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New Hammersmith and Chiswick constituency

Front page article http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&page=conboundary014.htmA radical overhaul of new constituency boundaries looks more likely to proceed after the Boundary Commission confirmed plans for the creation of a new Hammersmith and Chiswick constituency.The Commission has made no changes to earlier proposals for the changes to the boundaries of seats in the local area.So is part of Chiswick heading East to Hammersmith? or have I miss read it.What happens to government money handed out to London Councils for various projects.Hounslow isn't going to want to spend there funding in another borough and visa versa.

Bernard Allen ● 1462d12 Comments ● 1458d

Price of a Pint

I don't drink beer and don't go to pubs that often but was wondering what the average price of a pint of bitter was in W4. I'm pretty certain some of you will know.

Tessa Russell ● 1467d24 Comments ● 1458d

Keys found in CHR

My daughter picked up a set of keys at around midday today outside Holland & Barrett by the crossing. They were handed to passing police officers and will be taken to Acton Police Station from where they can be collected.

Kate Vicic ● 1458d0 Comments ● 1458d

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE FUTURE OF CHISWICK

I recently attended the meeting in Chiswick Town Hall regarding Hounslow's 'vision' of Chiswick. What a sham their half baked attempts at consultation are. The meeting was attended by various officials including Kate Hall. Enclosed below a letter from her to a friend and my response. Note in the letter from Kate there are links to subscribe to their mailing list as well as comment on the online consultation (another sham that doesn't really explain very much). Please have your say.
Dear Kate, I recently attended your event with a friend at Chiswick Town Hall and just wanted to respond to your e mail below.
I am sorry to say I find your letter empty and insincere. We discovered last week that Hounslow's Vision is based on a ‘consultation’ which none of us received or completed, on which we were not leafleted, although you as Head of Economic Recovery and Regeneration claimed we were, and the ‘results’ and vision are based on 1,600 responses. Dubious at the very least. When you were questioned regarding the leafleting you insisted it had happened … how would you know anyway … were you omnipresent in every residence in Chiswick and saw the leaflet drop on the doormat?
No you weren’t and I repeat the residents of Chiswick were not informed, and yet you press ahead insisting that it’s all about what ‘we’ want. A very healthy dose of B/S I would say. Regarding your comments in your letter:
Thank you for the reminder but you’re just ticking boxes. You haven’t checked back with the Chiswick community, you have merely spoken to a handful of people who miraculously found out you were meeting at the town hall. Furthermore what real relevance does your 2021 engagement have? I think you mentioned around 1,600 respondents. This is not checking back with the community, it is a sham just so you can say you have, but you have not. You have failed to reach out to the community you claim to represent, you have not bothered to make sure you reach out to us - you pretend you have and make wild claims such as taking into account the community’s view when the reality is it’s just a mere fraction of the community.
You didn’t even put me on the mailing list for this letter, I saw it through the grapevine! Evidence again or your appalling due diligence.
You say you want to understand the community’s views but if you really wanted to do this you would make sure you engaged with us properly. It is merely an empty comment that ticks your boxes. 
You say you want to ensure residents, visitors and local businesses all have the opportunity to review the vision document and the proposals. Honestly Kate this is truly pathetic and an emtpy comment with no value. If you really wanted to make sure all residents, visitors and businesses have an opportunity to respond you would therefore MAKE SURE it happens. This is called accountability Kate. I’m not sure you understand the concept of accountability but If you want to make sure something happens then you create e mechanism that MAKES SURE it happens. It really is that simple … but instead all you do is employ empty phrases with no action behind it. 
Kind regards, Anthony Letterese




