Forum Topics

Hammersmith Bridge’s ‘autonomous pods’

I had seen a lot of coverage, most of it very favourable, of the ‘autonomous pods’ which were being proposed as means of plugging the gap in public transport provision particularly for people with mobility issues. This did seem a quite visionary option to solve the problem particularly as it got round the staffing and cost issues of earlier suggestions for solutions that would require a driver. I did take a chance to look at one when it was on display at a fair recently and was struck with how it was less of a pod than a small bus. Even without passengers it would weigh a lot more than a very large car. As I understand it, while the proponents of the idea say it is within the weight limits, the council say that it isn’t.I then read the coverage of the issue by London Centric, which is doing some of the best journalism on London at the moment. It took the trouble to send someone to ride on the vehicle and they gave a mixed review of the experience. More importantly they made two key points which hadn’t really been highlighted before. Firstly this is essentially a driverless bus not a pod and TfL is not supportive of the idea. Secondly, the unions would be fiercely against autonomous buses.The idea may be a dead end but it does raise important questions. If you are saying driverless buses should be allowed on the bridge, why not driverless cars? Waygo are testing taxis on our roads as we speak. It would be far less technically challenging to allow one or two of these to cross at a time with usage restricted to blue badge holders or Barnes residents with appointments at Charing Cross hospital. As many people in genuine need would be enabled to cross the bridge with this proposals and it wouldn’t cost the taxpayer a penny.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 30d56 Comments ● 17d

Rod Liddle RIP

Very sorry to see on the news today that the journalist Rod Liddle has just died. I enjoyed his Sunday columns in The Times.

Colin Jordan ● 19d8 Comments ● 17d

Visiting a friend in Grove Park by car... Is it possible?

Hi all,It's been a while since I've been to Chiswick, but I'm travelling to the Bull's Head next Sunday lunchtime to meet a friend. Is it possible to drive into Grove Park via Kew Bridge or Sutton Court Road without being slapped with a fine?Driving in Chiswick is such a faff now. I was fined £60 a few years ago for showing my husband where I spent my educational years at Chiswick Community School. It was a pricey trip down memory lane, so I'm keen to avoid a similar situation!Thanks,Caroline

Caroline Benn ● 20d5 Comments ● 17d

Post Office move

I have read the article about the proposed move of Chiswick Main Post Office to Robert Dyas (or should that soon be known as "Post Dyas"?), several times and would like clarification please.It says 'Three open-plan serving positions will be installed within a convenience store within the existing premises'. I am assuming that this is Robert Dyas' existing premises, rather than the existing post office / convenience store premises in Heathfield Terrace? Also will a convenience store be installed in Robert Dyas, making the company's hardware section even smaller (though perhaps with the famous case of glass animals reinstated)?The same happened in the West End, some years ago, with the massive William IV Street Post Office, just off Trafalgar Square, relocating to Robert Dyas on The Strand. This seems to work, although the counters are in the basement, down a flight of stairs, so not perfect for those who are unable to manage them. Let's hope the same doesn't happen with the basement of the Chiswick store, which, having been am additional sales floor for some years, now just seem to be a staff only store room.It's a shame that the proposal for a stand alone branch just off Turnham Green Terrace has been rejected, as that would have probably been more convenient, but hey!

Richard Evans ● 20d1 Comments ● 17d

Sutton Court Road

Gas works proceeding at glacial pace. September 14 more likely to be October sometime. Apparently they need to dig right across the A4 to the other side, but don't actually have the TFL permits needed to do so. I imagine they'll blook one or two lanes at a time - should be pretty chaotic in and out of of London on the A4 for who knows how long.

Davey Harris ● 18d0 Comments ● 18d

broken velux blind recommendations for repair or replacement

Blind is hanging from top of velux window. Have tried 2 specialist firms who don't respond to calls or messages. Can anyone recommend someone reliable to at least have a look and advise. Many thanks!

