Hammersmith Bridge - Closed Forever?

Hammersmith Bridge - closed since 2019

Hammersmith bridge remains closed to vehicles (though not to pedestrians and cyclists), and despite many years of discussion it seems that no progress on re-opening it has been made, and no viable solutions found. 

The cost of full repairs remains huge, and no money appears to be available to fund it. 

Our local MP Andy Slaughter wrote the following update in his latest newsletter: 

"Hammersmith Bridge remains one of the most important unresolved transport issues affecting west London, and an issue I am continuing to raise with government at all levels.

Macfarlane Place Wins Hammersmith Society Award

Macfarlane Place wins Environment Award

Macfarlane Place on Wood Lane has won an Environment Award at the 2025 Hammersmith Society Awards, held last week at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. 

According to the Hammersmith Society wesbite: "Finely detailed brickwork is the feature in this new development on the corner of Macfarlane Road and Wood Lane opposite Westfield, designed by Maccreanor Lavington for Peabody Housing Association. 

Campaign To "Fix Uxbridge Road"

Fix Uxbridge Rd 

In 2025 a campaign was launched by a number of Shepherd's Bush residents to clean up the Uxbridge Road, hoping to persuade our council the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to take action to improve our local street scene.  

We invited campaign organiser Noor to share her thoughts on what the "Fix Uxbridge Rd" campaign is all about, and what it hopes to achieve.

 

Uxbridge Road Jewelery Robbery

Uxbridge Rd Jewelery shop robbed

The Uxbridge Road jewelery shop which was the subject of a ram raid robbery in 2019 has been robbed again, with thieves apparently breaking in last night while local residents (including me) were asleep.  

The criminals appear to have cut their way through the protective steel shutters and then smashed their way through two glass windows.

Morrisons Comes to Shepherd's Bush

Morrisons New Location on Wood Lane

Grocery giant Morrisons looks to be joining the local retail landscape in Shepherd's Bush, with a new shop set to open on Wood Lane.

The new premises is to be a Morrisons Daily and will located at "Unit H2 Macfarlane Place, Wood Lane, London W12 7FR.

The new shop will be open from 7am until 11pm daily.  

Farewell to Table Tennis at White City Bus Station

Table tennis outside Westfield - in happier times

If you’ve passed by the bus station outside Westfield White City recently, you may have noticed something missing. The all-weather table tennis tables, once a quirky fixture of the concourse, have quietly disappeared.

For years, the tables were a rare bit of public fun in an otherwise functional transport hub.  Commuters, kids, and the odd shopper laden with bags could be spotted sticking around for a quick game.  They made the bus station feel less like a waiting room and more like a community space.

New Hotel Proposed for Shepherd's Bush Green

Proposed hotel on Shepherd's Bush Green

A new hotel is being proposed for the west side of Shepherd's Bush Green, located next to two existing hotels - the Dorsett (formerly the Shepherd's Bush Pavilion) and the Hoxton (formerly the Shepherd's Bush Post Office). 

The new proposed hotel is be built on the side of the current disused building, which until a couple of years ago was a Barclays Bank, but has since sat empty and boarded up. You can find the consultation online here. 

Secrets of The Bush - Shepherd's Bush Cricket Club

Shepherd's Bush has many secret places; but few are more tranquil - and unexpected - than the Shepherd's Bush Cricket Club. 

Located at the north end of Bromyard Avenue, just off the Uxbridge Rd (and, technically, in Acton) the SBCC has been hosting cricket matches in our neighbourhood since 1882.

Free Sunday Appliance Repair at Livat Hammersmith

Our local council the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham now hosts free monthly appliance "repair parties" at the Livat shopping centre in Hammersmith.  

So, rather than landfill that faulty printer, toaster or desklamp, you can take it down to King St on a Sunday afternoon while your local Mr Fixit takes it apart and gives it a new lease of life - completely free.

You will find the LBHF "repair party" opposite the new IKEA on the King St mall, near Sainsburys.

Table Tennis at Wood Lane Bus Station

The stretch of concrete on Wood Lane between the White City bus station and the main road is a rather windswept and unlovely place, but it has one redeeming feature - free all-weather table tennis tables, which (best of all) don't get put away in winter. 

