Shepherd's Bush

Evening Standard on Shepherd's Bush Market

2012-02-11T07:16:00.002Z

As our Council's PR machine is in full throttle at the moment on the Market I thought I'd flag up an interesting article from last night's Evening Standard which highlights the realities rather than the spin. It underlines both the history and the character of the Pie & Mash shop, along with others, which is what makes them such an important part of the Bush.

Interestingly Richard Olsen of Orion, the property developers, is quoted in the piece as saying that they decided against doing up the old buildings on the basis that they were too decrepit. This is not the version he gave at this public meeting - I remember him clearly stating that the real reason was because they wanted to make way for a third entrance to the new Market and that not to do so would make the venture "non viable" because it wouldnt net them enough profit. At this point Council Leader Stephen Greenhalgh insisted that he would not permit the buildings to be knocked down if the owners didn't want them to be - a clear public promise - which has now been broken.

I assume Mr Olsen changed his story after some helpful advice from our Council's press office, who have been working alongside Orion for rather a long time now - certainly well before the "consultation" had ended.

H&Fs Most Wanted - one down, six to go

2012-02-10T09:31:00.005Z

Lucy D'Orsi & Greg Smith

Remember H&F's "Most Wanted"? We're one down and six to go with one of the alleged ne'erdowells having handed themselves in on Wednesday to Hammersmith Police Station, perhaps as a result of having their mug paraded through the streets.

Sean Patterson who, along with Darrell Richmond, had been charged with a £2,000 jewellery theft in W12 and had failed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on the 3rd November 2011. He has now been remanded in custody awaiting his trial for burglary later in the month.

The Wanted Offenders Campaign is part of a joint initiative between The Metropolitan Police and Hammersmith and Fulham Council which was launched on the 26th of January in Lyric Square. An initial seven wanted offenders had their 3 feet high images mounted on a van which then toured the Borough. This is part of a wider initiative to be used on the Borough to target outstanding offenders.

Enquiries are still on going regarding the other six suspects.

Darrell Richmond both failed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court last November after being charged with a £2,000 jewellery robbery in Shepherd's Bush.
Amy Libren is charged with causing actual bodily harm to her partner and possessing crystal meth, cocaine and mephedrone.
Phillip Brown admitted supplying crack cocaine and heroin but has been on the run after failing to turn up at Kingston Crown Court for sentencing.
Paul Dunkley admitted burglary of a Shepherd’s Bush jewellers but also failed to appear.
Maria Calvi is charged with burgling staff areas of pubs in Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith but failed to appear in court.
Adam Gryzec was released from prison last November after serving a year-long sentence for burglary, but broke his parole conditions.

I am, as you'll have noticed, not slow to crticise this Council when they get things wrong and in the past I've described them as a tank, rolling over the heads of local people. But they also act like a tank when it comes to crims and they deserve every bit of praise for it. Our Chief Tanker is of course Cabinet member for Law n Ordah Greg Smith, who has this to say:

“One down, six to go. Criminals can run, but they cannot hide and in Hammersmith & Fulham we believe in a zero-tolerance crime-fighting approach. Patterson will now spend some time behind bars for the crimes he committed and we now need Londoners to have a look at the remaining six suspects so we can weed them out too.”

Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Lucy D’Orsi said:

"I am pleased that this campaign has had an initial positive result and that the first of these offenders has handed himself in to the police. I would urge the others to do the same as my officers will continue with their enquiries aimed at bringing them to justice. Hammersmith and Fulham Police are committed to utilising new technology to fight crime, target offenders and engage with the local community."

Seriously well done to them both - this is exactly the sort of thing H&F can claim to be doing right and setting an example that other Councils would do well to follow. Top marks.

H&F Council & tax avoidance: Private Eye

2012-02-10T04:49:00.001Z

An appearance in "Rotten Boroughs" is not something any local authority particularly wants, but it appears our Council has earned another of its regular outings due to the apparently murky financial arrangements surrounding its very highly paid "consultant" Nick Johnson, who is leading our Council's property development scheme over at West Ken, in opposition to the majority of residents who live there.

This follows my story of January 30th which revealed that Mr Johnson, who had been retired early from Bexley Council with a £300,000 payout on the grounds he was 'permanently unfit' to work. He was hired months later by H&F for £950 per day.

This prompted Teresa Pearce MP, whose constituency includes Bexley and who was formerly a senior tax investigator at PricewaterhouseCoopers, to say to the Independent on Sunday that, while the arrangement was legal, "it's not within the spirit of the law, definitely not". She added: "Within a year of him being judged to be in permanently ill health he was pictured in a hard hat, with a spade, digging, in a brochure for H&F Homes – this is just so barefaced that it's insulting. Whatever he is paid for holding that office should go through the payroll and it doesn't. HMRC should investigate this."

The story has now also been followed up by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism but not, as yet, by the local press.

Shepherd's Bush Market: Council PR machine revs

2012-02-09T10:28:00.003Z

The Council, as predicted, has not been slow to laud last night's decision of the infamous planning committee to overrule the traders and shop-owners of Shepherd's Bush Market and the Goldhawk Road and give the go-ahead for Orion to build seven floors of luxury flats on top of it.

Here's a couple of quotes from Pravda:

H&F Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, said:

“There is very little doubt that Shepherds Bush Market needs significant improvement if it is to survive. People have been telling the council for many years that it needs to be protected and enhanced and these plans will ensure that it will flourish, with more people visiting and market traders enjoying a more secure and prosperous future. We fully recognise the market’s rich heritage and character and this scheme will build upon its diversity to reaffirm the market as one of London’s leading tourist destinations.

“Shepherds Bush really is on the up as a place to live, work and visit. The town was recently named as one of London’s most desirable places to live and that is partly due to the market regeneration and the Shepherds Bush Green revamp that is due to start imminently.”

Richard Olsen of Orion Shepherds Bush Limited said:

“We’re very pleased with the outcome; it’s good news for the market and the area. The proposals will see the market regenerated and enhanced by introducing much needed investment and positioning it at the heart of a new high-quality mixed-use scheme. Our proposals seek to build upon its historic legacy, maintaining the diversity but at the same time implementing essential improvements to ensure the market becomes a destination in its own right.”

All of this ignores not only local people but the simple fact that an election on May 1st stands to stop this in its tracks, just as surely as our Council's attempt to railroad the King Street development was. It also ignores that a Court hearing scheduled for 15-16 May, even if Boris wins, also has the power to stop the redevelopment in its current shape.

So I leave you with a comment from the owners of Cooke's Pie & Mash shop on Goldhawk Road which is now scheduled to be demolished along with the rest of the 19 century row of shops in that part of the Bush:

"More lies told by the council working hand in hand with the developers. We will keep fighting".

And so they will.

Ken & Brian on Police, Tories on, er, something else

2012-02-08T11:51:00.004Z

Timing is everything in politics. And on the day that Labour and LibDems have just launched two videos on policing, some Conservatives have released one attacking what they feel are benefits scroungers who they accuse of spending their benefits on drugs. The folks at Boris HQ will be tairing their blonde manes out.

