Forum Topic

Hounslow Councillor and LCC Member Guy Lambert confirms contempt for Chiswick and all residents

This is appalling.Just seen Hounslow Councillor Guy Lamberts blog of 29 April. He actually shows his true contempt for Chiswick with his line "Our attempts to destroy Chiswick are beginning to bear fruit".This shows his true ill-feelings to all that live and work in Chiswick.  It is disgraceful, bullying, insulting, disrespectful, abusive and threatening and a breach of his Duty of Care to all. 

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 2005d138 Comments

Never a truer word said in jest

Nick Jenkins ● 2005d

Ombudsman called in it seems“ You will pleased to know that the Local Government Ombudsman have confirmed that they will investigate London Borough of Hounslow Councillors Conflicts of Interest.  This investigation will be part of a formal complaint that the LGO is investigating, into only one Hounslow Streetspace scheme.  The investigation initially centres on those Councillors, with strong ties either through membership of, or through association with the London Cycling Campaign, representing less than 0.1% of the population.  It raises significant questions as to the competence of those Councillors and why they ignored their own surveys against the schemes (94% against), the views of the Emergency Services against, the vulnerable, such as the Elderly or those with disabilities, the increased pollution, or that a number of retail businesses would close due to the Hounslow Streetspace measures (whilst a few coffee shops or cafe may benefit on a sunny weekend afternoon).”

Russell Pearson ● 2005d

Glad to hear it. When I wonder?

Claire Moran ● 2005d

Lambert's remarks are appalling but not surprising. He and any others of his clique should be suspended from council duties (and handouts) immediately. It also reinforces the view that the original decision to make Chiswick part of Hounslow was disastrous for Chiswick.

Colin Jordan ● 2005d

Next year we have an opportunity to vote out Curran, Lambert, Khan, Dunne and the others.This year we can get rid of Sadiq Khan so vote strategically which may conflict with your political leaning, but starving LB Hounslow of support of a Labour Mayor of London has to be the way forward imo

Loraine Pemberton ● 2005d

It's a joke for cripes sake. Whilst I don't agree with his view I'm pleased to see him trying to introduce a bit of humour into an issue which people are taking all to seriously.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 2005d

Apologies, I didn't realise Cllr Lambert was being humorous, but it seems I wasn't alone in that opinion.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2005d

Reading his blog in full might help "outraged" of Chiswick to see the remarks in the context of a photo of Devonshire Road filled with outdoor diners and drinkers.

John Connelly ● 2005d

As the review to the ombudsman notes“ It raises significant questions as to the competence of those Councillors and why they ignored their own surveys against the schemes (94% against), the views of the Emergency Services against, the vulnerable, such as the Elderly or those with disabilities, the increased pollution, or that a number of retail businesses would close due to the Hounslow Streetspace measures (whilst a few coffee shops or cafe may benefit on a sunny weekend afternoon).  Further questions arise:  Did they abuse and continue to abuse their power ignoring all democratic processes and those important aspects of local governance, such as area groups.Did they take account of the impact of the tailbacks on Chiswick Lane, resulting in standstill traffic on the flyover at the Hogarth Roundabout, as witnessed last week.  Will the Council soon be facing the headline “Hounslow Council Horror Show - as the Hogarth flyover collapses”.  Should the focus of measures be in other parts of Hounslow, such as Hounslow itself and Heston, Brentford and Feltham, where car ownership and usage is much higher, and which reports by the Councils own Traffic Consultants suggest it is these areas where the greatest gains could be achieved, not in Chiswick.Recent FOIs have shown the depth of the relationship between a few Councillors and Officers and the London Cycling Campaign.  Those FOIs also demonstrate that the Council is prepared to waste staggering amounts of money on schemes that are in the interest of the few, whilst at the expense of the many.This is bad value for money and starts to raise significant concerns that the Council is not only failing in it’s duty of care to residents and that a number of Councillors are failing to adhere to the 7 Nolan Principles but more generally that Hounslow Council is also failing in it’s best value duty.  That matter is also for the Local Government Ombudsman to consider and ultimately could be a matter for the Secretary of State.”

Russell Pearson ● 2005d

Its called rubbing salt in the wound Jeremy.

Janice Evans ● 2005d

Russell - is this all really true - I do hope so.  It is long overdue so here's hoping after this Bank Holiday Mr Ombudsman will get on with it fast.

Jennifer selig ● 2005d

Kind of humour I find amusing actually.

Janice Evans ● 2004d

'It's a joke for cripes sake.Whilst I don't agree with his view I'm pleased to see him trying to introduce a bit of humour into an issue which people are taking all to seriously.'Guy's blogs are written very tongue in cheek, Chiswickians can be a tad oversensitive at times.

Vanessa Smith ● 2004d

I believe so Jennifer - Cllr Lambert had remarked “Mission accomplished” re the destructive policies on Chiswick, and then leaned about the ombudsman taking an interest. He was a tad upset I understand - sensitive soul that he is...

Russell Pearson ● 2004d

Councillor makes joke shocker ...

Carl Wynne ● 2004d

Good joke. So many easy opportunities when the opposition is so hysterical and fatalistic all the time. Devonshire Road looking awesome again this afternoon. Guy's blogs are good and a lot better to read than the bone-dry misery catalogues of the others.

Paul Campbell ● 2004d

I am not sure what I think about this remark, a joke maybe,(ha bloody ha) but remember, many a true word spoken in jest.I won't hide the fact I have little respect for this individual and I  am often left wondering after reading his adventures with Little Pony what he actually achieves.It seems to me it's not alot.

Adrian Irving ● 2004d

"This is appalling. Just seen Hounslow Councillor Guy Lamberts blog of 29 April. He actually shows his true contempt for Chiswick with his line "Our attempts to destroy Chiswick are beginning to bear fruit"." Jonathan Mabbutt This is the kind of thing people say in an argument when they know they're in trouble and have nothing of substance to argue back with. Obviously out of context (see below) and Guy was actually criticising the doom mongers on here by holding up the example of Devonshire Road. If you said that losing a single car parking space would result in the closure of most of the retail establishments in a road, then it is bloody inconvenient if that space is being enthusiastically used by local businesses to drive custom and footfall, while the lack of cars has made it a nicer road for just about everyone.

Ed Saper ● 2004d

Jonathan. Cannot agree with your comments. Chiswick really is a dump and needs a facelift to bring it in line withthe rest of this illustrious Borough of Hounslow. There is a long long way to go. What a shambles !

Chris Vessey ● 2004d

If ever a phrase was clearly tongue-in-cheek, it's that. But there's no hope for the terminally humourless.

Susan Kelly ● 2004d

From the LbH Constitution, the Code of Conduct is clear.  In wanting to destroy Chiswick Cllr Lambert is failing in his duties.

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 2004d

Not for the first time on here I am amazed how many people seem blind to wit or irony and doggedly determined to accept only the literal meaning of sentences taken out of context.

Alastair Banton ● 2004d

But he doesn’t want to destroy Chiswick. You are just being a pillock pretending he does.