Dilys Jones ● 18d10 Comments ● 18d

Building Upwards in Chiswick

Although it is hard to tell from just a few refused planning applications, there does appear to be a bit of a shift in the policy at Hounslow Council with regard to adding extra storeys on existing blocks of flats (see the item on the front page). I understand that these can be a real pain for existing leaseholders but, as it the case of the Oxbridge Court proposal, the whole building was going to get a refresh and this may have increased values.My impression is that Hounslow used to let more of these through, most notably Chiswick Village, and this was way of increasing housing stock, if only gradually. It would seem to me to be a wrong move to be more inclined to reject these sort of applications.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 22d3 Comments ● 18d

Can anyone recommend please reliable and secure laptop repairs

Dorota Chrisp ● 19d7 Comments ● 18d

Rocks Lane New Planning permission

Notice gone up around Chiswick back Common Extension to opening hours New Lights and New CourtsNever Ending

John Kennedy ● 19d6 Comments ● 18d

Pair of kittens need a home

2 x beautiful black kittens need a home. 3 to 4 months old.  Very affectionate,  used to children 6 years and older. Home checks apply. Video can be sent with WhatsApp.

Juliet Hogg ● 20d2 Comments ● 19d

Found wristwatch

Gold(ish) wristwatch found. Post details if you think it might be yours

Karen Liebreich ● 20d3 Comments ● 19d

Lost watch

Last Sunday just after 8pm I lost a gold watch with a dodgy clasp somewhere between Chiswick Lane South and the western end of Chiswick Mall. I searched for it that evening but did not find it. It was of great sentimental value and I would be so grateful if someone picked it up, to have it returned and am offering a substantial reward ....My tel numbers are 02089953000 or 07846244482

Joy Skinner ● 50d3 Comments ● 20d

Acton Lane - Thames water works

https://www.thameswater.co.uk/network-latest/2026/jul/w3-w4-w12-acton-lane-14072026So the road is still closed and due to be opened on the 3rd, they had issues with some parts

John Bird ● 20d0 Comments ● 20d

Will Chiswick’s young trees survive a fourth heatwave?

From The Chiswick Calendar - July 28, 2026/by Juliet McDonald:Trees play a part in mitigating climate change, but they are also directly affected by itIt will take more than the strategies of two councils – Hounslow and Ealing – to take care of our trees as temperatures soarDuring the recent hot weather, our trees have never been so appreciated and, at the same time, ignored.In the High Road you can walk under the shady protective canopy of one ancient Plane tree after another.Yet in other roads, younger trees could be dying.Seek out any newly planted trees in a heat wave and you’ll see limp leaves and dry soil. How often is the council watering? In frustration, a few concerned residents may take to watering a wilted sapling immediately outside their property, but how many people can say that they’ve watered a street tree?Or perhaps gone further still – say up to 50 steps – to save a different tree?Young trees are under stressIn a recent Chiswick WhatsApp group, there were so many posts about the perception of poorly looked after street trees that the episode was named ‘Treegate’. But the question is what are we going to do about it?For many people, nothing – just complain. Surely, it’s the job of councils to maintain the trees that they plant? After all, residents pay their council tax. The issue is a divisive one.https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/will-chiswicks-young-trees-survive-a-fourth-heatwave/?mc_cid=d57bdd4cd6

Les Wilson ● 23d3 Comments ● 21d

Personal Trainers using Tree Branches in the Parks

Acton Green and Chiswick back Common  I see that  personal trainers are using Tree Branches  for there clients as the Heatwave Continues a lot stress been but on Trees at the moment.

John Kennedy ● 26d11 Comments ● 21d

Air Conditioning Installation

Hi. Looking for recommendations please for home air conditioning installation companies. Many thanks

Maria Barr ● 70d35 Comments ● 21d

Wild suggestion to relocate the Post Office to Robert Dyas

(as per front page news) Am I the only one thinking this proposal is nuts? We need a proper post office, not a counter with limited services.  I shop at RD and I wouldn't want them to reduce stock to accommodate a post office and I'm sure the employees don't want the nuisance of a post office inside their store  Residents can submit their views via:  postofficeviews.co.uk (search for branch code 130006)  comments@postoffice.co.uk  03452 66 01 15  FREEPOST Your Comments  The Post Office says all feedback will be “carefully considered” before a final decision is made, with the change proposed for July/August 2026.