The Livingstone and Paddick operations, Labour and LibDem, have both stepped up their attacks on the cut in Police numbers that Boris admits has taken place under his Mayoralty, with each campaign releasing videos that you can watch above and below. Ken's is a bit OTT but the point is about people having their voice heard while Paddick's is more a chatty interview type piece.

Neither candidate particularly likes the other but it's quite clear the person they really want to unseat is Boris and I would expect them to co-operate at some point in the campaign with the polls still indicating that Boris could lose. So expect policing to be a major issue between now and May - and if you want a taste of what local policing looks like in Shepherd's Bush you could read about one Saturday night policing the Bush or one extraordinary raid with the police I took part in here.

Here's Paddick:

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Mean&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Meanwhile Tory supporters have released their own video, also today, depicting unemployed people as "lazy" including a woman who calls herself a "lazy cow" and is on drugs including "heroin and crack". It's been tweeted by Toby Young, H&F's favourite Free Schooler:

1205 UPDATE: Andy Slaughter had the first question at today's Prime Minister's Questions where he raised the issue of police cuts with David Cameron. Rather excruciatingly for Mr Slaughter given yesterday's events the Prime Minister had started the session by paying tribute to the Queen, which Mr Slaughter then had to echo. His claim was that Boris had cut numbers - the PM pointed out that crime was down. And that there were dangers of careless Tweeting...

Shepherd's Bush Market: Meeting with traders, MP & Council

2012-02-08T10:20:00.004Z

On Monday a meeting took place between traders, the shopkeepers of the Goldhawk Road, MP Andy Slaughter, Council Leader Stephen Greenhalgh and one or two Council planning officers. The aim was to air some of the issues relating to the plan to allow Orion to redevelop the Market ahead of what will doubtless be a boisterous and largely farcical planning committee meeting this evening, where Conservative councillors will nod the scheme through despite the widespread opposition that exists. It's by now a time-honoured practice of our Council.

One of the residents at the meeting has written an account of it which I reproduce below. I understand from an impeccable source that the Council's press team have been working closely with Orion for a number of months now to promote the scheme (even while it is still in theory subject to "consultation") and you can expect there to be a positive spin put out just after tonight's meeting about how wonderful it all is and how everyone agrees with it, really. Like they did after the planning committee meeting on King Street. They clearly didn't persuade Boris.

So to balance things out here is a perspective from an ordinary resident who cares about their Market and their area, and wouldn't normally have their voice heard through the Council/Developer spin machine:

"Yesterday a group of the Goldhawk Road Shopkeepers & their legal counsel Michael Webster; James Horada Shepherds Bush Market Traders Association; Rosemary Petit Save our Skyline/ Resident and myself (Shepherds Bush Green Ward resident) attended a meeting that was arranged by labour MP Andy Slaughter with Stephen Greenhalgh about the regeneration project".

I would like to extend a big Thank You to those who managed to take the time from their day to represent the various groups and express our grave misgivings of the development project. Despite the arguments presented against the project it was clear the LBHF Planning Officers have every intention of pushing this project through.

The group of representatives expressed that whilst they were happy with the idea of regenerating Shepherds Bush Market and the surrounding area they are very uncomfortable with allowing the development of a 9 storey 212 unit private apartment at the expense of the local community. Following are examples of the points made.

When asked why the Goldhawk Road shops were included in the Market Regeneration Project despite never being part of the market Matt Butler (LBHF planning) explained the Shepherds Bush Market site is somewhat awkward therefore a group of council planners sat around a table and decided as the Goldhawk Road shops are not listed and of no architectural value it was logical to include them in the development footprint.

When asked if they had considered what impact losing the shops would have on the community he said no. Consequently our community is under threat because a group of council people who most probably do not live in the area decided including the Homeless Shelter and 30 - 52 Goldhawk Road made logical sense in creating a site worthy of development.

Once again the question was posed as to why no other developers were invited to tender or considered for the Shepherds Bush Market Regeneration development project? Yet again the council failed to provide an answer.

Despite the relatively high level of objection the public have submitted against this Shepherds Bush Market Regeneration planning application and the Supplementary Planning Document facing a Judicial Review on May 15th - 16th 2012 the council planning officers have recommended its approval.

That is why I am putting out a CALL FOR ACTION!

1. LBHF planning committee are meeting tomorrow 8th February 2012, 19:00pm at the Hammersmith Town Hall on Kings Street to decide Orion Shepherds Bush Limited's planning application for the Shepherds Bush Market Regeneration. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE RALLY AS MANY OBJECTORS AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND ENSURE OUR CONERNS ARE PROPERLY REPRESENTED AS THE PLANNING COMMITTEE CONSIST OF A MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS WHO ARE LIKELY TO TOW THE PARTY LINE REGARDLESS OF PUBLIC OPINION.

2. The Council planning officers report on the Shepherds Bush Market Regeneration Programme planning (LBHF Planning Committee Public Report scroll down to page 121) seeks to disregard the Supplementary Planning Document which is the subject of a Judicial Review and the only opportunity the Market Traders and Residents (i.e. only Lime Grove & Pennard Road) were afforded to provide recorded feedback at the beginning of this project proposal. Additionally despite the unusually high number of objections received against the planning application (majority in support of the Goldhawk Road shops) the council are recommending the planning application be approved. This to me is a clear indication LBHF council do not have the interest of the community at heart and as such it is left to us (i.e. local tax payers) to let the authorities and the rest of the country know exactly how we feel. THEREFORE I AM ASKING YOU TO BLOG & TWEET TO THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES INVITING THEM TO JOIN US AND MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THEY TOO COULD BE FACING THE SAME SITUATION.

3. It is conservatively projected the developers may make a clear profit of £30- £40 Million from this project. However

a. The development will not include 40% affordable housing as previously stated;

b. the commercial space provided in the proposed plan is significantly smaller than the existing shops which means it would be impossible to re-house the Goldhawk Road shops in the new development as indicated at the public meetings;

c. The compensation package being offered for loss of business during the construction period (8-10 years) is £500,000 for over 150 market traders (note: it is unclear whether the Shopkeepers are included in this package as well). That is approximately £3300 per trader over a significant period, which is woefully low and is likely to lead to the stalls having to shut despite serving this community for 98 years.

MODERN BRITAIN AND OUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTS A DIVERSE SOCIETY THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON TOLERANCE, INCLUSION AND OPPORTUNITY AT ALL LEVELS, WE NEED TO LET THE AUTHORITIES KNOW WE WILL DEFEND OUR HERITAGE. PLEASE WRITE THE MAYOR OF LONDON OBJECTING TO THE WAY PUBLIC FEELING IS BEING DISREGARDED BY HAMMESMITH & FULHAM COUNCIL.

THURSDAY UPDATE - As expected the Conservative members of the planning committee ignored local opposition and nodded the scheme through last night.

Swimathon to support H&F disabled

2012-02-08T05:59:00.001Z

Disabled people in H&F, as with the rest of the country, have had the rough end of the stick recently. With services being cut back locally and rhetoric being put out nationally suggesting that they are somehow benefits scroungers, they need all the support they can get at the moment.

