Forum Topics

PCN Hartington Rd

My wife got a PCN today from those nice people at LBH for 'failing to comply with a prohibition on certain types of vehicles (motor vehicles)' at Hartington Rd jt. Chiswick Quay on April 29th'. We live in the CS CPZ and she travels most days up/down this road. Both our vehicles are registered for exemption with LBH and this is the first ticket we've received. Can anyone throw any light on this?We'll write to LBH sending a copy of the email confirmation of exemption but it's a mystery why we received a PCN..

Jim Brown ● 1999d18 Comments ● 1992d

Shambles! Re:Walk-in vaccinations at Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre

Following Hounslow's announcement for dropin vaccines for 18+ from 5.30pm. My daughter queued from 5pm to 8.50pm for a vaccine outside the Fountain Leisure Centre, she was given the number 55 and told she would get a vaccine. At 8.50pm she, along with others, was told the vaccines had run out. They were then promised an appointment for tomorrow but the booking service was found to be closed. Nobody took the names of any of the young people waiting patiently all evening for NO vaccine, they were told to come back tomorrow afternoon, but who are they even supposed to talk to as they are not in the eligible category? This is appalling treatment, the pilot system need to be fixed. This will hardly encourage the young to get vaccinated.

Cheryl Brown ● 1993d8 Comments ● 1993d

Hounslow - tree pruning

I took a walk around Bedford Park yesterday morning and to my horror came across the tree pruning gang butchering the horse chestnut trees in Priory Avenue.  These trees are only just coming into full leaf and their flowers about to come out.  The trees were being pollarded in such a way as to leave them almost leafless.  This sort of work should be done in the autumn.The problem here lies in the fact that who are well trained in climbing trees and cutting them out have not a clue in pruning techniques which allow these trees to grow and flourish as they should.The worst of it, as seen in Priory Gardens, is that the trees make valiant effort to put on growth and most of that is not on the butchered branches but up the main stem of the tree thereby blocking more light from the houses and looking hideous into the bargain.This arises every 5 years or so and residents are left with trees growing leaf to such an extent that the houses are being blocked from light and sunshine and no matter how many times we have protested at the way these trees are being pruned the Council takes absolutely no notice.It is very noticeable this year that we have far fewer birds about and to deprive them of the insects and food source vital to their survival at breeding time is a disgrace.  These trees are their habitat which enhances ours.  The swifts are just arriving back from South Africa and at this rate there will be very little food for them.  Much is made of planting trees and being ecological to check climate change and save the planet and its fauna and flora.I cannot be the only one so angry at this deliberate desecration but what can be done?This morning they are at it again and more streets have notices up for tree cutting in the coming days.

Elizabeth Ross ● 1994d14 Comments ● 1993d

OneChiswickfake Twitter account

Still playing their nasty games. I’d forgotten about this and assumed it had been taken down. Jeremy Vines’ friends still pretending to be OneChiswick and posting horrible things to discredit the group.  Tulip gates big brother. If you can’t win fair and square then play dirty, that’s the anti car lobby’s  motto

Maggie Dodge ● 1995d14 Comments ● 1993d

Is it true

I have been told that wattsapp will only be able to be used in the future if one joins Facebook- is this another problem if we do not want to be on Facebook- life gets more and more complicated  if this is true .

Helen Bamberger ● 1993d6 Comments ● 1993d

Walk-in vaccinations at Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre

The current policy at Fountain Leisure Centre is as follows:There is a total maximum capacity of about 600.  They have about 450 to 500 appointments per day.  The maximum number of walk-ins that they will accept is the difference between 600 and the number of appointments booked for that day - so 100 or so.  Once the daily figure is reached, no more walk-ins will be accepted.To be accepted as a walk-in, you need to meet one of the following criteria:   Over 45   Clinically vulnerable (with some form of proof)   Healthcare or care home worker (with some form of proof)   Coming for your second jab, with at least 8 weeks elapsed since your first jabAnd of course you need to have an NHS number (you don't need to bring it with you, although that makes it easier to find you in the system - you just need to have one)I suspect that there won't be many people in the first three categories coming for a first jab, as they will either already be vaccinated or already have an appointment, but I offer up the information for what it's worth.  This may be more useful for people wanting / needing their second jab earlier than booked - but please note the 8 week requirement.Just for information, there were only about 10 walk-ins today (Thursday).I believe that on some days the vaccination centre is being used for appointments booked via the NHS website (Mon-Thurs I believe, although I am not certain) and on other days for appointments booked via GPs (Fridays I believe - I don't know about weekends) - but I'm not certain of that. So I can't be certain on which days the policy that I have described applies - I believe it to apply in the former case but I can't guarantee that it applies in the latter case.

Andrzej Kowalski ● 2013d11 Comments ● 1993d

Eve Humphries Decoration

Has anyone used Eve Humphries as their decorator recently? Their website says ‘we pride ourselves on our responsive service’. However, they haven’t replied to two emails asking about arranging for a quote. I did manage to speak to Eve and make an arrangement for a few days later, confirmed with another email and WhatsApp message  as she requested. However, she didn’t keep the appointment or contact me to say she couldn’t make it. Eve was bemoaning a television programme she was making as being detrimental to her business, but I should think not keeping appointments with potential clients could have an equally bad effect. It’s a pity, as her reviews were great.

Tim English ● 1994d2 Comments ● 1993d

Where do Atheists meet in Chiswick?

