Category Archives: Housing

by | May 4, 2022 · 06:55

Introducing Osterley and Spring Grove Ward Labour Party Team for the London Borough of Hounslow Council Elections on 5 May 2022

Mr Aftab Siddiqui, Councillor Unsa Chaudri, Councillor Tony Louki

 

Councillor Tony Louki

Since taking a seat from the Conservatives in 2014, I have attentively served as your Labour Party Councillor for the last eight years.  My presence in and around the Ward (our borough’s biggest and greenest) and an honest and well run campaign improved on that result in 2018.  With the continued support of voters, I would be honoured to maintain this role together with Councillor Unsa Chaudri and Mr Aftab Siddiqui.

 

In 2019, I became the 55th Mayor of the London Borough of Hounslow, a position held for two years in the time of Covid.  Even with that responsibility, I maintained Ward duties and continued to deliver a heavy, councillor’s work caseload.  During, since and as before, I have represented; resolving issues for individuals, families and neighbourhoods.

Councillor Tony Louki representing at the Syon Lane Tesco Homebase Public Inquiry

Since May 2019, and in the face of derision from some quarters, the Labour Councillors here, in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward, have advised, guided, supported and often led residents on how to practically challenge developer proposals which could greatly alter the face of Syon Lane at Tesco and Homebase.  Having sought it, I have been participating at the Planning Public Inquiry since 15 March 2022; presenting on behalf of the three Ward councillors, physically attending to speak for three of the so far nine days.  Aftab Siddiqui also made representations on the first day.

With Greenwood Osterley Archers at Goals Gillette Corner, both of Osterley Sports Network

As an active councillor and for the advantage of the Ward, I always encourage partnership between public services, Hounslow Council, Hounslow Highways, West Thames College and the Ward Police Team for example.  Having established the Osterley Sports Network in 2015, I continue to support sustainability and collaboration between the Ward’s numerous sports clubs and providers including Thistleworth Tennis, Wycombe House, Indian Gymkhana and Old Isleworthians.  I want to see facilities thrive, maintained and not threatened or taken over by developers; sharks will often circle and try to pick off those on their own.

Residents, Police and Hounslow Council checking the Osterley Bowls Pavilion

I tried a number of ways to sustain Osterley Bowls Club but, with an aging membership, it folded in December 2020.  Lately, I have met with residents and been brokering a proposal with the council, police and the Ward’s Police Safer Neighbourhood Panel to use some of the former bowls club pavilion as a Ward Police touchdown base, separate community use associated with Osterley Library and recreation on the bowling green.

With Osterley Library’s Jenny Cox, Clare and local authors Amer Anwar and Khurrum Rahman at a Meet the Author event, October 2019.

Osterley Library is dear to its 30,000 plus users, it is the Ward’s only Council building north of Great West Road.  Although not blatant this time, Conservatives’ usually put out closure scare stories before every election; I and any other Labour Councillor representing here will never allow this. However, it should be said that, despite twelve years of austerity cuts started by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition Government in 2010 where Hounslow Council has lost more than £400 millions of funding, not one of the borough’s eleven libraries has been closed down.

Cutting the ribbon to launch the Syon Lane Station lift , December 2020.

I did lead the campaign to save the H28 bus route via Wood Lane and have continued to advocate for step free (lift) access at our local stations.  I was proud, as Mayor, to cut the ribbon at Syon Lane Station and proclaimed the new lifts at Osterley Station, commissioned by Labour Mayor Khan after Mayor Livingstone’s proposals were scrapped by Conservative Mayor Johnson.  Since 2015, I have pursued lift installation at Isleworth Station and funding is now allocated by the Department for Transport.  Since 2014, I have called and chaired meetings and made written responses on rail franchises, trains service changes and infrastructure consultations.

Hounslow Council traffic engineers, with South Western Railway on the long negotiation to get a cycle short cut from London Road to St Johns Road.

