Ducks in Hammersmith Park

A mother duck and her family in Hammersmith Park a few days ago. she has somehow managed to raise her duckings despite buildings works, foxes, pollution and, of course, humans.

Council To Demolish Lonely Shed on Shepherd's Bush Green

Disused Electrical Sub-station - to be demolished

Our Council has now put in a formal planning application to demolish the old electricity sub-station on Shepherd's Bush Green. Despite extensive landscaping of the Green in 2013, this dilapidated building was left to rot and even has plants growing out the roof.

We recently wrote to Ian Ross, head of Parks at the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and asked him if he knew what the Council's plans are for what could be - if renovated - an attractive and useful building.  The answer was - definitely not. Demolition is the only answer.

Shepherd's Bush and The Who - The Walking Tour - Free on September 27th!

Simon Rodway

On Sunday September 27th Blue Badge Guide Simon Rodway is offering a free walking tour of Shepherd's Bush, focusing on our neighbourhood's connection with the legendary rock band The Who.

This personally guided walk "celebrates some of the band’s haunts around The Bush". The tour starts at 11.00am on Sunday 27 September and meets at Shepherd's Bush Central Line station.

To book your own free place, email nicki.burgess@lbhf.gov.uk or mohamad.haniff@lbhf.gov.uk.

Tube Strike Postponed

Tomorrow's Tube strikes have been postponed. Union workers have said the two 24-hour walkouts which were to begin at 6.30pm on Tuesday 25 August and at 6.30pm on Thursday 27 August will not now take place. At least, not yet.  

Stuff to Do Near Shepherd's Bush - London Wetland Centre

London Wetland Centre

The London Wetland Centre, or LWC, is a wetland reserve in the heart of West London.  Go there for the day, and you might half think yourself in the deepest countryside.

Tucked into a loop in the River Thames, and formerly home to the Metropolitan Water Board, the London Wetland Centre is now habitat for rare and migrating birds - and much other wildlife, including a family of otters that get fed several times a day.  The Wetland Centre isn't free, but if you buy a family membership you can go there as much as you like.

Tube Strikes Still Planned For Tuesday 25 August and Thursday 27 August.

The good folks from London Underground who brought you the last two Tube strikes are back for more.

Union workers have said they will stage two more strikes this week. Unless unions have a last minute change of heart, two 24-hour walkouts will begin at 6.30pm on Tuesday 25 August and at 6.30pm on Thursday 27 August.

Shepherd’s Bush Market Latest - More Legal Challenges

Market traders are to appeal the latest High Court decision in the ongoing legal battle over the future of Shepherd’s Bush Market. 

The market traders’ most recent legal challenge to Developer Orion's plans to redevelop the Market was heard in the High Court on 28 July 2015, in an unsuccessful effort to quash the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) issued by planning minister Eric Pickles.

Hammersmith Bridge Closed Southbound 8am-4pm Until Friday August 21.

Hammersmith Bridge - Wikimedia Commons

Hammersmith Bridge will be closed southbound from 8am until 4pm until Friday August 21.

Be prepared for traffic chaos in Hammersmith as drivers are forced to use Putney and Chiswick Bridges instead. 

Restaurant Review - Shikumen at the Dorsett Regency

Shikumen at the Dorsett Regency

Shikumen is Shepherd's Bush's glossiest new restaurant. Part of the huge new Dorsett Regency hotel on the west side of Shepherd's Bush Green, Shikumen brings a level of polish to our neighbourhood that you'd expect to find in the more glamorous parts of the West End. In fact, it's so posh it feels like it doesn't really belong in the Bush at all.

£100 Fine for Peeing in The Bush

No longer legal in The Bush.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Public urination in Shepherd's Bush is now officially a criminal offence.  From now on, people caught publicly urinating and defecating in Shepherd’s Bush can be fined up to £100.

Shepherd's Bush Green has traditionally been a bit of a public loo. Chris Underwood put out a call on his blog to nail the "Poo Man of The Bush" back in 2013, for a charming individual (see photo below) who took a dump on the brand new children's playground on Shepherd's Bush Green.  He was caught in the act on CCTV.

Two More Tube Strikes on August 25 and August 27

London Underground workers have said they will stage two more strikes in late August.  The 24-hour walkouts will begin at 6.30pm on Tuesday 25 August and at 6.30pm on Thursday 27 August.

Jeremy Corbyn at Ealing Town Hall on Monday August 17th

Jeremy Corbyn.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, who is the current front runner for leadership of the Labour party, will be at Ealing Town Hall from 7pm-9pm on Monday August 17th to set out his policies and take questions from the public.

Also on the panel will be Pamela Fitzpatrick, Labour Councillor for the London Borough of Ealing, and Theresa Byrne, also a Labour Councillor for Ealing. The Chair is Raj Gill

The event is at Ealing Town Hall,  New Broadway, Ealing, W5 2BY on August 17, 2015 at 7pm. Admission is free.

Why Are The Parking Rules in Shepherd's Bush Such a Mess?

Where can you park legally in Shepherd's Bush? In Pay and Display? With a Residents' Permit? What about a Blue Badge? Where are they valid? And what about a yellow line? When are they restricted, and when are they free? What about motorcycles and scooters? Can they be parked in Pay and Display bays without a ticket? Or perhaps in a residents' bay?

In many parts of Shepherd's Bush, the rules are unclear, poorly signposted, and seem (call me cynical) designed to produce a harvest of lucrative tickets. So what, exactly, are the rules?