Ed Saper ● 2004d

Devonshire Road at 3pm yesterday. If Guy is intent on destroying Chiswick then his efforts have backfired spectacularly. https://twitter.com/PauloCampbell/status/1388494192813432835?s=20

Paul Campbell ● 2004d

This is the same man that boasted in a previous blog that having shouted in the face of a motorist who had annoyed him, words to the effect; " he (the motorist) will be sorry if I am asymptomatic"When I challenged him over this, he refused to see anything wrong or apologise for his crass remarks.Says all you need to know about this individual does it not.

Adrian Irving ● 2004d

'Says all you need to know about this individual does it not.'It does. He tells us he inclined to the occasional bit of dark humour

Mark Evans ● 2004d

I’m now unsure whether the  few “Destroying Chiswick” posters still up in diminishing number of shops should be taken literally, ironically or comically.

Tom Pike ● 2004d

so Devonshire justifies all the changes, it's not busy those people would be sitting inside if not for Covid and who really wants to sit in the street.

Janice Evans ● 2004d

'..those people would be sitting inside if not for Covid..'  Indeed, and once Covid is over all these ostensibly 'experimental' Covid-inspired.traffic schemes can be done away with.

Peter Evans ● 2004d

Dis you know Heathrow is introducing more flight paths in 2022

Janice Evans ● 2004d

“ so Devonshire justifies all the changes”No. One success with Devonshire does not justify all the Streetspace changes. Likewise, one failure elsewhere doesn’t justify the removal of all the streetspace schemes and cycle lane. However, given the apocryphal warnings from many on here about the decimation of retail if we lose a single parking space, it is a helpful example of where deprioritising cars and reprioritising local businesses, customers and residents can work ( even if the change is initially resisted by them!).

Ed Saper ● 2004d

Dont think that more planes are coming over chiswick in more directions. That is not the case, but narrow flight paths out to the north north/east so if you suffer from easterly departures out to the north/east you may in the future suffer from arrivals on that path which means they can land on both runways in a westerly arrival. Your certainly suffer more towards ealing inwards. That is how i read the info a few years ago on a 2 runway parallel operation

Julian Pavey ● 2004d

Cllr Lambert put  parenthesis around a quote that is often used on this forum by those who do not vote Labour.  It comes in many forms but always in the text is some sort of click bait term about how poor Chiswick who is not served by the council who do everything wrong.  Of course Cllr Lambert would be upset about an LGO enquiry so would you if it was aimed at you personally and called into question your integrity.  What I would like to know is which one of the children on here did criminal damage to an opponents garden in a very threatening manner and is anyone going to give them up for it?    C'mon which one of you  thinks threatening behaviour is funny.?  Why is it that you are so angry with the council about this when the real culprit is a cycling fan who works for Johnson and did when he was Mayor of London.  What was his brief?  LTNs and safe cycling.  As for interest accusations, I am afraid that unless someone gained financially from their interest then it will be viewed by the LGO as not a problem.  The idea that you can "vote them out"  is problematic for you as the borough is in the main Labour voters except for Chiswick.  So I ask again where were the Cllrs representing W4 when the ideas were first discussed.?  Why is it that a Cllr from Brentford is the person getting the blame all the time?  I would encourage people to look on the LBH website and find the council minutes and see who said what.  Then maybe people would not be having a hissy fit over a joke about the most prolific quote made by many on this forum.

Caroline Carney ● 2004d

Possibly Julian, they have not said or don't know yet exactly.

Janice Evans ● 2004d

They did a few years ago You are limited to what you can do

Julian Pavey ● 2004d

Cllr Lambert’s comedic skills, both online and in office, are well recognised. The question is, is he in breach of the constitution re the conflict of interest., etc.

Russell Pearson ● 2004d

Ed, you are speculating, it is early days, if it does improve with time and proof from business in Devonshire that is when we can agree.

Janice Evans ● 2004d

Do think it important that things are given time or we don't get a true picture.

Janice Evans ● 2004d

Thank you, Paulo, for posting this tweet.It proves a few things:1.) Tom Pike staged a photo op of DR last week showing these very same bike rack things chock-a-block full of bikes. Something that has never happened in a year bar that photo op. Your video proves they remain unused and therefore unnecessary. I know the tweet Tom referred to begged for more cycle parking, but it was taken at a crafty angle (not the first time) neglecting to include the ample unused cycle parking on the opposite side of DR along with that damn cargo bike that lives on the pavement. 2.) At best its safe to say Cllr Lambert is attempting to take credit for something he has absolutely no involvement with. When last we checked, it was the the Conservative government which put in place COVID-related schemes that resulted in what is now seen on DR. We also know Cllr Lambert has never once engaged with any local business so he couldn't possibly know what they need, want or think.  As for his tone, I think it comes from the top down in LBH and we've seen one too many examples of Cabinet leadership being belligerent and pugnacious all supposedly in the name of humor. I do so love when everyone jumps on the humor bandwagon especially when none exists. For my money, I'd like to read something from Guy along these lines of "I met with Chiswick residents, businesses and councillors to discuss the next best steps to benefit all in their community as we continue on the road to recovery." Also for my money, I know he is incapable of such.

David Lesniak ● 2003d

"the decimation of retail if we lose a single parking space"Pretty hard to conclude anything, Ed, when retail has only been able to re-open in a limited fashion for the past two weeks. Hospitality also limited to a fraction of their capacity. Some not even open for trade yet.

David Lesniak ● 2003d

I saw Cllr Lambert on his bike waiting for the light on Annandale Road. This after the measures were put in place on Devonshire and the temporary cycle lane was put in place. Traffic on CHR was a mess. I thought it odd Cllr Lambert didn't choose DR given all the hype (or his own making I might add). I walked in front of his bike as I had the right of way - although on Annandale at the cross walk its really anyone's guess. I said to him "doesn't really seem to be working Guy, now does it?" And all I got back was an angry scowl. Guess he missed the joke.

David Lesniak ● 2003d

Yes Mark,joking about infecting someone with Covid is a real hoot.Jesus, Mark you really think this is acceptable from an elected counsellor? Unbelievable.I tell you if he worked for me he would have got his marching orders for being my company into disrepute.

Adrian Irving ● 2003d

So who belongs to all the other organisations eg trades unions and motoring organisations eg AA and RAC who may have lobbied against any changes car van and lorry related?Mums for Lungs were interesting in who they felt were lobbying against changes that would reduce air pollution and there was another group who lobbied against the Fuel Price Escalator which was introduced to reduce road traffic and pollution years ago.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_Price_Escalator Since then the UK has lobbied the EU to get the figures for illegal pollution levels increased so that the dire situation in the UK would not seem so bad and also been taken to the High Court and lost several times because of Govt inability to reduce the levels.How long have our pollution levels been exceeding UN levels?

Philippa Bond ● 2003d

I’m happy to give it time and make a decision on the merits or otherwise. If only everyone was as open minded and happy to give the other streetspace experiments, LTNs and cycle lane the same opportunity to prove themselves.

Ed Saper ● 2003d

...bringing my company.....

Adrian Irving ● 2003d

I didn’t even take the photo, let alone ‘stage’ it! Do you really believe anything that contradicts your view is part of cycling-lobby black ops?