I have also pursued cycle access through Isleworth Station Car Park from London Road to St Johns Road with works set to start this year; a safe and convenient detour to avoid the Sainsbury’s junction.  The three Ward Councillors also submitted a response to Transport for London on Cycleway 9, we are in general support of its passing through our part of London Road subject to provisos of honest consultation pedestrian controlled crossings at St Johns Road, maintaining shoppers parking by the two parades and safe bus stops around Isleworth Station and West Thames College.

St Mary’s Crescent Gate at Jersey Gardens June 2016. Neglected by the Conservatives; fixed through Councillor Tony Louki’s efforts.

Since 2014 Councillor Unsa Chaudri and I, have played an active part in reviving the Friends of Jersey Gardens and Friends of Thornbury Park, bidding for and securing resource to make improvements, repair infrastructure, fix and renew equipment and to plant new trees, see here.  Whether intentional or not, the previous non reporting of repairs in parks, on roads or pavements by Conservatives makes it appear that a Labour run council neglects its assets, when all that needs to be done is submit casework.

June 2014. Previous Conservative ward councillors did not appear interested in ridding Clifton Road’s trade waste and flytips. Following Tony Louki’s pursuit and LBH help it is now a very rare occurence here and other parts around London Road shops.

I regularly walk Osterley and Spring Grove and can honestly say that our Ward is the best kept in the whole borough.  Also encouraging others to do so, I report flytips, litter, A4 subways graffiti, dead trees for replacing, broken paving, potholes and all the rest to Hounslow Highways via https://fms.hounslowhighways.org/.

Genuine living rent housing at St Johns Road on the former Moore Brothers site.

Whichever way analysed, what your Osterley and Spring Grove Labour councillors work on to improve their residents’ immediate happiness and wellbeing do reflect their party’s ambitions and values.  Whilst proud of my own achievements here, I am delighted with my part in helping to secure those with a big impact too such as rehousing individuals and families as well as supporting policy compliant planning applications in the borough that would deliver homes at proper council rents.

Councillor Tony Louki with residents of Wood Lane, Syon Lane and Wyke Estate, 28 April 2015. The day Mary Macleod MP spilled the beans on her long hidden secret on the Conquest Club proposals, and then, a few days, later got booted out of office.

I am also very much aware that, since joining as a kid in 1978 (nine Leaders and counting), I have been formed of the Labour Party.  There are several voters in Osterley and Spring Grove who, possibly as conditioned, would otherwise not choose us.  I do know, though, that because of my and my colleagues’ approach to representative Ward work, people appreciate what they see and what we do in this part of the borough and continue to lend us their vote these past eight years.

Please look at the archive here at www.osterleyspringgrove.org, follow my Twitter account, https://twitter.com/tonylouki or look at the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/councillor.tonylouki  to learn more.

 

Councillor Unsa Chaudri

 

The last two years have been some of the most difficult we in this country will have faced for many years. However, both Hounslow and our community in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward have come together to support and care for those most in need.

I have been fortunate to have been one of your three Councillors during this time, working closely with residents, our community groups, and statutory services to ensure Osterley and Spring Grove is able to thrive once the pandemic is behind us.

Councillor Unsa Chaudri with residents and planning officers examining an application from Access Storage to permit articulated trucks on site via Northumberland Avenue (yet to be determined at 1.5.2022).

I have been active in the local community for over ten years, narrowly missing out in 2014 before helping to secure three Labour seats for the first time ever in 2018 in this now marginal ward where we know that we have to work to earn your vote.

Working closely with Ward colleagues, we have been able to fight for our community, elevating their voice to even national level on matters such as the Tesco/Homebase development. Locally, I challenged and publicly scrutinised the Leader of the Council’s proposal to buy flats off plan from the then yet not even submitted for planning Homebase proposal.