From: Tom Brooks <Tom.Brooks@hounslow.gov.uk> 
Sent: 11 November 2022 17:26
To: Town Centre Management <TownCentre.Management@hounslow.gov.uk>
Subject: Re-imagining our town centres - Chiswick Vision - Autumn 2022   Hello    Thank you for your time at the in-person conversation on the Chiswick Town Centre Vision last week at the Town Hall and for leaving your contact details so we can keep you updated and involved. We were really pleased to see so many people passionate about the future of their town centre.    As a reminder the purpose of this phase of engagement is to check back with the Chiswick communities on the Chiswick Town Centre Vision document and the proposals put forward during the 2021 engagement and which are compiled in it under the themes that were important to the community. We want to understand the community’s views on which of the proposals are the most important and could be the most impactful for Chiswick and delivering the vision.  From this we will compile a delivery plan based on those priorities, and identify partners to work with on the proposals.    An online survey is now available HERE. This survey takes you through the same prioritisation process carried out at the in-person event so you do not need to complete again if you responded on paper. However please do pass on the link to friends, neighbours and colleagues, we want to ensure residents, visitors and local businesses all have the opportunity to review the vision document and the proposals within it. We will be promoting it via all our usual channels.    Many of you were not aware of the weekly council e-newsletter that goes out.  This link allows you to sign up for that, as well as any other e-bulletins that interest you -  Sign up for email updates | Get Connected | London Borough of Hounslow .  Once you click through the link, you will be asked for your email address and then you can choose which topics of interest you want to select.    Next steps: all the in-person and online responses will be compiled over the next couple of months into a draft vision delivery plan.  This will take into account the Chiswick communities’views on the prioritisation of the proposals and put them into a phased plan to secure investment.    If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch   Kind Regards   Kate    Kate Bull  Head of Economic Recovery and Regeneration  Housing, Planning and Economic Regeneration  London Borough of Hounslow 3rd Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow, TW3 3EB Tel: 020 8583 3729

Anthony Letterese ● 1460d46 Comments ● 1458d

Milk £1 a pint in Grove Park COOP

I couldn't believe this - £1 A PINT!Checking on the COOP website it's priced at 52p a pint.Are we being ripped-off?

Sonia Beddington ● 1484d31 Comments ● 1458d

looking for electrician recommendation

Hi, I'm looking for an electrician recommendation to do electric safety check and update 3 battery smoke detectors, Many thanks

Pam Tynan ● 1458d1 Comments ● 1458d

Suella

The new rising star,for theTory party.

James Dow ● 1471d197 Comments ● 1459d

PM Servive

Back working

Julian Pavey ● 1459d5 Comments ● 1459d

Home treatments Reflexology

I am 80 years old and would like reflexology or foot and leg massage at home.Can anybody help ?It would be much appreciated.BINA

Bina Pandit ● 1477d5 Comments ● 1459d

CAPRI RESTAURANT ON TURNHAM GREEN TERRACE

Ate at Capri on Wednesday evening. Very enjoyable evening with warm welcome and attentive service.Octopus with Potato / Wonderful Fresh Tuna / Very well cooked calamariDo try.   As the name suggests,  transported to Southern Italy....A welcome and much needed addition to Chiswick.

Mitra Alam ● 1482d3 Comments ● 1459d

Under Floor Foam Spray Insulation

It was suggested to me that I have this done in my kitchen which is like Ice Station Zebra  in the winter.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGahHbR8eSk&t=1sDoes anyone know anything about this or had it done?Is this foam toxic in any way and does it smell?Will it seal in any damp, prevent air circulation  and cause rot in the future?I would be grateful for any information or suggestions.Thank you.

Marlene Plimley ● 1460d18 Comments ● 1459d

Washable Polyester duvets and old towels

Anyone know of an animal charity that could make use of these? (All clean)

Claire Miller ● 1461d3 Comments ● 1459d

Rob Newman on LTNs

Some of you may remember The Mary Whitehouse Experience and the finely tuned comedic talent of Rob Newman.And we all know that opponents of LTNs are ready-made for poking fun at with their earnest sincerity about the chaos that will ensue if we slightly deprioritise cars. I've certainly enjoyed it for the past four years. Now listen to a master do it properly. It's quite lovely really. I like the song and the "incarceration" (why didn't I think of it) lyric and the "it's the disabled I worry about" reaction to Caesar's implementation of stone bollards in Rome.Stuart Kerr this is mainly for you and a tribute to a much-missed (from the forum not the mortal coil) satirist of the highest order and a fine writer who sees the comedy as clearly as Rob.https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001dxg0