Tom Pike ● 2003d

Tom, I quite like a contradiction. But the cycle lobby has proven itself time and time again to be an untrustworthy source of information. Not to mention their online tweet antics. Jeremey Vine anyone?? Anyone at all?The mere fact you have a go at me versus acknowledging said cycle parking is never (sorry once) been used says it all. To connect the dots, never used cycle parking connects to the recent posts of outdoor dining placed in and around said unused cycle parking. Now...remove the unnecessary bits of unused cycle parking and you'll have improved and more outdoor dining and/or retail display as those traders see fit.

David Lesniak ● 2003d

Someone has forgotten where they buried their nuts...

Russell Pearson ● 2003d

Adrian, so you believe, as a general principle, that if a politician makes an inappropriate comment about Covid they should resign?

Mark Evans ● 2003d

I'm all for efficient and flexible use of space: the flower market yesterday brought thousands to Chiswick yesterday without any extra car parking laid on with C9 well used by families visiting. Here's a prime example of how both transport and retail can be combined:

Tom Pike ● 2003d

Mark, so you believe, as a general principle, that a politician should be taking credit for something he has absolutely nothing to do with?

David Lesniak ● 2003d

Mark, I can only assume you didn't read or can fully recall the article in question.If you had or can then you should have no difficulty in working out the answer to your question, assuming that is you are a fair minded well balanced person that I like to think you are.

Adrian Irving ● 2002d

Agree 100%. But, apparently this is a “joke”, and people who live in Chiswick are overly sensitive. I was under the impression that jokes were supposed to be funny. Whilst I agree that Guy Lambert is indeed a joke, his contempt for people who live in Chiswick is just awful to see.

Sarah Potter ● 2002d

Neither is acceptable but the second scenario is far more common in politics than would be the norm.  The first scenario happens and people with a public presence need to be and are accountable to their constituents and go through 3 stages on enquiry at least before a decision is made.  Do we need to do that retrospectively ?  Do we need to set up a council enquiry team and form a unit with staff etc. because a councilor was rude to you or worse because if we can I want a few Tory councilors who were abusive to me when I worked for Hounslow..  But then as now I do not think someone having a bad day and then spotting one of the reasons for it is in need of spending ridiculous amounts of money to make us behave like adults.  Do we? No we apologize and move on.

Caroline Carney ● 2002d

I think this may have been a joke but the joke will be on the Councillor. I imagine if he is investigated they will indeed find plenty of  unsavoury goings on. He won’t be laughing then will he. Ealing and Hounslow Councils would not do well if properly scrutinised.  But they play dirty, very dirty, so we’ll have to wait and see if they crawl away from this.

Maggie Dodge ● 2002d

Adrian to make it simple for you I'll do this in the form of multiple choice. If an elected politician makes an inappropriate comment about Covid-19 do you believea) they should resignb) they shouldn't resignc) they should only resign if generally they have political views you disagree with?

Mark Evans ● 2002d

'I imagine if he is investigated they will indeed find plenty of unsavoury goings on' - can you be a bit more specific about what you are 'imagining'?

Anne England ● 2002d

Use your imagination Anne. 😂

Maggie Dodge ● 2002d

Mark, the answer is,d)I don't do simple.

Adrian Irving ● 2002d

Adrian, that's for certain!Let me put it another way. If Guy worked for your company and said that he would rather see bodies piled high than have another lockdown, would he have been 'given his marching orders' and would you be spluttering in moral outrage?

Mark Evans ● 2002d

It will not be only Cllr Lambert, it will be others too, Cllr Katherine Dunne is an LCC member, others maybe too?  Cllr Khan and Cllr Curran?

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 2002d

You are the one 'imagining' things, so what are you 'imagining'? You either have something to say or you don't.Don't be coy, now.

Anne England ● 2002d

'It will not be only Cllr Lambert ...' - what? Can you be more specific?

Anne England ● 2002d

Mark I suppose I should be flattered that you are so keen to seek my opinion on matters but I am not.I reported what was written by this individual and passed my opinion on the content for all to read, including you.That's it.

Adrian Irving ● 2001d

You have not admitted as to whether you belong to any motoring organisation or trades union that has lobbied for any of the interests of its members eg against any increase in fuel costs.

Philippa Bond ● 2001d

I know what I think, and I think you know what I think . I am going to leave it to the powers that be to prove me right or wrong. I thinkIt’s high time people in power were investigated. If they e done nothing wrong, nothing to worry about.  If you don’t know there a lot of dirty  dealings in politics then you will be in for a shock . Are you a Labour supporting cycle lobbyist ?

Maggie Dodge ● 2001d

Maggie thinks that the government is secretly controlled by a cabal of leftwing cyclists.I don't have the heart to tell her the Tories have been in power since 2010 or why they're called "Boris Bikes".

Ed Saper ● 2001d

So, Maggie, in face of your refusal to enlighten us, are we to assume that you believe there is something rotten in the state of Brentford simply because the Hounslow Cabinet Member for Highways belongs to a cycling group? All this intimation of dirty goings-on in the local Labour Party (and I comment as a sceptic about the temporary cycleway, though not the DR LTN), whilst there is something much more rotten in the state of Downing Street!

Robert Fish ● 2001d

Boris bikes were a great idea to increase cycling. It’s the cycle lane I object to, not cyclists or cycling.  I object to any group thinking they have control over our Councils, the Councils are intended to look after all the welfare of residents, not any one group. I think the figure is 94% against the cycle lane. Why do the cycle lobby think that’s not relevant. ANY Councillor whose  strings are pulled by a cycle lobby group should be investigated. I’ve read enough of the LCCs website to find them arrogant and entitled.

Maggie Dodge ● 2001d

Pay attention, Robert, it was Downing Street that made the DR LTN a possibility. LBH just mucked it up.

David Lesniak ● 2001d

Well said Ms.Lodge!

Jeffrey Cope ● 2001d

Below is an extract from Lambert's blog that I was referring to."going west along King Street it’s now too narrow for a car to overtake a bike (or vice versa) which led to an uncouth youth in a large Audi blowing his horn at me. If I am asymptomatic he may regret his impatience, as I caught up with him at traffic lights and gave him the benefit of my opinion in a strongly projected voice (and no doubt with a side dish of micro droplets)."I read this with genuine incredulity.Lambert may think he is very witty but I doubt the  people who have lost loved ones will think so.

Adrian Irving ● 2001d

Tact and Diplomacy seem to be lacking in this Councillor's skill set, mind you it's probably mandatory to be a Labour councillor at LB Hounslow

Loraine Pemberton ● 2000d

Reminds you a bit about Donald Rumsfeld and his "known unknowns "

David Burke ● 2000d

Is it really 'mandatory to be a Labour councillor at LB Hounslow'?!

Anne England ● 2000d

Let me make it clear I am in no way political motivated.I couldn't care less which party anyone belongs to.For me the criteria is If a person is fit for public office.As far as I am concerned the extract displays an arrogant, ignorant, grossly irresponsible attitude, then, to cap it all, the crass stupidity of publicising on line.

