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

Dukes Meadow walkway construction

Dukes Meadow walkway pier location
Pier location

Devonshire Road has an interesting new addition. A mural by ALWA. It’s certainly stopping people in their tracks. Over powering colour.

Devonshire Road mural

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!

tree pollarding Beverley Road

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

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June 20, 2022