Paul Campbell ● 1463d56 Comments ● 1460d

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

No doubt all the cycling lobbyists have seen the government's review of "minor road traffic estimates" report published this week.This shows that traffic figures used to justify the introduction of LTNs in 2020 were incorrect - not by a little but by a lot. In London, where figures suggesting that over the past decade there had been an almost 60% rise in minor-road traffic and a 72% rise on the smallest roads, in fact there had been no increase at all. These false figures were then used by councils to justify the introduction of restrictions in many boroughs (inc. Hounslow/ Chiswick).Overall in London, a previously published increase from 6.6 billion vehicle miles travelled in vehicles in London in 2009 to 10.4 billion in 2019 has now been revised to 8 billion in both years.No doubt Hounslow's new traffic czar is trying to digest these indigestible statistics.

Robin Knight ● 1500d138 Comments ● 1460d

Who do the ruling elite of LB Hounslow represent?

One has to doubt that the Council leadership and officers of LB Hounslow have any ability or desire to understand the people of Chiswick and how they wish to live their lives. Time and time again they decide what is best for residents and businesses while claiming to ‘listen” (do you remember Councillor Khan) yet consistently do no such thing and ignore feedback and majority opinion. I understand that a typical example of this took place earlier today when the traders of Devonshire Road met an officer from the traffic department to request that the three weeks of works on the C9 cycleway that require Devonshire Road to be closed, and severely disrupted, be delayed until after Christmas. Now, any sensible person who has a basic understanding of both the retail and hospitality businesses knows that the two months leading up to Christmas are very important for all traders, many of whom are struggling anyway at present due to the cost-of-living crisis and their own energy costs. Hence, you would feel that the request for a delay in the works by our local traders, which they have carefully considered as being justified in terms of protecting fragile trading conditions, would be sympathetically understood by the officers of LB Hounslow. But no, the officer at the meeting, faced by traders who by all accounts were getting rather angry, consistently refused to consider a delay and do you know what a core part of his reasoning was? – to delay the works would confuse the cyclists using Chiswick High Road!!  A clear statement about where the Council's priorities lie?  Basically, the ruling elite of LB Hounslow, who have been made aware of this emerging problem for many weeks now, continue to display little regard for Chiswick or the people within the area and continue to act with impunity with their self-serving, narrow agendas and without local accountability.  The people of Chiswick deserve better.

David Kerr ● 1464d57 Comments ● 1460d

Packhorse & Talbot reopening soon?

Nothing on their website other than ‘We’re closed’. It’s looking ready-ish. Anyone know when it’ll reopen? Thanks.

Gordon McDonald ● 1461d1 Comments ● 1460d

We must kerb the Scallywags shoplifting,fare dodging and thieving.

Its seems that shop staff and others are afraid to challenge shoplifters for fear of receiving injuries or more.I observed a scuffy chap..with no socks...taking food and drink from Marks and Spencers shelving... then pretend to settle his bill at the self service check out and then proceed to leave by the back exit. I told three hefty male staff at the back of the Store to curtail their chatter and to chase the scalleywag."Oh no ,we're not allow to apprehened shoppers. I reported the matter to the Manager. He too said we mustn't challenge them. Call the Police? (Waste of time?).So businesses on OUR HIGH STREET ARE HAVING TO TOLERATE THESE SCALLEYWAGS. At Chiswick Park Station I observe a chap crash through the double sized exit barrier without showing his ticket.I asked the Station chap.in the small cabin .next to the barrier and he reported that such crass behavior happens all the time...maybe 20 plus a day. Loss of income to the Tube?Earlier I had watched a scuffy lady jump on a 91H.bus at Lampton.She used the side intentionally.She also was consuming an open can of alcohol. I told the bus driver..but unlike some..took no action. When I challenged the girl as she got off at Clayponds Lane...her utterances were the usual.Bicycle thefts are another bain of peoples lives. Our Police Commander says "Things will get worse"Cllr MacGregor reports.on the headaches of such behavior.Hounslow town is bad enough. Is there a creep towards Chiswick? Creep? The scalleywags are already here.

Jim Lawes ● 1462d30 Comments ● 1461d

Flooding in Chiswick - why doesn't LBH unblock the drains?

