Forum Topic

Hounslow Highways

I have taken on the (voluntary) role of 'lay assessor' for Hounslow Highways. This involves reviewing their works (on roadways and footways) and street cleaning on an ad hoc basis, and feeding back to them on how they're doing against the specifications agreed with the council.This is an informal role, and I don't know how it will work out, but it seems a reasonable way of feeding back on performance outside whatever formal systems they have.If anybody would like me to have a look at a particular street - let me know and if I can I'll review it. Please don't ask me to investigate specific issues of flytipping or whatever - you should report this to them at this address: http://www.hounslowhighways.org/38-contact.html - but if there's a particular concern about - say - a street that isn't swept effectively, graffiti not dealt with, leaves lying for too long, bad management of a repair etc, let me know.Bear in mind I don't have any formal role or any power as such: I'm just giving up a bit of my spare time to see if this will help.My 'patch' is from Kew Bridge to Busch corner - someone else is doing similar for Isleworth.

Guy Lambert ● 4118d24 Comments

I thought it might be in case of a conflict of interest. Then I wondered if it is this obsession in this borough with party politics having to be at the fore of everything.Then I thought it could just be typical local authority nonsense.Either way, it put me off.  Maybe that was the intention and it is only for 'people they know'. But I do agree with one point. This borough is simply not interested in anyone or group that is not 'approved' by the political masters and that to my mind whoever and whatever the party colours is totally wrong.Even if it isn't, it certainly looks from the outside like a gravy train. Too much so to not have an element of truth.Hardly democratic, but we see this all the time in Hounslow and for far too many years, little wonder so few vote here.

Anthony Waller ● 4116d

I can't think of any reason why somebody should be asked whether they are a member of a political party, other than when applying for a senior paid post which specifically excludes people who are members of political parties.I would be interested to know more about which members of residents' associations are involved with this project.  Historically of course most leading members of these groups in Hounslow would themselves have been politically involved.  That is thankfully not so much the case these days, although under rules recently introduced by the Council RAs can no longer engage with the local authority other than through a special forum created by the administration and chaired (and with the agenda set) by one of its own.Under the circumstances I tend to agree with Vanessa, at least up to a point.  Until and unless the local authority can find the confidence to engage with real people outside of the political bubble in which they operate we really ought to dispense with the charade and just leave it to the "experts".

Phil Andrews ● 4116d

I don't think there was a conspiracy, as I said, the questions to apply for a lock up garage are similar.It's just that it sent the signal to me that I could be tied up in a mire of politics and protocols that is most definitely not for me. And all to ensure work in streets is done properly.

Anthony Waller ● 4116d

Heated baths, Decent wine, cheese, butter, sewers, running water and flues.Not bad considering the limits of resources.

Anthony Waller ● 4116d

I was not asked any of those questions, but wouldn't have minded in the slightest if I had been. They were, I think, keen for residents association people to be involved for reasons that are probably bleedin' obvious.To build a conspiracy theory around it is dubious to say the least, and plain wrong.

Guy Lambert ● 4116d

Yes but besides good roads, what else did the Romans do for us?

Steve Taylor ● 4116d

Jim Lawes ● 4116d

"I was asked on the phone if I was a member of a Residents association, Parish council, environmental activity group or an elected official or a member of a local political group?I was also asked what ethnic group I was. My age and nationality."Agree - those questions are pathetic! Imagine if we asked a Council or Hounslow Homes employee over the phone what their ethnic group was....or age and nationality.

Steve Taylor ● 4116d

Actually I can elaborate a little.I was asked on the phone if I was a member of a Residents association, Parish council, environmental activity group or an elected official or a member of a local political group?I was also asked what ethnic group I was. My age and nationality.I asked why? " For protocol' . I  decided to proceed no more as it did not seem to bear any relevance to the enquiry and that was that.In fact it's not much different to the form issued for a lock up garage.I just did not like it and don't see the relevance.

Anthony Waller ● 4116d

Well I did my civic  duty and completed a Hounslow Highways e-form complaint last night. Lets see how long they take to react! Interestingly the complaint is about an area which was 'adopted' by the Council some years ago but the area has not been maintained. The problem is that the person in the Council who 'adopted' the area for the Council, now no longer works for the Council. She now works for Hounslow Highways!! It will be interesting to see how many times the buick is now passed without anyone taking responsibility as the Borough maintains its top status as one of the most rotten / dirty Boroughs in the Country.

Steve Taylor ● 4117d

PhilI doubt Anthony can elaborate, because what he suggests is rubbish. I would be amazed if HH has a clue about my or any other lay assessor's party membership. We most certainly weren't asked (and had we been, I would have been staggered) and, looking at my co-assessors, I doubt they are members of any party. I have certainly seen none of them at meetings of my own party. Many/most of them are residents association people.

