Forum Topic

Guy's blog

Catching up on last week's blog, I saw the piece Guy had written about the house up at Gunnersbury Park which has lain empty for a hell of a time. Guy said the Director of Housing had said that bringing the property back into use -'was not viable' - what he didn't seem to have then gone on to ask was 'Why'? As someone who has been chasing several empty council properties where I live, both of which have stood vacant, one for a year, another for over that time, and given the pressure on council housing, and indeed housing in general, then what is the reason for allowing any properties to stand empty? The council also have powers to take into their ownership private properties that have been abandoned, or, where an owner cannot be found, for whatever reason, so why the hell aren't they doing this? There are so many empty properties and so many people who would like a decent roof over their head, everyone should be using every means possible to bring these dwellings back into use. It is immoral that this is allowed to go on year after year, while those in authority just sit back wringing their hands. So, WHY? would seem a reasonable question.

Vanessa Smith ● 55d22 Comments

Guy, here are the before photos of the areas of Dukes Meadows, the Trust has improved. How would you describe it?https://dukesmeadowstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Pav-before2.jpghttps://dukesmeadowstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Riverside-Drive-Before.pnghttps://dukesmeadowstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Play-area-befores.jpghttps://dukesmeadowstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/old-pools1.pnghttps://dukesmeadowstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/car2.jpg

Kathleen Healy ● 1d

Guy for the record for the restoration of Promenade Approach.Dukes Meadows Trust;Commissioned a condition survey of the gatesUsed it to get quotes for repair from blacksmiths and stonemasonsFound the contractorsPaid for a six week history project at Cavendish School to engage children with the project and gather ideas for improving the Approach Road. Ask Toni Louki he attended the culminating event when Mayor Applied for grants, securing funding from Heritage of London.Committed £27k of the Trust's reservesProject managed the restorationApplied and got a £9k grant from the Council for the workFor the road itselfEngaged contractors and paid QS Gardiner & Theobald to discuss and identify the most cost effective way of restoring the road and to obtain a cost estimate to aid fundraisingSecured scheme drawings from local landscape architect Tibor Babic and conducted a public survey on the proposals including running stalls outside local media the Pier House and at our Sunday Market it. Also sent it to local amenity groups and local media.Paid Alice Brown of AAB Architects, who we worked with us on the paddling pol and play area to draw up a detailed spec and put it out to tender. Paid Alice to tender the workPaid Alice to supervise the delivery of the contract and met on site for progress ,meetings with Alice and Blakedown who did a fantastic job.Pump HouseEmployed a contractor and paid to have the graffiti removed from the building, the brickwork to be repointed in heritage mortar and the rotten wood detailing to be replaced. Employed a surveyor and contractor and paid for the rotten felt roof to be replaced with red clay tiles.Designed a planting scheme for the Pump House bed and spent £1500 on lants that were put in and are maintained by our volunteers. The Council contributed no money towards this part of the restoration.Bought and planted 4000 Tete a Tete bulbs along the ApproachWe applied for a got a CIL grant of £200k. We have contributed around £50k in total towards the project as well as consulting extensively, raising funds, providing project management and engaging volunteers for the planting work.This year our volunteers cleared all the leaves from the road. We spread them under the copse of birch trees we have been planting beside the play area fr the last 5 years.The above took 8 years, including unsuccessful applications to HLF. Without our considerable effort the gates Rd and Pump House would be in the same sorry state.But you think the Council restored Promenade Approach?! This the arrogance and resentment against people actually doing things. You don't have the grace to say thank you and have so little achievement to point to yourself, you want to shamelessly claim credit for what other people have done.As for Glyphosate, it wasn't a topic of discussion then, there had been no ban. That is a blatant lie or you are confused. I asked to meet to seek your support in resisting putting parking bays beside the river in the middle of the park against environmental planning policy. You were no help.The rudeness and arrogance is staggering. The Greens loss is Labours gain.

