Forum Topics

Raffle Prizes Needed

Hi everyone :)I organised a fundraising gig with Nick Lowe back in April –some of you may have been there. We raised 6k for projects at St Paul’s church including the community café and I’ve now set up my own company organising and promoting gigs/events. All of the ones I put on at St Paul’s Church will have an element of fundraising for local good causes (occasionally national ones) and I would really love it if any local businesses could donate raffle prizes, and of course you’re all welcome to come to any of the shows! For full details of the artists etc, just google my company, Helen Martin Productions (I hope I’m allowed to say this without my post being deleted!)These are the events/causes so far- all offers of raffle prizes, large and small very gratefully received ☺16th October – WaterAid ceilidh/barn dance –proceeds including raffle to WaterAid – part of an international network of these events talking place on the same day! See WaterAid’s website or mine for more details.4th November Dana Gillespie – queen of the blues comes to Brentford with her 6 piece London Blues Band. Support from Phil Martin and the Brentford Blues Combo– share of the proceeds going to the Musical Museum and  Brentford Christmas Lights12th November Sean (doctor) Millar with Phil Martin and Jim Walker –original acoustic music – raffle beneficiary tbc, but possibly the mayor of Hounslow’s good causes4th December The Bitter Springs with special guests Band of Holy Joy and former Kitchens of Distinction frontman Patrick Fitzgerald – raffle for Hounslow Youth Counselling Service who are organising the raffle very efficiently with printed books and everything! We have some prizes already for this one including an England football shirt signed by the team.Looking forward to January, we’re going to have The Jetsonics – raffle for Brentford Toy Library and John Otway in February – date and raffle recipient yet to be decided!Any questions or suggestions,  do contact me through this site (or mine), Helen

Helen Martin ● 5881d7 Comments ● 5858d

Andy Scott in the pub with Carlo Ancelotti and Alex Ferguson

The elite managers association are having a meeting at a local pub. In attendance are Andy Scott, Sir Alex Ferguson,  Carlo Ancelotti and Roy Hodgson.Andy is up first and offers to by a round. A barley wine for Roy, glass of chianti for Carlo and a pint of Guinness with a double whisky chaser for Six Alex.Roy stands up next and it's the same again for everyone with Andy having a pint of pride.Carlo then says he's getting them in and buys everyone a drink.When those are finished there is a long pause and everyone looks at Sir Alex but he doesn't move so Andy gets up to go to the bar. When he comes back he has a pint of pride, a pint of Guinness and a double whisky chaser. Carlo and Roy are very annoyed and say why did you buy that mean so-and-so drink and not get one for us.Andy says.......Sorry chaps but it's the fourth round and you're not in it.

Dan Evans ● 5886d2 Comments ● 5858d

What's happened to Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre?

I have not been to Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre for 3 months.  Went there yesterday and could not believe it was the same place!  Nearly all the shops boarded up from Ealing Town Hall to the church on the corner by HMV.Most of the shops boarded up from M&S to The Post Office (including the Post Office which is now in the back of WH Smiths).  All the shops boarded up along the side of Tesco's. 5 pubs boarded up.  All that seems left thriving are the poundshops and Primarc.  I went into Boots and the queues were long with only 2 tills being open.  Went into Superdrug and only 1 till was open. Tesco's was good to grab some food in because it was empty! I used to go to Ealing Broadway for some quality shopping as it is so close and accessible to Brentford.  Is this the sign of the ressession or maybe because so many people now prefer to shop online?  Fran

Fran Naughton ● 5864d5 Comments ● 5862d

Labour anger over Cllr Bowens waste of tax payers money

Councillor Ruth Cadbury, Deputy Leader of the Council said:'In calling a Special Council Meeting on 21st September, the Conservative Group have not only wasted the time of busy Councillors, but also approximately £4,000 of Council Tax Payers' money. This is an extremely irresponsible action when they are very well aware of the critical financial position the Council may be in later in the Autumn.Far from 'drastically reducing' the number of Borough Council meetings, we have actually increased the number from six to eight. Cllr. Bowen seems to forget that several Borough Council meetings were cancelled by Peter Thompson during the time the Conservatives were in power. In fact, we will probably have the same number of full Council meetings this year.Cllr. Bowen knows full well that the meeting was unnecessary. One item should have been referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee rather than Borough Council, and the remaining items, although important, were not of an urgent nature, and could have been submitted to the scheduled meeting of Borough Council on 12th October. Cllr. Bowen also knows he has the right to refer any matter to Scrutiny, and this demonstrates a lack of understanding on how the scrutiny process works in holding the Executive to account'

David Hughes ● 5884d26 Comments ● 5865d

Coach & Horses PH  Isleworth

Whats happening with the Coach & Horses, I noticed it has closed with barriers around it.

