Two Months and Counting in Isolation But Not Bored

Chiswick Turnham Green ward councillor Ranjit Gill on his week

Ever since the lockdown in March I have been isolating with my partner but, like so many of you, working from home at the same time. I'm a carer and that is challenging at any time but during the lockdown has taken on a whole new meaning as I can't risk anyone coming in to help. And then there is the business of the council, which is on the frontline in dealing with the pandemic. Other people complain of being bored during the lockdown but there's no time for that in our house!

As we start to emerge from lockdown, like squirrels coming out of hibernation, things will look and feel different. Life is going to be more complicated for some time. As I have been stuck at home I haven't had to deal with the difficulties of social distancing when out shopping or walking. When shops selling non-essential goods begin to reopen we shall be in a new era in which social distancing will be central to our lives for months to come.

The council has been asked by the government to facilitate social distancing on local streets and to enable more people to move around on foot or by bicycle. This is to ease the pressure on public transport and to try to keep down the increase in car use which will inevitably follow as we move out of lockdown.

In my ward, Turnham Green, proposed road closures have excited much comment amongst residents and businesses. Traders ask how they will be able to reopen if customers cannot pick up heavy or awkward items, such as pet food, or drop off goods to other traders, such as dry cleaners. Like my ward colleague, Cllr Joanna Biddolph, I am encouraging everyone concerned about the proposals to make their views known to the cabinet member for transport, Cllr Hanif Khan, and the lead officer dealing with this, Mark Frost. The council is under pressure to make our shopping areas work at a time of social distancing, so inevitably decisions can get a bit rushed and not all proposals will work first time. That's why the Conservative group has called for full consultation and expressed its disappointment that local traders were not consulted at all before the changes were announced.

I am very aware that, in the case of Devonshire Road in particular, several retail businesses will not be viable if customers cannot park close by. Delivery will be an option for some but that costs either the retailer or the customer and still requires vehicle access to the shops. It will make it harder for residents to shop at several shops at once, with increasingly heavy or bulky shopping to carry. Popping into a local shop could be too difficult. They could well take the easy option of going to other shopping centres where they can park.

One of the things I want us all to do as we emerge from lockdown is to make more use of local shops and businesses rather than travelling to other town centres to shop. There are so many bad things about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic but there is potential for good to come out of it if we can harness that sense of community and care for one another, that has been wonderful to see during the lockdown, with groups and individuals offering so much support for neighbours, by supporting local businesses as we move out of it. As my fellow councillor Jo repeatedly tells us, it's “use it or lose it”. It means allowing time to walk a little further, perhaps for those who can go out a little more often, to spend our Chiswick pounds in Chiswick's local independent shops.

All councillors still do case work, although I must say I miss the surgery days at Chiswick library and at Gunnersbury Triangle Club. Not all residents are aware that the library is closed so one called at the library recently on the Saturday I was supposed to do the surgery and found it closed. Instead the resident called me up, very apologetic at phoning on a Saturday morning but they needed help. There was no need for her to apologise – councillors are here to help. I was happy to be of assistance and the matter is almost resolved.

Councillor Ranjit Gill
Turnham Green ward
ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 702956

Hounslow Council's consultation page on road closures and other street space changes can be found here.

VIRTUAL DATES FOR YOUR VIRTUAL DIARY

These council meetings are taking place virtually; residents can attend online; joining instructions will be on the council website, in the agenda reports pack for each committee, here

•  9th June: Cabinet and Licensing panel

•  25th June: Planning development presentation

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLORS

Unfortunately, surgeries have been cancelled for the foreseeable future. When they are back up and running there will be a Conservative councillor in Chiswick library every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am and on the first Saturday of every month at the Gunnersbury Triangle Club. You can, of course, still contact your local councillors:

Chiswick Homefields ward

Cllr Patrick Barr
patrick.barr@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 703263

Cllr Gerald McGregor
gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk
07866 784821

Cllr John Todd
john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk
07866 784651

Chiswick Riverside ward

Cllr Michael Denniss
michael.denniss@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 703274

Cllr Gabriella Giles
gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk
07966 270823

Cllr Sam Hearn
sam.hearn@hounslow.gov.uk
07833 376222

Turnham Green ward

Cllr Joanna Biddolph
joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 703446

Cllr Ranjit Gill
ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 702956

Cllr Ron Mushiso
ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 702887

June 6, 2020