Launching a Campaign to Win SouthWest London Seat on GLA

Chiswick Gunnersbury councillor Ron Mushiso reports back


Tony Devenish MLA and Cllr Ron Mushiso

March 24, 2024

To our Princess of Wales

On behalf of the Conservative group in the London Borough of Hounslow, we extend our prayers and best wishes to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales as she navigates her way through her cancer treatment, particularly balancing everything with her responsibilities as a mother to three young children. We wish her a full and a speedy recovery.

Campaign Launch

Yesterday, I launched my GLA campaign ahead of the London-wide Mayoral Race on May 2nd, 2024. Most of London are aware that it’s Susan Hall against the incumbent Mayor Sadiq Khan, who is seeking a third term in office. Voters will weigh his performance on critical issues affecting Londoners. Locally, you just have to glance at our shops and you will see that a wave of crime, and the fear of crime, has gripped our local community. Then we have what I could only call an imposition on anyone that relies on their cars. If it is not ULEZ that gets you, it's a ticket for making the wrong turn into a road that was once so familiar to you.

The local Labour administration has gone on record countless times to declare that they do not want us to drive. Yet most Labour councillors and candidates have cars, sometimes two and I know another who has three.

Just like when I went back to Bududa earlier this year, I remind myself of my humble beginning growing up in thatched roof mud hut. I wanted to officially launch my campaign in the heart of Hounslow. This is where I first moved to as that traumatised 12 year old, 30 years ago. Some of you will know that my upbringing was not without its trials, including the challenges of learning a new language and adapting to a new culture.

Hounslow is where I returned yesterday to meet my supporters and greet my biological father who made the effort to be at my launch. It is only the second time that he has been out with me on the campaign trail, but I know how proud he is of how far I have come. It was a bittersweet moment, but important moment for both of us, nonetheless.

Coming to Hounslow also served as an opportunity to challenge my Labour friends directly on “their patch”. I wanted to speak directly with residents who may have voted for Sadiq Khan in the past but this time, given the ULEZ expansion, have pledged to switch to me because they are tired of being ignored. I wanted to talk to them and to show how committed to their cause I am, and that I would work with Susan Hall to scrap the ULEZ expansion from day one. I intend to lead from the front, embodying the proactive, visible, and collaborative style of governance that I seek to bring to City Hall.

Winning the London Assembly seat to represent Chiswick and South West London would be the pinnacle of my journey—a journey that began as a first-generation immigrant from Uganda. I will always remember, that it was the support of my school in Hounslow, the social services and six foster placements in the space of 3 years, that gave me the opportunity to be here today. There is no better way to say thank you to the community of people that raised me, than to serve. That is my GLA campaign in a nutshell.

I owe a debt of gratitude to London, its boroughs, and its people. Serving as a Chiswick Councillor has been an honour, and I see my candidacy for the London Assembly as an extension of my commitment to giving back to South West London.

Cllr Mushiso on the campaign trail
Cllr Mushiso on the campaign trail

Addressing Crime

The rise in antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, drug-related incidents, and vehicle thefts in Chiswick demands urgent attention. As a witness to two car break-ins myself in recent months here in Chiswick, I share the community's concern and frustration. Public meetings with law enforcement have provided a platform for voicing our worries, but tangible solutions are needed.

Proposals for police hubs and increased enforcement patrols were rejected by this labour administration, but we are going back to the drawing board with a new plan. We are in the early process of speaking with our safer neighbourhood teams before any concrete plans are made public. Rest assured, we are committed to being proactive in finding ways to address these pressing issues.

Hammersmith Bridge

Next month marks a significant anniversary for residents impacted by the closure of Hammersmith Bridge: It will be five years since the problems began. Since then, we have had partial reopening to pedestrians and cyclists. The recently reopening to cyclists on the 13th February was a moment of celebration for many including pedestrians. I am impressed with the smooth new surface of the cycle path. This temporary measure is essential for school children, cyclists and commuters on foot, but we want a permanent solution.

Despite the urgency of the situation, efforts between Transport for London (TfL) and the Labour-run Hammersmith and Fulham Council to reopen the bridge have been frustratingly slow. While interim solutions have allowed pedestrians and cyclists to traverse the bridge, thanks in part to substantial financial support from the central government, a long-term solution has remained elusive. The need for a comprehensive resolution that facilitates the full reopening of the bridge for all types of traffic, especially emergency services and buses, has become increasingly apparent.

Our response is a new initiative that’s been launched by local MP and Minister for London, Greg Hands, alongside colleagues and Conservative Parliamentary candidates Sara Gezdari, Cllr Andrew Dinsmore, Lee Roberts, and the London Assembly member for West Central, Tony Devenish AM. This initiative proposes a significant change in the management and ownership of Hammersmith Bridge. The group is advocating for the bridge's ownership to be transferred from the Hammersmith and Fulham Council to Transport for London (TfL). This move is a crucial step towards breaking the current deadlock and ensuring the bridge reopens as soon as possible.

I urge you all to support our petition so that we work pressure task the next Mayor and TfL with taking vital step ending this five-year stalemate.

Reassessing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

Sometimes you just have to concede when something isn’t working. That is the case in point with many of the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) across London. There are stories of them being ripped out all over London. Not so with this Hounslow Labour administration. Would they see beyond party politics and do right thing? Don’t hold your breath.

While intended to reduce traffic and promote alternative modes of transport, the efficacy of LTNs has been questionable at best. The feedback I get tends highlights concerns about increased congestion, pollution, and insufficient consultations.

Finally, what is the point of maintaining the LTN restriction at the weekend. With parents trying to get their children to sports grounds, gyms, and swimming pools. What causes uphold these weekend impositions. Families just cannot catch a break!

An independent review of LTNs is imperative, and it needs to be guided by data and modelling. Its also needs to consider, the two things that has been overlooked in all of this. Local democratic accountability and community led input. As a prospective Assembly member, I will advocate for transparency and local accountability. Hounslow Labour may have their strong leader model, but in Chiswick we put resident first.

Looking Ahead

As the May 2nd election approaches, I urge to consider the future of borough. Lets imagine for second what may happen to the next troubled 12 years who grows up community where, she cannot access sports facilities at weekend, where she see local democracy being taken for granted and people views are being ignored. What will she make of that and where would she be 30 years from now

Cllr Ron Mushiso

ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk

07976 702887

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tuesday 26 March 2024 at 7:30pm Borough Council

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 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  

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