A Week In The Life Of A Chiswick Councillor

A Party on the Pier, planning issues and meeting voters

Cllr Sam Hearn, who represents the Riverside ward in Chiswick, was recently elected chairman of the Chiswick Area Forum. He has written this account of his life as a busy local councillor.

Sunday 27th July: On a beautiful sunny day joined in the fun at the Party on the Pier organised by the Chiswick Pier Trust. I arrived to find kayaks being pulled ashore because the river was judged to be running too fast. It was great however to see so many residents taking advantage of the free river trips on a cruise boat. It was also good to bump into fellow trustee the new Mayor Corinna Smart, and Cllrs Paul Lynch and Ruth Cadbury. It was sad to see that the ‘kiosk’ remained unused and apparently unloved in the middle of all the festivities

Tuesday 29th July: Moved forward a couple of issues directly affecting small groups of residents and finally caught up with the large number of emails about the planning application affecting residents at Chiswick Village.

Wednesday 30th July: An evening’s canvassing in my Ward with Cllr Lynch and two others. Glad to be reminded that people in Chiswick take their politics seriously and that listening is the key skill for any Councillor.

Thursday 31st July: Attended the Borough’s Planning Committee as an observer. Several Chiswick applications were up for consideration. Around 40 local residents packed the Committee Room to hear applicants, objectors, officers and councillors debate the pros and cons of the controversial proposal to build 15 penthouse apartments on top of the existing Chiswick Village flats. The committee rejected the application that had been recommended for approval by the Planning Officer. The questioning by Cllrs John Todd, Sheilla O’Reilly and Mel Collins was penetrating and thoughtful.

August 1, 2014