Forum Topics

Local charities / campaigns / volunteer groups

No promises, but...I work for a large international engineering design company whose main offices for Europe are located in Brentford.  The company would like to increase their involvement / support of local innitiatives and projects and are drawing up a list of potential organisations with which to associate themselves with.If you know of a local (TW8 area) charity / campaign or volunteer group who would appreciate additional support (perhaps financial, perhaps practical, perhaps promotional) then drop me a reply to this topic.Early days and like I say no promises.Ken

Ken Allan ● 6848d5 Comments ● 6847d

Dissent in the ranks

Interesting insight into the Tory led Council today with several Councillors from the West end of the borough calling their Leader "dismissive". First Harley Buckner takes a hike because the Leader wouldn't engage with him, forcing a by-election (notable that one of the signees of the recent letter is his replacement). Then a Chiswick councillor leaves the flock, to lose one councillor is unfortunate, to lose two careless, to have six threatening to "consider our position under your leadership" seems downright bloody stupid. I seem to remember one of the Tories now partners often branding the Labour council of the time "arrogant", well how do you like these apples?

Vanessa Smith ● 6848d9 Comments ● 6847d

Area Committee - Planning 14 Feb 08

Just checked out the Agenda for the above meeting.  Suggest you look closely at Item 12.www.hounslow.gov.uk/council and democracy/council meetings/meetings/isleworth and brentford area committee (planning)

Eileen Henderson ● 6848d2 Comments ● 6848d

Heat or Heat

Just watched Dispaches programme on channel 4. Perhaps Messrs. Sheerins, Hughes and other New Labour PC Lefties would give their opinions on the plight of our pensioners here in England, where some are having to choose whether to have the heating on or a nourishing meal in their stamachs. Some of these have worked all of their lives and lived/served during the war, is this how we should "care for them", many are dying of hypothermia, meanwhile Gordo and his cronies bury their noses ever deeper in the trough. To say that I am disgusted is putting it mildly!Will either of the above explain to me, why in Gods' name we are paying benefits to Muslim men who have 1,2,3 or even 4 wives. Am I missing something here, is this what the New Labour/Socialist left wing luvvies want? Isn't polygamy a crime in this country, and do we want shariah law for these communities who live here, yet want to make up their own rules to live by?PS. Perhaps Ann or Alan Keen may tear themselves away from the trough and explain the thinking behind this, as an ex nurse does she not care about these vulnerable people? I can dream can't I?

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6851d8 Comments ● 6848d

The Hounslow Chronicle Thursday 17th 2008

Two statements appear in this paper in two different articles and they show a strange attitude to upholding the law and public decency.In one on page 6 in an article concerning gay men having sex in public places such as Gunnersbury triangle (the local nature reserve visited by children) ch insp Andy Morgan insisted the practice was not a major issue in the borough and rarely provoked complaints it’s not a crime unless someone says it is. It usually happens late at night in secluded places and between consenting adults.Having spent time having to clear up the area of Osterley by Windmill lane also, used by the cottaging/ cruising/ dogging fraternity, I say it is. The whole area was full of rubbish old needles and discarded Durex. My children, now teenagers visited the Triangle many times as they grew up and many small children still do. The idea that this is not a problem is wrong, ask anyone doing community service about their experience of clearing up these sites if you doubt the seriousness of this problem.On page nine ch insp. Andy Morgan takes a different stance on a illegal practice also often carried out late at night between consenting adults only this time in the privacy of their own homes and with out turning public places into cess pits of discarded filth.I am talking about consuming cannabis. On this issue we get this rant from ch insp Mogan who believes downgrading cannabis has sent the wrong message to users and dealers. When Cannabis became declassified (it should have been but it wasn’t, it was downgraded) dealers thought the potential for them to be caught convicted and sentenced had been reduced, he said. (Why the penalties applicable under class B are the same as under Class C for these types of offences)It created an artificial belief we wouldn’t do much about people importing cannabis.Cannabis clearly leads to other crimes because there are big profits to be made (only because it’s illegal Andy)Also as people become unstable (after smoking the drug) they become more of a problem.  (The percentage of those who may become unstable is very small and in the words of Professor Stanley Zammit one of the authors of the critical overview published in the lancet and misquoted by the right wing press and other fascist types.“In conclusion we found that the evidence concerning mental illness and cannabis to be inconclusive”).They can become involved in harassment, intimidation and other offences. (Sounds more like alcohol users to me or perhaps police officers enforcing the cannabis laws in my experience.So as I understand it there a two types of laws  one were people can be kept terrorised in their home for matters of individual  choice over life style and one were you can outrage public decency by taking it up the rear in public and leaving your discarded filth all over the place and that’s ok. What hypocrisy!