Hammersmith And Fulham Action on Disability, HAFAD, are aiming to do just that by organising a swimathon which has become an annual occurence since it started several years ago. This year on Sunday 20th May swimmers will be gathering at Fulham Pools on Lillie Road to complete a distance that they set themselves in order to raise funds.

The whole event is set to cover a minimum of 26 miles swum in 12 hours - a marathon in a day, in other words, and is well worth considering if you fancy generating some much needed funds for people who could very much do with your support.

The organisers point out that there are 11 million disabled people in the UK, and only 17% of them were actually born with their disability. That means in your lifetime either you or people very close to you will become disabled. A cause worthy indeed. To find out more about how HAFAD plan to use the funds to support local disabled people click here and for more information about the swimathon contact James Coke by emailing info@hafad.org.uk

Queen Jubilee provokes local cyber-row

2012-02-07T05:59:00.000Z

Andy Slaughter found himself in the centre of a media maelstrom yesterday as comments from his staffer Matt Zarb, who works in his parliamentary office, threatened to erupt into a full scale political row.

Mr Zarb, using Twitter, had marked the day of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, by tweeting: “"Congratulations this morning to Queen Elizabeth II. 60 years of scrounging benefits off the taxpayer without being caught."

Cue much retweeting and barbed comments by local Conservatives, who immediately tried to infer that Mr Zarb’s comments reflected the views of his boss, who as well as being our MP is also Labour’s frontbench spokesman for Justice.

Initially Mr Zarb was unrepentant, tweeting: “Oh I insulted the Queen. How very dare I.” But after both the Evening Standard and Sky News started running pieces on the affair, while increasingly prominent Conservative figures started weighing in to the argument, his boss was forced to intervene on behalf of his increasingly beleaguered staffer.

Mr Slaughter issued a statement saying: "The Queen has given great service to our country and these comments are totally unacceptable. I've spoken to the member of staff in the strongest terms and he has apologised for his comments."

And soon enough a chastened Mr Zarb tweeted his last for that day with the customary post-interview-without-coffee retraction which you can see below.

All a bit of political football which had little to do with the big issues people really want their politicians to be arguing about, but a lesson in the dangers of social media, as if we needed another one, for politicians and wannabe politicians alike.

Oh, and for the record, I’m a Republican.

H&F Circle: Action to prevent 'Early Winter Death' in W12

2012-02-06T14:53:00.002Z

H&F has the highest number of people killed by the cold in London. A shocking statistic and one which I only came across today as a result of an offer of help by the excellent H&F Circle, an organisation for the over 50s which I reported on in January last year.

Hammersmith & Fulham Circle are working with other leading organisations in the borough on a scheme to help prevent Early Winter Deaths (EWDs). Common causes of EWDs are heart attacks, stroke, influenza, respiratory disease, falls/injuries and hypothermia, and Hammersmith & Fulham have the 4th highest rate of EWDs in the country and the highest in London! These deaths can be prevented. The Council has provided funding for a variety of help from each of the different organisations.

If you are over 65, have a disability, a long-term health condition or have children under the age of 5, then this severe cold can be a real challenge. Hammersmith & Fulham Circle are offering to grit or shovel the path outside your door, measure the temperature inside your home and give you a blanket or a storage heater if it's too cold. They can help buy some shopping, pick up medications or do errands if it's too cold or slippery. And they can accompany you to a hospital appointment, the doctors, or the shops.

All of this is absolutely free until the 31st of March - so if you would like some help or advice, or if you know of a friend or neighbour that could benefit, then call 0800 112 3448 or email info@hfcircle.org.uk for more information

And do for goodness sakes check on your elderly neighbours. Go on, don't be shy!

2012: Should I stay or should I go?

2012-02-06T09:19:00.004Z

A frozen Ginglik

As you picked your way gingerly to work through slush spattered streets this morning, you may have thought that summer is farther away than it's ever been. But this is actually the fag end of what has been until very recently an exceptionally mild winter, and before long the rays of Spring will be upon us. So what to do, in this momentus year?

There is certainly a lot happening in London in the months ahead.

For a start there will be an extended range of events relating to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, which centre around an extended weekend on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th June. We even get an extra Bank Holiday to mark the event.

And then of course there are the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the Olympics starting on the 27th July and the Paralympic Games on the 29th August. Over the Summer there will also be range of events connected to the Cultural Olympiad.

For some people London might be the best place in the world to be this Spring and Summer. Even if you haven't got tickets to any of the events there will be free live coverage on huge screens in Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and Victoria Park, and other places such as Blackheath. The road cycling and marathon events are also open to everyone, with no tickets required.

And surely just being in the capital, savouring the atmosphere by perhaps watching the events with friends in a pub in the Bush will be special?

Well, this is exactly the message that the organisers of the Games wish to send out - London will be buzzing this Summer.

In fact on Friday night I listened to a speech at a City Hall reception where we were told just how exciting it will be across the capital, starting in the weeks running up to Games with the Olympic torch coming through every borough, and then during 'Games Time' itself.

To get us into the mood they even allowed us to hold the Olympic torch - yes that is the real thing - quite what they were doing letting me hold it is anyone's guess.

I personally hope the Games are a great success. It will be the only time it will happen in London in most people's lifetimes and let's face it, London's economy needs a shot in the arm. An influx of visitors spending a lot of money can only be a good thing. And if the Games are well run that will send out an amazing image of London to literally billions of people.

Again that can only be a great thing.

However for some Londoners perhaps the events this Spring and Summer are exactly just the time to get away. Afterall we can cheer on Tom Daley, our cyclists, rowers and other athletes wherever we are.

And then there is the issue of London's transport network

There is now a raging debate as to whether London's transport system will cope, or whether there will be gridlock due to the disruption caused by so many heads of state suddenly visiting and the Olympic Route Network reducing road space throughout the Games - not to mention millions of extra people who wish to travel on our tube and train networks.

For some people the prospect of weeks of longer and more crowded journeys just getting to work and then back home is exactly why getting out of London might be a good idea.

If you are one of those people who simply can't wait to get out of London I have a suggestion of one place for a holiday this Spring or Summer.

Last Autumn I stayed at a wonderful farmstead in Normandy called La Hamberie. I would thoroughly recommend it, especially for families.

La Hamberie, Normandy

It has five self catering houses and flats- called gites, all with their own gardens. The place is incredibly family friendly, including even a massive barn that kids can play in if the weather isn't that great. Most of the gites have excellent facilities for disabled people. During the Summer there is an outdoor pool for everyone to enjoy and throughout the whole year there is a huge number of places to visit - from Mont St. Michel to Monet's Garden, to Falaise Castle to race horsing at Deauville. And for foodies there is no shortage of excellent restaurants literally everywhere.

It might also seem a small thing but if you live in London you will soon notice the lack of light pollution at nightime.

Of course this part of France is also a powerful reminder of the huge sacrifices that were made during the Second World War, starting with the Normandy landings and then the intense fighting that took place in the first few weeks of liberating Europe from Nazi tyranny. The war cemeteries, the landing beaches and places such as Pointe du Hoc and Pegasus Bridge are all nearby and well worth visiting.

After the 1936 Berlin Games the Olympics had to be cancelled on two separate occasions as war raged around the world. During this period we came close to being invaded by a Nazi regime. A trip to Normandy brings home just what so many peple went through just four years before London last hosted the Olympics.

