Forum Topics

Kitchen Wanted for Filming

Watermans is looking for a kitchen to use for a scene in an educational film we are making. We need to use the kitchen for about 3 hours during the day, in the third week in January. We shall be using young actors and a professional production company. Unfortunately we cannot afford to pay a fee but we would welcome you to come and see any of our shows or films without payment.If anyone would like to help us with this worthwhile project please  contact me at Watermans, leigh@watermans.org.uk

Leigh Stops ● 6906d2 Comments ● 6901d

Standards Board confirms - New Labour's allegations are unsubstantiated

I have commented several times on this forum about the unsubstantiated nature of a host of allegations directed against myself, the Community Group and the administration at the London Borough of Hounslow by the local New Labour Party, usually through the offices of its former Bedfont councillor and Executive member David Hughes.Anybody who has followed the progress of these unsubstantiated allegations, or has been unsuccessful when requesting evidence with which to support them, might be interested to read the following remarks, received by me this morning from the Standards Board for England:"The Standards Board for England recently received a complaint from Mr. David Hughes concerning the alleged conduct of Councillor Phil Andrews of the London Borough of Hounslow.  Officers conducted an assessment and decided not to refer the complaint for investigation.  The following summarises the general nature of the allegation:"The complainant alleged that on a number of occasions Councillor Andrews has threatened staff who he thinks are Labour Party members.  It is reported that following the announcement of job cuts, Councillor Andrews used his position as an executive member on www.brentfordtw8.com to target officers who may be left wing (PA's note: Mr. Hughes evidently confuses membership of the New Labour Party with being "left wing", a connection which I have never made).  It is further alleged that 'any employment with Hounslow Council is being vetted for political alliance (sic)' by another member.  The complainant contends that there is more evidence of this activity on Councillor Andrews' website when he allegedly bullied the housing director and his assistant who have since left the council."The complainant has provided a copy of two forum messages in support of his complaint."It is noted the the complainant and Councillor Andrews have different political views given their frank exchange of words over the internet (PA's note: I personally would content that differences between David's views and my own are largely organisational rather than political).  However, there is no information to support the view that Councillor Andrews has reportedly threatened council staff in the way that the complainant alleges.  Generally speaking the Standards Board for England does not refer allegations for investigation unless there is more information on which to base a referral than supposition on the part of the complainant."The Standards Board for England has decided that the allegation should not be referred to an ethical standards officer for investigation.  Having taken account of the available information we do not believe that a potential breach of the Code of Conduct is disclosed."

Phil Andrews ● 6903d10 Comments ● 6902d

Commerce Road

We've just been told that the developer's appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the Commerce Road site has been dismissed by the Secretary of State.Thanks to everyone who took part in the work that went into the appeal.

Matt Harmer ● 6918d17 Comments ● 6903d

Brentford Christmas Cards

We are delighted to let everyone know that the Brentford Christmas cards are now printed and available to purchase from various outlets around Brentford including my office (Quilliam Property Services, 206 High Street).They look great, twelve scenes of Brentford in the snow.Please feel welcome to call past and take a look and hopefully purchase some.  All the money raised after printing costs will go towards the Christmas lights and to the Brentford Toy Library.Anyone who would like to help sell some cards please do let me know.Many thanks to everyone who donated photographs, I hope you will be pleased and proud to have made a real difference to Brentford this Christmas and for years to come.  Your kind help is very much appreciated by all of us in the Brentford High Street Steering Group.

Julia Quilliam ● 6939d33 Comments ● 6903d

Christmas Drinks Party at The Weir, 6.30pm, Thur 20th Dec

Just to let BrentfordTW8 regulars know the High Street Steering Group has organised a Christmas Drinks Party on Thurs 20th December together with the Community Council.Open to all, tickets are £6 for drink and nibbles. Kicking off at 6.30pm its kindly sponsored by The Weir and all of the ticket cover price will be going into the Christmas Lights fund.You can pick up tickets from Quilliam Property Services or email sarah@brentfordhighstreet.comBest, Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 6905d2 Comments ● 6904d

Brentford CEO

Brentford FC Chief Executive, Keith Dickens  has joined Terry Butcher in the departure lounge today.No official reason given, other than the catch-all "personal reasons". Keith is a nice guy and I always found him easy to work with; it's fair to say that his colours were well and truly nailed to the "Terry Butcher mast", and this can hardly be a major surprise.Keith is quoted on the Club's web site as saying "First and foremost I wish Brentford FC well and consider myself privileged to have been associated with you all these past 16 months. I should like to recognise the fans - those who have shown true support with their time, money and positive energy. I would also like to praise the outstanding efforts of the 'behind the scenes' people at Griffin Park. These are truly the unsung heroes who keep the Club alive. With the recent new stadium developments I will maintain my belief that the bright vision of the future is possible and, wish you all well with trying to make the Supporters' Trust Model work".

