Collapsing Roof on Uxbridge Road Captured on Film

In December we reported on the collapse of a roof above the pawnbroker at 2200 Uxbridge Road, which injured a pedestrian and covered the area in debris. Now you can see the footage of the collapse in real-time. Fortunately, the unlucky chap who was passing at the precise moment of the collapse does not seem to have been seriously injured.

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.

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.

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. 

Shepherd's Bush Police Station Is Not Welcoming Visitors

Shepherd's Bush Police Station - Forbidding?

Shepherd's Bush police station is not the most beautiful building in our neighbourhood. A 1960's-style concrete block on the Uxbridge Road that makes Moscow's Ljubljanka seem friendly and welcoming, our local cop shop has not been improved by the closing of the public counter back in 2013.

In other words, the one thing you need from a local police station - the ability to report a crime - is now not possible. So, what exactly is it for, then?

Tube Strike Planned for Wednesday 8 July at 9.30pm

Tube Strike Planned for 8 July. Photo: Wikipedia

ASLEF have called for a Tube strike starting at 9.30pm on Wednesday July 8, continuing into Thursday July 9. If the strike goes ahead, it will likely bring the whole of London Underground (and the rest of the city) to a halt. Luckily for us in Shepherd's Bush, we still have plenty of buses and also access to the Overground network, which will not be affected. And, of course, there are Boris Bikes.

What Is The Shepherd's Bush Saturation Zone?

Cumulative Impact Saturation Zone

What is the Shepherd's Bush Saturation Zone? Most residents of Shepherd's Bush have probably never heard of it, or have the faintest idea what it means. But it is important, and it does matter.  The Shepherd's Bush Saturation Zone is a special licensing policy which was created by the Council in 2010 to restrict the expansion of licensed premises in an area which was already "saturated" with places to drink. In short, it was an attempt by the Council to keep booze in the Bush under control. So how does it actually work?

An Interview With Charlie Dewhirst, Conservative Candidate for Hammersmith

Charlie Dewhirst - Conservative Candidate for Hammersmith

In January we featured an interview with our local MP Andy Slaughter, who we invited to talk about some of the local issues that will affect Shepherd's Bush during the general election in May.  By way of balance, we put the same questions to our local Conservative candidate, Charles Dewhirst, so that our readers can decide for themselves which candidate offers the most compelling program for voters in our neighbourhood.

Shepherd's Bush Tube Station Ticket Offices to Close

Shepherd's Bush Tube Station Southern Entrance by Sunil060902 via Wikimedia Commons

The ticket windows at Shepherd’s Bush Tube station are closing on 9 February, as part of TFL's plans to "modernise the Tube".  TFL say they are "moving their staff into the ticket hall" where they will apparently be "able to assist [the public] more effectively". And "the station will continue to be staffed between the first and last train times." So, all part of improving the service then?

Bush Theatre Offers 10% Discount to Local Residents!

Bush Theatre: Queen of The Uxbridge Road

Discounts on theatre tickets, food and drink are being offered throughout 2015 to anyone who lives or works near the fabulous Bush Theatre on the Uxbridge Road. The free Bush Local Scheme will continue this year thanks to a generous £6,000 donation by the West 12 Shopping Centre.

An Exclusive Interview With Shepherd's Bush MP Andy Slaughter

Andy Slaughter MP. Photo: Wikipedia

A General Election is looming in May, and the old certainties of Labour -v- Conservative no longer apply. Coalition politics, the steady rise of UKIP, and an almost-victory for the Scottish Nationalists in the recent referendum means that political power in the UK looks more unpredictable than ever. With that in mind, we are inviting our local political candidates to talk about what the future holds for Shepherd's Bush, and what our politicians can do to improve our neighbourhood for the benefit of all our citizens. First up is local MP Andy Slaughter, our incumbent Member of Parliament.

Save the Palladium! Historic Shepherd's Bush Cinema Faces Demolition

Shepherd's Bush Palladium, originally the Cinematograph Theatre, in 1910

The Shepherd's Bush Palladium, more recently known as the Walkabout Pub, is facing demolition.  A pre-planning application has been received by the Council to turn it into a 16 storey block of - you guessed it - luxury flats. It will be an extension to the new Dorsett Regency hotel, itself a converted former cinema. Built in 1910 as the Shepherd's Bush Cinematograph Theatre, The Palladium stopped showing films in 1981, and was eventually converted into a pub, owned and operated for many years by the Walkabout chain. Until last year, Kiwis in flip flops and fancy dress were a common sight in The Bush.