So if you are staying in London this Spring and Summer I hope you have an incredible time. There will be much to enjoy, and if you enjoy crowds you will be spoilt for choice.

But if you want to get away and escape from the bustle I hope I have given just one idea of where to head to.

For more information about the facilities at La Hamberie and the Normandy area just check out this website

Bush in the snow - tubes down gritters out

2012-02-05T12:18:00.002Z

Last week Boris Johnson had this to say to the BBC: "Across all our roads and rails, hundreds of workers are on standby to ensure that, should we receive a mega deposit of snow, we are in a position to keep the capital moving."

Well, that went well didn't it.

On the home front, however, our Council seem to be making a much better fist of it with pent-up gritting machines, who've been chomping at the bit all winter to spray their grit, have been unleashed. By all accounts things seem to be OK at the moment across H&F.

I have to say this weird weather (a very mild winter with a Siberian snap just at the end) continues a trend that saw October's autumnal leaves fall to the super-heated ground of 32C heat. Which is why I never cease to be amazed that the global warming deniers on the lunatic fringes always seize on any cold weather as conclusive proof that the theory is bunkum.

No IQ test required to be an MEP

So enjoy the snow and be careful on the roads. And good luck to you all on Monday...

Shepherd's Bush Market: Council steamroller on

2012-02-01T18:13:00.007Z

A meeting took place earlier this week between property developers Orion and the traders of our Market.

I wasn't able to attend but our MP Andy Slaughter did, and wrote this on his website today.

The meeting took place on Monday at Bush Hall.

Speaking on his website he said:

"Last Monday’s meeting with Orion did very little to clear up the uncertainty in relation to the development of the market itself. The loss of affordable residential accommodation in the area and the demolition of an historic row of shops are not given enough weight in the report to the planning committee. In addition to the implications of the development on the livelihoods of the market traders, there is the scandal of losing 27 flats for homeless people, the Daycentre and the shops on Goldhawk Road – all for the sake of 212 mainly luxury high-rise flats".

Aside from the detail of the meeting it is clear, as it always has been and despite promises made to the contrary by Council Leader Stephen Greenhalgh, that the infamous planning committee will - shock horror - approve the plans despite the reservations of residents. Remind you of anything? At all?

The real realities of this situation seem to me to be twofold - Firstly, and away from the theatre of what will be another farcical planning committee next Wednesday, the real power decision is actually going to be made in the Courts during May 15-16 as a result of the judicial review brought by the shopowners who stand to lose their buildings on Goldhawk Road over abuse of process by our Council.

Secondly, and several weeks before that Court date, a certain Mr Boris Johnson has an appointment with the electors of London. If Ken Livingstone keeps his slender lead and wins that election, these plans in their entirety will be binned because the Mayor's approval is needed for them under the terms of the London Plan.

You can bet your bottom brick that Orion is hoping for a Tory victory...

Hetley Road assault

2012-02-01T14:49:00.003Z

A man was assaulted at the young people’s half-way house based in Hetley Road on monday night, ending with him being taken to hospital with minor injuries. Several of you contacted me to find out what had gone on after witnessing the commotion.

Here’s the police entry for the incident:

Police were called to an address in Hetley Road, W12 at 22:16 on the 30th January to a disturbance. A male had attended the location to visit an acquaintance and was told by one of the residents to desist in ringing the bell. The victim was then met on the doorstep by the two suspects who allegedly pushed him to the ground and assaulted him. The victim was conveyed to hospital with a broken nose and cuts and bruising.

The first suspect was described as a Black male in his late teens, approximately 5’05” tall with short black hair.

The second suspect was described as a male in his late teens, approximately 5’10” tall.

Any witnesses can contact DC Coral McGhan at the Priority Crime Unit - Hammersmith Police Station on 02082462655, via 101 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800555111

Shepherd's Bush Market drugs bust

2012-02-01T12:25:00.003Z

On Wednesday 2nd November 2011 officers from our very own Safer Neighbourhood Team arrested seven people following a joint operation to disrupt drug dealing in Shepherds Bush Market.

The SNT, supported by officers from across London, descended upon various locations within the market where drugs were openly being stored and supplied.

During the search of six market stalls predominantly selling West Indian artifacts and fast food police recovered a Kilo of Herbal Cannabis & £2000 in cash.

Drug dealing paraphernalia in the form of digital scales, bags and other packaging were also seized.

Selwyn Brown 45 yrs - Charged with Possession With Intent To Supply Cannabis
Leonard Andall 50 yrs - Charged with Possession With Intent To Supply & Possession of Cannabis
35 year old man - No Further Action
Emmanuel Andrew 40 yrs - Charged with Possession With Intent To Supply Cannabis
Milton Richardson 50 yrs - Charged with Possession With Intent To Supply & Possession of Cannabis
Emmanual Eboka 45 yrs - Charged with Possession With Intent To Supply & Possession of Cannabis
Roy Lewis 52 years - Charged with Possession With Intent To Supply Cannabis

All are due to appear at Hammersmith Magistrates Court on Friday 2nd March 2012

Detective Sergeant Simon Rogers from Hammersmith & Fulham's Drugs Squad said:

“This operation highlights the Drug Squad's commitment to removing drug dealers from the streets of Hammersmith & Fulham. We will continue to work with local Safer Neighbourhoods Teams and Partner Agencies in a bid to remove the dealers from the streets of Shepherds Bush."

Chief Superintendent Lucy D'Orsi Hammersmith & Fulham's Borough Commander said:

“My officers are committed to disrupting criminal activity and are actively targeting those involved in crime in Hammersmith and Fulham. The Borough Drugs Squad led operation was a result of intelligence gathered by officers and I would urge the community to let us know, in confidence, where criminality is taking place so that we can provide the most appropriate response."

Council mergers: hypocrisy?

2012-02-01T05:40:00.007Z

Four Tories: Eric Pickles, plus Leaders of Westminster, K&C & H&F at their merger

Remember the sound and fury generated by the merger of H&F, K&C and Westminster services? Education and others were placed under one executive leadership team and even the Chief Execs were slimmed down from three to one saving residents a "pot full of cash" according to H&F Tories last year.

At the time Labour in H&F were outraged, issuing public denunciations and warning darkly of sinister plans to somehow turn the new enlarged fiefdom completely Conservative by altering the electoral map of the new super-borough. Where would it all end, they asked? H&F Opposition Leader Stephan Cowan said at the time:

"I asked officials why these two boroughs were chosen to be H&F’s partners. It’s because the Conservative “politicians get on well with each other and have a lot in common” came the reply. That’s not the greatest of reasons. I can see the logic of sharing some services with Kensington and Chelsea Council – indeed; the last Labour administration did precisely that but not Westminster – especially given its difficult circumstances".

"So maybe there is some truth in the allegation that the overall objective for this merger is an attempt to gerrymander a more comprehensive political union between the three Conservative run councils and do away with current borough boundaries before the voters have a chance to kick any of them out at the next elections"?