Guy Lambert ● 4117d

AnthonyI'm curious about your comment re having to be a member of a political party. As only something in the region of 1% of the population is a member of a political party this would seem to present quite a substantial obstacle to recruitment (and that's ANY political party, not just the one I suspect you are referring to).Are you in a position to elaborate on this, either here or by PM? Thanks.

Phil Andrews ● 4117d

I don't envy you Guy but hope you fare well. Reporting poor work or fault/problems is, as far as I'm concerned, a responsibility of all residents as a matter of civic duty to ensure the upkeep of the area in which they/we live.Trouble is, almost everyone expects someone else to do it. Not them.As Anthony mentions, even when you do take the trouble, getting a result is another story.Heres a few to get you started. All reported up to 6 months ago and all still unresolved.1. Gate on St Pauls Park childrens playground. Has been faulty for over 30 months. Contractors idea of a repair? Chained and padlocked. Now for the last 6 months.  I could fix it myself in an hour.2. Street lights on footpath between Albany Road and Lateward Road. 2 have not worked for 9 months. A new column at the Base of Grosvenor road is so tall it is in the trees and no light illuminates the pathway.3. Albany road - East end. Road subsiding, trees damaged by LBH refuse trucks. 6th year of reporting. Nothing done.4. I note the leaning lamp posts of Ealing road have been mentioned. But there are quite a few others all over the place and all newly installed.I'll leave it there as I could go on for ages.  Good luck on Mission Impossible!

Raymond Havelock ● 4117d

In reference to reporting things the answer is yes. Always reported and always get a reference number. But nothing much ever gets actioned. The list is getting rather long and I've tired of it always being me who spends a fortune on the phone reporting everything from fallen branches, human faeces on doorsteps, faulty street lights, potholes and so on.I've tried doing it online but it is truly time consuming and not once has anything been sorted from that route.

Anthony Waller ● 4117d

I did not mention anything about a job or a paid job.I knew about this idea and made enquiries as I thought I would not mind doing it.But was put off when it seemed I would have to be a member of a local political party, which I'm not nor want to be and that it seemed rather lot more than one could do in spare time.I wish you luck but do still think it is a very big patch.

Anthony Waller ● 4117d

I have PM'd you, Phil. I saw it 'advertised' somewhere - can't remember where - and volunteered and they weren't exactly overrun with volunteers. Most of the others seemed to be involved in residents associations or the like and already making a noise with HH. From what I saw on the training there were about a dozen volunteers to cover the whole Borough so I'm sure they would have taken anybody, even Phil :-)Whether they want to expand it I don't know - they laid on 6 training/orientation sessions for the first batch so it's not something they will want to do every week.

Guy Lambert ● 4117d

Somehow I doubt whether I would meet the criteria Steve ;)

Phil Andrews ● 4117d

"Could I ask how one gets to be a 'lay assessor'? "Are you interested Phil?  :-)

Steve Taylor ● 4117d

Maybe Guy was headhunted!Who is the Isleworth volunteer chosen?Good luck Guy. We'll keep our ears and eyes open for you.It's clanging, noisy drain covers that I notice sometimes which must annoy adjacent residents.

Jim Lawes ● 4117d

Good luck in your new role Guy, it seems to be quite an undertaking.Could I ask how one gets to be a 'lay assessor'?  I have been out of the loop somewhat lately so have not seen this role advertised anywhere.  Thanks.

Phil Andrews ● 4117d

To be fair, they do do some monitoring of their own and they would say this is just 'another pair of eyes'. I'm slightly sceptical about whether it will work but as you say, let's give it a whirl.Anthony - it's not a 'job', nor is it intended to replace normal reporting of issues. I'm interested by what you say about reporting issues and nothing getting done. Do you report through the channels they request (see link above) and if so do you get any feedback? If you do report that way and don't get feedback then that is the kind of thing I would take up.I'll also take a look at the street lights you mention.

Guy Lambert ● 4118d

Good for you Guy and thanks. I have to say I have found Hounslow Highways wanting on several matters, so if this helps then let's give it a whirl, Good Luck! But whatever happened to paid monitoring officers?

Vanessa Smith ● 4118d

That's a rather large patch for one person.In any case, I report regularly on the state of footpaths, street lighting, faulty gates at the kids playground as do other residents in the areas close to where they live.Nothing gets done now at all.The only exception was the street lighting which was, prior to the present PFI excellent with repairs often the very next day.Now it takes months if at all. The new lamp post leaning on the foot of Ealing Road by the Bridge and Burford road, opposite New Road, is still leaning 10 degrees out and now the next column along is also leaning 5 degrees the other way. Less than a year after installation.  Reported several times, never fixed.You will have your work cut out, far too big an area for one person is spare time.

Anthony Waller ● 4118d

That is one huge pitch to cover. Are you the only volunteer for that area?

Audrey Walton ● 4118d