Just seen that a couple of Syon Park Labour councillors are standing as Independents in protest of Labour corruption!  Be careful what you wish for….

Diana Claridge ● 1601d

Is there any truth in Theo Dennison's allegations ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1601d

A 'couple'? There's Theo Dennison and ...?

Anne England ● 1601d

COUNCIL ELECTION BOMBSHELL VIDEO: “CORRUPT COUNCILLORS HAVE BEEN TAKING BRIBES FOR PLANNING.” With only 12 hours to go before polling stations open, Cllr Theo Dennison made extremely serious corruption allegations against some Hounslow councillors today, Wednesday. He was out campaigning in Syon and Brentford Lock ward with support from Cllr Devina Ram who, like him, recently resigned from the Labour Party. Cllr Dennison is standing as an Independent in the elections tomorrow… "I WILL NAME AND SHAME CORRUPT COUNCILLORS." THEO DENNISON DROPS LAST MINUTE ELECTION BOMBSHELL. With only 12 hours to go before polling stations open, Cllr Theo Dennison made extremely serious corruption allegations against some Hounslow councillors today, Wednesday. He was out campaigning in Syon and Brentford Lock ward with support from Cllr Devina Ram who, like him, recently resigned from the Labour Party. Cllr Dennison is standing as an Independent in the elections tomorrow (Thursday 5th May) on a "Clean Up Hounslow Council" platform. He said (scroll for video): "I've been embarrassed by what I have learned. I thought I had plumbed the depths of where the Labour Party in Hounslow had got to but people have been reporting about how they have been milking the planning system, so that residents approach a councillor for advice and then are asked to 'assist' them so they can assist them with their planning application."This is milking residents who are desperately keen to get a plan through and think they have to cross the palm of councillors in order to get that done. Money has been passed. I've heard several, people who say I thought that's what you had to do. It is breaking the law and, worse than that, individual councillors do not have that power over whether you're going to get your planning application or not. Councillors are playing on the weaknesses, the frailties of some residents who think that's the way things are done in Hounslow."Brentford TV: "Have you told them to go to the police?""I have. And they're being ripped off. This is very, very serious. If any councillor elected tomorrow is going to be doing that, I will be on their case. I will be naming and shaming those councillors."

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1601d

One allegation of corruption (with no proof yet, or indication that the Met is investigating) -> at least two threads open, major outrage on this forum.Proven evidence of repeated malfeasance and crimes at all levels, from No. 10 to local councils, with some good old ineptitude as an extra cherry on the cake (see Westminster Council or Mrs Patel) -> at best ignored or at worst labelled as "not relevant".What's the difference? Well, I'm being charitable and will just limit myself to a cycle lane and a bunch of LTNs. Anything - sex assaults, mysogyny, racism, ineptidude, corruption - goes for our Chiswick W4 forumers, as long as they can drive half a mile to the shops.

Francis Sheehan ● 1601d

It's the way they just grab at one excuse after another that is so laughable.

Philippa Bond ● 1601d

There is another Labour run Council being investigated by the police to the sum of £2 Million in scams, however as under investigation nothing proven also don't take much notice of these allegations so close toelections.

Janice Evans ● 1601d

So anything goes in Hounslow ‘eh?  As long as you get to keep your dangerous  cycle lanes and pollution inducing LTNs.  Shove it to the motorists and decent hard working families and keep the traffic chaos, corruption, litter and crime. Onward and upward for the concrete jungle that Labour wants.

Steve Taylor ● 1601d

https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/22/robert-jenrick-says-he-regrets-dining-with-donor-richard-desmond-westferryThis would have lost Tower Hamlets £45 million!  I don't remember much of a fuss about this here!

Philippa Bond ● 1601d

When Mr Khan was canvassing on Duke Road about 2 weeks ago he knocked on the doors of a few friends of mine and they asked him, amongst other questions, if elected would he reinstate the now lifted restrictions and he relied "it's certainly something we would look at, change has to happen".This man cannot be trusted to serve the best interests of Chiswicks residents and businesses !!!

Loraine Pemberton ● 1601d

"So anything goes in Hounslow ‘eh?"  Did I write anything of that kind? No, because I haven't. If there is proven malfeasance, then whoever has done it must pay. It applies to Tory, Labours, SNP, my aunt, whomever." Shove it to the motorists and decent hard working families and keep the traffic chaos, corruption, litter and crime."  So cyclists, aren't decent hard working families? Do they generate corruption, litter and crime?"Onward and upward for the concrete jungle that Labour wants."  Sorry Steve, but this isn't a logical follow-up, this is a quantum leap. How on Earth is what the local Tories want (i.e. less cycling, less LTNs, more cars) conducive to ANYTHING but a "concrete jungle"?