Councillor Unsa Chaudri at the Ward Councillor arranged Tesco/Homebase public meeting. St Francis of Assisi Church, 20 November 2022

Through regular surgeries and canvassing activity, I have come to know our community intimately and this shows in the hundreds of pieces of casework I have handled for residents from housing challenges, abandoned horses right through to anti-social behaviour and reviewing the licence of the Osterley Park Hotel.

Councillor Unsa Chaudri at a residents meeting to explain a Osterley Park Hotel licence variation application. Nishkam School 16.11.2022

However, being a councillor is not just about addressing problems, it is about finding solutions. I am proud we have managed to deliver step free access at Syon Lane and Osterley stations, I am proud that Jersey Gardens has reclaimed its prestigious green flag and I am proud that we have been able to prioritise pothole and pavement repairs for our roads.

Councillor Unsa Chaudri with Hounslow Parks Team’s Sonia Ferdousi and West Thames College Vice Principal Michael Michaelides planting the Thornbury Park Orchard, January 2018.

Professionally, I work with local authorities across the country to support them in improving services for residents. I use this experience in Hounslow as firstly a ward councillor and secondly as a Deputy Cabinet Member to ensure our services are constantly developing.

I attended the Green School and until recently was a committed Governor there and at present I am a Governor at Heston Primary School.

Councillor Unsa Chaudri and Osterley Library’s Jenny Cox in the meeting room where Councillors’ advice surgeries take place.

My values are also driven by my union background. I am a member of Unison and working as a work place representative and assistant branch secretary, I successfully fought for the rights of library and parks staff here in Hounslow.

In politics though nothing stands still and it is easy for us to rest on our laurels. It is vital that councillors are able to be held to account, and that is why I pledge that if reelected I will:

Councillor Unsa Chaudri with Ward Police after an open air joint meeting for residents at Spencer Road in 2021.

  • Ensure we put pressure on developers to deliver the affordable homes and infrastructure we need in a way that is sensitive to our community
  • Campaign for South Western Railways to reverse their cut to services at Isleworth and Syon Lane
  • Remain a strong critical friend ensuring Council policy is right for our community and enshrined in our Labour values
  • Work with council officers to improve our vital parks and green spaces
  • Develop a series of roving surgeries to ensure we are constantly listening to residents who are less engaged in the political process

 

Mr Aftab Siddiqui

 

I have lived in Roxborough Avenue, in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward, for over 15 years with my wife, and three children who attended Marlborough and Green Schools.

Aftab Siddiqui is an expert on alternative energies and was delivering at the European Energy Conference in Vienna, March 2022.

Working in the finance and environment sector, I am responsible for developing strategies to help price sources of energy including hydrogen and other environment friendly fuels.  I am an MBA and an MSC and in my free time, I play squash, cricket and write on economic and political issues.  My finance and environment background helps me to being more in-depth knowledge and to better represent residents’ views at the council.

As well as the Labour Party’s wider manifesto for this 2022 council election, my personal, side platform here in the Ward is, simply, the Three Es, Education, Environment and Economics.

Aftab Siddiqui, residents and Hounslow Police on Great West Road after a tour of ASB locations around the Northumberland Estate in 2019

I know, from close experience, that we have many families in the borough unable to secure nearby places for their children with special educational needs.  Numerous children have to travel far to get the required education and I will work and campaign to increase local education provision.

Aftab Siddiqui on Great West Road at Leigham Drive by one of the six new trees planted for Osterley and Spring Grove Ward by Transport for London.

We have lovely green spaces and parks; however, we need more.  This will help improve air quality whilst increasing outdoor activities provisions.  I want to foster park usage by raising the standard of facilities available to families.

We have numerous independent shops and businesses in the area and I want to support their owners to run them in a more friendly and peaceful environment, actively attending to anti social behaviour.

