Forum Topics

The Keens Brentford House

Surely if they have not lived in Brentford for many months as Alan Keen has now at last admitted they have no right to claim the second home allowance?Is this not fraud?

Paul Fisher ● 6369d11 Comments ● 6364d

Live debate in response to London bus slogan campaign

Laurence Truett ● 6374d2 Comments ● 6364d

My missing Cocker Spaniel.........

Please if anyone can help......My black and white Cocker Spaniel 'Suzie' has been missing since 7am this morning... she is wearing a pink and purple collar.  She is very, very friendly.  I have reported her missing through all channels.  If anyone sees her PLEASE let me know.  We are beside ourselves with being so upset and worried about her.  Can anyone also please help me and tell me how to post a picture of her on here.Yours hopefully,Fran

Fran Naughton ● 6365d9 Comments ● 6364d

A disturbing and thought provoking contribution on labourlist.org

http://www.labourlist.org/very_low_turnout_in_some_areas_so_far#Comment24278"The problem is that it's very hard to get over to many voters just how unpleasant and stupid the BNP are. And the left has problem that it has devalued the language to the point that it's no longer easy to mark the BNP out from the average voter.Consider. They're racist: but the word nitty-gritty is racist, and objecting to genital mutilation is racist, and believing that women are entitled to vote in a voting station rather than under the watchful gaze of their husband if they have brown skin is racist. Everyone is racist. So what makes calling the BNP racist effective?They're fascist. But the Israeli government is fascist, George Bush is fascist, the US is fascist. Everyone is fascist. So what makes calling the BNP fascist effective?They're homophobic. But a lot of the Muslim `community leaders' that the Labour Party have cosied up to lately are pretty homophobic too, and they get funded by Labour councils. What makes the BNP's homophobia worse than your local iman's?They're sexist, too. But then, as Labour now regard mutilating young girls' genitals and forcing them into marriages where they are raped as merely cultural difference and declines to either legislate or take action, that the BNP regards women as suitable only for Kinder, Küche, Kirche is hardly a mark against them, as Labour are relaxed about their new friends who believe similarly for `their' women.They're anti-semitic. Here it gets worse: we have SWPies going around saying that they're being persecuted by people funded by the money `they' stole from Lehmann Brothers, and unions jumping to the defense of anti-semitic nonsense taken from KKK websites as being progressive. So calling the BNP anti-semitic doesn't cut it: anti-semitism is no longer the taboo it was.So as `racist' is now something people are inured to, as Labour activists use it of pretty well everyone, and `fascist' ditto, while `anti-semitic' is pretty much Labour policy these days (all those Birmingham MPs hanging around with Hamas activists), what makes the BNP uniquely dangerous?And let's not even start on how `british jobs for british workers' is Labour conference policy as well as the BNP slogan. How can that be bad, when Gordon Brown is calling for it?I know they're an appalling racist fascist party for whom violence is a second language who are incapable of articulating a policy that isn't dangerous and bigoted. You know that too. But sadly, the left has devalued those words to the point people aren't listening any more. I couldn't get over to my BNP-voting neighbour who the BNP are, because he's fed up of being called racist and sexist and homophobic..."Tokyo Nambu @ 8:49 pm, Thu 4th Jun 2009

Colin Murphy ● 6364d8 Comments ● 6364d

Just what are the Tories and Junior Tories doing to our borough?

So obsessed to say they are controlling council tax the Tories and Junior Tories are going to stitch up our children by the cutting of the language service.  It's on the news right now,yet again.  It is an utter shame for us all.  Our services are a disgrace, our CPA score in culture will fall, and I would be willing to bet that Hounslow is one of the London Boroughs that are using all forms of bullying and the threat of legal ation to stop the Audit Commision from showing just how our services are sliding under our Tory-Pseudo Tory Administration.  It has to be said the morons running Lampton Road would do well to obsess less about cuts, do more to improve services when we ned them most in a recession and getting on with some hard work rather than spending money and officer time fighting the Audit Commission's accurate assessment of our servicesHOusnlow is not alone in this shoddy effort, Enfield is at it, and so Harrow. Funny the cirumstances are the same electorally in them all.

Conal Stewart ● 6457d104 Comments ● 6364d

Looking for a good property and land dispute lawyer

I am looking for a GOOD lawyer who specialises property, land  and dispute in Hounslow/ Richmond/ Twickenham area.If you know and can recommend someone, please let me know.Many thanks.

