Join Me for Coffee and I Promise Not to Lose My Temper
Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert reports back
Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert
September 19, 2025
Well, now, I've actually had an unusually busy week with fun things, some family things and more than usual meetings etc.
On Friday I decided to patrol the ward, as I do regularly these days. I stopped at the library to see what was going on in the Community Hub. But as I pulled in I saw an alarming and rather bizarre scene. A police car was wedged under a civilian car in Windmill Road. It looked bad, but people who had been there before me - there was someone from the NHS caravan right on the scene - told me the only injury was to a little girl who had lost a tooth. I was there about midday but there were about 6 police cars, 3 ambulances, a paramedic car and a fire engine in attendance (as well as the starring cop car). This seemed a touch excessive, though there were obviously roads to be closed etc. What actually shocked me was that the road was still blocked at 10.30pm .
In the library I took a look at the Community Hub. There was nobody there bar some council officers, who observed it was 'slow' today. They are always strong in defending the idea, and I do understand the idea, but I'm not convinced it is working in Brentford.
Later Friday, next was a visit to Bell Square in Hounslow for a show put on by a Polish group called Lost Dreams. This was under the Creative People and Places banner and organised by the team who used to run the Watermans. These are surprisingly good - I have been to half a dozen now. Always outside (preferably without the rain provided on Friday) and always very original. This was a mime, I suppose - good for those whose Polish is scanty - and was about the works of Kafka, an author I discovered at school and have always enjoyed. Can't say I understood it in depth (but Kafka is a bit like that anyway) but it was fascinating - sometimes fun, sometimes a bit scary, often both.
Sunday started with our collective surgery, which is usually me Katherine Dunne and Dan Bowring. Variable people come and mostly not from my ward, but it's nice to chew the fat with councillors I like and respect, because many of my concerns are shared across Brentford, especially related to the town centre which is mostly in Dan and Katherine's ward.
The Sunday Social Community Day was running at the same time. I couldn't remember the correct name for this special day so I Googled and came across this rather fun picture from yesterday. Two teenage MPs (in the making) with the non-teenage Labour and ex-councillor Ron Bartholomew at a market by the health centre in Brentford. I don't recognise the other man in the photo and I have no idea when it was, except December 6th. The year isn't mentioned. Of course Ruth and Seema still look like teenagers, and Ron - umm - a bit more mature.
Anyway, back to the present: lots going on in the Market Square. Was finally lured onto the rowing machine. I thought I would be hopeless at it with my dodgy shoulders, but actually I was OK and made a mental note to do some of that when I go back to the gym.
But the stars for sure were the community acts. The Speak Out troupe are always a real joy and I could not wipe the smile off my face. Then these little ones came on and did a lovely (and very well-rehearsed) dance. I love Brentford and its great community groups.
But there was more on Sunday. Back to Bell Square for more from the Polish group. Standing around in the Square, first thing I noticed was a bloke with a very pasty face. This was the first bit of Monsieur Chaplin. It was funny all the way through. Talented mime artists doing a Charlie Chaplin spoof.
On Monday I was starting my new community engagement idea. I am going to host a periodic coffee morning to try out a new way of engaging with residents. I am starting close to home by inviting the High Street and a couple of streets near it. I will be having the first event on Saturday 18th October at the Spire Cafe in St Paul's Church. I am delivering invites to about 400 homes. I have no idea if this will work but surgeries are poorly attended so it would be great if a few people (or more!) come for a chat.
On Monday evening it was the Area Forum in the Free Church. Last time I couldn't hear what people were saying. A friend of mine said he could hear well using the Loop system, so I made sure I had that on my hearing aids. It works perfectly at the council offices, but sadly mine don't work at all at the church. I was OK during the presentations, because there were subtitles that I could read, and these were pretty good, But I couldn't hear a lot of what residents said, even when they used a microphone. I got a bit over-excited talking about the empty shops - still not one open in the council owned block and still a lot free in Ballymore. And the old Housing Office is still empty after at least 4 years empty. And we have some free places in Ferry Quays still and we will soon have 2, and later 6 more in the old Heidelberg site, now known as Printmakers Yard. All I can do is keep trying. Dan read out a response I had received from the regeneration team but I'm afraid I am very sceptical about what's happening there.