 

Published and promoted by Conor Hill on behalf of Labour candidates in the London Borough of Hounslow, all at 367 Chiswick High Road W4 4AG

 

TL 4.5.2022

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Filed under Brentford, College Road, Council Business, CPZ, Education, Events, Great West Road, H28 bus, Hounslow Highways, Housing, Leisure, Licensing, London Road, Neighbourhoods, Northumberland Estate, Osterley, Parks, Planning, Public transport, RAs, Reports, Roads, Sports, Spring Grove, TfL, Thornbury Park

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by | May 4, 2022 · 05:17

Tesco Homebase Syon Lane – what’s really going on?

 

Homebase, Syon Lane from the steps at Firestone

Lately, the Conservative candidates have been giving or residents false doorstep assertions that, should they  be successful here in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward after Thursday’s council election, the Berkeley Homes Tesco Homebase proposals will be turned down.  Sadly, this would not be the case.  It’s nonsense and gives cruel, false hope.

Since May 2019, no other candidates have done more to battle the development proposals than Councillor Tony Louki, Councillor Unsa Chaudri, Aftab Siddiqui.  We have faced derision and criticism and attempts made to prevent our participation but we have persisted and pursued in a way that no other local politician (actual or wannabe) aiming to represent our Ward has..

This will never stop and, the three of us shall continue to encourage the Secretary of State do dismiss these out of place and overbearing developments.  Should he do the right thing and the developer decide to apply again, we will advocate for and pursue humane, socially viable and environmentally appropriate developments in Osterley and Spring Grove.  Not just on Syon Lane but also elsewhere in our Ward.

There will soon be a change of leadership at Hounslow Council and, by having three provenly independently minded Labour Councillors representing you, residents would be assured that our influence would be fully maintained in a most likely majority Labour Council, after Thursday.

Together, we have been behind our residents, 100%, and have played the active part that our constituents have come to expect in all Ward matters here, and not just planning.  We have shared intelligence, given advice, called public meetings, questioned the developers, challenged decision makers, sought information, spent many hours in meetings and, even during a busy election campaign, continue to participate at the Planning Inquiry.  Despite their assertions, the Conservatives have been notably absent from the nitty gritty and the fights.

In a recent campaign leaflet, the Conservative Party candidates say that they will work closely with residents to oppose the Tesco Homebase development.  There has been little sign of that close working over three years of the campaign.  Two of them have separately turned up to a couple of demonstrations against the development; one held a placard for half an hour and left, the other passed the time chit chatting, the third was nowhere to be seen.  The Labour Councillors have been a part of the campaign, attending meetings, and demonstrations, along with speaking and writing on the issue.  We also note that one of the Conservative councillors on the Planning Committee bizarrely supported the Tesco development but not the Homebase one.

The following, however, is our record.

20 November 2019 – Labour Ward Councillors appraised 100+ residents of the Berkeley/Tesco/Prudential proposals at St Francis of Assisi Church which we organised and paid for.

21 January 2021 – Councillor Unsa Chaudri forensically challenged council leader Curran and planning boss Matthews at formal scrutiny of a proposal to buy 164 properties off plan at the as yet unapproved Homebase scheme.

8 April 2021 – All Labour Ward Councillors, Louki, Chaudri and Eason represented their residents at the Planning Committee.

12 April 2021 – Councillors advise OWGRA to start its petition to higher level decision makers.

12 May 2021 – Councillor Tony Louki accompanies OWGRA and the 4,332 signatures petition to City Hall for presentation to the Mayor of London.

2 September 2021 – Councillors attend and lobby the London Assembly Meeting at City Hall.

28 September 2021 – Ward Councillors write to the Secretary of State asking for a Planning Inquiry.

13 January 2022 – Ward Councillors submit their case to the Planning Inspector.

15 March 2022 – Planning Inquiry commences and Councillors and candidates participate, present and represent.  Watch Councillor Tony Louki and watch Aftab Siddiqui.  Read Tony Louki’s script here.

At all times, these past three years of this saga, we could not be further away from being NIMBYs.  We know that the borough needs housing but it should match the housing  need (just 14% of the proposed units are three bedroomed),  be appropriate for the location and on a humane scale.  We are with our residents and remain staunch despite the efforts of others to prevent and curtail our continued proven success in representing here in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward.

