Streetlights, Pigeon Nets, Mooring Rights, Housing and the SCLN
Chiswick Riverside councillor Gabriella Giles reports back on her week
Cllr Gabriella Giles
In the nine weeks since I last wrote this blog, it feels like the world has shifted. A change of monarch, and not just one, but two new prime ministers, a cancelled Chiswick area forum, the launch of the Chiswick in Film festival, and many events closer to home. I for one will be very grateful for the extra hour in bed when the clocks change this weekend.
In a recurring theme for my blog, I’ll start straight with the South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood (SCLN), especially as my inbox still pings with enquiries from residents asking if they can use the Thames Road (you can’t), and why it wasn’t included in the changes to Staveley and Hartington Roads (I have no answer for this).
South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood
Since 2020, I have been asking the council to treat the area as a whole. We have worked with residents associations too as we all have a common goal - to ensure that Grove Park and Strand on the Green are neighbourhoods that are pleasant to live in. The Council has told us that this is also their ambition, but despite our asking for meetings, I was told the week before last that they will not meet with us to discuss the SCLN until 2023.
This is all very disappointing, as you can well imagine, and I was personally extremely surprised to hear that they had sent us a briefing note about an alternative scheme a couple of weeks ago. Surprised, as I only received this on the 26th of October.
As you probably know, the roadworks on the A4 have been a contributing factor to much frustration in West London. As a result of these works, I took my chance and asked TfL to fix the pigeon nets on the underside of the A4, along the alley that runs from Wellesley Road to Chiswick Village.
This may not seem like much, but for the residents of Chiswick Village, the alleyway is a very useful route, which, during the winter, is a spot where many don’t feel safe. For the last 18 months, this has been a bit of an ongoing campaign with the council. Aside from the lack of lighting (streetlighting has been reduced by 36% since 2018), the underside of the A4 is a nice spot for pigeons. For many years, there has been netting installed to stop pigeons from roosting and to prevent the accompanying droppings. Unfortunately, this has been broken for some time, and residents had complained about the lack of cleaning and the potential health risk.
Yesterday, I received an email saying that the netting had now been fixed, which is great news for Chiswick Village as their caretaker had taken to cleaning the area as it seemed to be missed by Hounslow Highways.
Photo courtesy of TfL
The lighting here is also a concern as there are many dark spots, and I met with residents here a couple of weeks ago to walk the route again. I have been working with the police so that they’re aware of concerns, and would really like anyone who feels unsafe anywhere in the borough to report it to the Met’s Streetsafe site. This is really important as the council uses this data when analysing where it should direct resources.
Streetlights
Photo: Gabriella Giles
Another item that I’ve been in contact with TfL about since last week has been the lack of lighting at Harvard Hill underpass as this has been out since the 18th of October. I reported it to them on the 19th, and on the 20th, was told that the lighting at Harvard Hill, along this section of the A4 and the subway was out due to a fault on the UK Power Network.
Barriers are now in place to deter crossing at this route, while the lighting is out, so please make sure you plan accordingly when moving around.
While I don’t have an update for the repairs, in an email yesterday, I was told that if the UK Power Network doesn’t fix the lights by next week, TfL will look into the possibility of installing temporary lights, which means that it will be easier to use this route.
Riverside Mooring Rights
With the changes to the ward boundary in Chiswick Riverside, and the shift along the river, I’ve been able to learn a lot more about mooring rights. Especially how complicated things can be with riverside properties, whether they’re on the river, alongside or on dry land. Meetings with residents prove to be informative as always, and it’s been interesting to see that I’m picking up case work where there have been concerns for over 20 years.
Housing
I’ve written before that, on average, we’re only ever about 5 steps away from being homeless. At last week’s surgery, the fear of becoming homeless was really palpable. With the cost of living increasing, and many private landlords either selling or putting up rents, it was apparent to me that many people may need help and not know where to start. If you do know anyone who may need help, please tell them to contact their ward councillor, or to access the resources via the council’s homelessness prevention programme.
As always, if you have any questions on the above, please do drop me a line on the details below.
Councillor Gabriella Giles
Chiswick Riverside
Gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk
07966 270823
SURGERIES IN CHISWICK AND GUNNERSBURY
We are back to our usual routine of holding face-to-face surgeries in Chiswick and in Gunnersbury.
Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the eight Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn).
Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors takes this surgery).
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Tuesday, 1 November from 1.30pm to 7.30pm: Chiswick Town Centre Vision drop-in at Chiswick Town Hall
Thursday 3 November 7:00 pm Planning Committee
Tuesday 8 November 7:00 pm Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 14 November at 7.00pm: Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel
Tuesday 15 November 7:00 pm Cabinet
Wednesday, 16 November at 7.00pm: Health and Adults Care Scrutiny Panel
Tuesday 22 November 7:00 pm Chiswick Area Forum
Tuesday 29 November 7:30 pm Borough Council
CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS and CONTACTS
Chiswick Gunnersbury (was 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
Chiswick Homefields ward
Cllr Jack Emsley jack.emsley@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 396017
Cllr Gerald McGregor gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784821
Cllr John Todd john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784651
Chiswick Riverside ward
Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 395810
Cllr Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823
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October 29, 2022