Adrian Irving ● 2000d

Let me clear I am in no way political motivated as I couldn't care less about anyone's political leanings.For me the question is are they fit for the position they hold.As I see it the extract clearly displays an arrogant, ignorant, grossly irresponsible attitude, then, to cap it all, the crass stupidity of crowing about it on a public forum.

Adrian Irving ● 2000d

"Boris bikes were a great idea to increase cycling."Totally agree. It is one of the great things Boris achieved for London. That and the Freedom Pass. The Boris Bikes were a great way to get around safely in an environmentally friendly way. It is a great pity Labour had to stuff it all up by building superspeed cycle highways for the lycra louts and cause traffic chaos and pollution by imposing unwanted LTNs.

Steve Taylor ● 2000d

Adrian You're absolutely correct

Loraine Pemberton ● 2000d

The Freedom Pass was not a Boris achievement. It long predates his tenure as mayor, even his time at Eton. The initiative for Boris bikes came from Ken Livingstone, who commissioned a feasibility study, although the scheme was only implemented two years after Boris succeeded him.

Robert Fish ● 2000d

An absolute tragedy, Tom, Hounslow Council has played no part in these schemes.As you are well aware, the image of the family (and kids, so I guess it's now okay to take pictures of kids) is only made possible by the COVID-related schemes for distancing and propping up the hospitality sector put in place by central government. LBH was late to the party to support businesses, but that's nothing new.Unless folks like you start advocating for a complete overhaul of how LBH charges venues to use pavement space, you can expect photo ops like this one to disappear in September 2022 when the current licensing arrangements/fees expire. Had the image been taken from further away, you'd see how the unused cycle planter thingies would allow for even more tables and more happy kids. Plus you wouldn't need shin guards to walk down the street.But duly noted, you finally see how flexible street space is the way forward. It would be a great experiment to close CS9 monthly and let all the venues along CHR spill out on to the pavement to see the vibe that would create. Or close it and put one of the too many weekend markets on it so the pavements themselves could be maximized for all the promised extra foot traffic. As it stands, the pavement will be further reduced, pedestrians will be severely constrained and any venues with outdoor seating along the stretch of CHR with say, the Cheese Market, will be challenged to say the least. Surely you can get on board with what's good for DR is good for CHR.

David Lesniak ● 2000d

Anne, look no further than Steve Curran's all-Labour cabinet.Tells you all you need to know about engagement in LBH. In business that's called a monopoly and it is illegal.

David Lesniak ● 2000d

Monopoly? That’s something else. Potentially discrimination based on political belief….although that’s not necessarily unfair if you refuse to hire someone because of eg far right beliefs. Not valid in this case as it is a political job.

Ed Saper ● 2000d

Ed, no mention then of far left beliefs in your summation?

Keith Iddon ● 2000d

David, remind me of who in Boris's cabinet is not a Tory. Incidentally, they achieved 43.6% percent of the vote and were supported by 29.3% of the electorate. Less than 30% of the country gives you a monopoly of power in the UK. Hardly a representative democracy!

John Connelly ● 2000d

Oh sorry, Ed. You get the gist, surely.Autocracy. Communism. You pick.As to John's point, I agree. The system is broken if it allows for one party to do the representing of all the people. I think it should be required in all levels of government to have representatives from across the board. A winner from each party having a go type thing. So you'd necessarily get the top vote earners from all parties interested, not just the main players snuffing out the rest. I think it doubly important in local governance.

David Lesniak ● 2000d

“ Ed, no mention then of far left beliefs in your summation?”I was just giving an obvious example not an exhaustive list :-)But….since you mention it….I think far right beliefs which include racism, nativism and often “traditional” values (eg misogynistic, homophobic etc) are generally less tolerated in workplaces than a belief that capitalism isn’t fair and that the workers should own the means of production!

Ed Saper ● 2000d

I agree Ed,or at least to some of your points.Not sure I agree entirely with workers owning the means of production, nor do I agree that all left wing philosophies exclude racism or homophobia etc.

Keith Iddon ● 2000d

I agree Ed,or at least to some of your points.Not sure I agree entirely with workers owning the means of production, nor do I agree that all left wing philosophies exclude racism or homophobia etc.

Keith Iddon ● 2000d

"The system is broken if it allows for one party to do the representing of all the people."Yep.  Quite right.  And right now we have a Tory government in power with a Labour Mayor and Council, so it isn't a one party state.I get that the people of True Blue Chiswick are pissed off that for the last decade they've always been outvoted by the rest of Red Hounslow.  I doubt they want a fairer PR system, they just want a Tory council!Still, to your point, better no party dominates, so PR would be preferable.  In the meantime, the Tories should get some better policies and hope everyone forgets about / gets used to BREXIT which wasn't supported round these parts :-)I guess that's the "tyranny of the majority" you're alluding to. 

Ed Saper ● 1999d

Sure - the Labour Party had a pretty torrid time with anti-semitism recently.As you get closer to the edge of an ism, on the left/ right, you tend to get more intolerance for those who don't share the same views as you.To quote Ferris: "Isms in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an ism, he should believe in himself."

Ed Saper ● 1999d

.. isms aren't all bad...My wife, firmly believes in squirrelism, on the basis she is DNA related.  She hasn't yet grown a bushy grey tail but she's long been burying important things in very safe places, then forgetting where they were.I support Black Puddings Matter which is also a very fine puddingisms..

Stuart Kerr ● 1999d

We, I don't get that workers should own the means of production, isn'tthat just another means of control.

Janice Evans ● 1999d

That was to Ed, don't know where We came from, silly iPad.

Janice Evans ● 1999d

I think we can agree that extremism in any form is a danger to reason and tolerance.

Keith Iddon ● 1999d

"As you get closer to the edge of an ism, on the left/ right, you tend to get more intolerance for those who don't share the same views as you."I could not agree more. Mr old history teacher (an old lefty if ever there was one) used to talk about the far left and right "meeting up behind the bike shed". A phrase that I have never forgotten. All of us knew that it was where a disparate group of nicotine addicts could be found every lunch time - exercising their fundamental human right to destroy their lungs. Old fogies like me remember Knocker Powell and Wedgie Benn sharing an anti-common market platform during the first referendum campaign. Almost as horrible a sight as Margaret Thatcher's jumper made up of all the EEC country's flags that she wore in the same campaign.  One of the, admittedly few, advantages of the first past the post system is that it usually forces political parties (who actually wish to win rather than stay ideologically pure) to seek the middle ground and the consensus view. Paradoxically, most forms of proportional representation often result in one extremist minority party being able to wring unpalatable concessions from a larger coalition partner. 

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1999d

First past the post is approved for Westminster. However, the London Mayor needs to achieve a majority via second and further preferences. Scotland and  Wales use the D'Hondt system designed to allow losers (mainly Tories in Scotland) to gain representation and thus more accurately affect voters' preferences. What's your objection to a fair voting system for Westminster, Sam?

