The Bristow Blog

Council & Residents save borough Post Offices

Three of the six post offices threatened with closure in Hammersmith and Fulham have been saved, thanks to a joint campaign by residents and the council.

The Starch Green sub-post office branch at 7 King’s Parade in Askew Road, W6, the Kenyon Street branch in Fulham and the branch at 146 Shepherds Bush Road, W6 will remain open.

Formal notification was given last week by Post Office Ltd that these three branches are among the seven across London that have been saved from closure.  It is amazing that out of the seven saved in London - nearly half are in Hammersmith & Fulham.  Our borough has seen closure after closure in recent years - pleas from local residents fell on deaf ears.  Our voice has finally been heard.  The latest closure plans appear to have been a step too far even for the Post Office!

With the help of local residents, we did our homework and presented Post Office Ltd with a dossier which they simply couldn’t argue with.  When we called them in for our public meeting on March 19, they confessed that they did not know about the fifty flats for blind and partially-sighted residents at Pocklington Lodge, near the Askew Road branch.

The plans to rip the heart out of the borough by axing six post office sub-branches were robustly challenged by the council. As well as our formal submission, we have pursued a very high profile campaign with placards and petitions.  We also hosted the public meeting in Hammersmith Town Hall.

Sadly, three branches remain on the chopping block. They are: 780 Fulham Road, 68 Askew Road and 88 Goldhawk Road.

We will continue to press Post Office Ltd to look at alternatives such as a move into our libraries. These services are essential, especially to the elderly and disabled, and we will do everything we can to save them.

Conservative Victory in the Sands End by-election

A very busy day yesterday campaigning for Boris.  We are still waiting for the results to come through - should be about half past 6 this evening.

However, there was another election in Hammersmith & Fulham yesterday - the Sands End by-election caused by the resignation of Conservative councillor Jeanette Bentley who has taken a job abroad.  The results have just been announced.  A huge victory for the Conservatives - a majority of 1100 - an increase of over 400 on two years ago:

Ali De Lisle - Conservative - 2257

Brendan Bird - Labour - 1147

Dugald MacInnes - Lib Dem - 518

Labour made this by-election a verdict on the record of the Conservative council so far, pointing to what they called cuts in Sands End ward.  Local people have answered that call by giving us an increased majority.  We will push ahead delivering lower taxes, a crack down on crime, and a cleaner and greener borough.

Congratulations to Cllr De Lisle - I know she will make an excellent member of the Conservative team at the Town Hall. 

An increased turnout and a Conservative victory also looks good for Boris in this part of London.

Labour MP accepts a job if Boris wins

Boris Johnson, has announced that Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, as the first member of his administration if he wins the Mayoral election.   This is a big blow for Ken Livingstone and the Labour Party - one of their own in all tense and purposes backing Boris for Mayor.

The well respected MP has agreed to serve as a non-executive Director advising Boris on sport and the Olympics.

This is similar to Brown's announcment that he wants a Government of 'all the talents'.   Boris stated:

"Kate has a huge and well-known commitment to sport and to London, and I am determined to bring talent from across politics and the community to a new administration."

It will be hypocrisy if she is punished by the whips of the Labour Party after Gordon Brown did exactly the same thing.

Imperial Wharf Overground Station gets the go ahead

Work to build a brand new station in the south of Fulham could start as early as June 2008 after a multi-million funding package to pay for it looks likely to be agreed.

If Hammersmith & Fulham Council agrees the multi-million funding package that will mean that Imperial Wharf Overground Station, which has been talked about for nearly twenty years, will finally be built.

It has been a long road to get here but after 15 years there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for Imperial Wharf Overground Station.

Thanks to the collaboration of Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea councils we are nearly at the stage when construction can begin. We promised to work tirelessly to deliver this station, our construction partners can now get on and start building this important station.

The new station, on the west London line will, will be built by Imperial Wharf developers St George and the news will come as a boon to local people trapped in one of west London’s most notorious transport dead ends.

