Construction on Westfield Extension To Begin in May

Westfield expands northwards

Construction work on the extension to Westfield Shopping Centre is set to begin in May.  Demolition work has of course already begun, with great swathes of brownfield land north of Westfield turned to rubble. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of May and continue through until October 2017, if our Council gives the green light. So should we welcome this massive expansion of what is already one of Europe's largest shopping centres?

Does Shepherd's Bush Market Need Saving?

Shepherd's Bush Market in April 2015

The 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 some of the Market traders went to the High Court to fight against its redevelopment.  The legal action was begun in the High Court on March 26 against the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, to quash a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) issued by the Government for the development. But is this proposed development really so bad, and should local residents oppose it?

Hummingbird Deli Opens in The Bush

Hummingbird Deli

Until a few days ago, we lacked a decent deli in Shepherd's Bush.  We had plenty of supermarkets, and lots of places to buy hummus and flat bread, but nowhere could you find a good old-fashioned delicatessen.  Now, the Hummingbird Deli has opened up on the Uxbridge Road, bringing yummy things to our high street and making our local neighbourhood even more of a foodie's paradise than it already was.

Who Ruined The Imperial War Museum?

Imperial War Museum - photo by Chris Gunns

Recently I took my nephew, visiting London from California, to see the refurbished Imperial War Museum in Southwark. I'd been telling him how great it was, and indeed it used to be one of my favourite museums in London - bright, airy, full of fabulous stuff like Spitfires and Sopwith Camels suspended from the ceiling in its cavernous interior.  The museum was closed for well over a year for an extensive (and expensive) refit and the result is that it has been completely ruined. How could this happen? How could so much public money have been spent on such a horrible mistake?

Free Stuff to Do in Shepherd's Bush - Chiswick House

"Chiswick House" by Patche99z via Wikimedia Commons 

Yes, I know, Chiswick House is definitely not in Shepherd's Bush, but it's not that far away and it is situated in the middle of one of the most beautiful and least-visited parks in West London. Chiswick House itself is a stunning neo-Palladian mansion built in a visually harmonious classical style, a perfect example of 18th Century architectural and landscaping. The gardens surrounding the house are gorgeous; right now the camellias are in bloom, occupying the extensive greenhouses which have been recently been restored to their early 19th century glory.

Reprieve For Hammersmith Park?

Hammersmith Park - worth saving?

There is good news at last about the future of Hammersmith Park, which has (until recently) been threatened with a proposed new development by Play Football which would see one third of the park effectively privatised and turned into pay-per-use football pitches. According to our redoubtable local campaigner Virginia Ironside, Play Football has agreed to a full consultation on a new scheme for the park that will keep it in public ownership and also upgrade its facilities. So, good news at last then?

Can the Historic Palladium Theatre Be Saved?

How The Green Might Look

In January we reported the threat to The Shepherd's Bush Palladium, (more recently known as the Walkabout Pub), which was facing demolition and redevelopment.  Formal planning permission has now been sought by its owners, the Dorsett Regency hotel, to demolish the old cinema, even though the building lies within a Conservation Area, and replace it with a sixteen storey tower (see above).  So, the question is, will the developers get their way, or can one of Shepherd's Bush's most historic buildings be saved?

Free Stuff to Do in Shepherd's Bush - Ravenscourt Park

Former stable block of Ravensourt House, now a cafe

Ravenscourt Park, like its more glamorous W11 cousin Holland Park, used to be an aristocratic estate. You can still see elements of its former elegance in the former stable block-turned cafe, and the well landscaped open spaces that invite you to take in its length and breadth in a broad circuit. Ravenscourt park is local, attractive, well managed, and completely free.

Flowers on the Statue of St Volodymyr, Patron Saint of Ukraine

St Volodymyr

St Volodymyr, known in the west as Vladimir The Great, stands watch outside the Ukrainian embassy on Holland Park Avenue, wreathed in flowers.

Should it Be a Crime to Pee in Public?

Charming in a fountain, less appealing in your street. Photo: Wikipedia

You might think that public urination is already a criminal offence, but it turns out that it is not.  At least, not yet. The person peeing against your garden wall might be committing trespass, or even a public nuisance, but there is no criminal sanction for public urination (or worse).  Now, our Council is looking to change the law. If a new measure gets passed, people caught publicly urinating and defecating in Shepherd’s Bush could be given a £100 fine. So, should we support this new law?

Is Shepherd's Bush a Terrorist Target?

