Forum Topics

BSi Building redevelopment

Wondering if there is anyone with some knowledge about the BSi redevelopment plans and the lack of parking provision for some 400 apartments and some houses. I have been through the documents on offer, and there is little mention of parking provision for an already heavily saturated parking zone.

Caroline Barber ● 805d1 Comments ● 805d

Acton real ale festival

As the Great British Beer Festival has been cancelled this year, we have decided to take up the baton and create a mini version in Acton, with free entry and all welcome.In cooperation with our friends at Portobello Brewery, we have curated  a selection of more than 10 cask ales from a wide range of independent, provincial and micro breweries, with styles including mild, best bitter, porter, IPA, oatmeal stout, real cider and an exotic bohemian dark. Our friends at the Pint of Hops beer shop will be complementing these with a choice of international bottled beers.Were that not enough, we have arranged a panoply of entertainment, with comedy acts on Friday, live music on Saturday, and a charity raffle and table quiz on Sunday to raise funds for Stonewall Housing. There will also be a barbecue on Saturday and Sunday, with V/VG options available.Our core range of rotating cask ales, keg craft lager and cider, Guinness and a rare cherry sour beer, along with fine wines, soft/hot drinks and bar snacks will of course also be on offer. Please join us at the West London Trades Union Club on Friday 30th Aug: 3pm - 11pm. Saturday 31st Aug/Sunday 1st Sept: 12pm - 11pm. You will find us at 33-35 High Street, Acton, W3 6ND (look for the red door!) on the Uxbridge Road.PUBLIC TRANSPORT:From the West, buses SL8, 207, E3, 218, 266, 70, 440 stop at Acton Old Town Hall.From the East, buses SL8, 207, 70, 440, 218 stop at Acton Central Station.On the Overground, Acton Central Station is around 6 minutes away. Turn left out of the station and take the first left down Birkbeck Road. On reaching the main road, we are across and to the right.On the Tube, Acton Town is a 15-minute walk away, or take the E3/70 bus; alternatively, go to Turnham Green and take the E3 bus.For accessibility assistance please see our website: https://wltuc.com/accessWe are looking forward to seeing you! If you have any queries, please email Emily at secretary@wltuc.com.

Patrick Green ● 806d0 Comments ● 806d

Different government approach to LTNs etc

Just read this:https://www.thetimes.com/uk/transport/article/tory-clampdown-on-low-traffic-neighbourhoods-to-be-scrapped-5hps96vrc#:~:text=Ministers%20are%20to%20reverse%20Tory,zones%20and%20low%20traffic%20neighbourhoods.If you can't get past the firewall the first few paragraphs are:Tory clampdown on low traffic neighbourhoods to be scrappedLouise Haigh, the transport secretary, says local authorities that want more 20mph zones and LTNs will have her ‘absolute support’Ministers are to reverse Tory plans to clamp down on councils that want to create further 20mph speed limit zones and low traffic neighbourhoods.Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, said local authorities would have her “absolute support” to introduce the schemes in towns and cities. They have often prompted local opposition.She pledged to scrap plans by the previous government that would have restricted councils’ ability to introduce new 20mph zones and make it harder to bring in new low traffic neighbourhoods. She also accused the Conservatives of stoking “really horrific culture wars” with their clampdown on anti-motorist measures, saying that decisions were best taken locally.“They (councils) had the government actively working against them saying ‘no, you’re not allowed to roll out 20mph zones, no you’re not allowed to roll out LTNs’,” she told the Streets Ahead podcast.“Those kinds of decisions should absolutely be made at a local level by communities and not dictated to or stoked by the centre,” she said. “This government has ended all culture wars full stop, but there’s no way you’ll be hearing that from this department now.”The article goes on to say that decisions on these things should be made in the community, so I guess if you live in an LTN and want to get it scrapped, start a petition and get all those in the community to sign (or indeed vice-versa)

Andrew Jones ● 810d16 Comments ● 806d

Don't go outdoors this morning! Brits are given health alert about a gas cloud tipped to fill the sk

