Forum Topic

Rotten Boroughs Awards 2022

Hounslow has made the Private Eye 'Rotten Boroughs' Awards 2022 - category 'Brass-necked Councillor of the Year'. "One of the reasons Hounslow Labour councillor Puneet Grewal found herself de-selected last April may have been that she had claimed £17,976 in allowances over the year, but managed to attend just one meeting. Nice work while it lasted!"

Vanessa Smith ● 844d19 Comments

Well deserved award LBH!

Elizabeth Price ● 814d

There is no difference between card and cardboard, unless you're thinking of card as being something made out of Timber.Our clients in the cardboard recycling business take 400 to 600 tonnes of card/board off us each month - quantities are quite volatile - and there is a shortage of capacity for recycling in the UK https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/recyclingdestinationsWe get a decent price for cardboard - over £100/tonne but we especially crave aluminium- processed usually in the UK and raising over £1000 per tonne

Guy Lambert ● 818d

Gillette Corner is a very crucial junctionI once lived nearby for over 40 years.It's seems crazy,in my view, to be allowing the Tescos Bumper Sized Supermarket to move more closely to the junction and add to it'sshortcomings.Sky TV traffic is a sufficient addition.Mel Collins is no doubt a wonderful chap and highly regarded...probably an expert on Haverfield matters.  He may well know little about the delicacies of Gillette Corner  so why is he given the option.of saying yes or no.I'm reminded. Why was the local Labour Party put into Special Measures some yeeas back? On the Chiswick Forum Guy has aďmitted not knowing the difference between CARD and CARDBOARD and yet he is a key voice on recycling matters.Nice Chap is Guy..and I wish no.offence... but we have a Borough to run!

Jim Lawes ● 818d

Note, this thread starts as Neil saying he never heard Mel ever opposed any development and Jim saying he had to follow his leader.Neither are true. (Neil's recollections are no doubt correct, but they don't represent what Mel actually did)As you probably know, there are policy discussions, usually in private, and sometimes with plenty of debate, and a change of policy or plans. It's called politics.

Guy Lambert ● 819d

Really Guy? Are you being deliberately obtuse? I refer you to my previous comment that where planning is concerned 'whipping' is NOT allowed as it is deemed a quasi-legal function. Jim's observation - as I'm sure he will point out - is that in all other matters people toed the party line without question. So having an independent vote on a planning  committee hardly counts as kicking over the traces to represent your constituents.

Vanessa Smith ● 819d

I think it's up to you to apologise Jim. I'm pretty sure I voted against the Tesco/Homebase application and I know both Mel and I voted against the Morrisons redevelopment. Others I remember voting against including Goddards self-store on the Ham but that is one from dozens over the years, and all over the borough.That rather proves, as I said, what you alleged was nonsense!

Guy Lambert ● 819d

I await Guy's apology!

Jim Lawes ● 819d

In case people don't know or don't remember, Mel Collins voted in favour of the Tesco/Homebase development at Gillette Corner in April 2021, which was a bit of a shock, as he was usually one of the sensible people on the Planning Committee.Meanwhile we await the Secretary of State's decision on Tesco/Homebase following the completion of the public inquiry.

Barbara Stryjak ● 820d

Thank you Vanessa.I wasn't quite sure how to respond to Guy's opinion of my posting!

Jim Lawes ● 823d

Ah yes Guy! But you cannot be 'whipped' on planning matters. Following Labour group policy is another matter and I should know.

Vanessa Smith ● 823d

Nonsense. I served with Mel on planning for several years and we both opposed a lot of proposals which were supported by the leadership and the planners.If you bothered to look at what actually goes on rather than relying on rumours propaganda your contribution would be more useful.

Guy Lambert ● 824d

Mel would have had to follow his LeaderNeil.

Jim Lawes ● 824d

I don’t recall Mel Collins opposing any development.

Neil Chippendale ● 824d

There is no one more deserving of an honour in recognition of everything he has done for his constituents and the community in general than Mel Collins. In all the many years I lived by Gunnersbury Park he has always been a shining example of everything a councillor should be and stand for.

bela cunha ● 828d

Theo Denison. Called out Steve Curran and backed the campaign to keep Brent Lea as a public park. Only met him once,but he called out an egregious plan that should never have seen the light of day.

John Bradley ● 835d

Can you name any of those Councillors?

Anne England ● 836d

Mel Collins does indeed deserve to be recognised as someone who has done what is right and always served the needs of his constituents and the area. We have lost a number of excellent councillors who were deselected because they stood up for what is right and called out rotten practices by the current administration. This does not bode well for the residents of Hounslow.

Mandy Waters ● 836d

One would have thought that at the very least Mel Collins would have also got an MBE or an OBE. He's been active in this community as long as I can remember, genuine local and 100% committed to Brentford first and not developers.

Raymond Havelock ● 842d

And who on earth voted for Steve curren to get a MBE. The world's gone mad

Gill Hutchison ● 842d