Philip Walsh ● 6868d36 Comments ● 6848d

Guitarist available

After 10 years playing with my current band and musicians from Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, the Kinks, Van Morrison, Jools Holland, Eric Burdon etc, I'm looking for a change - ideally a good quality band doing gigs in the M25 area. I enjoy anything from Setzer / T-Bone Walker through to Beck / Bonamassa and beyond. As the references might indicate, I'm not 17 any more, but I'm young at heart! I'm fully mobile, with good guitars & gear etc.   I thought it might be worth trying this forum - you never know, there might be a few musos out there!

Marc dAboville ● 6849d2 Comments ● 6848d

BRENTFORD DOCK

Hi there,Just wondered if any locals could give me their opinion on the Brentford Dock estate please? I'm thinking of moving there, and to me it looks a pretty decent place, but was wondering if anyone has any opinions on the place?Just I've heard from a few people that it's not too great in the evenings, with the local hoodies riding around the estate on their bikes - though I'm wondering if the guy who said this actually knows what he's talking about, as he's a bit of a doom & gloom merchant at the best of times!So if anyone who actually knows the place well could give me a few opinions, good...bad...whatever - It'd be much appreciated!thanksRob

Robin Jones ● 6849d2 Comments ● 6849d

Would you like to help to local Artists

Click the link picture you can vote for The Fleas and The Veenex on this page every little helps.

Dave Hughes ● 6850d3 Comments ● 6849d

HM magazines Leaders folly

Tax payers should not be paying for a rag that is political.Take the leaders rant on page 3, on crime, Hounslow is suppose to be crime ridden as the leader points out, but was he not the same idiot who when the rest of the area committes decided to buy mobile CCTV for the Police, did he not with the rest of the Tories in Chiswick dedcided they would not put any money forward...HENCE no mobile CCTV in Chiswick hence more crime, What a plonker..better still is later in the magazine we are told the opposite about crime.Teenage preganacy we are told it is rife GUESS which Tories decided that Sex Education was not needed and funding was cut evan when it was pointed out to them in a scrutiny report the need for such Education for our children....DUH!!!!Its the same idiot who thinks that Gershun savings should not go back into providing better services but should be used as a tax cut..then goes and crys poverty to the goverment..if you can afford tax cuts you dont need more goverment money, the National Tax payer is not giving you money to give back as a Tax cut...another dumb move...HM Magazine was to be payed for by adverts, name one non-internal advert in last 3 issues...there is no extrenal revnue paying for this magazine so we the TAX PAYER are now paying for the this poitcal rag fully.........Then we have the HM headline "How Does we spend your money"If you cant get your grammer right what hope have we of you getting the budget right..THIS magazine was suppose to be NON-POLITICAL and was up till the last election, Now all we get is miss-informed un-educated dribble....

Dave Hughes ● 6851d4 Comments ● 6850d

Love a Man in a uniform

Love a man in a uniform but never trust a man in a tank topIs our grest and glorious leader making a fashion Staement and getting down with the kids init or doe he need a make over..[img]http://www.freeimghosting.com/images/davemohican/p1202221510638.jpg[/img]Whats your view ?

Dave Hughes ● 6850d10 Comments ● 6850d

Patriotism

Academics at the Institute of education say you all should not be encouraged to love Britain because it has a morally ambiguous history.They also found just 9% of teachers think schools should teach patriotism. What is morally wrong with 19/20-year-old fighter pilots  for example to stop the German luftwaffe bombing us into submission in the Second World War. We we stood alone in much of the war, and if it was not that these brave men and many others, from here and the Commonwealth, these bloody morons would now be under the jackboot, or worse still in a concentration camp. They should hide their faces in shame! They should be dismissed immediately in my opinion, or be referred to one of their diversity training courses, where they could learn about the home of democracy, our tolerance, and who is the first country to offer aid and help to poorer countries!They and others wish to see the end of our traditions and culture, don't let it happen please. I should like to know what others think,perhaps the liberal luvvies should pass on this one, we have witnessed the damage they have caused with their left wing/PC nonsense.