Francis Sheehan ● 1601d

"How on Earth is what the local Tories want (i.e. less cycling, less LTNs, more cars) conducive to ANYTHING but a "concrete jungle"?"Err.... Why bring the Tories into this? It is irrelevant what they want. They have no chance of taking over Hounslow Council and no chance of winning a general election. "So cyclists, aren't decent hard working families? Do they generate corruption, litter and crime?"Err...why bring cyclists into this (I am one by the way). Did I say cyclists generate corruption, litter and crime? 

Steve Taylor ● 1601d

What's wrong with the truth Loraine?  Change has to happen and has to keep on hsppening.  You act as if you are the spokesperson for the whole of Chiswick but I don't actually think that you represent all of their views and that they all agree with you.

Philippa Bond ● 1601d

Philippa suggest you stick to pertinent responses. I've never said, never even implied I act for whole of Chiswick as its spokesperson. You took that role years ago ! Perhaps you should remember the outcry from businesses and residents when those two roads were restricted or have you conveniently forgotten that ?Yes, change should happen but only if it's beneficial and expedient, but not because it's  a box ticking exercise, something you appear to endorse. Where do you live, in Chiswick ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1601d

The current Devonshire Road scheme is temporary. Hanif is both factually accurate in saying it is subject to change and also representing the interests of many people who desperately want it to change now that the experiment of restoring cars during the day has failed and businesses are complaining about the dramatic fall-off in footfall. Change is coming ..........

Paul Campbell ● 1600d

So Francis Sheehan has done a runner after making false allegations against me. Typical!

Steve Taylor ● 1600d

No. The only local councillor or MP that I have seen show any sort of positive engagement or intent is Joanne Biddolph … so will vote Conservatives … nothing to lose …

Emma Elizabeth ● 1600d

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

Stewart Jones ● 1600d

Many years back  Hounslow Council had a WebCam featured on it's website that relayed happenings at the Old Civic Centre on Election Count nights Each of the 60 odd Ward results  were witnessed as they were announced by the "returning officer."I recall staying up half the night reporting highlights of who won and who didn't get elected on this Forum.There doesn't appear to be a similar happening on this occasion. Maybe Twitter postings will produce the early awaited headlines. Who knows?!

Jim Lawes ● 1600d

Steve, respectfully, I've got other things to do with my life than patrolling this forum. Namely working, taking care of my family and so on. I don't know exactly what sort of "false allegations" I'd have made about you, and my questions in my previous post were to understand better your logic. If you think that Labour will create a concrete jungle then by inference you think Tories won't. And that is at odds with their stance on motoring. And if you think that drivers are 'hard working families' then it leads to the assumption that others aren't.I haven't made any allegations against you - I'm actually at a loss as to how I'd have made any - and, as far as I know, this is the first time I interacted with you. So how this is "typical" I don't know.Keep well and enjoy the sunshine.

Francis Sheehan ● 1600d

Paul Campbell "change is coming" oh really ? But not yet ! Chiswick Gunnersbury  voted against Hanif Khan... and we have retained Councillors Biddolph, Gill and Moshiso 👍👏😉

Loraine Pemberton ● 1600d

Well done to them for holding their seats, albeit with fewer votes than they received in 2018. I expect they will be as effective in opposing change as they have been in their previous term. As I've said many times Councillor Biddolph in particular is the ideal leader of opposition to change. Progress will continue in Chiswick as it has done but it is about to seriously accelerate in Westminster and Wandsworth.

Paul Campbell ● 1600d

The election result says it all. The people have spoken. This will send a CLEAR message to the Labour Party.  People want the destruction of Chiswick to STOP!

Steve Taylor ● 1600d

Oh do put a sock in it Mr Campbell with your faux congratulations.You and your chums tried all manner of questionable tactics to sully the name of an excellent Councillor, fortunately democracy, fairness and the ability to see through those shabby tactics  won through.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1600d

Amy Croft has actually gained a seat in Chiswick for Labour, the first for over twenty years.

Tom Pike ● 1600d

By 9 votes, hardly a resounding victory.Btw Tom your chum Mr Campbell says its 30 years - do try and get the numbers right between the 2 of you 😉

Loraine Pemberton ● 1600d

Tom,  funny how no one is talking about the 23 votes that saved Ranjit Gill in Gunnesbury,  not much of an endorsement either especially with the low turnout.