Kahoru Watanabe ● 6366d4 Comments ● 6364d

European Elections

Who is the Best Party to Vote for.I haven't received 1 Party flyer to show who they are and what they stand for and why i should vote for them.

Simon Anderson ● 6371d49 Comments ● 6364d

Former Mayor Andrew Morgan Watts

Is there any truth that the former mayor Andrew Morgan Watts, who left the Liberal Democrats a few weeks ago because he wanted to be independent of politics, has now crossed the floor again to join the Tories? Is it true that the Tories have dumped Peter Hills and Linda Nakamura from the west area committee chair? What is going on Hounslow council seems to be one big game of musical parties.

Andrew Penty ● 6369d3 Comments ● 6365d

Brown to go next week?

After Hazel Blear's resignation today the wheels appear to be falling off the Brown bandwaggon. Will he survive till the end of next week?

John Connelly ● 6366d7 Comments ● 6365d

Junta leader thompsons reponce to expences

I think Thompsons reponce at the time to raking all the money from the public purse was that in his own words was he was worth the money...it seems the only thing he has done for the reccession is keep the dole office busy with all the local people  he made redundent from the council at a cost to the tax payer of 4 million and raising, is it any wonder that he was in favour of keeping the Feltham dole office open, he was after all there chief client.

Dave Hughes ● 6367d54 Comments ● 6365d

What do The Cllrs get as expences

Below is the list of what the Cllrs get the first figure is the basic whicl all memebers get the second is the special responciblities ie chairing a committee and last is subsistance or child care or dependent care..as published by the civic centre this is for the years 2008 to 2009, there will of course be changes since the AGM of the council but that covers 2009 up to 2010, this is what your Cllr was paid 2008-2009MemberBasicSRASubsistence / Dependant CareAndrews CJ9,763.001,500.001,327.64Andrews P9,763.0015,999.96669.95Barwood F9,763.008,000.04276.10Bath L9,763.006,881.7589.76Bath RS9,763.007,559.5594.55Bowen RM9,763.0020,000.04Cadbury R9,763.002,166.0015.96Carey PF9,763.009,999.96Chaudhary MH9,763.00Connelly J9,763.002,166.00Cooper JH9,763.00500.04Dakers AS9,763.001,089.0052.00Davies LA9,763.0015,999.96Davies ST9,763.00500.04Dhaliwal SS9,763.00Dhaliwal SS9,763.00Dhillion AS9,763.00500.04Dhillion GS9,763.007,256.79Dhillon P9,763.00Fisher BM9,763.002,471.13Fisher PA9,763.0014,881.70Fisher PE9,763.0015,999.96136.20Fisher SL9,763.008,172.11Gill MS9,763.004,763.5379.19Gill SS9,763.00500.04Grewal A9,763.006,881.75Grewal DS9,763.00430.14Grewal PS9,763.004,596.85Hardy J9,763.009,321.77199.46Harmer MJ9,763.00Harris BE9,763.003,799.16Hearn S9,763.00Hibbs GM9,763.0012,499.96Hills PR9,763.008,000.0494.15Howliston JA9,763.00500.04Hughes EP9,763.003,625.04Hutchison G9,763.00Jabbal P9,763.00500.04Lal GS9,763.00Lee AH9,763.0015,999.96Lynch PKJ9,763.0015,999.96Malik N9,763.008,000.04Mann AS9,763.00McGregor9,763.0015,999.96Morgan - Watts DM9,763.00Morgan Watts A9,763.0012,165.96148.01Nakamura L9,763.008,000.0471.82O' Reilly S9,763.008,000.04265.33Oulds R9,763.008,000.04Pitt P9,763.00574.56Reid BA9,763.0015,999.96563.29Sangha SS9,763.00Sharma JR9,763.002,709.96Stewart R9,763.002,166.00Thompson P9,763.0033,999.961,011.83Todd J9,763.008,000.04Vaught PV9,763.00430.14Virk JK9,763.002,166.00Williams BS9,763.00Wilson A9,763.00500.04Total585,780.00355,200.535,669.80Rounding difference-1.28500.00abw totals585,778.72355,700.53

Dave Hughes ● 6371d46 Comments ● 6367d

Crossrail "Corridor  7"

There was a proposal to join our local train services to the Crossrail development by running trains from Paddington to Hounslow via Acton Town. As this would have meant a 14 minute trip from Brentford to Paddington, this looks very attractive and would surely benefit the Brentford area.There don't seem to be any updates on the Hounslow council website and a web search doesn't turn up any new information since the proposal was made in 2004.Does anyone know the current status?

