Forum Topics

Who is Beccy Thorpe and waht is she for?

Will the real Beccy Thorpe please speak up!!!!

Jon Hardy ● 6435d5 Comments ● 6434d

Earth Hour

On Saturday 28th MARCH 2008 AT 8.30PM AN ESTIMATED 1 BILLION PEOPLE WILL BE TURNING OFF THEIR LIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL GOODS FOR 1 HOUR.THIS WILL SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR GLOBAL LEADERS THAT WE FEEL CLIMATE CHANGE SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY ON THE AGENDA.Many of Londons landmarks including large corporation buildings,London eye,Nelsons column and many other Landmarks around the world including many cities throughout the world will take part in this huge display of awareness.To find out more type Earth hour  in your browser and see where it takes you.Considering the economical worries created by the banks this surely is the way to go,saving money through energy efficiency,renewables and natures power will create a society that can profit long term.Incentives for Companies & local people & families  from Financial institutions & Government funding can provide a properous future for us in the 21st century and beyond.All the best and hope to hear what you all did on this hour.

Markus Mason ● 6435d2 Comments ● 6434d

Some Parents in Touch Events

Aiming High for Disabled Children - events for all parents and carers of children with disability in Hounslow1. Music Therapy Taster Session - especially suitable for pre-school childrenThursday, 26 March 2009, 10.30am to 11.30am the Community Room at Holy Trinity Church, High Street, Hounslow TW3Otakar Kraus Music Trust was founded by Margaret Lobo in 1991 to provide music and voice therapy for children and young people with physical and learning difficulties. Music Therapy aims to enable people who find it hard to communicate through traditional channels to express and fulfill themselves. Come along and find out what music therapy is all about.Book your place through Parents in Touch, by email if possible: parentsintouch@btconnect.com or leave a message on 020 8994 96022. Caring for the Carers Pamper DayFor parents and carers of children with disability or SEN in HounslowTuesday, 31 March 2009, 10am to 3pm in the Ground Floor Annexe at the Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow TW3 4DNOpportunity to relax whilst others take care of you. Mini sessions in beauty therapy, manicures, makeovers, relaxation therapy, etc. Even try a Pilates class. Play area for younger children. Light lunch and refreshments. Send email for flyer with more information.No need to book. Turn up and enjoy.3. Easter trip to Thames Valley Adventure Playground in Taplow, Berkshire**New date: Saturday, 18 April 2009 (to allow more people to go)**Minibus trip to this fantastic specialist play facility for children with disability and their siblings. This is now taking place on the last Saturday of the Easter break so that more of us can go. This was voted our “Best PiT Trip” of summer 2008, come and see why. Places are limited and must be pre-booked.Minibus departing from outside Hounslow Town School, Pears Road in Hounslow at 10.30am and returning at around 3.30pm. Or make your own way there if that suits you better. Bring a picnic, although the playground had kitchen facilities (including microwave)if needed.It’s big, it’s beautiful and WE LOVE IT!This trip is not part of the Short Breaks programme and has been funded in full by donations. **Book before Friday, 3 April, as no-one will be in the office to take your booking after this date**Book your place through Parents in Touch, by email if possible: parentsintouch@btconnect.com or leave a message on 020 8994 9602.

Karen Adams ● 6442d1 Comments ● 6434d

TV home makeover series looking for people in Brentford!

Have you fallen out of love with your home? Are you planning to improve it but lack the confidence, inspiration and ideas to get things off the ground? Love The Place You're In, UKTV's home makeover show, is returning for a second series and we're looking for homes to feature. We want to chat to homeowners who are planning to renovate rather than move house; who want to stay put and get creative by making their existing home the haven they’ve always dreamed of.How to applyIf you're about to embark on a plan to turn your home into your dream space and would like our know-how to help you achieve it, please email your contact details and a brief description of your plans to makeover@talkbackthames.tv.

Sophie Galt ● 6437d2 Comments ● 6435d

"Hounslow Matters" to be renamed "Hounslow Liar"?

Having just looked at the April edition of "Hounslow Matters" I was astounded to read on Page 10 "Good News as Housing Rent Cut by Half".The truth in this article is that, following council representations, rents will increase from April by 3.5% rather than the roughly 7% increase originally agreed. With the steep rises in service charges payable by many tenants coming in at the same time, the reality is many people occupying Hounslow Homes properties will be worse off in the coming 12 months than at present.Given that this magazine, which is funded by council taxpayers' hard-earned cash, has become more and more a propaganda sheet over the last few years should we be in the least surprised that its headline writers are reduced to producing blatant falsehoods in order to influence their readers?

