Problems With Vaping, Cubs and Decision Looms on Access Restrictions

Those of us who work in education are used to navigating changing attitudes and behaviours. Over the last year or so schools have becoming increasingly concerned about children vaping. It is difficult for schools to know what to do about vaping, particularly when its promotion on social media sites like TikTok, is fuelling its use. Vapes are marketed with fruity and bubble gum flavours that appeal to children and in colourful child-friendly packaging. The Local Government Association – the membership body for local authorities – has just called for strict new measures to regulate the display and marketing of vaping products in the same way as tobacco to crack down on a rise in stores selling to children. Councils are having to step up enforcement activity to deal with this issue. Vaping is not for children and keeping them out-of-sight and out-of-reach is the way forward.

There is another problem with single-use disposable vapes which is that most of them are thrown into landfill. Walk down any street and you will probably spot these colourful plastic tubes chucked on the ground. Material Focus, a not-for-profit organisation focusing on recycling e-waste, estimate that up to 1.3 million single-use vapes are thrown away each week. Disposable vapes contain valuable materials such as lithium batteries and copper, as well as plastic, meaning they are classed as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). This means that we should dispose of them at a household recycling centre or at the shop where we bought them. Few people seem to know this and also they are not straightforward to recycle as lithium batteries can cause fires at waste disposal plants. The harms to health are significantly greater from smoking but we do need to think carefully our attitude to disposable vapes.

Leader of the Pack

Several years ago, I was asked to help out at the local scout group that my children attended. Now I find myself the Leader of one of our local Cub Packs. Every week the other leaders and I help young people to learn new skills, make new friends and stand on their own two feet. I have certainly picked up practical and leadership skills myself, but the real fun lies in helping young people to grow and develop.

At the moment we are working on our World Challenge Award and one of our recent tasks was to create a community map showing the different charities, projects, services, community centres or not-for-profit organisations based in our local area. Doing this reminded me that we are spoiled for choice in Chiswick - Hogarth Centre, Age Concern, Citizens Advice, Abundance London, our places of worship etc etc.

Volunteering is a hugely valuable and rewarding experience for the volunteers and the communities they support. Edmund Burke called these the "little platoons" of civilization that help us to flourish and thrive. If you have some time on your hands why not look around and see who needs your help and support.

Learning new skills with the Cubs

Fingers crossed for Common Sense

This month the Council are announcing their findings after their review of the Staveley Road and Burlington Lane access restrictions. Officers will be sharing with councillors and residents traffic data, feedback results and decision options. After these meetings a decision will be taken on whether to make our scheme permanent and what changes or additional measures need to be brought in. Last July Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, the Leader of Hounslow Council, said “Central to our ambitions is an overhaul of how we listen to and empower residents.” People do indeed want a local Council that listens and acts on the community’s needs. Fingers crossed!

Cllr Peter Thompson

peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk

07977 395810

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tuesday, 21st February at 7:00pm: Cabinet

Tuesday, 28th February at 7:30pm: Budget Setting Meeting Borough council

Thursday, 2nd March at 7:00pm: Planning Committee

Tuesday, 14th March at 7:00pm: Chiswick Area Forum

Tuesday, 28 th March at 7:00pm: Cabinet

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES

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). 

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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