Crocodile tears though, as usual from the local Conservatives.  Since former Chancellor George Osborne’s Slums of the Future planning “reforms” of July 2015, Conservative legislation has put developers into a stronger position against councils and it is increasingly difficult and costly to refuse poor applications to develop. They say nothing of that in their literature, nor of property developers’ regular and hefty contributions to Conservative Central Office; Russian oligarch proportions.

At this critical stage wherever any embedded political loyalties may be, please maintain the investment of experienced and honest voices speaking up for everyone in Osterley and Spring Grove.

Don’t encourage their nonsense.

Vote for Tony Louki, Unsa Chaudri, Aftab Siddiqui

Thursday 5 May 2022 from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm

Published and promoted by Conor Hill on behalf of Labour candidates in the London Borough of Hounslow, all at 367 Chiswick High Road W4 4AG

TL  4.5.2022

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by | April 14, 2019 · 15:42

The Biggest Ward in Hounslow Borough: Planning updates

There is often a misconception that local authorities are in charge of everything and can influence anything but the basic fact is that Hounslow Council is only able to deliver within the various Acts of Parliament made at Westminster.

In terms of town planning, the council is mainly limited by the content of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Applicants turned down at the first stage of a planning application have a right to appeal to the government Planning Inspectorate and an aggrieved objector, for a fee, can also apply to the court for a judicial review; sometimes either may be pursued all the way to the Supreme Court.

So, todays wee update on aspirations familiar, new, and Oh! No, not that one again, advises of planning at its various stages here, in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward. Planning reference numbers are cited should anyone wish to seek more details on the Hounslow Council website Planning pages using the reference numbers quoted.

Should anyone wish to comment on so far undetermined applications, please write to planningcomments@hounslow.gov.uk

Adini, 891 Great West Road, TW7 5PD Ref: P/2017/5069

Southern elevation of approved Adini residential to Northumberland Avenue

Readers will recall a couple of applications from the owner operators of this site, one to modernise Adini’s commercial facilities, retaining the façade and another for residential to enable the development of the first. The council planning committee refused both applications but the applicant successfully appealed the housing element and the decision is explained here in the planning inspector’s letter.

Former Shell Garage and Contitrades House aka Gillette South Ref: P/2018/4691

Access Self Storage proposal: corner of Northumberland Avenue

This is the site on the corner of Northumberland Avenue and Syon Lane, much loved by itinerant waste collectors. Bar occasional open storage and a brief incarnation in 2017 as a temporary car park for BSkyB, this site was razed in 2008 in preparation for its development as a self storage facility then.

These past five years, the Canada based owners of Access Self Storage have made a number approaches to Hounslow Council Planners to build high and wide on this prominent corner site. Keenly scrutinised by residents and ward councillors the owners have come up with for what some may say is a more humane proposal which is likely to be taken to the council’s Planning Committee on Thursday 2 May 2019.

Osterley Station, Great West Road, TW7 4PU Ref: P/2019/0706

An application for lifts from street to platform level was approved before this councillor’s time back in 2009 but did not get built. A more refined scheme has now been submitted by Transport for London as part of the London Mayor’s ambition to improve access for all to the Underground.

Osterley Station Westbound platform where one of the lifts access would locate

There are some excellent architectural and railway history documents accompanying this application well worth viewing and the substantive commented upon:design and access statement; heritage statement.

Osterley Station Car Park

Readers will recall the December 2018 exhibition at the Indian Gymkhana with displays of proposals for housing on the Osterley Station car park. Following this event, Osterley and Spring Grove Councillors met with the optioned developer, Apartments for London, to feed back our own, and reiterating residents’, thoughts on their ambitions.

So far, no one has come back to us with either a planning application for what the developer originally hoped for or a suggested alternative but as soon as they do, a new exhibition and open meeting will be sought and residents advised and invited.