John Connelly ● 6437d5 Comments ● 6435d

A tip for the next round of elections.

Seen in today's 'Sunday Times' a great tip for getting rid of canvassers. Told by Charles Kennedy, having knocked on a front door - greeted by a lady who said. 'Sorry love can't talk to you I'm blow- drying the cat'. There's no answer to that really.

Vanessa Smith ● 6446d8 Comments ● 6437d

State Funded Muslim Schools

The demand for Muslim schools comes from parents who want their children a safe environment with an Islamic ethos.Parents see Muslim schools where children can develop their Islamic Identity where they won't feel stigmatised for being Muslims and they can feel confident about their faith.Muslim schools are working to try to create a bridge between communities. There is a belief among ethnic minority parens that the British schooling does not adequatly address their cultural needs. Failing to meet this need could result in feeling resentment among a group who already feel excluded. Setting up Muslim school is a defensive response. State schools with monolingual teachers are not capable to teach English to bilingual Muslim children. Bilingual teachers are needed to teach English to such children along with their mother tongue. According to a number of  studies, a child will not learn a second language if his first language is ignored. Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Muslims have the right to educate their children in an environment that suits their culture. This notion of "integration", actually means "assimilation", by which people generally really mean "be more like me". That is not multiculturalism. In Sydney, Muslims were refused to build a Muslim school, because of a protest by the residents. Yet a year later, permission was given for the building of a Catholic school and no protests from the residents. This clrearly shows the blatant hypocrisy, double standards and racism. Christians oppose Muslim schools in western countries yet build their own religious schools. British schooling and the British society is the home of institutional racism. The result is that Muslim children are unable to developself-confidence and self-esteem, therefore, majority of them leave schools with low grades. Racism is deeply rooted in British society. Every native child is born with a gene or virus of racism, therefore, no law could change the attitudes of racism towards those who are different. It is not only the common man, even member of the royal family is involved in racism. The father of a Pakistani office cadet who was called a "Paki" by Prince Harryhas profoundly condemned his actions. He had felt proud when he met the Queen and the Prince of Wales at his son's passing out parade at Sandhurst in 2006 but now felt upset after learning about the Prince's comments. Queen Victoria invited an Imam from India to teach her Urdu language. He was highly respected by the Queen but other members of the royal family had no respect for him. He was forced to go back to India. His protrait is still in one of the royal places. There are hundreds of state schools where Muslim pupils are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be designated as Muslim community schools with bilingual Muslim teachers. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school.Iftikhar Ahmadwww.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

Iftikhar Ahmad ● 6456d46 Comments ● 6438d

Plans for A&E downgrade at West Mid ??

I came across the article below on-line.Anyone know more ?--------------------------------------------------------------------Emergency health plans for London leave Heathrow exposedOnMedica StaffMonday, 9 February 2009Campaigners warned today that Heathrow Airport could be left dangerously exposed by emergency hospital plans for London which would see all major trauma care located on four sites in the centre of the City.NHS London is currently out to consultation on proposals that would shift trauma and major emergency surgery to four inner-London sites at St George’s in Tooting, St Mary’s in Paddington, the Royal London in the east end and Kings in Camberwell.But pressure group London Health Emergency has warned that the moves could undermine services currently provided at hospitals like Hillingdon, Ealing and West Middlesex in Hounslow which would be vital in the wake of a major incident at Heathrow.Geoff Martin, Health Emergency Head of Campaigns, said: “We have never been opposed to the principle of centres of excellence but not at the expense of emergency services provided close to dense areas of population and major facilities like Heathrow.“It would be a scandal if these plans were just bundled through without engaging in a proper debate around the impact on local acute hospitals like those grouped around Heathrow Airport.”

