Forum Topic

Local candidates

Is there any reason why both the Conservative and ICG candidates for the Isleworth Ward are not profiled on this sites front page and yet the Labour ones are?Just wondering like

Paul Fisher ● 4124d38 Comments

I think you may find it is a religious requirement before prayer.

Vanessa Smith ● 4117d

"Presumably the Lampton Towers facilities also have a door that opens when the Councillor inserts the correct coin ?"Whatever - but lets hope this loo is not like the one in a public park somewhere up north where the doors fly open mid-session or possibly even worse, hoses down both the loo itself and any unfortunate occupant not fleet of foot enough to escape before it all starts!  I suppose that might be the answer for foot-washing Councillors though?

Trudie Fuller ● 4117d

Why do Cllrs have to wash their feet at the Civic Centre? Can they shower at home before they go to work like the rest of us ?

Steve Taylor ● 4119d

Thanks.It tones in so well with the neighbourhood I have never noticed it. The camouflage with the birch trunks is a design masterpiece.Presumably the Lampton Towers facilities also have a door that opens when the Councillor inserts the correct coin ?

Tim Henderson ● 4119d

Perhaps a little more imagination (and budget) and we could have a couple of pool tables in there?

Ian Silver ● 4120d

Spelling error - should say horrible.

Ian Silver ● 4120d

Where is the "hobbible public loo" outside Goddards ?I usually find myself using the Morrisons facilities.The Hounslow Council websitehttp://www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/environment_and_planning/street_care/public_conveniences.htmrefers you to Hounslow Highways for information about public toilet facilities and gives a link to their site.As toilets doesn't appear in their FAQ, I'm pretty sure I filled out their contact form requesting info on the facilities in the borough. I don't think I ever got an answer.

Tim Henderson ● 4120d

How about providing a council funded toilet/shower/restroom/dressing room facility outside Goddards to replace the hobbible public loo there.I've often fancied a shower and freshen up when shopping.

Ian Silver ● 4120d

If people are washing their feet in the toilet areas - obviously something more than washbasins are required.  Purpose made footbaths should be installed, presumably the users need to sit down too in order to dry their feet so a considerably larger area is needed than for a toilet with Wcs and washbasins - is that what jacked up the price of refurbishment?

Trudie Fuller ● 4120d

...f'rinstance ... if there is all that space, how about a conference aimed at all the near voting age school children taking them into the walls of the Fortress and showing them (in style) about local government.  With elections loominmg there will be plenty of people 'election ready' to speak about the 'Civic' centre ...?  Might even throw in the Mayor and his chain gang and maybe even a pod cast?  How about our two MP's?  Could get every attendee to work out when they will be able to cast their first vote.Has this been done before?...just a though.

Sarah Felstead ● 4120d

"The Civic Centre is now only 40%  occupied per the CEO and will be closed within 5 years or less. £100k plus is being spent on a feasibilty project to find a new site."Is this 40% occupied by LBH employees?  Total occupation including the NHS people and anyone else?  Surely somebody with a small bit of imagination could find other uses for the building until it is sold off for housing?  If nothing else could it not be used for storage?  Why is it acceptable to be so empty?

Sarah Felstead ● 4121d

"The Civic Centre is now only 40%  occupied per the CEO and will be closed within 5 years or less. £100k plus is being spent on a feasibilty project to find a new site."Yes it does seem to me that Labour is squandering our money knowing that the Civic Centre is going to be moved anyway. The expenditure is exceptionally high. One should question the tender process for this project 

Steve Taylor ● 4121d

John, the Labour party doesn't work like that, at least for ordinary Joe members like me. I have no idea what the 'Party script' might be.I don't even know what these bogs look like, how many there are etc. I do know from experience running commercial buildings that the cost of refurbishment of things like toilets is astonishingly high and I can remember grilling the facilities and procurement staff then in turn being grilled by the board over refurbishment of the toilets in what was then Honeywell House, now Great West House in Brentford.

Guy Lambert ● 4121d

I'm surprised Guy hasn't supplied the Party script. These toilets/showers took 6 months plus to replace and the cost was an exorbitant 250k plus. I challenged the cost after getting professional advice.The Civic Centre is now only 40%  occupied per the CEO and will be closed within 5 years or less. £100k plus is being spent on a feasibilty project to find a new site.

John Todd ● 4121d

I was just wondering, because Royal Mail seem to have decided I shouldn't get any - except what's redirected from my previous address. It's amazing how disruptive it is not to get your mail - that which you know is missing and, worse, that which you don't know about!

Guy Lambert ● 4121d

Hubby didn't get one this time.

Sarah Felstead ● 4121d

No - personalised targetting sent in the mail from Boris in Leicester !

Tim Henderson ● 4121d

Did everybody get this letter?

Guy Lambert ● 4121d

Thanks, Jim. That clears it up that the toilet / shower upgrade isn't reserved for Councillor use. I must go for a guided tour some time to familiarise myself with Pavilion D.