The area scores just two, out of six, in official ‘transport accessibility’ surveys and recent developments like Imperial Wharf, Chelsea Harbour and Lots Road Power Station are only adding to the number of people commuting to and from the area on a regular basis.

Without Imperial Wharf Overground Station the full development potential of the south of the borough is unlikely to be realised. More car traffic would be created adding to local congestion and pollution and those without cars would struggle to get around easily.  The station will be built just north of the West London Line railway bridge over the River Thames. The station will allow residents much easier access to the Underground at West Brompton and the myriad of rail services at Clapham Junction.

Rail experts predict that the station should now be open in 2010

Pictures from the Teachers Strike

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the leadership of the NUT are reasonable and do not have a hidden political agenda.  This picture from the demonstration yesterday in London suggests otherwise.

I thought this was about teachers pay.

It should not be about the war, socialism, or a call to reverse privitisation.  Most trade unions left this all behind in the 70s and 80s.   Sadly not the NUT leadership. 

I feel sorry for teachers who have this done in their name.  The leadership of the NUT are not representative of the profession.

Success on Tasso Road!

Developers have withdrawn their plans to construct an overbearing development at the end of Tasso Road. 

Local Conservatives - including Fulham Reach councillors (myself and Gavin Donovan), local MP Greg Hands, and Conservative Hammersmith Candidate, Shaun Bailey, all came out to oppose the unsuitable scheme.  We worked with local residents who formed the Save Tasso Road Action Group (STAG) to put pressure on the developers to think again.

This is excellent news.  This is thanks to the efforts of everyone who helped in our campaign – from signing a petition, delivering leaflets, coming out for a picture on Saturday morning, or writing in to the council to object to this development.

We were concerned that the development was:

• Too big for a quite cul-de-sac
• Too intrusive on properties in Kinnoul, Humbolt, Abbey Gardens, and Tasso Road
• Out of charecter with the design of the street
• Would encourage traffic to a one entrance street

I have now emailed the developers asking them to consult with local councillors and residents if they decide to submit another application.   

Well done to everyone associated with the campaign - I shall post again when I have news from the developers.

Slaughter will vote for “barmy” Bill on detention

Shaun Bailey - the Conservative candidate for Hammersmith - has called on his Labour opponent to vote with his conscience and oppose the 42 day detention bill that is to come before Parliament in the following weeks.

The revelation that Mr Slaughter secretly opposes the measure comes from a leaked list from the Government Whips’ Office, which shows that as of January, 50 Labour MPs opposed the 42 day plan, and that there were around 50 waverers.

Andrew Slaughter’s name appears as an MP who will vote in favour of the measure, but as one who disagrees with it. Next to his name is the comment “Will support but thinks barmy.”

Shaun said “Mr Slaughter is elected and duty bound to make decisions on behalf of his constituents as he sees best.

He may really think detaining suspects for 42 days without charge is a good thing, and if that’s the case, he ought to support the bill.

On the other hand, he could listen to the former Attorney General, the current Director of Public Prosecutions, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, over 50 Labour backbenchers, as well as senior police officers, and come to the decision that this bill is simply an unnecessary piece of political grandstanding that won’t make  us any safer, but might curtail our civil liberties and isolate communities. If he agrees with this view, then he should oppose the bill.

Where is Mr Slaughter's integrity? How can he back and support a bill that is, as he puts it, “barmy”? Time and again we see him thinking or saying one thing, and doing another, like voting for post office closures whilst campaigning locally to 'save' them. In doing so, he undermines trust in politicians in general and leads people in Hammersmith to question the motivation for why he wants to be their representative.”   

More Tube misery from Ken's friends

As night follows day, tube unions bosses will order their members out on strike at least 2/3 times a year over quite often utter nonsense.  There have been 16 strikes since Ken became Mayor.  One strike recently was called over a group of employees who were disciplined after being suspected of drinking on duty.

