Forum Topics

Congestion charge extension

Please sign the change.org petition against the proposed (alleged) extension of the C-Zone to the North and South Circulars.  It has already reached almost 107,000 signatures in the past day or so.Please remember that the ULEZ will be in force to tackle pollution; the C-Charge extension is purely a fund-raising exercise to bail out TfL.

Alison Robins ● 2148d2 Comments ● 2148d

Potential Burglar beware

Dear Local Community, at 19.37 this evening a masked (what looks like a white male) wearing a baseball cap and a large leather bag holding some kind of coffee cup approached my slightly open window and looked inside, seemingly to 'case' my house on Windmill Road.  Reporting this to the police please be vigilant in the area.

angel peachey ● 2149d0 Comments ● 2149d

Another scam

I just had a recorded message phone call from 'Visa' telling me that there was an purchase for £100 on my card.  Needless to say I didn't respond and hung up. But thought it was worth warning others.

Pat Kingham ● 2153d3 Comments ● 2150d

Good for you, Wales!

Lock down from Friday.

Sarah Felstead ● 2153d13 Comments ● 2150d

Brook Lane closure

Being a bit nosey, anyone know why Brook Lane was closed by the Police this morning? There were lights put up in the derelict and part demolished office building that is on the A4.

Paul Phillips ● 2152d2 Comments ● 2151d

Give us back our roads Ruth Cadbury

How about giving Brentford and Chiswick roads back to the local people, that have been  closed buy Hounslow Council on your watch.These local road closures are creating mayhem in Chiswick all done on the back of your  Labour Council.These measures have been installed by your officers and councillors on the back of a Government safety streets initiative, which Councils have to bid for,.I think the Council are just making things up as they go along just to grab the money.How about sorting them out and install the important measures, but leave the stupid ones that are being installed out of spite by Hounslow Councilors.

Bernard Allen ● 2180d33 Comments ● 2153d

Ealing's anti-LTN group.

Has anyone been following this on local news groups, Facebook etc.? The residents of Ealing, rather than accept what has been passed down by their council as a fait accompli with minimum consultation, are organising and fighting back. It seems there are other groups in London doing similar, e.g. Islington. I think there is genuine grassroots anger over this. Do we have similar for our area? LTN = Low Traffic Neighbourhoods = in plain English, blocking roads. A cuddly name, which in reality couldn't be more sinister.

Mike Paterson ● 2161d22 Comments ● 2154d

Greening grey Britain

https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/gardening-in-a-changing-world/front-garden-researchSo green gardens make us feel better!Read the blog:https://sola-blog.com/2016/05/09/greening-the-grey-vegetating-front-gardens-for-improved-well-being/

Philippa Bond ● 2898d8 Comments ● 2155d

ReDevelopment of waterfront near Music Museam

Im sure this is out there, but the area/park in front of the music museum to me appears totally under used, neglected etc. Ive seen lots of plans to redevelop brentford near the morrisons but nothing for the area in front of the Music museam/ McDonalds.. Are there plans?

Angelo R Santagata ● 2157d5 Comments ● 2155d

Hounslow's answer to Dominic Cummings?

For those familiar with the saga of the cladding/painting houses on two estates in Isleworth and the unhappiness of tenants and neighbours over the chosen colour on some homes, the role of the planning department in this was also being questioned. Advice from an independent source was that no planning permission was required and the work could have been done under permitted development.A Freedom of Information request to ascertain why Hounslow's housing and planning departments had gone down this road was returned with an answer that confirmed that our advice was indeed correct, but still did not answer the question as to why this was done. We pointed out that the information in the FOI was in fact incorrect so therefore there was no need at all for planning permission and we again asked for an explanation of their actions. Having gone round in ever decreasing circles and still not getting the courtesy of an straightforward answer I wrote to one of the Isleworth councillors, copying in the cabinet member for housing who had previously poo-pood residents complaints and asked that they personally asked planning and housing for an answer. Today I am told that our queries are being treated as a Stage 1 complaint, as we had not asked to go down this route I asked why this was happening without our agreement? The answer staggered me:"I have asked firmly and frankly for answers to these questions multiple times. I have also made my opinion very clear on this colour scheme. Peter Matthew has been very clear he will only deal with further questions and concerns as a Stage 1 complaint." So, an elected member is letting a council officer, a paid borough employee dictate what he will and won't do, since when did we elect officers? We elect councillors to act as our representatives and advocates not to stand for this nonsense. I find this absolutely outrageous, and it is clear that this officer will use the council's appallingly slow and ineffective complaints process as an opportunity to keep kicking this matter into the long grass. There have been many justified comments about how our P.M. is having his plonker pulled by one Dominic Cummings - well here we have the Hounslow version. What is wrong with the people we elect? It is quite simple - why did the housing department let planning persuade them they needed planning permission for work that could have been carried out under permitted development? Why did the affected homes have the removal of their permitted development rights inserted as a condition of the planning permission? Why were planning officers allowed to dictate the external colour scheme without any consultation?

