The Bristow Blog

Exhibition for Tasso Road development

After a campaign led by local residents and ward councillors, the planning application for a 3 storey development at the end of Tasso Road was withdrawn.  See - http://thebristowblog.typepad.com/the_bristow_blog/fulham_reach/index.html

Developers have now promised to consult local residents and councillors on new proposals before another application is submitted - these are currently being drawn up.  There are plans to host an exhibition on Thursday 29th May from 6.15pm to 8pm. 

The intention is present ideas in the form of "early concept drawings" which can provide a platform for local feedback. 

The exhibition will take place on site at the far end of Tasso Road.  I shall be there with fellow Fulham Reach ward councillors Andy Johnson and Gavin Donovan. 

Let's hope that the new plans are more in keeping with the Victorian cul-de-sac and not as large and overbearing as the previous scheme. 

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Developers have withdrawn their plans to construct an overbearing development at the end of Tasso Road.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

Latest on the Tasso Road development

On Saturday residents from Tasso Road and the surrounding streets came together to show opposition to the proposed development at the end of their road.

I was there together with Cllr Gavin Donovan and Shaun Bailey, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Hammersmith.

We are hoping that this show of strength will make the developers think again and withdraw their application.  Residents are angry that there was no pre-application consultation.  If there was, the developer would not have failed to notice that residents feel the site is too big, overbearing, and out of character of the rest of the street.

The campaign continues.... 

No to the Tasso Road Development!

Fulham Reach councillors, together with local residents, are leading the charge against the proposed development at the end of Tasso Road in the heart of the ward.

Without any sort of pre-consultation with residents or local councillors, the developers have applied to Hammersmith & Fulham council planning department to build a 27 unit 3 storey development.  The site is far too small for such a development and it would have a detrimental impact in the area.

Cllr Gavin Donovan and I last visited residents living on Tasso Road and nearby Humbolt Road about this local campaign and pledged our support to residents opposing the scheme.  Those living in Humbolt Road behind Tasso Road would be beneath the 3 storey monstrosity and would have their privacy taken away.

We are urging the developers to think again.

• scale - it's far too big for a small site in a quiet cul-de-sac
• privacy - the balconies and roof terraces would destroy the privacy of neighbouring properties
• traffic - adjoining streets are already choked with traffic and Tasso Road only has one point of access - the number of additional vehicles would cause problems
• character - the design is alien, imposing and completely out of keeping with the surrounding Victorian properties

To join our campaign please email me at paul.bristow@lbhf.gov.uk.  You can officially object by emaling plancomments@lbhf.gov.uk quoting reference 2008/00562/FUL.

Late Licence for the OSP?

The OSP (formally the Old Suffolk Punch) in Fulham Reach ward has applied for a late licence until 1.30am on weekdays and 2.30am on the weekends.  I have been contacted by a number of local residents about this who object to this proposed extension.

The OSP is popular with medical students from the hospital and is on a main road - 80 Fulham Palace Road.  I can understand why they wish to apply for this extension and appreciate that there is a market for late night refreshment in Hammersmith & Fulham. 

However, local residents in Winslow Road, Beryl Road, St Dunstans Road and along Fulham Palace Road do experience problems associated with noise, anti social behaviour and drunkeness.  We as a council have a zero tolerance attitude to this low level crime and Fulham Palace Road has benefited from a crackdown on beggars.  I don't see a licence extension at the OSP being consistent with that.  This is one of the reasons I opposed the Hammersmith Apollo application for a late licence.

Residents have also voiced concerns about a proposed beer garden at the back.  Please let me know what you think.

If residents would like to comment on this application please contact the case officer Adrian Overstone on licensing@lbhf.gov.uk - the application number is 2008/00357/LAPR.  The deadline for comments is 20th February.

Is Fulham Reach any cleaner?

A few months ago we launched a grot spot campaign in Fulham Reach where persistent incidences of graffiti, fly tips, and litter were tackled.  The whole ward got a makeover. 

http://thebristowblog.typepad.com/the_bristow_blog/2007/09/looking-out-for.html

Your local councillors – Gavin Donovan, Andrew Johnson and myself – walked around the ward with council officers and local residents identifying the worst examples.

I want to know if you think it has made a difference. Is Fulham Reach ward cleaner?

We were doing a door to door surgery last night in Claxton Grove and things looked pretty good. 

However, I know there is always more work to do.  Please let me know about any unsightly examples of graffiti and grot and we will try and get it cleaned up!

Or if you think things are better please do let me know?

OFSTED rate Bayonne Nursery as 'Outstanding'

I am a school governor at the excellent Bayonne Nusery School in the heart of Fulham Reach ward - Paynes Walk on the Bayonne Estate.  This is a role that I really enjoy and something I did before becoming a councillor.  This is something to which I wish I had more time to devote; it really is a wonderful community asset

The achievements of Bayonne Nursery have now been recognised by OFSTED (the watchdog rating schools across the country).  They rate the nursery as 'outstanding', and in every indication but one they also give an outstanding rating.  The first paragrpah sums up everything about this school:

The children achieve extremely well in this outstanding school.  They develop excellent personal qualities, behave extremely well and treat other children and adults with respect and courtesy.  The insprational and highly effective leadership of the headteacher and outstanding teaching staff benefit the children enormously.  Parents are overwhelmingly pleased with the school.  Nearly all pay tribute to the staff, 'Both my chikdren have attended Bayonne and we could not have asked for more. It is a fantastic school', is one of many typical comments, and they are right.  It is a superb school.