At the end of last week, tube union bosses called for yet another 48 hour strike.  There were hopes of a breakthrough but I understand they have announced today that there will be a strike in a bid to secure 'unequivocal written guarantees' on outsourcing, pensions and travel facilities.

A strike is completely unnecessary and will not achieve anything.  The RMT has been given guarantees that no staff will lose jobs, pensions or be transferred as a result of Metronet's collapse but they still will down tools 28/29 April.

Boris Johnson has called for Ken to give back all the money he has been given by all the tube unions.  Ken should condemn the unions for holding Londoners to ransom and side with commuters and businesses who will suffer as a result of this action.  See below a list of donations to Ken's campaign from the tube unions - source backboris.com

The London Underground is like no other public service, in that strikes can paralyse the whole city. This is why a special arrangement needs implementing to protect Londoners from disagreements between London Underground management and union leaders.

• Since 2001, they have taken almost half a million from the TSSA union, £150,889 from Bob Crow and the RMT and £359,554 from ASLEF.
• Ken Livingstone has previously rewarded Bob Crow with an appointment to the Board of Transport for London.

• Industrial action also has a huge cost to the London economy.  For example, the strike in 2004 is estimated to have cost £60 million in lost productivity.

Flying Flags at Half Mast

The flags at all Hammersmith & Fulham council buildings will be flying at half-mast this weekend in tribute to Gwyneth Dunwoody MP who died yesterday at the age of 77.

Mrs Dunwoody was born in Fulham in 1930, long before the area became fashionable. Her family had always been political - both of her grandmothers were suffragettes and her mother served as a minister in the House of Lords before being made the Lord Lieutenant of London.

Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, Leader of the council said: "We have lowered the flag today as a mark of respect for this Fulham girl who became a household name across Britain."

Mrs Dunwoody attended Fulham County Secondary School, now Fulham Cross, before going into politics.

She was the mother of a daughter and two sons, and has ten grandchildren.

A tremendous politician and a real character - I had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times - I just wish the Labour lot in Hammersmith & Fulham were anywhere close to her level.

Letter from Zimbabwe

Please read this email below that I have received from a Zimbabwean friend living in the UK.  How much longer must we watch this despot destroy what was once a country with such a promising future:

This letter was written Wednesday 9^th April 2008 by farmers under siege in Zimbabwe .

Dear Family and Friends, Well never thought I would have to do this email do not know if it may be my last from our farm "Chidza". At 3.30pm today a lorry load of so called Mugabe brain washed "war-vets" arrived at our gate to take over our land, equipment and pedigree cattle.  This crazy action is occurring in a country where there is v little food being produced !  It is now 6 pm and they have been singing their war songs at our gate for three hours, the atmosphere is violent and more and more of them have arrived.  We managed to get our daughter Alison and her young son "Little John"  into town and for now it is just  John and myself, plus our dogs remaining in the house on the farm.  They have said that our labour will not work tomorrow . They have demanded that John must  kill them a sheep, which John has flatly refused to do, so no doubt they will simply kill one for themselves.  None of our paid labour will even attmpt to come to work tomorrow either!  Graham Richards who lives south of us is also under siege at the same time as us, so this siege of the last remaining white farmers is an orchestrated plan.  The Goddards and Deidricks are in the same boat. They have already taken over Pa-Nyanda Guest Lodge, and Graham and his wife Callie are now in town.  Alison is at John sisters in Masvingo town and her husband Carl is expected back from Bulawayo tonight. Lorna's telephone no. is Zw code 39-264323 ; Ali is on 011216643  Our Phone Landline is 039-266080 Cell Phone Nos. 011-215275 ; 023-258810 Please pass this email on to as many folk as you would like to , this illegal action must become "known" thru out the world . If you know of anyone in the Media, please ensure that they become aware /are alerted to this evil tyrant's actions to keep power at all costs.  We have to let the world know what is happening.  Well done to Zesa. As they load shedded us and I phoned my friend in the Zesa Faults and he phoned Harare and they have switched us back on.  So for now please keep all of us in your prayers and we will send a follow up tomorrow if we are able. Our love to you all. John and Joy from Chidza.