Tim Henderson ● 6479d17 Comments ● 6440d

London Overground and District Line Richmond Branch disruption this weekend (21/22 March)

Due to planned maintenance work this weekend (21/22 March):• No London Overground between Richmond and Willesden Junction.  Other sections of the Overground are also disrupted.Rail replacement bus services operate between Willesden Junction and Richmond, calling at Acton Central, South Acton, Gunnersbury, Kew Gardens Station and the Royal Botanical Gardens. • No District Line between Turnham Green and RichmondRail replacement bus services operate:Service A: between Turnham Green and Richmond, via Gunnersbury, Kew Gardens Station and the Royal Botanical Gardens.Service B: (1000 - 1900 only) between Turnham Green and Richmond, calling at Gunnersbury and the Royal Botanical Gardens.For further information: www.tfl.gov.uk_________________________________________ Chris Calvi-FreemanHead of TransportLondon Borough of Hounslow_________________________________________

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6442d0 Comments ● 6442d

Fire in New England Pub, Brook Lane North. Caught on Camera?

The New England was broken into and set on fire last night (early this morning)  Was anything seen on the camera's in Brook Lane North?Thanks,Fran

Fran Naughton ● 6442d0 Comments ● 6442d

Found Gerbil

Hi everyone, we found a gerbil in the Church Walk area today; if you, or anyone you know has lost a gerbil, please let me know via the forum, privarte message or just posting and we'll arrange to get him back to you.Helen

Helen Martin ● 6442d0 Comments ● 6442d

St Patricks Night... Pub to go to?

Anyone know of any local pubs having a Irish night tomorrow night (Irish folk) for St Patricks night?Thanks,Fran

Fran Naughton ● 6445d3 Comments ● 6444d

Hounslow 4th dirtiest place in England

From the Hounslow Chronicle:Hounslow 4th dirtiest place in EnglandMar 12 2009 By Robert Cumber Campaigners this week called for a crack down on litterbugs after Hounslow was shamed as the fourth dirtiest place in the country.Householders fed up with seeing their front yards turned into rubbish dumps have demanded tougher action against flytippers, including more fines.Only Haringey, Havering and Barking & Dagenham are less tidy than Hounslow, according to figures highlighted this week by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).Most of the worst offenders in the list, based on Audit Commission data 2006/7, are London boroughs, although Kensington & Chelsea bucked the trend by making the top 10.Scores of readers have contacted the Informer in recent months to complain about the state of their neighbourhoods.Tariq Ahmad got in touch last autumn after flytippers dumped piles of rotten meat near the mosque in Park Lane, Cranford, where he worships.The 57-year-old, of Iver Heath, told the Chronicle flytippers still regularly target the busy road just off the High Street and would continue to do so until they were hit with hefty fines."People dump stuff here all the time because they want to save money or can't be bothered to go to the rubbish tip," said Mr Ahmad."When people see the rubbish lying there they think they can get away with it too. The only way to stop them is to put up CCTV cameras and hand out more fines, but the council's doing nothing."Peter Popat highlighted the state of land behind his home in Dorset Waye, Heston, which is piled high with old mattresses, abandoned fridges and rusting cars, last October, but he is still waiting for action to be taken."If we just let the rubbish build up it attracts burglars, drug dealers and rats, but no one wants to take responsibility," said the 45-year-old Heathrow worker."People think 'I'm paying all this council tax so they should clean it up', but that's not on. You mustn't be afraid to say something if you see people littering."Travel writer Bill Bryson launched CPRE's new report 'Litterbugs', on Monday, calling for greater use of fines to help curb the growing problem.He said: "Fines are an essential enforcement tool, and one which needs to be applied far more consistently than is currently the case."A spokeswoman for Hounslow Council said it was taking part in the 'Capital Clean Up', from April 27 to June 5, which aims to educate residents about keeping their streets clean.She added that it was also working with schools and looking at ways to deal with fast food outlets.

Jim Linwood ● 6449d1 Comments ● 6446d

Fusiliers cheered at Lampton Park

A gratifying number turned out on Hounslow’s streets and in the Park this afternoon, to see the Fusiliers march in formation to receive a warm reception at the Civic Centre with vowed support for them and the families left behind as they head for Afghanistan.All except a couple of the photos I took were with someone else’s camera, but here’s one of the Mayor chatting with the drummers towards the end of the day (if the new photobucket codes have been correctly chosen):