John Connelly ● 1999d

Best reason for first past the post is the need to have a stable Government for four or five years that can work through its agenda/manifesto - without having to continually seek the approval of minor coalition partners with whom it shares few values or convictions.Occasionally we have a hung Parliament and voters can then enjoy the entropic pleasures of a proportional representation system. You will recall that in 2019 we were faced with the possibility of a Labour, Green, Scots Nat and Plaid coalition in the "Anyone but Boris" campaign. I wonder how that would have worked out? In the long run the system is fair although frustrating for those living in constituencies that are seldom marginals - like Hartlepool.  My solution would be to have an official "none of the above" option in all elections for representative assemblies. If none of the above were elected then a civil servant would be appointed to deal with casework but the constituency would have no representation in any elected assembly e.g. Parliament, Borough Council or London Assembly. A fresh election (like a by-election) would then be held 12 months later.There should also be a recall system for MPs and Councillors. Perhaps a petition signed by over 10% of registered voters would be sufficient to trigger a by-election.It should be mandatory for MPs and Councillors to publish casework statistics on a real time basis. Why won't Hounslow Council do this?I would also like to trial increasing the council tax by 50% in wards where less than 50% of the voters bothered to vote in local elections. You can see why the "none of the above" option would be important. We have the technology.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1998d

Definitions of democracy vary, but many define it as rule by the majority. Sam, you are clearly not one who favours this definition. If you are happy with government by a minority (Boris, for example) do you not think there should be safeguards in place to limit legislative powers that may be opposed by the disenfranchised majority?

John Connelly ● 1998d

Fair point.  Not happy with the shapeshifter Boris.  There should be safeguards specifically against him.And in Chiswick that should mean proper use of the constitution which includes the use of the Area Forum, and that would stop Cllr Lambert and co wanting to destroy Chiswick and listening to the wider population and not their few mates in the LCC.

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1997d

John - of course there should be safeguards in place to limit the powers of any legally elected governing party. That is why I object to some of the changes recently made by Labour to Hounslow Council's constitution that seriously limit the power of minority party councillors to call in dodgy decisions made by cabinet members and/or council officers.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1997d

Guy Lambert is a good fellow. You should not lambast him in this way, you are way out of order. Guy is entertaining and amusing with his weekly blogs. Well done Guy please continue !!

Chris Vessey ● 1996d

LCC and friends confirm that Guy Lambert os one of them!

Jonathan Mabbutt ● 1996d

Aren't we all many things?

Anne England ● 1996d

I think it is far more worrying who is lobbying against the reduction of air pollution and green house gases. There have been a whole lot of trade unions and motoring organisations who lobby governments against any changes in their use or increases in the prices of fossil fuels. Check out DeSmog. So making a fuss about a number of people belonging to a cycling organisation is really unbelievable.

Philippa Bond ● 1995d

The LCC is no ordinary cycling organisation, as we all know . They’re not saints either.

Maggie Dodge ● 1995d

Philippa, that's just daft as even you must know. I agree when it comes to air pollution but I don't think OneChiswick has anything like the lobbying might of the planet destroying Heathrow consortia. Never see you comment re that?

Claire Moran ● 1995d

Plus, as you know, the vast majority of LCCers are looking after their own selfish vested interests. Commuters who sail through Chiswick wihtout stopping, or the stuffy elderly who bouught their homes in Bedford Park or near the High Road before most of us actually moved here and have got rich from the West London property boom without having to lift a finger and now live near enough to the High Road to be able to stroll there within a coupel of minutes.  They are totally indifferent to the lethal pollution level s nearby caused by LTNs from traffic spilling over into surrounding streets but which they don't think affect them. There will be many cases like that of poor Debra whose parents know that LTN pollution directed to their street were responsible for her death.  The smug in Chiswick who are happy because LTNs haven'r redirected traffic past their door (unlike a vast number of our residents) really couldn't care less about the rest. Inhumanity and lack of compassion on a breathtaking scale as long is it suits their rabid agenda.  If 'working class ' people die as a result it's simply a shrug of the shoulders as long as these overprivileged bullies try to acheive their bonkers bucolic fantasy.

Claire Moran ● 1995d

The London Cycling Campaign?

Philippa Bond ● 1995d

Ella Kissi-Debrah died in 2013.  Air pollution in this country has exceeded UN and EU figures for a very long time.The UK Govt actually actively lobbied the EU to reduce the figure at which air pollution was considered bad so that our air pollution here would not seem so bad.https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/uk-lobbying-for-even-weaker-eu-air-pollution-laws-leaked-papers-show/Our Govt lost in the High court three times over illegal air pollution here.https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/news/uk-government-loses-third-air-pollution-case-as-judge-rules-air-pollution-plans-unlawful/ https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2019/03/23/ineos-chemicals-environment-pollution-eu-lobbying/The burning of fossil fuels causes the highest amount of air pollution here.https://www.energylivenews.com/2021/04/23/coroner-calls-on-government-to-tighten-air-pollution-targets/

Philippa Bond ● 1995d

Her mum is an environmental activist and politician, campaigned for the ULEZ and wants to reduce air pollution for everyone - but is opposed to LTNs for social justice reasons, as she feels it pushes pollution from richer white neighbourhoods to poorer black ones.Whereas the opponents of many LTNs in West London actually live inside them and object to them because of the lack of consultation, but mainly because it inconveniences and extends their car journey times.While I'm mindful of Janice's point that some people are not really themselves due to the pandemic and don't want more change, some of the loudest voices in this debate have a blinkered selfish purpose.

Ed Saper ● 1995d

Before the vote there was speculation in various quarters that the anti-LTN movement would spark a voter's revolt against these measures.But what last week's election results demonstrated is that in the constituencies where some of the loudest voices against the traffic measures were heard, in Hackney, Islington, Lambeth and Ealing, those loud voices exerted no discernible leverage in electoral terms.

Tom Pike ● 1995d

Super interesting article in today's NY Times about warehouse emissions, Philippa. It discusses the rapid rise of emissions from diesel delivery lorries transporting to and from mega warehouses servicing online retail. I wonder how you feel about that. In particular, California was mentioned as it often is the leader in the states on all matters environmental. And yet the growth of this sector and its infrastructure went unchecked and now it is a problem:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/08/climate/e-commerce-warehouse-smog-regulation.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Climate%20and%20Environment

David Lesniak ● 1995d

Great article! I read that as a big endorsement for measures like the ULEZ, but it is innovative in putting the responsibility on warehouse operators to use or contract with zero emission vehicles or do other positive things for the environment and if they can’t do that, pay fines for the pollution they indirectly create.

Ed Saper ● 1995d

"...pay fines for the pollution they indirectly create."That would also be the Consumer ie us.After over a year in lockdown Logistics/Warehousing and Production businesses don't have too much spare capital to invest, how do you suggest the aforementioned fund their acquisition of zero emissions vehicles at this time ?It will happen but not as quickly as we would like.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1995d

Good question.Logistics businesses did pretty well during the pandemic so may have a strong enough balance sheet to finance new vehicles. However, part of the CA plan is to give credits to warehouses if they invest in energy efficiency, solar panels etc which developers / landlords are ok to do as the value of warehouse properties has increased. Exactly the same is happening in the U.K. where the bottom has fallen out of the office market, but industrial is booming. These types of measures are not aimed at small retail outlets receiving deliveries or even London warehouses  which tend to be relatively small. A ULEZ is a more appropriate measure. Where they are more relevant is big hubs of warehouses like MIlton Keynes. As new electric HGVs come onto the market which will hopefully be far cheaper to run, this sort of measure may accelerate adoption and focus minds away from last mile delivery (cargo bikes et al) to cleaning up the air on our motorways, at ports and in industrial zones, without material impact on the consumer.