Theo Dennison got excited about CIL - the developers' contribution to local infrastructure. I actually agree with Theo about this (though I don't like his way of saying it!) because I believe the 15% of this (large) amount of funds should be decided locally as the rules say. Hounslow have decided it is all decided by the Leader and/or cabinet which I think is very unjust. Theo is an expert because 7 years ago when he was on Cabinet he controlled it. To be honest it didn't work very well then either but I did persuade him to find some funds for a project I wanted which became the short-lived (but I hope back soon) Timber Wharf Walk.
A friend of mine said I should avoid getting angry because people don't like me doing that. I'm sure that is right, and it is not how I prefer to conduct myself. But I do get het up sometimes. I will try to be good!
On Tuesday I spent a couple of hours delivering invites for my coffee morning. I enjoy that, because I meet various local people on my walks. Including our local 'barrow walker' who was having a rest on Albany Road and chomping a doughnut and chatting to a local. I thought he had done a good job around there - no litter in sight!
In the evening it was the Council Meeting. I confess I find it pretty tedious with the political posturing on all sides, which rarely contribute to the world's wisdom. I decided to make a short comment on the proposal to make voting easier. Before I started this life of politician I spent an hour or two with a friend of mine walking Green Dragon Lane encouraging people who weren't enrolled to get on the electoral register. I suppose my friend had got hold of the register and we were knocking on doors without voters. Turnout for voting is poor, particularly for council elections. Above all, I believe in democracy, currently rather a delicate flower, and anything that helps people to vote is good in my book. Of course the Conservatives and at least one of my fellow Independents were against it.
On Wednesday I had agreed to be one of the interviewers for trustees of the Hounslow Community FoodBox. This is personal for me because I have decided to step down: I have been a trustee there for a long time and new blood is needed. Over Wednesday and Thursday we interviewed 3 candidates, all very strong, and there are a couple more in the pipeline, mostly local.
After that I went up to Orchard Road, where I have been trying to secure extra parking spaces. In the days of Lara, we were promised a new car park but despite me chasing it all the time, it has not been delivered because of legal issues. I met with a couple of locals and toured (again) the garage area between Orchard and Glenhurst roads.
I admit to being a fan of TV shows about old cars and they sometimes feature 'barn finds'
Well - here's one.
With my encyclopaedic knowledge of old bangers I am very annoyed with myself that I cannot identify this one. Any suggestions on a postcard please. Probably worth £257,000 once restored. Or not.
Today, Thursday, I was up the top of Boston Manor Road. One of the houses there is being taken over by triffids which come from the allotments across the border in Ealing. The people who live there are at their wits' end, as am I. I have therefore suggested we start a claim in the small claim court, so I went up to talk to them. They have drafted a claim which I have now and will take it to court if I can't get a sensible response out of Ealing. It's not only Trump who can make threats and I am not a LACO like Trump. He is now said to be a TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out). I have made my first move and we'll see how Ealing responds. Exciting. I have been to the Small Claims Court 3 times - success once, success on behalf of a resident once (though we bottled out in the end because the company had no assets to pay for the bailiffs), success grabbed from the jaws of failure once. A fellow needs a hobby, but more importantly I really want to get these nice people a result.
After that, some more nice people with some problems with the grounds around their council flats. Good response from a council officer and I hope we will get a result there too.
Oh, one I forgot, and one that I also need to do more on. I hadn’t heard of Yarn By The Water but she has had a fine which I think is terribly unjustified. I need to go and engage again with the council on her behalf. Anyway, if you need help with knitting, this lady will help you
It's got very late, after a FoodBox trustee meeting tonight and anyway I have nothing more to offer you tonight.
Councillor Guy Lambert
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