Shepherd's Bush in 2016 - The Year in Review

Walkabout - how it might look

2016 was a busy year in Shepherd's Bush. Below is a quick reminder of what's being going on this past twelve months.

In January, Dorsett Hospitality International, the group who renovated the old Shepherd's Bush Pavilion and turned it into a successful upscale hotel, opened their doors for the first of a number public consultation on their revised proposals for the old Walkabout pub, formerly the Shepherd's Bush Cinematograph theatre.

The proposed plans are still waiting for final planning permission from our Council, "pending consideration".

Lonely Shed Demolished

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

The site has been fenced off and various men in yellow high-viz jackets are now taking it apart, brick by brick.

It's a shame that some use couldn't have been found for this attractive Edwardian building.

Poor Shepherd's Bush Green - The Funfair is Back

Once again, spare a thought for poor Shepherd's Bush Green - the funfair is returning for two weeks, from 16 December until 3 January.

The big lorries that transport these funfairs cause a lot of damage to the Green, which even at the best of times feels badly treated.

And many local residents, especially those who live around the Green, hate the noise and disturbance. So what can be done to mitigate the problems?

Children's Nativity at St Stephen's on Sunday December 18th

On Sunday 18th December at 10am St Stephen's Church on the Uxbridge Road is hosting a traditional Nativity Service for children.

It's a very inclusive event; there is no charge, no need to book ahead and all are welcome.  Children are encouraged to arrive dressed as Shepherds, Wise Men - all the players in the traditional story. 

The event is part of the excellent community work done by St Stephen's; a church with a commendably broad and diverse congregation.

St Stephen's also has a carol service on Sunday 18 December at 5pm, to which all are welcome, and a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at 11.30pm.

Our Council Has No Money? Here's The Solution

Cupid Delivering Pysche (1867) by Burne-Jones.
Not on display.

Our local Council, The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, continually tells us that they have no money, and they blame the Government's austerity policies for the lack of cash. So why not sell a few valuable assets to help protect vital services?

The Council owns the fifty-four works in the Cecil French Collection, donated to Fulham Borough Council in 1953, including pre-Raphaelite paintings by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, and Frederic Leighton. 

The art isn't on display, and there are no plans to show it. So what's the point of keeping it? Better surely to sell it, and release funds for local services.

Hammersmith Bridge Repairs Delayed until 2017

Hammersmith Bridge - repairs delayed until 2017

Plans to strengthen the Victorian Hammersmith Bridge have been put on hold until late 2017, according to the Hammersmith Society.

It seems that repairs will cost £27m and there is a £5.3m shortfall.

Hammersmith Bridge first opened in 1887 and needs reinforcement to cope with the weight of more than one bus or lorry crossing the bridge at a time. 

Hoxton Hotel - Asset or Liability?

Due for demolition

The Hammersmith Society, guardians of good architecture in our neighbourhood, have been shown an exhibition of the plans for the new proposed Hoxton Hotel on the west side of Shepherd's Bush Green.

The new hotel will displace the current Post Office, and the existing buildings shown on the left will likely be demolished.

Homelessness in Shepherd's Bush

sleeping rough in the Bush

Anyone living in our neighbourhood has probably noticed that the problem of homelessness seems to be getting worse recently.  Of course, homelessness is not new - it has been a problem for many years.

In the early 20th Century the MP for Hammersmith, Sir William Bull, was "appalled to see Shepherd's Bush Green become home to destitute unemployed sleeping rough".

Above is a photo taken recently outside Shepherd's Bush Tube Station.  Curiously, the begging bowl is a barrister's wig, which retail for about £300.

Save Shepherd's Bush Post Office?

The Worst Place on Earth?

Local MP Andy Slaughter is organising a public meeting to try to keep Shepherd's Bush Post Office (memorably described by Richard Herring as "the portal between earth and Hades") from moving to Westfield, "due to the high level of public opposition".

The meeting will be held on Friday, 9 December from 1:30-4:30pm at the Shepherds Bush Library, 6 Wood Lane W12 7BF.

All are welcome, and there is no need to RSVP. You can also make your views known by emailing comments@postoffice.co.uk, calling 03457 22 33 44 or texting 03457 22 33 55.

Tube Strike - Hammersmith & City Line Closed 6-7 December

Shepherd's Bush Market Tube - closed 6-7 December

Drivers on the Piccadilly and Hammersmith & City Lines are planning to strike for 24 hours on the 6 and 7 December.

The action by the RMT will run from between 9.30pm on Tuesday 6 December and 9.29pm on Wednesday 7 December.

The reasons given are the usual blend of jobs and safety.

Hopes that a Labour mayor might be able to soothe relations with union bosses have proved unfounded.

Christmas Art & Design Fair Friday 2 December (7-10pm) & Saturday 3rd December (11-3pm) at Kite Studios

Kite Studios, just off Askew Road, is inviting local residents to join them on Friday 2 December (7-10pm) & Saturday 3rd December (11-3pm) for the 10th Annual Christmas Art & Design Fair.

