Cross-Party Work For Chiswick's First Cherry Blossom Street Party
Cllr Sam Hearn on his week dealing with local issues
Thursday, 27th February 2020: At an early morning meeting with residents who are applying for conservation area status for their well-defined area of Chiswick Riverside ward. The council’s consultation on the borough’s conservation areas closed in December but it was good to see that, as the report for Cabinet is still being prepared, the officer concerned has applied some common sense.
Friday, 28th February: At St Mary’s Church Hall, Hatton Road, Bedfont, Feltham to attend a public meeting ostensibly about Heathrow’s Third Runway proposal and its impact on Feltham. The Appeal Court decision had changed the whole context for the meeting. It turned out that that it had been organised by a group dedicated to campaigning against ALL immigration detention centres. Many local residents left when they realised the political nature of the meeting. Nevertheless, for those of us who do not believe the fight is over yet, it is important to realise that Heathrow’s plans for the Third Runway necessitate the closure of immigration detention centres at Harmondsworth and Colnbrook and the construction of an enormous new detention centre in Feltham. This is strongly opposed by our Feltham Councillor Kuldeep Tak. We urge Hounslow Council not to change the green belt status of the proposed site for the detention centre and to oppose any development consent order (DCO) relating to the site that Heathrow Ltd may submit.
Saturday, 29th February 2020: A day for catching up on casework. As always, a wide range of subjects from council tenants wanting to swap properties to enforcement issues. As I have mentioned before, we have a trader who, despite enforcement notices and police raids, is still selling alcohol to minors and illegal tobacco products (under the counter).
Sunday, 1st March: Out helping Chiswick Homefields ward deliver targeted survey leaflets. The Mayoral/GLA elections are on 7th May but very few residents seem to have the date in their diaries. Our local GLA candidate, Nick Rogers, has been campaigning hard since he was selected last year but the South West London constituency covers a huge area.
Monday, 2nd March: Into central London to visit the Tutankhamun exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery and on for a meal with family and friends to celebrate my wife’s birthday. The exhibition was hugely impressive and it is hard to beat Howard Carter’s now legendary exclamation that he could see “wonderful things”.
Tuesday, 3rd March: After literally years of cross-party lobbying, TfL has agreed to transfer ownership of an arch under Kew Bridge to Hounslow council for it to be used as a new footway. As of today, the council is consulting on which of two options residents would prefer. Click on the link if you wish to learn more and help the council make the right choice. Not all residents are happy and emails are already dropping into my in-box.
Wednesday, 4th March: At Hounslow House (our new civic centre) for a Conservative Councillors’ Group meeting. Always good to focus our attention on up-coming consultations and on-going issues such as the delays caused by TfL’s roadworks at Kew Bridge and the closure of Hammersmith Bridge. The council has just begun the second phase of the consultation on its Liveable Neighbourhoods project. It ends on 31st March so please do not delay in looking at the plans for the so-called Grove Park Piazza and making your views known.
Artist’s impression of the so-called Grove Park Piazza
Thursday 5th March: Into Hounslow House to discuss my ideas for the work programme of Hounslow Pensions Board. After four years it is a good time to reflect on the board’s corporate governance and officers have helpfully provided comparisons with other councils’ pensions boards. Out in the evening for a meeting of the Staveley Road Blossom Day steering group. Everything appears to be coming together for a fantastic street party in Staveley Road on the afternoon of Sunday, 19th April. In Chiswick’s best traditions, Conservative, Labour and Green party activists and those with no party affiliation are working together constructively. All we can hope for now is for the street’s famous cherry blossom to appear on cue and for the weather to be kind. We are still looking for volunteers – so contact us at contact@blossomdayw4.org.uk and for more information see: http://www.blossomdayw4.org.uk/
DATES FOR DIARIES
· Borough Council: Tuesday, 31st March at 7.30pm at Hounslow House.
· Chiswick Area Forum: Tuesday, 28th April at 7.00pm at Chiswick Town Hall
SURGERIES
· Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick library, upstairs in the private room.
· Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Triangle Club, The Ridgeway, W3 8LN, usually a group discussion but privacy can be arranged.
Councillor Sam Hearn Chiswick Riverside ward Email: sam.hearn@hounslow.gov.uk Phone: 078333 76222
March 9, 2020