Fighting Against The Head Winds

Cllr Ron Mushiso reflects on a stormy week and how the winds of change are needed for our recycling habits

Councillor Ron Mushiso outlines his week and looks ahead at this weekend with two Clean Up Chiswick litter picks

My turn for the weekly blog couldn’t have come at a better time. This weekend I take the councillor surgery at the Chiswick Library and it is our monthly Chiswick Clean Up initiative which, this time, involves two clean ups. If you know an area that needs litter pick attention, please get in touch.

Turnham Green cherry trees

Regular readers of ChiswickW4.com news articles and the forum will be aware of the ongoing discussion of the postponement of the tree planting event last Saturday. I urge caution on unnecessary speculation. I am sure the full picture will start to emerge and people will form their own opinions.

As I write this blog, I have learned that Rebecca Frayn has resigned as chairman of the Friends of Turnham Green. I am saddened by this and want to pay tribute to her as an outstanding chairman and a lady who cares deeply about the local environment here in Chiswick. I want to thank her especially for her long-standing stewardship of Turnham Green. She has dedicated a lot of her free time to leading the Friends and ensuring that Turnham Green is a well-preserved green space that we can all be proud of. Indeed, it was members of the Friends, particularly Mitra Alam, who spearheaded the Chiswick Clean Up initiative. I am grateful for Rebecca’s support and I know she did her upmost behind the scenes to try a reach an amicable compromise with all the interested parties. A running commentary at this point will not be helpful, but neither will a blanket silence from me on this matter. Thank you, Rebecca.

Wednesday 12th February

Conservative Friends of Cyprus

I spent the day at Godolphin and Latymer School on a training course, an opportunity to learn from prospective pastoral leaders in other schools across the country. Then it was off to the Houses of Parliament for an event organised by an old friend, Jason Charalambous, former Conservative candidate for Islington South and Finsbury and now chair of the Conservative Friends of Cyprus. I was delighted to be invited and it gave me a chance to catch up with Jason after a busy general election campaign and was an opportunity to congratulate some newly elected MPs from the 2019 intake including Alicia Kearns MP, Angela Richardson MP and Ben Everitt MP. Theresa Villiers, president of the Friends of Cyprus, was the keynote speaker. It was to be Theresa’s last act as secretary of state for the environment. She lost her cabinet post in the government reshuffle the following morning. I am sure it’s only a matter time before she will back in cabinet. She is a talented politician with a lot to offer. I am sure she will support the new secretary of state, George Eustice, and will continue to be an important voice on environmental issues from the backbenches.

Thanks to the marvels of the District Line, I was able to get away quickly after the speeches and was back in Turnham Green ward to join Catherine Meisels and the Friends of Chiswick Common for their AGM at Homecross House. We discussed various issues including a proposal for a joint Ealing and Hounslow cycling festival in July.

Saturday 15th February

Flower marketAfter campaigning with Nicholas Rogers, our Conservative candidate for the GLA, I went for coffee with Ollie Saunders on Chiswick High Road to get a better idea of the proposals for a new Chiswick flower market. Ollie offered councillors the opportunity to meet to explain some of the details ahead of the public meeting that took place on Thursday.

I was then back on my bike fighting the head winds as I made my way via Richmond Park to New Malden to watch my former team, Old Emanuel RFC, take on Chobham. The winds did not subside so I allowed myself some respite by jumping on a train to Teddington before hopping back on two wheels to complete my journey home. My exercise for the week was done!

Monday, 17th February to Wednesday, 19th February – Half Term week.

I managed to get away for two days to go to Brighton to see my nephews who are visiting from Normandy. It meant a very quick turnaround bearing in mind the week ahead – discussing the council’s budget, following up casework and planning the two Chiswick Clean Ups on Sunday.

Recycle more

On Wednesday I visited the Lampton 360 waste recycling depot at Southall Lane to speak with staff and ask a few questions. It was my second visit to the site and site officials emphasised a push for more residents to recycle their food waste. I learned that one ton of food waste sent to the recycling depot sends a £100 plus saving to the council. In the run-up to the budget with the council still haemorrhaging on spending pledges, we residents can do our bit to support the environment and the council by ramping up our recycling rates. If you don’t already have a food waste caddy, households can order them

The team at the waste recycling depot was very supportive of our Chiswick Clean Up initiative and keen for us to add another dimension to our efforts – where possible to try and put the aluminium cans, tin cans and plastic bottles in separate bags. I promised to start doing this from this weekend.

DATES FOR DIARIES

CHISWICK CLEAN UPS

Chiswick Clean Up 1: Chiswick East: Sunday, 23rd February: meet at 12pm at the entrance to Airedale Avenue, W4 2RB; ends at 1pm. Contact Cllr Ron Mushiso on 07976 702887

Chiswick Clean Up 2: Chiswick West: Sunday, 23rd February: meet at 2pm at Christ Church on Turnham Green, W4 5DT; ends at 3pm with refreshments provided at the church. Contact Cllr Ron Mushiso on 07976 702887

NEXT BOROUGH COUNCIL

Borough Council: Tuesday, 25th February at 7.30pm at Hounslow House. This should be an excellent meeting as the council will present its budget for the financial year ahead. Council Tax is set to rise by 3.99%. All householders will be paying extra. Cllr Gerald MacGregor is working, on behalf of our group, on presenting our alternative budget.

SURGERIES

Chiswick surgeries: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick library, upstairs in the private room.

Gunnersbury surgeries: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Triangle Club, The Ridgeway, W3 8LN, usually a group discussion but privacy can be arranged.

Councillor Ron Mushiso

Turnham Green ward

Email: ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk

Phone: 07976 702887

Twitter: @RonnieMushiso

February 22, 2020