Tim Henderson ● 4122d

"But if they are public, surely Boris with his attention to detail and intimate knowledge of Hounslow wouldn't make an error which might mislead me"God forbid, I didn't even bother to open the letter from the blond bombsite - I just returned to sender.

Vanessa Smith ● 4122d

www.chiswickw4.com/shared/hounscoun249.htmThe above url should lead to the Loo story... as outlined on the ChiswickW4 front page a year ago.

Jim Lawes ● 4122d

But if they are public, surely Boris with his attention to detail and intimate knowledge of Hounslow wouldn't make an error which might mislead me when he says "Labour Councillors spent nearly a quarter of a million pounds to refurbish a suite of toilets - for use by Councillors! " ?

Tim Henderson ● 4122d

Those toilets at the Civic Centre are available to councillors, oficers and visitors going to committee rooms and the like. They are effectively public, rather than the staff only toilets on the office staircases.

Ian Speed ● 4122d

Sorry Paul I missed your Shirley;Two couples standing;Paul and Shirley FisherPhil and Caroline Andrews

David Squire ● 4122d

They certainly were intended for councillors only for some reason as they had lockers inside them as well not that anyone used them as they were so damaged

Paul Fisher ● 4122d

I am struggling to find much on the Civic Centre toilets on the Council website. I did find :"Councillor Sharma noted that there had been criticism of the expenditure on refurbishing toilets in the Civic Centre. He believed that members did not understand or appreciate that the toilets in question had been filthy. Staff members were an important asset and the Council had responsibilities for staff, so he was happy to authorise improvement to the staff environment."http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/documents/s84322/Minutes%20of%20Previous%20Meeting.pdfbut this doesn't seem to address Boris's point that the toilets were specifically for use by the Councillors. I wonder if he would be able to confirm that the £250,000 was only for the benefit of the elected members and not for more lowly life-forms at Lampton Towers ?

Tim Henderson ● 4122d

A while ago I was at the Civic centre in the evening and we were directed to use the disabled toilets which did not have any mirrors.  I spoke to whoever I was directed to speak to via the switchboard the next day and was told that 'they' weren't given glass mirrors because 'they' broke them.  A while later I checked and somebody had installed a very brushed steel mirror which you could just about make out your shadow in ....  !I wonder if the plush expensive loos are to make the building more attractive for all the rentals the Civic center is running now?  I keep ringing NHS numbers and find the people are based at our Civic Centre.

Sarah Felstead ● 4122d

Have to say that when I was a councillor the mens toilets by the Council Chamber were pretty horrendous but a quarter of a million pounds fixing them up seems outragousOne of the main problems was that many councillors (and staff) washed their feet in the sinks as there were no dedicated facilities available to them so this of course flooded all the counter tops and floor each day

Paul Fisher ● 4122d

A letter arrives in the household from a Mr. Boris Johnson with an address at a PO Box in Syston, Leicester :http://www.electionleaflets.org/leaflets/7753/He is asking for help to secure London's and Hounslow's future.Apparently the Council's own reports admit a failure to keep streets clean, Ofsted say children's services require improvement in all areas and Labour Councillors spent nearly a quarter of a million pounds to refurbish a suite of toilets - for use by Councillors.I haven't heard the toilet story before. I'm sure it must be interesting. Anyone know the specification ?

Tim Henderson ● 4122d

Thanks for your kind words David.

Phil Andrews ● 4123d

I hope my wife has not divorced me without my knowledge David lol

Paul Fisher ● 4123d

I think it's great to see a husband and wife team standing in the local election.Phil Andrews in Isleworth.Caroline Andrews in Syon.Good luck to you both.

David Squire ● 4123d

Where is Isleworth exactly?  :-)

Steve Taylor ● 4123d

I suppose TW8 is just that. Two wards.... Brentford and Syon. But, as we all know, Isleworth political matters are much discussed on this TW8 Forum...and it's quite possible that over 50% of all postings are from non TW8 residents.No problem with that...it's just how the Forum has evolved. But Isleworth TW7 is comprised of two Wards also. Not just Isleworth... but Osterley and Spring Grove ward too. That large local area hardly get a mention but it is home to some of the TW7s  finest!  (not me though).So who are the candidates for Osterley and Spring Grove?

Jim Lawes ● 4124d

My mistake Paul and your wife looks lovely( if I may be so bold!) I didn't read your post properly, which happens. No Isleworth candidates included.

Keith Iddon ● 4124d

There certainly is Keith and my wife is still cringeing at her photo even though I keep telling her she looks great of course!!At first though the meet the Labour candidates included their Isleworth cadidates as well as the Brentford and Syon ones and this was not extended to either the Conservatives or the ICG and has now been rectified

Paul Fisher ● 4124d

There is a 'Meet the ICG candidates' article on the homepage.

Keith Iddon ● 4124d

And now the Labour ones have been deleted

Paul Fisher ● 4124d