Martin Kelly ● 5866d1 Comments ● 5866d

Missing/Dead Cat

Are your missing a cat? I have just been out and as I drove up the A4 I saw a dead cat on the side of the road, roughly outside Currys in the curbside.  I am sorry to have to tell you this but if you are missing your cat I am sure you would want to know what has happened.  The cat is mainly black with white markings. You will appreciate that I did not get a really good look, but roughly a couple of white paws and a couple black. This is on the Southern side driving in a westerly direction. I am so sorry to have to post this message RIP.

Sharron Clarke ● 5869d0 Comments ● 5869d

healing in Chiswick

Healing will take place at the London Buddhist Vihara, The Avenue, W4 1UD, tomorrow between 11am and 1pm anyone who would like to receive healing, or just an energy boost, is more than welcome.  We will have a number of healers waiting to meet you.Although the centre takes place in the Buddhist Temple the healing is NOT related to any religion, it is totally non-denominational everyone is welcome.No charge is made for healing however a donation is most welcome - all donations are given to the Vihara for the use of the hall.No appointments are necessary.  For any further information please give me a ring on 0788 189 6449.

Pat Smith ● 5869d0 Comments ● 5869d

Isleworth Public Hall

I have just returned from an excellent afternoon helping out in a small way at the Open House event at the Isleworth Public Hall held this weekendThe Isleworth Society celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year and the event was appropriately titled A Celebration of Isleworth as many groups and societies had stalls and there was also a Bijou Cinema showing films of Isleworth from the old daysCongratulations to everyone involved in making the event such a success and the only downside was that none of the Isleworth or Syon councillors could be bothered to attend but that's hardly surprising considering their interest in the wards they claim to represent since being elected

Paul Fisher ● 5890d40 Comments ● 5869d

venue for local writers workshop

We are looking for an inexpensive space Brentford/Chiswick/Ealing to meet once a week for 3 x 12 week terms midweek, 7.30-10pm, for our Writers Workshop Group. We need heat, light, chairs [and possibly tables] for max 20 people. We have to move from our current premises as the pub is being refurbished. Any ideas? Lisa

Lisa Evans ● 5871d1 Comments ● 5871d

Are our Area Committees under threat?

I heard a disturbing rumour yesterday that the new Labour administration in Hounslow is considering abolishing the five Area Committees, which give a degree of decision-making power to local councillors on a regional basis.Before I am flamed I want to say that this is nothing but an unconfirmed rumour, albeit from an informed source, and I freely acknowledge that there may be no truth in it whatsoever.  This being the case I am sure somebody from the administration will be happy to post on here to reassure us.Fwiw under the previous administration there was a body of opinion within the Conservative Group that wished to do away with the Area Committees (this is not a secret, those who held this view were quite open about it).  Whether pro-AC Tories or anti-AC Tories were a majority within their own party I cannot say, but the presence of the ICG within the coalition made the idea a non-starter in any event.I am sure that many other forum users as well as myself would appreciate some wisdom on this.

Phil Andrews ● 5881d42 Comments ● 5875d

Tropical Zoo - new location

Can anyone tell me _exactly_ where the zoo will be going at the Urban Farm. There is a place called Reflections next to the farm. Is it going in there?

Karen Adams ● 5876d2 Comments ● 5875d

Petition: in support of Redlees Park Adventure Playground:

Parents in Touch is seeking support for Aiming High for Disabled Children capital funding to be spent improving the enclosed area currently used by the One O'clock Club to provide more indoor facilities and equipment suitable for older disabled children to play.Until Aiming High came along there was no specialised play provision in the entire borough of Hounslow that could be accessed without a referral to social services. Money is ring-fenced as far as capital is concerned but in today's climate there are concerns about the on-going costs of providing support to children who actually need it in order to access play.The petition is here:http://www.gopetition.com/petition/39516.html

Karen Adams ● 5875d3 Comments ● 5875d

Power cuts

Anyone else have the power cuts in Isleworth this afternoon? One lasted about 15 minutes and another was momentary, took forever to get the TV and digital box to work, broadband and 'phones went off too. Broadband is O.K. but still no 'phones several hours later, we all seemed ot be affected here.

Vanessa Smith ● 5876d3 Comments ● 5876d

Fireworks

Did anybody else hear what sounded like fireworks going off just before six o'clock this morning?