Nigel Moore ● 6455d6 Comments ● 6449d

Mogden - a response to Councillor Andrew Dakers

In your article on the decision by the council's Sustainable Development Committee to approve Thames Water's proposals to expand its Mogden operation, Councillor Andrew Dakers comments as follows:"I share Cllr Andrews regret at the decision of SDC regarding Mogden, which is why I supported his motion at IBAC yesterday evening. However, as a member of SDC that supported the decision to expand Mogden on Wednesday, I felt like most other councillors that under current planning law this was the best deal we could get for the community - however I cast my vote with regret that this was the only way forward. I dispute that any member of the committee made a "cowardly"decision, we deliberated long and hard - until 11 o'clock at night. If Cllr Andrews believes there is information that officers did not share, this should be brought to all councillors attention."I am happy to oblige.  In my submission it was the decision, proposed by officers and accepted by members, which was cowardly.  This is not the same thing as saying that the members themselves were cowardly.  The members acted upon officer advice.Officers could have informed members on the night that the applicant's claim that it would not be allowed by OFWAT to cover the storm tanks was inaccurate, but chose not to.  They could also have pointed out that for years Thames has acted in breach of Statutory Notices served upon it by the London Borough of Hounslow, meaning that Hounslow could have enforced against Thames at any time had it had the will to do so, but chose not to.In my view a deferral or rejection would have compelled Thames to have come back with a better scheme.  The applicant is keen to get the works done and would not have wanted the delay that would have occurred had the appeals process been invoked.It is my opinion that the information provided to members on the night was highly selective.  For what it is worth it was also contrary to promises made to us as ward members immediately before the meeting, that the covering of the storm tanks would be insisted upon by officers as a necessary condition of acceptance.Under the circumstances I feel that ward members were deliberately fobbed off with regard to our officers' intentions.  Was their Lead Member complicit in this?  In my opinion probably not but for me this barely matters, her subsequent defence of their actions suggests that she is clearly happy for them to behave in this manner towards us regardless, and that the fallout that her coalition colleagues would have to face from their constituents as a consequence was considered preferable to enduring the inconvenience of having to challenge her own officers.As for the motives of the officers in conducting themselves as they did, that is a matter for conjecture.  What is indisputable is that their eagerness for this application to progress stands in stark contrast to the lethargy that they have been allowed to display towards ward members and residents when it comes to enforcing against Thames and the unlawful nuisance that it continues to inflict upon the surrounding community.

Phil Andrews ● 6454d31 Comments ● 6449d

GSK want a 600-space car park in Boston Manor Park

http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london-news/local-hounslow-news/2009/02/20/glaxosmithkline-wants-to-build-car-park-in-boston-manor-park-109642-22957358/I can't believe that councillors think this is acceptable.

Karen Adams ● 6468d52 Comments ● 6450d

Brentford's History temp' on view

Deep the trench being dug by Thames Water outside Goddaard;s shop on half acre have been uncovered some very old red brick buildings.  They could be old shops, anderson shelters or anything....  Anyone know what they could be.  Take a look, not long to be seen.

Simon Groves ● 6450d0 Comments ● 6450d

Recycling non-collection

Anyone else having trouble with Hounslow recycling collections?Our green boxes haven't been emptied for four weeks now! - apparently because we live on the 'wrong end' of Windmill Road or 'too close to the Ealing border'. I know some international borders can be dangerous...but...Ealing?!?

MP Parry ● 6458d17 Comments ● 6450d

Do us all a favour...

Why don't we all agree to not reply(I know I have been guilty)to that muslim berk who posts a lot of crap on here?Come on folks,you know it makes sense.He might get the message and go away,preferably back to the vile regime that spawned him.It's bloody boring anyway,he posts virtually the same every time and we all reply with virtually the same answers.

Keith Iddon ● 6451d3 Comments ● 6450d

CCTV Parking Fines

I can just about live with the idea of CCTV cameras being used to help reduce crime, but to issue parking tickets?  No, that just stinks of a slimy way of raising money.  Pretty sure I didn't see that on anyone's manifesto at the last election.As you might guess, I have been issued a £50 parking ticket for parking outside a restaurant in Hounslow (Nando's) for 5 minutes at 8pm on a Saturday.  This was where I've parked for years, wasn't blocking traffic and 4 other cars were parked at the same time.So what do I do now.  Visit Hounslow again, nope.  I'll shop in Northfields where they appear to want people to come and offer 30 minutes free parking everywhere.Great job Hounslow council, I'll take my business elsewhere.

Brendan Keogh-Smith ● 6451d2 Comments ● 6450d