Local Democracy Briefing - How To Question Your Council

Hammersmith and Fulham Town Hall

Most residents of Shepherd's Bush probably don't know that it is possible to pose direct questions to our local councillors during council meetings. The system is called Public Questions to Full Council, and allows members of the public to bring their questions to our elected representatives for a full, democratic airing. So, what is it and how does it actually work in practice?

Hammersmith & Fulham Arts Fest 8-14 June

Arts Fest

ArtsFest 2015 is coming to the Bush from 8th-14th June. To find out what events are planned in our neighbourhood, follow this link to the official Arts Fest page. Highlights include Bugsy Malone at The Lyric, Hammersmith, and The Angry Brigade at the Bush Theatre.  On 12 June at Westfield's large open Atrium, The Bhavan Dance Troupe will present Classical Indian dance in full regalia during the course of the day.

Shepherd's Bush Palladium Saved from Demolition - For Now

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

The Shepherd's Bush Palladium, more recently known as the Walkabout Pub, has been saved from demolition - for now.  In a decision on 28 May, our Council rejected Dorsett Regency's plan to demolish the historic cinema and turn it into a 16 storey block of flats. 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. Its future remains uncertain and the owners can appeal this decision and/or submit new plans.

High Tech Autos - Best Garage in The Bush?

High Tech Autos - best garage in the Bush?

Where do you take your car to get fixed in Shepherd's Bush? When I first moved to the area in 2011, I had no local knowledge and no idea where to go - until I stumbled across a post written by Chris Underwood, author of the original Shepherd's Bush Blog.  Chris recommended High Tech Autos, a small garage run by Keith, under the arches next to Shepherd's Bush market tube station. And guess what? Chris is absolutely right - Keith's garage is exactly what everyone with a car to fix is looking for.

Should Shepherd's Bush Be a 20 mph Zone?

30mph - but for how much longer?

LBH&F is consulting with local residents on plans for a 20mph speed limit in our borough. Do you have a strong opinion on this? If so, the council is urging you to come to a public meeting on Tuesday, June 9, at Hammersmith Town Hall.

St James' Development on Wood Lane Gets Planning Approval

St James's Development on Wood Lane - How it will look

Developers St James have won planning permission for their new development on Wood Lane, including a 28 storey tower block, which we first reported on last October.  Last week the Planning Applications Committee at LBH&F approved the application, despite much local opposition including from our constituency MP, Andy Slaughter.

Kidzania to Open on June 25th!

Kidzania opens 25th June

Something big is coming to the Bush. Imagine a 75,000sq.ft child-size city where kids are in charge. No, it's not Lord of The Flies, it's Kidzania - have your kids ever dreamt of becoming a pilot, a firefighter, or an award-winning singer? Kidzania offers the chance for kids to try out more than 60 real life role-play activities, while you do your shopping.

Polish BBQ in Shepherd's Bush on Saturday 30th May

A traditional Polish BBQ is being held on 30th May from 1pm to 5pm in Two Wheels Only Workshop 206 Wells Road, Shepherds Bush, W12 8DB. There will be free polish sausage & beer, 1960's music, test rides on Junak Vintage Scooters and other attractions.

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?

Free Stuff To Do Near Shepherd's Bush - Bishop's Park

Bishop's Park - kid heaven

Bishop's Park is one of West London's well-kept secrets, tucked away in a sleepy corner of Fulham - and one of the loveliest parks in and around our neighbourhood.  It is also one of the best-designed parks for children I have ever come across.  The playground is excellent, full of swings and climbing frames, and it even has a special spraying fountain for kids to play in when the weather is nice. It's pretty much a perfect place to take children in London, especially since it sits just next door to the river Thames, and fabulous Fulham Palace.

Council Offers (Nearly) Free Compost Bins To Bush Residents

Free compost! Photo: Wikipedia

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is encouraging residents to compost their kitchen and garden waste. The Council has teamed up with GetComposting.com to offer composters at subsidised prices, with a 220-litre model available for £12, instead of the usual £39.99. So, it's not exactly free, but it is being offered at a pretty big discount.