Free Outdoor Table Tennis Returns to TV Centre

Outdoor Table Tennis is back at TV Centre on Wood Lane; the owners of upscale housing development and TV Sound Stages  have put up a big screen for visitors to watch summer sports, and also two outdoor  tennis tables for summer entertainment. 

Jasmine Thai on the Goldhawk Road

Some of my favourite restaurants closed during Covid; we lost local gems such as The Albertine on Wood Lane, replaced in 2024 by (yet another) characterless chicken shop.  

One survivor worth celebrating is the delightful Jasmine Thai on Goldhawk Road, where I had lunch today.  Delicious Thai food, all at very reasonable prices. 

Petition to "Save Uxbridge Road"

Local Shepherd's Bush residents have raised a petition to clean up Uxbridge Road, one of our neighbourhood's main East-West arteries.

The purpose of the petition is to encourage our local council, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, to focus on cleaning up the Uxbridge Road, dealing with some of the anti-social behaviour and generally tidying things up.

Local residents have long complained about social problems on Uxbridge Road.  Back in 2021 the Uxbridge Rd Police Station closed and was put up for sale, a decision which did little to deter crime and disorder.  

In 2022 Jonathan Pearl, chair of FOSGB (Friends of Shepherd's Bush Green) highlighted the growing problem of anti-social behaviour. 

St Stephen's Shepherd's Bush Hosts Xmas Fair Sat 30 Nov

Shepherd's Bush primary School St Stephen's is hosting a Christmas Fair on Saturday 30th November, and all are welcome. 

The event takes place from Noon until 4pm, and includes a Bouncy Castle, Santa's Grotto, a BBQ, Bar, Tombola, Assault Course, Book Stall, Boutique, Fairground Games and many other shops and stalls. Proceeds go to supporting one of our best local primary schools. 

St Stephen's School is affiliated with St Stephen's Church, Shepherd's Bush and was built at the same time, circa 1849-50. This year it was voted Best Primary School in England by the TES. 

Japanese Garden Gets New "Torii" Gateway

New Gateway for Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park

The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park has been given a new gateway, or "Torii", thanks to a generous donation by former Chair of the Friends of The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park, John Gordon-Smith. 

The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park dates from 1910, and is the chief legacy of the Japanese-British Exhibition that took place in White City.

New Tennis Courts For Hammersmith Park

Newly resurfaced tennis courts at Hammersmith Park

Thanks to our local council, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, for the newly resurfaced tennis courts at Hammersmith Park.

The old tennis courts had deteriorated badly and were prone to flooding, collecting mud and debris in wet weather. 

St Stephen's Wins Best Primary School in UK

St Stephen's Church of England School in Shepherd's Bush has won the "TES" Award (the "Oscars" of school awards) in the category of Best Primary School in the UK.   There are around 21,000 primary schools in the UK - so this is a huge achievement for our local school.  

Belinda Mitchell-Innes Wins Community Award

Mitchell-Innes (second from left) receives award

Shepherd's Bush resident Belinda Mitchell-Innes (second from left) was presented with a Community Award on May 9th by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.

The award, celebrating "Local Heroes" in our Borough was presented by Councillor Bora Kwon (far left). 

LBHF Civic Honours are nominated by friends and neighbours for "selfless contributions" to the local community, and are intended to acknowledge the "unsung heroes" of our neighbourhood.

St Stephen's School Nominated for TES Award

St Stephen's Church of England school in Shepherd's Bush has been nominated for a "TES" Award (the "Oscars" of school awards) in the category of Best Primary School. Bearing in mind that there are around 21,000 primary schools in the UK, this is a significant achievement in a very crowded field.  

St Stephen's School is affiliated with St Stephen's Church, Shepherd's Bush and was built at the same time, circa 1849-50.  

St Stephen's is led by the charismatic Michael Schumm, a well-respected head whose good nature and pursuit of excellence helps to give the school its unique character. 

Hammersmith Park Outdoor Gym Nears Completion

Outdoor Gym at Hammersmith park

The outdoor gym in Hammersmith Park is almost ready to open.  The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham consulted with local residents last September on whether to build an outdoor gym in Hammersmith Park and, if so what sort of equipment to install.

The location of the outdoor gym is the small triangle of grass located at the eastern end of the park, near the exit to TV Centre. 

At long last, the gym is just about ready to open to the public. This will - we hope - be a valuable community asset for the park.