Isabel Martin ● 91d27 Comments ● 21d

RIP Hazel Collinson

Surprised not to see an obituary on this website.  I only knew her slightly, but she had a very big role at ArtsEd.

David Marles ● 22d1 Comments ● 22d

Live Music Concerts at the Gtech

Just a thought about the plans by Brentford for live music at the Gtech (which I am in favour of) - would this have been feasible if lots of weekends over the summer were already hosting events at Gunnersbury Park and, if Brentford get approval for their programme, does that mean that Gunnersbury Park will be restricted in what they can host assuming they get their act together on permissions?

Mark Evans ● 57d25 Comments ● 22d

Movers recommendation - more please

Thank you for recommending Economic Moves. Sadly they are booked.  Any others please?

Katy Searle ● 22d2 Comments ● 22d

Olive's House Approval

While I might have raised an eyebrow at the green light being given to the Olive's House family club on Bath Road without a vote on it by councillors, I do think it is overall a good thing.However, I think some more planning needs to be done on parking and traffic management. I don't want to get into the 'SUV driving school-run mum' bashing which tends to often poorly masks misogyny but given the likely membership fees at this club and the fact that, by definition people joining will have kids, the cars using it will tend to be big. With the ArtsEd in the immediate vicinity, the area is going to get messy. The article highlights that these issue were raised during the consultation process but gave no clue as to what the proposal was to resolve them.

Anita Blake ● 23d1 Comments ● 22d

Brooks Lane footbridge

One thing that stood out for me about the closure of Brooks Lane footbridge, is that according to Cllr Rowe, Network Rail said they had to jet wash the existing structure to take off the layers of paint that had accumulated to properly test it. That seems to imply it hasn't been thoroughly examined before and when they closed it last year they just fixed the problems that they could see.

Diane Brown ● 23d1 Comments ● 23d

The William Hogarth School site

I was trying to recall what the council was proposing to do with the William Hogarth School (then Hogarth School) site when it was proposing to close it back in 2001. I know there was a suggestion of merging with St. Mary's but was that the only option or was the sale of the site being considered as well?Looking at the numbers in the report on the front page, if there is a plan to close the school, it doesn't appear to be based on educational consideration but looks like it is driven by politics or development opportunity or a combination of both.

Diane Brown ● 35d7 Comments ● 23d

AI gaff on hogarth prize article

I was reading the piece about the Hogarth Prize this morning and noticed that right before the article actually begins, there's this line just sitting there:"Here is a polished, publication-ready article based on the text you provided, written in your preferred narrative style."That's clearly a message from an AI chatbot that's been left in by mistake. I mind that they're using it to write the news in the first place, but what really gets me is that nobody even read it back before publishing, that's just lazy. I've got sympathy for a small local news site trying to keep up with everything, but a basic proofread isn't too much to ask.It's still there as I write this, I imagine it'll be fixed once someone notices, just wondered how everyone else felt about. Am I a dinosaur for hoping for better?

Juliet Adams ● 23d2 Comments ● 23d

Sir Sadiq and Crime

I must admit, I lost my cool when listening to the News Agents podcast yesterday.Khan was on the show and gas-lighting the audience. He tried to boast about how he has reduced crime in London - focusing on the fall in homicide rates. He failed to acknowledge what most London folk see, feel and know - that criminal activity is totally out of control.Our high street shops have been ravaged by shoplifting, car theft is a daily occurrence, people cannot wear expensive watches without being mugged, and young girls cannot walk the streets without fear of being attacked. Khan clearly has an agenda…. one that is failing London, including our own W4….Sorry to post a political message… just saddened by the decline in cultural standards…

Emma Elizabeth ● 220d503 Comments ● 23d

Bedford Park Stores

I notice that the large building next to the Tabard appears to be standing empty. Certainly the ground floor is unoccupied. For a long time it seemed to be home to a company dealing in spectacle frames. Long before that of course it was originally (as the name suggests) a general store for the residents of  Bedford Park, and for a while home to H.J. Mulliner & Co coachbuilder for Rolls Royce. Does anyone know any more about its current fate?