Kathleen Healy ● 1d

Vanessa - I did not invent Glyphosate or the council decision to avoid it. That polcy was there before I was on Cabinet. I defended it for several years because there is little doubt it is harmful to insects and small animals, and possibly to people. It reminds me of the debate about smoking that kept me puffing for far too long.In reality, my opinion about Glyphosate has been to support the people who have more expertise than me (a very low bar 😂), even though it got me a lot of criticism about weeds. We used to have a robust leadership that stuck to its guns, and I did not demur. I did not object when Salman was encouraged by Kathleen (and maybe you) to make a scientific assessment: obviously LBH's study carried out by who knows whom carried more weight than the hundreds of scientific studies that have been published over the years, including all the ones spomsored by Monsanto and Bayer.Whatever, "President Donald Trump issued an executive order describing glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, as essential to U.S. national security and calling for increased domestic production." so it must be good stuff.Yes, some people were offended by weeds, just as some people don't like trees that drop leaves in their gutters and sap. on their cars.  As to Brentford, you are right, people over 70, especially those who live elsewhere, generally don't like the changes. Younger people do like it, though like me they are frustrated that it is still not finished and there are very few shops. My understanding is that it has not made a bomb for Ballymore, though of course that is an enigma wrapped in a mystery etc.

Guy Lambert ● 1d

Oh dear, poor Guy does have trouble with his memory and hen it comes to his former Labour chums. From this site just two years ago:‘Cllr Guy Lambert Steps Down from Cabinet VoluntarilyCites advancing age and frustration with workings of local governmentMay 13, 2024Brentford West ward councillor Guy Lambert has announced that he is standing down from his position in Hounslow Council’s cabinet.He was Cabinet Member for Highways, Recycling and Health Integration which gave him responsibility for highways, street cleaning and waste and recycling. He also attended board meetings of the council’s wholly owned service companies in the Lampton Group and had oversaw Health Integration in the borough.Cllr Lambert was 72-years-old this weekend and was diagnosed with a serious illness 18 months ago. Although, he has made an almost complete recovery, he says that he has less energy than he once did and this was the main reason why he made this decision.He also expressed some frustration with the way things are done in local government and, while being careful to clarify that he did not intend to criticise the leadership of Shantanu Rajawat, this also had a bearing on his choice. He endorsed the commitment, intellect and policy direction of the council leader.He said, “I have a long experience as a senior manager and a director of a large company and the style of management in the council is not what I have been used to and I find the way it works is sometimes frustrating. There are different pressures on a public body than those on a commercial company and this leads to difficulties from time to time. But this is more about me seeking a different life given my age and I think I am better concentrating on my role as a ward councillor for Brentford West. I remain passionate about Brentford and am looking forward on concentrating on that, and I expect I will continue to put my oar in on the council’s wider responsibilities.“Being a councillor, which started as an engaging hobby, has taken over too much of my life and it’s time to spend more of my energy on other matters. It is also very tiresome being accused of venality and corruption. I am neither, and I am lucky to not depend on an income from the cabinet post, being retired with pension and a quite modest lifestyle. I am also not a natural politician, though of course I am a socialist. I’m someone who wants to improve my bit of the world as best I can and I find political posturing very tiresome, even if sometimes I get drawn into arguments, which is rather against my nature. By the way, I don’t ever tell lies, at least about matters in the public sphere: sometimes I will withhold things that are confidential or sensitive to do with the local area or about plans within the council. A good example currently is the new tenant of the old Morrisons shop, where the landlord has asked me to withhold the name of the new tenant expected to appear very soon.”Cllr Lambert says that he will continue to write his weekly update which is published on this site for which he hopes the volume will reduce given his pared responsibilities.’

Simon Hayes ● 1d

I find this criticism of work at Dukes Meadows and of Kathleen in particular pretty unwarranted. I doubt many of us - apart from the Friends and other volunteers at DM, have a real idea and understanding of just how much effort over a considerable amount of years has gone in to the very tangible improvements that have been made and the amount of money that has been raised to facilitate them by the same people. As for your comments about Glyphosate, we have to beg to differ, but the fact is we now have streets free of the blasted weeds that people were very upset about and that were a hazard in many cases, did you really consider that your opinion was any more valid that anyone else's? As for the comments 'I know you didn't like Steve Curran, me, professional people in the council'- really? You live in Brentford you can see the result of that alliance everyday, each to their own, but a lot of us don't think it is much of an improvement, but it's made a bomb for Ballymore - who will move on having changed what could have been a jewel in the borough to many blocks of flats, flats and even more flats. Many of us know how difficult it can be dealing with LBH, both officers and councillors when attempting to improve the areas where we live. We are so often met with obfuscation, dismissal, and generally a lot of silence sometimes bordering on what we feel to be contempt, and when you are giving considerable amounts of your time over a lot of years, understandably it sticks in the throat somewhat. None of us would would claim to know it all, but we are just as sure that neither do the collective brains of Hounslow Council!