Westfield in Shepherd's Bush - targeted by Al Shabab?. Photo: Wikipedia

Should we be worried in the Bush?  The Westfield shopping centre has apparently been named by terrorist group al-Shabab as a potential target.  In a 76-minute video, a man claiming to be from the Al-Qaeda linked terror group says that Oxford Street should be targeted as well as “any of the 100 or so Jewish-owned Westfield shopping centres dotted around the Western world”.

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.

The History of Shepherd's Bush

Shepherd's Bush Green

Ever wondered why Shepherd's Bush is called Shepherd's Bush? Or how White City got its name? Or how our neighbourhood first developed, and why? There are some excellent books on the history of Shepherd's Bush in our local library, but better yet read this article in Wikipedia about how our neighbourhood came to be.  Did you know, for example, that in the Nineteenth Century Shepherd's Bush was a major centre of pineapple production in London? Well, Wikipedia says so, so it must be true.

Mercy Umeh of Shepherd's Bush is Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham

Mercy Umeh - Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham

Many of our local residents don't know that the mayor of The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is a Shepherd's Bush local - our very own Mercy Umeh, for many years a Councillor for Shepherd's Bush Ward.  Mercy can often be seen in our streets - though generally not wearing the fancy gear you can see above.  According to the official LBHF website, she has "chosen Lupus UK and Maggie's Cancer Care Centre as her chosen charity to support during her mayoral year".  So next time you are walking down the Uxbridge road, keep an eye out, you might well see our mayor. Make sure to say hello.

Cherry Blossom Comes to Shepherd's Bush! --- Thanks to Our Local Council, and Councillors

Could Shepherd's Bush look like this? Photo: Wikipedia

National politics can be a frustrating business; your individual vote doesn't count for much and nothing really ever seems to change.  But locally, it is possible to make a difference.  Recently our Residents' Association won a small victory when we managed to persuade the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to plant some new cherry trees in our street.  A small thing, you might think, but flowering Prunus Pandora will greatly brighten up our corner of the Bush, especially in Spring.

Draft House Pub Offers Half Price Food and Drink to Bush Locals From February 23 - 25

The Famed Hammersmith Palais - all that is left today is the sign. Photo: Wikipedia

Pubs are closing all across the country, but here in The Bush a new pub, The Draft House, is opening up on Shepherd's Bush Road. The pub will celebrate the historic music venue The Hammersmith Palais (all that is left is the sign above) which was demolished in 2013, despite having played host over the years to The Beatles,  The Rolling Stones, The Who, David Bowie and The Sex Pistols.  The Draft House is offering neighbours a special deal: from Feb 23-25 food and drink are half price for locals. What more could you ask?

Meeting to Oppose The Mansion Tax on Tuesday 24 February in St Matthew's Church, Bayswater

Is your home a mansion?

SHOUT, the committee formed to oppose the proposed new Mansion Tax, is having a meeting in Bayswater on the evening of Tuesday 24th February.  The meeting will take place in St Matthew's Church, Bayswater at 7pm. The campaign describes itself as having "no political affiliation or agenda".  To see more details, see the Flyer below

Free Stuff to Do in Shepherd's Bush - Brompton Cemetery

Brompton Cemetery

This regular feature should really be titled Free Stuff to Do Near Shepherd's Bush, because most of the things we recommend aren't actually in the Bush.  But then, that's one of the good things about our neighbourhood - it's a great place for getting elsewhere.  Our transport connections are superb and we are perfectly placed for exploring other parts of London.  Today's top tip is Brompton Cemetery, a beautiful place to walk and stroll and find peace and solitude in our busy city.

What Do Residents' Association Meetings Talk About in Shepherd's Bush?

Dim Sum comes to The Bush at the new Dorsett Regency Hotel

Last week we had a long-overdue meeting of the Macfarlane Road and Hopgood St Residents' Association in our corner of Shepherd's Bush. Residents' meetings are not generally an exciting night out and many of the concerns expressed by our friends and neighbours revolve around the usual local worries about public nuisance, parking problems, petty crime and anti-social behaviour. 

We contact the Council and the Police and try to get things improved - it's far from glamorous stuff.  But what do our local residents really get excited about here in the Bush?  When does the conversation get seriously animated? Well, it's all about...

Free Stuff To Do in Shepherd's Bush - Holland Park

Kyoto Garden at Holland Park. Photo: Wikipedia

OK, it's not in Shepherd's Bush, but Holland Park is just a short walk away and is undoubtedly one of London's loveliest parks. Formerly the seat of Lord Holland, the park boasts an opera house, a Japanese garden, tennis courts, a giant chess set,  a children's playground, a cafe, ice cream (in summer), and Peacocks.  What more could anyone want?