Climate Responsibility Theme for Chiswick Area Forum

New format continues with focus on future

New Chiswick Area Forum aims to more away from 'them-and-us' feel

The second new format Chiswick Area Forum is taking on Tuesday, 12 October at 7pm at Chiswick Town Hall.

The theme for the meeting will be Our Community – Today and Tomorrow.

The Community Matters section will include presentations from two local charitable organisations – Chiswick Pier Trust and Move into Wellbeing. The Chiswick Future section aims to provide a stimulating and challenging session on climate responsibility.

• Catherine Jago, chairman of Chiswick Pier Trust, will explain how the trust fulfils its aims to bring people to the Thames, engaging them with the river through events, talks and trips, as well as its responsibility for managing the pier.
• Donna Schoenherr, founder of Move into Wellbeing, will describe how her charity supports people with Parkinson's Disease or other mobility restrictions through music and movement to build balance, co-ordination, confidence and general wellbeing.
• Isobel Grant, a chartered civil engineer with Arup, will give us insights informed by her experience as a designer of infrastructure on the difficult decisions faced by councils, residents and business ratepayers in responding to the challenge of net zero. Arup built Chiswick Business Park, a low carbon development built well ahead of its time. Isobel has worked on many high-profile projects including Crossrail and 2012 Olympic Games infrastructure. She is a trustee of RedR, a charity that delivers training around the world in how to respond to major natural disasters or conflicts. In 2018 Isobel was named one of the top 40 women in engineering, by the Telegraph. She has been a local councillor (in Ealing) and a Conservative parliamentary candidate (for Twickenham).

Those attending will be able to take part in all three sessions, asking questions or making suggestions.

The public forum will also take place – half an hour during which residents can raise issues with Chiswick's nine councillors.

Tea and coffee will be available before the meeting.

As before, seats need to be booked so that numbers can be managed to meet social distancing requirements. Residents and business owners are encouraged to book early to be sure of a seat. Please email chaspal.sandhu@hounslow.gov.uk

Chairman of the area forum, Cllr Joanna Biddolph (Turnham Green ward) explained that the shift away from a heavy municipal agenda seems to have been well received by all those attending last time. Leaders of Age Concern and the Hogarth Community Centre welcomed the chance to explain what they do and there were helpful exchanges between them and those attending.

She added, " Looking at a big issue facing Chiswick and our borough worked well, too. Last time we were given a realistic view of the future of public transport in Chiswick by Nicholas Rogers, London Assembly member for the south west area and member of the GLA's transport committee. This time, we will explore the very serious issue of meeting our net zero target with Isobel Grant who brings experience as a highly-regarded chartered civil engineer and as a former local councillor."

To see the meeting agenda click here.

October 10, 2021