Humans of Shepherds Bush - No 2

"One day I got a call asking me how much I would sell 100 helium red balloons for and I said £100. About an hour later, without any sort of warning, the crew from The Apprentice for kids turned up to buy the balloons. They tried to beat the price down but I only went as far as £95.

When the TV show came out loads of people saw it and came to say well done to me because the other team had managed to get the balloons for £75. I was so pleased as I did better out of the deal. Also because my team won even though they paid more for my balloons. It was fun. "

The Bush Telegraph offers a personal view on life in Shepherd's Bush.  If you would like to contribute a story about our neighbourhood, email us at shepherdsbushblog@gmail.com.

Hammersmith Flyover Closed This Weekend

The Hammersmith flyover will be closed this weekend, from Friday 7 until Monday 10 August. The flyover will be closed westbound from 23:30 on Friday until 05:00 on Monday.

Abu Zaad - Best Restaurant in Shepherd's Bush?

Abu Zaad, Uxbridge Road

Abu Zaad is my favourite restaurant in The Bush - the place I keep coming back to. Brightening up a rather tatty stretch of the Uxbridge Road, this family-run business offers fantastic value, delicious Syrian food.

The only downside is you can't get a proper drink, but fresh juices and smoothies (try the mint lemonade) help to make up for the absence of alcohol.

Breaking News - Market Traders Lose Their High Court Battle

Walking through the Shepherd's Bush Market today in search of the perfect falafel wrap, I asked one of the market traders how the hearing on July 28 at the High Court had gone. "Badly", he said "we lost".

Apparently the full reasoning of the Judge's decision won't come until August 19th, but the judgment is in, and it is bad news for the traders. Nothing now stands in the way of Orion to end the five-year dispute over the Market's future, and begin their redevelopment of the market.

What Is The Hammersmith Society And What Does It Do?

1950s London saw a great expansion of road building, with multi-lane highways blasting their way through the city. The Great West Road opened in 1955, and was closely followed by the Hammersmith Flyover in 1961, severing Hammersmith in two and smashing much elegant Victorian housing.

The Hammersmith Society was founded in 1962 by local residents who had fought the roads, seeking to oppose any further destruction of their neighbourhood. Chairman Tom Ryland explains why its work still matters and where the new battle lines are drawn.

Summer Funfair at Ravenscourt Park 5 August to 23 August - All Rides FREE For Kids Today From 3pm to 4pm!

John Parnham Funfair is coming to Ravenscourt Park from today Wednesday 5th August to Sunday 23rd August. The funfair will be open on weekdays from 12pm until 8pm. On weekends it is open from 11am until 8pm.

The funfair is taking part in National Playday today, with free rides from 3pm until 4pm.

At other times, entry to the fair is free, though the rides are not. Tokens can be bought at a booth costing £1 each or £10 for 12 tokens.

The Bush Telegraph offers a personal view on life in Shepherd's Bush.  If you would like to contribute a story about our neighbourhood, email us at shepherdsbushblog@gmail.com.

Tube Strike Starts Tomorrow Night

No trains from 6.30pm Wednesday. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Despite making almost £50k a year (starting salary) for sitting on their bottoms 36 hours a week, London Underground train drivers are on strike again from 6.30pm wednesday night.

The strike will continue into Thursday August 6. Once again the whole of the London Underground system will grind to a halt. Time to plan for the worst, remember that the roads and buses will be even busier than usual, and work from home if you are able.

George Irvine's Fun Fair is in The Bush

George Irvine's FunFair

You can hardly miss George Irvine's Fun Fair on Shepherd's Bush Green. It is big, brash, and noisy, and has taken over much of the Green. Some of the rides look pretty lame, but others, like the big bouncy slide, look like kids might really enjoy them. Entry is free - though the rides are not. Tokens cost £1.20 each, or £10 for ten. The cost of individual rides vary. The fair is open from 12:00pm until 22:00pm daily.

New Trampolining Playground OXYGEN Opens In Acton

Trampolining in Acton at Oxygen

New trampolining playground OXYGEN is going to be a huge success. It is only a force for good - great exercise, fun, great rainy day out, kids love it - and not even its out-of-the-way location up the A40 (just passed the Acton Vue cinema) will stop you going to find some high rise hilarity.

My children aged 9,10 and 12 absolutely loved it and wanted to stay an extra hour after our hour slot ran out.  We could see tots, teenaged and fifty year olds all tumbling about in the brightly lit warehouse on an industrial estate.

Bring Back The Goaloids!

Goaloids in 2013

In 2013 Shepherd's Bush Green got a new piece of public sculpture - The Goaloids. They were always intended to be temporary, and in early 2015 they were removed by the Council.

The Goaloids weren't exactly beautiful, but they were interesting, and little kids loved to play on them, as a sort of mobile climbing frame (though the Council soon posted grumpy notices saying that this was forbidden).

Humans of Shepherd's Bush - No 1

Human No 1

"My car is a mini cab eleven months of the year, but for one month we drive home to Morrocco.  I love that country, but I prefer to be here because I like that all cars have MOT and it is all more organised.  Did you know that more people are killed in Morrocco from accidents on the road than from anything else? I hate it. 

The UK is good because there is order and you know that the cars are all checked and no one is going to steal it either - well, probably not at least!

I have been in the UK since 1996 and its a great country - even if it is a bit freezing - but I know that I can get to Morroco in two days.