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Rainbow Project launched - tenants to decide where their own money is to be spent

Sorry I'm a bit late with this news but the Rainbow Project was formally launched on Tuesday, with an impressive gathering of tenants, councillors and officers from both Hounslow Homes and the London Borough of Hounslow coming together to celebrate the release of around £1.5m of funds for tenant-led initiatives on our estates.After enjoying tea and biscuits whilst listening to a series of short speeches from Alf Chandler (Chair, Hounslow Homes), Bernadette O'Shea (Chief Executive, Hounslow Homes), Councillor Dr. Genevieve Hibbs (Mayor of Hounslow), Julie Brooker (Chair, Hounslow Federation of Tenants' and Residents' Associations) and myself, delegates were led under a rainbow which had been imaginatively located across the door into a "fairground" at which popcorn, hot dogs, burgers and ethnic delights were purveyed whilst the younger ones were able to play games, blow up balloons and have their portraits drawn in caricature.All in all it was a lot of fun, and with the latecomers taken into account some 100 people were able to partake. However the essential message was not in doubt - that residents of this borough, in this case tenants and leaseholders in properties managed by Hounslow Homes, are taking control of their own communities at last.My speech to delegates at the event made the rationale for the Project abundantly clear.  As it is of limited interest to many of the people who use this site I have not reproduced it, however anybody who wishes to understand more about the motivation for this initiative can read about it on my blog at http://philandrews.blogspot.com.

Phil Andrews ● 6609d1 Comments ● 6609d

Gurkhas Rights to reside in the UK

I make no apology for raising this issue once again, but this government are again refusing to allow these brave loyal friends to reside in the UK on retiring from the British Army, because " They have no direct connection to this country"!So it's alright to put your life on the line, win gallantry medals,and fight on our side in every conflict that we have been involved in for over 200 years, then when you retire, we will give you a pittance of a pension  pat you on the head and wave you off back home to Nepal.Meanwhile we have to take back from Australia, a serial Paedophile, who is being deported back here, no doubt with police protection,a free home, and endless benefits, just like the other scumbag who came back here a while ago from there.We let all and sundry enter the UK, regardless of where they're from, no matter if they are a danger to the security of this country. I am amazed at the lack of comment on this forum, about the plight of these men who have handed back their medals, and are now threatening to go on hunger strike. Where are all of the PC Brigade who demonstrate outside  Asylum detention centres for their Human Rights...........The more I learn about this government, the more it sickens me.We have had very little comment on here (I think) on the amount of expenses they can, and do claim for their SECOND HOMES, £10k for a kitchen if you please amonst other items. A gurkha WO11 with fifteen years service gets less than £200 a month pension, and they wonder why recruitment is down!!!!! Care to comment Alan Sheerins, as you are a fervent Labour supporter.

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6806d34 Comments ● 6610d

"Whingers" win prestigious community safety peace award

I was extremely thrilled to learn this morning that young residents of Isleworth's Worton estate have won the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's Community Safety Peace Award for their work under the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme.They were presented with the award by the Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith MP at a ceremony last night.The work undertaken by youngsters from the estate includes a massive and ongoing clean-up campaign, clearing mountains of debris, overgrowth and graffiti from the estate's maze of alleyways.The initiative have been actively supported by the Metropolitan Police SNT, community payback, the residents' association (ROWE), ward councillors, LBH Street Management and (after a bit of misunderstanding) Hounslow Homes.  I'm too frightened to even try to name everybody personally who has contributed to this wonderful project for fear of inadvertently leaving someone out but special mention must go to estate dynamo Kim Dobson, who has overseen all the youth activity on the estate, PS Kirsty Hayes whose proactive leadership has given Isleworth an SNT which is making a tremendous local impact, Bridget Klempner from London Probation and Councillor Paul Fisher who has led on the project for the council and who has been in the thick of the whole thing since day one.These are the residents who were described by their own former ward councillor as "whingers" when they dared to oppose her plans for their estate.  It is clear that things have progressed immeasurably since those bad old days, now thankfully consigned to history.A very big well done to Kim, Kirsty, Bridget, Paul and all the youngsters whose hard work has made all this possible.