Vanessa Smith ● 1d

Nonsense again. There is no mud where the matting is. There still is a muddy mess where there is no matting. Parking in the park is minimal, but frequently in thoughtless places.Well done planting trees and with your career with Dukes Meadows Trust where the market , cafe etc are very successful.You did not restore the Promenade Approach etc, though you did persuade the council to do so. As I told you, I thought it was an excessive spend of money on that little used path to nowhere where the roads within the park were nearly unusable. That has been improved recently by the council on Riverside Drive, though the state of Dan Mason is still dire.Dukes Meadows was never a derelict flytipped no go area. I lived for many years near it and often cycled and walked there (and still do), sometimes with my daughter. I think it is badly managed, and I will continue to engage with ward councillors and the professional parks team urging improvement. I agree that "your bit" where you have the play area and market is excellent.Hostility is very rare with me. It is your trademark. When I reached out to you to engage about DM and came and had coffee with you, the only thing you wanted to talk about was your bizarre enthusiasm for Glyphosate, a poison against which the Green Party campaigns. I had hoped you and I could join forces to improve DM, but you were very hostile to me taking an interest.Yes, I know you didn't like Steve Curran, me, professional people in the council, but I can do nothing about that.As to what I have achieved, this is the Brentford TW8.com forum, where people have a much better understanding of what I achieve (far less than I'd prefer because change is hard work in a council) but I have been elected 3 times and seek a 4th election. I believe most people appreciate my work, though some, especially people who don't live in Brentford, are hostile to me. Not one of the people who have commented on this thread live in Brentford!I have changed to Green because Labour objected me to criticise some of the actions of the council. LAst time I got nearly twice the votes of the (excellent) best placed Green candidate. Now I am hopeful of repeating that vote against the Labour Party candidates but as ever, that is in the hands of the residents.

Guy Lambert ● 1d

Guy, fortunately we took lots of photos of the verge that you supported putting parking on, against the environmental policies to protect it. See link below. Just as we predicted and you now acknowledge, the plastic matting hasn't stopped it becoming a muddy mess and eyesore. The parking also encouraged more cars further into the park.Even if you believed it was already ruined by unregulated parking, why was your solution to legitimise the abuse and damage by retrospectively accommodating it. Is that what we can expect of you, as a Green Councillor?As for your nasty personal attack on me. I've worked with other people in the community for 30 years to transform Dukes Meadows from a derelict, fly tipped no go area to a lovely park. Planted hundreds of trees created an orchard, hedgerows and meadows and raised over a million pounds to build new play areas. Most recently we restored Promenade Approach, the Promenade gates and Pump House. I've also helped set up social enterprises; a weekly market and artists studios in a previously derelict building that have made the improvements sustainable. The Trust I helped establish never sought leases on the park. We have improved and continue to improve the Council's land. In effect, we grant fund the Council. It is a very sustainable model, but oddly was never of any interest to you.I would ask again what did you achieve or change for the better in your time? I think the genuine achievement of community groups such as ours, and there are many others, is one of the reasons why you resented rather than supported us. It highlighted your lack of achievement.The hostility and contempt, that is obvious in your post, existed before we fell out over your support for the appalling parking proposals. This is why we need a change, the attitude of you and other Cabinet members was that of feudal Lords, not public servants. You seemed to resent and be irritated by groups such as ours. https://dukesmeadowstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Showing-verge-proposed-as-parking-bays.jpg

Kathleen Healy ● 1d

Rubbish.I know you believe you are the only one who should control Dukes Meadows.Putting grids in the areas where people always parked protected the grass from being chewed up. You claimed this was untrue, but I know, because I cycle there regularly, that the grass is often a muddy mess when it rains. Still now, because the grids should have been more extensive. You denied all of that despite the evidence of your eyes, which were probably imparied by your mutual dislike of Steve CurranI resigned from the Cabinet 2 years ago because I lost faith in the leadership. So I gave up most of that earning.I criticised elements of what the council was doing. I was told to shut up or you'll be suspended. I said I would not shut up. I was suspended. I said I would still not shut up. I was expelled. I did not have the option of staying as a Labour member after that, but was told I could apply to the NEC to be readmitted not earlier than 2030.I am seeking re-election as a Green. As always, I hope to be re-elected, but I am a democrat and will accept what the residents decide, as always. Doesn't mean I will agree with you, because I often differ from you.