Domino’s 558 London Road, TW7 4EP Ref: P/2018/0741

In February 2018, the operator of this franchise applied to change their hours of operation from between 09.00 and 22.30 Monday to Saturday and 09.00 to 22.00 Sundays and Bank Holidays to 09.00 to 05.00 Daily, throughout the year. Planning officers considered both the application and responses from neighbours and refused the application and as a result the operator appealed to the Planning Inspector. The report giving reasons for refusal (mainly increased noise and disturbance affecting nearby residents during the night) has already been shared locally but can also be found here.

The inspector has begun the appeal process and has written to the council requesting any further comment from planners as well as residents. That letter can be found here and responses must be submitted in time for a 23 April 2019 deadline.

The appellant’s submission to the Inspector can be found here.

Farm Fried Chicken 481 London Road, TW7 4BX Refs: P/2019/1313 and P/2019/1318

481 London Road, Isleworth

In response to a local resident spotting a sign going up over these hitherto obscured premises, I raised various planning, conservation and licensing queries with numerous specialist council officers on 14 February 2019. At the time of writing, I appreciate the good work of the council’s planning enforcement team in getting (at least meagre) formal applications for the illuminated sign and change of use class from A3 (restaurant) to A5 (hot food takeaway).

To try to understand the applications, the only items to go by are drawings that attempt to regularise the sign and the change of use class.

Hours of operation of the takeaway are a licensing matter and should an application be made, will be shared here.

Warren Motors 585-603 London Road TW7 4EJ Ref: P/2019/0448

Once a common main road feature, the vehicle showroom is gradually disappearing, AFN Porsche and Marlborough Motors have long become Isleworth memories.

There is now a current application for the redevelopment of the Warren Motors site to provide two residential buildings of between part five and part eight stories to achieve 93 flats (comprising three studios, 43 one, 38 two and 4 three-bedroom flats).

The applicant’s agent has stated that the reason they have not held an exhibition or meeting is that the, “consultation process carried out by the Local Authority during the planning application will be more than sufficient. To carry out more engagement above and beyond this prior to the planning application consultation could risk causing consultation fatigue”. I have advised the Hounslow planners that I would be willing to chair a local event on this matter.

Telecoms mast opposite West and Penwerris Courts, Great West Road, TW5 0TJ (previously Ref: P/2016/5062)

 

A bit unusual this in the sense that from what I recall, wannabe applicants run their proposals by councillors first before making formal applications

On studying the telecoms company’s proposal there is little difference, in fact perhaps more obtrusive, to another proposal at the exact same spot in late 2016 which caused great concern locally and was refused by this local authority.

Almost all residents that would potentially face any equipment live in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward as well as the new Oaklands School.

Please forward any comments direct to me, tony.louki@hounslow.gov.uk or other Ward councillors for passing on to the council planners.

TL 14.4.2019

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by | December 7, 2018 · 11:30

Osterley Station flats proposals exhibition

Really, please, as always, don’t shoot the messenger.

The developer’s latest idea for building above the car park at the Grade II Listed Osterley Station

After a number of months waiting for someone to get in touch with even the slightest idea of what was being proposed for the car park area of the Grade II listed Osterley Station, we have news.

Ward Councillors have not been involved in any discussions but were advised that there would be an exhibition of proposals prior to the submission of any planning application by the Transport for London development partner, Apartments for London.

This will take place over two days, at Indian Gymkhana, Thornbury Avenue, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 4NQ between 2.00 pm and 8.00 pm on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 December 2018, more details are on this flyer.

Many people should be aware by now of the reduction of government support for a large number of public services including transport and there is a demand for real affordable housing London.

The Heaps and Holden Osterley Station tower

The idea of building on TfL sites is not unreasonable but in sensitive locations, all efforts should be made to properly consult and take serious comments and residents’ observations into account before assuming that anything will do.  This is one of the first forays into building over station car parks and will be the subject of intense scrutiny.

