Category Archives: Wyke Green

by loukit | May 15, 2025 · 14:40

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

Tagged as Great West Road, Hounslow Council, Osterley & Spring Grove, OWGRA, Syon Lane, Syon Park Gardens, Tony Louki, Wyke Gardens

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.

Traffic queueing: Jersey Road at Wyke Green

Seccombes: Remnants of the boy racer’s smashed motor

Syon Lane northbound towards the Three Bridges

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Filed under Events, Great West Road, Hounslow Highways, Middlesex, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Road works, Roads, Traffic, Wyke Green

Tagged as Great West Road, Hounslow Council, Hounslow Highways, Osterley & Spring Grove, OWGRA, Syon Lane, Tony Louki, Wood Lane

by loukit | August 18, 2022 · 08:23

Gillette Building Tour

Bonnington Gillette Corner Hotel 2006 unrealised proposal

When Gillette owners, Proctor and Gamble, shifted the last of the Syon Lane production line to Łodz in 2006, the 42,000 square metre site was sold to Bonnington, the Ireland based international hotel and leisure firm. It had ambitions for an office park and a 500 bed hotel, later reduced to 300 beds then eventually none when the system of capital tanked in the late noughties and loans from the Allied Irish Bank could not be repaid.

More modern manufacturing plant used for film production

The site, is much more extensive than the three Grade II Listed elements of the Bannister Fletcher 1936 factory and office building, WFC Holden’s 1935 bank and the four separate cheeky cherubs lamp standards fronting Syon Lane. It extends beyond Syon Lane to include the former Pernod House on its corner with Great West Road and Harlequin Avenue making up the rear where later manufacturing buildings are now used for film production.

Extensive and uninterrupted space within the Grade II listed main building

After Bonnington, the whole site was bought after 2013 by the firm involved with the former EMI plant at Hayes, the Vinyl Factory Limited. They now say that applications to develop, extend and enhance existing film production and associated activities on the whole site are soon to be submitted to Hounslow Council, preserving the integrity of the listed elements there.

A chance discussion with Mr Matthew Rees, Hounslow Council’s Head of Planning Development, whilst visiting the former Williams Dye Works site recently, satisfied an eight year quest and yielded contact details for the Gillette Building owners. Arrangements for a tour for Isleworth and Brentford Area Forum (IBAF) Councillors followed, made for 5 August 2022; people from Osterley and Wyke Green Residents Association and Brentford Voice were invited too.

Main staircase to be restored subject to planning

The last time I went inside Gillette’s was in 1992 on a tour with my Acton College tutor group which also coincided with the planning application for building a Tesco store on the United Biscuits factory site. The event was an opportunity to nose, more than anything else, interesting to see the unfinished en suites on the first floor facing Syon Lane.

West facing ground floor former manufacturing hall

Planning applications are awaited but the developer has agreed to run a series of pre planning exhibitions and meetings on site in the run up to formal submission, perhaps later this year. As a member of the Hounslow Council Planning Committee, I shall be unable to make comment once proposals are lodged.

Main building, Listed south facing elevation towards th Bank

I do know, however, that my Ward colleagues Councillors Aftab Siddiqui and Unsa Chaudri are keen that any film production enhancement at Gillette opens up valuable work and training opportunities for the people of Osterley and Spring Grove as well as other parts of our borough. The owners are now briefed on the quality, practical learning delivered at West Thames College associated with digital film making, make up, hair and construction and we have put them in touch with college Principal Tracey Aust.

West facing elevation with Gillette Tower Clock under repair

Further reports will follow as and when. Look out for an item on the Gillette Tower clock restoration currently taking place, coming soon.

TL 18.8.2022

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Filed under Events, Great West Road, Neighbourhoods, Planning, Wyke Green

Tagged as Aftab Siddiqui, Brentford Voice, Bus route H28, Great West Road, Hounslow Council, Lara Parizotto, Marina Sharma, Osterley & Spring Grove, OWGRA, Planning, Syon Lane, TfL, Tony Louki, Unsa Chaudri, West Thames College, Wyke Gardens

by loukit | 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.