Macfarlane Rd Residents' Association Meeting October 28

The Macfarlane Road Residents' Association is a local residents' group that gathers quarterly in Shepherd's Bush to try and improve our local neighbourhood.

Their next meeting is on October 28, so if you're a local and you'd like to get involved, come along and have your say.

Tube Strike on the Central Line on Friday

Central Line is on strike on Friday

London Underground station staff on the Central Line are to go on strike on Friday.

The strike is scheduled to start just after midnight, lasting 24 hours.

To see the full story, read the Evening Standard report.

Gunnersbury Park Restoration

The 18th Century "Large Mansion" at Gunnersbury Park

Ealing and Hounslow Councils have been working for many years, using funds awarded by the National Lottery, to restore the old Rothschild mansion and its extensive grounds at Gunnersbury Park.

The mid-18th Century "Large Mansion" and its park were sold to the public at a bargain price by the Rothschild family in 1926.

Since then however, the buildings had fallen into disrepair.

"Pick and Save" License Review on November 7

Pick and Save

Local Police are seeking a review of the alcohol license for Pick and Save, the off-license at 29 Goldhawk Road.  At a Ward Panel Meeting in Shepherd's Bush last night, licensing officers explained that Pick and Save "are not co-operating with the police" in helping to prevent late-night street drinking.

Street drinkers tend to load up on single cans of high strength beer. To discourage this, police try to get local off-licenses to limit or even refuse these sorts of sales.

Licensing is a subject on which local people can make a difference. Anyone who wants to comment at the official LBHF site can do so, and you can also make your voice heard at the hearing itself.

To see the official page for this Licensing review at the LBHF website, follow this link.

Community Car Boot Sale on 14th October

Fancy getting rid of your old stuff? Or buying more? The Edward Woods Community Centre is hosting a Car Boot Sale on Saturday 14th October from 10am until 2pm.

The event, which takes place at the Edward Woods Community Centre, at 60-70 Norland Road, W11 4TX, includes free face painting for children, as well as coffee and food stalls.

If you have stuff to sell (which of us doesn't need a good clear-out?), you can take a stall yourself for just £5.

Admission is free. To take a stall, call Jacquie Boyce on 020 7603 2324 or email ewccinfo@upg.org.uk

Hammersmith Park Goes Japanese

Stone Lanterns lining the northern entrance to Hammersmith Park

The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park has been significantly expanded, following works carried out by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, in association with the Friends of the Japanese Garden. A number of Japanese stone lanterns now line the Northern entrance to the park, and an ornamental gate has been installed. The project was financed by Japanese businesses and by the Japanese Embassy.

RIP Old Laundry Yard?

The Old Laundry Yard at Lunchtime a week ago

The Old Laundry Yard at Shepherd's Bush Market, launched in the spring of 2018, seems to have given up the struggle.

It's a real shame, as it was a potentially promising space for outdoor eating, but it seems not to have found an audience.

Friends of Hammersmith Park Meets 18th Sept

Hammersmith Park

Tuesday 18th September is the quarterly meeting of the Friends of Hammersmith Park.

Hammersmith Park (note: not in Hammersmith) is a small scrap of green space in a very urban part of our Borough, and could use a bit of help and support.

How to Stop Fly Tipping

You might think that the last thing a "no fly tipping" sign would stop is fly tipping. But it turns out that you'd be wrong.

The corner of Hopgood St and Macfarlane Rd in Shepherd's Bush has been plagued with fly tipping for years (see photo below), even after CCTV was installed in 2017.

The camera, put in place after long consultation with the Council and the Police, didn't make much difference - perhaps because would-be fly tippers didn't know CCTV was there.

Boundary Commission: Shepherds Bush To Join Willesden

Willesden and Shepherd's Bush

The Boundary Commission has made its decision and, assuming that Parliament votes in favour, the Parliamentary constituency of Hammersmith, born in 2010, is dead.

Long live the parliamentary constituency of Hammersmith and Fulham, abolished in 2010 and now to be re-incarnated.

What about Shepherd's Bush? It turns out we're to be hived off of the rest of the Borough and joined up with Willesden, in a new constituency named Willesden and Shepherd’s Bush.

Whatever Happened to Ginglik?

Whatever Happened to Ginglik, the Edwardian loo-turned-nightclub that closed a few years back?

Today you can still half-see the sign, as the former venue gently rots and adds to the general pervasive dilapidation of Shepherd's Bush.

According to an article in the Evening Standard back in 2008, the site is owned by our Council, who were unable to afford repairs to the premises, which therefore had to be closed, and "filled in with concrete".