Bruce Hammal ● 380d5 Comments ● 23d

Sofa Giveaway ideas ?

Any ideas on the best place to list a 2/3 seater click clack sofa bedin realy good condition? It's free to take, and I really want rid of it by Sunday late afternoon rather than list it and wait weeks. Doing my head in as it's taking up space and everyone wants to sit in the garden these days. TY

Julian Pavey ● 28d8 Comments ● 24d

One Eyed Cat missing from St Mary's Grove

Has someone taken her in thinking she is a stray? Has anyone spotted her in their garden. She is a tortoiseshell. Please call if you have any information - day or night.

Maria Babiak ● 34d7 Comments ● 24d

Missing Cat from Hazledene Road

Withnail has been missing since 16th July.  He usually stays around Hazledene and Fauconberg Roads.  It's not like Withnail to not return.  If you see him please contact 07894 908630.  He is a very friendly friendly cat.

Maria Babiak ● 35d3 Comments ● 24d

Power Cut in Fishers lane back on at 7 pm says website

John Kennedy ● 25d2 Comments ● 24d

Sainsburys and Waitrose closed

Does anyone know if Sainsburys and Waitrose have reopened yet please? I was told they were closed about an hour ago, due to technical difficulties and a power cut respectively. I hope everything's OK.

Richard Evans ● 25d1 Comments ● 24d

Leather hats

Sorry if silly question but do you waterproof just the outside of an all leather hat, or inside as well, if anyone knows please, did try to find out on google.

Janice Evans ● 26d4 Comments ● 25d

pavement weedkiller

Judging from the verdant weed growth on the pavements of eastern Hounslow, the borough is doing well with its aim of being a greener borough.But it all looks unkempt and abandoned.So let's get a bit of effective weedkiller sprayed, now, please . . .

Robert Shaw ● 391d47 Comments ● 27d

Moving house - removals recommendation?

Hello - please could anyone recommend a good removals company to do Chiswick to Chiswick move?  Plus I need storage. thanks

Katy Searle ● 29d4 Comments ● 27d

Tree pruner

Does anyone know a good local person who can prune a tree please?

Robin Knight ● 29d2 Comments ● 27d

Dog owners rotten meat warning.

There is lots of rotten meat that’s been dumped near Chiswick Back Common opposite Hack and Veldt. It’s disgusting, hundreds of flies around it…. I covered a huge beef joint with a box.

Ben Grundy ● 27d0 Comments ● 27d

Farewell Le Vacherin

Very sorry to see that it has closed. I had been going since its very early days and it was always very high quality and surprisingly good value. Ashamed to say I haven't been for several years due to my beloved thinking that the rich food might be too fattening for me and general belt tightening which has reduced the number of times we eat out. Use it or lose it comes into play once again.

Mark Evans ● 60d13 Comments ● 28d

Lawn Repair

My lawn is in a dreadful state! Can anyone recommend a lawn company? Ideally I’d like a new lawn, but I’ve got foxes and I think they’d ruin it. Thanks.

Jill Merrett ● 77d8 Comments ● 29d

Hammersmith Bridge

A hopeless endeavour, they should just close the thing and let it rot. Remind us of the total incompetence from everywhere.

John Bird ● 39d9 Comments ● 29d

Looking for recommendations someone to replace window glass

I need to glaze a small number of windows above the door to my garage. The Chiswick Lane, Devonshire Road and Acton Lane firms have all closed so recommendations welcome.

