Still Hanging On Despite Predictions To The Contrary
Chiswick Homefields ward councillor John Todd reports back on his week
Cllr John Todd
I survived! The forecasters/ polls advised that we were to be wiped out.
It was hard work canvassing but most valuable in meeting so many constituents who I’d emailed regarding casework but never actually met. Whilst collecting vote card numbers at the polls I met yet again a staff member of a large corporate firm of city solicitors who I’d met in Cluj Romania years ago when we built a small house for a homeless family a project organised by Habitat for Humanity.
Our local street party celebrating the Queen's Platinum celebrations was attended by 300 plus residents and the Mayor. A truly memorable event.
The Stamford Brook Residents' Association invited me to unveil a wonderful wooden bench on the green a most enjoyable event well attended
Some years earlier, when I initiated the installation of a new children’s playground, we fenced a small area around the playground's perimeter.
The huge increase in dog walkers on the green, including professionals, in my view now requires the playground fencing to be significantly expanded. LBH are reviewing this suggestion which is endorsed by many local residents.
Dukes Meadow Footbridge
The main section of the bridge, some 30 metres long, arrives on the 22 nd July. It is coming from Tilbury on the Thames carried on a huge pontoon.
Most of the five supporting piers are built. A significant increase in silt in the pier dams delayed the project.
Here’s some photographs
Pier location
Devonshire Road has an interesting new addition. A mural by ALWA. It’s certainly stopping people in their tracks. Over powering colour.
Community Volunteers
Robert Stephenson-Padron O.B.E.
Robert is one of our Ward Hounslow Environmental Champions. We’re delighted he’s received an honour.
He is frequently seen near the Hogarth Roundabout litter picking and helping LBH find the owners of unoccupied buildings scarred by graffiti.
Trevor Bradley is another valued local Homefield resident He studied atmospheric chemistry at Cambridge, and is now a member of Hounslow’s Cleaner and Greener Community Reference Group. His suggestion regarding access charging points for electric vehicles follows: “The Council’s own data shows that to reach net zero in 2030, 17% of the Borough wide reduction in carbon emissions will come from the transition to electric vehicles. That’s over four times that expected from “modal shift” to walking or cycling. The public is clearly onside with this – 48% of new cars sold in April this year had an electric component, but only 11% were fully electric. Consumers are relying on hybrids because they can’t rely on charging a fully electric vehicle. ‘Range anxiety’ no longer exists; it’s ‘charging anxiety’ that’s the problem and understandably so. I usually have to visit 10-12 of Hounslow’s lamppost charging points before I find one that is vacant. They are not being used, but typically have a diesel car parked next to them blocking access. Hammersmith & Fulham have solved this problem by marking out a single bay next to lamppost charging points for use only by electric vehicles that are charging. It’s a no-brainer to increase the take up of electric vehicles, improve our air quality and reduce carbon emissions.”
I’ve raised this suggestion with officers.
Council related issues
Matters on my hot list include probing why LBH has 518 empty council house some being empty for over two years. The latter requires LBH to pay 150% council tax. Some of these empty properties are used for temporary accommodation but not a significant amount.
We have one children’s home in Hounslow which was the subject of an adverse report in 2021. I’m pestering the Executive Director of Children’s services to grant access to Councillors to visit the home, a well established precedent now regrettably lapsed. He has promised to implement.
No councillor visited this home in 2021. The Cabinet member advised he had Covid. He has a cabinet assistant who could have visited. I’m promised a favourable response but the time delay is unacceptable
Large trees
We’ve been overwhelmed with residents asking for street trees to be reduced in size and volume.
Here’s an example in Beverley Road W4 finally being reduced. Note the huge height and the proximity to the adjacent house.
We’re advised service will improve!
Cllr John Todd
Chiswick Homefields ward
SURGERIES IN CHISWICK AND GUNNERSBURY
We are back to our usual routine of holding face-to-face surgeries in Chiswick and in Gunnersbury. Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the eight Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn).
Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors take this surgery).
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Tuesday, 5th July at 7pm: Cabinet
Tuesday, 19th July at 7pm: Borough Council
Tuesday, 1st September at 7pm: Overview and scrutiny committee
Tuesday, 13th September at 7pm: Chiswick Area Forum
COUNCILLORS
Chiswick Homefields ward
Cllr Jack Emsley jack.emsley@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 396017
Cllr Gerald McGregor gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784821
Cllr John Todd john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784651
Chiswick Riverside ward
Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk
Cllr Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823
Chiswick Gunnersbury (was Turnham Green) ward
Cllr Joanna Biddolph joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 703446
Cllr Ranjit Gill ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702956
Cllr Ron Mushiso ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702887
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |
June 20, 2022