The role of Conservative Councillors Now and in the Future
We make it clear; The only way to properly deliver local government is to listen at all times and learn what people need, and understand residents’ cares, provide moderate and progressive responses and deliver changes not just promises, that are supported and delivered after proper consultation
Delivering to London
Homefields ward is home to the Hogarth Roundabout and Hogarth House. What about greening the immediate area? Read More about Bob and Gabby and the plans that they and other residents and councillors would like to put in place………
Resurrecting Burlington Lane, Hogarth Roundabout and protecting Hogarth’s House .
Cllr Gerald McGregor and GLA Member Nick Rogers have been the recipients of some great community inspired plans for a notorious spot in West London
After speaking to many residents, community groups and making many observations of Hogarth Roundabout since October 2020, Bob Stephenson-Padron, Hounslow Environmental Champion, has made the following observations:
“1) There is a serious littering problem in and around the Hogarth Roundabout subway and then up both sides of Hogarth Estate especially in front of the Premier Inn, the Hogarth Roundabout Bus Stop and in front of 1879 Hogarth Lane. We need enforcement action, as someone who is regularly picking up this litter (once a week) but with no further official enforcement action it leaves a problem, the litter simply returns with great speed.
2) There is serious level of graffiti and uncleaned surfaces around the Hogarth Roundabout, its abutments and its walkways.
Could we please have Hounslow Highways and TfL to do their duty and clean this up? For graffiti on private property, as an Environmental Champion I am happy to liaise say with the general manager of the Premier Inn to assist them but special focus should be maintained on the blight to council-owned Hogarth House which suffered a great deal of graffiti vandalism in December 2020.
3) Axis House and the general pedestrian highway in their current state do serious harm to the Chiswick House Conservation Area. Axis House is currently somewhat unsightly and it is good there is the proposed One Burlington Lane regeneration project.
The pedestrian walkways to Hogarth House and Chiswick House are disturbingly terrible and it appears very little sensible town planning or foresight has gone into it. The subway by the Premier Inn smells of urine and is unswept (q.v. filled with spider webs). The exit stairs and walkways are usually filled with litter, and you are greeted by a loud highway and a lot of litter along the grass.
Alongside Bob, Gabby Taranowski, a local eco activist resident, is a supporter of a further long term scheme being put forward by a number of local residents and colleagues on the Old Chiswick Protection Society about building a green wall around Hogarth Roundabout up to the Chiswick House entrance with appropriate openings to transform this pedestrian walkway leaving enough space for the proposed green cycle path.
A green wall would almost fully mitigate the harm Hogarth Lane causes the Chiswick House Conservation Area, improve air quality, and give the council more options for utilising the public realm along the roundabout for say benches, gardens or other public amenities. It is also impractical to graffiti a green wall.
A very good example of a well-designed and embracing thin walkway next to a road, which is at Allington Street, Victoria, London SW1
However the littering issue must be cut down or otherwise this will simply be a pretty walkway in design but blighted by litter.”
Both Councillor John Todd and Councillor Gerald McGregor have previous experience in environmental enhancement having supported the Arts Educational School achieve its ambition of getting planning permission in Flanders Road Chiswick for a Green Wall.
At the launch of the Hounslow Environmental Champions programme it was noted that CIL funds should be used for environmental projects, Many supporters of the project would see sense that CIL funds should be utilised for this project.
As the roundabout is of strategic importance to Greater London, Hounslow should seek regeneration funding from the GLA and MHCLG to allow the council to be more proactive on regenerating this gateway into London. Bob Stephenson-Padron and Gabby Taranowski are optimistic that their efforts and the support of local residents will see this project through to fruition.
As strong supporters, please contact Councillor John Todd or Councillor Gerald McGregor for further information.
Outdoor Trial for returning Conservative Council Surgery
Councillor Gerald McGregor dealing with a case brought by a Chiswick Resident (Name withheld) last week. Not untypically a tale of woe exacerbated by the pandemic, with a broken tablet and lack of access to the internet due to Covid limited library capacity hence a lack of access to important council services.
Councillor Ron Mushiso came to the rescue.
He has been responsible for collecting usable tablets and laptops for re-cycling for school children and adults who are already in touch with social services. He evaluated the broken tablet and provided a temporary loan of a high quality laptop to the concerned resident who is registered disabled.
Since the weather was nice for most of last weekend the surgery was held outside the Chiswick Library. The Councillors involved, John Todd, Ron Mushiso and Gerald McGregor were able to talk to people at table, to library visitors and to passers-by on the street who dropped in.
The library staff, now freed from a lot of limitations, were superb in their support and co-operation. Next step, re-open the lovely reference library room on the first floor and allow access to the committee room (where our surgeries are usually held)
We are formally open for business at Chiswick Library every Saturday morning at 9.30pm
TIMES FOR SURGERIES FOR RESIDENTS TO MEET COUNCILLORS
Face to face surgeries and resident case work meetings are are now running following the outdoor trial meeting on 7 th August: you will be able to meet a Conservative councillor in Chiswick on Saturdays at 9.30am in Chiswick Library
In Gunnersbury on the first Saturday of every month at 10.00am at the Gunnersbury Triangle Club.
If you cannot make it, please contact your ward councillors by email or by phone (you may have to leave a message), as listed below.
Date for your Diary
Most council meetings are now taking place in person at Hounslow House though a few, such as licensing panel meetings, continue to be held virtually. Even if they are held in person, you can watch them live (or later) on the council's YouTube channel. Please check for each committee by looking at the agenda reports pack for each committee.
2nd September: Planning Committee
7th September: Cabinet
16th September: Overview and Scrutiny Panel
21st September: Borough Council Meeting
12th October: Chiswick Area Forum