Adrian Irving ● 31d5 Comments ● 30d

Phone call scam

I know you are all savvy on this, however new one to me, they call say they are health provider, ask if you have had Covid and Flu jabs, then the quickly get onto health insurance, if you have it who is it with etc.,  Tell them nothing even when you answer don't confirm it's you, just ask who they are, never give them an answer to anything.  I Believe this is a scam.

Janice Evans ● 32d3 Comments ● 32d

RIP Kevin Keegan

Sad news today that hehas died,aged 75.A wonderful,hard working an whole hearted player,one of the best of his era.He won the Ballon D'or twice and was also a European Footballer of the Year,honours not many other British players have won.I wish we had another one like him now.

Keith Iddon ● 33d4 Comments ● 32d

World Cup 2026

I hold no truck with the World Cup and fail to understand the media's excitement around it.I have endured 60 years purgatory watching England play through false dawns, Gazza's tears, infuriating red cards, missed penalties, bloody WAGS and to cap it all, the Hand of God.FIFA, avaricious and corrupt are asking spectators exorbitant ticket prices to travel the length and brenth of the Americas and Canada to follow their teams.I would sooner watch 5 days of sedate cricket down at the Oval, or sit through cool Pimms at Royal Ascot than go bankrupt following our dreary footballers.Cry "God for Harry, England, and Saint George".Come on England, bring it home for Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare, Rupert Brooke, William Blake, Queen Vic, Issac Newton, IKB, Princess Diana, Bobby Moore.Howay the lads.

Denis I. Fox ● 65d82 Comments ● 33d

Wine fridge

By any chance does anyone have a wine fridge they want to give away sell? It's for my daughter

david ward ● 34d0 Comments ● 34d

Cake decorating items

After many years of cake decorating arthritis has taken  its toll on my hands. I have so much stuff I’ve accumulated over the years I would like to dispose of . I would like to sell it all as part of my de cluttering in general to make my life easier. If you are interested send me a DM and we can discuss it

Maureen Yakoubi ● 35d0 Comments ● 35d

SCR yellow box - ChisChoke update

Another triumph in our ongoing patriotic Brexit-inspired campaign to clamp down on freedom of movement within W4. The new yellow box was instrumental yesterday in creating very significant delays all the way down SCR one way, and back to the Porsche garage the other - maybe 45 minutes, if not 60! The forthcoming closure of SCR southbound for some aimless hole-digging will take this to the next stage!

Davey Harris ● 36d9 Comments ● 35d

Hounslow Council Planning Application Site

I have been trying unsuccessfully to view a planning application on the Hounslow Council web site for the last couple of days with no success. Is any one having the same problem and is this the right link to use?https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/planning-building/search-planning-applications

Diane Brown ● 43d4 Comments ● 35d

Missing Cat from Hazledene Road

Withnail has been missing since 16th July.  He usually stays around Hazledene and Fauconberg Roads.  It's not like Withnail to not return.  If you see him please contact 07894 908630.  He is a very friendly friendly cat.

Maria Babiak ● 35d1 Comments ● 35d

Dusra - anyone been?

We booked last week to go on Sunday night. Sat down in what’s a clean but characterless space. Owner sheepishly dropped the bomb that they don’t have an alcohol licence - seems they’ve had some objections. Very surprised none of the five-star reviews (or indeed the staff when we booked) mention it’s currently dry. Wish I’d known before as I’d have waited for them to get over what I hope is a blip.