Osterley and Spring Grove residents are encouraged to attend the exhibition and Ward councillors would welcome your early views as Unsa Chaudri, Richard Eason and I intend to informally meet the developer’s representatives in the New Year.

 

TL 7.12.2018

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by | May 2, 2018 · 23:15

A letter to my constituents: 4 years in and still so much to do

Good morning

I hope you don’t mind my writing to you, just a few hours before the polls open but it has been a hectic few days and I am a little behind, a bit of casework outstanding too.

I think that we have been in touch before either via Councillor casework, a meeting I have held to discuss one of the planning applications, the London Road, our train stations or a traffic matter; along with others, you may have petitioned me. I might have knocked on your door whilst out campaigning or checking on local issues with Ruth Cadbury MP.  You may have seen what I do or found out what interests me from my Tweets or read the odd item here on my sometimes neglected website.

Moving to Isleworth the day after the storm of October 1987. Linkfield, Parkwood and now living on London Road. I did a couple of stints as councillor for Isleworth North in the 1990s, battling Tesco and the Earl over their development ambitions even doing the same with my then council comrades and our Chief Executive, the then plain Bob Kerslake, over the rebuilding of Marlborough School.  As a councillor since, I have met many of you and worked in all neighbourhoods to address residents’ issues and concerns; have even caught up with some old faces from back in the day.

It has be a great pleasure to have been your, the only, Labour Councillor for Osterley and Spring Grove Ward, these past four years. Not only have I tried to represent the largest and still greenest ward in Hounslow but I have succeeded, I think, in bringing people together to work on interests common in their neighbourhoods.

March 2017: Crawford Sidmouth Clean Up III

One of my proudest is, after having been invited to join a local environmental clean up in October 2014, was to support and encourage the residents of Crawford Close and Sidmouth Avenue in an ambition to pave and light a muddy but well used route to Isleworth Station. Three years and two clean ups later, works have started and a proper residents association has taken off. Funds for this came from the section 106 developer money I jad bid for.

Thornbury Park, Isleworth

Another success is, after many years of disinterest by the previous, Conservative, councillors, we have begun to improve Thornbury Park with the support of an enthusiastic Friends Group not to mention £80,000 of funds secured from the council. In 2015, the same amount was accessed for long overdue improvements to Jersey Gardens and the end result was the award of its Green Flag last year.

Another early achievement was to set up the Osterley Sports Network where I brought together Osterley and Spring Grove’s numerous sports clubs and grounds, schools, council and external funders to work together to promote their facilities, healthy pursuits and memberships.

January 2016: Former Borough Road College lighting not serviced for 10+ years until I was approached by residents for support and a long search to find out who should fix (was not LBH)

I could also go into detail about the number of flytips I have seen and reported, potholes I’ve requested to be fixed, graffiti removed, abandoned vehicles taken away and the rest of the environmental atrocities but this is bread and butter stuff. I would prefer, and I have encouraged, residents to do so their selves.

The reason I highlight these few accomplishments is that after over 25 years of Conservative councillors here in Osterley and Spring Grove, I have started to reverse their possibly preferred neglect of our neighbourhoods. I say that because it is easy to ignore and, not report and let any mess prevail in order to blame the rival political party in power.  That way, when it’s election time, all you have to do is accuse carelessness in order to get the votes.

May 2014: Neglected Jersey Gardens space left after gate stolen at St Mary’s Crescent now fixed following my bid for resources

That modus operandi does not and should not work anymore. You get elected, you embrace the role, you see something broken so do your best to fix it or refer it to someone who can.  No denying, Osterley and Spring Grove Ward, is  improved and  better cohesive because the people here have had a working and commited Labour councillor with no hidden agenda.

Former Telephone Repeater building on footpath to Osterley Station: owner pursued and fined under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Recently cleared of “squatters” following continued Hounslow Council enforcement.