Frank Scoggins ● 6369d5 Comments ● 6368d

Woman Attacked in Windmill Road

Just heard a woman was attacked on Windmill Road over the weekend, Anyone know what happend ?

Robert Ayres ● 6374d9 Comments ● 6368d

Church response to attack

In response to a recent attack which took place in the grounds of St.Faiths Church, Windmill Rd the church are seeking funding for improved lighting of the church grounds and are also holding a garden working party on Sat 6th June 10-1pm. All are welcome, bring a garden recycling bag and garden tools if you can. The church will be open for prayer and teas etc will be available.

Saffron Ryan ● 6371d3 Comments ● 6368d

Late last night on the A4

Travelling home from a party late last night around 2.00pm, traffic was at stand still near Windmill Road junction does anyone know why!

Tina Heighes ● 6368d1 Comments ● 6368d

Ann Keen rips us off yet again!!

From the Local Times********************Ann Keen MP apologises over misuse of Commons stationery2:20pm Saturday 23rd May 2009 Comments (1)   Have your say » A woman who reported Ann Keen to a Government watchdog for misusing £4,500 of parliamentary stationery has said she is “sickened” by the Health Minister and her husband’s expenses claims. Ann Berkane, 66, from Brentford, contacted the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards after Mrs Keen used Commons notepaper to invite constituents to a coffee morning. MPs are only allowed to use the pre-paid envelopes and headed paper when replying to a constituent, but the Brentford and Isleworth MP used the stationery to send five letters to hundreds of homes – and was last week ordered to pay the money back. Mrs Berkane, of New Road, said: “I have been so shocked by her behaviour, it’s thoroughly disgusting.” Mrs Keen apologised and said she would repay the full £4,583, just days before details of her and her husband Alan Keen’s MP expenses were revealed in the Daily Telegraph. Mrs Berkane, who suffers from arthritis and works at a pawnbrokers, said: “I am only paid £10,000 a year and I deal with lots of people like me who are just getting by or not getting by. “To see this woman living in Brentford claiming for a second house in Westminster with her husband, it’s just sort of sickening. “If she needs to get home from Parliament she can just get a cab or other public transport, we don’t live a million miles from Parliament, but she and her husband are setting themselves up nicely with a flat up there.” Stuart Parrott, a retired BBC journalist and Brentford resident, also expressed his anger and has launched a “local non-partisan” campaign to get the Keens outed from their seats. He insisted he was not political but decided to take action because he was “outraged by the abuse of them taking so much money out of the public purse.” Mr Parrott, of Justin Close, Brentford, said: “Alan and Ann Keen MPs are a disgrace to British democracy, betraying the voters’ trust by both claiming such a huge amount for second homes, although they live only 10 miles from Westminster. “Their case is one of the worst exposed in the Daily Telegraph’s expose of the expense scandal. "The local Labour Party in both Brentford and Isleworth, and Feltham and Heston, must get rid of these MPs without delay or Labour will be hammered at the next general election. “As for the Keens, they should reflect on their shocking readiness to take so much money from the public purse. If they had any honour, they would resign. “If they don’t resign, or if they insist on clinging to public office, I’m prepared to lead a local non-partisan campaign to force them off the public payroll. “If people wish to support my campaign ‘Ann and Alan Keen, Out!’ email me at stuartparrott@hotmail.co.uk”

Paul Fisher ● 6377d17 Comments ● 6369d

Anoraks United!!  Who will post Forum message number 500,000?

This is a helpful code!!http://nnet-server.com/server/app/forum/ShowMessage.asp?ID=300000The numbers relate to the total of messages registered across all the local Neighbournet sites.  Try out the code!Who posted number 111,111?Previous milestones!!50,000   Chris Harris (Putney)100,000   me!150,000   Matt Hamer (Brentford)200,000   Raymond Elias240,000   Gerry Tan  (Ealing)250,000   Colin Murphy260,000   Philip Walsh (Brentford)270,000   Janice White300,000   Susan Baker (Swinging message)17/7/07400,000   Sara Nathan (Ealing message)  24/7/09490,000   me!497,370   Dan Filson (Chiswick forum) 1.36am today 23/5/09!!500,000   ???