Gordon McDonald ● 53d21 Comments ● 35d

plumber recommendations

Hi, looking for experienced fully qualified plumber recommendations please

Pam Tynan ● 36d1 Comments ● 35d

Burst water pipe in W4

I just noticed our water pressure was reduced. Thames Water info. -https://www.thameswater.co.uk/network-latest/2026/jul/w3-w4-w12

Dilys Jones ● 38d6 Comments ● 36d

New box junction - how are you supposed to get out of Barrowgate Road West from the A4 and cross?

the Sounthbound SCR traffic will fill up all the space between the A4 and the box; and you can't turn right onto a box junction if the exit is blocked. The box junction is split but there is not enough room to wait in the middle without one or more tyres being on the boxes — so just HOW does this work? i know everyone has pretty much said all this, but surely there must a SOME way to do it or they wouldn't have installed it — or are they really that incompetent/ venal? i am hoping they are not and i just need it explaining to me ....

Ceinwen Mailvagnam ● 64d32 Comments ● 36d

Pillock

Farage has resigned but has said he will stand again in the by election that will be held.

Vanessa Smith ● 46d4 Comments ● 36d

Probate lawyer

Does anyone have a good experience of a probate lawyer locally who they would recommend?

Marie Power ● 36d0 Comments ● 36d

Singing lessons

Can anyone please recommend a singing teacher for my sons (aged 8 & 13) Many thanks,

Juliette Abbey ● 43d1 Comments ● 36d

Painter wanted

1 double bedroom needs some holes filling and painting white, can anyone recommend someone?Thanks

David Powers ● 37d4 Comments ● 37d

Farage- Public statement

I hope the whole left wing establishment and their supporters absorb what Nigel Farage had to say this afternoon, including the atrocious attacks he has endured over the years, and now including his daughter.The man is no quitter and has made the decision to task Clacton to fight against the establishment.The upcoming by-election smacks of a bit of a circus, I hope for Bertha's sake she hasn't moved to Clacton-on -Sea.

Denis I. Fox ● 46d69 Comments ● 38d

Is the real point being missed on Hammersmith Bridge?

It has been quite interesting to see how the coverage of the Hammersmith Bridge debacle has developed. By the time it made it into the national press the focus was entirely on the ending of hopes that government funding would be forthcoming for a full reopening.This is not inaccurate, there seems to be now zero chance of this happening within the next decade if at all, but we already knew this would be the case if the Structures Fund wasn't going to provide the money.The scenario appears to have been that the Department for Transport decided that the money needed for Hammersmith Bridge was too big a proportion of the Structures Fund perhaps mindful that a prime minister with a more northern outlook was about to arrive. Also there was a previously undisclosed timeout on the funding which required work to be complete by 2030.It therefore appears to have originated the suggestion that a 'phased reopening' be the strategy i.e. further strengthening and restoration but no motor vehicles.Hammersmith & Fulham Council is clearly very cross about this as it put a huge amount of money into restoring the bridge on the basis that it was an investment in full reopening (possibly with payback through a toll). They are now demanding refunds from both TfL and DfT of money they have spent and appear to be making this a condition of accepting any grant from the Structures Fund.If this situation can't be resolved quickly (and it has been rumbling on for some time) the money from the Structures Fund will go elsewhere. Then Hammersmith & Fulham say they will be spending the statutory minimum on the bridge which amounts to enough to stop it falling down. This will mean that in the not too distant future the bridge will have to be closed to pedestrians and cyclists as well. The point is implicit in the article published on this site but when I went back and read the full report, I felt that it had been underplayed. As most subsequent reporting was based on this original coverage, this looming problem seems to be slipping under the radar.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 44d12 Comments ● 38d

Flat sharing and/or week day rentals

Hi everyone,I hope this is okay to post as I'm feeling a bit stuck!I've rented my flat in Chiswick for the past 14 years and was served a Section 21 notice just as the rules changed. After four months of searching, I still haven't found anywhere to rent that feels right, but I have found a lovely flat to buy in Chiswick.The only catch is that I'd need to rent out the spare room. I've looked at SpareRoom, but nothing useful so far. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a reputable company or service that helps match professional flatmates or specialises in Monday-to-Friday lets.I'm really looking for personal recommendations from people who've actually used a service, rather than Google suggestions.Thanks so much in advance!

Jenny Smith ● 39d1 Comments ● 39d