Beastly. But what's this?! Three Labour councils - Ealing, Brent and Harrow have just announced ... er ... a merger of services in order to ... er .... "cut costs". The three authorities, according to EalingToday, plan to "cut the cost of running libraries and leisure facilities"

According to EalingToday "The plan is to work with the two neighbouring boroughs to consider whether jointly running services would save money. The council will also consider proposals put forward by any charitable organisations".

Ealing Labour Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet member for community services and safety, told the site:

“We want to offer excellent services and are committed to investing to improve these facilities. We do however still need to reduce running costs for both our library and leisure services.

''We will now begin detailed work to see if entering into a joint contract could help cut those costs. We will look carefully at any proposals presented and are clear that we won’t do anything we don’t feel is right for Ealing.”

Meanwhile the Harrow Observer reports plans for a merger of NHS Hospital services across the three boroughs too. For similar reasons.

All sounds fair enough to me - but I wonder whether we'll hear wailing and the gnashing of teeth about this from Labour in H&F? I think perhaps we won't.

Unigate Dairy fire

2012-01-31T10:36:00.014Z

courtesy of @phillipanews - view from BBC TVC

Thick black smoke is covering much of the Bush this morning, as a fire is busily destroying the Unigate Dairy building on Wood Lane. Cue some breathless reporting from our local media about it all being "terrifying" but for those of you seeking a balanced and factual account of things today you could do worse than either tune in to LBC or keep checking the BBC website reporting the story here

Fifty firefighters and 10 engines are apparently in attendance and nobody has been reported hurt. Thank goodness. Follow the London Fire Brigade here.

Keep your fellow Bushers updated via the comments, normal drill folks.

The scene from S Africa Rd - smoke still rising

1330 UPDATE - I have to say, having just walked through the Bush, from Goldhawk Road, the Market, Wood Lane and then up through the streets towards Uxbridge Rd again, I have rarely seen it this, well, weird. Intensely cold, with many of the roads cordoned off it seemed as if the irate traffic was infecting passers by too.

Cyclist was on road behind ambulance - deliberately didn't take his image

I saw a fight spill out of a betting shop on Goldhawk Road, then a cyclist being treated by paramedics on the same road, before stopping to help another cyclist who had crashed into a car. He wasn't hurt.

Bush Green part sealed off - gridlock ensues

Wood Lane deserted and sealed

The sirens seem to be wailing away non-stop all over the place and the centre piece of the drama is of course the dairy building which has been reduced to a smoking hulk. Firefighters are wandering around visibly tired and Police were being reinforced as I was there. One Constable, speaking on condition that I didn't identify them, told me that they had been there since the morning and hadn't eaten - they weren't impressed.

Wood Lane

Wood Lane is cordoned off so those from the BBC who need to get from the White City building to TV Centre are having to walk through a low rise estate on the corner of Wood Lane itself - I saw Matthew Amrolliwala walking through chomping on a sandwich!

Wood Lane plus Fire Engines - through smoke haze

Junction of S Africa Rd & Wood Lane

Here are some pics which capture this bizarre day as it still unfolds.

Bloemfontein Rd - seconds later a cyclist hit a car

1430 UPDATE - In a farcical development the BBC White City building has just been evacuated due to ... a false fire alarm! Well, that should lead to some hot air in the facilities department - despite the real fire over the road it's a cold cold day to be standing around outside for the good people of the Beeb.

1500 UPDATE - The fire has been brought under control although Police on the scene tell me it is still smouldering. The Fire Brigade are trying to cool some of the cylinders in the building to avoid explosions due to the heat. Some of the engines, according to reader comments, have come all the way from East London.

1800 UPDATE - The Fire Brigade have just issued the following update:

"The fire on Wood Lane is now over. It damaged a no. of industrial units and 20vehicles.Cylinders on the site have been cooled + made safe"

H&F over-paid its Chief Executive - Government

2012-01-31T09:21:00.005Z

Geoff Alltimes: Because he's worth it

Our Council has been criticised by none other than big beast Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Local Government, for over-paying the now departed Chief Executive Geoff Alltimes.

Mr Alltimes, who was already one of the highest paid council heads in the UK, was given an £11,000 pay hike the year before he retired to take his pay to £281,000.

When he retired last year, he was awarded a tax free lump sum of £250,000 - yes, that really is a quarter of a million pounds - and was given a good old sing song out of the door, with a further £7,000 of your cash so he could have a posh party. At the time our Council protested on this blog that, rather like their other very highly paid consultants, that he was worth every penny.

Our MP raised the issue yesterday in Parliament with Mr Pickles, who in the past has heaped praise on H&F for its tax cutting prowess. Here is the exchange:

Andy Slaughter: The chief executive of Hammersmith and Fulham recently retired thanks to a pay rise of £11,000 last year, which took his salary to £281,000".

"The library calculates that he will get a pension of £100,000 plus a tax-free lump sum of £250,000. When the borough is cutting Sure Start by 50% is this a good use of public money?"

Eric Pickles: "I am sure that the answer is no."

Realising the fact that this would be picked up on he then hurredly added:

"I am very pleased that the level of chief executive's remuneration has dropped by 14%. I am very pleased that 25% of all (council) chief executives have taken a voluntary cut".

"But I am also pleased that Hammersmith and Fulham, currently for the fourth year running, are reducing their council tax."

So that's OK then.

Askew Road "Bup" is no more

2012-01-31T05:07:00.003Z

The Sun Pub, which closed down as the first gusts of recession swept across the Bush, was not really missed by most. The haunt of thick set men with gold sovereign rings and even thicker necks, it sat opposite the second hand furniture emporium, above which was a drug dealers den. In that den, one of several on Askew Road, a young man called Jaabe Roberts was murdered in June 2010.

Nowadays neither the drug den, nor the furniture store are there anymore and the sovereign ring wearers have gone somewhere else, but speculation has remained about the fate of the Sun Pub which was widely rumoured to be turning into a Waitrose store. I reported this after it was confirmed locally by a Councillor but it seems they were getting ahead of the game. Meanwhile. however, the Askew Road has been seriously on the up winning rave reviews for the new businesses on the road and driven by the Askew Business Network.

A forlorn sign still sits in the window, perhaps penned by the departing landlord - saying "This Bup is Closed". It kind of said it all really.

Now however, there appears to be a new show in town, a fresh application to rip down the facade and turn it into something better, another step on the way up for the Askew Road away from the dingy days of the past. The old application still exists which states the following:

Erection of an additional floor at roof level; erection of a part single storey part 3 storey rear extension in connection with a change of use from public house to retail on ground floor (Class A1) and 8 residential units on upper floor together with associated cycle and refuse storage; erection of a 3 storey side extension housing staircase to upper floors.(revisions comprising external modifications to the design of the front elevation)

Now a new one has been submitted in support of this, which states:

Demolition works to the main building to facilitate the proposed re-development of the site in conjunction with planning application 2011/02630/FUL.

Cllr Lisa Homan has told the local reader that has sent me this heads-up that she is still not sure whether or not it is likely to be a Waitrose. So what could it be, this "retail" unit with new flats on top? Whatever it is, I feel confident it will be an improvement on The Sun.

