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Decluttering > Books > Book Banks? > suggestions

Sadly I've reached the age(84) and with perhaps some medical conditions where I need to declutterI'm holding onto my history books for the moment but I have many others that will have to go.On Chiswick High Road at the Stamford Brook Bus Garage stop ... I discovered a BOOK BANK. I have started leaving books there...for others to take.There  also a book bank on THE ISLAND (Security Office) in Brentford.Any other places where I can donate.. and where others can take freely?

Jim Lawes ● 1237d12 Comments ● 1231d

LOST CAT - Please help!

We haven’t seen our cat Richard Parker since Thursday evening (13/04), grey bengal tabby mix with black spots, green/yellow eyes. He can be mean to strangers so be aware if you do spot him, he is chipped too. Please message me on cerysmaher@gmail.com if you see him. Thank you

Cerys Maher ● 1242d4 Comments ● 1238d

Unsolved West London Murders.

In March 2023, The commissioner of the Met Police Sir Mark Rowley admitted the force has 'racists, misogynists and homophobes' in its ranks – as Home Secretary Suella Braverman blasted 'serious failings of culture, leadership and standards' at Scotland Yard. On 6th April I sent a lengthy email to Mark Rowley pleading with him to review The Hammersmith Nudes' murders of the 1960's. I told him that I am in contact with adult children and other members of 6 of the murder victims.  I told him that many of the victims' family members are convinced that if the victims were police women, doctors, nurses or solicitors there would have been a review. On April 11 I recieved the following."Dear Mr Milkins,My apologies for the delayed response. I have forwarded this matter to the appropriate team for their review and direct reply to you.Kind regards,*****  ********      *********  | Inspector | Staff Officer to the Commissioner."Today I received a a phone call from New Scotland Yard followed by the following email.Dear Mr Milkins "It was good to speak to you on the phone just now, and as promised, I am emailing to confirm my details. I recognise the huge amount of dedication you have put into your investigations and I am sorry that these terrible murders remain unsolved, despite your efforts.There have been various reviews conducted regarding these cases over the years and I know you were in contact with DC Paul Rogers in 2007, and most recently, DC Adam Bailey in 2020. It remains the case as per DC Bailey’s letter that the links between Harold Jones and the victims are not substantive enough to enable a definitive finding that he was responsible for their deaths. I hope you understand that because Jones died in 1971 and there is no additional material further to what has been looked at in the above reviews, we won’t be reviewing the cases again at this time.Having said that, I know you are determined to continue with your work, and if there is something substantive and probative that you find that you would like to bring to our attention in the future, please do so.I wish you all the best."DC *****   ****** | CSC - Major InquiriesSpecial Casework TeamTHE MUST GO ON. AND IT WILL.

Neil Milkins ● 1239d0 Comments ● 1239d

Volunteer Gardeners wanted

Age Concern Chiswick has a lovely garden at their Friendship Club in Oxford Road North, W4 4DN but we are short of people to look after it. Can you help? Have you a spare hour or two on Mondays or Thursdays? If so, do get in touch: ageconcernchiswick@outlook.com or call 020 8742 7007.

Age Concern Chiswick ● 1242d0 Comments ● 1242d

The (once upon a time) proposed pedestrian bridge to the Kew

Wouldn't it be a tonic for Brentford folk if the once proposed pedestrian bridge across the River Thames to the Kew Towpath came to fruition.The bridge would take one to "Brentford Gate" which is an entrance to Kew Gardens.With the attractive £1 entrance fee for oldies like me ... it would enhance our remaining days!If cyclists were allowed to use the bridge (no riding allowed?) they would be halfway  to Richmond before they knew it! Brentford Lock West is getting a new bridge this month to ease their trips to Brentford Station...so perhaps now is the time for the "Ballymore Footbridge to get back on the Agenda. Yes a bridge named after a sponsor.Past offorts failed to progress due to lack of financial support.

Jim Lawes ● 1247d12 Comments ● 1243d

Brentford Canal Festival

A nice little piece telling us that there will be a Canal Festival this year. It was fun last year - I particularly loved the music in the Market Place and it was wonderful that the weather was great. But the article would have been nicer still if the dates of the festival had been included. "Who, what, when, where, how" seem to have disappeared from the journalist's canon.

Sue Rowe ● 1252d3 Comments ● 1251d

Foundations Shaking

Anyone else’s foundations are shaking heavily due to the industrial impact drilling at the old Brentford football stadium? Our entire building is moving when they use that machine. I do hope it doesn’t cause damage to our buildings?

Jai Williams ● 1256d5 Comments ● 1252d

SNP Money

How can money just disappear? I really don't understand - anybody got an explanation? Thanks.

Anne England ● 1252d6 Comments ● 1252d

Time for a change?

So, Sadiq Khan is claiming that the “silent majority” support his plans to charge us a huge daily amount to drive on our roads.  Does he think that we would believe that only people who are strongly against these measures will speak out, and those who are strongly in favour will just sit quietly by?  He is using the same dishonest tactics used by our local council – to ignore or discredit the results of their own consultations that are verifiably and resolutely against their plans, in favour of inventing conversations with mystery persons that appear to support them.  I think that we are all in favour of better air quality, but is this going to produce a significant and measurable improvement?  And is this the best use of our money at this time?  We are experiencing the highest inflation in a generation, we have fuel poverty, a social care crisis, a mental health epidemic, an influx of refugees from a war – I could go on.  So, what are our Labour administrations in Hounslow and City Hall prioritising – building cycle lanes and fining us for using our cars to get to work.  How can they justify a 5% council tax rise locally, and a whopping 10% increase for the GLA, when people can’t heat their homes or feed their families?  These people have become complacent and expect to be returned time after time, so make no effort to truly represent their constituents or take our views into account when they’re spending OUR money.  When you’re next in the supermarket wondering what you can afford to eat, think of the millions being spent on these pointless schemes.  I think it is time that these people – both in Hounslow and City Hall, who have shown no interest in truly representing us and are happy to raise taxes and fritter away our money on grandiose and pointless schemes, need to be voted out at the first opportunity – literally anyone else would be better than this lot.