Paul Stedman ● 6904d3 Comments ● 6904d

Police Pay

So! Gordo believes that the pittance offered (and recommended by an independent review) to our police officers given in one stage would be inflationary. What a bloody insult to them, when we have all witnessed the breathtaking greed of MP's who whine and whinge that THEY need another increase, not only in their salaries but pensions and jolly ups that they are all fond of. When we, the plebs complain, we are told "it wasn't us, it was as a result of an independent review"! Meanwhile our two specimens are keeping "shtum". Expect a further winter of discontent. If I was an armed police officer I would hand in my weapon, with the additional remark "stuff you, I'm not prepared to put my life on the line if that's all the value you put on it. The same applies to our troops who, as in the two world wars, were used as cannon fodder and paid peanuts in the process! Ah well that's NEW LABOUR (whatever that means!)for you. I now await to see Gordo go off to Portugal to sign yet more of our rights away.

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6905d11 Comments ● 6904d

Hounslow secures £150,000 fine

Wed, 05 December 2007Hounslow Council has secured what is thought to be London’s biggest-ever planning fine.The £150,000 fine was handed out to a landlord who turned a Hounslow bungalow into 10 self-contained bedsits.Vikas Subharwal converted the property in 106 Wellington Road North, Hounslow, into rental units, despite being refused planning permission for the development.The council served him with a planning enforcement notice in July 2005 requiring him to restore the property to a single family dwelling.He refused to comply with the council’s demands and was taken to Isleworth Crown Court where he was found guilty of failing to company with the terms of the enforcement notice and fined £150,000.Councillor Barbara Reid, the council’s lead member for planning and environment, said: “This case demonstrates that Hounslow is becoming one of country’s leading authorities for planning enforcement.“We give people every opportunity to comply with the law but if they refuse then we will not hesitate in taking them to court.“This record fine demonstrates that the courts take a very dim view of landlords who flout the planning laws. “These regulations are there to protect us all from unnecessary and unsafe developments.“Taking tough action against people who don’t want to play by the same rules as everyone else is just one way we can make the borough of Hounslow a better place to live.”In mitigation, Mr Subharwal gave contradictory evidence about the ownership of the property and the number of bedsits.The father of two told the court that the property was half-owned by his brother and stated on his Legal Aid application that he only owned a third-share in the house. However, a Land Registry search revealed that Mr Subharwal is the sole owner of the property.He also revealed that the property was generating an income of around £4,000 per month.In sentencing the defendant, Her Honourable Judge Dangor said that Mr Subharwal had been less than truthful with the court, had caused much delay to the prosecuton and had shown a flagrant disregard for the enforcement notice.Mr Subharwal, who lives with his brotherin Wraysbury, Surrey, could now face up to three years in prison if he fails to pay the fine and comply with the terms of the enforcement notice.This requires him to stop the use of the property as bedsits; remove the kitchen and bathroom from each of the bedsits and restore the property to single family dwelling.

Paul Fisher ● 6912d22 Comments ● 6904d

armed police in Grove Road

this morning!  any idea what was going on?!!  Just walked out of my house at around 10 and there were about 10 armed police around, parked in Eastbourne Road, also an ambulance.

Brenda Thomas ● 6907d2 Comments ● 6905d

Alpha Laval latest plans still dodgy

After two previous rejections the third lot of plans from Carlton Properties has been lodged in Brentford library and the Treaty Centre. What time of year would you choose to submit plans to minimise objections? That's right folks you've got till Christmas Day. To be fair the Planning Department (planningcomments@hounslow.gov.uk)will probably accept objections till New Year.  The wall of offices, serviced apartments and hotel rooms designed to look down on the residents north of the M4/A4 is much the same, just slightly lower (except for one point). The building is described as 12 storey although I counted 14 layers above ground on the plans.   Most of the 11 "Key Amendments" look pretty minor apart from better on-site renewable energy measures.   One Saturday afternoon skimming the plans so far is not enough for me to grasp all the detail but one line that frightens me is that the plans "respect and complement the scale of the consented scheme at Wallis House." (Remember how high that is going?)    Also they state that the Planning Department agrees that high buildings along the Great West Road are appropriate - not if you ask the residents where you are trying to extend them to overlook their homes and block out the sky to the south. Also I don't get how that fits with their acceptance of the argument against "massing". I would be more impressed if the appropriate Council department could deal with the illegal (I was told at the BCC)in-your-face advertising on the old tower which we seem to get till just before plans come up for council review. Still the advertising revenue could help pay the PR and legal costs.     As always I pity the contradictory government steers that architects must address but I challenge any residents or disinterested adjudicators to look at the plans for 10 minutes and not be convinced that Carlton is still going for gross overdevelopment.

David Dewhurst ● 6908d1 Comments ● 6905d

SmallBerryGreen Primary School Summer Fete

Friday 7th December 330 - 5pm in the main HallFree EntryALL welcomePlenty of stalls, Tombola, Refreshments and RafflesOrganised by the Friends of SmallberrygreenTurnpike Way or Gate opposite West Middlesex HospitalBus Route 267 and 235please Come Along and show your support.