Not the most reliable of sources; can anyone confirm this:Brits have been warned to stay inside as a cloud of corrosive and acidic gas cloud, which can cause serious health problems, engulfs the UK in the early hours of this morning.Weather maps show a huge cloud of sulphur dioxide (SO2), spat out by the recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland, moving across to completely cover the country by 4am.SO2 is predominantly produced from the combustion of coal or crude oil but volcanoes also produce huge quantities of it when they erupt.Inhaling the gas can cause symptoms such as a sore throat, coughing, a runny nose, burning eyes, tight lungs and difficulties breathing.Direct exposure to SO2 is associated with asthma and chronic bronchitis, with the SO2 emitted from coal burning during the London smog in 1952 playing a key role in the thousands of respiratory-related deaths at the time.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13777191/Dont-outdoors-morning-Homeowners-given-health-alert-gas-cloud-tipped-skies-UK.html

Les Wilson ● 807d9 Comments ● 806d

Electric Bike stolen on Turnham Green

Our electric bike was stolen from the bike racks by the zebra crossing near Turnham Green station. It had not been locked up for long and the family member using it was nearby in a shop. It was double locked up, via the bike itself and an external lock. The bike has been sawed away, and only one wheel remaining locked up. This was done in broad daylight, on a fairly busy street and there seems to have been no intervention from the public, so just be mindful if you own one to ensure the frame is as locked up as you can.

Lucy Duddy ● 819d6 Comments ● 806d

Swans at Strand on the Green

What’s the record for the number seen at one time?  I’ve just seen 43, strung out from the railway bridge to near the Bell & Crown.

Rupert Holderness ● 809d9 Comments ● 806d

Flood Warning

For Chiswick Mall, SotG and other parts of West/SW London today.

Claire Moran ● 807d3 Comments ● 807d

Cheap entry to Kew for those on benefits

With a fine Sunday and Bank Holiday coming up, I'd like to remind people in receipt of Universal Credit or Pension Credit that they can get into Kew Gardens for £1 at any time.

Susan Kelly ● 810d5 Comments ● 807d

Accommodation needed for young family - could provide elder care

Posting for a friend:  We are a young 30 something married couple with a 6 month old boy.  We lived in London for 2 years but had to go see my mother for 3 months to nurse her with cancer. We return Sept 10 and need a new flat or house share.  We are both non smoking teachers and quiet and tidy with references. Could live with other professionals or with older / elderly person who wants to add some friendship and support into their life.   We have done live in care for elderly with dementia in the past and would be happy to offer part time support services in exchange for rent or part rent reduction as well depending on care needed.   It can be for 3 months or longer. If you only have a short term that could fill a gap while we continue to look for a home.  In the past year we have lived with an elderly gentleman with dementia cooking his meals, providing stimulation and conversation, doing laundry etc and the family found having us around with the baby improved the gentleman’s memory and interaction with new stimulations.  Perhaps there is another family with an elderly parent who we could be mutually supportive to ?  References available. Thank you ☺️

Margie Frew ● 810d2 Comments ● 808d

Border force strikes

If your flying out of heathrow from the end of august onwards  border force are going on strike for 23 days of industrial action under work to rule. So expect big delays at times Oh yeh,LNER drivers announced 22 days of strike action from the start of September to early November. Is it winter already Dont think the two are pay related tho

Julian Pavey ● 815d85 Comments ● 809d

Chrome plating firm?

I am looking for a company to chrome plate a small item.I have found a firm in Birmingham but that would mean posting it there and back which I want to avoid as the object is irreplaceable.Does anyone know a firm within an hour's drive or near an Underground station?

Adrian Irving ● 810d5 Comments ● 809d

Bank Holiday Sunday in the Old Marketplace

Great itinerary this Sunday in the Old Marketplace11am - 4pm Food St with its variety of street food traders and introducing newcomer Helado, Texas BBQ meets Mexico, which started as a supper club at the Post Room Cafe.Happy Hour at The Fire Station afterwards.Then the West London Queer Project street party.And finally an after party at the George IV.Thank goodness for Monday off work.[But won't somebody think of the parking ....]