Phil Andrews ● 6623d8 Comments ● 6618d

Waterman's Park river frontage rubbish

I recently got in touch with the Director of 'Thames 21', (the charity that works to clean up the river and canal environment), regarding dangerous debris breaking loose from some of the derelict boats littering the foreshore here.Here's his reply:" I am familiar with this area and Thames21 and the PLA have been involved in several clean-ups there over the years, but as far as I am aware there hasn’t been one recently.  Because of the nature of the river in that area, debris gets washed in on the tide and then does not leave.  There is also a substantial amount of debris from buildings alongside the river, derelict boats and local dumping of rubbish.Thames21 and the PLA can help remove this litter if there are volunteers willing to come out and clear it up.  There is no statutory duty to remove litter from the Thames, but we do take out about 750 tonnes each year in partnership with the PLA.  Is there a large enough group of people who would be willing to come out and help out?  If so, then we would happily provide the tools and equipment and the PLA would be able to remove the waste collected in baskets, floating skips and even punts.  There are obviously issues about access for the Driftwood Craft, but we have done things there in the past so it should be possible.I am going on leave tomorrow, so won’t be able to arrange anything for a week or so, but if you can get the support of some volunteers then we can schedule something in sometime after September." So, any volunteers? Anyone know how to recruit them? We've had the very occasional comment on eyesores, this is a chance to do something, even if it's only persuading healthy young people to do it for us!

Nigel Moore ● 8108d90 Comments ● 6622d

An Apology and a reply to A Atkinson

I note your response to my posting in which I referred, incorrectly, to your performance in a Hounslow Council election. I accept that this did not occur and that you have never stood for the Council, and am happy to unreservedly apologise for any upset caused. I will, in future, check out "information" received from others in order to ensure that I do not make false statements again.In your posting you objected to me describing the content you produce as "bile and vomit". I do not accept this. Below are a few postings of yours, drawn at random, that demonstrate that this description is perfectly reasonable:-1) To George Anthony Burrell on 9th June 2003"Grow up you twat.........stop trying to be such a pratt, and go and give John Murphy a cuddle."2) To "Mr Ewew" (Your text)on 15th June 2008"Mr Ewew,Was you born an utter prick or did you have to work at it?"3) To Jamie Halliday on 15th July 2008"What bloody planet are you on.....Zog?"This is the language of a cyber bully, and your whimperings when others reply in kind underlines your bully boy approach.You repeatedly invite posters critical of your adverse remarks, usually levelled at ethnic minorities, to prove you are a racist. However, you know how to structure your remarks in order to avoid being identified as an overt racist. If you crossed the line your activities as a police volunteer would be terminated. For what it's worth, in a reply to Phil Andrews on 2nd March 2003 you stated:"There is an excuse for me. I'm an ingnorant (sic), narrow-minded, blinkered and prejudiced individual."Straight from the horse's mouth!In your response to me you choose to repeat the accusation that I was lying when I accused you of standing for the council. I have already acknowledged that I was in the wrong. I offer for readers' consideration 2 Atkinson lies posted on this site recently:-On the 17th July 2008 you said the following in a lengthy posting about planning in Hounslow"The nod and the wink culture was prevalent with this committee many years ago, especially the Central ward, one of its members on this planning committee built a structure without planning permission, and as I recall uprooted two trees in a conservation area in the process...........(H)e was never kicked off the committee."THIS IS LIE NUMBER 1You continue"a structure approx. 20ftx12ftx10ft.........ended up in the hands of a government inspector who upheld the enforcement.........but guess what, it's still there courtesy of fellow Labour councillors."LIE NUMBER 2In the first case the structure was built in Cranford. The member responsible was removed from the Planning Committee (of which he had been Vice-Chair), the structure was taken down and replacement trees planted. In the second case, the owner of the property, The Asian Food Centre on Staines Road, was able to prove the canopy had existed for more than 4 years and it was therefore immune from enforcement. I advised Mr Atkinson of this in an e-mail dated 12th December 2007, so there is no excuse for repeating the lie.Incidentally, wasn't it Joseph Goebbels who stated "if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it people will eventually come to believe it"? History suggests that he, too, was an ignorant, narrow-minded, blinkered and prejudiced individual.

John Connelly ● 6632d23 Comments ● 6625d