Brook Green Day 15th September

Mark your calendars - Saturday 15th September is Brook Green Day, and for one day only Brook Green will be transformed into a giant funfair (see flyer to left), from noon until 6pm.

It's an annual event, organised by the highly efficient Friends of Brook Green, who we all have to thank for the excellent playground (top swings, and a brilliant slide); one of the best in West London.

I took my children to the same event last year and it was a great day - big, boisterous and full of families.

Consultation on Future of West12 Centre

West12 Centre in 2006

West12 Centre, the old-school shopping mall on the south side of Shepherd's Bush Green, is pondering its future, and wants your input.

Entering the West12 Centre can sometimes feel like stepping back into a 1970s time warp, so it is not surprising that the owners are considering their next move.

Retailers all across the country are facing increasing online competition, and even successful modern brands like Westfield are becoming more focused on experiences rather than just shopping.

Table Sale at St Stephen's Sunday 9 September

St Stephen's Uxbridge Rd

On Sunday 9 September St Stephen's Church on the Uxbridge Road is hosting a Table Sale after church.

The Table Sale involves a sale of books, DVDs, general bric-a-brac, household items, cosmetics, children’s toys, cakes, jam, handmade items and clothes.

St Stephen's is looking for donations and also for volunteers to help set things up from 3pm onwards on Saturday 8 September.

The proceeds of the sale are being donated to the St Stephen's Roof Fund, which is raising money to replace the decaying Victorian roof.

Got any stuff you'd like to donate? Or perhaps you'd like to come and help on the day? All donations and volunteers are welcome.

Hammersmith Society Awards 2018

Queen's Wharf building - award winner

The Hammersmith Society, guardians of good architecture in our neighbourhood, recently announced the 2018 winners of its annual awards.

There were two Main Awards given in 2018, for the Queen’s Wharf (see photo left) and Riverside Walk, Hammersmith, W6.

And, of course, there were wooden spoons for the new buildings which make our neighbourhood worse, not better.

Japanese Party Re-Scheduled for Friday 3 & Sat 4 August

The opening celebrations for Hammersmith Park's new expanded Japanese Garden has been re-scheduled to take place over two days,  Friday 3rd August and Saturday 4th August.

The official Opening Ceremony will be held on friday at 4.30pm, with a reception at 5pm,

The Japanese Party, with lots of activities for families and children, is to take place on Saturday from 12.30pm until 6pm.

Visitors will have the chance to make origami, do a calligraphy workshop, listen to Japanese music, or try some noodle soup.

The event is being held to celebrate recent improvement works: the installation of new Japanese-style gates and rows of stone lanterns in the Japanese Garden.

Family Cricket Match on 15th September

Cricket at Chiswick House

St Stephen’s Church and St Stephen's School will be battling it out on the cricket pitch on Saturday 15th September at a charity fund-raiser to be held at Chiswick House.

The event is being held in aid of the St Stephen's Roof Fund, which is seeking to raise £200,000 to fix the Victorian roof, now leaking and badly in need of replacement.

Families and children are welcome, and you are also welcome to bring a picnic.

Shepherd's Bush Green is Still a Mess

Shepherd's Bush Green yesterday morning

Two years after we first started started posting about the sorry state of Shepherd's Bush Green, and the failure of our Council to do anything about the enforcement of laws against litter, things are as bad as ever.

Walk across Shepherd's Bush Green in the morning and you will see piles of fast food, empty bottles and cans, and a depressing picture of destitute humanity, for many of whom the serious drinking begins at 8am.

The worst of it is that there doesn't seem to be any attempt by our Council to enforce the laws against dropping litter.

Japanese Garden Party Sun 29 July Postponed

Hammersmith Park

Hammersmith Park was to play host to a Japanese Garden Party on Sunday 29th July, from 12.30pm onwards, but the event has had to be postponed due to bad weather forecast. 

Visitors were to have the chance to make origami, do a calligraphy workshop, listen to Japanese music, or try some noodle soup.

The event - which will be re-scheduled - is being held to celebrate recent improvement works: the installation of new Japanese-style gates and rows of stone lanterns in the Japanese Garden. The party was to take place on Sunday 29 July, from 12.30pm.

Hammersmith Park Needs Friends

Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park

Hammersmith Park is a small but precious scrap of green space in a very urban part of our borough. 

Located in White City, next to the former BBC TV centre, it has been the subject of some local controversy in recent years.

The 2015 plans to install a series of football pitches run by Play Football, was a big concern for many local residents, especially the lack of consultation with residents' groups. 

More recently, a proposed expansion of the Japanese Garden has ruffled a number of feathers. We asked John Gordon-Smith, Chair of the Friends of The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park, to explain what is being planned.