"retired" consultant gets £710 per day for West Ken

2012-01-30T05:04:00.005Z

Not Nick Johnson

We have our very own Stephen Hestor in these parts, and he isn't about to give up any bonuses. A reader writes in to point out that according to these Council minutes a man called Nick Johnson is being paid £710 per day to advise on the controversial West Ken development, which is opposed by the majority of its residents.

The Council agreed with itself to pay Mr Johnson's company £710 per day for up to 101 days. A total of £71,710.

With defeat over the Hammersmith King Street battle and the prospect of a possible Ken Livingstone victory putting pay to the Shepherd's Bush Market scheme, our Council have revealed their determination not to be blown off course on the £100 million Earls Court/West Ken redevelopment. The problem is that the people who stand to lose their homes don't much fancy it.

Nick Johnson

So the big guns have been brought out. And this gun's expensive. Mr Johnson, who as I reported here in November 2010, was retired on the grounds of ill health and on the understanding that he was "permanently unfit" to work from the top job at Bexley Council in 2007. He was awarded a gold plated £50,000 per annum pension allowance on top of a £300,000 payout from Bexley when he left.

Within months he was employed by our own Council as a "consultant" on 950 of your pounds a day advising the Council on how to manage their soon to be closed housing division "H&F Homes". The Independent claims that since leaving Bexley Mr Johnson has trousered £830,000 - much of which was made possible by classifying himself as a "consultant" and being paid through a company he set up rather than being on the Council's official payroll. This allowed him to take both his pension from Bexley plus his fees from our own Council. This won our Council a coveted "Rotten Boroughs" award from Private Eye recently.

This led Teresa Pearce MP, whose constituency includes Bexley and who was formerly a senior tax investigator at PricewaterhouseCoopers, to say to the Independent on Sunday that, while the arrangement was legal, "it's not within the spirit of the law, definitely not". She added: "Within a year of him being judged to be in permanently ill health he was pictured in a hard hat, with a spade, digging, in a brochure for H&F Homes – this is just so barefaced that it's insulting. Whatever he is paid for holding that office should go through the payroll and it doesn't. HMRC should investigate this."

He doesn't seem to be doing that great a job however - the company that the Council wishes to hand control of the estate over to is at risk of insolvency with debts outweighing their assets and there are real doubts that it will ever be able to do what it says. This led last week to the story I broke last week of first the whistleblowing, and then the resignation of Richard Osband, a former Director of a pro-development residents committee set up by the Council with £38,000 of our cash to combat the much larger anti development committee the residents had set up for themselves. With none of your cash.

H&F Council is adamant that Mr Johnson represents good bang for your buck, though, and a spokesperson told me that:

"We want the best people for the best jobs, and Nick Johnson’s record speaks for itself. Mr Johnson has been leading the Earls Court regeneration scheme for several months and has taken a substantial pay cut in order to continue his work with the council until the end of March.

“Earls Court is the biggest regeneration project in Britain other than the Olympic site and the council wants to retain his vast experience and expertise as the scheme progresses.”

None of that cuts any mustard with Opposition Leader Stephen Cowan, who responded to this story by saying:

"Nick Johnson has been working for the Hammersmith and Fulham’s Conservative run Council since 11th February 2008. That was fourteen weeks after he had been allowed to retire early from being the Chief Executive of Bexley Council (aged 54). The reason given for this was he was deemed “permanently unfit to discharge his duties or any comparable duties as defined by the Local Government Pension Scheme regulations”. That decision allowed him to draw his pension early. That year he then also billed Hammersmith and Fulham a staggering £268,405.00. Since then his consultancy fees have totalled a vast sum equivalent to each Borough household being given a 2% council tax cut.

We are in tough economic circumstances. It is outrageous that such large amounts of tax-payers’ money has been handed out in this way. There should be an independent enquiry around all the circumstances with this contract including why this month the Conservative Administration used a waiver of normal contract procurement to keep Mr. Johnson firm on the Council’s books”.

The Council also gave me a list of Mr Johnson's achievements to date, which I reprodcue below. I recognise that this article and others I've written about him are obviously not welcome and on a personal note if someone's doing a good job I don't have a problem with them getting the market rate. But there seem to be more than a few questions about the conditions of his employment, the status of his 'retirement on ill health' and whether the Council should maybe consider listening to the annoying people who don't really want to move out of their homes.

But here's the list of achievements I was sent nonetheless, pop-pickers:

Nick Johnson’s key achievements to date:

1. Saving the Decent Homes Government Funding

H&F Homes was on the verge of collapse before Mr Johnson took control. The Audit Commission had given the ALMO one star with no prospects. The Decent Homes programme was failing, and over £200 million of government funding to provide new kitchens and bathrooms for all tenants was being recalled by Government. New action teams were formed, and the programme will now be delivered on time. Resident satisfaction with services is now up to highest level ever - 73%.

2. Attaining Audit Commission high rating

Delivered an Audit Commission inspection result of Two Star status with excellent prospects.

3. Delivering Value for Money

Introduced an intensive Value for Money programme that has been able to reduce revenue costs by £6 million per year by restructuring the whole organisation.

If this had not been done rent rises of £6.20 per week for every tenant would have been needed to balance the statutory Housing Revenue Account, which must not go into deficit.

4. Reducing Leasehold charges and arrears

Charges to leaseholders have been reduced in real terms by 15.4% on average, making Hammersmith & Fulham’s service charges now lower than Wandsworth.

5. Cutting the wasteful management hierarchy

A hugely inefficient and expensive top management team of 11 directors has been reduced to 4, with a saving of over £500,000 in top management salaries alone.

6. Personally covering top management vacancies

Mr Johnson covers the work of the Director of Housing and Regeneration, and two Assistant Director roles within the Council, pending recruitment to those positions, working on large regeneration projects, and with Borough resident groups.

7. Planning to reduce back office waste with a proposal to return the ALMO to Council control

Mr Johnson developed the proposal to bring the ALMO back into Council management. This has saved £1million per year and lead to better direct management by the Council.

Shepherd's Bush Market: Their day in Court

2012-01-27T10:57:00.004Z

The battle between traders and the Council over the future of our Market looks set to be decided in a Court room in May this year.

I reported back in May last year that the traders had won permission from the High Court to initiate proceedings for a judicial review of the way in H&F Council has gone about the process. The legal challenge is based on a claim that our Council have failed to follow proper procedure.

The wheels of British justice turn very slowly, so it will be almost a year to the day before the Court hears the case. I understand that two dates have been provisionally allocated, at the beginning or end of that month.

The political anoraks among you will also realise that the Court dates fall after the Mayoral election in London, which is actually where the future of the Market will really be decided. If Boris wins, the scheme will go ahead in its present form in all likelihood. If Ken wins it will probably be binned as he hinted heavily when I interviewed him during his visit to the Pie & Mash shop that is set to be knocked down as part of the scheme. Just like the King Street scheme.

So ... high stakes!

UPDATE SATURDAY - The dates are confirmed - a two day behind-closed-doors hearing on May 15-16. Meanwhile I am hearing that Council Leader Stephen Greenhalgh may meet the owners of some of the Goldhawk Shops, who have invited me along too. Will report back.