Matthew Swain ● 1600d

Sour grapes methinks...Never mind Matthew, Labour can try again in 4 years time 🤣

Loraine Pemberton ● 1600d

So in London, Labour win Barnet, Westminster and Wandsworth, with Voters rightly rejecting Boris Johnson.  In Chiswick, against this backdrop Labour fail to advance meaningfully.  Congratulations do go to Amy Croft for her win.  However, Labour should have secured many more based on what happened elsewhere in London, and they failed.This is all down to their decision to allow former Cllr Hanif Khan to stand.  He came last and Joanna Biddolph first.  The vicious plan by a small minority in Chiswick to attack Jo Biddolph was seen for what it was, and the truth is out Chiswick residents were repulsed by that and against an awful Boris Johnson led Tory Government voted on the main local issue and have firmly rejected the Hounslow's Streetspace plan yet again.  The Council now needs to work with the 80 to 90% of residents to address these schemes.  If this had been a national election the Tory vote in Chiswick would have been wiped out.  Johnson needs to go now, and go quickly for the sake of our democracy.

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1600d

The key is that the cycle guru Kahn lost so badly. That is the resounding message. The people have spoken. Cllr Biddolph came out  on top despite the bullying. The cycling lobby have lost big time in Chiswick. People don’t want LTNs and dangerous cycle lanes. This was demonstrated despite the overall disgust with the Tory Party government.  The people put local issues first and will deal with the Tories in a general election. Well done Chiswick.

Steve Taylor ● 1600d

SteveWell said !

Loraine Pemberton ● 1600d

"The vicious plan by a small minority in Chiswick to attack Jo Biddolph was seen for what it was, and the truth is out Chiswick residents were repulsed by that"  "and on the main local issue and have firmly rejected the Hounslow's Streetspace plan yet again." 100% spot on.  If Labour didn't have the ridiculous Streetspace plans they could have wiped out the Tories. Instead they refused to listen to residents so now they suffer the consequences of kowtowing to an absolute minority. 

Steve Taylor ● 1600d

Despite all that was thrown at Hanif Khan, there was only 5 votes difference to Uday Nagaraju. I think given their similar profile in every other respect, it rather demonstrates that the Gunnersbury electorate sensibly ignored the negative campaigning against Hanif Khan. In that ward there was just over a 1% swing Labour. As far as the overall voting in the four Chiswick wards, there was a 3% swing to Labour compared to 2014. You need to compare these numbers to the borough, London and national swings before drawing any conclusions as to how much local issues were responsible for those swings to Labour.

Tom Pike ● 1600d

Spin the numbers however you want Tom, but we voted NO to Hanif Khan and YES to Joanna Biddolph, Ron Mushiso and Ranjit Gill.Get over it, Hanif Khan failed along with your wishful thinking.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1600d

Are you saying "Hounslow Cycling and Friends Labour Candidate Hanif Khan Lost"?

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1600d

Great news in Chiswick Gunnersbury so I did help to ‘stick it’ to Hounslow Labour.

Michael David Rowe ● 1600d

Very funny Steve, you're just making up oliviesvas you go along!

Philippa Bond ● 1600d

So we've seen a 3% swing to Labour in Chiswick, with their gaining one seat in the ward where the most extensive traffic restrictions have been introduced. However, I wouldn't claim that suggests particular support for these measures as this shift is right in line with the 3% swing to Labour seen across London, though rather larger than the 2% swing nationally. Polling on these traffic measures showed these were way down the priority list for most voters in any case. I'd be interested to know how you got a figure of 80 to 90% opposition to these schemes from the voting in this election. The Conservative share of the vote in the four Chiswick wards fell 6%, the Labour vote held steady while the Green and LibDem vote both increased by 3%. Even if you mistakenly tried to associate party affiliation with a position on traffic measures, it's impossible to concoct a large majority in either direction. Indeed, independent local polling showed a fairly even split of 47% to 43% in favour of the current cycle lane. It's impossible to dismiss that as an accurate take from these council elections.  As far as a general election is concerned, I doubt these numbers give either Rupa Huq or Ruth Cadbury much cause for concern, or their potential challengers much reason for hope.

Tom Pike ● 1600d

The people have shown clearly that  Labour’s Streetspace program is not wanted. It is dead and needs to be buried because it is decomposing and stinking out the area.

Steve Taylor ● 1599d