Simon Anderson ● 6933d29 Comments ● 6905d

Vitally important news concerning Brentford

Check the linkhttp://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/fashion/article/1157149964252?packedargs=suffix%3DArticleController

Andrew Raine ● 6907d4 Comments ● 6906d

HATTON v MAYWEATHER

Hard luck Ricky.This really was the classic "FIGHTER v BOXER" match.Even though Ricky kept coming forward and had Mayweather in a little trouble early on,as the fight progressed Mayweather kept his jab going and caught Ricky with a punch "right on the button".There was no shame in losing to a man with the record Floyd Mayweather has,he is truly a great  World Champion.I think Ricky should stick to Light Welterweight it seemed Welterweight is a step up too far.                  WELL DONE RICKY BRITON IS PROUD OF YOU !

Mark Welland ● 6908d6 Comments ● 6906d

Barriers to becoming a councillor?

On a previous thread there has been considerable discussion around the issue of councillor allowances.  I thought the article in this quarters' Councillor Magazine shone some considerable light on the issues and concerns.  See page 5 of the following PDF (article titled 'Democracy on the cheap - are councillors being paid enough for their work?':http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/6566868This issues and wider barriers to becoming a councillors are currently being explored by the Councillors Commission.  See: http://forum.communities.gov.uk/councillorscommissionI'd be interested in TW8.com regulars thoughts, before making my own submission to the Councillors Commission.Best, Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 7081d34 Comments ● 6907d

The Lodger - Brentford in Shakespeare's time

Has anyone else read "The Lodger", the new book about Shakespeare's London ? In it there is a section about how Brentford was one of the places Elizabethan & Jacobean Londoners used to visit (by boat) to enjoy their illicit amours. Now if only they would re-start the river taxis............

Richard Greenhough ● 6907d1 Comments ● 6907d

Chaos at the Day Care Centres

If it could not of got worse it has done.Agency Staff that have had no traing Agency Staff who have no health and saftey TrainingAgency Staff who do not hold the correct licence for the transport.Differant agency staff turning up each day to pick up vunarable people with out clue how to help them.Staff who are now working late into the evening trying to sort the mess out with the agency staff.Staff being laid up at home on full pay while the agency clocks up £14.00 an hour to do the jobs.Possible intimidation of the staff to quit.Speacial days out that have been arranged to take people coming to the centres cancelled as the agency are incable of being able to manage such conditions.and last but not least that persistent rumours abound that one of the Tory group is a silent partner in the agency that is being used weather this is true or not we will have to see the memebers intrests that have been declared. I believe the union maybe looking into the matter further.A part from the 1/2 day of care that people now get instead of a full day of care due to this total chaos the staff are really trying their best to cope.I am sure we all share our thoughts for the dedication of these people to providing care for the most vunarable and elderly in our community.

Dave Hughes ● 6921d52 Comments ● 6907d

Illegally parked Traffic Warden issuing parking tickets.

A parking warden today issued a ticket outside my shop on a vehicle that was loading. The parking warden insisted that the vehicle had been there for six minutes. The driver felt he had not and as an observer I agreed he had not been there that long at all, the traffic warden was unrepentant and the man will now have to appeal this ticket.I then realised that the warden was parked in a spot where I have previously been ticketed for parking. I pointed out to the warden that he had no more right to park illegally then I did or than the man who had just been ticketed. The response was an aggressively / dismissive ''Are you trying to tell me how to do my job''. to which I replied ''I am not only telling you how to do your job, I am also going to report you for writing an unlawfully ticket and for illegal parking''.I then went over to take the number of his motorbike but the warden  fled on it,in an attempt to prevent me writing his registration down. I believe it was LB07 LEAM, I have complained to the council but I am not convinced they will care.I personally do not understand why a road that is full of boarded up and derelict buildings and that is only used for access, needs parking restrictions that ban all parking during the day anyway. Every building will soon be demolish. Currently there is practically no through traffic and we have such a shortage of parking available to the High Street shopper that it restricts trade in the area and prevents the High Street from functioning as it should.Sorry for the rant but it needed saying.

Philip Walsh ● 6913d7 Comments ● 6908d

Does anyone know a man with a van?

I need a 3 seater sofa removed.  It's structurally sound but very worn after nearly 10 years of wear and tear.  Would love it to be of some use somewhere if anyone knows of a local youth club or the like that could use a sofa?Failing that, I just need someone to take it away as it has no resale value, so was looking for a reliable 'man with a van' that knows where to deposit such goods responsibly.  Thanks in advance, Sarah

Sarah Probert ● 6908d1 Comments ● 6908d

Cllr Samantha davies has made a statement onthe Chiswick site

Its well worth a read, I am sure Jim will post it on this site..Its on the threads the main page does not cover the main issue yet.

Dave Hughes ● 6911d7 Comments ● 6908d

HEALING IN CHISWICK

HEALING IN CHISWICKA reminder that the monthly healing centre at the London Buddhist Vihara,The Avenue, Chiswick, will be open tomorrow, Monday, 10th December between11am and 1pm.Healing helps any condition, from stress right through to physical illness.There is no charge made for the healing (all the healers are working on avoluntary basis), although a donation would be welcome - all donations aregiven to the Vihara.There is no need to make an appointment or book.

Chris Edwards ● 6908d0 Comments ● 6908d