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Author Archives: loukit
The Limes of Osterley and Spring Grove: an epicormic ritual
Thornbury Road near Oakley Close: Big Lime epicormic growth
Occasionally, one encounters the odd bit of hate for the OSG Ward street trees. Shedding leaves, pollen, seeds, sap and basal (or epicormic from the Greek) growth, for example.
Thornbury Road c1911
Many specimens, thriving on our roadsides, remain healthy, however. Lots are longer term than many of us, they’ve shed leaves and sap since before we lost half our street sweepers or left our smaller motors in similar sized garages. Trees stayed within the confines of the pits in which they were planted, and their roots would spread less.
However, we’ve got an aging population of, on the most part, well looked after street trees, sometimes appearing to get in the way, a bit dishevelled.
Thornbury Road near Oakley Close: Big Lime after epicormic removal
Early this month, pre-empting a resident’s request, I enquired of Hounslow Highways via FixMyStreet when to expect attention to the basal growth of the around 30 Lime trees on Osterley Avenue and Thornbury Road from Jersey to London Roads. There are a further 138 of them elsewhere in the Ward; around 1,500 street Limes, in total, across the borough.
Thornbury Road Shops c1937
During the growing season, they undergo epicormic removal twice. Timing of each visit depends on the climate and growth of the epicormic for that particular year. The 2025 first removal is now almost complete with the second expected late August, early September, depending on the regrowth.
Osterley Avenue Lime: Epicomic gone and roots to gully works planned
Coincidentally, programmed work in Osterley and Spring Grove started the day after enquiring on 5 June.
TL 28.6.2025
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Filed under H28 bus, Hounslow Highways, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Thornbury Road
Skidmarked Donuts in the Dark at Syon Lane
In recent times, it seemed that those running Tesco on Syon Lane cared little about its neighbours and its facilities after it closed its doors. Very little helped.
Big Tesco, Syon Lane
Often, after dark, people living at this end of Osterley and Spring Grove Ward would be subject to invasion of and noise from the northern end of the store car park. Revved engines, screeching wheels, burning tyres would wreak and interrupt calm and sleep of the 400+ households of afterhours North Isleworth.
Skidmarks at Osterley Tesco expansive car park
The persistence of some concerned residents raising this with councillors (sharing sound and vision footage) and its being referred to the OSG Ward Police and Hounslow Council’s Community Safety Team via the Ward Police Panel, led to a pretty positive onsite meet, earlier this week.
Brokered by LBH Safer Communities Coordinator Tara Doyle, I also met, Ward Police Sergeant Dhillon, Tesco HQ ASB Partnerships and Community Manager, Luke Smith, Osterley Tesco Store Manager, Paul McNulty, nearby resident, Mr Catherall and OWGRA’s Barbara Stryjak.
Donuts and Good Boys. Sgt Dhillon, T Doyle, L Smith, P McNulty, G Catherall, B Stryjak. Photo by T Louki
By the burnt rubber marks from a recent episode, one of the many (but not extensively laid) hard plastic ramps installed following Sergeant Dhillon’s earlier intervention and a newly placed ‘Dalek’ camera, triggered to film noisy additional goings on, we discussed further ideas, not least a better barrier locking regime after closing but it’s not over, more developing.
Recently located, portable Dalek CCTV installed to capture images of transgressions within the Tesco car park
Residents witnessing ongoing incursions are encouraged to call and report on 999.
TL 15.5.2025
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Filed under Great West Road, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, RAs, Roads, Traffic, Wyke Green
Sheila O’Reilly
Sorry to be sharing news of the death from pancreatic cancer, last week, of Sheila O’Reilly, Councillor for Osterley and Spring Grove Ward 2005 to 2018.
At an OSG Ward Police Panel, Osterley Park House 2016
A long term resident of Thistleworth Close, active in the community for a long period either side of her time on the council, and a thorough scrutineer of proposals affecting the Ward; very supportive of residents’ successful campaigns for a humane development of the former Campion House site on Thornbury Road. Sheila’s advice and scrutiny of proposals for the Syon Lane sites were very valuable during planning processes including later Judicial Reviews and Planning Inspections.
Ward Walk on Syon Park Gardens with Hounslow Highways 2017
Regardless of our party political incongruities, we would work well together to advocate for the Ward and its residents during our coincidental tenure as Councillors.
Mayor Ajmer Grewal’s Comminity Awards event 2017
Sheila’s funeral will take place Midday, Friday 25.4.2025 at St Vincent de Paul Church, 2 Witham Road, Isleworth, TW7 4AJ and her Family would welcome the participation of all who who knew her.
Sincere condolences to husband Peter, their Children Kevin and Kathleen and Families.
TL 14.4.2025
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Filed under Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Planning, Spring Grove
Your Neighbourhod Grant 2024/2025: Still time to apply
In its third year, the Your Neighbourhood Grant supports projects, events and activities coming from local residents and that have the backing of their local Councillors.
Deadline to share applications with Osterley and Spring Grove Councillors is Tuesday 18 March 2025.
Guidance on what can be applied for can be read here. Applications are accepted for up to £1,000 towards each project from a pot of £3,000 allocated for Osterley and Spring Grove Ward, please use this form.
Resident volunteers managed Syon Park Gardens Amenity Space by the access to Great West Road
Awards made in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward in 2023/2024, backed by councillors, included support to residents of Syon Park Gardens to plant and manage the amenity spaces either side of its entrance to Great West Road, Thornbury Park Friends for tools, equipment and materials to fill its volunteer container for its regular Spring and Summer sessions. Some funds were also made available to Spring Grove; St Johns; Osterley and Wyke Green residents associations for newsletters and events.
Thornbury Park Friends after a volunteer session with some Neighbourhood Grant funded equipment
Funding applications must be directly submitted by Councillors, if you have an idea for a project that you would like to be supported by the Your Neighbourhood Grant, please email or call one of us,
- Councillor Unsa Chaudri: unsa.chaudri@hounslow.gov.uk
- Councillor Tony Louki: tony.louki@hounslow.gov.uk
- Councillor Aftab Siddiqui: aftab.siddiqui@hounslow.gov.uk
If not Osterley and Spring Grove Ward, find contact details for your own Ward councillor on the Council website
If there are any questions about Your Neighbourhood Grant please contact the Council’s Thriving Communities Fund Managers, Halima Hussain: Halima.Hussain@hounslow.gov.uk.
TL 7.3.2025
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Filed under Council Business, Great West Road, Leisure, London Road, Neighbourhoods, RAs, Spring Grove, Thornbury Park
Tony Louki's Report Back 