Forum Topics

Heathrow Expansion ; Meeting Civic Centre, Hounslow , 7.30pm Tuesday 22nd January 2008

It’s time to say no (thousands already have)Local people are being urged to turn out in force and demonstrate their opposition to Heathrow expansion at a public meeting to be held in Hounslow on Tuesday 22 January.Around two thousand residents have already contacted Hounslow Council to say ‘no’ to  plans to double the airport’s capacity, and anyone who is opposed to expansion is being encouraged to do the same.The government is currently conducting a 14-week public consultation and as part of its ‘Say No’ campaign, Hounslow Council is keen to ensure that local people have every opportunity to register their views.Councillor Barbara Reid, the council’s lead member for aviation, said:  “The government is planning to embark on the biggest ever programme of airport expansion the country had ever seen. It is essential that every single person in the borough who is opposed to these plans makes their voice heard.“It is clear to everyone that expansion will mean more planes, more noise and more pollution. By turning out to the public meeting in force we can send a very clear and simple message to the government - Hounslow says ‘no’.”The public meeting will be held at the Civic Centre in Hounslow at 7.30pm on Tuesday 22 January 2008.In addition to attending the public meeting there are a number of different ways that people can register their support for the council’s ‘Say No’ campaign including:Joining the council’s Say No Facebook group at www.hounslow.gov.uk/heathrowFilling out and returning a Say No postcard Leaving a message of support on the Say No answerphone Emailing sayno@hounslow.gov.uk

John Todd ● 6866d34 Comments ● 6854d

The Police are investigating Mayor Livingstone's close aide

The police are now investigating Mayor Livingstone's close aide Lee Jasper who has been the subject of detailed investigations by the Evening Standard's Andrew Gilligan in recent weeks involving the use of London Development Agency funds.http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23434468-details/Mayor%27s+aide%3A+Police+move+in/article.doThe Labour Party is certainly keeping the Boys and Girls in Blue busy these days.

David Giles ● 6858d10 Comments ● 6854d

Watchout for,,,

A cream and red mini that contains several toe rags driving around casing houses for poss. burglary etc.I live on the Syon estate and have had my property damaged by these a**eholes.Currently awaiting call from SNT.4 blokes were seen hanging about and entering people's gardens and driveways.

Keith Iddon ● 6854d1 Comments ● 6854d

Mike Carman

Just read on another thread, thanks Phil, that former Cllr Mike Carman had died. This is very sad news as I always found Mike a pleasure to deal with.

Neil Chippendale ● 6877d11 Comments ● 6854d

'Trivial post alert' but need some advice about carpets!

Hello all,Can anyone recommend a friendly freelance carpet fitter and/or a friendly local carpet shop?  Apart from the obvious Carpet Right up the road, of course.Cheers,Jen

Jennifer Johnston ● 6854d1 Comments ● 6854d

"Green Insanity"

Just been looking at the TFL website about the new Low Emission Zone which starts officially on Monday. Is Livingstone clinically insane or what? This measure will destroy thousands of small businesses throughout Greater London who rely on their old "white vans" for transport. Someone on the news this morning was estimating a cost of some £4000 to make vehicles compliant with the new regulations - most of the vans in use are not worth £4000 and if the businesses concerned could afford a new van, no doubt they would already have one. Watch and wait while every single thing we buy in London, whether a service or a product, becomes significantly more expensive as companies have to add on the extraordinary cost of this new charge (or completely renew their transport fleet). It also includes fire engines????? and other public service vehicles. This is the most appalling example of gesture politics we have yet seen. Even if I thought Ken Livingstone was the best thing since sliced bread and I agreed with every other single thing he did, I would still vote against him for this piece of vicious anti-motorist nonsense. The man must be stopped.I must also admit a personal stake here. I have an Iveco van which I use for transporting my dogs to and from shows and races. More importantly it is large enough (which my car is not) to contain my disabled wife's electric buggy. If we want to go for a walk in the country, we run the buggy up the ramps into the van, load up the dogs and we are off for the day. From October 2010, we will be unable to use the van without incurring a £100 per day charge. We may even be liable for such a charge on a continuing daily basis as it is permanently parked within the LEZ. We cannot afford to modify the van as it is not worth £4000 and we certainly couldn't afford a newer model which satisfies the conditions. So, from 2010, Ken has effectively made us more or less housebound. Nice one Ken - just wait till May!

