Category Archives: Middlesex

by loukit | June 28, 2025 · 23:02

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

Tagged as Bus route H28, Hounslow Council, Hounslow Highways, Osterley & Spring Grove, Osterley Park, OWGRA, Spring Grove, Tony Louki

by loukit | April 14, 2025 · 12:57

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

Tagged as Hounslow Council, Osterley & Spring Grove, OWGRA, Planning, Tony Louki

by loukit | April 8, 2024 · 11:51

Great West Road Firestone site: Redesign proposal

A little before Christmas, the planning agent for 6 West Cross Way wrote to say that they’ll not be facilitating a tree outside the former Firestone building location as had been kindly placed by owners Legal & General in 2021 and 2022.

Proposed amendment to the former Firestone Factory site scheme

Councillors were also told to expect an application for minor amendments to the planning permission approved in November 2022. The existing scheme, (reference P/2021/4973) which was going to be built for Tesla, currently includes a car showroom, car workshop, MOT testing facilities, offices floorspace, new vehicle access points, service yard, basement car parking, landscaping, boundary and other associated works.

Tesla has pulled out and L&G is now looking at how best to make sure this scheme is delivered. They have decided to build it speculatively and intend to find an occupier during construction, or as soon as possible after completion.

Without a requirement to return to the Planning Committee, L&G’s agent has, under Section 73 of the 1990 Planning Act, just applied for a “non material amendment” to the existing planning permission.

Accompanying the submission and shown within this design pack, the changes sought include, reducing the size of the building, removing the basement and to reprovide outdoor parking around the more compact building. The pastiche deco style clock has been dropped because of concerns over its maintenance.

Firestone steps railing finial

Careful integration of what was left of the heritage of the site would remain. The planning agent says, “L&G remains confident that the scheme will attract a high class occupier who will make a real contribution to the Great West Road … and jobs that will be created.”

Responding, I emphasised that the site should be developed rather than left part demolished. Equally, when raised, the developer confirmed that all Grade II Listed Firestone heritage (remaining after Thatcher’s Fan Club vandalised it beyond recovery in 1980) would be protected, maintained and enhanced. L&G reiterated that their current Design and Access Statement regarding the Great West Road frontage will be secure, planted with sufficiently mature evergreens and access to power for lighting at Christmas ensured.

It has been said that speculative developments should be built to consider the broadest interest of the market, ensuring that a suitable occupier can be found and this is what led to some amendments to the permitted scheme, “to make it as market facing as possible”.

Regretably, by Autumn 2023, Tesla changed its strategy which, in turn, led Legal & General to revise that 2022 approved scheme to something smaller; less costly to build and then rent. Perhaps it may still happen. Mr Musk, by then, may later want something more economical and could end up in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward after all.

TL. 8.4.2024

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Filed under Brentford, Great West Road, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Planning

Tagged as Great West Road, Hounslow Council, Osterley & Spring Grove, Planning, Tony Louki

by loukit | June 22, 2023 · 17:20

Seccombes: Insurers Authorise Rebuild

Following one of the longest tooth pulling events, Seccombes Builders Merchants Managing Director, John Seccombe has advised that, the end of discussions earlier this week between loss adjusters and insurance companies for both his company and the boy racer’s, meant that permission has been given to proceed with the reconstruction of the Syon Lane building.

Seccombes: Scaffolding up since 5.2.2023 when the poor driver lost control

Unlikely to commence before early July, Seccombes’ contractor is now discussing changes to the supporting scaffolding, up since early February, to enable safe working on and around the damaged building.

With changes, access can be created to dismantle the building in its entirety from the roof down to ground level. It will then be possible for the scaffolding to be removed. An assessment will then be made as to whether safe construction may begin without the tiresome traffic restrictions in place.

Seccombes: Temporary lights on Windmill Lane may be removed by the end of July

The footway here on Syon Lane is very narrow, presenting a danger to anyone working outside the wall and building. So, following assessment and discussion with Hounslow Highways, it will be clearer as to what restrictions will be necessary during the rebuild.

Seccombes are, expectedly, cautious about offering any timescales but it is estimated that the entire rebuild could take as much as eleven weeks; Mr Seccombe will keep providing updates with any changes that happen.

Seccombes: Rebuild likely to end late Summer

The company says that they values everyone’s patience and hopes that residents and visitors appreciate that there is light at the of end of the tunnel.

TL 22.6.2023

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Filed under Hounslow Highways, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Road works, Roads, Sky, Traffic, Wyke Green

Tagged as Aftab Siddiqui, Hounslow Council, Hounslow Highways, Osterley & Spring Grove, Osterley Park, OWGRA, Syon Lane, Tony Louki, Unsa Chaudri, Wyke Gardens

by loukit | April 11, 2023 · 08:54

Syon Lane: Seccombes, Scaffolding and Signals

Since the incident of 6 February 2023, enquiries have been made on behalf of residents and updates received from the company, Hounslow Highways and the Police as to when repairs will start on the damaged building and consequential traffic delays between Great West Road and Tentelow Lane ended.

Seccombes: Intensive and robust scaffolding

Last week, the company’s Managing Director, Mr John Seccombe, advised,

“Despite repeated pleas to them [the insurers] to move as quickly as possible, the insurance process has been painfully slow and methodical, frustrating a quick resolution. Our contractor has finally been given go ahead to start peeling back the damage on Tuesday 11 April in order to access hidden parts of our 200+ years old building. This will ensure the structural engineers have a full understanding of the task ahead.

Seccombes: Up close building damage

“These ‘enabling works’ are critical but will lead to ultimately having the scaffolding removed. It is still unclear as to how long this stage will take but we are sure we will finally be seeing some visible progress. We will update you all again when the Engineers have completed these final tests and we have a working timescale.