No Break from Politics and Looking Forward to 2024

Chiswick Homefields councillor Gerald McGregor reports back


Cllr Gerald McGregor

February 4, 2024

Reporting Back: Council Work
Holding a surgery last Saturday led to a set of follow ups and concerns this week. This week’s case load included severe overcrowding in a two-bedroomed flat and other housing problems including council repairs not completed and damp setting in, being priced out of a property, plus more positively the opportunity to support youth club activities and engage with active charity volunteers.

Reporting Back: Crime and Policing
In my previous blog I mentioned that giving support to the Metropolitan Police Service and their officers is another area where good intelligence and co-operation leads to better briefings and understanding the actions and responses by the local Hounslow and Acton based police team,

More common crimes
Recent events have shed light on the challenges faced by the police force in addressing the efficiency and effectiveness of the current policing model. Local residents on Chiswick High Road bravely took film footage of two men raiding Boots the Chemists and stealing thousands of pounds worth of cosmetics and perfumes by clearing shelves into large shopping bags and brazenly walking out.

This larceny on a grand scale creates problems in a well
ordered society; ensuring detection and prosecution requires resources and public support for our police and justice system.

The local council can play a pivotal role in advocating for increased resources and technological upgrades to enhance the police force's ability to respond promptly to urgent situations, thereby addressing a critical aspect of public safety and protecting our businesses.

On a wider point Cllr Ron Mushiso (Conservative Candidate for the London Assembly) and I believe the police should be given further support to carry out Stop and Search in our Borough. Susan Hall AM (Conservative Candidate for Mayor of London) has already pledged £200 million to support our Met Police in tackling crime.

These recent events have brought to the forefront the need for a critical revaluation of the police and crime situation in Hounslow. The challenges faced by the borough demand collaborative action from both the police force and the local council. By acknowledging contemporary issues, such as the recent surge in crime and concerns about community engagement, Hounslow has an opportunity to emerge as a model of effective urban policing.

This is why the Conservative Group have constantly called for the creation of a Law Enforcement team in our borough, calls which have been constantly rejected by the Labour Administration.

The road ahead may be challenging, but with transparency, collaboration, and a commitment to positive change, Hounslow can navigate these challenges and build a safer and more secure environment for all its residents. Recent fatal events have highlighted the danger of knife crime in Hounslow to ordinary law-abiding citizens’ and the challenge it represents the whole borough's diverse and dynamic communities face contemporary issues that demand not only scrutiny of process but also greater collaborative efforts from both the police force and the local council.

Murder is uncommon but two recent instances have unsettled Feltham and Hanworth.

24-year-old Tyreece Scott was found stabbed near the Treaty Centre in Grove Road the early morning of Tuesday, 16 January and died at the scene. 19-year-old Tyler Donnelly, from Feltham was found dead from knife wounds in Hanworth Park in Feltham on Thursday, 25 January.

My condolences go out to the families of the victims and I hope justice is served quickly and thoroughly.

Cllr Gerald McGregor

gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk

07866 784821

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2024

Thursday, 15th February 2024 at 7:00pm Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Tuesday, 20th February 2024 at 7:00pm Cabinet

Tuesday 27 February 2024 at 7:30pm Borough Council budget-setting meeting

THEN:

6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB

During weekends, residents can still access council services on-line or via emergency numbers:
To inform the council of an emergency, please call 020 8583 2222

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES

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 takes this surgery). 

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS and CONTACTS

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

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 Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823

Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 395810  

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.