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6852d56 Comments ● 6850d

What does we spend our money on.....

So says the headline in HM magazine in the budget statement for all of Housnlow to read at least I have the excuse of being dyslexic, what theirs...Getting it down wid the Kids init!!!!!Time to hug a hoodie again because thay ain't spendin it on Education..INIT.

Dave Hughes ● 6852d38 Comments ● 6850d

Netiquette

Some members of this forum could do with a reminder on Netiquette in order help them treat fellow forum members with due courtesy and respect.Here are some helpful guidelines I found elsewhere on the web:"Netiquette is a term referring to good behaviour while connected to the Internet. Netiquette is mainly referring to behaviour while using Internet facilities such as individual Web sites, emails, newsgroups, message boards, chat rooms or Web communities. Some examples of netiquette are listed below:* Not using someone else's name and pretending to be them; * Not posting or distributing material that is deemed illegal; * Not using abusive or threatening language; * Not posting racist remarks regarding peoples sex, race or gender; * Not spamming message boards or chat rooms with useless or repeated messages; * Not trying to obtain or use someone else's password; * Not trying to obtain personal information about someone. Netiquette is an online behaviour standard which is recognised on Usenet, mailing lists and other public posting areas. Netiquette requires that people post constructive and relevant messages on places like Usenet newsgroups. Things such as posting messages on a different topic to the subject requested and commercial advertising is seen as bad Netiquette. Reading your messages for bad spelling and grammar is seen as good Netiquette."

James de Vivenot ● 6850d0 Comments ● 6850d

Heathrow Expansion Plans

Whilst this important issue is now front page on this website I am surprised there is no specific discussion going on - so lets kick it off with a bit of this:- Images of the projected noise footprint 2020- various documents citing reasons not to expandcan be found on the Brentford Community Council website at:www.BrentfordCC.org.ukWhat do you think fellow residents of Brentford?

Stephen Browne ● 6867d39 Comments ● 6850d

HM magazines Leaders folly

Tax payers should not be paying for a rag that is political.Take the leaders rant on page 3, on crime, Hounslow is suppose to be crime ridden as the leader points out, but was he not the same idiot who when the rest of the area committes decided to buy mobile CCTV for the Police, did he not with the rest of the Tories in Chiswick dedcided they would not put any money forward...HENCE no mobile CCTV in Chiswick hence more crime, What a plonker..better still is later in the magazine we are told the opposite about crime.Teenage preganacy we are told it is rife GUESS which Tories decided that Sex Education was not needed and funding was cut evan when it was pointed out to them in a scrutiny report the need for such Education for our children....DUH!!!!Its the same idiot who thinks that Gershun savings should not go back into providing better services but should be used as a tax cut..then goes and crys poverty to the goverment..if you can afford tax cuts you dont need more goverment money, the National Tax payer is not giving you money to give back as a Tax cut...another dumb move...HM Magazine was to be payed for by adverts, name one non-internal advert in last 3 issues...there is no extrenal revnue paying for this magazine so we the TAX PAYER are now paying for the this poitcal rag fully.........Then we have the HM headline "How Does we spend your money"If you cant get your grammer right what hope have we of you getting the budget right..THIS magazine was suppose to be NON-POLITICAL and was up till the last election, Now all we get is miss-informed un-educated dribble....

Dave Hughes ● 6851d10 Comments ● 6850d

Rugby Parking...

This post is mainly for our 3 elected ward Councillors of Isleworth to ask them to start helping us residents in Weavers Close and Oak Lane on the Parking Issues on Rugby and Concert dates.I contacted the R.F.U some time ago to get our street "Resident Only Parking" during these events but was told that our street was to far from the Rugby Ground to qualify even though there are other streets further from the Rugby Ground than ours we are a 10min walking distance.Every match or concert our street is filled with Cars, Limos and Coaches its ridiculous..some residents have to park elsewear because of it some risk parking tickets themselves to park other areas then have to walk home.I wonder if the Councillors can do something about this as its ridiculous why should we suffer and the R.F.U make money out of us??