Teachers Strike

Some schools in the borough may be forced to close on Thursday 24th April because of a strike called by the National Union of Teachers (NUT).  This action is in response to the Labour Government’s pay proposals for a 2.45 per cent pay increase to teachers with effect from September 2008.

The council have asked for all schools to announce by Tuesday whether they will be closed.  Parents need to know! 

The council are doing their best to ensure that as many schools as possbile remain open on April 24 and that the impact of the strike on the education of our children and young people is minimised.  We have asked schools to give particular consideration to pupils with special needs and those with crucial examination commitments in the weeks that follow the intended action.  It is now up to the individual headteachers and Chairs of Governors to make decisions about whether to close their particular schools or not.

I can understand why some teachers feel aggrieved.   Pay has not seen the jumps that other public servants have received.  Local teachers work hard, and many of my friends who teach tell me the real problem facing the profession is endless bureaucracy from central government and work load.

However, the NUT are demanding a 10% pay rise, or £3,000 for every teacher in England and Wales this September, whichever is the greater.  This at a time when we have to tighten our belts as a country because the economy is on a downturn.  Other public sector workers have received worse settlements, most notably the police, who have demonstrated over what they say amounts to a 1.9% deal!

Moreover, the strike has been called with only a minority of members voting in favour.  Only third of the 200,000 NUT members took part in the ballot. 

It is parents who will be hit in the pocket by strike action.  Parents will have to pay for child minders or take time of work to look after their children.  It will disrupt learning, inconvenience parents, and place a burden on other teachers not in the NUT.  I hope this strike will be a one off and not a sign of things to come.

Closed schools announced so far:

Fulham Primary School and Kenmont Primary School.   

Does Merlene Emerson want to be our MP or our Assembly member?

According to the Lib Dems website Merlene Emerson has been selected to stand in Hammersmith at the next General Election.

Nothing wrong with that - except for the fact that Ms Emerson has already been selected to fight to become the London Assembly member in the West Central area for Lib Dems.  This election takes place the same day as the London Mayoral elections.

Does she want to be elected to do both roles?

Or does this mean the Lib Dems have admitted they have no chance on the Assembly or in Hammersmith so it does not matter who they put up?

What it does show is that the Lib Dems have so few members, supporters or activists, that they have to choose the same people to fight for different positions.

Ms Emerson should be straight with the public and let us know which job she wants to do.   

http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/emerson.1383.html

Action on Graffiti

Over 4,900 graffiti tags have been removed from properties, walls and shutters across Hammersmith and Fulham.

Since April last year, the council’s graffiti action team has been working hard to clear unsightly areas across the borough by painting, jet washing and sand blasting graffiti – a jet wash method that sprays granules of sand to corrode the paint.

The team provide a free service to local residents, removing daubings that are visible from the public highway and within reach of roads. Staff aim to clean racist graffiti within 24 hours and other graffiti, below two metres in height, within five working days of it being reported.

Graffiti is a criminal offence and the council is working hard to tackle it, not only by removing it quickly, but also by identifying and taking action against the people responsible.

This is shows the council’s commitment to eliminating enviro-crime in the borough. We simply will not tolerate graffiti blighting our town centres and are working hard to provide a cleaner.

To report graffiti in the borough or to report a suspected graffiti vandal, call the council’s hotline on 020 8753 1100.

H&F Council respond to the Post Office about closures

Lats week the council sent our official submission to their plans to close 6 Post Offices in our borough and the secret 7th closure at Olympia

Please see - Download 080401_Post_Office_Closures_response_tcm21-95672.pdf

We have also made a youtube video of the Post Office meeting:

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Council Tax levels in London

To see how far we have come in delivering value for money in Hammersmith & Fulham - see the document below: