Are You an Idler?

Anyone in our neighbourhood being driven crazy by parked up lorries running their engines in your street - help may be at hand.

Our Council are looking for volunteers who want to be part of a new campaign to reduce air pollution - by stopping drivers from running their engines while they are parked. The campaign is called "I'm no Idler", and subtitled "Vehicle Idling Action".

The idea is to try and stop drivers from running their engines while they are stationary, and raise awareness of the dangers of air pollution.

Letter from Calais

The Jungle, Calais

Toni Sharpe is a teacher who lives in Shepherd's Bush. She recently took a career sabbatical and travelled to to the refugee camp in Calais - known as "The Jungle" - to teach English classes to some of the people living there.

Here, Toni shares some of her thoughts about her experience, in the form of a camp diary.

Walkabout Seeks Planning Permission

New building viewed from the north side of Shepherd's Bush Green

Dorsett Hospitality International, the group who renovated the old Shepherd's Bush Pavilion and have turned it into a successful hotel, have now made a formal planning application to redevelop the old Walkabout pub, formerly the Shepherd's Bush Cinematograph theatre. 

The proposed building, which includes a new tower built into the old facade, has taken into account extensive community feedback, and aims to make the new building fit better into the context of the existing Dorsett facade. 

Boundary Review To Bring Electoral Change to Shepherd's Bush

Hammersmith Constituency

Boundary changes are coming to Shepherd's Bush.  Today, the constituency of Hammersmith is a moderately solid Labour seat; our local MP Andy Slaughter managed to buck the national trend at the last election  and increase his majority to a very respectable 6,518 votes.

However, under the new proposed Boundary Changes, everything is up for grabs.  Three wards: Askew, Wormholt & White City, and Shepherd’s Bush Green – are to be broken away from Hammersmith and will make up a new constituency - to be named Ealing Central and Shepherd’s Bush - along with six wards from Ealing.

Watch Out For Moped Muggers in Shepherd's Bush

Beware of thieves on bikes

Street crime seems to be on the increase in the Bush. A local Mum was recently mugged in our neighbourhood by two men on a motorbike who drove past her, snatched her bag, and made a swift getaway.

She rang 999 and was told by the police that there is an "absolute epidemic of this in London at the moment".

Michaelmas Fair on Saturday 24th September 11am to 3pm

St Stephen’s Church on the Uxbridge Road is hosting a Michaelmas Fair this coming Saturday 24th September - from 11am until 3pm.

The fair will be held in St Stephen’s Church and the neighbouring hall, selling all sorts of gifts and goodies.

The fair 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 restoration. It's a family-friendly event that will include all sorts of things for sale, plus entertainment for children.

Morrisons Shepherd's Bush to Close

Morrisons in Shepherds Bush is to close. The big supermarket in the West 12 Centre is to be shut down with the loss of around 170 jobs. 

Local MP Andy Slaughter described it as "terrible news for the W12 area and to the 170 staff who work in the store".

It seems like an odd decision. Morrisons always seems to be a busy store, with plenty of footfall. What a shame for both local residents and - of course - all the employees who will lose their jobs.

Lonely Shed to Be Demolished

Disused Electrical Sub-station - to be demolished

The old electricity sub-station on Shepherd's Bush Green is to be demolished.

According to Parks chief Ian Ross, the "necessary consents have been obtained, including a Certificate of Lawful Development".

Our Council now "awaits a date for works to be carried out to demolish the building."

Hammersmith Magistrates Court to Close

Hammersmith Magistrates Court

The Ministry of Justice announced yesterday that Hammersmith Magistrates Court is to be closed.

This latest closure follows on from last year's closure of Hammersmith County Court.

Anyone who needs access to the Law Courts will now have to travel outside our Borough.

Shepherd's Bush Market - Back to the Drawing Board

Shepherd's Bush Market

Plans to develop of Shepherd's Bush Market are now being started afresh, after five fruitless years locked in litigation, in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to secure planning permission for the scheme.

Opposed by the majority of market traders, and thrown out by the Supreme court last month on the basis of a technical violation of planning law by the former Secretary of State Eric Pickles, Orion's former plans to redevelop the market are now officially being abandoned. So the whole byzantine process must now begin again.