Mick Brent ● 6854d0 Comments ● 6854d

Dock Rd Boat Repair Yard

I had an emeil from someone, today, to say that a board has gone up at the yard in Dock Rd to say it's up for sale. Is this the case and is it the end of another long established Brentford yard.

Neil Chippendale ● 6964d8 Comments ● 6854d

Arrogant,stupid or in cloud cookoo land...?

Jacqui Smith...?

Keith Iddon ● 6866d21 Comments ● 6855d

Respect for politicians

Frank Field was on Any Questions a couple of weeks ago making a very good point that it is a sad day for this nation when the general public has seemingly so little respect for its politcians. I agree it's a sad day but I see little choice other than to blame the politicians themselves. When there's the likes of Derek Conway allegedly funding his sons through University, the Keens claiming nearly £200k over 6 years for a 2nd London home and Hounslow Councillors pushing though large increases in their allowances, way, way above inflation, how can we respect them?  I know we can't expect everyone to be perfect but surely it's just good common sense, if not political sense, to be 100% above board when elected to a postion of power over the electorate?  

Sue Thornton ● 6857d10 Comments ● 6855d

Peoples Question Time - Richmond Theatre March 4th

I have just been alerted to Ken's circus appearing for one night only.(well, if he gets re-elected there may be another one somewhere else in London in three months time!).seehttp://www.london.gov.uk/gla/pqt/20080304/index.jsp

Tim Henderson ● 6855d0 Comments ● 6855d

The Queen's bit of Terminal 5

I was amused by this bit (at the bottom of a longer article on how BAA might run out of cash next year....) I wonder if we could persuade Prince Charles or her Majesty not to agree to let BAA have the section of the Longford River under the third runway..........----------------------------------------------------------------------http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article3256269.eceTERMINAL PROBLEMBAA could be hit with an estimated £20m bill by the Crown Estate after it emerged the Queen’s property company owns a “ransom strip” under the airport owner’s flagship £4 billion Terminal Five development at London’s Heathrow, writes Jenny Davey.BAA is now locked in talks with the Crown over a compensation package that could stretch to tens of millions of pounds, according to experts.The Spanish-owned business insists that it knew the Crown owned the strip of land before it started construction of T5. But it pressed ahead with the work before a compensation figure had been agreed.The Crown Estate hands over all its revenue to the Treasury each year in return for the Civil List, which pays for the upkeep of the royal family. Property experts said the Crown had a duty to press for the highest possible compensation for the land from BAA because taxpayers’ money was at stake.The row centres on the Longford River, one of two river channels that have been diverted around the perimeter of the airport as part of the development.In a statement, the Crown Estate and BAA confirmed they were in talks but refused to comment on how much compensation would be paid.The Crown said: “The Crown Estate owns a strip of land under Heathrow Terminal Five. At the request of BAA and in the interests of allowing this major scheme of international importance to progress unhindered, the Crown Estate allowed the development of the terminal to begin, on the basis that suitable compensation would be agreed during its construction.”

Tim Henderson ● 6856d0 Comments ● 6856d

University Dissertation - please help

I am currently in my third and final year of Sport and Exercise Science at Birmingham University and I have to complete a research project worth a third of my degree. My project is on Investigating Self-regulatory Strategies to Overcome Boredom in the Gym. I need to get roughly 500 people to fill in an online questionnaire in order to obtain some data for my study. The questionnaire is a one-off and I will not be contacting people who have taken part later on in the study, i.e. I do not require personal details such as emails and telephone numbers. I would be very grateful if you could fill in the questionnaire by clicking on the link below and/or forward this link to anybody else who has experience in going to the gym and exercising. The questionnaire should not take longer than 10 minutes, and participants must be over 18.Here is the link to the online questionnaire:https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0aFRpQwM_2b75kLpMh9TeBFA_3d_3dThank you to anyone who is able to help me!Cathy Blishen

Cathy Blishen ● 6884d6 Comments ● 6856d

Derek Conway MP - should this Tory cheat resign?

He put his son on his payroll despite the fact his son was a full time student. No record of his son ever doing any work. A 10 day ban from the Commons is a joke, given that he extracted £45,000 of taxpayers' money. Has Cameron got the balls to withdraw the Tory whip from this cheat?

John Connelly ● 6858d8 Comments ● 6857d

Replacement Windows Recommendations Wanted

Can you recommend a builder who does a good job at a reasonable price?Thanks

Lynn Clark ● 6863d2 Comments ● 6858d

Brentford High Street Free Parking

Word of cautionParking Fines being issued if you stay over the 2 hours.  Don't know if this is legal but doing some research on it.Seems sad that LBH feel the need to do this.  Since it has been open I know of only one instance when someone couldn't park in there because is was full - and that was only today!