Thinking back to happier times, I remember council lorries and staff doing maintenance work during the summer months, clearing gutters and drains of weeds and other debris so that water freely flowed down them when the winter rains came. After yesterday's overnight rain much of Chiswick was under water, but 'surprisingly, one area that was not affected by flooding was the Fishers Lane underpass which usually becomes a lake when there is heavy rainfall. It is understood that recent work undertaken at the site improved the existing drainage system'. So it can be done if it's one of the council's pet projects! Come on Hounslow - how about improving life for all residents and unblock our drains?

Mandy Waters ● 1469d37 Comments ● 1461d

Just stop oil activists need arresting

Whilst everyone is aware of the need for the whole world to achieve net zero, this mob is outrageous and all need arresting. This isn’t something that can stop overnight and the misery these people are causing is one step too far. By all means demonstrate peacefully but causing chaos on the roads is not the answer.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1465d56 Comments ● 1461d

Good progress on Hammersmith Bridge

Below is an informative article from The Barnes Village Bugle.After a period of silence, this month there is much to tell about progress with the works at Hammersmith Bridge.The pedestals have been stabilised with bespoke concrete, a planning application is being prepared for the double decker temporary bridge-within-a-bridge solution and the suggestion of a toll to drive across the bridge is being forcefully opposed by Conservative councillors in Wandsworth. As ever, we have provided links for those people who want to get a more in depth understanding of the latest developments, but we’ve given a quick summary of the main points below. Stabilising the bridgeThe key problems with the safety of the bridge are twofold. Firstly, the cracks that have been discovered in the four cast iron pedestals which bear the weight of the structure and, secondly, the seizing up of components in the chains themselves. A major milestone has been reached in making the pedestals safe this month with the pouring of a specially formulated concrete into the pedestals’ hollow centres. As anyone who has ever watched Grand Designs knows, concrete pours are tricky. And this particular concrete pour had no margin for error. The specialist magazine New Civil Engineer has given a genuinely fascinating account of the operation and you can read it here. The magazine’s article also revealed that the next stage of the process - the attachment of steel reinforcements – requires a consignment of steel, the shipment of which was delayed by the Ukraine war.For an even more in-depth explanation of what’s happening with the bridge stabilisation project there’s a handy 20 minute video to check out. The double decker temporary solutionThe same magazine, New Civil Engineer, (we’re big fans) has also given much more detail of the proposed double decker bridge-within-a-bridge temporary solution. The temporary structure running above the existing deck of the bridge would allow pedestrians and motorists to cross while permanent repairs are carried out to the bridge both on and off site. Elements of the bridge, like the decking, that need repair, would be lifted away using the temporary bridge as a works platform and transported by barges to an off-site facility for safer and easier repair and restoration. The temporary bridge would have a pedestrian and cyclists span and a vehicle ramp above. At first, pedestrians and cyclists would use the vehicle ramp to cross while the lower level was used by workers removing the decking. Once the deck of the bridge has been safely removed the lower level will be used by pedestrians and cyclists. Cars would then be able to use the upper level. The next question is when will work start on this solution? Well before anything happens the planning hurdle needs to be jumped and the Hammersmith Society reports that before work can begin a gas main will need to be diverted at the cost of £5million. The society’s newsletter concludes after outlining the next stages that “an apocryphal story floating around social media that the bridge will be open to motorised traffic by Christmas seems rather wide of the mark.” Toll fee rumblingsThe website Putney SW15 reports that Conservative Councillors in Wandsworth have “slammed” Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s plans to charge drivers a toll to use the bridge once it is repaired. H&FC have repeatedly said that raising funds via a toll is the only solution to getting the bridge repaired. The government has said that the council must fund a third of the repair costs leaving it to find between £33 and £47 million. It can’t raise council tax to do this (there are legal constraints on what it can do) so the council contends its only option is to charge a toll. The most controversial element of the toll plan is that H&FC only wants to charge a toll to those people who don’t live in Hammersmith and Fulham.  H&FC council tax payers will apparently get to cross the bridge for free.

Adrian Irving ● 1465d14 Comments ● 1461d