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The ever-lit bonfire appears to have been doused – we have not been aware of the stink creeping into our home anyway.  It would be nice to know that it was in response to action from The Fortress – but I don’t know if this is the case.  It could be a superb result from within, or it could equally be just our (the neighbourhoods) good fortune….  In which case there is always a worry that the matter has not been settled, and could start again.  The air around here is pretty poor – people of Isleworth, Brentford & Hounslow, can tell you that - but if we are not believed, the air monitor shows the high pollution rates.  Don’t know if it adds on the stink from factories cooking in the early hours, or the stench from Mogdon.  I mean – do poo particles measure on the W4 air particle, monitor?I did not hear a dickey bird from within, concerning the out of hours builders. I was not at all surprised, normal manner for handling an enquiry, we were thinking.I was hoping that I would have some sort of letter saying that somebody was particularly concerned with the abuse of Community quiet hours by the few builders saving their pennies – and that the issue would be looked at in more depth in order to ensure policies come into play which protect the nature of our neighbourhood.Then, our Postie stepped in.  Worth his weight in gold is our Postie and in good honest tradition of our Royal mail, he rang the bell on Friday and asked if this letter from The Fortress, incorrectly addressed (they did get the street right) but with my name on, was for me?Now this brings me to the subject of Chocolate Tea pots.  I have often pondered on the term Chocolate Tea pot.  Imagine, made with Swiss Chocolate?  Absolutely lovely – but put into use - ?This was my response to the complaint about out of hours building work.  A big envelope (47p postage to the wrong address) with a letter giving contact details, a questionnaire (2nd class pre-paid – correct address of the Fortress printed on it) concerning Pollution (!) and a leaflet ‘guidance in respect of noise’.  There is also a log sheet for me to fill in – with 12 spaces on it.  The exact same log sheet is also in the leaflet, with 22 spaces on it.Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to have a response system for developers doing building work – particularly as there are other measures of control over the building work, anyway?Yesterday (Sunday) we got home to find a card on the doormat – hand delivered – ‘Pollution control team, called at your premises today in the hope of speaking to you about nuisance spotchecks’.Is this the bonfires?  Is this the out of hours working?  Is this a serious attempt for a chat – or have they lost my phone number, detailed with the compliant and pretty useful to make an appointment through?Who knows – but it was almost a step in the right direction!... and I hope this goes in at the right place too!

Sarah Felstead ● 7202d

The ever-lit bonfire appears to have been doused – we have not been aware of the stink creeping into our home anyway.  It would be nice to know that it was in response to action from The Fortress – but I don’t know if this is the case.  It could be a superb result from within, or it could equally be just our (the neighbourhoods) good fortune….  In which case there is always a worry that the matter has not been settled, and could start again.  The air around here is pretty poor – people of Isleworth, Brentford & Hounslow, can tell you that - but if we are not believed, the air monitor shows the high pollution rates.  Don’t know if it adds on the stink from factories cooking in the early hours, or the stench from Mogdon.  I mean – do poo particles measure on the W4 air particle, monitor?I did not hear a dickey bird from within, concerning the out of hours builders. I was not at all surprised, normal manner for handling an enquiry, we were thinking. I was hoping that I would have some sort of letter saying that somebody was particularly concerned with the abuse of Community quiet hours by the few builders saving their pennies – and that the issue would be looked at in more depth in order to ensure policies come into play which protect the nature of our neighbourhood.Then, our Postie stepped in.  Worth his weight in gold is our Postie and in good honest tradition of our Royal mail, he rang the bell on Friday and asked if this letter from The Fortress, incorrectly addressed (they did get the street right) but with my name on, was for me?Now this brings me to the subject of Chocolate Tea pots.  I have often pondered on the term Chocolate Tea pot.  Imagine, made with Swiss Chocolate?  Absolutely lovely – but put into use - ?This was my response to the complaint about out of hours building work.  A big envelope (47p postage to the wrong address) with a letter giving contact details, a questionnaire (2nd class pre-paid – correct address of the Fortress printed on it) concerning Pollution (!) and a leaflet ‘guidance in respect of noise’.  There is also a log sheet for me to fill in – with 12 spaces on it.  The exact same log sheet is also in the leaflet, with 22 spaces on it.Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to have a response system for developers doing building work – particularly as there are other measures of control over the building work, anyway?Yesterday (Sunday) we got home to find a card on the doormat – hand delivered – ‘Pollution control team, called at your premises today in the hope of speaking to you about nuisance spotchecks’.Is this the bonfires?  Is this the out of hours working?  Is this a serious attempt for a chat – or have they lost my phone number, detailed with the compliant and pretty useful to make an appointment through?Who knows – but it was almost a step in the right direction!

Sarah Felstead ● 7202d

Lost count of the number of times when approaching the council about some problem or other with developers around here, been told nothing can be done unless the address is known.  In fact I have at least one letter, which I think is filed away somewhere, saying just that.A developer has been using one of those pneumatic drills in the rear of the property, all day today.  The property being developed has a whole line of properties backing on to it a number of which have young families, including babies.  The noise from these developments is quite incredible and it drags on for months. It is probably one of these developers who has the ‘ever lit’ bonfire?I took a chance this afternoon and rang the emergency line at the Civic centre to be told that the noise team doesn’t come on until 10.00pm tonight and otherwise to call back on Monday.  I don’t have the full address of the property.  What we need in the Borough is some joined up thinking to respond to the way people are abusing the good nature of their neighbours and are not kept in check and supported by the local authority.The telephone operator could give some hints as to the types of complaints and sort of information Borough residents seek at out of hours.  I would like to see a few Councillors asking why there is an 'out of hours' in a 24 hour London Borough next to the airport!I will check out your reference sites, Gareth.PS Did you sort out Paul’s PC problem, and how is the book going?

Sarah Felstead ● 7210d

Sarah Who told you that you had to know which property the fire(s) emanates from? I would hope that you were not given this information by the council because the London Borough of Hounslow’s Environmental Health Department has a duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to investigate smoke pollution as follows: “and it shall be the duty of every local authority to cause its area to be inspected from time to time to detect any statutory nuisances which ought to be dealt with under section 80 below and, where a complaint of a statutory nuisance is made to it by a person living within its area, to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to investigate the complaint.”The crucial part is that if you had complained to the council – “where a complaint of a statutory nuisance is made to it by a person living within its area, to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to investigate the complaint.”  Did you actually contact the London Borough of Hounslow on this matter? The Environmental Protection Act 1990 makes smoke pollution an offence. An owner, occupier or person responsible for the nuisance can be served with a smoke abatement notice preventing further nuisance. The London Borough of Hounslow will take action in its own name on such matters. Check out section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 - Part III, Statutory Nuisances and Clean Air, Statutory nuisances: England and Wales  which can be viewed at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_19900043_en_4.htm#mdiv79

Gareth Evans ● 7211d