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Please object today to increase in height of Hogarth roundabout IMG redevelopment 

Urgent: object today Friday if you don’t want Hounslow Council to allow our beloved views of St Nicholas Church and Chiswick’s riverside to be ruined by giving planning permission to a 10 floor building on Hogarth Roundabout. Please help to save this cherished corner of West London…👉Please comment on Hounslow’s planning portal here https://planningandbuilding.hounslow.gov.uk/NECSWS/ES/Presentation/Planning/OnlinePlanning/AddApplicationComment?applicationNumber=P%2F2024%2F2610 (BTW don’t use paragraph returns in your comments - their system won’t allow it) 👉 Or easier still, email your views to Planning.objections@hounslow.gov.uk. The deadline is today Friday 25 April 2025.The background: The old IMG building at 1 Burlington Lane on Hogarth Roundabout has been empty, sad and dilapidated for a long time and we need new housing but the proposed 6 and 10 storey building which Hounslow Council’s planning officer is recommending for approval is totally out of scale to this residential area. The developer Jaysam Contractor Ltd already has planning permission to build 106 flats on 6 floors but is now asking to add 4 new floors. Only 6 of the units of the 132 will be affordable!As you can see in the picture above, the block will loom over the historic views and quaint streetscapes of St Nicholas Church, the many Listed buildings on Chiswick Mall, Church Street, Hogarth’s House museum, Chiswick House, the Lamb and Breweries, the streets of the Glebe Estate, the gentle recent development at Chiswick Gate behind the IMG (an example of a new development which respects the scale of our area).  Many of you who love walking along the Thames Path will know the famous views of Old Chiswick from across the river from Barnes towpath shown in below in print and more recently. If you love Chiswick riverside and are concerned about the impact of this proposal, please help by commenting to Hounslow. Many thanks!Sophie

Sophie Sainty ● 127d17 Comments ● 24d

Chiswick is rubbish

I'm really getting upset over the different kinds of litter strewn around Chiswick. Our neighbourhood is rubbish, and it has been for many years now! I've finally said it "out loud", and it pains me to do so.The recent hot weather always encourages the picnic crowds that leave rubbish in the parks . When I was a child we had to make posters about "keep Britain tidy", and it was drilled into us to pick it up. This seems lost, as everyone is in it for themselves and just expect the council to pick it up (I guess). I have a young daughter, and I teach her this, but I don't think the school curriculum does. I'm sad to say that I wish the council had litter attendants to fine offenders. Forget parking , they would make a killing on litter.But this is overly simple, as another issue is that bins aren't emptied, and overflow constantly. The council rarely has a handle on predicted litter patterns or preventative rubbish handling and it just shows how inept and unimaginative they are . Would it hurt to tie an extra bag to park bins when is going to be hot? Ideally with a sign saying none food items only to guard against foxes? Of course if we were in Japan there would be no bins and people take their rubbish home themselves. So we are back to education , and how we can encourage our fellow neighbours to care about the neighbourhood?. Perhaps if we had litter wardens, they might educate and give the chance for an offender to repent a fine by picking up (the inevitable finger or eff-off causing an immediate fine).But the final straw for me are the local businesses in Chiswick. I'm sorry to say this, as I like to support local, but why do they all think it's ok to heap their rubbish in the street every morning (particularly Sat or Sunday)? A nice walk onto the high street (with an idea to frequent their establishments) now always incurs the shame of walking past reaking/oozing piles of skank. There is a woodsman's saying "don't sh@t where you eat", and lately I interpret that as "don't eat where they ...". Sure, they will whimper this is what the council insists on, to which I counter, find a better way to save your livelihoods and take some pride! It's ridiculous .
While we are at it, why don't they take some time to sweep in front of their doors and remove the cigarette butts and other rubbish many of their clients leave (take responsibility for a change). Or (as it's not just cafes in this list of shame), clean the eggshells or greesy boxes nearby . And reflect on their stinky bags at 9am, roasting in the sun? In fact, why not have some staff do a local cleanup and show some community pride? It would be good advertising and show commitment.In sharp contrast, I smile at the "Abundance " initiatives to brighten our streets. But scowl at the rubbish between the lovely plants , and rarely stop to admire them as the oozing bags, buzzing flies and stench hurry me on.How can we change this? Other countries (particularly hot ones), seem so better organised.Bring back a beautiful neighbourhood, and not this rubbish legacy we have.

Tim Mackinnon ● 56d21 Comments ● 46d