Most Wanted: Shepherd's Bush (alleged) crims on display

2012-01-26T11:47:00.004Z

Cllr Greg Smith with Borough Commander Lucy D'Orsi

Do you know these people? They are all featured in a gallery of shame-style initiative between the local Police and our Council and stand accused of a wide variety of petty crimes. Petty maybe but it doesn't feel like that when you're the victim.

This is really excellent use of new media by both our Council, led by Greg Smith, and local Borough Commander Lucy D'Orsi. The rogues gallery, with three foot high mug shots mounted on a mobile ad van, started touring west London today as part of the joint initiative, which has been paid for by the local authority.

“Criminals can run, but they cannot hide,” said Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services. “We need residents to take a long hard look at these faces and help us put these villains behind bars. Our message is clear, if you know these people we want you to turn them in.”

“Crime is falling in Hammersmith & Fulham but, as a council, we want to do everything we can to make our borough even safer and hopefully this rogues gallery will generate some leads for the police to follow."

Good luck to them - and study the images on this website. If you know anybody please call 101 and let the Police know.

2330 UPDATE - Our MP Andy Slaughter has responded to this article by warning against using eye catching initiatives to cover the fact that police resources have been cut. He says this:

“Whilst the council have at least responded in some way to the worrying increase in burglaries and vehicle crime, our police are having to cope with cuts to their staff. Putting police on the streets is the most effective way of tackling the problem of rising crime, and I urge the council to approach the issue of public safety with caution rather than complacency.”

He is referring to the admission made by Boris Johnson on Tuesday that Police numbers in London have fallen by 1,700 during his Mayoralty. Expect that to be seized on again and again by Labour and others between now and May...

Eviction Wednesday in Hammersmith for charities

2012-01-25T00:01:00.001Z

Charities supporting the vulnerable are getting the boot this morning from the building that has housed them for years, to make way for the West London Free School.

The Council, which announced its firesale of buildings way back in July 2010, gave 20 charities one months' notice to get out in December. That gave them four weeks, which included the Christmas and New Year break.

The services include the Iraqi Association; Iranian Association and the Association of Afghans in UK. Some are moving into Norland House, Hammersmith which isn’t ready yet.

The Iranian Association had nowhere to go and had to involve a solicitor on Monday to get a stay of execution until Saturday, so they can move into temporary accomodation.They are one of only 64 Citizenship Test Centres Nationwide, and have had to suspend their contract for that losing £2,600 per week, until they get sorted.

Andy Slaughter MP has sent the letter below to the Chief Executive of the Council demanding an answer the same day. I'm told by his office that they received a terse response disputing the timescales, but not much more.

In fairness to the West London Free School, this is not their doing. I once called Toby Young the "evictor in chief" in reference to this dark day eventually coming, which he rightly challenged. No, this is a question of priorities to me - low taxes or these sort of services for people who have nowhere else to go.

And why are they here, some of them? Iraqis. Consider the cost in lives of the Iraq war, which by most estimates is between 100,000 and 150,000 lives. Afghans. The war isn't even over. They may be unknown to most of us but the people needing these services are real enough. And they're here in large part because of actions we took in their countries, in Iraq's case possibly ilegally.

This is what the cut backs look like to real people in H&F, folks.

1115 UPDATE WEDNESDAY - The Council has been in touch, and they have a very different view of things. They describe the new venue that some - not all - of the charities being evicted will be moving to on the Edward Woods Estate near the Bush as a "state-of-the-art community hub" and that they've spent £655,000 doing up formerly derelict pram sheds into office space so that they can be used by a number of the borough’s voluntary groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations. The community hub will be split between the ground floors of the Edward Woods blocks of Stebbing, Norland, Poynter and Boxmoor Houses, with the Boxmoor facility likely to be used as the main base for the hub.

Cllr Joe Carlebach, cabinet member for community care, has this to say:

“Hammersmith & Fulham has a vibrant and thriving voluntary sector and we have protected these vital organisations and services despite the severe budget pressures that we face. This new hub will help us to provide better, more modern facilities for our voluntary organisations and we have been working closely with them to ensure their needs are met. I am sure that all of the groups who take up the opportunity will be very pleased with their new home and we will be working hard to make sure that local residents reap the benefits of this fantastic deal.”

I'm told that those charities who are able to move in will need to do so "in a phased manner from early 2012 with a launch event planned for later in the year" What they are supposed to do in the meantime is less clear.

A Council spokesman told me this morning that:

"Organisations interested in renting space at the hub will be asked to complete an application process which has been developed, with priority given to those that meet local priorities, including delivering services that benefit local residents and contribute to the community hub ethos."

Myers Palho1

Guns seized in Shepherd's Bush

2012-01-24T05:27:00.002Z

A routine police operation turned into an arrest which in turn took three firearms off our streets yesterday, in another example of what the local Shepherd's Bush Safer Neighbourhood Team get up to every day on our behalves.

I was told last night that at approximately 1100 hours Officers were making enquiries at an address on White City Estate. At the time they believed the 19 year old male at address had tried to dispose of evidence.

A cursory search discovered street drugs and a fully working hand gun. He was arrested and taken to Hammersmith Police Station. A further search was carried out. One shot gun and another hand gun were found along with ammunition. The three guns have now been taken by police. The arrested male is still in custody as investigation continues.

I'm told that local police are extremely happy that 3 of the few guns that were in circulation are now well and truly safe.

As are we all. When they knock on those doors they really never do know what's behind them. The last time I joined them on a raid on the White City Estate we turned up what looked like a medieval axe and a samurai sword at a flat that had been used to make crystal meth, one of the most dangerous drugs it is possible to take. And we had a horrendous reminder of the impact these weapons have on our streets on Lakeside Road in May last year.

Think about that next time you hear about police resources being cut by politicians.

0930 UPDATE - It seems this arrest was even more serious. The man was arrested with rocks of crack cocaine in his possession and was arrested for possession with intent to supply and having prohibited weapons. Nice.

1130 WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The gunman has been charged, the Police having just issued the following details:

The male, originally from Wolverhampton was charged on the 24th of January with :-

Possession With Intent to Supply Class A Drugs
Possession of a Shotgun without a certificate
Possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate
Possession of a firearm when prohibited for 5 years
Two counts of possession of a firearm relating to the two handguns

Chief Superintendent Lucy D'Orsi, Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Commander said:

"This is yet another example of the great work performed by officers on this Borough and demonstrates the effectiveness of the enhanced Safer Neighbourhoods Team at Shepherds Bush. Thanks to their dilligence a dangerous male is now in custody and three firearms are off the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham. I reaffirm our committment to tackle crime through positive action and would urge anyone with any information on criminals in their area to contact us on 101 or annonymously via Crimestoppers"

West Ken developer at risk of insolvency

2012-01-23T05:45:00.018Z

Our Council know that the developer they want to sell the homes of people living on the West Ken & Gibbs Green Estates to is at real risk of going belly-up, even before the work on rebuilding the estate is complete. But they are pressing ahead with a deal that will ensure they get the £100 million reward they stand to reap in payments from the developer, EC Properties, regardless, according to campaigners against the scheme.

Worse, the deal may not ever result in any improvements to the estate at all according to legal documents seen by a resident formerly supportive of the deal.That resident, Mr Osband, posted a lengthy account of meetings with senior Council officials and others, which you can read below.