Paul Campbell ● 812d34 Comments ● 809d

Cycling trip out of Chiswick

We are planning to go on a week long cycling trip with a group including some people who are not regular cyclists. To get everyone used to journeys of about 30 miles a day was hoping someone could have a suggestion for a trip starting in W4 and ending up at a nice pub somewhere about 15 miles away with as scenic a route as possible. Obviously we'd like to avoid busy roads but nobody is an absolute beginner so a bit of traffic along the way wouldn't rule a route out.TIA

Mark Evans ● 811d21 Comments ● 810d

Cycle lane put to good use

C9 as an avenue of protest, cleve

Ben Halloren ● 821d16 Comments ● 810d

Probate solicitor

Hi, can anyone recommend a solicitor to deal quickly(if that's possible) with probate in the Chiswick, Acton, Shepherds Bush area?Thanks

David Powers ● 811d3 Comments ● 810d

E3 bus diversion during Gunnersbury Park festivals

After passengers were turfed off the E3 last weekend, at the Acton High Street stop opposite Morrisons, with no warnings before that stop and in the middle of the afternoon when some had heavy shopping to carry, others were walking with sticks and one person was using a crutch, I asked why the diversion was needed, if any diversion could start later (it began at 1.30pm) given that arrivals at the festivals tend to be staggered throughout the day, and if any diversion could be announced sooner along the journey so that passengers could make decisions about alternative routes before the diversion starts, to avoid the long walks they'd have to make from that stop. This Acton High Street stop is the last stop before the diversion started which meant no-one had the chance last weekend to get off to travel by tube (at Gunnersbury or Chiswick Park or Turnham Green) or to catch a different bus from Chiswick High Road. Coming the other way, announcements needed to be made before the diversion started at South Ealing tube station.  Good news. TfL has agreed that the diversion will not start until 7pm and will end at midnight. These are approximate times (with no explanation about what might influence a change). No response yet on making announcements earlier along the routes.

Joanna Biddolph ● 814d2 Comments ● 810d

Unprecedented investment in cycling and walking

Extracts and link below. It's all about  prioirities.The Labour government will invest “unprecedented levels of funding” in cycling and walking as a critical part of plans to improve health and inequality, the new secretary for transport has said.A national network of safe cycle routes could cut GP appointments “by hundreds of thousands, if not millions a year” by helping people incorporate more physical activity into their lives, according to Louise Haigh, who also sits on the government’s health mission delivery board.Cycling and walking are considered to have very high returns for taxpayers’ money, at £5.62 for each £1 spent – double the returns of roads.Asked about the £16bn of trunk road projects, which have been called “low value” by campaigners, Haigh said: “We’re looking at all capital projects, and where that money should be best spent. In a world where there’s not much money, we want to make sure it’s spent … [to] get the best bang for our buck.”https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/aug/20/labour-investment-cycling-walking-unprecedented-louise-haigh

Paul Campbell ● 812d5 Comments ● 810d

Alan Gouk, artist, obituary

https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/aug/18/alan-gouk-obituaryI was in Edinburgh in the early 60’s I used to know and be a fan of Alan Gouk and several other artists around that time including Richard DiMarco, Mark Boyle and family and Jim Haines but we lost touch though I sensed they all had a great future.  I was intrigued to read in his obituary that his had a studio in Chiswick during the eighties.  I wonder if there was anybody who recalls this and knew him during this period?  (or indeed any of the others I mention). I would love to hear from you.

Alastair Banton ● 813d6 Comments ● 812d

Music noise

Any ideas where the hideous thumping is coming from? I feel v old complaining but really it's so loud!... and I live by 316 and under flight path near cricket club so am used to loud!

Clare Smith ● 814d27 Comments ● 812d

Ulez expansion led to significant drop in air pollutants in London.

Levels of harmful air pollutants have dropped significantly since the ultra-low emission zone was enlarged to cover Greater London last year, according to a report from city hall.Analysis covering the first six months since the Ulez expansion found that total emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from cars across London were 13% lower than projected had the scheme remained confined to inner London, while NOx from vans was 7% lower.Levels of particulate pollution in the form of PM2.5 exhaust emissions from cars in outer London are an estimated 22% lower than without the expansion.The total change was equivalent to removing 200,000 cars from the road for one year, the report said.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/25/ulez-expansion-led-to-significant-drop-in-air-pollutants-in-london-report-findsBravo Sadiq for sticking out with a bold move.

Francis Sheehan ● 837d18 Comments ● 812d