Eileen Henderson ● 6861d9 Comments ● 6858d

Ann Keen MP and Alan Keen MP named in Complaint

Ann Keen,MP for Brentford and Isleworth, and her husband, Alan Keen, MP for Feltham and Heston, have been named in a Freedom of Information Complaint against the House of Commons which was the subject of a  Decision by the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, on 13th June 2007.The Complaint was made to the Information Commissioner because the House of Commons refused to provide information regarding the Additional Costs Allowances claimed by the named MP's. Additional Cost Allowances are claimed by MP's for constituencies  outside Inner London in respect of accommodation in London. The Keens are entitled to and both claim Additional Cost Allowances because their constituences are in Outer London even though their home in Brentford is less than 10 miles from the House of Commons.In 2005/06, Ann Keen claimed £15,794 and Alan Keen claimed £14,494 in Additional Costs Allowances out of their total expenses claims of  £127,385 and £124,570 respectively.For details see:http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50071451.pdfThe other MP's mentioned are the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair MP for Sedgefield, Barbara Follett MP for Stevenage and John Wilkinson MP for Ruislip. The EU Commissioner, Peter Mandelson,the former MP for Hartlepool, is also named in the Decison. It appears that the House of Commons has 28 days in which to appeal against the decision and 35 days in which to provide the information. If the House of Commons does not appeal by 11th July, then the House of Commons has to provide the information by 18th July 2007.

David Giles ● 7073d6 Comments ● 6858d

Police investigate Mayor Livingstone's Close Aie.

The police are now investigating Mayor Livingstone's close aide Lee Jasper who has been the subject of detailed investigations by the Evening Standard's Andrew Gilligan in recent weeks involving the use of London Development Agency funds.http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23434468-details/Mayor%27s+aide%3A+Police+move+in/article.doThe Labour Party is certainly keeping the Boys and Girls in Blue busy these days.

David Giles ● 6858d0 Comments ● 6858d

Office Clear-outs

Hi..Does anyone work for a big office company which from time to time gets rid of Office Furniture?I am looking for a Black Leather or PVC Executive Computer Chair.I know you can buy them but they are very expensive and someone told me to try this first.ThanksSimon

Simon Anderson ● 6858d3 Comments ● 6858d

Melodic Men (& women) Wanted!

The Addison Singers www.addison-singers.org.uk/ is looking for more singers, particularly tenors (male or female) and basses for the 'Jazz Ensemble'.  The ensemble rehearses on Mondays from 1900-2000 at the Polish Centre on King St. Hammersmith and like all the Addison Singers groups it is fun and friendly.This term the programme includes Round midnight; Killer Joe; Everybody’s Boppin; You’re Everything; Mas Que Nada and Gravy Waltz and these will be performed at a concert on Saturday 5th April at the Waffen Hall, St Paul's School for Boys in Barnes.  The larger all female 'Jazz Choir' will also be performing at the concert.There is a short (not scary) audition for the ensemble and a termly fee to pay which includes the supply of all sheet music.The website isn't working today but I am sure it will be back in action soon.  In the meantime, for further details, please email info@addison-singers.org.uk or call 020 8723 0256 between 0900 & 2100.  Alternatively just turn up at the Polish Centre tonight shortly before 1900 and make yourself known to Matthew or Jill, conductor and accompanist.Please mention my name if you do decide to join!

Sarah Sharp ● 6858d0 Comments ● 6858d

Brentford's Speedy Recycling: No thank you

I'm making room at my home today and cleared out many suits and overcoats.  The most effective way I thought was to put in Somerfields Salvation Army Clothes Recycling.Lo and behold when I was bringing the third bag I found a gentleman of 60-70yrs snaffling my suits in his black van alongside other items.  What are you doing I asked.  He said these won't fetch much just 10p each.  Where's your charity card I said -  he lost his temper and asked me why I wanted it.  Eventually he showed a dog-eared picture of a 30 year old from a local mission.I'd had enough asked for my clothing back and took them into Chiswick to Cancer Research.  (I know they throw a lot of stuff out  but what else?).I have a particular fondness for my old suits which were in brand new condition and made when Huddersfield worsteds were the best in the world.

Michael Fletcher ● 6858d0 Comments ● 6858d