Vanessa Smith ● 2156d1 Comments ● 2156d

Another nail in the coffin.

Wards: Brentford – Isleworth – Osterley and Spring Grove - SyonItem Address Ward Ref. No. Case officer details2 Syon Park, London Road, TW8 8JF Syon 00707/E/P116 rupinder.dhoot@hounslow.gov.ukProposal Creation of a one-way link road between Syon Park and London Road, including associated engineering operations, earthworks,drainage and landscaping.No. ofsubmissions:Summary of objections (x7)- Will negatively affect the existing quite cycle route linking Syon House to London Road.- Cuts through a Grade I listed landscape to sacrifice this for commercial gain is unacceptable.- Extra traffic will only add to delays and pollution.- Would create an urban intrusion into a local, national and internally valued rural setting.- No realistic assessment has been given of volume of vehicle movements.- Left exit into London Road with increased usage of Syon Lane off London Road.- With no future use of the Wyevale premises or a master plan predictions are not possible to ascertain potential maximum traffic flow.- If the gates are left open, as suggested, at the busiest hours of the day drivers would inevitably be tempted to ignore “no entry” signage andenter via the proposed new route.- No preventative measures are indicated to deter usage by lorries/large vehicles.- Proposed gates and signage would clutter an existing rural setting.- Loss of grassland.- Fails to preserve the character and appearance of the parkland and conservation area.- Fails to preserve or enhance both the setting and special architectural and historic character of the Grade I Listed landscape.- Very special circumstances of the proposed have not been demonstrated.- Archaeological survival potential is assessed as “high”; therefore, ground intrusion from proposed tree planting and subsequent root actionwould remove or severely disturb any archaeological remains at the planting location.- The planning application provides insufficient information on public benefits to offset what may be the “less than substantial harm” to aheritage asset.- Negative impact on biodiversity and Archaeology.Summary of support (x8)- Allowing vehicles to come off the main road will reduce congestion and pollution.- Closure of garden centre has led to a drop in visitors to the park the proposed road will help bring back visitors.- New egress will aid in cars being able to leave the site without having to use Park Road.- Will improve access to nursery.- Will help businesses and residents of Brentford.General comments (x4):- Closing Church Street was a terrible mistake19Wards: Brentford – Isleworth – Osterley and Spring Grove - Syon- Reopen Church Street with traffic calming measures.- Suspend all parking on Park Road on event days.- Opening Church Street would have prevented the closure of Wyevale Garden Centre.Summary of reasons for approval- Less that substantial harm to listed park outweighed by public benefit.- No harm to highway and pedestrian safety subject to safeguarding conditions.(Please note that this item was previously added to the week 11 list recommending refusal, since then further information has been submitted toovercome the reasons for refusal).

Vanessa Smith ● 2162d14 Comments ● 2157d

my old school

Does anyone have any photo's of St John's RC school in Clifden Road and Brook Road outside Brentford FC ?

Jim O ' Reardon ● 5921d61 Comments ● 2157d

Park Rd. Allotment 'consultation'

As expected - even though they lost a previous application at a planning inquiry the Northumberland Estate, undeterred, are back again and inviting comments on their new proposal for 75 homes on the Park Rd. allotment site. Comments have to be made by Sunday November 1 2020. It is not clear if the allotments will have a viable future in this proposed development. This is an open space which is of benefit for the wider local community as stated by the planning inspector, please take this opportunity to support keeping it for current and future generations. Allotments are needed more than ever and contribute to the physical and mental well-being of those who cultivate them, as well as providing an ideal habitat for wildlife and additional biodiversity in the local area.The link is below.www.syonandparkroadconsultation.co.uk

Vanessa Smith ● 2157d1 Comments ● 2157d

Paper and cardboard recycling

A garden waste recycling lorry has just come down my road in Brentford to collect the contents of our blue boxes. For months we have had one recycling lorry collecting the tins/plastic and glass, with a different recycling lorry collecting paper/cardboard (all thrown down the same chute in the lorry - no separation of paper and cardboard). Has Hounslow stopped recycling paper and cardboard - anyone know?

Joan Adamson ● 2172d16 Comments ● 2157d

Flu Jabs

Make a list of arrangements for different surgeries?  Let friends, family, neighbours know about the arrangements!