Such is the latest development in what must now be the largest of the many planning wars to engulf Hammersmith & Fulham, after the Council was forced to concede defeat in its fight against residents of Hammersmith King Street.

While the Agreement would grant the developer the right, for at least 20 years, to buy up parcels of the estates for demolition, it would not require the developer to deliver any new homes, and would not protect against the developer going bust or selling on. Worse still, ECO properties, owned by CapCo, is revealed as ‘Matterhorn’, which, according to its accounts, is saddled with a third of a billion pounds of debt against assets worth a quarter of a billion, and makes £10 million a year loss.

Having previously failed to perform due diligence on this company, the Council has scrambled Price Waterhouse Coopers to investigate whether ‘Matterhorn’ could remain solvent for the first five years of the Agreement. This would give the Council enough time to force people out and rake in £100 million, but would not be long enough to ensure anything is actually built. It means the developer can do what it likes with the estates, including nothing, as long as it pays the Council to get rid of the existing residents.

Sally Taylor and Diana Belshaw, Chairs of the Tenants and Residents Associations, said:

“It can’t be right that the Council refuses to disclose to residents the Agreement it’s consulting on. Now we’ve been told the Agreement does not honour its repeated ‘guarantees’ and ‘assurances’ that residents would get new homes in the scheme, it’s clear those promises were empty. The Council just wants to force us out, sell off our homes and pocket the cash. It doesn’t care about our welfare or ensuring the area is improved. The consultation is a fraud. The Council should withdraw it immediately.”

Jonathan Rosenberg, Community Organiser for the estates, added: “The Earl’s Court scheme is shaping up to be the next Battersea power station: decades of over-ambitious schemes busting successive developers with the site left to rack and ruin. ‘Regeneration’ is a scam to obscure the Council’s gerrymandering agenda, and for the Council and the developer to profiteer from social engineering. Thankfully, most regeneration professionals are properly motivated: they would abhor the discredit caused to their sector by the Council’s dishonesty.”

The beans were spilt by a member of the Council's own Residents Steering Committee (they set an alternative one up with your cash so that they would have someone to agree with them) on a very long posting on the W14 site which you can read here

You can also read a Word doc of the posting below if you are not subscribed to the W14 site (they insist on collecting personal data before they let you join)

The crux of this very long posting, warts n’ all, is as follows:

The six week period for consultation is not long enough for people to consider the Council’s key decision on whether to sign the sell-off agreement
The Council is hiding the Conditional Land Sale Agreement (CLSA), even though that is what it’s consulting on.
The Council failed to carry out due diligence on EC Properties Ltd. PWC is now reviewing the firm to assess its solvency for the next five years, enough time for the Council to get its £100 million but not enough to ensure the development actually happens. There is a beak clause for the Council if the scheme fails to obtain planning permission within five years. After that, and otherwise, the developer can do what it likes, including selling EC Properties.
The scale and complex nature of the scheme presents a material risk that EC properties might become insolvent after five years, but there is no means to protect the Council against this or ensure the development happens.
The CLSA does not provide the Council with the ability to terminate the agreement should the developer fail to perform. It could, for example, buy up the estates but not develop them for 15 or 20 years, or even take 20 years to buy up all of the estates and still not develop them. Alternatively, it could go bust or sell on to another developer, who in turn could decide to do something else entirely.

I first reported here back in March 2010 on the West Ken fightback which is led by residents who have been implacably opposed to our Council’s plans from day one. In response to their campaign our Council has used £38,000 of your cash to set up an alternative residents group, with a fraction of the number of members, and spent even more on publicity extolling the benefits of the scheme. Council Leader Stephen Greenhalgh was reduced to pleading with the Government not to let the residents take advantage of Big Society legislation intended to hand power to residents, because they wanted to evict the Council as a "rogue landlord".

Boris Johnson was collared by one angry lady on his way into a PR event sponsored jointly by the Council and the Fulham Chronicle and was left in no doubt that all the residents are asking for is a straight vote over the future of their homes.

Too much to ask? You betcha – this is Hammersmith & Fulham. Below is the full blog post by the whistleblowing Mr Osband.

1130 UPDATE TUESDAY - The Council has responded to this article. An H&F Council spokesman said:

“The council would only enter a conditional land sale agreement with a property company if we were completely confident of its ability to potentially deliver thousands of new homes, jobs and neighbourhood improvements, including new homes for people currently living on West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates. It is the norm for a large public limited company to set up a subsidiary company to oversee a potential development of this nature. In the event that the council decides to enter into a conditional land sale agreement it will ensure the developer has the sufficient funding in place. The council will ensure that there is robust independent assessment and checking for the entire redevelopment period.”

UPDATE SUNDAY - Well, Richard Osband has answered the Council's view of things emphatically. He's resigned from the Steering Group that the Council spent £38,000 of your money setting up so they had someone to agree with them. Now they don't.

Osband Post 19 January 2012

Pedestrian hit by bus in Shepherd's Bush

2012-01-20T22:06:00.017Z

Police markings, indicating the accident, remain on the road

A pedestrian was hit by a bus at just before 1900 this evening in what was, according to those of you who have been in touch with me and who saw either the incident or the immediate aftermath, a very serious accident.

Almost immediately we have had the rumour mill flowing, including reports that it was a female pedestrian and that it had been a fatality. At this stage I can confirm that it is not fatal and that the person involved has been taken to hospital.I understand from a secondary source that it was actually a male pedestrian.

I have spoken to the local Shepherd's Bush Police this evening who will be putting out full details first thing tomorrow. So keep checking back and as usual in these circumstances feel free to update your fellow Bushers via the comments section.

And do stay safe.

1630 SATURDAY UPDATE - I've had three seperate reports from different sources that the man died today in hospital. I stress this is unconfirmed at this point but one of the sources in particular would seem to be in a good position to know. Not good.

1710 UPDATE - The Police have just confirmed to me that the man died this afternoon and that next of kin have been informed. They have asked that the many eye witnesses who have left comments here to contact them by calling 101 and referencing CAD 7450 of the 20th.

I suspect friends and relatives of the man may come across this article, and may have done so already. I'm sure I can speak for everyone when I offer deepest sympathies. Life really can be gone in a moment.

0600 SUNDAY UPDATE - As you've done before several Bushers are updating and sharing thoughts on what happenned in the comments including eye witnesses to the accident itself. One witness in particular claims the bus driver had little chance to stop as the man ran out, and that they'll be going to Police this morning. Please do, and if anyone else has yet to report what they saw, please call them. In the meantime thanks for sharing.

1030 SUNDAY UPDATE - The Police have cnfirmed that the dead man was 60 years old, not in his fifties as reported elsewhere, and that his family was with him in the hospital when he died. Here is the statement in full:

"At 1900 hours on Friday 20th January 2012 there was a road traffic accident outside Shepherds Bush Station. A 60 year old male received serious head injuries. He was rushed to St Marys Hospital for immediate surgery".

"At 1400 hours on Saturday 21st January 2012 the male died as a result of those injuries. His next of kin was with him at the hospital".

"Officers from Metropolitan Police Traffic Command Unit are investigating the circumstances of the accident".