Ed Saper ● 1995d

Also being able to organise deliveries so that they travel less and more economically on our road systems.  We all need to be less self-indulgent as we don't need next-day delivery for absolutely everything all of the time.  It must be damaging to us to be unable to more flexible and imaginative in our lives.

Philippa Bond ● 1994d

Online retailers should also pay a fine for the pollution they indirectly create. At least that's the logical extension of your logic, Ed. It would put the onus on people like you to force the issue by sussing out those haulers who are green.

David Lesniak ● 1994d

Just a thought, Philippa, you can often get precisely what you want when you want by shopping locally. On demand.

David Lesniak ● 1994d

I couldn't agree more David.

Philippa Bond ● 1994d

David - it was a great article that you posted, but I did wonder if you got beyond the first paragraph?!  There's two separate issues here - last mile fulfilment to customers and B2B warehouse logistics in industrial areas.California's plan is to tackle the latter and I would welcome something similar for the UK and we would certainly want to move to a green / electric power haulier.For the former, there's already a "fine" if you use polluting vehicles via London's ULEZ, as well as a "fine" for creating congestion via the Congestion Charge.However, it could go much further - whether via fines as you suggest or legislation, such as Paris' ban on ICE vehicles by 2030.I've said several times David, but I guess I may have buried it in a too long post (!), that we're investigating moving all of our London deliveries to zero carbon using zero emission vehicles (FedEx just launched cargo bike delivery for instance).  We're planning to do the same for Paris (tricky as warehouse is in Germany), investigating New York, and when we get sufficient volume, will roll out to all UK cities.  The infrastructure is largely already there.In many cases this will be same day as well, so there's no trade off.  Not just for deliveries, but also returns - including our recycling program with Terracycle (I promise - nothing to do with bikes!)Ideally we want all our logistics to be zero carbon, with international being the tricky one (no zero carbon boats or planes yet!).  Not just because it is great for the planet, but great also for business and particularly for B-Corp accreditation which I've bored you with so often :-)And as for immediate / on demand availability - we have two brilliant stores in Chiswick and several in West London.  When the pandemic eases, we'll restart our occasional factory shop in South Acton too.  The onus should be on all of us to do better David!

Ed Saper ● 1994d

Ed - Actually, my reading comprehension is pretty good as is my attention span.So much so I noticed on your website there was zero mention of any B-corp status nor any mention of civic or social engagement. Absolutely nothing locally. When I knit together various threads and experiences on this forum, I find that someone like you who has an exponentially larger carbon footprint with your business than I ever would gets a free pass because you advocate for something you can't deliver. You also benefit financially from a global operation. As well any successful business person should. Your business isn't in the public eye.And here we are, a small operation, fully engaged with the community for years, literally making investments in and for the community and yet we are put under the microscope for every little thing we do and word we say. People make snide comments about us or any local business making money (as if that happened recently) and turning a blind eye toward our good deeds. We are pilloried for asking questions about local issues and using a vehicle (hybrid, I might add) to conduct business. You on the other hand use, what, ships and planes to distribute your wares? And let's not forget those diesel lorries arriving at those etail warehouse fulfillment centers per that article. The ones you admit aren't up to snuff. Yet you do your thing to support local business by having venture-capital backed etailers deliver to your door because its convenient? That's your climate strategy?An utterly fascinating disconnect between e-tailers and bricks and mortar high street businesses if ever there was one.Until a day ago, I didn't know Philippa enjoyed a bit of architectural news. She mentioned the Pritzker Prize. Perhaps she'd enjoy a Pritzker throwback to 1991 when Robert Venturi won. He of the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery fame. His seminal book written in 1972, Learning from Las Vegas, illustrates how even from the most outrageous, pretentious, fleeting examples of design we can learn something useful in understanding how the built environment evolves. Better to analyze what's happening on that level before it subsumes you. His proteges went on to analyze the phenomena of suburban sprawl, something happening right under our noses throughout this city. Unchecked - as it is now - it will lead to further chaos. A bit like how the cycle lane has impacted this community and others.Escalators or not, Las Vegas has a lot to give.

David Lesniak ● 1994d

Shame you missed my post saying we were in the process of applying for B-Corp (we submitted a few weeks ago) - I even offered to pop round and discuss with you if you were interested. The legendary Lesniak attention span must have been focused on something else that day :-) I’m not going to get into a pissing contest of who does what locally - but I’ll hand you the win and say you do far more and we need to do better…. and have plans to do just that….you are an inspiration in that regard (really).  I note you are knocking me down a peg or two and perhaps that’s fair. You probably don’t recall us when we were based in Devonshire Mews (only the ground floor initially) and used to pop in with the team. That was a step up from the Ealing garage! I barely have the right to post on here at all…the business moved to South Acton some time ago….and I live in Gunnersbury (not proper Chiswick)….which means I’ve got a bit of distance to travel to get to your end and find that cycle lane particularly useful if I want to avoid the legendary Chiswick gridlock ( which long predates the cycle lane). I share your concern about tne impact on the planet of etail operations but I disagree that the solution is to turn back the clock.  But I would, wouldn’t I!

Ed Saper ● 1994d

Ed -I'm just going to make a minor tweak here, if I may. Given your private email to me I think it best to say "legendary Lesniak attention span" might be a bit of a reach. Word to the wise my memory is, in fact, legendary. As you acknowledged privately, I did respond to your offer publicly (which seems to go amiss here) and we are now trying to sort that out. As I said, I don't begrudge anyone success. I'm making the comparison with high road businesses in the public eye being held to account in a completely different manner to a business such as yours. I get guff for using my car to conduct my business in London. You distribute globally without criticism. How do people think that occurs? By bike? Foot? Or by trains, planes and automobiles or, in this case, lorries. Or trucks to reach your US customers. Why am I made out to be the devil for driving, yet you're a saint for global distribution? Your success is somehow more valid than mine? Do people make snide comments about your making money? I'm just gonna go ahead and venture a guess you make way more then we do. Great. But I'm the one who gets criticized for making a pound and then investing part of that back into the community. By the by, hello to Gordon. I get the clock can't be turned back, but we can certainly polish the dial a bit and take a closer look at how things tick along. Some current methods still apply for certain types of business. These often fall through the gaps. Just take a look at any local tradesperson trying to do a construction job locally getting PCNs left, right and center just to access a job site in certain parts of W4 simply to make a days wage. Yet they get penalized. When we do take deliveries the drivers' chorus is always the same: access in Chiswick is awful. Yet the drivers pay the fines. Not the companies. The drivers.To me, comparing and contrasting how our businesses operate only highlights how silly the rhetoric around here is. It clearly isn't about the topic. It's about the person behind the comment and an effort to "other" them. That whole "othering of cyclists" thing from Karen made me laugh. Side note: woke and other don't go together. So if you're woke enough to care about climate change, you damn well better be woke enough to give a damn about everyone else. But that never seems to be the case.