From day one, I picked up and resolved long term issues that previous Conservative councillors either ignored or didn’t (and still don’t) follow through on, such as,

  • prosecution of the owner of the troublesome illegal dwelling on Spencer Road footpath
  • clearing and fencing of the Earl of Jersey’s notorious dump on Braybourne Drive
  • removal of trade waste bins from Clifton Road and a clean up behind the London Road shops, making this almost flytip free
  • securing cash to create safe routes and access to Isleworth and Syon Lane Stations
  • chasing Hounslow Highways and successfully reducing its backlog of repairs across the ward.

January 2015: Bins at Clifton Road

In short, I have worked hard with residents, the council, police and other local partners to reverse Conservative neglect and disinterest to make sure we have a ward we can all be proud of. I want to continue this, and I hope to do so with two more Labour councillors who can support us with this goal.

This is what I have been doing since May 2014 and should like to do it again but with a full team of doers, alongside Labour Party candidates Unsa Chaudri and Richard Eason. These two are energetic, enthusiastic, bright and waiting to get started. I would even go as far to say that they are twice as good as me.

Tony Louki, Richard Eason and Unsa Chaudri at Spencer Road recently

You have a choice to make. You will decide who will be your Osterley and Spring Grove ward councillors for the next four years. You can vote for three Labour councillors who will be hardworking and committed to ensuring that your voice is heard in the council.

  • Unsa works in developing community services in local government, as a previous candidate in Osterley and Spring Grove, she brings a wealth of experience working within the local community. Unsa serves as a governor for two local schools.
  • Richard is an experienced finance and projects professional who has spent the past decade championing community and voluntary sector activity and involvement.

Nationally, the headlines each day show just how big a mess the Conservatives are making in Government and their only ambition is to save their own positions.

Locally, Labour are getting on with running the Council, making steady improvements despite huge cuts in funding from the Government. The contrast between us could not be more stark.

The developer of new homes on London Road agreed to my request that the location be called Samuelson Place after the founder of Worton Studios and the blocks after directors who filmed there

With your support, Labour will continue to invest in improving services for residents. I’ve been working hard to do just that for the past four years. Unlike the two Conservatives I have just shared my term with, I bid for, and won, an additional £470,000 cash for the ward, for its parks, for improving amenity areas, for heritage, including the area’s film legacy, and for the Borough Road War Memorial. With a full team of three Labour councillors in Osterley and Spring Grove we would do so much more.

Osterley Library opened by past Labour strongman Alf King 52 years ago. Still operating despite the almost ritual quadrennial scaring and government austerity funding cuts

We will be able to,

  • continue the work begun to improve our parks and playgrounds
  • maintain Osterley Library, it will stay open, the Conservatives’ closure scares is a 30 year old broken record they have played at the last 8 council elections
  • work with and promote our local sports facilities
  • maintain pressure on Transport for London to improve the condition of the Great West Road, its pavements, cycle lanes and make safe the junctions at Gillette Corner, Wood Lane and Thornbury Road
  • keep pressing South Western Railway to improve the trains service and stations at Isleworth and Syon Lane.

Jan 2018: With OSG Dedicated Ward Officer PC Carl Scully noting another find of spent nitrous oxide charges

We will always support and campaign for more police; there were six looking after us here in 2014, now we’re down to just three officers; sadly, the Met has suffered swingeing austerity cuts too.

This election is important, in 2014 residents took a chance on me and I do not think I have let you down.

Tomorrow, I hope you will, even if you have never supported Labour before, lend your three votes to support my team, so we can fully maximise the service our neighbourhoods get from Hounslow’s Labour Council. If by 2022, we have let you and the Ward down, you can have them back but as many have been saying about me, so far so good.

Thank you

Tony Louki

Labour Party Councillor for Osterley and Spring Grove Ward

 Vote from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm and if you have not yet completed your postal vote, please do so and deliver it to any of the polling stations in the London Borough of Hounslow.

 Hounslow’s votes will be counted at Hounslow Civic Centre from 10.00 am on Friday

TL 3.5.2018

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