Eating Out in Shepherd's Bush - The Time Out Guide

Time Out in Shepherd's Bush

Where should you go to eat out in Shepherd's Bush? Here is what The Time Out Guide to Shepherd's Bush has to say about our neighbourhood: "The vibe in Shepherd's Bush? Hectic! With its Overground and underground stations, a spaghetti-like road network, its old-school street market and the behemoth Westfield shopping centre, the Bush is bustling day and night. Its biggest selling point is that it's home to great music venues like the Shepherd's Bush Empire and Bush Hall, original theatre courtesy of the Bush Theatre, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants from all over the world." Amen to that. If you're not eating well in Shepherd's Bush, you're not trying hard enough. So what and where does Time Out recommend?

The Visitors at The Bush Theatre Gets 5 Star Reviews

The Visitors - now playing at The Bush Theatre

The Bush Theater moved to its new home in the old library on the Uxbridge Road in 2011, and since then has established itself as a worthy temple of culture in Shepherd's Bush, bringing excellent new writing and rising talent to a building which had been dark since the new library opened in the Westfield Centre in 2008. Now playing at The Bush Theatre is - The Visitors - getting 5 star reviews.

Chris Underwood's Shepherd's Bush Blog is Back Online

The original Shepherd's Bush Blog

The Original Shepherd's Bush Blog is back online - at least as a historical archive of life in the Bush. Chris Underwood's excellent local blog, which he kept up for five years from 2008 until his move to South Africa in 2013, is live once more. It has not been updated since the end of last year, but it remains an excellent resource for all sorts of aspects of life in The Bush.

Story Stock Comes to The Bush theatre on Tuesday 28 October

Story Stock

The Bush Theatre is our newest temple of culture in The Bush, presently occupying the old library on the Uxbridge Road, a venerable Victorian structure founded by enterpreneur and philanthropist Passmore Edwards in the late 19th century.  Next week StoryStock comes to the Bush Theatre, bringing art and culture to children of all ages.

Farmer's Market Comes to Shepherd's Bush

Brook Green farmer's Market

Here in the Bush we have a lot of choice about where to buy our groceries. We get to choose not just between the big national chains - Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco's, and Morrisons - but we enjoy a host of Middle Eastern and Polish specialist stores lining the Uxbridge and Goldhawk Roads.  Now, we have a new farmer's market - it takes place every saturday morning from 10am until 3pm in Addison Primary School on Bolingbroke Road in Brook Green.

St James White City Planning Application Now Taking Soundings From The Public

St James White City Redevelopment area

Developer St James has now submitted a formal planning application to the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham seeking planning permission for its development proposals for the M&S Warehouse Site on Wood Lane. The application reference number is 2014/04726/OUT and can be found on the Council's website here. St James will also be making the submitted planning documents available to view at the UGLI Buildings on the dates and times below. Bush residents are invited to drop in and discuss the proposals with the team.

What's Happening to Shepherd's Bush Market?

Shepherd's Bush market is being developed by Orion

The outgoing Council's plans for the redevelopment of Shepherd's Bush Market are controversial, not least because they involve the demolition of the much-loved Cooke's Pie and Mash shop on the Goldhawk Road, featured in the classic film Quadrophenia. Recently the market development just took one step closer to being realised, as minister Erick Pickles granted a compulsory purchase order, apparently acting against the recommendation of planning inspector Ava Wood.

Beautifying the Uxbridge Road and Goldhawk Road

Uxbridge Road - in need of beautification?

One of the more positive developments put into place by the outgoing Council administration in our Borough was a road beautification program for Shepherd's Bush - in particular the Uxbridge Road and the Goldhawk Road, near the point where they connect to Shepherd's Bush Green. Plans to improve the Goldhawk road are already under way, with Uxbridge Rd due to be improved in early 2015. So what can residents of The Bush expect?