Simon Anderson ● 6851d9 Comments ● 6850d

Charity gig on Feb 3rd inc. Robert Rankin

BEARSTOCK 3 Sunday February 3rd 2008A night of acoustic rock and folk music at the Hive (formerly Stripes) Brentford FC in aid of three charities –DIABETES UK PARKINSON’S DISEASE SOCIETYSPELTHORNE CROSSROADSMC for the evening the legendary author…ROBERT RANKINMusic from...ROBB JOHNSON (singer/songwriter and Brentford legend)SWILL (singer with THE MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG)SACRED HEART (melodic hard rock)RHODE ISLAND RED (classic rock)THE VEENEX (West London based indie rock)+ More TBATICKETS £5 (pre-book via Paypal – see weblinks)Doors open 6pm; music 6:30pm until 10.30pmAt The Hive Bar, Brentford FCwww.myspace.com/stripesmusic  www.myspace.com/jamby More info - 07952 378271 or papa_bear70@hotmail.com www.sproutlore.com  www.robbjohnson.co.uk www.myspace.com/swillandtheswaggerband www.sacredheartband.com www.myspace.com/veenex www.myspace.com/rhodeislandredband

Jason Ritchie ● 6925d12 Comments ● 6850d

Ian Woodham Housing Officer Funaral

On a serious note I going the the funaral of Ian Woodham who worked for the council housing dept today, he died in his sleep only 2 short years after his wife died.There are many who will have worked with Ian over the years here in Feltham and in Brentford and Isleworth, his final years working with Hounslow Homes and Hounslow Council he spent working with the people of Highfields in Feltham he was always a genorous kind hearted man who would take time to understand peoples problems and try and resolve them.He was a great friend to my familly and helped me and my wife when we first moved to London and was also present for my marriage to my wife nearly sixteen yesrs ago at the church where he is to be buried today.The service is at St Ignatius, Green Street, Sunbury, 11.30

Dave Hughes ● 6851d4 Comments ● 6851d

New Stateman on Brentford

Interesting article in which at least one forum participant is mentionedhttp://www.newstatesman.com/200801280007

Andy Jones ● 6855d5 Comments ● 6853d

Ann Keen MP and Alan Keen MP may lose their perks

According to The Hounslow Chronicle dated 24th January 2008, the latest report by the independent Senior Salaries Review Body has called for a review of the system of Additional Costs Allowances which has allowed Ann Keen MP and her husband Alan Keen MP to claim the cost of a second home in London - even though they have a home in Brentford within 10 miles of the House of Commons. At the moment any MP with a constituency outside Inner London is entitled to claim expenses for staying in the capital while on parliamentary duty but most Outer London members turn it down or only claim a small amount. For example, Stephen Pound, the Labour MP for Ealing North claimed a mere £221 in Additional Costs Allowances last year.  In contrast Ann Keen claimed £18,701 and Alan Keen claimed £19,814- as they are entitled to because their constituencies are classified as being in Outer London.The payment of these Additional Cost Allowances to the Keens has cost the taxpayers £199,091 in the 6 years from 2001/2002 to 2006/2007. Mr Keen claimed a total of £102,133 and Mrs Keen claimed £96,333 according to www.theyworkforyou.com The report says:"The division of London constituencies into outer and inner zones appears somewhat outdated and may not take account of improved public transport in London, nor the modernisation of the Commons' sitting hours.""We suggest that the House review whether some constituencies in the outer zone should be reclasified to the inner zone, thus attracting only the London Supplement."" It has been argued by some observers that because MP's may make a capital gain from owning a second home, the cost of which is met at least in part from the Additional costs Allowance, there should be some means of sharing the gain with the taxpayers", the Report says.A tribunal ruling is expected shortly on whether MP's must disclose how they spend their expenses.Mr and Mrs Keen have consistently failed to explain why they justify claiming the Additional Costs Allowances.Mary Macleod, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, has said that she would not claim the Additional Costs Allowance - even though she would be entitled to it under the current rules.

David Giles ● 6857d12 Comments ● 6853d