Shepherd's Bush Debates Future of Hammersmith Park

Members of the public question the Council

At a meeting on thursday at the White City Community Centre, local residents questioned members of the Council about the future of Hammersmith Park, and what the recent changes to the proposals by Play Football might mean in practice. The meeting was nowhere near as bad-tempered as the last public hearing, when Play Football's Barry Hunter received a two hour public flogging from an angry crowd, but there was still a sense of frustration and anger from the many people who showed up.

Should Westfield VUE Be Allowed a 24 Drinking License?

Westfield London. Photo: Wikipedia

Westfield VUE cinema has applied for a 24 drinking license - allowing it to serve alcohol 24 hours a day.  This is great news for film-goers who fancy a drink at 4am, but less good perhaps for local residents near Westfield who fear the trouble and disorder that comes with 24 hour drinking. Shepherd's Bush was declared a "saturation zone" a few years back by our local Council, meaning that the official licensing policy would be to reject new applications for alcohol licenses.  With a public hearing at the Hammersmith Town Hall scheduled at 7pm on Tuesday 19th May, will the Council support local residents, or back the business interests of Westfield instead?

Hammersmith Park Consultation Now Open - Have Your Say on May 14th!

Following a grass roots campaign led by local activist and writer Virginia Ironside, and supported by The Bush Telegraph, Play Football have at last agreed to revise their plans to convert around one third of Hammersmith Park into pay-per-use five-a-side football pitches.  Following the campaign, which you can read about here, and also here, the Council has now announced a new round of public consultations, in which local residents are strongly encouraged to participate. So, what is happening and how can local people get involved?

(Almost) Free Stuff To Do Near Shepherd's Bush - May Fair at St John's Notting Hill on Saturday 9th May at 1pm

May pole dancing at St John's Notting Hill

This saturday May 9th is the annual May Fair at St John's Notting Hill, an event which has been running for the whole of my adult life and a great place to take the kids.  The event starts at 11am and features face painting, may poles, a bric-a-brac stall, home baked cakes and jams, and tons of other stuff. Profits go to good causes around the world. Best of all, it costs just £1 to enter, and kids are free.

Shepherd's Bush MP Andy Slaughter Re-Elected, Doubling His Majority

Andy Slaughter. Photo: Wikipedia

Congratulations to local MP Andy Slaughter, who has defied his party's national setbacks in yesterday's general election and been re-elected to the constituency of Hammersmith with a convincing majority.  It is testimony to Andy Slaughter's skills as a politician that he has again increased his share of the vote, this time roughly doubling it to win an impressive 50% share, more than enough to bring him home to victory.

Time to Vote! But Who For?

Polling Day by William Hogarth

Here at the Bush Telegraph we won't urge you to vote for any particular party, and we suspect that you wouldn't pay any attention if we did.   But we do urge you to vote, and to vote not just on the national party platforms but on the local issues that confront our neighbourhood.  Ask yourself - what will our candidates do to make our parks better and our streets cleaner? Are they in favour of new development and investment, and if so will they ensure that new developments bring benefits for our whole community? Luckily for you, we have already asked our four main local candidates what their plan is for Shepherd's Bush - if they get elected.

Millicent Scott Puts the LIb Dem Case for Shepherd's Bush

Millicent Scott

With the General Election now just days away, we asked our local Lib Dem candidate, Millicent Scott, to answer the same questions we put to the other main candidates hoping to unseat incumbent Labour MP Andy Slaughter.  So, for those residents of the Bush who still remain undecided, what do the Lib Dems offer the voters of Shepherd's Bush?

Uxbridge Road Becomes the River Uxbridge as Gas Board Puncture Water Pipes

Don't forget your canoe

The gas works contractors on the Uxbridge road must have been digging in the wrong bit of the street when they struck and broke open the water supply to much of Shepherd's Bush, turning our neighbourhood into a fast flowing river on Thursday.  Local residents will have found out the news first of all when they turned on their taps around noon and found - nothing - as all the water ran down local streets instead.

David Akan - Green Party Candidate for Shepherd's Bush

David Akan of The Green Party

David Akan is the Green Party candidate for our local constituency of Hammersmith, hoping to unseat incumbent Labour MP Andy Slaughter. We asked David the same questions we put to the other candidates - questions which focus on local rather than national issues. After all, our local neighbourhood is where we live and work - these are the problems that we face every day.  So, what do the Greens offer the Shepherd's Bush voter in the upcoming election?