Council Leader Defends His Chiswick 'Backwaters' Comment
Accuses Tory councillors of thinking of area in isolation
Cllr Rajawat made the comment towards the end of a council meeting. Picture: Hounslow Council
March 2, 2023
The leader of Hounslow Council has defended using the term ‘the backwaters of Chiswick’ saying that it was the fault of opposition councillors that it had become isolated within the borough.
Cllr Shantanu Rajawat made the comment towards the end of a meeting of the council on Tuesday (28 February) in which the annual budget was being discussed. He and his administration had earlier faced criticism for raising council tax by the maximum allowed and for its support of the plan to extend the Ultra Low Emission Zone.
He taunted the opposition by saying, “I am so incredibly proud of the Labour side. Tonight, we have shown why we are the administration and you are consigned to the backwaters of Chiswick”.
Most of the Conservative councillors elected in Hounslow represent wards in Chiswick.
In response to Cllr Rajawat’s comments, leader of the Conservative group, Peter Thompson, said, “Chiswick is a vibrant and beautiful place to live and work, from Strand on the Green to Bedford Park, and from Chiswick House to the brilliant businesses on our High Road and beyond. For the Labour leader of Hounslow Council to suggest it’s a backwater shows complete contempt for our area, and reinforces our suspicions that the local Labour Party have no interest in supporting Chiswick. Whilst they continue to damage Chiswick with poorly implemented traffic schemes and massive council tax increases, your Conservative councillors will continue to fight against that contempt and stand up for residents and local businesses.”
I'm slightly biased, but I think #Chiswick is the best place in London.
— Jack Emsley (@Jack_Emsley1) March 1, 2023
It was so disappointing to hear the Hounslow Labour leader call it a "backwater" during yesterday's council meeting - happy to take you round and show you why you're totally wrong, @Shansview! pic.twitter.com/GANGGXWtRq
Following these criticisms Cllr Rajawat said, ‘‘I do not believe Chiswick is a backwater. It is a treasured part of our borough; Chiswick Town Hall, Turnham Green Terrace, Hogarth House, Fuller’s Brewery, Sipsmiths distillery, Chiswick House and Gardens, Dukes Meadows, Chiswick High Road, Devonshire Road, Chiswick Park, Gunnersbury Triangle, green spaces, markets, fantastic transport links, places of worship, tree lined avenues, the diverse retail places, indeed all of Chiswick is a beauty spot within Hounslow.
‘‘I was instead characterising how it seems to us the Tories view Chiswick, as a place in isolation. All their work is concentrated on Chiswick and while we admire their passion for the area we have to think about the borough as a whole of which Chiswick is a vital part. I apologise if my meaning was not clear in my words and I have nothing but love for Chiswick and its residents.
‘‘Furthermore, if you consider recent comments from the opposition I am not even sure that they value ‘their’ area as much as we do. Cllr Biddolph made reference to it as Belfast during the Troubles. Cllr McGregor talked about it in terms of Apartheid South Africa.’’
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