Guy Lambert ● 2d

The cynical switching of parties by people seeking to hold on to a Council seat does nothing to restore trust in politics.People want a change, not the same people who delivered little, dressed up in different clothes. It reeks of entitlement.Guy when you were on the Cabinet in 2024 you earned over thirty four thousand pounds. I read your blogs about going here and there meeting this person and that. What did you actually achieve or change in your time.I asked for your help when the Council wanted to install parking bays on the riverside Promenade at Dukes Meadows in breach of rules supposed to protect the river, including the Mayor of London's blue ribbon strategy. The spaces were needed for overspill parking from some of the sports clubs, for their events.  You wouldn't for fear of crossing the then leader Steve Curran and losing your Cabinet position and extra allowances. Not very green or community minded.

Kathleen Healy ● 3d

How lovely to see in his latest effort that Guy Lambert is enjoying the company of his lovely Green Party chums. Strangely it was less than two years ago that he was calling them 'Tories' when they were protesting outside Waterman's after its closure (he was less vociferous then in his criticism of the council he was helping run. I wonder why?)

Simon Hayes ● 9d

Lol I used to be thin skinned then I became a councillor!Jo Biddolph gives it out and has been (I believe) at one point suspended from the Tory party or councillor group because if her compative approach.I sometimes cross swords with her and sometimes agree with her.Well, I'd take my chance with that (not that it is my responsibility) but I think it is bad for everybody to see that perfectly decent house left unused for decades. I would have thought the sensible residents of Popes Lane and Lionel Road would agree.

Guy Lambert ● 45d

Guy Lambert explained" That's how to get my attention and action, ratherthan commenting on Brentford TW8 3 1/2 years afterI have any responsibility for the area discussed."Except I was commenting on a suggestion you made*two weeks ago*. Concerning the developement of theNE entrance to the Park. Which as I simply pointedwould be totally contrary to the provision of theprotective covenant of 1925/6 namely that -“they will not use the land and hereditaments forany purpose other than as a public park or sportsground and that the mansion houses and buildingson the said land…shall not at any time…be usedexcept for such public purposes as may be ancillaryto the use thereof as aforesaid…” And while a successful section 86 application tothe Lands Tribunal might succeed in modifyingthose provisions, as I also pointed out thiswould require the co-opertion of the ownerson houses on both Lionel Road Nothe and partof Popes Lane who are also beneficiariesof the covenant.All facts you can doubtless confirm for yourselfwithout any need for me to have to explain itall to you on Saturday morning. Or at anyother time.You are simply too thin skinned to be a politician.It's almost impossible to imagine what your reactionmight be if you had to endure the level of abuseregularly meted out to Cllr Biddulph in Chiswick.And no I'm not a Conservativemichael adams

Michael Adams ● 49d

Ok Guy, now you are in the Green Party, I for one would hope you can persuade many of the Councillors on opposing the Hatton Fields Industrial Development that LBH have plans for in North Feltham and Hatton. A massive overdevelopment which would mean losing a large proportion of the fields and wildlife that live there next to Heathrow.  I assume you would oppose this anyway as its not needed and would add massively to pollution in that area.

David Cook ● 49d

It's not rude, a straight question. I have never heard from Mr Adams except via social media. I am inviting members of my current ward to join me on Saturday morning so they can express any concerns or ambitions they have.They can also write to me ( many do) or respond to my weekly blog (number 512 will go out on Thursday) or ring or text me or attend my fortnightly surgery. All welcome. People do, including people from Chiswick, Heston and Feltham.That's how to get my attention and action, rather than commenting on Brentford TW8 3 1/2 years after I have any responsibility for the area discussed.

Guy Lambert ● 50d

Cllr Lambert reverting back to his rude self I see?

Paul Fisher ● 50d

Well I did when it was in my ward.What did you do to engage with me or other councillors, or did you just complain on social media?

Guy Lambert ● 51d

" All the houses on the East side of Lionel road were actually built on the Park, as far as I understand so I doubt any such covenant would prevent a sale"Which is exactly why the owners of those houses are both parties to, and legal beneficiaries of the Covenant. I can only suggest you familiarise yourself with the judgements made by Judge Marder of the Lands Tribunal on this question in 1995. Following applications by, and at the expense of, the then Gunnersbury Park Covenant Group.And without wishing to labour the point had the Councils at any time chosen to adopt a more conciliatory approach to the  covenant holders, rather than attempting to simply ride roughshod over their interests, then these problems need never have arisen in the first place.Which might well have included leasing out the small mansion and any number of other money raising schemes michael adams 

