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| Shepherd's Bush Green - can it be improved? |
About a dozen members of our local community came together, including Councillor (and former Mayor) Mercy Umeh, with the goal of trying to make a positive contribution to our neighbourhood.
This first meeting was held to gather ideas on what to do to try and make things better in Shepherd’s Bush. We all know what the problems are; the solutions to those problems are perhaps less obvious.
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| FOSBERG |
The Friends of Shepherd’s Bush Green is a new residents’ association, formed to tackle problems in our neighbourhood.
Tuesday 3rd September 2019
FOSBERG met on Tuesday. The agenda for the first meeting was to introduce ourselves, identify some of the problems we face in our neighbourhood, and what some of the possible solutions might be.
We start from the premise that our local Council, the police, local businesses and residents all want to do their best to make our neighbourhood a better place to live. As residents, we can work with the authorities to help identify problems, come up with possible solutions, help to direct investent wisely and make a positive contribution.
The State of Shepherd’s Bush Green
Historically, Shepherds’ Bush Green has lacked a community support group, perhaps because the problems facing our area can seem almost too big to take on. In Shepherd’s Bush we deal on a daily basis with problems of homelessness, anti-social behaviour, drunkenness, drugs, crime, disorder, vandlism, graffiti and other difficulties. And yet, each day people enjoy the Green; local residents picnic on the lawn and children play in the park. Shepherd’s Bush Green can be a better place.
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| Mercy Umeh |
Problems - and solutions
Issues raised during the first meeting included the ubiquitous problem of litter. Shepherds’ Bush Green is a mess, every day. Possible proposed solutions to the problem included more litter bins, and better enforcement of anti-littering laws (do the police ever issue tickets?).
Parkie One resident suggested a “parkie”, an old-school park attendant whose job it would be to look after the area, and keep an eye on visitors. Of course, this would cost money, something in short supply at present, and there might be legal issues because Shepherd’s Bush Green is in fact not owned by the Council; rather it is common land.
Local restaurants
Other suggestions included talking to the local fast food restaurants, inviting them to the next meeting, and trying to get them on board to help clear up the mess. It was pointed out that the council’s contractors Serco do in fact clean up the Green every morning; they do an efficient job, but part of the solution should be to get people to treat Shepherd’s Bush Green with more respect in the first place.
Caxton Road A group of residents from Caxton road expressed concerns about the problems caused by Algerian drug gangs, and also the problems of moped delivery drivers parking up and using the area as a relay point for their deliveries. They suggested a specific location near the W12 Centre for moped delivery drivers, which would be a purpose-built area, less likely to disturb local residents, and had taken the plans to local MP Andy Slaughter.
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| Shepherd's Bush Green - after the fairground |
A number of residents complained about the noise and mess created by George Irvine’s fairground, which creates big ruts in the ground and makes a big mess, for a fairly small amount of revenue generated.
One local architect mentioned an imaginative plan to pedestrianise the north side of the Green, something that was proposed a couple of years ago, to broad acclaim.
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| Plans to pedestrianise the north side of the Green. |
Wheter such a plan could get past the Council, TFL and the Mayor’s Office - is a separate question. What would be the impact on traffic, and would it make things worse rather than better?
Christmas Fair and Farmer’s Market
Other suggestions included a Christmas Fair on the Green, and also a weekly Farmer’s Market, such as the farmer’s market in Brook Green and the Sunday market in Bishop’s Park. The location would likely be the area opposite the Dorsett Hotel, and could help to create a community atmosphere. Mercy Umeh explained that these were both good ideas, but that LBHF would have to consult locally, to determine whether local residents were in favour or not.
Ginglik
Concerns were raised about the defunct Ginglik nightclub, and former Edwardian loo, on the East side of the Green, which is currently decaying, adding to the general sense of neglect on Shepherd’s Bush Green. Can something be done? Our council own it. Could it become a public loo again? Mercy said restoration would be expensive.
Christmas decorations
It was pointed out that there have been no Christmas decorations on Shepherd’s Bush Green for many years - could these come back this year? Again, the question returned to money, and who would pay. Al Lewis, who ran for the Council a year or two ago, suggested that local businesses might be prepared to come together to create a fund for this.
Christmas Fair and Farmer’s Market
Other suggestions included a Christmas Fair on the Green, and also a weekly Farmer’s Market, such as the farmer’s market in Brook Green and the Sunday market in Bishop’s Park. The location would likely be the area opposite the Dorsett Hotel, and could help to create a community atmosphere. Mercy Umeh explained that these were both good ideas, but that LBHF would have to consult locally, to determine whether local residents were in favour or not.
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| Ginglik - former Edwardian loo |
Concerns were raised about the defunct Ginglik nightclub, and former Edwardian loo, on the East side of the Green, which is currently decaying, adding to the general sense of neglect on Shepherd’s Bush Green. Can something be done? Our council own it. Could it become a public loo again? Mercy said restoration would be expensive.
Christmas decorations
It was pointed out that there have been no Christmas decorations on Shepherd’s Bush Green for many years - could these come back this year? Again, the question returned to money, and who would pay. Al Lewis, who ran for the Council a year or two ago, suggested that local businesses might be prepared to come together to create a fund for this.
Overall, the meeting was good-natured and convivial. Local residents of all stripes came together to talk constructively about what can be done in our area to make things better. We are a non-political organisation; and everyone is welcome. If you’d like to get involved, come along to our next meeting, which will be in about 3 months’ time.
The Friends of Shepherd's Bush Green is a group of volunteers living in Shepherd’s Bush who are dedicated to making our neighbourhood a better place to live. If you would like to get involved, email us at fosbgrn@gmail.com. And don't forget to add your opinion in the comments section below.
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