Some colleagues and I tried to book a room for a meeting in the Civic Centre a few weeks ago with the two local M.P.s (you may have seen the story on the front page). One of us spent the best part of a day going around in circles via various 'phone nos. at the C.C. and also online contacts with no success. After the weekend I took this up as I had the time, and I too went round and round for ages, in frustration I got through the Member's Services, where a young man offered to assist and find out who the hell we needed to speak to and 'phone me back. The next day I had to call back and remind this youngster that I was awaiting an answer and was told someone was going to e-mail me. Well, I could hardly credit the reply. I was told the council shuts at five o'clock and there is no security for people using it after that time!! Having attended several meetings over the last few months there some of which lasted until late into the evening, I thought this was an absolute load of tripe, and replied in that vein. Even one of my local councillors said that that was the case, he made no attempt to intervene or support us. In the end the local Gurdwara offered us a room - and wouldn't accept any payment - and made us extremely welcome. When I see what Hounslow council has become I could weep, if these people are really members of the Labour party I give up, they are not serving the people of this borough in any way shape or form. All we wanted was to pay to hire a room for a meeting about Friends of Parks - not a bloody revolution - and not in Hounslow it seems.
Vanessa Smith ● 3020d