Kevin Farnan ● 5877d1 Comments ● 5876d

flat share needed for 3 people - acton/Brentford area

Hi,A friend of mine and her brother and sister are looking to rent a flat (preferably with 3 bedrooms or the equivalent) in the Chiswick, Acton, Brentford, Ealing area.They are desperate...Lovely people - one of which works at Cafe Luna in Chiswick and needs to be closer to Chiswick.Can anyone help?Laurence

Laurence Truett ● 5880d0 Comments ● 5880d

Lost camera and keys at Brentford Festival Boston Manor Park

I wonder if you could help me, I lost my camera and door keys at the Brentford Festival and it would be wonderful if someone was honest enough to hand this in to lost property or if you or a friend found a camera - well if I am lucky enough that someone did, then I would welcome to hear from you.  thank you Louise

Louise Boulger ● 5897d1 Comments ● 5881d

Sunday lunch in Chiswick?

Does anyone have any recommendations for a nice child friendly pub or relaxed restaurant in Chiswick for a decent Sunday lunch? Thanks

Claire Peleschka ● 5891d4 Comments ● 5882d

Special Borough Council Meeting on Tuesday

This should be an extremely interesting meeting where we can all be sure that the Labour Administration will be blaming everyone except themselves of course for reneging on the promises they made us all before the recent local electionsWhat worries me most though on the agenda is that hidden away in the small print is the fact that they intend increasing all fees and charges immediately so look forward to your parking fees and rubbish collection prices going up very steeply let alone planning applications and any licensing chargesSome vulnerable shopping parades currently at the moment due to the financial climate and to encourage the use of our local business's have a 10p parking charge for the first half an hour but will the Syon and Isleworth councillors fight to keep this arrangement that's if they are even aware of it?Labour have of course already announced that intend reducing the amount of Borough meetings so they cannot be challenged by Non Executive councillors so often but again in the small print is the proposal to throw some of the Scrutiny staff on the dole so in practice they will soon have free rein to push through any policy they wish to in the futureMany translation jobs are also to go which I would have thought Robin Taylor would be raging about but he seems very quiet on this matter but I guess if its comrades shedding jobs then that's ok with him!

Paul Fisher ● 5890d8 Comments ● 5882d

Congratulations to Labour's new councillors for Isleworth and Syon wards

I would like to congratulate Mindu Bains, Ed Mayne and Sue Sampson on their election to the local authority as members for Isleworth, and Steve Curran, Theo Dennison and Jason Ellar who were elected in Syon, and to wish them all the very best for their term of office.I would also like to extend my congratulations and best wishes to forum contributor Dave Hughes, who was elected in Hanworth.Naturally I am disappointed that my Community Group colleagues and I were not re-elected.  The only "excuse" I have to offer is the obvious one - that like the other independents who were defeated and indeed the Liberal Democrats we fell victim to the massively altered conditions that holding the general election on the same day brought about.It could reasonably be argued by the victorious candidates that a mandate from over 60% of the electorate has more standing than the mandate we had previously enjoyed from 36-37% in our wards.Conversely one could protest that the outcome of a council election has essentially been determined by voters who have no interest in council elections, and who turned out to vote only because a general election was being held on the same day.Whichever way one looks at it, we are where we are and the new (and not so new) councillors should be given the opportunity to settle in, and to do their best to serve their new constituents as I've no doubt they will.  I sincerely hope that they are successful and that they find their new roles fulfilling and enjoyable.Obviously the victorious party made a number of promises during its campaign which it will be expected to fulfil, and assuming it does so residents of the borough can look forward to 100 new police officers on the beat in each ward, lower Council Tax, reduced salaries for Executive members and other key office holders, and homes for those who have been promised them.  It is reasonable that they will be held to their promises and I have every confidence that they will do their best to deliver them.As for the Community Group, our situation is of course a different one now and we will not automatically assume an adversarial position to the new councillors or to the new administration.  It is my honest and sincere hope that they learn from the mistakes of the past and adopt an approach to community engagement that we can support rather than feel the need to counter.  In spite of our best efforts we did not get as far in this department as we would have liked to.  We believe the senior management team under the coalition administration had a "twin track" approach to Conservative and Community Group priorities and this was a situation we failed to deal with before our time ran out.  It would be an irony, but a very welcome one, if the incoming Labour administation was to take this agenda forward in a way that we were unable to.

Phil Andrews ● 6024d30 Comments ● 5882d

Kew Bridge Rd and Chiswick High Rd

Does anyone know if the roadworks this weekend have been completed yet and the roads reopened?Usually catch the 267 to Hammersmith in the morning about 6am but don't want to be late for work if there is still a diversion in place

Paul Fisher ● 5883d0 Comments ● 5883d