A School Scandal and a Local Trader Fined For Sweeping Up Leaves

These were the two most read stories on ChiswickW4.com in 2019

It was the story of a school scandal rather than Brexit, the Cycle Highway, or crime, that made this site's most highly-read story of 2019.

A teacher from Chiswick School who was posted on social media kissing a former student of the school after being in a local pub became the most read article of the year, according to our figures for the Top Twenty.

The second most highly read item of the year was a story about a local trader being fined for sweeping up leaves outside his shop.

While crime related pieces featured quite heavily as always, stories related to restaurants opening and closing were popular, with the closure of Hedone sending shock waves throughout the community and the story coming in as the 4th most-read article. The closure of two long-time establishments, the Duke of York pub and Cafe Rouge at Strand on the Green were also popular.

Tragic events, including a young local woman taking her own life, and a young student being killed on the railway line after a night out, were also in the most-read category, while the arrest of two prolific drug dealers and the crisis in crime in Chiswick affected a family member of actor David Tennant.

A row over Chiswick Town Hall becoming swamped with people arriving to collect Romanian visas, and the antics of a couple captured romping in a 'pod' in Chiswick Park in broad daylight, also attracted high readership.

The Chiswick cinema did not feature in the most-read articles, presumably because locals now know that it will definitely open now that building work is underway. Neither the CycleHighway 9, which was the cause of much local division, nor controlled parking, nor potholes, featured in the most-highly read stories, as they have previously.

Despite the uncertainty over Brexit during the year, property items are also less prevalent in the list than they have been in previous years, when on occasions they were the most read stories.

It was another banner year for ChiswickW4.com with over 2 million visits to the site and 15 million pages viewed during 2019.

As always, we try to reflect the variety of life in our wonderful neighbourhood, highlighting the issues that affect the community and celebrating local successes. Do continue to contact us at editor@chiswickw4.com with your suggestions for stories.

January 4, 2020