OFSTED are absolutely spot on.  Pat Logan is an excellent headteacher and the rest of the teaching staff do a fantastic job.  David Coleman, the Chair of the Governors, also ensures that the governing body is effective and is an asset to the school.  I am extremely grateful for the work that they do.  It is clear that local parents and the community share my views.

The school is located in a mixed area of private and social housing, providing the sort mixed education offer that we should aspire to in H&F.  Children could not wish for a better start in life than attending the Bayonne Nursery School. 

Today, I am extremely proud to be a school governor and a councillor in ward that contains such a fine school.

Crabtree Estate Residents Association

Last night I went to the Crabtree Estate Residents Association AGM held at the Dorset Wharf Community Hall with my fellow Fulham Reach councillors, Andy Johnson and Gavin Donovan.

The Association, chaired by Dennis Eyre, do an excellent job of pulling everyone together and acting in the best interest of the local area and local residents.  I enjoy working with the group and greatly appreciate the work that they do. 

As well as the forum for electing new officers of the group, the AGM is an opportunity for issues affecting the local community to be aired, and for residents to share their concerns.

There was also a presentation from Inspector Stobbart from the Hammersmith Safer Neighbourhood Team on his role and on crime.  Dr Scott Cooper from Fulham Palace also spoke about the restoration project and future plans for the historical site.  Finally I spoke about Bishops Park and the exciting plans the council has for regenerating this special place in Fulham.

I took away from the meeting genuine concerns that local people have about family houses being converted in dwellings of multiple occupation.  Local people have reported to me problems with noisy neighbours and they claim many of these are caused by tenants in houses of multiple occupancy who stay only for a very short period of time.  I want to check with the council's planning department the exact rules on converting houses into multiple occupancy.  I also hope the police took away valuable intelligence.   

A big thank to Dennis Eyre, Kirsty Bang and the rest of the committee of the Crabtree Estate Residents Association.  We are lucky to have such a hard working and committed residents association in our area!

To get involved please contact Dennis on 020 8735 7657

Looking out for Grotspots

On Sunday myself and the other Conservative councillors in Fulham Reach ward (Cllr Andy Johnson & Cllr Gavin Donovan), along with a handful of local residents, walked through the streets of the ward identifying grot spots.

Grot spots are incidences of graffiti, flytips and general litter and disrepair.  I have arranged for street cleansing to pay particular attention to Fulham Reach ward next month.  We want to ensure they are focusing on the right areas and cleaning up the places that are repeatedly plagued by grot and vandals.

We found 11 high profile grot areas and many more individual examples.  The street cleaners were actually out while we were touring the ward.  I have to say the area did look quite good.  However, there is plenty of work that can be done.  The major grot spots were: 

1. The corner of Larnach Road and Fulham Palace Road (there are alley ways connecting Larnarch Road with Nella Road on one side and Ellaline Road on the other).  It is constantly affected by flytips and litter.

2. The footpath from Claxton Grove to the gate from Field Road to Margravine Cemetary.  The entrance on Claxton Grove is often covered in litter as is the patch of grass by Horton House.

3. Frank Banfield Park.  There are several grot spot issues associated with this park.  Where Winslow Road curves road and meets Frank Banfield Park is a hot spot for flytips and litter.  Glass is often found in the park around benches.  Finally the other side opposite number 8 Chancellors Road is often used for dumping.

4. The stretch of Greyhound Road closest Fulham Palace Road - this area can often look dirty with Sainsbury's unloading and takeaways selling fast food until late a night. 

5. Recycling area on St Albans Terrace close to St Mathews Church Hall (always a flytip hot spot)

6. The very top of Claybrook Terrace where it meets Margravine Road - close to the phone box.  There is often graffiti on that wall and sometimes flytips.

7. The River Walk - this sometimes get ignored by street cleansing and you can often see graffiti.

8. Where Beryl Road meets St Dunstans Road - litter is often strewn across the road and Beryl Road itself can sometimes look quite dirty due to litter.

9. Outside Bayonne Nursery - the grassy verge close to the basketball courts have often appeared unkept and the pavement often has cracks and holes.

10. Lintaine Court - the communal area in between the flats is often a hotspot for flytips.

11. Flats on Rainville Road - the bottom of the communal entrance to the flats opposite number 32 (next to the paladin bin area)

If you think I have missed any serious repeated grot spot areas please do email me at paul.bristow@lbhf.gov.uk or comment on this post.

Door to Door in Fulham Reach

Last night myself and other members of the Fulham Reach Conservatives went door to door on the Bayonne estate and neighbouring roads on one of our regular street surveys.  We get across the ward as regularly as possible asking local residents for their views on a range of issues and asking if there is anything we can do to help them.  This is one of the best ways as a local councillor I can keep in touch with the concerns of ward residents

There is one issue which is head and shoulders above any other that tops the priority list - that is crime and anti social behaviour.  Local people were pleased with the safer neighbourhood team and had heard about our 24/7 pilots in S Bush and Fulham Broadway.  They also supported the Conservatives attitude towards zero tolerance policing both nationally and locally.  It is this low level anti social behaviour and petty crime that affects people's lives.  When combined with stories about gun and knife crime in London, this makes people fear crime.

Crime and anti-social behaviour is the local Conservatives biggest priority.  When we say zero tolerance, we mean zero tolerance.  I am looking forward to hearing the results of the 24/7 pilots and will as always be pressing for more resources for Fulham Reach.  This combined with action against graffiti, litter, and CCTV will have a big impact.