Sarah Felstead ● 2177d33 Comments ● 2160d

Chaos reigns

Bollards have suddenly appeared on Twickenham Road separating cyclists from the rest of the traffic and thereby narrowing an already overly congested road. And making access to West Mid hospital so awkward for the Ambulance service - there is nowhere for drivers to pull aside to let emergency vehicles pass! They have also placed bollards in Park Rd which has the rear access to WMUH! As far as we can tell no consultation with LAS was done prior to this bonkers and dangerous idea. Apparently this is to promote healthier lifestyles - the fact you might die because an ambulance cannot get access to a hospital doesn't matter! Really healthy!It has now been confirmed that no consultation with either LAS or the West Middx. hospital was done. The cycleway is now to be 'tweaked' with the view to allow easier access for the ambulance service whilst maintaining cycle safety. There is also going to be a road safey audit. Stable doors and horses?I'm not sure what passes for brains these days, but it seems to me that all relative consultations should have taken place before Hounslow went off on one, sticking bollards everywhere. Clearly if you are on a bike you are an exalted being around here - and sod the rest of us. It has also been declared that this is going to happen starting at Brentford Bridge right up to College Rd. Isleworth. I have reached the conclusion that the elected councillors in this borough are totally useless, and are only interested in dictating to the rest of us how we should live our lives, and if one more of them or their bloody officers mentions sodding Covid as a justification/excuse for imposing all this rubbiish on us I will scream.

Vanessa Smith ● 2170d19 Comments ● 2161d

Electric scooters

So, where are we with the legalities of using these on the roads?A shortt trip to screwfix the other evening and they were coming at me from all directions.  Those on the pavement, which I had to look out for as well, suddenly shot out into the road.  None had warning lights on them.  None had reflective strips or clothes, most were all in dark colours.  One scooter flying down the opposite side of the road, coming towards me, had a passenger!  Two teenager schoolgirls ( dark uniform ) with one hanging on her back like a rucksack.  When we got around to the fire station, a car had pulled up into the front concourse and the car driver was checking a young lad as if he had clipped the scooter-ist.  The scooter-ist was holding a dog.

Sarah Felstead ● 2175d25 Comments ● 2162d

Local Flood Warnings.

Seems to be OK for the moment but worth visiting from time to time,https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=%20brentford&fbclid=IwAR2YhAbM2_dXZN_a6n7lqzFUCDgkKMUxrhQ0lm6LbRM95aV2Yk5HQweoYiEJL

Jim Linwood ● 2168d6 Comments ● 2164d

Petition to remove CPZ in Enfield Road

HiI have lived in Enfield Road for over 25 years but since the introduction of CPZ it has become a nightmare. The council at their third attempt got the result they wanted by 2 votes as the  majority did not even respond to the consultation. Now visitors and residents are hunted like animals by traffic wardens issuing tickets at weekends, late at night (10,11 and 12 pm) for the slightest infringement they can find.When this CPZ was first advertised it said it's only for 2 hours a day to stop students parking but the truth is now clear, it's for money and nothing else. In their latest scam 8 cars were ticketed because the council said sewer works were taking place. Signs were erected late on Sunday nightand the tickets were issued on Monday morning first thing. NO SEWER WORKS TOOK PLACE. When the residents who had been ticketed complained they were told hard luck, if you park you have to keep watching your car. This is not the way any local authority should behave and the Leader and the local Councillors who were made aware of this scam should be ashamed of themselves. Obviously as they will not act for the people who they claim to represent I think it's time for us to represent ourselves.So the question is how many residents of Enfield Road are up for getting this money-making scam off our backs.

Robert Ayres ● 2168d2 Comments ● 2168d

PCNs in Enfield Road, Brentford (again!)

Residents of Enfield Road will know that finding a parking space at night can be difficult. At the start of the year a large number of us were given tickets for parking with two wheels on the kerb on the single yellow line outside controlled hours.  Kerb parking is permitted in most of Enfield Road because it is so narrow.  Most of the tickets were issued late at night.  Due to the prompt intervention of local councillors (thank you, Cllr Lambert!) those PCNs were cancelled.Unfortunately they have started again, with residents' cars being ticketed late at night.  If we come home late at night there is no other option but to park on the single yellow with 2 wheels on the kerb - there is nowhere else to go.  I have, in the past, spent half an hour or so, late on a Sunday night, cruising round adjoining streets trying to find a space.  You can't even do that now because of the Covid bollards.Please could anyone affected by this contact our councillors. A compromise might be to permit night parking on the single yellow, 2 wheels on the kerb between, say, the hours of 8pm and 8am.

Alison Robins ● 2169d0 Comments ● 2169d