Graham Thorpe ● 1254d0 Comments ● 1254d

Brexit

Its finally been admitted there will be border control posts at Belfast and three other locations. And goods crossing the Irish Sea will be subject to checks.

Nicholas Beard ● 2310d17 Comments ● 1256d

The Gating of Brentford Dock

(See the article on the front page of TW8).These are important clarifications:1) if you wish to comment to LB Hounslow on the Article 4 Direction, you should include your name and postal address within your email.2) Brentford Voice would welcome your general opinion on the gating, irrespective of whether you are in favour of the gates or against them. Please email your thoughts to:   info@brentfordvoice.co.uk

Jim Storrar ● 1293d36 Comments ● 1257d

Reglazng glasses

Has anyone experience of reusing old glass frames by having new lenses put in them?  I have a couple of pairs I would like to reuse, but I am uncertain of who to go to, and whether it is a good idea?

Sarah Felstead ● 1261d7 Comments ● 1257d

Brentford to Hounslow Cycleway Consultation Report Published

The consultation report into the Brentford to Hounslow Cycleway proposal (not the one they have just started building but the one further west which is on the drawing board).https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/hounslow-brentford-walking-and-cycling-changesThere are some interesting comments in the report and bus island by-passes were clearly causing people a lot of concern.What TfL haven't done is give details of overall levels of support or opposition to the scheme presenting responses in a way in which it was impossible to work out even broadly what was the balance of opinion.You may argue that this is underhand and assume that it could only be because the level of opposition was overwhelming or say that this is meant to be a consultation not a referendum.What I can't recall is if there was ever a question asking for overall opinions on the scheme in the original survey. They have taken it down now so it is hard to find out. If they did then an FoI request may be necessary to find out.There is to be another consultation on more detailed plans later this year.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1259d0 Comments ● 1259d

House in Grove Road, Isleworth, hits the news …

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11864359/Reckless-homeowner-illegally-knocked-800-000-three-bed-house-fined-6-000.html

Sarah Felstead ● 1274d16 Comments ● 1261d

Detailed design for Watermans Park to Kew Bridge cycleway

At risk of attracting further ridicule and contempt at being unable to track down documents online, could someone point me in the right direction for a more detailed map of the new section of the Cycleway planned between Watermans Park and Kew Bridge?

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1272d35 Comments ● 1262d

The pedestrian north side of the Great West Road is a disgrace.

It was kind of King George V and Queen Mary to open a stage of the Great West Road back in 1925.It is a major throughfare through Brentfordof which we used to be most proud.Take a walk from the Chiswick Flyover...starting on the west side... and you'll been startled to see masses of trapped litter ..seemingly left alone for years.Use the still active subway (ref A4 Smiths Factory)... ignore the filth and litter (not cleaned for years)...litter all along and in front of Dell, chaotic cycle path ..disgraceful Gatehouse zone at Gunnersbury Park.. and then the flytipping scene at the Sunley Plot at the entrance to Lionel Road  North. Who is in Charge?

Jim Lawes ● 1269d11 Comments ● 1262d

Best cream teas?

Shall we share details of the best cream teas around?  If we are going to do this + maybe we should decide what makes a really lovely cream tea?

Sarah Felstead ● 1282d10 Comments ● 1264d

The Ukrainian National football team and fans ...

.... have been apparently hotellingwith their families in Brentford TW8prior to their match versus Brentford B and v England at Wembley this weekend.Another thumbs up for TW8!

Jim Lawes ● 1264d0 Comments ● 1264d

Coronation Street Parties?

I gather that the friendly Enfield Road,in North Brentford, are have a Street Party ...sometime that weekend.Good on them!

Jim Lawes ● 1272d2 Comments ● 1265d

Less than a weeks notice for almost complete gridlock

So now the M4 will be closed as far as the A4 to Hogarth Roundabout. With the only notice being on this site . - Less than a week.The TfL/ Highways Authority advice?  Use the A40 or the A4.Do they not know that these roads are also currently severely restricted for ongoing works with tailbacks on the A40 to the M25 and is causing delays and gridlock in Hayes, Southall and almost impossible to get across Ealing to Brentford or Acton ?Then there are works on South Ealing Road, in Boston Manor and Hanwell.Then there is Richmond Town Centre blocked right in the middle with a 30 min detour via Sheen heading North- which diverts the bus right back into the epicentre of congestion.Plus ongoing Tube works of which the notifications have also been reduced by 4 days.The messed up weekends, the impossibility of working on call, and the waste in fuel, added pollution, stuffed up incomes, stress and damage to local trade.How on earth is this Road Management? and why such late and scant information to residents over what is a wide area.Plenty of posters all over the place about Ulez and untrue claims of clean air ( now being taken up by the ASA) But nothing about actions that are making life an absolute hell for everyone on foot in a car or on a bus.Worse than third rate.

Raymond Havelock ● 1268d2 Comments ● 1267d