Forum Topics

Retendering of local bus services have your say

TfL are currently consulting on the retendering of bus routes.Please bear in mind TfL’s advice on suggestions, comments, etc on routes:  They are looking for comments from the public to Stakeholders in this case London TravelWatch. They would particularly welcome information on any particular problems you may have identified rather than a specific suggestion for extension or enhancement of an individual route. This is because the best solution to a problem may be a change to another route rather than the one being directly reviewed. Closing date for comments put on the forum by 23rd September.  I will then take them forward to Tfl. Suggestions might include:                                                 ideas which enhance social inclusion;                        corridors or areas which might benefit from new or enhanced Sunday or night services;                        areas or corridors on which you feel increased frequency or larger vehicles are needed to  cater for demand;                         identifying routes which you feel are unreliable;                        ideas which improve integration with other transport modes or interchange with other bus  routes or improve access to major developments.”  The routes affected are: 207, N207, 427, 427, 607 195 266, N266 260 120 70, R70 94, N94 11, N11 195 X26 110, 111 81 211, C1

Libby Kemp ● 6167d10 Comments ● 6162d

Goldhawk Road Developments

So...another high-density development is proposed within a conservation area, a few hundred yards from the mooted Allied Carpets high-rise. In the past couple of years, four other high-density, mixed usage developments have been constructed within approximately a mile and a half of both the suggested sites. Given that our local schools, doctors and dentists are oversubscribed and groaning under the pressure, would it not be wiser to invest in our local infrastructure rather than constantly slap up new housing? Better still, refurbish the vacant housing stock that already exists in the borough - or would this result in less profit for developers? For, however cosy their stated intentions and murmurs of 'social' and 'affordable' housing, developers are in this to make a profit (or at least to pay their directors fat salaries) and neither scheme would enhance or benefit our already crowded community. As for 'affordable' housing and  part buying schemes - they are still too expensive and therefore rarely benefit those key workers such as teachers and  nurses who are most in need. Given the current parlous state of the housing market, is it even wise to be contemplating new-build developments that might then stand empty, blighting the area and attracting the usual security problems that beset empty properties? At least the Goldhawk Road site has already had residential usage - the Allied Carpets site has been commercial premises for many years and its change to high-density residential usage would have a severe impact on an already congested corner. Do the developers really think that a car park with an entrance from Greenside Road will not significantly add to the increasing traffic caused by the Westfield Centre, the Polish Church, the extended congestion zone et al? Greenside Road is a narrow, residential street and already often at a standstill. And what about the chaos caused by vehicles on site while works take place? I have just received a letter from the Council Planning Dept. inviting comments/objections to the scheme before 20th June and will be responding with the points I have outlined above. I will also be objecting to any development at the Goldhawk Road site on the same grounds. We need investment in infrastructure to enhance and sustain our existing community before we bow to developers' demands to make a fat profit at the expense of local residents.

Amanda Lees ● 6266d2 Comments ● 6265d

C4 documentary looking for case studies in Shepherds Bush...

I am an Assistant Producer working for betty, an independent TV production company that specialises in people-based documentary films and series’. We are currently making a three part documentary series for Channel 4 about the working relationship between builders and their clients and are looking for people who might be interested in getting involved with the filming process.We are looking for homeowners & builders in the Greater London area who have run into problems on a large scale domestic building project and need some help to get it back on track. We will offer the services (for free) of a leading industry expert to work with the homeowners and the builders to help resolve any problems.  The programme is a great opportunity to reach an amicable solution that gets everything running smoothly again for all concerned. The first two episodes reached an agreeable solution for both parties and I am confident that we can do the same for those involved in our final episode. My initial aim is to have an informal chat with the homeowners to determine whether or not the project meets the criteria of the documentary and I will then work on contacting the builder to explain the premise of the series.  Again we have managed to achieve this with our first two episodes and barring disaster we should be able to make it work the third time around.  The filming period is likely to last 2-3 weeks with our industry expert, Jeff Howell, spending 2 days each week at the building location.  Please do get in touch for an informal chat should the above apply to you or alternatively please pass on my contact details to anyone currently experiencing difficulties.  Best wishesFiona Wilson0207 907 0869 / fiona.wilson@betty.co.uk

Fiona Wilson ● 6533d0 Comments ● 6533d

Britain's largest books forum launches in West London

I live just down the road in Chiswick, and this week launched the largest books forum in the UK from my home, and the only one that is totally independent. It is called Book Group Online, and can be found by following this link: www.bookgrouponline.com. This forum has been constructed on the principle that it’s impossible to read a book and not have an opinion about it. Book Group Online is a place to come and discuss books to your heart’s content: to share your views and argue with those whose views differ from your own. We also want this to be a place to come when you’re wondering what to read next, and looking for recommendations. Amazingly, this is the first independent books forum to be launched in the UK, covering all the subjects you would find in any decent bookshop. There has never been a books forum covering as wide a range of subjects as Book Group Online, including different fiction genres, every non-fiction category you can think of, and a special section covering children’s books. Even on its first day, it is the largest of its kind.This is a brand new website, and I thought my fellow Chiswick residents should be among the very first people to know about it. To be honest, we’re just finishing off creating it now. You could look on it as like going on holiday to the Costa Brava and finding that the building is being completed around you – with the difference being that everything works, and that you have a say in how it’s constructed. Because ultimately, it is the first users of this site who will set the tone for future users.So please register and start posting! Click on www.bookgrouponline.com and it will take you to an opening page with simple instructions on how to register. All you have to do is choose a user name and a secret password. There is plenty of information on the forum on how to use the site.The other thing you can do is not keep the existence of Book Group Online to yourself. Spread the word! There are bound to be people you know who would enjoy this site, so we ask you please to pass on the address, email the link, whatever you can do to let others know about it. And then they too can spread the word! The more people who join and join in, the better this site will become. There’s not much point in being a pioneer if there’s nobody following you.If you haven’t finished, or even started, your Christmas shopping yet, our website contains an innovative way to do all your online purchasing at once. The site contains Top 50 charts for Fiction paperbacks and hardbacks, and Top 50 charts  for Non-Fiction paperbacks and hardbacks, plus Top 20 charts for children’s paperbacks and hardbacks. Each book has its own individual thread in chart order – go into it and you will see a description of the book, and a link that will take you straight to the correct Amazon page for that book. Thank you for your time!

Bill Matthews ● 7536d1 Comments ● 7240d