Michael Adams ● 52d

All the houses on the East side of Lionel road were actually built on the Park, as far as I understand so I doubt any such covenant would prevent a sale. No coubt some people would object, preferring drug dealing, ASB and a waste of public money to providing a 'new' house and a chunk of money entering public coffers.I agree Vanessa.Many of the officers are excellent and dedicated, but some of the management is a bit timid, especially if there is any sniff of lawyers in the air. Many of the senior people who I mainly dealt with (not all of them!) whom I thought were very talented have been poached - Director of Environment, Finance, Assistant Director of Environment, Head of recycling. Most were not replaced.Whoever is left are often overworked because the lack of their erstwhile bosses and colleagues, and have to cover extra matters that are not in their area of expertise.I did start a blog on the subject of 'Pace' but it is currently in my too hard tray 🤣I have struggled with many cases over the years which have taken years to be progressed. Some (trivial or important) usually get sorted in the end, but it takes far too long and needs great persistence from members. Not many of us have persistence and some only surface where there is an audience.I am not a natural politician but I'm determined to follow things through. It used to be more effective than it is under present 'management'.To be fair, it is easy to forget that councils (all of them) have been seriously hampered by the end of central funding from national taxes which had largely happened before I arrived as a councillor in 2015. I believe we lost £70M in central grants each year, which would fill a few potholes. I believe, but I have yet to engage with the detail, the current government has begun to correct the prejusdice against suburban councils like ours in outer London and means we will have some of that lost grant income reinstated. Something else I have to master.

Guy Lambert ● 53d

I think that there are lot of people these days n Hounslow who must have overflowing 'too hard' trays, it is a bloody scandal.

Vanessa Smith ● 53d

One possible reason why the house at the NW corner of Gunnersbury Park remains empty may be because it cannot be sold without the consent of the 50 or so residents of adjoining properties on Lionel Road North and Popes Lane who enjoy legal benefit of the Covenants of 1925/6;With whom any semblance of goodwill between themselvesand Hounslow Council was flushed straight down the toilet by the latter by their actions in 1995. When in response to possible objections to the leasing of greenhouses to acommercial firm, prior to an Appeal to the Lands TribunalCovenant holders were being asked to produce their title deeds,    michael adams

Michael Adams ● 53d

I never give up. Steve Curran accepted Peter Matthew's decision so I suggested to Steve it should be sold to a developer. This must have been 6 years ago. I also talked to the leader of Ealing Peter Mason and tried to get he and Steve to sort it (it is jointly owned by LBH and LBE as is all of Gunnersbury Park which makes making any progress on any matter at least doubly difficult) I believe the Rothschilds sold it that way because they thought Brentford (in whose patch it was) would build houses on their doorstep See Wikipedia "In 1925, following the death of Nathan's grandson Leopold de Rothschild, Leopold's wife, Maria, and son Lionel, sold the 200-acre (81 ha) Gunnersbury estate, which was entirely contained within the Brentford Urban District,[13] to the adjacent Ealing Borough Council and Acton Borough Council for £130,000. The land lay entirely outside their boundaries. The "Queen of the Suburbs" did not want more municipal housing, as would likely be built by Brentford under its policies, on its doorstep and the Mayor of Acton concurred, persuading her Borough Council to make it a joint purchase".It used to be in my ward until the boundary changes in 2022 so I have put less effort into it but it still annoys me whenever I think about it or pass it. I wrote a while ago to responsible Cabinet members, pointing out that it would be worth probably £1.5M with a bit of refurbishment and creation of a drive on Lionel Road. Nobody has done anything, mainly becasue it is in everybody's 'too hard' tray. I was however delighted to see the fourth flat in Carville Hall is now visibly occupied. It had been empty all the first 10 years I was a councillor. It was not owned by housing but by parks and the parks department claimed it was needed for something. These things are very hard to move. I have also told there is a perfectly good half of an old splendid gatehouse at the south of Gunnersbury park was empty or not used for housing. I took it up with various officers last year (despite it in theory being in Chiswick) and looking at Google Earth I'm delighted to see it has scaffolding and what looks like a new roof being fitted. I'll take a look next time I pass.

Guy Lambert ● 54d

The thought occured to me but this is not really a standard empty property. We sadly lost Barry Martin, who was the artist in residence in the lodge in Chiswick House Gardens recently. This provides a good model of what potentially could be done here but its the CIC that should be leading on this rather than the council housing department.On more regular properties being vacant, it remains a problem despite numerous pledges to tackle it. There is a maisonette near me that has been vacant for nearly two years. As I understand it, it is owned by a housing association which doesn't have the money to bring it up to the current standards. There should be an obligation on them to sell any property left unoccupied for more than a year.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 55d