So come along on December 2nd and 3rd, stock up on Christmas gifts, and get involved with your local community - all in a good cause.

What's this all about?
It's the 10th annual Unique Christmas Art & Design Fair.

Bush Theatre "To Fight Right Wing" When It Re-Opens

The Bush Theatre - closed until 2017

Here at The Shepherd's Bush Blog we've long been big fans of the Bush Theatre on the Uxbridge road, currently undergoing a major renovation.

Lately though we've noticed a bit of a detour into some less entertaining and more obviously political programming. Think the potty-mouthed "F*ck the Polar Bears", "Islands", a sweary rant about tax avoiders, or "Boys Will Be Boys", a cliche-ridden polemic about sexism in the City.

And now, it's official. The Bush Theatre artistic director Madani Younis has vowed - not to put on great theatre entertainment - but to "fight the right wing" when the building re-opens.

Trouble is - Is this what audiences want? And should public money be spent on such an overtly political goal?

Westfield Sparkles For Christmas, But No Lights For Our Streets

Christmas Lights at Westfield

Every year, the Westfield shopping centre puts on a fine light show at Christmas. Their decorations are impressive, their Kung Fu Panda-themed grotto will surely pull in thousands of children, and they even host an ice rink.  But the sparkle at Westfield just underscores how dowdy the shopping streets in Shepherd's Bush are by comparison.  Where are the lights and decorations on the streets of Shepherd's Bush, and why can't our Council put up a few lights and some tinsel?

Why Won't Our Council Repair Hammersmith Park?

Repaired slide at Hammersmith Park

Earlier this year, some long-overdue repairs were carried out by our local Council, The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, to the Children's Playground in Hammersmith Park, which had been in a state of disrepair for some time.

A company called Valley Landscape Management put up fences around the damaged climbing mounds and repaired much of the torn material.

But, more than six months on, the job still isn't complete. So why won't our Council fix the playground at Hammersmith Park?

Inclusive Carol Concert at St Stephen's Church On Sunday 11th December

On Sunday 11th December St Stephen's Church on the Uxbridge Road is hosting an "inclusive carol concert" welcoming all families - including those who have children with special needs.  It's a very informal event; there is no need to book ahead and all are welcome. 

The event is part of the excellent community work done by St Stephen's; a church with a commendably broad and diverse congregation, welcoming people for all parts of our neighbourhood.

The service starts at 4pm. After the service there will be mulled wine and mince pies.

Stanhope to Build Three New Buildings at White City Place

White City Place - as proposed

Stanhope Plc, Mitsui Fudosan UK and AIMCo have submitted planning applications to build three new buildings on the 17-acre Gateway Site at White City Place (formerly BBC White City).

The new buildings will be called Gateway West, Gateway Central and Gateway East.

According to Stanhope, the new Gateway buildings "will provide 100,043 sq m (1,075,000 sq ft) of space and create 8,000 new jobs".

So, no slowdown in the pace of growth and new development in our neighbourhood then.

Shepherd's Bush House Prices Keep Getting Sillier

Never mind Brexit, the fall in the value of Sterling, punishing increases in Stamp Duty, slowing economic growth and a Trump presidency.  Despite all the headwinds, Shepherd's Bush House Prices just keep on getting sillier. Recently a house was listed for a breathtaking £3million in Macfarlane Rd, a fairly average street of Edwardian terraced housing which sits just west of Westfield and south of the new TV Centre development. It's hard to imagine prices like these in our neighbourhood. Will Barnard Marcus get £3million - or even close - for a relatively modest Edwardian three story house?

TV Centre News

Helios Building - due for completion by end of 2017

Last week the developers of Television Centre on Wood Lane held a meeting for local residents - to give the community an update on the progress of this massive development. 

At the meeting were representatives from Mace (builders) and Stanhope (developers), including Mace community liaison representative Mike Russell. 

At the meeting, residents were told that the development is currently on track to complete Phase One by the end of next year, though at present Phase Two now has no fixed timetable for completion.  So, what's going on at TV Centre?

Shepherd’s Bush Post Office to Close?

The Worst Place on Earth?

Shepherd’s Bush Post Office, famously described by Richard Herring as "the portal between Earth and Hades" looks set to close, and re-open somewhere else in our neighbourhood.

The Hoxton Hotel Group has purchased the site, with plans to develop it into an upscale hotel, no doubt building on the success of the Dorsett Hotel Group next door.

The Post Office are now consulting with the public on a new proposed site. The two options appear to be W H Smith in Westfield or the W12 Shopping Centre.

TFL Open Day on 14 and 15 November at TVC Pavilion

TFL are inviting Shepherd's Bush residents to a public exhibition of plans to transform the disused railway arches below and adjacent to Wood Lane Tube station, which will be turned into retail and commercial units. 

The newly restored arches "will provide new jobs and opportunities for businesses and deliver revenue to be reinvested into the transport network."