With 5,000-10,000 religions in the world apparently...it does seem crazy that some groups would happily do harm to others who have alternative views.Now I appreciate that there needs to be a World Order/or codes of conduct for this billion year old Universe and some are happy to rule and inflict their authority.Even the Labour Leader has recently stated that he doesn't believe in God...and I've been watching too many Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens videos.I have been most influenced in my understanding by a recent interview with the Scottish Comedian Billy Connelly. With Parkinson's he has no fear of the future. "We know of nothing before we were born...and in my view...we'll know nothing of the afterlife"Where do like minded people meet?I've never been 82 before!

Jim Lawes ● 2012d69 Comments ● 1993d

ULEZ boundary banana

The proposed ULEZ boundary allows traffic to approach along A4  as far as Chiswick roundabout and then double back to avoid driving into the zone. Does this mean that  if I still had a non ULEZ  compliant car for a period after implementation that I could potentially drive from non ULEZ south Chiswick to the A4 and reach the north circular without a fine. Ie are there cameras on the stretch of A4 between Hogarth and Chiswick roundabout heading west?

Alina Dansord ● 1995d4 Comments ● 1994d

Climate Emergency Centres

Here's an idea for bringing empty shops back into use:https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/03/high-street-shops-in-england-and-wales-repurposed-as-climate-emergency-centres

Philippa Bond ● 2000d1 Comments ● 1994d

Electrical Safety Condition Report (EICR) recommendations

Hi there, I need to find someone to visit my 2-bed flat to undertake an Electrical Safety Condition Report/EICR. Any recommendations for a Part P regd electrician to do this?thanks very much

Ann Coleridge ● 2001d2 Comments ● 1994d

EPC  - energy assessment recommendation wanted

Hi, I need to get an EPC check done for my 2-bed flat. Has anyone done this recently? Any recommendations and how much did it cost please?Thanks in advanceAnn

Ann Coleridge ● 2001d4 Comments ● 1994d

Where did it all go so horribly wrong...?

Front page article on the planning refusal at Kew Bridge station is laughable - we all know that a new scheme will be resubmitted with the appropriate weasel words for the Council to wave  it through-- prompted me to think and try and locate the moment when London, and particluarliy west london switched from being the archicettural hotch potch ( and all the better for i t) of a couple of hundred years of functional and adaptive industrial/work and residential buildings to a bastardised version of singapore?A drive across the elevated section of the m4 has a sightline of thousands  of identiflats, with thousands more being built, to house presicely who... theres no new intrastructure - kew bridge station isnt fit for purpose and hasnt been for decades, gunnersbury the same - yet the flats and density of population goes skywards..the Bollo lane  planned development id more of the same- thousands of identiflats, built with overseas money,  adding nothing to the area and again, i imagine, no public infrastrcuture upgrades - apart from the usual planning images of as few fresh faced kids cartwheeling across a " mixed use common square " which in reality will be a windswept no-go zone..North Acton is building One west Point " The tallest residential tower in  west london  -This 42-storey residential tower is situated in the prime position of the centre of the North Acton/Old Oak Regeneration area in London..."' in actual fact its a derelict roundabout with a cemetery on one side and the m40 on the other ..Ealing seems to be plunging into a similar decline of faceless mirror fronted tower blocksLong rant however when DID it all go wrong---when did we lose the opportunity to say, no councillor/no invester/no construction magnate, enough...go pick another city to ruin..I blame the start of it on The blair/osboorne cudddling up to chinese /asian money " london is open of business and here's my bank account "...era...https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/the-builders-charter-osborne-to-overturn-65-years-of-planning-law-7579471.htmlis there any hope of change, or at least a hit of a slow-down?!#end

Tim Garfoot ● 1996d27 Comments ● 1994d

Great interview with Alice Ushamba on Radio 4

Explaining the difficulties that someone running a care company with carers who go out to look after their clients and those carers have.

Philippa Bond ● 1994d0 Comments ● 1994d

Sutton Court Road traffic lights

I see these are to be 'improved' again! Recent experience of pretty much any transport-related improvement suggests that they usually make things worse. Oh well, we shall live in hope/

James Tickell ● 2001d40 Comments ● 1995d

Peter Earles - Plumber - Highly recommended

All,Just thought I’d drop a reference on the forum. Last Monday night when we went to put the kids in the tub we discovered our boiler and immersion heater had both packed it in.Found Peter Earles number on the forum and got in touch with him. He helped me diagnose our issue for approximately an hour over the phone - multiple calls and text exchanges. When we’d determined it was in fact dead he agreed a time to visit us the following day. He turned up on time and got our Immersion Heater going and did some more diagnostics.We agreed a time for the following day and again, he turned up on time and repaired our boiler.We were extremely happy with his rates, the quality of his service and his help. Would have no hesitation at all in recommending him.he can he reached on 07958 789188

Peter Newham ● 2354d9 Comments ● 1995d

One swallow doesn’t make a summer

Just seen one. Poor beast will starve to death.

Ken Munn ● 1999d24 Comments ● 1995d

Swifts are back!

I saw and heard my first swifts today near the Post Office on Heathfield Terrace.

Susan Jennifer Thackray ● 1998d3 Comments ● 1995d

Is there a shortage of planters in west London?

I returned to the office today in the lowlands that are Southwark. Back in December there were a few planters but a walk round this lunchtime has unearthed the UK's stockpile of them! They are everywhere except the main roads and the pavements (at the moment). Contrast that with rubbish blowing around everywhere and the place looking a tip (like parts of Ealing I have to add). Priorities anyone?

peter king ● 1995d2 Comments ● 1995d

Structural Engineer

Can anyone recommend someone to work out steel calculations for an extension please?

Patti Lampard ● 1995d0 Comments ● 1995d