David Lesniak ● 1993d

People choose various options depending on their situation at the particular time but unfortunately it can be too easy to fall into an easy and lazy lifestyle.  I still vividly remember my first desperate early attempt at getting new baby ready to go out for a coffee morning meeting at a stranger's house knowing no-one - and not getting there with feeds and nappy changes delaying us - and finally ending up pushing the pram around the block at dusk because it all taken so long and been so exhausting and frustrating - and I just needed to get OUT. And that is at a stage in life when they don't argue and refuse to dress or as you dress one the other gets undressed...  reasons why online deliveries are now favoured by so many working families. Self-imposed I know but hopefully a new better work:life balance with flexible working will make things easier for a lot of people.  I'll look out the book - I've heard of Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown but only because of that extension!Did you watch the interesting new AJ interview I also posted?

Philippa Bond ● 1993d

Interestingly Amazon was the headline grabber in 2020 of Industrial property accounting for an incredible 20% of total take-up as it completed a flurry of large-scale deals including three in excess of 2m sq ft. Wonder what Amazon and the other e-tailers UK carbon footprint is ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1993d

David, I would be very surprised if anyone on here wished anything but great success for your's and every other business in Chiswick - and in case you missed it (!) I congratulated you on your expansion to Hammersmith and I'm looking forward to visiting!  I think sometimes you clash with people who don't follow a "Chiswick First" agenda and, dare I say it, a "Car First" agenda. Gordon's comment about Chiswick businesses being there to make money wasn't critical of them for wanting to turn a profit, it was in the context of your suggestion that the recent fairs were good for Chiswick if they were run by people in Chiswick and bad for Chiswick if they were run by outsiders.  That's not only nonsense, but also seems to forget the other stakeholders in this - the punters who come to spend their money at the fairs and with local businesses!We've spoken several times about my support for independent brands, some of whom have multiple channels including online and high street, some have stores but not in Chiswick and some bypass the high street altogether and deliver direct to customers.I am delighted to support any entrepreneur starting a brand as well as established independents and I don't think they deserve to be "othered" just because they're not in Chiswick or operate online.I have delivered our products by car, on foot - even by bike, but a large number go by post (one reason we moved to South Acton) and increasingly couriers, particularly since COVID decimated international post.My aim is to reduce our carbon footprint - and we certainly don't get a free ride (and that's our fault because we do talk about sustainability a lot so we're held to a high standard) and have voluntarily signed up to organic certification and in the process of getting (haven't got it yet, as I hope is clear!) B-Corp, which puts huge emphasis on sustainable growth.  It isn't about being "woke", which is a cutting insult for anyone over the age of 40 (!), but giving a damn about more than just profit, which to refer back to yet another post, can actually make you more profitable anyway!

Ed Saper ● 1993d

As only shopping for food only buying online things I cannot buy from the supermarket, have been using many cheaper cosmetic products from thereand they have been quite good.

Janice Evans ● 1992d

"I would be very surprised if anyone on here wished anything but great success for your's and every other business in Chiswick"Ed, you haven't been paying attention. Paul Campbell and a few others would like nothing more than for us to disappear. He also advocated for boycotting shops which dared asked questions about anything travel related. How very dare they. So a bit off the mark, I'm afraid.Thus far we've seen the Flower Market which, to my knowledge, hasn't removed licensed seating from a trader. And we've seen the Antiques Market which did. The Flower Market and Cheese teams are of this community and are vested in this community on many levels in a way the St Albans team will never be. That is a fact. That is my point. They are able to be held to account should anything go awry. The St Albans team simply packs up and leaves until the following month. The other teams? Hell, we can knock on their doors at dinner if we wanted. I noticed you talk about delivering by car, foot, bike and post. International couriers use planes, do they not? How else to get you product all over New York (yes, I had fun doing a zip code search for shits and giggles). If reducing your carbon footprint were chief among your goals, wouldn't you be satisfied by distributing on this isle alone? What is it that compels you to distribute globally? How does profit and sustainable growth include air-freight? And HGVs and tractor trailers (as we call them) hauling on various continents?

David Lesniak ● 1992d

"What is it that compels you to distribute globally?"I think it must be something in my genes!  The British people have been described as a "nation of shopkeepers" in that our strength is in commerce - globally as well as locally.Perhaps we see things different because of your American heritage?  A vast internal market, so no impetus or need to export.  Perhaps that's why US exports are about a third of the UK's by share of GDP?You mention that flower and cheese markets - not all of those flowers were grown in the UK.  And the cheese - I think you'll find that a good number come from France.Those lorries and boats coming from the Continent laden with goods - are they supposed to go back empty?  Isn't it better that we sell them the fruits of our labours?  Isn't that what England expects?But it isn't that I just feel a duty to Queen and Country to export - I passionately believe in what we do.  The nations of the world deserve our products!  And if a manufacturing business doesn't have that mindset, then they're missing something valuable.

Ed Saper ● 1992d

And I tip my hat to you, Ed.I question that old adage about shopkeepers. Have a look on CHR and I think you'll find the majority of premises are operated by corporations, not individuals.The irony of flower and cheese stock rolling in from elsewhere has not gone unnoticed. In particular the enormous lorries from Holland that barrel down CHR and often destroy the curb at Chiswick Lane when attempting to turn left onto CHR. Then again, your average delivery lorry will do the same.On a micro scale, I guess you could say we feel a duty to serve our customers. Especially locally. Yet you export via air freight and I can't drive down Hartington Road. You're an online presence so really no way for anyone here to know how you operate other than for me to enquire. As a public-facing enterprise asking why I can't access customers I've served for years easily? Well, that puts a target on my back. And that somehow passes for supporting local business. You really can't make this shit up.

David Lesniak ● 1992d

Why thank you!I think the adage used "shopkeepers" as a way of describing the UK as focused on commerce - and wasn't just limited to retail. It was attributed to Napoleon (but probably wasn't him) and a way of putting the UK down, while acknowledging that a country half the size with half the population and an army only a fifth of the size had roughly the same size economy, but was able to leverage its global trading networks to take on France and win. So not just independent, owner operated shops, but global enterprises, vast and profitable trade flows, underpinned by sophisticated banking, financial and legal frameworks - all at a time when if Napoleon wanted to enlarge the France economy relative to the UK, he had to invade other countries to take their wealth or blockade the UK from accessing markets.(Yes - he probably did some good stuff to modernise France's economy too...and I'm a bit nervous there's pro historians on here who will tear this apart!)When you asked why I felt the need to export - I was only half joking when I said "England Expects" - I think the UK is actually much more globally focused as a nation than others and the government, particularly when it was part of the Single Market, has tried to make it relatively easy for companies to export.In our early days we had a lot of attention from the DTI and other agencies giving us export advice and offering facilities (e.g. "why not use our embassy to do your product launch?") and they constantly urged us to export and even the Queen got involved and gave us an award for it!I don't believe you do have a target on your back for seeking to serve your customers (locally or anywhere) or that you're any more exposed because you have a shopfront than other companies. I know you're not convinced that online retail & delivery is a good thing, but I would say that in the 19th and 20th century it was common for goods bought on the high street to be delivered by a delivery boy and then there were the catalogues as well.  Home delivery was an expected and useful part of these services. If it is such a hassle negotiating round the LTNs, then why not use Urb It or other point to point services to deliver locally by cargo bike?  I didn't see the Flower Market in action I'm afraid, but I heard that the delivery option worked well.