Jim Lawes ● 6377d3 Comments ● 6369d

Missing !  Very nosey cat

From Strand on the Green area, missing since Thursday, but just had a call to say he was sighted on towpath on Brentford side of bridge late last week.Archie, beige, 2 year old, might be wearing a blue collar.Very friendly, and nosey, therefore might be trapped in shed, garage,car, etc so please could you check for us. Responds to whistling and has quite a loud miaow.If spotted please call 07717 447312 or 07969 803450.Thanks so much.

Aimi Mackay ● 6374d1 Comments ● 6370d

Cllr Virk

It will be interesting to see where Cllr Virk will be sitting this evening at the Borough AGM and what if any action the Labour Party have taken against him since the local Times published this story about him a few days ago.Pressure was growing today for a councillor to step down after he was convicted for illegally converting a family house into flats. Councillor Jiwan Virk repeatedly ignored requests by council officers to reverse the changes he had made, including adding a porch extension, without planning permission. It led to the Labour councillor for Bedfont appearing before Feltham Magistrates’ Court on Monday where he was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine and £2,958 costs. Councillor Mark Bowen, deputy leader of Hounslow Council, said: “If Labour have got any commitment whatsoever to high standards in public life they should expel him from the Labour Group. “As for Councillor Virk, I think he should as a minimum agree never to participate in planning decisions again. He would recover some dignity to stand down as a councillor and call a byelection. “I think he is both shaming himself and his party, and I think residents in this borough will be disgusted.” Coun Virk said he was “upset” by the prosecution and had no plans to step down, accusing Coun Bowen of pursuing the case against him. The landlord, of Basildene Road, Hounslow, said: “Mark Bowen is the deputy leader, and as deputy leader he is instigating the legal department to do these things.” He said he had complied with an enforcement notice almost a month before he was issued with a court summons in February this year, adding he could not do it before because he needed to evict a young family living at the property. But magistrates ruled Coun Virk had not done all he could be reasonably expected to do in order to comply with the notice, which was issued in July last year. The council had first contacted him in June 2005 to arrange to inspect the property after an earlier visit found it had been converted into two residential units. Councillor Jagdish Sharma, leader of the Labour Group, said that Coun Virk’s punishment would be decided at a group meeting. He said: “For any member not to follow the rules and regulations of the council deserves punishment, so in my view he will be punished for that. “I will give my views very forcefully in the group meeting, but ultimately it’s not in my hands.”

Paul Fisher ● 6381d19 Comments ● 6370d

Police Cosultative Committee

From this weks Brentford Chiswick and Isleworth Times.The borough's MPs have been severely criticised by councillors after it was revealed that neither of them has attended a single police consultative group (PCG) meeting since 2003.At the full council meeting on Tuesday, Councillor Shirly Fisher asked Councillor Phil Andrews, lead member of community safety, about the levels of attendance by Hounslows' politicians at the bi-monthly police forums.Coun Andrews revealed that, on average, all five PCG council representatives were present 53.4 per cent of the time since records began in 2003.advertisementIn comparison, the MP for Feltham and Heston, Alan Keen, was present zero per cent of the time, as was the MP for Brentford and Isleworth, his wife Ann Keen.Coun Andrews said he did not have attendance figures for before 2003, but he said that PCG representatives from that period do not recall either MP having ever been present at a meeting. He added that regular apologies are sent from the two MPs' offices for non-attendance.Coun Fisher said the lack of attendance was regrettable as crime is one of the most important issues facing the borough.Earlier this week, one day before the council meeting where the question was raised, the Keens put out a press release entitled Hounslow MPs Welcome New Borough Commander.The timing of the release has raised eyebrows because Chief Superintendent David Bilson took up his post as borough commander in July.In the press statement, Alan Keen MP said: "It is important to have a close working relationship with the police and our meeting with the new borough commander was very productive in discussing the priorities for tackling crime in the borough."As MPs, we have an important role to play in interacting between constituents, the police and Government ministers to make Hounslow a safer place to live and I am looking forward to meeting with the Borough Commander on a regular basis over the coming months."Councillor Nisar Malik, Labour spokesman for community cohesion and safety said: "The question was worded to highlight the fact that our two MPs do not attend the meetings. However, the meetings take place when Ann Keen and Alan Keen are required to be at the House of Commons."He said the PCG is a forum for the community to discuss local matters and that is was not the place for MPs to raise concerns.He added: "Ann and Alan work very hard for the residents of the borough and playing politics with matters that are actually quite serious is typical of the current Hounslow administration."Neither of the MP's was available to comment.

Paul Fisher ● 6944d6 Comments ● 6370d