Forum Topics

Bookshops & Amazon

Recently I met a French friend who works in a bookshop in Paris.  Apparently there are still quite a lot of bookshops in Paris.  I asked how they were managing now that there is so much online shopping and Amazon to deal with.  I had this idea that the French had legislated somehow.He tells me that they have and that Amazon can no longer undercut in the way that they do here.  Is this correct?  Anybody have experience of this?  (Nicholas?)

Philippa Bond ● 2431d17 Comments ● 2426d

Cannes and CoronaVirus

What kind of example is being set when public servants and public representatives ignore the advice set by authorities not just here, but across Europe particularly Italy and France, to not attend large group conferences or closed events?Will all these people heed the health advice?Will they be self quarantining on return?Will they be answerable for their actions should they pick up and subsequently transmit the infection?

Raymond Havelock ● 2429d2 Comments ● 2428d

Holy Spice

Six of the people in our little apartment block have now been to this new restaurant and all have been really enthusiastic. The food is prepared from fresh ingredients (so they are bound to run out sometimes) and everything we had was really tasty. It's also reasonably priced - much cheaper than Leda which used to occupy that spot by the canal. Well worth trying. We'll be regulars and it's great to see a restaurant this good opening amidst the redevelopment chaos in Brentford.

Eric Baker ● 2469d17 Comments ● 2428d

Isleworth Society meeting 10 March

The Isleworth Society are holding a meeting at the Isleworth Public Hall on Tuesday 10 March starting at 7.30.p.m. There will be two talks - one about the history and environs of Bushy Park, and one about a local project for a Nature Reserve. All members are invited and the evening is free to them, (guests are welcome, a small charge of £3 ea. applies) Refreshments supplied.

Vanessa Smith ● 2428d0 Comments ● 2428d

Further Details of Plans for Homebase and Tesco Sites Revealed

"Over 2,000 homes near Gillette Corner 'biggest development in area for years' "This will have a significant impact on access to health care, education, sports facilities etc etc in the area.  Where can I find the council's and other agencies plans to meet these extra demands?  Already (as I posted last year) the wait time for my GP has reached about 3 weeks (my experience) and the 4 hour wait standard for West Middlesex A&E for Quarter Four 2018/19 was achieved by 77.2% of attendances (target is 95%)(https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2018-19/)

Andy Riley ● 2428d0 Comments ● 2428d

Griffin Park demolition

I’ve heard that the demolition of Griffin Park will start as soon as the football season ends.

Reg Ghosh ● 2446d20 Comments ● 2430d

Organic food

I was watching a TV report on organic food in Austria. The farmers like it as the supermarkets pay the farmer much more, milk being a particular case. They showed SPAR supermarkets which carry a 1000 different organic lines. I have looked in several supermarkets here and there are nowhere near a thousand lines. Why dont our farmers do more organic, especially post Brexit as it would increase their income.

Nicholas Beard ● 2436d10 Comments ● 2432d

HS2

We learn that the Chinese will probably build HS2. I understand Alstom have taken over Bombardier and wonder why we have not asked this group for their possible interest in this project.

Nicholas Beard ● 2441d10 Comments ● 2432d

Someone tell curren we left the EU on Friday night

Someone tell curren we left the EU on Friday night. Waving the European flag on a post in LBH Facebook page . Typical labour can't accept the result people voted we left get over it .

Gill Hutchison ● 2458d24 Comments ● 2432d

Heathrow Flight Path

Is Heathrow experimenting with Flight Path and altitude?  The planes have been noticeably lower and closer to the Library this  morning (Saturday). The noise and vibration first alerted me ... then the obvious sight of planes passing by!

Stephen Smith ● 2437d3 Comments ● 2432d

Break-in

Just got home Enfield Road. Only out 45 mins taking my partner to hospital. Got home to find our back garden shed has been broken into. A specialized bicycle has been stolen along with other bits. This was done in broad daylight and they have scaled an 8ft high wall so there must have been more than one. Reported it to the police who frankly are not interested.So I have to ask, as Hounslow are about to raise council tax yet again. Why are we paying for a police force who don't give a monkeys

Robert Ayres ● 2442d50 Comments ● 2435d

Brentford Southall Railway

The government has made available £500000000.00 to reopen old lines. How will this effect the Brentford Southall reopening. I have not heard much about this lately.

Nicholas Beard ● 2436d4 Comments ● 2435d

Air Quality Brentford Planters in Market Place.

Whilst l agree with this idea the illustration on the ground as shown in newsletter doesn't seem clear to me. I wonder how placement of tubs will affect the flow of people through this area on a Sunday when the market is in progress especially space for more stalls when required .There is usually a coffee wagon with seating when warmer weather arrives It appears to reduce available space to me why not in front ofVerdict plenty of bare ground there that needs brightening up might stop parking on there as well now more yellow lines around there.

Jean Harrison ● 2436d0 Comments ● 2436d

New Homes

Just read one in ten new homes built in England are built in high risk areas. With the present floods find this hard to believe.

Nicholas Beard ● 2440d12 Comments ● 2436d

2020 Olympics

If Tokyo cannot proceed due Coronavirus should we host the 2020 Olympics?

Nicholas Beard ● 2440d9 Comments ● 2438d

777X

The new 777X flew yesterday for the first time. Another large jet coming our way.

Nicholas Beard ● 2464d13 Comments ● 2438d

HEALING IN CHISWICK

Many of you are aware that we have been running a healing centre monthly at the London Buddhist Vihara in Chiswick for many years.The Vihara is doing some building works at present therefore we will not be able to use the hall for at least one month.  I am sorry.  I will advise you again as soon as we are able to use the space again.

Pat Smith ● 2438d0 Comments ● 2438d

Can I expect an automatic response when sending an email into traffic at LBH?

How do I know if it has been received?  I previously wrote that a neighbour, after pursuing his email, was told they hadn’t received it because it had gone into their spam mail.  I have sent 2 requests for the Northumberland Estate CPZ report and had no indication as to whether they have received either of them.  Do I send a third request, just to make sure?

Sarah Felstead ● 2442d6 Comments ● 2439d

Labour Campaign for Trans Rights

Where do Hounslow Labour councillors and our MP stand on the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights?https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_wPyenUicSJgKv1YTknZ47gDGU4b_389zYbqH10TGSTRrpg/viewformThis is a controversial issue that has risen to prominence recently with feminists claiming that the trans agenda rolls back their gains for women's rights.The document lists 2 candidates for the Labour leadership: Rebecca Long-Bailey and Emily Thornberry as founding signatories so it is conceivable that Labour could soon led by one who supports a man claiming to be a women and thus gaining access to women only spaces.And that any Labour member who disagrees may be expelled from the Party.So lets hear from prominent Labour activists in our borough where they stand on this.

Andy Riley ● 2446d13 Comments ● 2439d

|Hounslow Council Climate Emergency Action Plan

Firstly there is no climate emergency unless you regard being unable to access heating and hot water  to suit your demand  and live without a roof over your head. Climate changes naturally, living in Northern hemisphere exposes us to a natural hostile climate, a little bit of warming 1.5 degrees would be beneficial. The Council jumping on the bandwagon is typical of a council looking to increase local taxes. What had been Global Cooling in the 70's became Global Warming then it was changed to Climate Change and now we hear hysterical cries of a Climate Emergency. None of the previous climate predictions happened, so why should we get behind this one? C02 is a natural gas and not a pollutant. C02 added to the atmosphere generates faster plant growth, its making the planet greener (according to NASA ) resulting in more crops and plantlife.Climate policies control you not the climate.

Philippa Auton ● 2453d28 Comments ● 2444d