Ed Saper ● 1991d

Very interesting read that Ed.  Way above the usual offerings.Can't offer history advice re Napoleon, international trade etc.  But there are a few good historians on here who might offer more (RG maybe)On trade and local deliveries in days gone by.......  My great aunt Florence owned a small cat-meat shop in Clarence Road Hackney back in the 1920's and 1930's.  Cat meat in those days was, of course, boiled horse flesh  and Florence's father (my great grandfather) ran a hansom cab business in Dalston so was an excellent source of deceased nags.  Until the motor car came along and put paid to all that.On Saturdays when they were impoverished schoolgirls, my mum and my Aunt Rene used to earn a few pennies delivering cat-meat all day long to the tradesmen's entrance of the many huge Jewish houses in the area.  Cat ownership was widespread, even then - and this was all before the age of the Whiskas tin can.  But, on a wider scale,  there was always plentiful opportunity for part and full time work delivering stuff from the local shops to the wealthy.Perhaps things haven't changed that much after all...

Stuart Kerr ● 1991d

As for the target on my back, simply look to any of the LTN threads and my comments about local shops losing access to serve its customers. It's the typical blather about going the long way around and it taking just a little bit more time so what's the big deal. Small price to pay, that sort of crap.As a businessman, I'm sure you can appreciate efficiencies and economies of scale. It's better to use your time constructively vs idling away in traffic or going around the block to get the corner. Why would I pay to use a service when I used to be able to do the identical thing for free? Local bike delivery is not geared to "on demand" service. Nor is it geared for delivering perishable goods. The one touted by LBH was only two days a week as and when they could. I can't exactly have food waiting around to get delivered. LBH just launched a bike cargo scheme for businesses. I can't help but wonder if they heard my comments about making them available during recovery. I asked why cargo bikes weren't dropped here and there like the Mobikes were allowing for easy uptake at low cost to business. Instead, their pilot program puts a price tag of £2600 on the type of bike that would work best for us. A typical box bike with lid. So I'll ask again, why would I pay that amount of money when all businesses are struggling to regain their footing, when I have the means to do a drop along the route to my other drops? I mention that kind of thing, and people crawl out of the woodwork to accuse me of being anti or whatever it is. You, on the other hand, can jet your goods around the globe and no one is the wiser. Nobody has said boo about your business. Why might that be?Why would I pay a vendor to do what my guys could do? Or what I could do? And when it takes me twice as long to deliver locally than it used to, how do I make up that difference? Time is money. Do I charge more? Would people pay more? Then someone like Paul Campbell will interject that the wine shops do free delivery as a means of challenging me. Small detail there- the wine shops do free delivery for orders of £100 or £200 or more. I'd do a free delivery for that sale as well. But that's not how the hospitality sector works. And we've already discussed Deliveroo.

David Lesniak ● 1991d

"It's better to use your time constructively vs idling away in traffic.....And when it takes me twice as long to deliver locally than it used to, how do I make up that difference? Time is money. "Exactly! I'm not suggesting you give up all deliveries - makes sense if you're in the area anyway. If you're anything like me, it is fun to get out from behind a desk and meet customers.  But what's the cost of your time?  It isn't free.  If you put a notional £50 per hour (or whatever figure makes sense) on your time, vs what you charge for delivery, are you actually saving money?  Could your time be better spent elsewhere instead of getting pissed off by traffic?!Services like Urb It are set-up to do "store to customer" deliveries via cargo bikes (if you can get round the perishable issue).  I don't know what you'd be charged (we're going with a slightly different model as we don't have a shop), but I suspect your current delivery charge would more than cover it - you might even have scope to reduce it for W4 / nearby postcodes - that would be one in the eye for Paul :-)You'll have worked out by now that I'm not embarrassed that we have a US business - I'm proud of it!  It is bigger than our UK one....although we're working on that :-)

Ed Saper ● 1991d

Um, Ed, we have a shop on the High Road. We meet customers everyday, all day, seven days a week. Why should I give up any delivery?Of course time isn't free. But again you are asking why don't I pay someone to do something they ostensibly cannot do for me. And we've done the litmus testing of delivering cakes via any type of courier. Doesn't end well as the ever-supportive and understanding customers at the receiving end has told us. So we've had to make good on that as we entered into that test with the understanding that we would. Deliveries used to be easier to do so they weren't nearly as aggravating as they are now. Locally that's the result of two things: LTNs and the cycle lane. Ditto these measures elsewhere in the city where GPS has you turning into a new LTN and, presto, a PCN is on the way. So now, deliveries are laden with risk when they didn't used to be. Pre-pandemic we had a business customer who distributed our goods to a wide swath of their clients. We used a bike delivery company to get the job done. Funny thing, we had to deliver to their hub as they had no means to collect.But again, here you are auditing my every move. And you jet things around the globe. Surely my accessing the community freely without risk of penalty does less damage to the environment. And by freely I mean not having to pay £2600 for a cargo bike. Businesses like mine are penalized daily in the form of PCNs, and businesses like yours simply are not.

David Lesniak ● 1991d

We make certain claims about our products provenance and our business practices and these are audited by trusted third parties. Those are the only audits that take place! I certainly haven’t audited you and in fact have tried to avoid making any mention of your company, save to say that I admire it, think it makes Chiswick a better place and that I hope you thrive. For many years it has been listed in our company handbook as a great place to visit. I remember you opening ( used to be Pizza Makers i think) when I lived in Thornton and you supported our street fair. The good stuff you do gets remembered, even from 10 years ago!

Ed Saper ● 1991d

By audit, Ed, I mean you are trying to dissect how deliver and you are making all manner of suggestions. Lovely. We've tried them. And you are also opting to ignore that basic rule of business - if something suddenly costs more, how do you make up the loss? Then layer in a pandemic which has curtailed hospitality forcing us to deliver, and then you get the penalty for doing just that imposed by these LTN schemes. For an added bonus, you then get locals boycotting businesses for raising such an issue and misrepresenting facts to further an agenda.I will say this, though, I think to a degree your Brexit issues are a bit like my LTN issues. Both hobble our respective trades. I'd imagine in time, you may look to build trade in the US perhaps to offset the losses now incurred by continuing to trade in the EU. Like you, any successful business person would be analyzing those what-ifs. FYI, we've been open nearly thirteen years now. We started by taking over the wood flooring place and then expanded in 2012 into the Pizza Makers space. And yes, we supported the Thornton street fair. Pity the woman who organized it back then couldn't be bothered to thank us. Let alone get a coffee. In fact, she said "had I known it was free I would have had one." Sound like support to you?

David Lesniak ● 1990d